A Fresh Start: Finding work experience in your first year Kam Manku, Internship Officer Harjinder Kundra, Internship Officer

Objectives Throughout this session you will: Learn about what work experience is and what is best for you Understand the different types of work experience available Appreciate the benefits of work experience Find out how Careers Network can help you find your opportunities Know where to look for suitable opportunities

Work experience information

What do you think are the benefits of undertaking work experience? Discuss and feedback your thoughts

Benefits of work experience Pathway into employment Gain real-life examples Develop transferrable skills ‘Try before you buy’ Confidence & Assertiveness Experience recruitment processes ‘Earn while you learn’ Opportunity to network Apply theory into practise Gain skills to secure your degree Build your reputation Develop your CV

Types of Work Experience Work Experience Work Shadowing Internships Voluntary Work Part Time Work Placements Graduate Vacancies Summer, 3/6/12 month Insight Programmes

Types of Work Experience Internships/Placements A structured work experience programme, usually lasting either 8-12 weeks (over the summer vacation period) or months (as part of a sandwich/year-in-industry course), and allowing you to gain real life experience of a working environment Voluntary Work Generally unpaid work designed to complement your studies by gaining practical experience in an occupational setting. Work Shadowing Spending time observing an individual within a company to gain an understanding of the type of work involved in that occupation

Types of Work Experience Part Time Work Work experience usually undertaken during term-time and vacation periods whilst at University, which doesn’t always have to relate to your course or career ambitions. An opportunity to gain valuable experience and transferrable skills Insight Programmes Highly interactive programmes designed to provide first year (and some second year) students with an opportunity to gain an insight into the workings of organisations by engaging in a range of activities, which can include: Team building exercises Site tours Staff/employability presentations Workshops/scenario based tasks

“I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the placement and although relatively short, I believe I gained plenty of experience, which will benefit me greatly as I come to apply for medicine as a graduate” Rosie Hayes, Medical Science Student 2 days shadowing a GP “I was able to apply the knowledge and research skills that I had learnt at university. It was fantastic to see that these skills can be used in the workplace to improve business process and applied to ‘real life’ situations” Charles Goode, Geography/History Student 8 days at Bowyer Planning What our students say

Timescales May start their advertising and application processes from September onwards (including Insight Programmes) Will advertise and recruit throughout the year May look for quicker recruitment process so may not advertise months in advance Larger organisations Smaller organisations and pubic sector Most vacancies filled by the start/early Spring Term Internships usually begin in the summer months AugJul JunMay Apr Mar Feb Jan DecNovOctSept

Transferrable / Employability skills

During a survey of 500 Directors in October 2007, 64% said graduates’ employability skills were more important to their organisation than the specific knowledge/skills associated with the graduate’s degree Confederation of British Industry (CBI)

What are your transferrable / employability skills?

Employability Skills

Skills Analysis What career pathway/route do you want to follow? What skills have you got already and what are you good at? What skills will you need to get to that career path? What type of work experience will be most suitable to you? Undertaking a skills analysis can help you define your career goals and begin the thinking process for what you want, when you want it and how you want to get there Ask yourself… Take 5 minutes to complete your Skills Analysis

How to find suitable work experience

Careers Network website Careers Network web page – intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/careers Careers Connect Guidance documents Dedicated pages for your college Wide variety of resources on job areas Contact details for Careers Network

Careers Connect Click on ‘Jobs and opportunities’ link Careers Network web page – intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/careers

Careers Connect Click on ‘Opportunities > Find Opportunity’ Refine your search by Business Sector Opportunity type Salary Country Location Academic area Find out more information and apply

“Get On It” Your guide to finding work experience using Careers Connect Friday 24 th October pm – 3pm, LG15, Learning Centre For more information and to register visit

Internships through Careers Network Exclusive bespoke internships Work experience bursaries – get financial support to undertake work experience A range of work experience guides and resources to help you find work experience Access to bespoke programmes (e.g. mentoring, Global Challenge)

Job Zone Access to part time vacancies locally within the Guild of Students and vacation work in the UK and overseas

Worklink Casual based work experience on University campus

External Careers Websites

Insight Days/Weeks Mainly targeted at 1 st and 2 nd year students Usually delivered during the spring term or summer vacation period A chance to experience how employers operate behind-the-scenes Interactive activitiesPresentationsSite tours Networking opportunities Employability skills training

What is the ‘Hidden Jobs Market’ and how can you find ‘hidden’ jobs?

It is estimated that anything up to 80% of all jobs are not advertised “If I can hire somebody without posting the job, I’m going to do that 100% of the time.” The Hidden Jobs market

What is the hidden job market? Hidden jobs are those that are not openly advertised through the normal recruitment process Many employers may be unwilling or unable to advertise available roles (can be dictated by necessity). This can save an employer money and effort. How does the employer fill these roles? Friends and family Previous employees Speculative applications

How to find hidden jobs University Contacts Trade Events Family and Friends Social Networking Colleagues Speculative applications Previous Employers Networking

Ways to make a speculative application Telephone Face-to-face Mail Social media networking

Speculative applications – where to find these companies Yellow Pages Thomson’s Local Directories Directory of UK Organisations The Kompass Directory British Chamber of Commerce Specialist Trade Directories and_Economy/Directories/ Companies

So you’ve seen a company that you are interested to get experience with. What do you need to do next to progress your application? Spend 5 minutes and feedback!

Speculative applications - Dos and Don’ts Research! Quantity vs Quality Use the most effective communication method Follow up after contact Have an effective CV/covering letter Tell them why you’re interested in working for them Consider as many companies/industries as possible Send a generic application Take rejection personally Rule out companies without applying first Be too pushy Be inflexible Rest on your laurels! Use only speculative approaches to find work Accept any role which you feel is unfair/particularly unsuitable Link to approaching a comp page on internships website DoDon’t

LinkedIn Worlds largest professional network Over 11 million users in the UK (as of January 2013) Student job portal for students and recent graduates Join our Internships Group! More than 2 million companies have LinkedIn Company Pages. Over 200 million members in over 200 countries and territories.

Careers Network social media Facebook LinkedIn University of Birmingham Internships Community Follow Careers Network on social media for the latest news and opportunities

Bespoke programmes delivered by Careers Network

Bespoke programmes Birmingham Undergraduate Internship Programme (BUIP) Careers Network Mentoring Programmes Summer internships working for University of Birmingham Gain an experience mentor throughout your studies to provide 1-1 advice Global Challenge Secure a exciting internship overseas with a global organisation Enterprising Internships Programme Develop your enterprising skills by undertaking a paid internship with a social enterprise Find out more at

Careers Network Bursaries Receive money from UoB to undertake low or unpaid work experience positions this summer! Research Bursary UK Professional W.E. Bursary International W.E. Bursary Gateway Bursary 29/03/ /04/2015 Visit for more detailswww.birmingham.ac.uk/internships

Support from Careers Network Careers Network website (intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/careers) 1-1 appointments to check CV’s/applications and career advice Careers related workshops including mock interviews enquiries via Careers Connect Careers events and activities throughout the year 1-1 appointments with Internship Officers for work experience support

Summary Learn about what work experience is and what is best for you Understand the different types of work experience available Appreciate the benefits of work experience Find out how Careers Network can help you find your opportunities Know where to look for suitable opportunities

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Canvas Course Discussion forums on all Autumn Action workshops this week Copies of resources – presentations, handouts, etc