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Discover crucial career planning questions, assess options, find what suits you, understand employer expectations, plan your degree journey, and access valuable career resources.
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University of East London Effective Career Planning
The Big Questions! At the stage you are at today you need to think about: • What would you like to do in relation to your career? • What careers are particularly suitable in relation to your interests and aspirations? • What kinds of skills, knowledge and experience will you need to succeed in this career? • How do you plan to acquire these things?
Assessing your Career Options “Best” option is to select a career that: • You will enjoy • You will match in terms of skills requirements, values, personal qualities • Will provide you with ‘ life/work’ balance • Meet any other personal requirements you have
How can you find out what you are suited to? • Personal Analysis: look at what you have done before • Computer Aided Guidance • Adult Directions • Prospects Planner • Assess your Career Motivators • Psychometric Testing/Various Ability & Personality Tests • Careers Research • Gaining Work Experience/Work Shadowing • Attending Career Fairs and Speaker Events e.g. “A Day in the Life”
Research is key! • Identifying occupational options is fine but you must fully research each option to identify: • What is involved in the role? • What is required in terms of skills, knowledge, qualifications? • Will it fulfil salary requirements? • Will it offer opportunities for progression? • Current opportunities?
What Employers Want • 70% of graduate recruiters do not specify degree discipline • A Business Studies degree will open up a wide range of career options both within business and other areas • Most top employers now insisting on a 2:1 grade or above • Very keen to see evidence of skill development e.g. communication, team, problem solving etc.. • Work Experience • Engagement in useful extra-curricular activities • Something that makes you stand out…
What Employers Want • Business awareness/ commercial awareness - the graduate skill as rated by The Confederation of British Industry (CBI), that needs the biggest improvement. • This is the ability to understand how the organisation you work for -- or want to work for -- fits in to the wider world of business. • Key to demonstrating this is keeping up to date with current affairs and relevant industry news
Occupational Websites • www.careersadvice.directgov.uk/ • www.careers-gateway.co.uk/ • www.careers-portal.co.uk • www.hobsons.com/ • www.learndirect.co.uk/ • www.monster.co.uk/ • www.prospects.ac.uk/ • www.skillset.org/ • http://msn.careerbuilder.co.uk • Websites of professional bodies
Assess the Quality of Careers Information • Consider how recent the information is. Most careers information has a shelf life of 1-2 years. • Authority of the body producing the information. Is the information official (professional body) or unofficial? (blogg/web sites). • Information is effected by the view point of those providing it. For example the employer’s recruitment procedure may convey a particular image of the graduate and its training schedule. • Is the language appropriate in terms of supporting equal opportunities. .
The Value of Careers Information • Adjustive function Individuals can over and under estimate their potential and occupational information can be used to help individuals readjust their ideas upwards and downwards. • Motivational Function Occupational information can stimulate vocational thinking. An awareness of the occupational world can be increased encouraging exploration. • Disruptive Function The function is concerned with helping individuals identify work situations/environments which are compatible with their needs.
Career Planning should be SMART • Specific • Measurable • Actions • Realistic • Timebound
In practice … • How do I get from where I am today into the career I want? • What do I need to do? • What skills/experience do I need to develop? • What knowledge do I need? • How can I do these things? • What barriers are in the way and can I get around them? • Who can help me?
Plan Your Degree Timetable Year 1: • Spend time assessing career options – use the Careers Service • Engage in extra-curricular activity. Graduate employers want to see this • Get work experience -any kind. It will help you develop useful skills • Put your CV together Year 2: • Clarify career choices • Seek out relevant experience e.g. summer internships/shadowing Year 3 • Start applying for jobs – most graduate scheme deadlines are in the Autumn • Ensure your self marketing tools – CV, letter, application forms are in good shape • Sharpen up your interview techniques • Attend career talks/employer presentations/graduate fairs – both internally and elsewhere GET HOLD OF OUR STUDENT ROAD MAP!
Top Tips • Spend time assessing your career preferences and options • Assess your existing skills and experience • Up date your CV – make it E-friendly • Identify appropriate learning opportunities • Assess any financial support available • Draft a Plan • Seek Careers Advice!
Careers and Student Employability Team • Available Mon to Fri 9-5 • Online support 24/7 including access to vacancies, career planning software, psychometric tests, career guides • Pre-booked guidance appointments • Programme of workshops, training events, speaker talks, employer visits • School based careers support