Care of Shutterstock - Cargo ships entering one of the busiest ports in the world, Singapore.
Discover employment and further study opportunities that you could consider once you graduate with a maritime business degree and learn how you can stand out to graduate employers. 
We encourage you to:
  • undertake career planning and research
  • build your networks, meet employers and graduates
  • gain essential work experience during your course
  • attend career fairs and events
  • continually develop your skills and knowledge
  • get involved with relevant clubs and societies
  • visit the Careers Service for advice.

Skills and knowledge

Your study of maritime business will provide you with knowledge and skills that are valuable to employers, both in terms of directly-relevant technical skills in addition to broader soft skills, such as:
  • industry knowledge
  • networking, business development and relationship management
  • entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial skills
  • critical thinking 
  • problem solving
  • data analysis
  • communication and presentation skills
  • commercial awareness.

Career options

Degrees relating to maritime business can prepare you for very specific and/or technical career options, in addition to equipping you with skills that will prepare you for a wide range of career opportunities. Networking can be of significant importance in this sector and we encourage you to create and maintain long-term relationships with your peers that will last for years after graduation. Excitingly, due to the nature of maritime business, you could choose to work in many different areas of the world, such as the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.
Job options that relate directly to these degrees include:
  • Port manager
  • Operations manager
  • Logistics and distribution manager
  • Supply chain manager
  • Maritime consultant
  • Maritime lawyer
  • Insurance officer
  • Marine analyst
  • Freight forwarder
  • Project manager
  • Shipbroker
With a maritime business degree you could work for any number of different types of business, from the ports themselves, shipping and logistic companies or maritime legal firms to companies in engineering and manufacturing; food science and technology; textile and trade industries. However; as approximately 90% of world trade is carried by sea you could work for any number of different manufacturers so these examples really are a drop in the ocean!
You could also apply the broader skills developed during your degree to many other opportunities: it is estimated that although graduate employers often specify a minimum degree classification as part of their shortlisting, approximately 70% of graduate employers do not specify that you must have studied a particular subject to work for them. However, graduate employers do highly prize skills such as entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, critical thinking, problem solving and networking skills which are some of the key skills you can develop during your course. Therefore, you could use your degree to access work in a multitude of sectors or industries.
Researching your career options
With such a wide range of careers open to you as a maritime business graduate, it is important to make sure you explore and research your options thoroughly so that you can make informed decisions about your future. 
Take a look at the Prospects, TargetJobs and professional associations websites for inspiration: 
Employment opportunities 
Below is a snapshot of what some of University of Plymouth maritime business graduates told us they were doing six months after graduation. For some graduates, these jobs serve as stepping stones to professional posts by providing relevant workplace experience. 
  • Insurance Executive
  • Shipping Executive
  • Claims Executive
  • Graduate Trainee
  • Shipbroker
  • Management trainee
  • Police Officer
  • Graduate Management 
  • Freight Forwarder Manager
  • Commercial Executive
  • Senior Executive Operations
  • Logistic Manager
  • Assistant Underwriter Marine
  • Shipping Agency Operator
  • Delegate Relations Manager
  • Purchasing Officer
  • Chartering Assistant
  • Project Executive
  • Relationship Manager
  • Sales Business Development Operative
  • Commercial and Marketing Manager
  • Trainee Voyage Manager
  • Data Analyst
  • Marine Insurance Executive
  • Deck Officer Trainee
  • Ship Sales and Purchase Executive
Employers

Further study

Some of the careers chosen by maritime business graduates will require or benefit from further study, so this should be considered carefully. The University of Plymouth offers the following postgraduate study options that could be of interest to maritime business graduates:
You should consider the financial implications of further study as well as selecting a programme that suits your interests, learning style and future career direction. The following websites are a good starting point for exploring postgraduate options, but you may also benefit from talking to a Careers Consultant about your particular situation.
Some useful websites to help you find a suitable postgraduate programme:
It is also worth investigating what further study options the University has to offer as you may find the perfect course for yourself in an institution you already know. There are also sometimes financial benefits of staying on such as a fee discount to Alumni – find out your funding options.

Careers Service support

Accessing support from the Careers Service couldn’t be easier, come along to the Careers Service Helpdesk in the Student Hub or access our 24/7 online resources.
There is a wide range of support available from skills workshops to events, placements and internships advice, 1-2-1 appointments and help getting started with LinkedIn.
Our bite-sized Skills Workshops can give your career the boost it needs. Choose from a range of topics:
  • effective career planning
  • job hunting techniques
  • finding part-time work
  • CVs and interviews
  • mastering LinkedIn
  • and more.
Workshops are delivered by the Careers Service, however they are also an opportunity to learn from your peers, share experiences and ask questions. Visit myCareer to see the full range of activities and to book your place.

Connect with graduates

Build your network and job sector knowledge using LinkedIn’s alumni tool. This will allow you to see the career journeys of graduates from your programme, the qualifications they completed, the skills they developed and employers they worked for. You can then ‘connect’ with people of interest.
  • search LinkedIn for ‘University of Plymouth’
  • select ‘Alumni’
  • filter the results by subject, sector, company or location.
For more information about the alumni tool select the LinkedIn alumni tool guide. If you are looking for help to set up or learn how to make the most out of your LinkedIn profile, select the LinkedIn guide for students or come to one of our workshops.

Other advice and guidance

Gain work experience
Undertaking work experience in your first and second years will help you stand out from the crowd when the time comes for you to complete applications for graduate employment and further study. Work experience develops valuable skills and qualities that employers are looking for and is essential for many roles. It can also help you to confirm or rule out particular career choices. Furthermore, experience in the workplace can bring you into contact with people who may be able to assist you at the beginning of your career.
You have plenty of options open to you. You could apply for a placement year, work part-time around your studies, undertake volunteering or approach organisations directly to negotiate short periods of work experience. Some organisations offer paid internships over the summer or of one year’s duration.
The University of Plymouth Students’ Union also offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities.
Clubs and societies
Engaging in a sport or society shows employers you are engaged and seek out opportunities, it also helps you improve your teamwork, communication and negotiation skills. Committee members develop leadership, diplomacy and organisational skills and will gain experience of meetings, handling funds, and society promotion
You may choose to join a society that is specifically linked to maritime business, such as the highly active Shipping Society, or take the opportunity to explore the huge range of clubs, societies and sports, all of which can help you to broaden your horizons and explore new interests.
Tutor and academic support
Your tutor and other academic staff are an excellent source of support for your career development. They will have experience and contacts across industry and academia, so do approach them for advice and insights into careers you are considering. Your tutor will ultimately be writing references for your employment or further study applications, therefore establishing a positive relationship with this person is invaluable.
Student Hub

Where could your degree subject take you?

Architecture and built environment
Biological sciences
Business, economics, management, marketing, accounting and finance, and maritime and logistics
Chemistry
Computing
Creative arts: art, illustration and photography
Design: interior/product and furniture design, graphic design and game arts/digital design
Earth, geography and environment
Education and teaching
Engineering
 
Hospitality, tourism and events management
Humanities: anthropology, art history, English and history
Law, criminology and policing
Marine
Mathematical sciences
Media and filmmaking
Medicine, dentistry and biomedical sciences
Music
Nursing, midwifery and allied health professions
Performing arts: acting, drama and musical theatre
Psychology
Sociology, international relations and politics