NO INTERNSHIP? NO PANIC!

1. NO INTERNSHIP?NO PANIC! LSE Careers Service Viki Chinn v.e.chinn@lse.ac.uk

2. Agenda • Internship Fever! • Alternative Options and Strategy • Advertised Roles/Speculative Applications • Networking • Making Contact • Other Sources

3. Internship Fever!

4. Alternative Options What to do if you don’t have an internship! BUT Remember your priorities!!!!!

5. Soooo… • Analyse the market • Supply and demand rules! • Think outside the box • Skills/responsibilities vs ‘Name’

6. Develop a job hunting strategy • Plan what you are going to do, be organised and systematic • Treat the job search process as a JOB • Record all your applications and progress

7. Start with the obviousAdvertised roles • Just for LSE - Check our on line vacancy board (every day!) our website – My Careers Service – Search for Opportunities • Other good sites • www.prospects.ac.uk • www.careers.lon.ac.uk • http://targetjobs.co.uk/work-experience/ • http://www.wikijob.co.uk/internships

8. Pros: Competition limited, maybe nil You seem well motivated full of initiative Cheaper for employer Can be immediate start Cons: More work for you How do you find the jobs? You must know what you want what you have to offer Not advertised- Speculative Applications

9. Speculative letters • Useful when: • You want a specific job in a specific organisation • The organisation is not advertising • You have relevant skills • You have relevant qualifications

10. Speculative letters • Get a contact name • Introduce yourself • Spell out what you can offer • Do your research thoroughly – have a ‘hook’ • Request a formal interview • Say when you will follow up

11. Networking-The time effective solution! • To research the job market • It’s the most important way to source jobs in some sectors • To gain information - informational interviewing • Preparing for interviews • Generating new contacts

12. family education friends YOU target industry Work experience

13. Making contact • Introduce yourself • State what you want to know • eg more about sector/market/particular job • Make clear – NOT asking for a job at this stage • You would value their advice • Ask tactfully for a short meeting, or • Ask for names of others who might help you

14. Informational interviewing • Typical questions: • What is it like to work in this industry? • Who are the key players? • Which skills are most relevant? • How did they get their current job? • Any advice they can offer? • Best person to contact re job?

15. How do I get the most out of my further conversations? • Talk to contacts about; • Why you want experience/work in that sector • Why you want it with them • Demonstrate you have researched the company • Have an awareness of any opportunities available • Be specific and ask open questions;eye contact and name • Make a note of names and answers to your questions • Be business like – no flirting or schmoozing

16. Other sources • National newspapers, particularly The Guardian • International papers • www talent4europe.com • Local and evening newspapers • Specialist press • Recruitment Fairs • Professional association vacancy bulletins (cheap memberships for new grads?)

17. Recruitment consultancies • Professional bodies often keep lists of specialist agencies eg: • Institute of Practitioners in Advertising • The Management consultancies association • Specialist websites eg: • www.efinancialcareers.com • www.top-consultant.com • Remember – you are not the client!

18. UK work experience • National Centre for work experience - www.ncwe.com - www.work-experience.org.uk • STEP - www.step.org.uk • Prospects - http://www.prospects.ac.uk/work_experience.htm

19. Non UK work experience • www.summerjobs.com • http://www.ccusa.com// • www.campamerica.co.uk • www.bunac.co.uk • Teaching English abroad – careers information office

20. BUT REMEMBER…. Results are (almost) everything! So DO enhance your CV But do NOT neglect your studies BE SMART

21. Where do I go from here? • Keep note of experiences, names and contacts • Employer skill sessions • Come to the fairs • Go to employer graduate presentations • Liaise with careers advisers • Go to careers presentations

22. Questions? v.e.chinn@lse.ac.uk