1. The Grad Edge Award: everything you need to know, and more!

2. What is the Award? Why should you do it? How can you do it?

3. The Award is all about enhancing your employability: Designed based on feedback from employers, students and academics. Focuses on work experience and skills development.

4. We asked employers: What makes a good graduate into A good degree (of course!) but also......so we included all of this in the new Grad Edge Award! a great graduate? Graduate-level skills and behaviours Career management skills Work experience Self-confidence and self- awareness Commitment and passion!

5. Some of your Grad Edge Award Resources: www.southwales.ac.uk /gradedge UniLife Connect Via: USW Careers website Moodle UniLife

6. Attend an event or watch the Grad Edge video to understand everything you need to know Complete an interactive skills assessment to understand your strengths and weaknesses Set your goals for your work experience Undertake & capture 70+ hours’ experience Round off your experience by obtaining an employer/ client reference Reflect on the skills you’ve developed during your experience – how far have you come? Complete two application form questions using your experience Showcase your new skills and experience by creating a CV Get help & practice dealing with Graduate interview questions Book your USW Careers 1-2-1 appointment for; Feedback on your CV & answers to application form questions Undertake a quick mock interview to practice your interview skills Review your overall progress on your Grad Edge Award journey

7. What do we mean by experience? At least 35 hours’ Career-related Make up the difference to 70 hours with Employability-related Paid or unpaid work experience/short placements/Internships Placements - arranged as part of your degree (ie 1 semester, year out etc) Live Projects (providing they are based on a real employer/client brief from your chosen sector. The project must be verified by your Head of Student Experience (or nominated academic), and endorsed by an employer/client reference) Self-employed activity via Bright Ideas (verified by Bright Ideas team) Paid or unpaid work (e.g. part time work verified by employer) Volunteering (verified by volunteering organisation) Clubs or Societies (in a position of responsibility - verified by the Student Union) Peer Mentoring on a USW scheme (verified by a USW staff member who runs scheme) Student Voice Rep/Course Rep/ USW Ambassador roles (verified by a USW staff member who runs scheme) “Research shows that without work experience 52% of graduate employers rate your chances of receiving a job offer as 'not very likely’” (www.ratemyplacement.co.uk)

8. Tools for you to use! Interactive Employability Resources include: CV builder Interview simulator Elevator pitch builder Industry reports Interview tips www.southwales.ac.uk/careers

9. Why am I telling you all of this? We’re really hoping that as influencers and representatives of other students, you will ‘champion’ the Award for us. Actually do the Award yourselves! Promote the Award and its benefits to other students. Lecture shout outs? Social media mentions? Case studies or testimonials for our website? Are there any other things you can do that we haven’t thought of??

10. More Information: www.southwales.ac.uk/gradedge www.southwales.ac.uk/gradedge