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Career Planning and Effective CVs

Career Planning and Effective CVs. Career Planning Aims. Be aware of the career planning process Understand how to apply the process to start and/or continue your own career planning To acquire information on possible options after your postgraduate study.

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Career Planning and Effective CVs

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  1. Career Planning and Effective CVs

  2. Career Planning Aims • Be aware of the career planning process • Understand how to apply the process to start and/or continue your own career planning • To acquire information on possible options after your postgraduate study

  3. “Successful people rarely get where they are by following a pre-planned career – they position themselves to seize opportunities” The Art of Building Windmills – Career Tactics for the 21st Century Dr Peter Hawkins

  4. SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHAT PhDs DO? • Less than 50% of the whole cohort stay in academia • Other career areas - 16% manufacturing, 16% health & social work organisations, 9% public administration, 9% business, IT etc • 73% in full time employment – 12% more than first degree graduates

  5. WHAT ABOUT ENGINEERS? • Physical Science & Engineering • 24% scientific research occupations • 15% engineering professions • 7% information & communication technology professionals • 6% higher education and university lecturers • 2% in other HE roles or schoolteachers

  6. Taking Action Decision Making BEING IN A POSITION TO SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY Self-Awareness Opportunity Awareness

  7. WHAT DO YOU OFFER? • Must be self-aware – research yourself – have more information than you need • What skills, qualities and experiences have you acquired? • Process and outcomes • Competence and capability

  8. OPPORTUNITY AWARENESS • What’s out there? • Sectors, organisations, specific roles, business functions • Requirements to get into areas that interest you? • Prospects Occupational Profiles • Use a creative job search approach

  9. JOB SEARCH ATTITUDES Be curious and investigative Look when you are not under pressure Don’t be put off by job titles and salaries – read the details

  10. NETWORKING • About increasing your awareness/knowledge not getting a job offer • Who could you include in your list of contacts? • Do you proactively use your contacts now? • Recruitment Fairs, Employer Events, Research Partners?

  11. WHERE DOES THE TIME GO TO? Any project takes time – most of us spend longer planning our holidays than our career

  12. CV Learning Outcomes • Understand the thinking and writing processes for effective CVs • Be aware of different CV types • Be able to use the information employers provide to target and focus your CV • Make an assessment of your and other CV examples • Identify specific actions you need to take to improve your CV

  13. Job becomes available Job Description is written Person Specification is written Job is advertised “CV THINKING” Applications are returned Shortlist is drawn up Tests might be carried out Interviews are carried out Selection/Appointment is made THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS

  14. ANALYSING AND USING EMPLOYER INFORMATION • Job advert, job descriptions and person specifications • Answer the question(s) posed by the employer • Use critical thinking skills • Use appropriate language for the area you want to move into

  15. WHAT DO YOU OFFER? • Must be self-aware – research yourself – have more information than you need • What skills, qualities and experiences have you acquired? • Process and outcomes • Competence and capability • How will they be useful in the job? • Which of them will you stress in the applications you make?

  16. CV TYPES • Chronological, Functional, Targeted • Think about which style is going to work best for the application? • You can adapt and develop your own style/format • Experiment with one or two styles – which works best? • Make sure your covering letter/email is consistent in content, style and presentation

  17. WRITING SKILLS – MAIN TIPS • Marketing Yourself • Active verbs – passivity is the enemy • Use a few words but say a lot • Examples and evidence for your claims • Use words from the employers vocabulary • Narrative v succinct writing styles

  18. ART OF A GOOD APPLICATION • Understand you are marketing yourself • It’s sole purpose is to get you an interview • Use the information the employer has provided • Convince them you have what they want • Must do your personal background research – self awareness!!!!!

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