Theatre Studies Careers and Employability Service Nicola Urquhart Careers Adviser October 2012

What we will cover: What is employability ? Options with your degree Graduate schemes Using social media How the Careers and Employability Service can support you Wider University initiatives Action points

What is Employability? ‘A set of attributes, skills and knowledge that all labour market participants should possess to ensure they have the capability of being effective in the workplace – to the benefit of themselves, their employer and the wider economy.’ (CBI, March 2009)

Changing world of work: Global economy More career changes New technology/social media Roles change Changes to graduate recruitment

Employers increasingly focusing on attributes in addition to traditional employability skills Successful candidates need to be able to demonstrate these attributes on their applications and articulate them at interview Your degree can help you to do this!

What skills and attributes do employers want? Transferrable skills Communication (oral, written) Negotiation Team working Planning and organisation Time management Leadership Problem solving Attributes Adaptability (flexibility) Energy Drive and resilience Confidence Reliability Enthusiasm and passion Self awareness and confidence

What do drama graduates do? Actor Stage manager Arts administrator Drama teacher Television production assistant Radio presenter

What do drama graduates do? Advertising manger Personnel manager Journalist Market researcher Events manager Publisher PR officer Charities administrator And many more!

Graduate Schemes Many to choose from… Especially common in business, finance and law 40% of opportunities open to graduates from any degree discipline Majority ask for a 2.1(some also request UCAS points) Majority of deadlines before end of year Common selection procedures

Example graduate Scheme (Asda) Finance Human Resources IT Logistics Marketing Property Purchasing Retailing

Example Graduate scheme (Bloomberg ) Finance IT Media Sales

Example graduate scheme: DIFD Engineering Finance General Management IT Purchasing Research and Development

Others… European commission Loreal Lidl Mars Civil Service NHS Rolls-Royce Sainsbury’s Savills Sky Teach First National Audit Office MI5 Publicis UK IMG Media Ltd Vocus Accenture The Co-operative Redrow Smith & Williamson

GRADUATE SALARIES 2012  Arcadia – retail management £18,500 - £23,000  Boots - brand/buying/marketing grad scheme £24,000 + £1k welcome!  Barclays Bank - future leaders development programme £36k (+£8k bonus!)  Civil Service - up to £27,000  Explore Learning - education management £21,000  Exxon Mobil - graduate schemes £34,000  FiveTen Group - recruitment £20-£25k  GCHQ - defence research £25,000 (+ benefits)  IBM - range of schemes £27,000 - £32,000  Jaguar Land Rover - purchasing grad scheme £27k  John Lewis - buying/retail management/merchandising graduate schemes £25,000  L’Oreal - management training scheme £28,000  McDonald’s - trainee business manager £18,500-21,500  MI5 - £24,750 + benefits - varies by function!  Motability - £28,500 (+ joining bonus!)  Slaughter & May - training contract £38,000  Waitrose - retail management £25,000

Key features of working in the creative sector Self employment ‘Portfolio career’ Reliance on networks/contacts Professional attitude and approach required CV/ portfolio of work necessary Majority of opportunities are gained speculatively

Speculative approach Produce a professional, graduate level CV Identify companies/contacts to approach Prepare a suitable covering letter Make phone contacts to find out who to send your cv to and get their e mail address ALWAYS follow up Use a combination of approaches Consider producing a creative CV, however get the content right before focusing on the design Be persistent!

Social media Social Media: “an umbrella term that defines the various activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos, and audio.” Enabling conversations Facilitating discussions

Why should you be using social media? Enables you to build links and to learn about an industry and potential employers Allows you to connect to networks and explore possibilities Some employers will expect you be using it e.g. the media, advertising, publishing and many more. Can provide you with an excellent platform to showcase your knowledge and interest in a career area. Allows you to make an impression (good and bad)

Some platforms to consider Linkedin Increase your awareness of the sector, link with potential recruiters Twitter Follow recruiters, twitjobsearch Blogging Demonstrate your commitment, business knowledge and passion.

Why use LinkedIn? Exploring career ideas Finding out about an employer and their competition Professional networking Opportunity to join groups For self marketing and increasing your visibility Asking for advice Staying in touch/reconnecting

Your LinkedIn Profile Setting up a profile go to and enter your details. Be sure to include: Profile photo Profile summary/ Professional headline Education details Details of current and past job roles/volunteering/ internships etc “You are 40 times more likely to receive connections if your profile is 100% complete” Denise Taylor ‘How to Use LinkedIn to find a new job”

Getting started - Networking You start by adding people you know in the “real world” Connect with others with similar interests or goals Explore 1 st and 2 nd degree connections

Finding out about organisations/groups Companies/Organisations: Search organisations and find out more about their line of work Learn more about an organisation, access their vacancies Groups Find out more by joining groups Ask questions, answer questions, find out what people in the industry you are interested in are talking about

Useful information Training Videos:   step video to success New Users Starter Guide  Webinars: 

What is ? Twitter is a form of micro-blogging Twitter gives you 140 characters per ‘tweet’ to say what’s on your mind You can follow people/companies/ recruiters who interest you. Gather an audience

Ideas on who to follow: Companies/employers you are interested in working for Industry experts/bloggers Professional networks and industry/professional publications Job sites and job boards Recruiters / head-hunters / HR personnel who are hiring for the roles you're

What is Blogging? A personal diary, a political soapbox,a collection of links, your memo to the world – a website you update on a regular basis.

Your Blog Get an account eg. Write a paragraph post explaining who you are Tell your friends, lecturers and if you feel confident potential employers about your blog Respond to comments Link posts to things in the news and media When you post – tell the world (Linkedin, Facebook, twitter, etc) Keep at it

What employers say… "Few students are able to articulate what they have gained from their experience in higher education." (Association of Graduate Recruiters, 1995)

Producing a CV

What is the purpose of a CV? To inform the employer about your education, work experience, skills and interests To show how you meet the criteria so the employer can not deselect you To ‘sell’ your qualities and to persuade the employer to invite you to interview

Matching up your CV with the position/company It is not ‘one size fits all’, you need to tailor your CV to each position you apply for. Research the organisation. Do they have a mission statement or core values? What will they be looking for in you? Who works there at the moment? What are they passionate about?

What makes an effective CV and covering letter Right format Well presented Proof read/consistent tenses You have included all the necessary information Your skills and abilities are clearly evidenced Conveyed your understanding and enthusiasm for the job Targeted it to the job

What does it need to contain? Personal details Education and qualifications Work experience Skills Interests and additional information References

However don’t be constrained by headings. Scholarships/Awards Voluntary work Relevant experience Positions of responsibility Publication/Presentations Conferences attended Research skills Additional skills Languages

Hints on wording Avoid personal pronouns - No “I’s” Avoid producing a passive CV Start with verbs wherever possible Use short sentences & concise phrases Focus on accomplishments Refer to specific projects with quantifiable results

Make use of Action Verbs 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

How the Careers and Employability Service can help you.

What we do Careers Talks and Workshops Careers Library: Employer Directories, Occupational Profiles, Books etc Comprehensive Web Pages Careers Employability Award (CEM) on Moodle Vacancy Database Alumni Careers Network Annual Careers and Recruitment Fair Drop In - Quick Query Careers Guidance Interviews

Careers and Employability Service Web Site:

Careers and Employability Service Web Pages and Prospects What can I do with my degree in drama How to create a portfolio Interview Reports Interviews (includes assessment centres and psychometric tests etc.) Example CVs & Covering Letters Spelling and punctuation Prospects scription.htm scription.htm

Careers Employability Award (on moodle) The module takes about 12 hours to complete But this can be done at your own pace You do this by completing: 9 quizzes 3 short assignments 1 feedback form

“I liked the fact that the assignments relate to how you would fill in answers on a graduate job application step by step and provides examples of how to fill it in.” “I really enjoyed the quizzes. They effectively highlighted the gaps in my knowledge, as many of the answers surprised me. I also found the module on creating my own CV very useful, these skills will be invaluable for tailoring my CV to particular jobs.” “There is a wealth of information about everything; I especially liked the individual information about specific job types and the advice given about interview skills.” Comments from students who have completed the award.

Attend Careers Talks and Workshops. How to make effective presentations Commercial awareness Postgraduate study Summer Internships More information available

Employers visiting campus Examples this term include: MBDA Bloomberg RAF Teach First Majestic Wine NHS PriceWaterhouseCoopers

Careers and Employability Service Fair Thursday 1 st November 2-5pm Eliot Great Hall. Chance to meet employers and hear about opportunities

Vacancy Database All vacancies sent to the Careers and Employability Service by employers, whether for graduate jobs, sandwich placements or vacation work/internships are entered on this database which offers: alerts of new vacancies which may interest you Employers notifying vacancies are often specifically targeting Kent graduates, so competition for jobs is lower than on other vacancy sites

Kent Grads KentGrads - database of companies in Kent who employ graduates, and who may, from time to time, have vacancies. It is not a list of current vacancies, but a resource to help you find possible employers. The site can list all the companies in the database grouped in one of a number of ways: by location in Kent, by the criteria you specify or by keywords. For example: if you can remember the surname of a particular contact at a company, but are unsure of the company name.

Careers Network Helps current students gain an insight into careers through contact with alumni. Information and advice by letter/phone/ , work- shadowing. Visit the Careers Centre and ask to use the Careers Network.

Speak to an adviser: Quick query, drop in and speak to an adviser 10.30am pm and 2.00pm-4pm Monday to Friday. E and an adviser will respond to your query. You can also book a longer career guidance appointment over the phone or pop in.

Stay up-to-date with what is happening Employability Newsletter Follow us on Facebook at University of Kent Student Employability Follow us on Twitter

Employability Points Over 200 rewards in scheme from 86 sponsor companies Internships, work experience, training experiences, project placements, vouchers Get involved – Get rewarded!

Kent Union supports graduate employability in a number of ways - Offering Volunteering Opportunities Kent Student Certificate in Volunteering Stand Out training Employability and Volunteering Toolkit

Choosing a Career (Prospects planner)

Action Points Research the type of opportunities that are available. Produce a high quality CV and covering letter If you are using LinkedIn don’t leave your profile half finished Do make sure applications are of a high quality If you are unsure of your future plans consider doing ‘Prospects Planner’. Make use of the Careers and Employability Service

Questions

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