Equality matters

Find advice about specific equality issues, links to further information and details about the support available from the Careers & Employability Service.

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How we can support you

The Careers & Employability Service is fully committed to ensuring that we treat everyone equally, regardless of age, gender, race, disability, religion or sexual orientation. You may also be eligible to access our Equal Opportunities in Careers support.

Talk to us if you:

  • are worried that you will face discrimination when applying for a job or course
  • don't know whether to disclose a disability in an application or interview
  • suspect you've suffered discrimination when seeking employment or admission onto a course
  • are unsure of your options due to a previous criminal conviction or police caution
  • have other personal circumstances that affect your career planning, applications or interviews

If you need any further support or guidance, get in contact with the Careers & Employability Service or book an appointment with an adviser.

Coming to one of our events?

If you have any specific access requirements when coming to one of our events, let us know in advance and we will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

Worried about discrimination?

You may have concerns about equality issues when considering your career options and jobs or future courses.

These may revolve around your:

  • health condition or disability
  • race or ethnicity
  • gender
  • sexual orientation
  • age
  • caring responsibilities
  • criminal record

If you're applying for work or further study, the recruiter should only ask you about these factors if you've already indicated that you want to talk about them.

It's important that you're able to do your best and not feel discriminated against throughout the application and interview process.

The Equality Act (2010) protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. Learn more about your rights at work and different forms of discrimination on GOV.UK

Information for Disabled students

You are legally protected from discrimination because of a disability  (which can include neurodivergent conditions, mental health conditions and long-term health conditions, whether diagnosed, pre-diagnosis or self-diagnosed). Employers must consider requests for 'reasonable adjustments' in the application process and workplace. Whatever your disability, it is likely you have developed a range of sophisticated strategies to handle obstacles you may have faced in life. Developing these strategies has allowed you to develop key elements of employability, such as self-awareness, resilience, and adaptability. You can also use these strategies to help you communicate what kind of workplace adjustments you might need in order to thrive at work.

Please visit the Disability, Neurodivergence and Health Conditions section of our website for information and advice on:

  • Whether to be open about a disability or neurodivergence with a prospective employer and what reasonable adustments you might wish to request.
  • Finding employers who are demonstrating best practice in disability and neurodivergent inclusion.
  • How we can support you and additional information resources.

Information for neurodivergent students

Some definitions:

  • Neurodiversity is the natural variation in human brain functioning; the infinite range of differences in individual human brain function and behavioural traits.
  • Neurodivergent: this is an 'umbrella' term can be used to describe someone whose brain functions differ to that of a 'neurotypical' person.  This can include Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD/ADD), Autism (Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)), Specific Learning Difficulties (such as Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia, difficulties with processing speed) and Tic disorders such as Tourette’s syndrome.

It is estimated that approximately 20% of people in the UK are neurodivergent - often with more than one condition - therefore this represents a significant proportion of people in the workplace.

Some neurodivergent people do not see themselves as disabled. However, being neurodivergent may be considered a disability according to the Equality Act 2010, eg if it has a 'substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities'.  Employers must consider requests for workplace adjustments to support you in the recruitment process and workplace as outlined in the Equality Act. 

The following resources explain how to find inclusive employers, what to expect from the graduate job hunt and offer specific employability advice. See also our page on Disability, Neurodivergence and health conditions.

For more information

Information for BAME students

As an applicant and an employee you are legally protected from discrimination relating to your race, including your nationality, colour and ethnicity. However, there are many sectors and workplaces where people from BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) backgrounds are significantly under-represented. As a result, some employers actively recruit graduates from these backgrounds. 

The resources below explain forms of race discrimination and how the Equality Act (2010) protects people. They also cover employability opportunities available to you and some organisations that are prioritising diversity.

For more information
  • Race discrimination at work  - ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service)
  • BYP Network - A professional network open to students and graduates. The network showcases Black talent to partner organisations as well as hosting a varied jobs board, blog and newsletter.
  • Creative Access -They provide paid internships in the creative industries that are available to those from under-represented BAME backgrounds. The platform also hosts useful resources and a careers blog championing diversity.

Information for First Generation+ students

Working towards a degree is an amazing opportunity to be celebrated, especially if you are the first person in your family to attend university. However, you may find that university life isn’t as familiar to you as other students whose family have attended university. 

It is important to us at Sheffield that all students have fair access to opportunities and the chance to thrive in the right career. The Careers service, your department and all university staff are here to support you during your studies and after you graduate

  • Are in the first generation of their family to attend university
  • Receive a maintenance bursary from the university
  • Meet other widening participation criteria such as BAME, Mature student, Estranged or care leaver

Services include:

  • An email newsletter with targeted opportunities
  • An employability opportunities fund to support you to take part in activities that develop your employability

Find more careers information for First Generation+ students

Other resources include

Information on gender identity and sexual orientation

The Equality Act protects job applicants and employees from discrimination relating to gender identity or sexual orientation. The resources below demonstrate what your rights are and how to search for employers that are championing diversity and inclusion.

For more information

Information for mature students

Age is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act (2010) meaning an employer or institution cannot discriminate against you on the basis of your age. You do not need to include your age in an application unless it states so explicitly.  

As an older graduate, you're likely to have a wealth of experience from your work history and life that many younger graduates may not have such as:

In particular, emphasise:

  • Skills gained from previous employment, even if this was in a non-graduate job
  • Skills gained from other life experiences, such as through involvement in voluntary work or balancing the demands of higher education with caring responsibilities
  • The confidence, ambition and adaptability that you have shown by deciding to enter higher education as a mature student
  • The fact that your age makes it more likely that you will stick with an employer instead of wanting to move on after a year or two

It’s important to be positive when approaching employers, mentioning the positive reasons for entering higher education instead of emphasising dissatisfaction with previous employment.

For more information

Information for students with criminal records

If you have ever been convicted of a criminal offence or cautioned by the police, you may be unsure about whether you should declare this when applying for jobs or professional training. You may also be concerned about the likely effect of such a declaration.

The appropriate course of action will vary depending on:

  • the nature of the offence
  • the type of sentence
  • the length of sentence
  • the area of employment you're interested in
For more information