S ELF A WARENESS AND C AREER D EVELOPMENT Week 4

S TARTER Think about a job that you wanted and were offered (it might be your current one) What process did you go through to get it? What went well? Did anything not go so well and if so how did you handle it? Why do you think you were selected?  Everyone to answer at least one of these questions

B IG P ICTURE - ASSIGNMENT ‘Apply’ for any position on the Lloyds Banking Group Graduate Scheme Complete the dummy application form, produce an up to date tailor- made CV and letter of application by Thursday 19 th November You will be interviewed and provided with feedback on either Thursday 26 th November, Thursday 3 rd or Thursday 10 th December You will need to evaluate your performance and produce an action plan based on it following your interview feedback (due in 2 weeks after the assessment date and is the basis of the marks) word count 1000 Your mark will be based on BOTH your performance at interview AND on your reflection and action plan. The weighting breakdown between interview and reflection are: 40% on the interview and 60% on the reflection.

L EARNING OUTCOMES Identify what employers are looking for in graduate trainees Review the roles on offer, select one and justify your choice Research the role and company in preparation for application and interview Define the ‘Milk Round’ and describe graduate study options

G RADUATE TRAINING SCHEMES Use the ‘think, pair, share’ template to answer the following: What is the employer looking for in a graduate trainee?

M ARKS AND S PENCER G RADUATE TRAINING SCHEMES Go to the Lloyds Banking Group Graduate Recruitment Scheme page: Look at all the different schemes available to you and select the one that you are going to ‘apply’ for Do some research about the role/function and M&S in general that could be useful for your application and interview Create a crib sheet for yourself that will be useful over the next few weeks on what you have found out

C AN YOU CONVINCE OUR GRADUATE ? Group 1: think of all the reasons why a student in their final year of university (who doesn’t currently have a job) should apply for a graduate training scheme. Group 2: think of all the reasons why the student would better off taking another route into the workforce (eg a further degree, working their way up etc) Both groups to share their arguments. Who is more convincing?

I F TIME Describe what a competency is Give examples of different competencies Identify competencies from job descriptions and person specifications Respond to an application form appropriately

J OB DESCRIPTIONS AND P ERSON SPECIFICATIONS Find a job description and person specification for a role similar to the one you are ‘applying’ for on the Lloyds graduate training scheme (or the actual role if you can find one) What knowledge, skills and experience does the role require? How can you adapt/fit your knowledge, skills and experience to fit these requirements?

A PPLICATION FORM WRITING Shortlisting panels are more interested how you’ve done something than what you’ve done CAR structure:  C ontext – briefly describe the situation and the specific task you were faced with: when, where and with whom?  A ction – What action did you take? How?  R esult – What results did you achieve? What did you learn from the experience?

C AR EXAMPLE Context: Whist employed at Weaver Bros last summer I was given the task of rationalising the stock control system Action : I would look at factors such as when the stock was last ordered, what it was used for and how often it was used. I worked out a method of streamlining the paperwork involved in this process and redesigned the relevant forms, which I then submitted to my manager Result : My ideas were accepted and implemented and a 15% reduction in stock levels was achieved

I AND ACTION WORDS Short-listers want to know what you did not the group/team you were involved with so use I not we Use Action Words eg I lead a team of 6 staff not I was the leader of a team of 6 staff What other phases might make you stand out?

A PPLICATION FORM PRACTICE Look at the a section of the application form and draft a response remembering the tips you have received Review someone else’s response and give them feedback on positive points and anything that could be improved (look at the assessment grid to help you with this)

S UGGESTED READING / OUT OF CLASS LEARNING CIPD Factsheet Competence and Competency Frameworks, August aspxhttp:// aspx on application forms

N EXT TIME What is involved in a successful CV: Select appropriate content for their CV to apply for the graduate role Evaluate the best lay out for a CV If you have a CV please bring a copy next week