Careers Advisory Service

1. Careers Advisory Service June Kay Careers Development Consultant (BA History & Human Resource Management, PG Diploma Careers Guidance)

2. Content • Destinations 2006 Graduates • Options after Graduation • Application Process • How Can CAS Help • Plan of Action • Sources of Vacancies

4. Options After Graduation Employment…. Business Analyst (Algorithmics), Software Engineer, Technology Consultant (Capgemini), Systems Analyst (GCHQ), Consultant (Detica / IBM), Website Reliability Engineer (Google), Trainee Accountant, Visual Basic Programmer (Sony), Service Desk Engineer, Freelance Web Developer etc., etc.

5. Further Study….. Taught Masters Software Design & Engineering & Music Composition (both self funded)

6. Application for Postgraduate Study • Direct to institution (exceptions) • Individual Deadlines • Research Ratings • Funding available • www.prospects.ac.uk(Postgraduate Study/ Find courses and research) • www.findamasters.com • www.findaphd.com • Funderfinder

7. Personal Statement • Direct to institution (exceptions) • Individual Deadlines • Research Ratings • Funding available • www.prospects.ac.uk(Postgraduate Study/ Find courses and research) • www.findamasters.com • www.findaphd.com • Funderfinder

8. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships • University-company partnership facilitates knowledge and technology transfer • Graduate works in industry for two to three years with supervision • Opportunities throughout the UK • Apply via the host university • More information www.durham.ac.uk/ktp

9. Knowledge Transfer Partnerships KTP Associate Employed by Works in KTP project 2-3 years Innovation Strategic to Company University Company Knowledge Transfer

10. Graduate Benefits of KTP • Fast-track your career into industry • Responsible job • Competitive salary • Completion Bonus (sometimes) • Training package – higher degree, management qualification, training budget • Experience – 2-3 year contract

11. Computer Science Many KTPs in all areas of the UK • Electronic Document Exchange • Software development • Software re-engineering • Distributed networks • Challenging for Associate and Academic team • Strategic for the company

12. Or Alternatively • Gap Year – voluntary work, travel, work experience. • Self-Employment

13. How Can CAS Help If you • have no idea…. • have some ideas to explore… • have a definite career choice…. • want to plan a gap year…. • want to do further study….

14. Application Process • CV or Application Form plus covering letter • Telephone Interview • Aptitude Tests • Face To Face Interview • Assessment Centre

15. Graduate Recruitment Cycle • Organisations start recruiting in the Autumn • Interviews normally from mid- January • Assessment Centres from February • Start work June – September

16. Graduate Recruitment Cycle • Some organisations recruit all year • Some don’t openly recruit • Postgraduate courses some early closing dates • Most from Xmas, dates dictated by funding application

17. How to Succeed - CVs • Tailor your CV for each individualvacancy • Highlight transferable skills and achievements • Don’t be too modest or implicit • Write a positive upbeat covering letter • Get draft checked

18. How to Succeed – Application Form • Do not fill in the form until totally happy with drafts • Do not cut and paste answer from one form to another • For competency based questions give specific examples – S.T.A.R. • Why do you want the role – important section

19. Tell us about a time when you have worked effectively as part of a team. What was your role and what did you contribute to the team? What did you learn for the future? • S - In September 2007 I participated in the residential Insight Into Management Course, run by Durham university. At the start of the 3 day course I was allocated to a group of 8 students from all faculties whom I had never met before. • T - All teams were given 2 days to work on the Global Challenge business game , where the remit was to design, develop, produce, market and sell an innovative product. This product had to be environmentally friendly, useful to ordinary members of the public and meet set guidelines.

20. Tell us about a time when you have worked effectively as part of a team. What was your role and what did you contribute to the team? What did you learn for the future? • A As a computer science student, with a hobby of web development and computer graphics, I felt that my strength would lie in design and marketing of the product. I told the rest of my team this and asked the other members which skills they felt they could bring to the team. I lead a discussion on allocation of roles and division of tasks then identified a timescale when each separate element of the project had to be completed. Since some elements could not be started until others were completed I suggested a system whereby the strongest member for a particular task led a subgroup of two or three members, who could all contribute ideas and assist with practical tasks.

21. Continued…. • R – Our product was well designed and thought out, completed to time scale and won overall second prize for the most innovative marketing strategy. All team members engaged with the task and developed an insight into an area of the process they felt was new to them. The team spirit was high throughout and individual members gained new skills and confidence. The construction of the prototype was the weakest part of our enterprise as the initial idea was too ambitious for the materials and time available, which was a valuable lesson. In future I would suggest the team take more time to agree realistic targets at the beginning, before any work is started. This should prevent the problems we encountered.

22. How Can CAS Help • Resources of Information Room • Seminars – CVs, Application Form, Interview Techniques etc – www.durham.ac.uk/careers-advice • CV / Application Form Clinics

23. Plan of Action • Do nothing until after finals or graduation • Some applications in Michaelmas Term • Full commitment to the ‘Milk Round’ • Year out

24. Closing Dates… • Civil Service Faststream 30th November ‘07 • PWC December ’07 / January ‘08 • Barclays 31st December ‘07 • NHS Management 30th November ‘07 • FSA 5th December ‘07 • RBS (Group Technology) February ‘08

25. Sources of Vacancies • www.durham.ac.uk/careers-advice • www.prospects.ac.uk • National Newspapers • Specialist Press • Recruitment Agencies • Directories – Hobson’s, Prospects, Times 100 etc • Employer Websites • Networking

26. Careers Advisory Service • 49 New Elvet • Open 10am – 5pm • Tel 0191 334 41437 • www.durham.ac.uk/careers-advice

27. Remember don’t wait for your ship to come in………… …..swim out to meet it!