Residential To interview and beyond....

Who, what and where Final year undergraduates from all courses are invited to take part Final year undergraduates from all courses are invited to take part Course is two days long and includes a night away Course is two days long and includes a night away Numbers dictate run three times, twice in Montrose for mainstream courses, once in Edzell for BSc CNMD Numbers dictate run three times, twice in Montrose for mainstream courses, once in Edzell for BSc CNMD

The process

Application First Interview First Interview Assessment Centre Assessment Centre Final & Technical Interview Final & Technical Interview Employment Offer Employment Offer Activity weeks And tutor groups Residential Meeting Employer Expectations

Programme Team logic exercise Team construction project Team decision making activity Team survival challenge Talks from employers Talks from graduates Careers on Assessment Centres DVD on Assessment Centres Social intercours e Social intercours e Social intercours e Interview skills and professional awareness Interview skills and professional awareness

Evaluation Best aspects Best aspects The whole experience (1); the team exercises (28); seeing how people act in different circumstances (1); insight into what to expect at assessment centres (14) – types of interviews/testing methods, how to present yourself (10, The whole experience (1); the team exercises (28); seeing how people act in different circumstances (1); insight into what to expect at assessment centres (14) – types of interviews/testing methods, how to present yourself (10, what to prepare for; hearing about RGU graduate experiences (14); industrial presentations (12). the chance to ask questions and make contacts (1), working with new people (1), socialising with staff (1) what to prepare for; hearing about RGU graduate experiences (14); industrial presentations (12). the chance to ask questions and make contacts (1), working with new people (1), socialising with staff (1)

Evaluation Worst aspects Worst aspects Nothing (28); Nothing (28); the presentations (25); long breaks in the programme (1), the presentations (25); long breaks in the programme (1), having to pay £10 contribution and no free bar (1), having to pay £10 contribution and no free bar (1), tower building exercise (2), tower building exercise (2), careers centre talk (1), careers centre talk (1), too much alcohol consumption in evening (1). too much alcohol consumption in evening (1).

SAANDSD The Residential Course was a worthwhile experience Overall, the course was less enjoyable than I had expected The accommodation and food provided were excellent My time would have been better spent working on my Honours Project The opportunity to meet new people in an informal situation away from RGU was a welcome change Overall ratings of guest speakers (Caveat three groups all had different speakers) The guest speakers raised important issues that I had not previously considered The evening presentation by RGU graduates made me less confident about entering employment The RGU graduates clarified my view of the role of the engineer and technologist in industry and research The team exercises made me aware of deficiencies in my group working skills The team exercises were a useful insight into the way people react when under pressure The workshop run by the Careers Service left me confused about the employee selection process The course would have been just as effective if it had been held in Aberdeen without the overnight stay