Careers Service Presentation Frances McEwen Careers Advisory Service 48 Prince’s Gardens

Getting Vacation Work How to impress employers What opportunities for summer work/ internships are open to chemical engineers and where do you find them? How can you impress employers ? How can the Careers Service help you? What next ?

How to get vacation work/ internship Answer an advert Speculative letter Telephone Network Employment/recruitment agency Visit

What kind of work ? Engineering Research Design Running a pilot plant Process technology Manufacturing Quality control Control engineering Environmental control Plant design and build

What kind of work ? Using your background indirectly Professional services - Patent work, technical consultancy Finance, accountancy, forensic accountancy, law, tax IT and computing Production management Commercial management

What are employers looking for ? Keen to find solutions to engineering problems Analytical thinking Assimilating and evaluating information Project management Team working Communication – oral and written Interpersonal skills Persuading and influencing skills Drive and resilience Want to make a difference International outlook

How to impress employers ! Gain technical skills in – design research development Develop skills in – problem solving team working project managing taking the initiative and the lead commercial awareness

USP s Develop your UNIQUE SELLING POINTS Abilities Engineering knowledge and skills Project management skills Interpersonal skills Commercial awareness Political awareness Values Standards you set yourself and what you accept in others Interested and interesting

More Ways to Impress Employers Find out about employers from their website, business pages of the FT www.ft.com What have you found out from a company presentation, site visit, visiting speaker/special lecture in your department about the culture, people that impressed you Use the Chairman/ CEO’s Annual Report to find out about where the company is going. Do you want to go where they are heading and with them ? Develop your criteria for what you are looking for in an organisation - size, success, research, products, services, advertising/ brand name

Mind your Language when Applying Use positive words enthusiastic enterprising responsible Use positive phrases good working knowledge of initiated contact with…… analysed stress on new materials Use action words analysed coordinated developed diagnosed evaluated investigated presented persuaded streamlined

Who employs chemical engineers ? Engineering consultants Research organisations Chemical companies Pharmaceutical manufacturers Food producers Water companies Petrochemical contractors

Where do you find them ? Check your department intranet careers pages Talk to your tutors Check professional institutions and trade associations Engineering and Industry www.icheme.org.uk www.bceca.org.uk www.acenet.org.uk www.cet500.com www.energyinst.org.uk www.instmc.org.uk www.cia.org.uk www.apbi.org.uk Careers Service www.imperial.ac.uk/careers JobsLive

More employers interested in chemical engineers IAESTE www.iaeste.org.uk BUNAC www.bunac.org Shell STEP Programme www.step.org.uk City and Guilds Internship Programme TARGET Work Experience www.targetcareers.co.uk/workexperience www.workexperience.org www.hobsons.com www.eujapan.com for EU nationals

More Information Volunteering www.imperial.ac.uk/volunteering Find out about Engineers without Borders WaterAid EarthWatch EnergyWatch WasteWatch www.do-it-org.uk

Interests, Skills, Values How do they inform your choices ? How do they help you make a decision about what type of internship to go for ? What do you hope to get out of this experience ? How will this internship fit in with your longer term careers plans ?

What Next ? Explore the engineering opportunities open to you Decide which organisations you want to apply to Find out about employers relevant to your choices from departmental and society presentations, tutors, site visits, websites Check deadlines for applications Make your applications carefully

What Next ? Explore options related to your discipline Find out as much information as you can about the sector and companies that appeal to you Check out what competencies they are looking for What evidence can you produce to convince an employer/ demonstrate that you can be successful in another field related to your discipline using the skills developed through your studies and coursework

More Resources to Help You Vacation Work Summer Jobs in Britain Summer Jobs Abroad, in the USA Teaching English Abroad Work and Travel in Europe The Australia and New Zealand Gap Pack Work your Way Around the World www.raleighinternational.org Files on International Exchange Schemes www.prospects.ac.uk.links/countries