The University of Kent Careers and Employability Service Forensic Science CVs and Interviews You can download a copy of this presentation at

Telephone: Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9 to 5 including vacations Drop-in times (no appointment needed): to & 2 to 4 pm

Advantages of a Sandwich Placement. Gain lots of new skills: and have lots of evidence of these skills for final year applications. Usually get higher degree class. Gives you a chance to try out a career. Gain greatly in self confidence and maturity. Learn application and interview skills. Some employers only recruit placement students. May get a job offer for when you graduate Much lower unemployment rate after graduation and usually in much better quality jobs. Much better chance of becoming a forensic scientist. Usually well paid!

Sandwich Placements Need to apply early in second year (e.g. GSK by Mid October!) Prepare CV over summer. Need to apply widely, not just to companies in Kent. FS students have gone on placement to hospitals, Proctor and Gamble and other top companies. Placements page

Sources of Placements s from Chris Shepherd FS Placement Coordinator. Chris will help you to find placements, but you have to apply yourself: he can’t spoon-feed Kent University Vacancy Database Science Placements page Speculative CVs: use Forensic Science careers page Science Recruitment Agencies New Scientist Royal Society of Chemistry - Chemistry World has job vacancies

How to apply Science CV for speculative applications and smaller companies. On-line application form for most big companies Pick up our CV booklet from the Careers and Employability Service

Skills gained on a Forensic Science Degree Gather and analyse relevant information from a wide variety of sources Identify and propose solutions to problems Work with others in the preparation and presentation of group work (group projects) Project management Technical skills Work independently (individual projects) Communicate with others in a clear and articulate manner Present ideas and arguments verbally in presentations and seminars, and informal discussions

“Sell” your degree on your CV List relevant modules (plus marks if good!) Projects – especially if relevant Laboratory skills/IT skills Soft skills – evidence of teamwork, project management, problem solving etc. For non-science jobs (e.g. banking) you would need a different CV focusing on your soft skills more than technical skills.

SCIENCE COVERING LETTERS First Paragraph  State the job you’re applying for.  Where you found out about it.  When you're available to start work (& end if it's a placement) Second Paragraph  Why your interested in that type of work  Why the company attracts you (if it's a small company say you prefer to work for a small friendly organisation!) Third Paragraph  Summarise your strengths and how they might be an advantage to the organisation.  Relate your skills to the job. Last Paragraph  Mention any dates that you won't be available for interview  Thank the employer and say you look forward to hearing from them soon.

SCIENCE INTERVIEWS Interview may be “on the hoof” Technical questions: often on projects – revise these carefully.

PREPARATION - THE KEY TO SUCCESS  Research the employer and the job  Prepare answers to obvious questions  Think of your unique selling points  Prepare some questions to ask  Dress smartly Science interviews page

On-line videos  APPLICATIONS  INTERVIEWS  ON-LINE APPLICATIONS  SELECTION CENTRES  All last about 25 minutes and are excellent!  now streamed on-line

What can I do with a Degree in Forensic Science?  What graduates in your subject did after leaving Kent  Jobs related to your subject  Employers and vacancy sources

Moodle Science Careers Employability Award Much lower unemployment rate for graduates who completed the award ALL forensic science students are expected to complete this!

Moodle Science Careers Employability Award 14 Quizzes: need 75% to pass but allowed unlimited attempts Complete 3 of the following seven assignments  Employability skills quiz  Employability skills quiz: drag & drop  How to develop the skills employers want?  Test your spelling & grammar!  What makes you happy at work?  How commercially aware are you?  Special interests topic lesson  Interview preparation  Practice interview  What are the most common interview questions?  Aptitude tests & assessment centres  CV quiz  CVs & covering letters drag & drop quiz  Career planning drag & drop quiz  Analyse your skills & learn how to make top quality applications  Do you want to live to work or work to live?  Researching careers  Choosing a career  Submit a CV  Social media  Action planning

Comments from students who have completed the award You get a really nice certificate! It was so easy, quick and I learned a lot. Without realising, you have finished the course and have already put together a very good CV and covering letter. It really blew my mind with some ideas I’ve never known before, such as portfolio working and working from home. I never thought about obtaining happiness from my work before. It would be mad to apply for a job or attend an interview without doing it! Before the course I had only a vague idea of my career path and opportunities. Now I am applying for summer internships and know how to effectively sell my skills to a prospective employer and have a much more focused plan for my future. The module is very, very useful! I really love how it makes you to think about your personality and helps you to identify your strengths and weaknesses. I found the module to be highly thought-provoking as it really encouraged me to consider how my degree will benefit my future and what I can be doing now to improve my graduate employment prospects. I enjoyed the depth of the module. It went far beyond some general tips on how to write a good CV and prepare for an interview. Rather it went in to detail about the whole process of graduate job search from the beginning to the end. It was very instructive. The amount of time put into this is astounding! I actually spoke to friends from other universities who said they wished they had something like this. It has made me feel a lot more confident when it comes to applications and interviews and has also made me think about skills that I didn't think I had before. I recently had a very successful interview largely because I put the advice on the module into practice.

Bruce Woodcock  A careers adviser is on duty for short (15 minute) consultations in the Careers and Employability Service any weekday morning or afternoon from 2 pm to 4 pm. You don't need an appointment to see the duty adviser at these times. Just ask at Careers Reception to see them. 

Other points  Check s regularly as I will send you s on Monday afternoons on vacation work, careers talks, vacancies etc.  Get actively involved in university life so you have evidence of teamwork, organising, leadership etc. skills for your CV.  Try to get a good degree: Upper Second class (usually 60% +) for most employers.  Get laboratory experience  Apply early: closing dates are often in the first term.

The University of Kent Careers and Employability Service Forensic Science CVs and InterviewsForensic Science CVs and Interviews You can download a copy of this presentation atYou can download a copy of this presentation at