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Job-hunting Workshop

Job-hunting Workshop. Jenny Keaveney Careers Advisory Service www.kent.ac.uk/careers. Introduction. Choosing a Career Where to look for jobs CV Preparation Interview Skills Careers Advisory Service facilities Survival Strategies. Choosing a Career. Careers Advisory Service

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Job-hunting Workshop

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  1. Job-hunting Workshop Jenny Keaveney Careers Advisory Service www.kent.ac.uk/careers

  2. Introduction • Choosing a Career • Where to look for jobs • CV Preparation • Interview Skills • Careers Advisory Service facilities • Survival Strategies

  3. Choosing a Career Careers Advisory Service www.kent.ac.uk/careers/

  4. “I was brought up to believe that, if at first you don't succeed, you must try, try and try again. But this is totally wrong. If you don't succeed at first, then by all means give it a really good go, but then give up and try something else. I have tried seven careers so far and failed at six. If you give up enough things that you are bad at, then by the law of averages you should eventually find something you are rather better at." • Matthew Parris, Times journalist

  5. What is the ideal job?

  6. Some popular career choices for graduates

  7. Some jobs you may not have heard of .. • Energy Procurement Administrator • Merchandiser • Business Development Analyst • Paraplanner • Operations Executive • Brand Development Executive • Perfusionist

  8. Where do I start? You could: • start from yourself and work outwards • start from your opportunities • for graduates in your specific subject or • for graduates in general and work back • Or, combine the two!

  9. Starting with yourself …. • Your interests • Your skills • Your values • Your personal circumstances • Any other factors

  10. Opportunities with your degree • What do graduates in your subject do? • What careers will use your subject knowledge? www.kent.ac.uk/careers/degreein.htm BUT …. • There is more to you than your degree!

  11. Starting with your opportunities .. • One-third of advertised graduate jobs open to graduates in any subject • For example: advertising, accountancy, banking, marketing, personnel, public sector management, • Plus all the unadvertised graduate jobs! • Even more opportunities after experience and training

  12. Putting the two together .. • Relate your skills, interests and values to careers and jobs • Use computer guidance systems e.g. Prospects Planner • Look at job ads and job descriptions • Talk to people about their work and how they got their jobs • Use careers websites and the Careers Information Room • Get first-hand insight into careers of potential interest to you

  13. Choosing a Career - summary • Don’t panic! • Don’t feel pressured • A career path does not have to follow a straight and direct line • Further information: • www.kent.ac.uk/careers/Choosing/ChoosingCareer.htm • www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Pplanner

  14. Where to look for jobs Careers Advisory Service www.kent.ac.uk/careers/

  15. Where to look for jobs • What are you looking for? • Graduate training schemes? • Other graduate jobs? • Internships? • Other temporary jobs?

  16. Where to look • Vacancy sites – graduate and/or general • Graduate directories • Employer sites • Specialist resources • Careers Fairs • Job Centres • Recruitment agencies

  17. Vacancy Sites - graduatewww.kent.ac.uk/careers/graddirectories.htm • www.prospects.ac.uk • www.get.hobsons.co.uk • www.targetjobs.co.uk • www guardianuk300.com • www.top100graduateemployers.com/

  18. Specialist resources • Professional bodies • Magazines • Specialist directories • Specialist recruitment agencies http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin.htm

  19. CAREERS FAIRS Graduate Events The Summer Graduate Fair ExCel, London, 15 & 16 June www.summergradfair.co.uk TARGETjobs/The Careers Group The London Graduate Fair Business Design Centre, Islington 22 & 23 June www.londongradfair.co.uk/summer For fairs elsewhere in the UK, see www.prospects.ac.uk/links/careerfairs

  20. Recruitment Agencieswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/recruit.htm • The Graduate Recruitment Bureau www.grb.uk.com • Reed Graduates www.reed.co.uk/graduate • Brampton Stafford Recruitment www.brampton-recruitment-4-graduate-jobs.co.uk • The Graduate Recruitment Company www.graduate-recruitment.co.uk • Job Centres • www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Jobseekers/index.htm

  21. What else can you do? Network! • ask your friends • ask your relatives • ask your “network” • ask a past Kent graduate • ask a careers adviser www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/CJ.htm

  22. Any questions?

  23. How to Prepare a CV Careers Advisory Service www.kent.ac.uk/careers/

  24. Introduction • What is a CV? • When is it used? • What does it contain? • Who do you send it to? • What about the covering letter?

  25. What is a CV? • One of many ways to apply • Your marketing tool • Flexible & targeted • Available in different styles: • Chronological • Skills-based • Different in different countries

  26. When is it used? • As the main tool for on-spec applications • When requested by an employer • In support of other application information • Never without a letter • via email as attachment • When your Referee needs more info

  27. What does it contain? • Personal details • Academic background • Work Experience • Interests & achievements • Additional information • References

  28. John Andrews • 33 Union Street, Manchester, M6 3AE. Tel. 0161 351 4039 Nationality: British • Email: J.Andrews@hotmail.com Mob: 07727374619 • EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS • 2008 - 2011 University of Kent at Canterbury BA (Hons.) Economics and Accounting 2:1. • Final Year Subjects: Economics, Business Law and Taxation • Project: "Economic Consequences of the Decline in the Kent Mining Community". • 2006 - 2008 Manchester Community College. • A Levels: Mathematics B, History B, Economics C. AS Level: Geography D • 2001 - 2006 St. John’s Boys School, Manchester. • 8 GCSEs (grades A*-C) including Mathematics, English and French. • WORK EXPERIENCE • Summer 2010 Tourist Information Office, Canterbury. • Helping tourists, working in Bureau de Change, booking theatre and concert tickets. • Summer 2009 Canterbury City Council. • Accounts Clerk in Treasurer’s office. Dealing with enquiries, using computerised systems. • 2008 - present Simple Simon’s Public House, Canterbury. • Bar work throughout the year serving food and drinks to customers and cashing up. • ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS • Secretary of the Accounting Society, involved booking speakers. • Organised a charity fun run for Rag Week – raised £150. • Enjoy competitive sport and play for the University football team. • Other interests include current affairs and studying the Stock Market. • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION • IT Skills: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Email, WWW etc. • Good level of spoken French. • Full, clean driving licence. • REFERENCES • Available on request

  29. John Andrews • 33 Union Street, Manchester, M6 3AE. Tel. 0161 351 4039 • Email: John.Andrews-1989@hotmilk.com Mobile: 07727374619 • EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS • 2008 - 2011 University of Kent at Canterbury BA (Hons.) Economics and Accounting 2:1 • Final Year Subjects: Economics, Business Law and Taxation • Project: "Economic Consequences of the Closure of the Kent Coalfields". • 2006 - 2008 Manchester Community College. • A Levels: Mathematics B, History B, Economics C. AS Level: Geography D • 2001 - 2006 St. John’s Boys School, Manchester. • 8 GCSEs (grades A*-C) including Mathematics, English and French.

  30. WORK EXPERIENCE • Summer 2010 Tourist Information Office, Canterbury. • Assisting visitors of many nationalities, booking theatre and concert tickets. • Summer 2009 Canterbury City Council. • Accounts Clerk in Treasurer’s office. Dealing with enquiries, using computerised systems. • 2008 - present Simple Simon’s Public House, Canterbury. • Bar work throughout the year serving food and drinks to customers and cashing up.

  31. ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS • Secretary of the Accounting Society, involved booking speakers. • Organised a charity fun run for Rag Week, raising £500. • Enjoy competitive sport and play for the University football team. • Other interests include current affairs and studying the Stock Market. • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION • IT: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Email, etc. • Good level of spoken French. • Full, clean driving licence. • REFERENCES • Available on request

  32. CV styles • Standard/Chronological • Skills-based • Computing/Online • Creative • Legal www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm

  33. Make your CV effective! • Target it on the job in question • Clear layout – not crowded • Short sentences & concise phrases • Focus on accomplishments • Give evidence - show results • Use personal power words/action verbs

  34. Personal power words created instructed analysed produced negotiated designed calculated maintained administered controlled reviewed observed consolidated delivered founded increased studied invented supplied detected programmed recommended distributed developed solved prepared installed selected arranged formulated solved started

  35. Who do you send it to? • Named company representative • Director/Manager of Personnel • Your referees • Others who request it - Recruitment agencies, Postgraduate admissions officers, Sponsorship/Funding bodies • By post, by email or uploaded NEVER “To Whom it may Concern”

  36. Common Mistakes! • Too long • Untargeted • Disorganised • Contains errors/missspellings • Too academically-focused

  37. What about the covering letter? • One side of good quality A4 paper • Formal/conventional layout • Addressed to a named person • State position applied for & where advertised • Explain why applying • Convince the reader of your interest & suitability (egs!) • Give dates when available/can start • Sign off “Yours sincerely” (if sent to named person)

  38. John Andrews • 33 London Road • Canterbury • Kent • CT2 8NE • 1st June 2011 • Ms Verity Wise • Graduate Recruitment Manager • Great Big Bank Co. • Anywhere Street • London • SW1 • Job Reference Number 12345(state this if it is mentioned in the advert) • Dear Ms. Wise • I am writing in response to your advertisement in “Prospects Finalist" for Graduate Trainees and enclose my CV for your consideration. • I first became interested in retail banking through talking to a Kent graduate, currently in the second year of your Management Training programme, at the University Careers Fair. Since then, discussion with my careers adviser and with management staff at my local branch has confirmed my decision to aim for a career in this field. • Through my degree course, I have been able to develop my interest in business together with my numeracy skills. While at University, I have also been able to utilise my skills in working with people through a variety of vacation jobs. My work at the Tourist Information Office was valuable in teaching me the importance of ascertaining customers’ needs and providing clear and accurate information. • I will be available for interview if required at your convenience. I can be contacted at my college address (above) and look forward to hearing from you. • Yours Sincerely • John Andrews

  39. Further Information • Careers Advisory Service websitewww.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm • CAS booklet “Making Applications” • Reference Books in Careers Service • DVDs “Your Job’s online” & “Looking Good on Paper” (available online atwww.kent.ac.uk/careers/IntVid.htm • http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/applications-and-cvs • http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cvs.htm

  40. Employer’s Application Forms • Contents – up to employer • Often competency-based – see: www.kent.ac.uk/careers/compet/skillquest.htm • Common concerns (Degree class, A-level grades, alternative qualifications, nationality) • References • Submit online or download to complete

  41. Interview Skills Careers Advisory Service www.kent.ac.uk/careers/

  42. Introduction • What is an interview? • How do you prepare? • How should you dress? • The first two minutes … • The questions • What questions should you ask? • CAS facilities.

  43. What is an interview? • Good news! - only a minority of candidates will be interviewed • “A conversation with a purpose” • Flexible – in length, structure etc • Stressful!

  44. TYPES OF INTERVIEW • Face-to-face/Telephone • Formal/casual • Based around your career history … • .. or the competences required for the job • Stand-alone/part of an assessment centre

  45. PREPARATION … is the key to success • Re-read employer information • Re-read your application • Prepare some questions to ask • Remind yourself why you find this career/employer attractive • Plan how you will travel • Dress neatly and smartly

  46. WHAT (NOT) TO WEAR • Conformity is the rule • Suits/smart casual? • Details count • Consider the employer!

  47. The first two minutes - using non-verbal communication • Make Eye Contact • Smile! • Shake hands • Standing/Sitting • Gestures/Fidgeting • Voice • Breathing!

  48. THE QUESTIONS There are only two interview questions: • Can you do the job? • Why do you want the job? … but there are many ways of asking them!

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