Job-hunting Workshop Jenny Keaveney Careers Advisory Service

Introduction n Choosing a Career n Where to look for jobs n CV Preparation n Interview Skills n Careers Advisory Service facilities n Survival Strategies

Choosing a Career Careers Advisory Service

n “I was brought up to believe that, if at first you don't succeed, you must try, try and try again. But this is totally wrong. If you don't succeed at first, then by all means give it a really good go, but then give up and try something else. I have tried seven careers so far and failed at six. If you give up enough things that you are bad at, then by the law of averages you should eventually find something you are rather better at." n Matthew Parris, Times journalist

What is the ideal job?

Some popular career choices for graduates

Some jobs you may not have heard of.. n Energy Procurement Administrator n Merchandiser n Business Development Analyst n Paraplanner n Operations Executive n Brand Development Executive n Perfusionist

Where do I start? You could: n start from yourself and work outwards n start from your opportunities –for graduates in your specific subject or –for graduates in general and work back n Or, combine the two!

Starting with yourself …. n Your interests n Your skills n Your values n Your personal circumstances n Any other factors

Opportunities with your degree n What do graduates in your subject do? n What careers will use your subject knowledge? BUT …. n There is more to you than your degree!

Starting with your opportunities.. n One-third of advertised graduate jobs open to graduates in any subject n For example: advertising, accountancy, banking, marketing, personnel, public sector management, n Plus all the unadvertised graduate jobs! n Even more opportunities after experience and training

Putting the two together.. n Relate your skills, interests and values to careers and jobs n Use computer guidance systems e.g. Prospects Planner n Look at job ads and job descriptions n Talk to people about their work and how they got their jobs n Use careers websites and the Careers Information Room n Get first-hand insight into careers of potential interest to you

Choosing a Career - summary n Don’t panic! n Don’t feel pressured n A career path does not have to follow a straight and direct line n Further information: – –

Where to look for jobs Careers Advisory Service

Where to look for jobs n What are you looking for? –Graduate training schemes? –Other graduate jobs? –Internships? –Other temporary jobs?

Where to look n Vacancy sites – graduate and/or general n Graduate directories n Employer sites n Specialist resources n Careers Fairs n Job Centres n Recruitment agencies

Vacancy Sites - graduate n n n n www guardianuk300.com n

Specialist resources n Professional bodies n Magazines n Specialist directories n Specialist recruitment agencies n

CAREERS FAIRS Graduate Events The Summer Graduate Fair ExCel, London, 15 & 16 June TARGETjobs/The Careers Group The London Graduate Fair Business Design Centre, Islington 22 & 23 June For fairs elsewhere in the UK, see

Recruitment Agencies n The Graduate Recruitment Bureau n Reed Graduates n Brampton Stafford Recruitment recruitment-4-graduate-jobs.co.uk n The Graduate Recruitment Company n Job Centres n

What else can you do? Network! n ask your friends n ask your relatives n ask your “network” n ask a past Kent graduate n ask a careers adviser

Any questions?

How to Prepare a CV Careers Advisory Service

Introduction n What is a CV? n When is it used? n What does it contain? n Who do you send it to? n What about the covering letter?

What is a CV? n One of many ways to apply n Your marketing tool n Flexible & targeted n Available in different styles: –Chronological –Skills-based –Different in different countries

When is it used? n As the main tool for on-spec applications n When requested by an employer n In support of other application information n Never without a letter n via as attachment n When your Referee needs more info

What does it contain? n Personal details n Academic background n Work Experience n Interests & achievements n Additional information n References

John Andrews 33 Union Street, Manchester, M6 3AE. Tel Nationality: British EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS University of Kent at Canterbury BA (Hons.) Economics and Accounting 2:1. Final Year Subjects: Economics, Business Law and Taxation Project: "Economic Consequences of the Decline in the Kent Mining Community" Manchester Community College. A Levels: Mathematics B, History B, Economics C. AS Level: Geography D St. John’s Boys School, Manchester. 8 GCSEs (grades A*-C) including Mathematics, English and French. WORK EXPERIENCE Summer 2010 Tourist Information Office, Canterbury. Helping tourists, working in Bureau de Change, booking theatre and concert tickets. Summer 2009 Canterbury City Council. Accounts Clerk in Treasurer’s office. Dealing with enquiries, using computerised systems present Simple Simon’s Public House, Canterbury. Bar work throughout the year serving food and drinks to customers and cashing up. ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS Secretary of the Accounting Society, involved booking speakers. Organised a charity fun run for Rag Week – raised £150. Enjoy competitive sport and play for the University football team. Other interests include current affairs and studying the Stock Market. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IT Skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, , WWW etc. Good level of spoken French. Full, clean driving licence. REFERENCES Available on request

John Andrews 33 Union Street, Manchester, M6 3AE. Tel EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS University of Kent at Canterbury BA (Hons.) Economics and Accounting 2:1 Final Year Subjects: Economics, Business Law and Taxation Project: "Economic Consequences of the Closure of the Kent Coalfields" Manchester Community College. A Levels: Mathematics B, History B, Economics C. AS Level: Geography D St. John’s Boys School, Manchester. 8 GCSEs (grades A*-C) including Mathematics, English and French.

WORK EXPERIENCE Summer 2010 Tourist Information Office, Canterbury. Assisting visitors of many nationalities, booking theatre and concert tickets. Summer 2009 Canterbury City Council. Accounts Clerk in Treasurer’s office. Dealing with enquiries, using computerised systems present Simple Simon’s Public House, Canterbury. Bar work throughout the year serving food and drinks to customers and cashing up.

ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS Secretary of the Accounting Society, involved booking speakers. Organised a charity fun run for Rag Week, raising £500. Enjoy competitive sport and play for the University football team. Other interests include current affairs and studying the Stock Market. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IT: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, , etc. Good level of spoken French. Full, clean driving licence. REFERENCES Available on request

CV styles n Standard/Chronological n Skills-based n Computing/Online n Creative n Legal

Make your CV effective! n Target it on the job in question n Clear layout – not crowded n Short sentences & concise phrases n Focus on accomplishments n Give evidence - show results n Use personal power words/action verbs

Personal power words created instructed analysed produced negotiated designed calculated maintained administered controlled reviewed observed consolidated delivered founded increased studied invented supplied detected programmed recommended distributed developed solved prepared installed selected arranged formulated solved started

Who do you send it to? n Named company representative n Director/Manager of Personnel n Your referees n Others who request it - Recruitment agencies, Postgraduate admissions officers, Sponsorship/Funding bodies n By post, by or uploaded NEVER “To Whom it may Concern”

Common Mistakes! n Too long n Untargeted n Disorganised n Contains errors/missspellings n Too academically-focused

What about the covering letter? n One side of good quality A4 paper n Formal/conventional layout n Addressed to a named person n State position applied for & where advertised n Explain why applying n Convince the reader of your interest & suitability (egs!) n Give dates when available/can start n Sign off “Yours sincerely” (if sent to named person)

John Andrews 33 London Road Canterbury Kent CT2 8NE 1 st June 2011 Ms Verity Wise Graduate Recruitment Manager Great Big Bank Co. Anywhere Street London SW1 Job Reference Number (state this if it is mentioned in the advert) Dear Ms. Wise I am writing in response to your advertisement in “Prospects Finalist" for Graduate Trainees and enclose my CV for your consideration. I first became interested in retail banking through talking to a Kent graduate, currently in the second year of your Management Training programme, at the University Careers Fair. Since then, discussion with my careers adviser and with management staff at my local branch has confirmed my decision to aim for a career in this field. Through my degree course, I have been able to develop my interest in business together with my numeracy skills. While at University, I have also been able to utilise my skills in working with people through a variety of vacation jobs. My work at the Tourist Information Office was valuable in teaching me the importance of ascertaining customers’ needs and providing clear and accurate information. I will be available for interview if required at your convenience. I can be contacted at my college address (above) and look forward to hearing from you. Yours Sincerely John Andrews

Further Information n Careers Advisory Service website n CAS booklet “Making Applications” n Reference Books in Careers Service n DVDs “Your Job’s online” & “Looking Good on Paper” (available online at n and-cvs n

Employer’s Application Forms n Contents – up to employer n Often competency-based – see: n Common concerns (Degree class, A-level grades, alternative qualifications, nationality) n References n Submit online or download to complete

Interview Skills Careers Advisory Service

Introduction n What is an interview? n How do you prepare? n How should you dress? n The first two minutes … n The questions n What questions should you ask? n CAS facilities.

What is an interview? n Good news! - only a minority of candidates will be interviewed n “A conversation with a purpose” n Flexible – in length, structure etc n Stressful!

TYPES OF INTERVIEW n Face-to-face/Telephone n Formal/casual n Based around your career history … n.. or the competences required for the job n Stand-alone/part of an assessment centre

PREPARATION … is the key to success n Re-read employer information n Re-read your application n Prepare some questions to ask n Remind yourself why you find this career/employer attractive n Plan how you will travel n Dress neatly and smartly

n Conformity is the rule n Suits/smart casual? n Details count n Consider the employer! WHAT (NOT) TO WEAR

The first two minutes - using non-verbal communication n Make Eye Contact n Smile! n Shake hands n Standing/Sitting n Gestures/Fidgeting n Voice n Breathing!

THE QUESTIONS There are only two interview questions:  Can you do the job?  Why do you want the job? … but there are many ways of asking them!

CAN YOU DO THE JOB? n Do you have the right skills? n Do you have the right attitude? n Do you have the right experience? n Can you give us evidence of all the above?

CAN YOU DO THE JOB? n Explain a situation where you have demonstrated good relationship skills? n What makes a good [teacher/lawyer/manager etc] Do you have these qualities? n If you are in a team, what role would you like to be? n Give an example where you have been leader. n Give an example where you have come across a problem, and how have you solved it?

WHY DO YOU WANT THE JOB? n What do you know about this employer and this type of work? n What sort of person are you? n Have you done your research? n Have you carried out a realistic self- assessment? n Are you enthusiastic? n Avoid the obvious!

WHY DO YOU WANT THE JOB? n What do you know about this company? n Is there an element of your degree that enthused you to go into teaching? n Why do you want to be a patent attorney? What is the job of patent attorney? n What do you look for in choosing a company/job to apply to? n Why do you think you are particularly suited to/what appeals to you about marketing? n What are the names of our leading brands?

How to deal with difficult questions n Prepare for “obvious” questions … n … but expect the unexpected n Don’t panic! n Think! n The “No, but …” technique n Be positive; be honest; be yourself n There is often no right or wrong answer n Don’t be afraid to admit ignorance

Prepare for obvious questions n Why are you applying to us? n Why have you chosen IT/marketing etc.? n What makes you suitable for this job? n Tell me more about your relevant skills. n What other jobs are you applying for? n Where do you see yourself in five years? n Why did you choose your current employer? n Why are you leaving your present employment? n What have you got out of your job? n What do you do in your spare time? What do you get out of it?

What questions should you ask? n See the CAS booklet n Do ask a question! n Keep it brief n Ask about the work itself, not pay/perks n Prepare your questions in advance Tell them something about youself they don’t know!

FURTHER INFORMATION … In Print: n AGCAS Booklet “Going for Interviews” n CAS booklet, “Interview Skills” n Reference File No. 014: First Interviews Second Interviews and Selection Centres Interview Report Forms n Reference Books (kept at CAS Reception Desk) Insider Guide to Successful Interviews Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions

FURTHER INFORMATION … Other media: n Video: Making an Impact – the graduate job interview n (includes practice interviews and interview reports from Kent students)

Using the Careers Advisory Service Careers Advisory Service

The Careers Advisory Service n Where is the CAS? n Who works there? n What does it do? n How can it help me? n When can I use it?

Careers advisers n Jenny Keaveney n Tim Reed n Bruce Woodcock

What we offer … n careers guidance n job vacancy database n careers library n careers website – quick queries – careers interviews – computer-aided guidance

Careers Library n Helpdesk –help always available! n General information (e.g. help with applications & interviews) n Employer information n Occupational information n Postgraduate study information n DVDs, CDs, networked PCs, etc …..

SURVIVAL STRATEGIES n Don’t panic! n Be flexible n Plan a strategy for your job-hunting (& review it regularly) n Update your CV and revise it every time you use it to apply for a job n Continue to build up your skills and experience (stop-gap jobs, internships, work shadowing, etc) n Network - discuss your career ideas with as many people as possible n Use a variety of vacancy and information sources n Employ creative job-hunting techniques as well as conventional methods n Keep motivated and don’t give up! n Keep in touch with the Careers Service at Kent – and perhaps use your local University’s careers service too

Job-hunting Workshop Careers Advisory Service