Inside Careers Week: Meet Marie Blair

As part of Careers Week, we caught up with Marie Blair, our Careers & Employability Manager, to find out more about her role, what inspires her, and how she and her team support our students so they feel confident about their options after college.

Marie has worked in careers guidance for over a decade, and her journey into the sector began unexpectedly.

What inspired you to work in careers?
I first started in Careers Guidance in 2011, and it was actually quite by accident. I was project managing an initiative to support people at risk of redundancy and really enjoyed being able to help people during a time of uncertainty.

What does a typical day look like?
I manage a team of Careers & Employability Sector Leads across the whole college. Each of them is linked to a curriculum area and works closely with Heads of Curriculum to support students in understanding human skills (previously known as Soft Skills/Employability Skills), exploring the opportunities available to them, organising work placements and offering careers guidance at key decision-making times.

I also manage a team of Enrichment Coordinators who run Student Council meetings to make sure students’ voices are heard. They look after clubs and societies too, as well as the fun extras like inviting in Animal Magic or Canine Concern and organising Freshers’ Fairs.

No two days are really the same, and it changes throughout the year. At the start of the year, it’s very much about supporting the team during enrolment. That quickly moves on to managing our UCAS portal and making sure students applying to university are supported through what can be a tricky and sometimes stressful period. In the spring and summer terms, my time is split between checking work placement and activity data, and monitoring university offers to make sure students are being supported in both areas.

What experience does the Careers Team bring?
I hold a Level 6 Diploma in Careers Guidance and a Level 6 Certificate in Career Leadership. Members of my team either already hold these qualifications or are currently working towards them, with two staff undertaking the Career Development Professional Level 6 Apprenticeship. Some of the team have also completed the Level 6 Certificate in Careers Leadership training.

What’s the best part of your job?
The best part is seeing our students grow in confidence and really excel. Watching someone start college with no clear direction, and then seeing them leave with a plan - whether that’s university or another pathway - is incredibly rewarding.

What do students worry about most?
Many students feel unsure about what they want to do, and the doom and gloom in the news doesn’t always help. They’re also worried about the debt associated with going to university, and that can sometimes put them off applying.

How do you help students explore their options?
It starts with sitting down and listening. It’s really important that a young person feels heard first. From there, the team can support them in the best way possible - talking through all the options available, with no pressure. We provide the information, give them time to think, and make sure they know they can come back and see us as often as they need.

Can you tell us a moment in your career that stands out?
There are a few moments that have stayed with me, but one fairly recent example stands out. A student who had been part of the Student Council just before Covid was living with her sister rather than her parents and had a lot of responsibilities outside of college. She had originally planned to go to university, but due to Covid and other external factors, she decided not to and instead started temping at the college.

The team continued to support her during that time, and with guidance and encouragement, she chose to take a gap year and apply to university. It was lovely to see her excitement after visiting one particular university - which she later went on to attend.

What’s the best piece of advice you give students?
Don’t panic. A lot of students feel exactly the same way. Come and talk to a member of the Careers & Employability Team at your campus - they’re a friendly bunch and really knowledgeable.

For support or advice about your next steps, you can email the Careers & Employability Team in Eastbourne, Hastings / Ore Valley, and Lewes / Newhaven.