School of Economics 29th January 2013

1. Careers and Employability for Stage 1 students - What can I do with my degree? - How can I make myself more employable? School of Economics 29th January 2013 Jenny Keaveney Careers Adviser Careers & Employability Service

2. What this talk will cover • What can you do with an Economics degree? • How to make yourself more employable – whatever career you choose! • Gaining experience • How the Careers & Employability Service can help you

3. What can I do with my Economics degree? What do you want to do? • Become an economist? • Work in business or finance? • Work in the public sector? • Work abroad? • Do something else?

4. Some well-known Economics graduates

5. Why is an Economics degree useful? There are few subjects where students can be dealing with the mechanics of practical business matters (costs, demand, market structures, incentives) one minute, the intricacies of human behaviour and interaction (consumer choices, information, game and behavioural theory) the next, before seeking to identify the causes of environmental problems or the current financial crisis, and evaluating potential solutions. For example, what will be the effect of the government extending the right to flexible working? Or is Cameron correct in stating that “you can’t borrow your way out of debt”? These are topical issues of the moment, and of huge importance to the whole nation, and it is we economists who have the tools and knowledge to be able to contribute towards sensible solutions. Professor Phil Whyman View, Master, Slide Master to change this text to the title of your presentation

6. Jobs where an Economics degree is particularly useful • Accountant • Actuary • Civil Service (inc. Government Economic Service) • Economist • Investment analyst • Journalist • Market researcher www.prospects.ac.uk/links/occupations

7. Some of the jobs obtained by 2011 Economics graduates from Kent University • Trainee Chartered Accountant • Tax Adviser • Business & Communication Analyst (Apple) • Pensions Administrator – Consulting firm • Investment Support Associate • Insurance Broker – Terrorism & Political Violence (Willis) • Trainee Merchandiser - Retail • Petroleum Economist • Arbitrage Operations Manager

8. BUT …. There is more to you than your degree!

9. What is Employability? ‘A set of attributes, skills and knowledge that all labour market participants should possess to ensure they have the capability of being effective in the workplace – to the benefit of themselves, their employer and the wider economy’ (CBI, March 2009)

10. What employability skills are graduate recruiters looking for? Leadership Communication Energy Contextual/cultural awareness Self awareness Report writing Adaptability Problem Solving Numeracy Positive attitude Reflection Confidence Integrity Team working Capacity to develop Reliability Drive and resilience Project management Enthusiasm/passion IT skills Business and customer awareness Planning and organisation Enterprise

11. What skills can you gain from studying for an Economics degree? Leadership Communication Energy Contextual/cultural awareness Self awareness Report writing Adaptability Problem Solving Numeracy Positive attitude Confidence Reflection Integrity Team working Capacity to develop Reliability Drive and resilience Project management Enthusiasm/passion IT skills Business and customer awareness Planning and organisation Enterprise

12. How else can you develop these and other skills? • How the Careers and Employability Service can help you • Get involved and get rewarded with Employability Points • Other ways to develop employability skills

13. Moodle Careers Employability Award • Assessed by a range of quizzes and assignments • “The most time-effective way to increase your chances of getting a graduate level job” • Takes about 12 hours to complete • On completion you will get a University of Kent Careers Employability Award to add to your CV • Get 40 Kent Employability points for successful completion of the module. • www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm

14. Employability Points Get involved – Get rewarded! Over 200 rewards offered last year from 86 sponsor companies Internships, work experience, training experiences, project placements, vouchers

15. Gaining experience: Summer Internships • Career related work experience • Offered by many employers • Often used to talent-spot future graduate recruits • Opportunities in economics, finance, business etc • Priority is normally given to second-year students for internships • Deadlines may be early in your second year • “A dress rehearsal for a graduate job”

16. Which employers offer summer internships? • Economics • Bank of England deadline 12 November 2012 • Frontier Economics – deadline 11 Jan 2013 • Institute of Economic Affairs – deadline May 2013 • Government Economic Service – opens January 2013 • Institute for Fiscal Studies – deadline February 2013 • Finance • Major accountancy firms • Investment banks • Retail banks • Insurance companies • Other areas • Energy companies, manufacturing companies, transport companies, think-tanks

17. Bank of England • This scheme is for first degree students in their penultimate year. Our undergraduate internships pay £65 per day, and run for between six and eight weeks. You'll focus on an individual research project - working closely with economists and analysts to collect and analyse data. Graduate offers are often made to outstanding performers at the end of the internship • “The work was interesting, relevant and enjoyably challenging. The working environment and atmosphere were fantastic and rather unique because there was a semi-academic feeling but in a professional context. I was lucky enough to experience lots of other fascinating things which were not directly related to my work, such as a pre-MPC meeting” • www.bankofenglandgraduates.co.uk View, Master, Slide Master to change this text to the title of your presentation

18. Frontier Economics • Short term Internships: in London and Madrid for Summer 2013 and in Cologne any time in 2013 • I have been working on a strategy project for a retailer examining the effects of the credit crunch on consumers and a research project for a mobile phone company on the market for swiping your phone in shops to make payments • www.frontier-economics.com/recruitment/positions-at-frontier/intern/ View, Master, Slide Master to change this text to the title of your presentation

19. Gaining experience: other opportunities • Insight Days • Professional services firms (eg PwC, Ernst & Young), • TARGET events, e.g. “Women in Investment Management” (November) http://targetjobsevents.co.uk/ • Small and medium-sized employers • Alumni Careers Network • Personal contacts and networks • Any work experience can be used to demonstrate your employability skills – even if the work has no relevance to your planned career

20. Alumni Careers Network • Helps current students gain an insight into careers through contact with Kent alumni. • Information and advice by phone/email or in person: work-shadowing possibilities.  • Visit the Careers Service and we will show you how to access the Careers Network.

21. Making Applications • Prepare, prepare, prepare • Make yourself stand out • Research the company • Sell yourself – highlight your skills • www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm • Get help and advice from careers and employability advisers • Beat the deadlines!

22. The Careers and Employability Service – how we can help you Careers Talks and Workshops Careers Resources Room Comprehensive website Vacancy Database http://kent.prospects.ac.uk Alumni Careers Network Annual Careers and Employability Fair Drop In - Quick Query Careers Guidance Interviews Open 9-5, Monday - Friday

23. Careers and Employability Service Web Pages • What can I do with my degree in Economics? www.kent.ac.uk/careers/economics.htm • Internships & Work Experience www.kent.ac.uk/careers/vacwork.htm • Applications and Interviews www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm • Example CVs & Covering Letterswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm • Vacancy Database http://kent.prospects.ac.uk • Employability Skills http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/skillsmenu.htm

24. Speak to a careers or employability adviser: • Quick queries: drop in and speak to an adviser 10.30am -12.30pm and 2pm-4pm Monday to Friday. • You can also book a longer careers guidance appointment over the phone or pop in.

25. Stay up-to-date with what is happening • www.kent.ac.uk/ces • www.kent.ac.uk/employability • Employability Newsletter • Facebook – University of Kent Student Employability • Follow us on Twitter at @unikentemploy

26. Action Points • Note deadlines! • Perfect your application technique • Develop your skills: take advantage of the various initiatives offered at Kent www.kent.ac.uk/employability • Make use of the Careers and Employability Service. www.kent.ac.uk/ces

27. w Careers & Employability Service www.kent.ac.uk/ces 01227 823299