1. W.W.W. World Wide Work Experience
Presentation by Sarah Whiteley and Natasha Kerven
Work Experience Team

2. Objectives The benefits and disadvantages of overseas experience
Things to consider
What, where, when, how, why?
How to find opportunities:
Financial support
Handy tips

3. Weigh-up the pros and cons

4. The benefits of going overseas
Skills development
Future work in global companies
International commercial awareness
Is it right for you?

5. The disadvantages of going overseas
Does it really add value?
Perceptions
Relevance
Language and cultural barriers
Finance

6. Things to consider Valid passport
Your ability to travel to another country
Visas
Risk assessment
Travel insurance
Medical card
Language and cultural awareness
Translating your qualifications – Organisations such as NACES in may translate grades for a fee. You can also try translating your grades yourself at Calculator/

7. Over to you
You have three minutes to introduce yourselves, identifying:
Name
Course / School / College
Year
What experience you think you might like internationally and why?

8. Going overseas and how to do it
So, you’ve decided that an international opportunity is right for you.
What
Where
When
Why
How

9. What should you do? Do you have a career strategy?
Have you spoken to a Careers Advisor?
Have you looked at job profiles?
Have you done any research?
Think about how your opportunity will impact on your personal development – what will you gain from it?
Identify several options – not just one
Can you convince others of its benefits?

10. Where should you go? Where in the world are the opportunities?
Where would you like to go?
Where wouldn’t you like to go?
Different locations will cost different amounts
Do some destinations appeal to employers more than others? (E.g. BRIC countries)
Some locations are easier to access than others (consider visas, work permits…)
Consider language and the benefit of that particular country

11. When should you go? When are opportunities available with employers?
Are you restricted by the nature of the business?
When is convenient with your studies?
When fits best with your academic year? (E.g. some internships only for second years)
Is there any flexibility?
Are you an undergraduate or postgraduate?
Give yourself enough time!

12. Why should you go?
Are YOU convinced that the opportunity has a good business case?
Could you sell the benefits to a future employer?
How will you ensure that you make the most of it?
Do you know everything that it entails?
Are there any risks which might prevent you from gaining everything you want from the opportunity?

13. How do you find an opportunity?
Careers Network:
Careers Connect
Work Experience Week Fair
Global Challenge opportunities
Advertised opportunities
With companies
With agencies / similar
Speculative enquiries
Leads from other contacts, networks

14. Global Challenge - Case Study
Maria Barlow, BSc Natural Sciences with year abroad
Social Entrepreneurship, Guatemala
Why did Maria decide to go overseas?
What other opportunities did Maria consider?
Were there any particular issues which Maria had to face?
Would Maria recommend going abroad?
What hints and tips does Maria have?

15. Careers Network resources
Careers Network time lines…

16. Careers Network resources
Careers Network events…

17. Careers Network resources
Internship pages…

18. Careers Network resources
Select options from:
Opportunities
Organisations
My bookings
Queries

19. Careers Network resources
Search opportunities by country and filter by industry…

20. Careers Network resources
Guidance on sourcing international work experience…

21. Global Challenge
Fully-funded overseas internships. Finance to cover flights, visas, accommodation and living costs
Based with internationally renowned organizations
6-8 week opportunities during the summer vacation
Aimed at all undergraduate students
Maria Barlow
Social Entrepreneurship, Guatemala

22. Global Challenge 2015 Guangzhou Municipal government internship, China
English Theatre, Frankfurt, Germany
Museum Victoria internship, Melbourne, Australia
Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Chicago, USA
U21 Social Entrepreneur Corps internship, Guatemala
GlaxoSmithKline procurement internship, Buenos Aires, Argentina
GlaxoSmithKline HR internship, Casablanca, Morocco
GlaxoSmithKline marketing internship, Casablanca, Morocco
GlaxoSmithKline finance internship, Morocco
Vaisala internship, Vantaa, Finland

23. Overseas providers and companies
Absolute Internship
Any Work Any Where
British Council Internships
BUNAC
Camp America
CRCC Asia
Global Brigades
Go Abroad
International Volunteer HQ
Operation Wallacea
Projects Abroad
Prospects
Sri Lanka Volunteers
Target Jobs
Third Year Abroad
Other useful websites:
UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Prospects’ country profiles

24. Speculative applications
Making speculative applications involves contacting an organisation and enquiring about possible vacancies. You might contact an organisation because their area of work interests you, or because you’ve heard about an upcoming vacancy from someone you know.
To make a speculative application you’ll need:
Tailored CV and covering letter
Up-to-date-references
Professional address
Method of tracking your applications
Consider booking a CV check with a CN Advisor
through Careers Connect

25. Methods of making a speculative application
How to find out about organisations?
Telephone
Use online resources
Yellow pages
Thomson Directories
FAME directory
Face-to-face
Social media networking
Utilise your network
Friends & family
Colleagues
Tutors and university contacts
Mail
Attend events

26. UoB Work Experience Bursaries
Professional – Up to £800 Deadline: 29th March
Research – Up to £500 Deadline: 29th March
International – Up to £800 Deadline: 29th March
Global Challenge – Fully funded Deadline: 8th Feb
Gateway – Up to £2000 Deadline: 12th April
*The bursaries are only open to undergraduate students
For further information, visit the internship web pages:

27. Handy tips Do: Don’t: Send a generic application Research!
Consider cost
Follow up after contact
Have an effective CV/covering letter
Tell them why you’re interested in working for them
Consider as many companies/industries as possible
Don’t:
Send a generic application
Take rejection personally
Rule out companies without applying first
Be too inflexible
Accept any role which you feel is unfair/particularly unsuitable

28. Back to you
You have five minutes in pairs to identify which approaches you plan to use, and why.

29. Presentation by Sarah Whiteley and Natasha Kerven
For all the workshops this week, there are on-line discussion forums via the Preparing for a careers fair canvas course: Any questions?
Presentation by Sarah Whiteley and Natasha Kerven
Work experience team