Getting work experience Craig Phillips Careers Consultant, School of History, Classics and Archaeology Wednesday 21 th October

What we offer:  Information – online and in person and regular updates through social media and .  Advice and Guidance – 20/45 minute appointments bookable in advance - available in person/phone/Skype.  Programme of events – career fairs and festivals, employer led presentations, skills sessions, panel events and forums. Online/face-to- face personal development group sessions.  Access to internships, jobs and opportunities - vacancies database of graduate jobs, internships, placements, vacation work, part- time and seasonal employment. Opportunity to meet prospective employers

Key Messages for 3 rd Year HCA  There’s more to the work experience market than readily assumed.  Forward planning does not commit you to anything but makes subsequent decisions easier.  What you do over the next 2 years will really matter. Employers really value HCA degrees but will also beyond it.  Work experience is never wasted and is an essential part of marketing yourself effectively. Be resourceful, resilient and adaptable. Don’t undervalue your previous and current experiences: build on them

Key myths & misunderstandings of ‘Work Experience’  “I won’t get a graduate job without an internship”  Different ways of gaining experience  Not an automatic route to interview shortlist  “I should only look for internships”  Terminology and accessibility varies across sectors  Concentrate on quality and depth, not the name  “Work experience is hard to find”  Go beyond established graduate recruiters  Take a creative and multi-faceted approach  “There’s no point if I don’t know what to do”  Work experience is never wasted  Get help to generate ideas (H Stringer, 2013) Reality

Why is work experience important? What are employers looking for from HCA students? “ A degree alone is not enough. Employers are looking for more than just technical skills and knowledge of a degree discipline. They particularly value skills such as communication, teamworking and problem-solving. Job applicants who can demonstrate that they have developed these skills will have a real advantage." Digby Jones, Former Director-General CBI “Academic performance is just one factor we take into account. Work experience, positions of responsibility and career motivation are as, if not more, important…” KPMG “We value any experience that allows students to stretch themselves, push their limits and reach new goals – this could be a placement or internship, a summer spent travelling or a gap year project.” Shell

The value of work experience Self-Awareness: Broadens Your Horizons & Tests Ideas Insights: Career & Company ‘Extended Interview’ Develops Your Contacts & Networks Skills Acquisition & Development: Builds on your existing skills and attributes Evidence for Employers CVs & Covering Letters Application Forms Interviews

Work Experience is an Umbrella Term Work Experience Internships Work Shadowing Volunteering (Formal & Informal) Part-time Jobs/ Vacation Work or Placements Extracurricular Activities Personal Projects/ Business Competitions Company Insight Days/Spring Week/Courses

Work Experience - Key questions to ask yourself:  What have you already done?  What did you learn about yourself and your skills?  What are your career areas of interest? What’s on offer?  Where are the opportunities? Are there deadlines?  What sorts of experience are useful?  What skills gaps do you currently have?  What experiences would you want to undertake?  What do you want to get out of work experience and your wider time at university? Remember all experience is valid

Action Planning: Penultimate Year – Get Ahead  Explore your career options  Investigate further study and funding  Get part-time work/organise your free time and vacations  Develop your CV  Think ahead

Finding Internships & Work Experience:

Work Experience Market:  Advertised: Part of strategy, myth that all work experience needs to be advertised.  Examples include: My Career Hub; Meet employers on campus; University opportunities (such as Employ.Ed) Scot Grad; Prospects; TargetJobs; Rate my placement; Individual company websites

 Unadvertised: It exists, don’t ignore it – accounts for significant proportion of market. Many SME’s, 3 rd sector and local employers lack high-volume advertising or recruitment budgets. They offer alternative work experience opportunities: but you have to find them first.  How to go about it: Think about what experience you want and where Research suitable organisations Utilise contacts and networks for support Prepare tailored CVs and Covering Letters for Speculative Approaches Think about what to ask for Have a positive mindset and attitude Market yourself effectively Work Experience Market: work work

Work Experience Case Studies: Kerry, Tom, Alexandra  Your HCA predecessors: the value of work experience  Advertised and Speculative Applications  Different sectors at different times during 2014/15  Enabled a closer look and hands on experience in broad and evolving fields  Led to offers of graduate and freelance work  Work experience is not exclusive to professional companies and businesses.

Kerry  ‘The work placement (at a local design and publishing agency) was incredibly easy to obtain, flexible and of great use’  ‘Although entering new environments to gain work experience can seem a daunting prospect, the rewards of realising the image of your future work life are vital’  ‘It is impossible to predict where work experience will take you. It may even confuse you to find that elements of your dream job are not what you expected them to be, but it is through this confusion that you can clarify your vision, and make informed choices about what your future will be’

Alexandra  ‘Work experience has allowed me to develop useful, applicable skills and learn what I want out of my career.’  ‘I have been able to see first-hand work cultures and daily routines across many types of companies and in several industries.’  ‘This summer, I was an intern on the Strategic Communications team at a PR firm in New York City; I learned about the team, their experiences, practical PR skills and soft-skills that I could apply to most any job. All of this knowledge has allowed me make more informed decisions about my future career.’

Tom  ‘I worked on a 10 week internship at Tesco Head Office in Summer 2014, delivering on a project that affected every store in the UK.’  ‘It was great to see that my work had a real impact on the business, and that being an intern doesn't mean running around making coffee!’  ‘It certainly helped my career development - I was offered a place on their graduate scheme where I'm currently working now!’

 Employ.Ed On Campus: For 2 nd, 3 rd, and penultimate year students across University departments during the summer. Advertised from Feb  Employ.Ed in an SME: Every student up to 2 years after graduation across diverse full and part-time internships in small to medium high potential businesses throughout the year/  Employ.Ed Overseas: Currently sourcing exclusive opportunities for 8-12 week internships is top overseas businesses. Last year students worked on projects in India, Japan, Thailand, Switzerland, USA and China.

Work Experience Award: Tuesday 27th 3 – 5pm. Careers Service More info and link to the required application form via the Careers website: do-it Involved in activities alongside your studies? Take part in the Edinburgh Award to get your participation recognised, your skills developed and your experiences enhanced…

Use the Careers Service  Main Library, 3 rd floor: 9.15am – 4.45pm (Tuesdays 11am - 7pm)  Drop-ins and bookable appointments available daily  MyCareerHub –  ‘Q&A’ function  Appointments, events and opportunities  - labour market information  Craig Phillips:  Office hours: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm