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Career rifts and shifts:How global rifts can cause professional shifts

Take 60 minutes to talk with a fellow graduate about how to navigate some of the global upheavals that are affecting your career right now.

In recent years we’ve witnessed great upheavals in the workplace, from factors such as COVID-19 to the rise of AI in the workplace. For many of us, these upheavals are leading to a rapidly changing workplace and impacting career development and trajectory.  

As part of NCL in Action, we’re encouraging alumni to learn from one another in a relaxed, informal hour-long (or two 30-minute) chat(s). You will be matched with a fellow graduate who is working in a different industry to discuss a major topic that is causing change and disruption in your industry and/or in your career trajectory.

Frequently asked questions

When is the deadline to register?

The registration form will close Friday 24 October 2025.

What should I talk about?

These sessions are deliberately open to allow you to speak to a fellow graduate about any topic. However, to help get the ball rolling (and to help with the matching process) we're asking you to select from one of three starter questions on the registration form:

  • How is the increasing polarisation of politics impacting your industry/career?
  • Is Climate Change the biggest threat your industry is facing?
  • How concerning are the current global conflicts for your career?
How will I be matched?

We aim to match you with a graduate working in a different field/industry to allow you to gain insights from differing industries.

This year, we're trialling the use of an AI matching algorithm, which we hope will provide the most optimised matches for all participants.

When will the conversation take place?

The goal of this programme is to be as flexible as possible for alumni taking part. As such, the time and date for your chat is left open to you and your match to find a time that is most convenient for you both.

We are asking, if possible, for these conversations to take place before the end of November, but if they don't that is no problem!

What if I don't hear back from my match?

While we hope this doesn't happen, if you've not heard anything back from your match please do let us know by emailing alumni.volunteer@newcastle.ac.uk and we will endeavour to match you with another fellow graduate.

Can I take part if I'm not a graduate?

If you are a graduate or staff member of Newcastle University, you are very welcome to participate.

Unfortunately, this particular programme is not available to students or non-graduates/non-staff members.