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Beijing Pre-fair Seminar. Welcome. What to expect from the fair and how to make the most of your time What careers support is available once you begin your course Quick overview of the UK graduate recruitment cycle. Employers attending the Beijing Fair. Abercrombie & Fitch Arup
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Beijing Pre-fair Seminar
Welcome • What to expect from the fair and how to make the most of your time • What careers support is available once you begin your course • Quick overview of the UK graduate recruitment cycle
Employers attending the Beijing Fair • Abercrombie & Fitch • Arup • Baker Hughes • BDA • Capital Dynamics • Daimler • Ernst & Young • Gallup • HRnetOne • Johnson & Johnson • KPMG China • Linklaters • Meltwater Group • RBS • Shell • Towers Watson • Vanke • Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies
Your objectives • Meet specific employers • Distinguish between same sector employers • Go beyond employer’s website • Network effectively
Employers attend fairs to…. • Meet variety of students • Offer insights into their recruitment process • Provide personal insight into organisation • Market their brand But rarely to recruit on day
Your research • Identify + research sector of employers you are interested in • Employer’s website • Application process • Recent news / issues (Google news, FT, relevant trade press)
Productive conversations • “I notice that…your company is involved in…” • “You seem to focus on area x, I’ve taken a course in (relevant topic) and have some experience in y….” • “What led you to join……. • “I’ve looked at your online application and I’m interested to know what you are really looking for in the motivation questions….”
Phrasing questions matters Not “Why should I work for X rather than Y?” But “I’ve read a lot about global professional services firms, what would you say differentiates yours…?”
Image and impact Image Business/smart dress, shoes Impact Someone employer could send to client? Interpersonal skills Business cards
Afterwards • Note names • Follow up email if appropriate (especially if employer representative has given you business card) • Make notes on what you discussed with whom (you will have forgotten in 2 months time)
Immigration and eligibility to work • Seek expert advice from: • International support office • or equivalent • Your Student Union • UK Border Agency website • UKCISA
UK graduate recruitment trends(source: High Flyers 2012 report) • The UK’s leading employers are expecting to increase their graduate recruitment by 6.4% in 2012 • The most notable increases are predicted to be in engineering & industrial companies (up 22.4% compared to 2011), IT & telecommunications firms (up 31.6%), high street banks (up 16.0%) and retailers (up 11.5%). • More than 30% of this year’s entry-level positions are expected to be filled by graduates who have already worked for a given organisation • 50% of employers candidates are applying earlier in the season than before.
…and organisation size • Big famous firms • 100s/1000s of applicants • Multi-stage filtering process all applicants have to go through • Deadlines from October to December • Interviews/assessment centres in late autumn and the new year • Offers in the in late autumn and new year • Smaller, newer, niche organisations • Limited budget for recruiting • May recruit at any time of year, just in time • May welcome speculative, creative approaches
What recruiters look for • 1 Consistently good academic performance • 2 Attendance at a reputable HE institution • 3 Some work experience • 4 Extracurricular activities • Valuable set of (transferable) skills • Motivation for your career choice • Very good communication skills
Developing Your Employability Interpersonal skills – communication/ team-working / leadership -group projects, insights, volunteering, other interests, developed networks • Specialist knowledge • relevant modules • prof’l exemptions • relevant dissertation • Business/sector awareness • Follow industry • developments • Attend events • Network with employers • Drive / initiative / analytical ability • Outside interests, experience • Dissertation project Self awareness - Career planning Academic ability - Consistentresults Relevant experience - volunteer, network, internships
How to apply • Usually online application form, plus CV and cover letter • Depends on the job posting – make sure you understand what is needed for each individual job • Either just interviews or full assessment centre (psychometric tests, interviews, group tasks, presentation skills, in tray exercise, role play etc)