Career Development Workshop Final Year

1. Career Development WorkshopFinal Year finding and getting the right job

2. workshop objectives • acquire tools to find out about yourself • personality • skills and aptitudes • values and motivations • be able to find out about jobs for mathematicians • understand and manage the application process • writing a CV • writing a cover letter • applying for jobs • interviews

3. finding and getting the right job: what the workshop will cover • what is my personality profile? • what are my strengths? • what are my values? • what kind of careers are open to me? • writing a CV • writing a cover letter • applying for jobs • interviews • resources

4. personality profile • based on Myers Briggs Type • on-line questionnaire:- choose between pairs of statements • e-mailed report • 16 personality “types” based on preferences • extraversion – introversion • sensing – intuition • thinking – feeling • judging - perception

5. personality types suggest • what you are most comfortable doing? • why do you work? • what kind of environment? • what type of activity? • what type of contribution? • how you manage your time • how you get results • how you manage change • interaction needs with others • relationship style

6. personality types also suggest • how people see you • as a leader • as a manager • as a decision maker • in resolving conflict • your best assets • your potential weaknesses

8. assessing your skills • identify your strengths • rate your skills and attributes • be realistic • consider evidence for high scores • where you consider you are above average • will suggest • the kind of jobs to look for • the kind of jobs to avoid • show where you need to plan your development

11. assessing your values and motivations • what is important to you? • what motivates you? • focus your research about companies • suggests questions to ask in interviews

13. quantitative skills you should have developed during your maths degree • analysis and interpretation of data • designing and conducting experimental studies and tests • high computer literacy • analytical approach to problem solving, formulating and testing theories • dealing with abstract concepts • presenting mathematical arguments with accuracy and clarity • advanced numeracy skills • clear logical thinking

14. “soft” skills you could have developed through your time at university • communications – written and verbal • personal time management, producing results against deadlines • organisational skills • teamwork skills • ability to work independently • potentially many others depending on your activities… • influencing, negotiating • presenting

15. “hard” skills you could have developed through your time at university • excel / access / powerpoint • project management, PERT planning • speaking another language • programming

16. some jobs specifically for mathematicians and statisticians • actuary – insurance companies, banks, professional firms • statistician – pharmaceutical industry etc. • “quant” - banking • operations research – GORS, large companies • weather forecasting – Met Office • secondary school teaching • geophysicist • quality control engineering • postgraduate research – MSc/PhD or research and engineering companies

17. occupations requiring general numeracy skills • accountancy • insurance • management consultancy • market research • banking and finance • programming • software engineering • taxation • social research • economist • etc….

18. general graduate jobs • where degree subject is unimportant • management training schemes • you won’t be competing using your mathematical skills • the choice is enormous – use the resources available

19. some jobs for last year’s Surrey maths graduates • 3M Accounts Assistant • Allianz Pricing Analyst • Bossmosix IT Administrator • DFDS Operations Co-ordinator • DSG Retail Customer Advisor • ES Pipeline Market Analyst • Geokinetics Processing Geophysicist • Jardine Lloyd Thompson Pensions Administrator • News Quest Trainee Financial Accountant • OOCL Operations Controller • Bank of England Management Account Analyst • Direct Line Group Pricing Analyst • Nomura Financial Controller

20. more jobs (not counting teaching and postgraduate research) • Barclays Global Operations Analyst • Lloyds Banking Group Risk Analyst • The Automobile Association Insight Analyst • Coller Capital Investment Accountant • Atos IT Consultant • Debenhams Project Administrator • EEA Fund Management Ltd Junior Analyst • First Actuarial Student Actuary • HSBC Bank Analyst • Microsoft Ltd Data/Web Analyst • PriceWaterhouseCoopers Associate • Save the Children Customer Service • Australian Commonwealth Bank Trainee Accountant

21. job finding resources • www.surrey.ac.uk/careers • www.prospects.ac.uk • www.targetjobs.co.uk • www.insidecareers.co.uk • www.mathscareers.org.uk • professional bodies • www.siam.org • www.theorsociety.com • www.ima.org.uk • www.actuaries.org.uk • other universities’ career service websites • use your imagination and the computer!

23. creating your CV • the purpose of a CV • structure • content • cover letter • resources to help you

24. assess this CV • would you select this applicant for interview? • how many mistakes can you find?

29. purpose of a CV • from your point of view • to get the interview, not the job • to demonstrate in the CV that you have the skills, experience and motivation • from the employers’ point of view • to weed out unsuitable candidates quickly • to make a short list

30. imagine that you are the product and the CV is your advertisement • get your unique selling propositions (USPs) across • you only have a few seconds attention from the reader • your particular strengths • unique combinations of attributes • what do you have that the competition doesn’t?

31. things to think about • first impressionsare critical in job hunting as in life. • the CV and the covering letter are your first contactwith a potential employer. • your CV is competingwith all the other CVs • the CV needs to show immediately that you have • the relevant aptitudes, skills and knowledge • the necessary experience • the motivation • these features can be demonstrated by your CV • how the CV is written is as important as what it contains

32. structure • Up to you – it’s your CV • must be logical and easy to follow • everything the reader needs must be clear and easy to find • typical example • education • employment (includes work experience, volunteering) • skills and aptitudes • interests • bio data • references • two pages of A4 – and be able to produce a one page version • explore internet for examples

33. style • sharp, positive and focussed • most space given to most important aspects • make every word count • reverse chronological order for education and employment • bullet points – short and punchy, not prose • active verbs – e.g. organised, managed, presented • don’t use the word “I” • don’t repeat yourself

34. education • give your overall marks for years 1, 2 and S1 year 3, don’t list modules studied • individual module marks if very good and relevant to the job • A levels and year, AS if different subjects • list GCSEs briefly but mention specifically English and foreign languages • awards, scholarships and prizes (most emphasis on university)

35. possible education template Education 2012 – present University of Surrey BSc Mathematics year 1 mark 68% year 2 mark 66% 2010 – 2012 St John’s College, Wigan A level Maths (A*) Biology (B) Physics (A) 2005 – 2010 Templecourt School, Warrington GCSE 7 A, 3 B, 1 C including English (A), French (B)

36. employment • company name, location (not address), job title, dates e.g. 6/11 – 9/11 • describe company’s business • list what you did and the results you achieved and any achievements • describe any training given • include volunteering or internships in same detail • briefly mention short work experience • don’t cover skills used or developed

37. possible employment template Employment 4/10 -9/10 Courtauld’s Ltd, Coventry Artificial and Synthetic Fibres Division Laboratory technician • set up apparatus for preparation of novel compounds • carried out syntheses and tested resulting products using mass spectrometry • wrote up reports of work carried out • presented verbal report on work at weekly meetings

38. skills and aptitudes • developed from studies, employment, volunteering, interests … • either integrate into sections with the activity - but risk of repetition • or a specific section • give evidence for each claimed skill • no clichés • select your key strengths • where you think you are better than most

39. Skills and Aptitudes

40. aptitudes that employers want most • verbal communications • team working • integrity • intellectual ability • self-confidence • organisational skills • interpersonal skills • writing ability • numeracy • analytic skills/decision making

42. interests • demonstrate breadthof personality • if you don’t have any – get some! • socialising with friends doesn’t count • current/recent most important • sports, clubs, charities, cultural activities… • interesting travel, projects… • be specific – what, when, what level, where… • be aware of current affairs • listen to radio 4, Today programme • read a quality newspaper

43. bio data • start CV with addresses, phone (mobile) and non-quirky e-mail • boozytommy@gmail.com • t.jones@surrey.ac.uk • d.o.b., nationality optional • two referees at the end • academic, employment/volunteering • not “references supplied on request”

44. a reader friendly CV • logical structure • all key information clear and easily available • no jargon, no acronyms • professional lookingpresentation • text balanced over 2 pages • good use of white space • good quality paper • single conventional font e.g. • verdana • ariel • times new roman • 11 or 12 point size, but headings can be larger, use bold, italic and underlineappropriatelyCAPITALS CAN BE UGLY

45. putting the CV together • sweet spot – middle of first page – should have your best aspects • get someone else to check it before you send it – especially if English is not your mother tongue • spelling and grammar must be perfect • never rely on spell check e.g. hobbit • never tell lies • everything on the CV must be true • not everything that is true must be on the CV • blow your own trumpet but no hyperbole

46. some signs of a bad CV • more than 2 pages long • poorly word processed or printed • section breaks over page • gaps in chronology • spelling or grammar mistakes • irrelevant, trivial details • gimmicky fonts • quirky presentation

47. employers’ pet hates in CVs • typos 61% • inappropriate e-mail addresses 35% • no section on key skills 30% • more than two pages 22% • decorative paper 20% • with a photo 13%

48. personal statements? • “I have a real passion for learning and I approach all tasks with great enthusiasm. I am a responsible and reliable student who is willing to work hard in order to develop my career.” actual statement from a student on 72% overall • “I have a real passion for learning (obvious – you got a first) and I approach all tasks with great enthusiasm (where is the proof?).I am a responsible and reliable student (repeated what you just said in the first sentence) who is willing to work hard in order to develop my career (can you imagine someone saying that they are not willing to work hard to develop their career?).”

49. use the “not” test • I am a hardworking and honest individual and an excellent timekeeper • I don’t work hard, I’m not particularly honest and I am a poor timekeeper • but when might these three attributes be worth putting down?

50. sending CVs to employers • use original print hard copies not photocopies • send to named individual with cover letter • electronically use a PDF