1. So what’s so special about YOU? David Twiddle

2. YOUR JOB MARKET

3. RECENT GRADUATES…  50% are working in graduate roles  40% are working in non-graduate roles.  10% are unemployed  Almost 1 million 16 -24 years unemployed

4. WHY HAS THIS HAPPENED?  Dramatic increase in people leaving university  Recession has reduced graduate hiring  Average of 50 applicants for every graduate job

5. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR YOU? Entry requirements for jobs are now much tougher but fortunately(!)…. “A” grades at A Level and a 2:1 or 1 st Class degree are rapidly becoming the norm…not the exception.

6. AND FOR THE EMPLOYER? They find it impossible to differentiate between one candidate and another on academics alone.

7. HOW DOES IT WORK?  1 job  50 applicants  5 disappear (leaving 45)  15 have ignored the requirements (leaving 30)  30 applications considered  10 interviewed (20 relevant CVs rejected)  2 job offers (one rejects the offer)  1 successful candidate

8. WHICH MEANS… Your grades earn you the right to apply, but that’s it. They do not earn you the right to an interview or a job! So what does? Any ideas…..?

9. ACHIEVEMENTS & EXPERIENCES? …maybe… or maybe not! Take a look at this…

10. LOOK FAMILIAR? PAGE | 10

12. TAKE 3 THINGS AWAY FROM TODAY! 1.It is not your achievements or experiences in themselves that make you special. 2.But what you learn from them and how you deal with various situations makes you unique. 3.Being able to communicate this effectively is what really makes you special! PAGE | 12

13. IN A FEW MINUTES TIME YOU WILL KNOW… How to translate your achievements and experiences into compelling stories that will convince any employer that you are a STAR candidate! PAGE | 13

14. So let’s get started!

15. THE GOOD NEWS… Your first proper job is the easiest one to get! If you know how to… PAGE | 15

16. …fish! PAGE | 16

17. Research

18. GET YOUR WADERS ON! 1.Positive Attitude 2.Self-Management 3.Team Working 4.Commercial Awareness 5.Problem Solving 6.Communication 7.Numeracy 8.IT Skills PAGE | 18

19. Your achievements

20. WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG? PAGE | 20

21. THINK LIKE A STAR! PAGE | 21 Take Starmix out… …Put Achievement In!

22. ACTIVITY + ACHIEVEMENT Activity Studies Sport Expeditions Music Drama Outdoor Pursuits Hobbies Family & Friends Achievement Success achieved Challenges overcome Problems solved Leadership demonstrated Influenced others Awkward / difficult situations Commitment shown Team effort PAGE | 22

23. NOW WE CAN TELL YOUR STORY AND MAKE YOUR STAR SHINE! PAGE | 23

24. Telling stories using S.T.A.R.

25. TELL A STORY… PAGE | 25

26. INTERVIEW QUESTION “Give me an example of when you have faced a challenge” PAGE | 26

27. SITUATION & TASK “We had lost a rugby match 15-0 to our biggest competitor in a tournament. It was my fault – I was the main jumper in the line out and we lost virtually every one. We were due to play the same school again two weeks later …… ……I knew, if we where going to win, we had to perfect our line – out.” PAGE | 27

28. ACTION “Even though I wasn’t the captain, I spoke with the other forwards and persuaded them to meet at 7 a.m. every morning for two weeks leading up to the rematch. We worked hard as a team, perfecting our line-out and ensuring that my performance improved.” PAGE | 28

29. RESULT “We won the match 27 – 0 and we did not lose a single line-out. In fact we won 50% of their line-outs and were commended by their coach for our outstanding line-out play!” PAGE | 29

30. YOU’VE JUST SHOWN THEM… Positive Attitude Self-Management Communication & Leadership Team Work PAGE | 30

31. Your CV

32. YOUR CV IS THE FLY! Your achievements are the hook. Tempt the employer.. PAGE | 32

33. MAKE YOUR CV SHOUT! PAGE | 33

34. EXAMPLE PAGE | 34 Member of 1 st XV (bad) Initiated a two-week performance improvement programme for the 1 st XV which resulted in a dramatic increase in the amount of line-outs won in future matches and subsequent victories. (good)

35. IS IT RELEVANT? PAGE | 35 Whenever you decide to include a certain achievement in your CV, ask yourself: 1.Is this achievement relevant to the job I am applying for? 2.What does this achievement say about me? Is it something positive? 3.Have I got any other achievement which is more deserving of being mentioned instead of this?

36. PLACING THE FLY! Personal details Career objective/summary Achievements Education Employment Hobbies and interests References PAGE | 36 Achievements

37. The interview

38. REEL‘EM IN! Tell the interviewer what you want them to ask you through your CV! Blind them with your STAR… …and net a job offer! PAGE | 38

39. And finally…

40. HOW TO BE SPECIAL! PAGE | 40 WADERS Research employers and discover the skills they are looking for BAG Pull together all your achievements and experiences and match them to what employers want FLY Use your CV as your fly and your achievements to hook them, make it relevant ROD & REEL Wow the interviewer with your STAR stories NET Land the job but make sure your net doesn’t have a hole!

41. THERE’S A HOLE IN YOUR NET! Watch out … employers are looking at you ! PAGE | 41

42. WHY DID I SHARE THAT?! PAGE | 42

43. TAKE 3 THINGS AWAY FROM TODAY! 1.It is not your achievements or experiences in themselves that make you special. 2.But what you learn from them and how you deal with various situations make you unique. 3.Being able to communicate this effectively (STAR) is what really makes you special! PAGE | 43

44. THANK YOU… …AND GOOD LUCK!