The Careers Service. SUMMER INTERNSHIPS – MAKE IT COUNT! Helen Thorpe, Careers Service

CONTENT WHY DO A SUMMER PLACEMENT? WHAT IT INVOLVES? HOW TO FIND A SUMMER PLACEMENT? ON SPEC/CV/COVER LETTERS/APPLICATION FORMS SUPPORT AVAILABLE FROM CAREERS

Facts about Summer Placements Structured, project based work experience within a company Open to students from any degree subject Undertake in your own time Some are unpaid... International students can undertake Highly competitive.. Some students do 2!

Why do a Summer Placement ? Stepping stone for doing a year out placement or even a job! Obtain references for future job Learn about the world of work Insight into your industry Improve Industrial Knowledge Decide if this is the right career path for you Build on your skills – academic theory to practical Develop transferable skills – eg team working = more employable Valuable networking skills

THE PRACTICALITIES Start applying for summer placements in your second year – but can be earlier Closing Dates – October to December but can be all year round.. Tell your tutor/dept if you secure one Students can work overseas – ERASMUS Work Scheme You can work overseas – but make sure you get insurance – medical/travel/employer insurance/visa advice No support from University whilst you are on summer placement as it is not part of your University course Record the skills you develop whilst on placement and update your CV International students can work full time in their holidays

SOME EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE SUMMER PLACEMENT SCHEMES...

Where to look for a summer placement? All vacancies – including international are: Recruitment Websites – for science/it/techonology/engwww.gradcracker.co.uk Targetjobshttp://targetjobs.co.uk/work-experiencehttp://targetjobs.co.uk/work-experience For international placements – use Going global – Milkround.com – - visit the Internship Zone Inside Careers Website,

Where to look for a summer placement? Step – – A national scheme advertising project based work Politics internships - Direct to company websites Social Media – LinkedIn Face Book (vacancies) and Twitter (research/developments)

International placement? – Advertises a range including community development, marketing, medicine and engineering. - Advertises placements and permanent jobs in Brussels, mostly connected with the Commission or with lobbying organisations. International Association for the Exchange of Students – Goingglobal - hphttp:// hp

The Careers Service.

The Careers Service. at or via the link on the Careers tab in MUSE. Announcements are shown here, including news about employers and vacancies NEW REGISTRATIONS BY 29/11/13 COULD WIN AN IPAD MINI !

The Careers Service. Search on work experience

CHECK YOUR S!

Different Recruitment Approaches On Spec – no vacancies Cover letter and CV for advertised vacancy Application Form for advertised vacancy What skills are employers looking for

ON SPEC... Can be a way into organisations that don’t advertise work experience Why are you approaching this organisation ? What skills and experiences can you bring? Use your covering letter to explain what you want to get out of your work experience State when you are available, and how long for Look at the type of skills the employer values in its full-time employees and structure your CV and covering letter accordingly

Employer requirements... SKILLS & COMPETENCIES Common sense Analytical problem solving Interpersonal Communication Team work Leadership Negotiation Autonomy Customer relationships Commercial awareness Time management Organisation skills Project management IT Each competency/skill may have a series of behaviours

Employer requirements... SKILLS & COMPETENCIES GSK – “high performance behaviours” Achieving excellence: enable and drive change, continuous improvement, customer focus. Engaging and developing others: building relationships, developing people, teamwork. Innovative thinking: information search (ie gathering information from a range of sources before making a decision), creating business solutions, flexible thinking. Leading people: influence, building confidence, communication. Rolls-Royce – “Core Behaviours Framework” Breadth and business understanding: commercial awareness and business knowledge. Courage, integrity and leadership: commitment to ethical practices. Delivering and managing work: leadership skills. Influence and working together: communication skills. Judgement and common sense: ability to analyse and reason.

Employer requirements... SKILLS & COMPETENCIES Deloitte – “Areas of Competency” Communication Commercial Awareness Planning and Organisational Skills Adaptability Problem Solving – analyse, distil and solve practical problems, generate new ideas and make sound judgements in complex situations Transferable skills

Covering letters for on spec or advertised vacancies No more than one side A4 Addressed to a named individual Clearly explain why you are sending your CV Tailored to specific job : −Say why the job interests you −Indicate why you are interested in them −Give them your key selling points Suitable ending to show enthusiasm Check spelling and grammar before sending! 12/05/2015© The University of Sheffield Careers Service

Use powerful language in CVs, covering letters and in application forms Accomplished Budgeted Contributed Designed Established Implemented Initiated Influenced Investigated Managed Maintained Negotiated Persuaded Specialised Tutored Upgraded 12/05/2015© The University of Sheffield Careers Service

CV writing checklist There is no ideal format – 2 pages is the norm. Look at alternative layouts Use reverse chronology Account for all ‘time out’ Check spelling, punctuation and grammar ! It is usual to include 2 referees – 1 academic & 1 employment related or a character referee Often accompanied by a covering letter 12/05/2015© The University of Sheffield Careers Service

Preparation – Application Forms Researching the opportunity Why do you want this type of job and to work for this particular employer? What are the competencies that the employer is looking for? Analyse job descriptions and person specifications. Check their website. Make informal enquiries. Internet searches. Use networks. Etc, etc… Use your initiative! 12/05/2015© The University of Sheffield Careers Service

Application forms – what to expect Usually on-line, but can be paper based May ask for CV but application form often instead of CV Structured – boxes to complete, word / character limits Others more ‘open space’ for free text May be a time limit for completion May seem daunting – to ‘weed out’ the faint-hearted! Application won’t get you the job – just to the next stage

Competency based questions: EGs Give details of a team that you have been involved in. What was your role? How did you promote collaboration? Describe a time when you had a tight deadline to meet and your plans were being constantly disrupted. How did you handle this situation and what was the outcome? Describe a situation where you have met resistance to a decision you have made. How did you persuade others to see your point of view? 12/05/2015© The University of Sheffield Careers Service

Competency-based questions ‘Describe a time when you had to work as part of a team and things did not go to plan. What happened?’ Do your answers have STAR quality? S ituation – suitable and clear / concise T ask – objective? your role? A ction – what did YOU do and how did it R esults – positive outcome? objective met? learning? 12/05/2015© The University of Sheffield Careers Service 25

Evidence - use examples from: Group work / projects from your degree Work experience Gap Year / travel Voluntary work Social activities /positions of responsibility 12/05/2015© The University of Sheffield Careers Service

Application forms - summary First impressions count – check spellings! Follow the instructions Complete all sections (“we wouldn’t ask if we didn’t want to know!”) Do not cut and paste – tailor to the company you are applying to Always use the company/job requirements/competencies Understand the question we’re asking (Leadership vs. Teamwork) Give specific examples as evidence Draw experience from all parts of your life Give yourself plenty of time

SUMMARY  Research the job role and the company  Know what they are looking for  Understand what they mean!  Prepare your evidence to show you have what they want Selection process designed to assess these competences WRITE about them on application form TALK about them at interview TESTED at psychometric test DEMONSTRATE them at assessment centre 12/05/2015© The University of Sheffield Careers Service

Resources & support Careers Service publication – ‘Applications’ Careers Service website: including online talks, DVDs, example CVs, covering letters and application form answers Prospects website – Job application advice CV, covering letter and application form review available at Careers Service (Tel ) Careers Service offers take-away information, a CV checking service and workshops on CVs/applications to support you through this process. Careers Service website: 12/05/2015© The University of Sheffield Careers Service

12/05/2015© The University of Sheffield Careers Service J 6 th - 15 th November Meet major employers at applications talks and workshops: Unilever, Teach First, PwC, IBM, Siemens, Morrisons & more Learn how to create a winning application and find out what employers are looking for Book from 14 th October at Succeed at Applications

12/05/2015© The University of Sheffield Careers Service Support available to help you secure your placement : ENGINEERING STUDENTS EVERY THURSDAY PM in IPO ORANGE ROOM, MAPPIN BUILDING ECONOMICS STUDENTS EVERY WEDNESDAY 12-1PM, ROOM 225, ECONOMICS BUILDING, Placement Drop in Sessions Every Tuesday throughout Semester 1 starting from 15 th October pm in the Careers Service, No appointment necessary ALL PLACEMENT VACANCIES ARE ADVERTISED HERE:- DETAILS OF PRESENTATION CAN BE FOUND HERE

The Careers Service. Take a Placement Year as part of your Degree Find out more:- Thursday 14th November LT2, Mappin Building 1.30pm-2.30pm

12/05/2015© The University of Sheffield Careers Service Careers Service Glossop Road ( behind Student Union,Open 9am - 5pm Mon to Fri (11am – 5pm Tues) Thanks for listening Any questions?