Don’t Panic!!

1. Don’t Panic!!

2. Things to Remember… • Lots of graduates are in your position • All vacancies are NOT filled • Some companies recruit year-round • The majority of employers like ‘gap years’ if you use them wisely • You can get a temporary job • UCL is targeted by employers • You have a wide range of options open to you – you just need to know where to look • You only get one shot at your degree

3. Questions to Ask Yourself….. • Do I want to stay in my subject field (either for studying or a job)? • Do I want to get a job now? • Am I sure of what I want to do? • Can I do the job? • Am I prepared to get temporary work and apply later? • Do I want to do some further study now? • What am I going to study? Why? Where? • Can I get funding? • Do I want to have a gap year now? • How am I going to structure the year? • What do I hope to get out of it? • Should I consider getting a job/university place for 2002 before I go?

4. Job Search - Within Your Degree Field • Categorised career directories • Signpost sheet • Relevant journals/periodicals • Professional Associations • Networking - talk to tutors etc • Specialist recruitment agencies • FDS data

5. Careers for Any Discipline • Advertising and Promotion • Accountancy and Banking • IT • Distribution • General Management • Human Resources • Journalism • Management Consultancy • Sales and Marketing • Publishing • Legal Services (further study required)

6. Job Hunting • Career Directories • Internet Sites • National Press • Specialist Magazines • Job magazine • UCL Job Vacancy Folder • UCL Work Window • Recruitment Agencies • Speculative Applications (Linx data base for networking) • Recruitment fairs

7. General Careers Web-sites • www.step.org.uk • www.get.hobsons.com • www.prospects.csu.ac.uk • www.careers.lon.ac.uk • www.ucl.ac.uk/careers

8. Postgraduate Study • Usually no official deadlines for places • There are deadlines for funding • Some vocational courses have ‘clearing’ • Look at some forms and have answers and personal statement prepared • Places to look….. • The Guardian • The Independent • The Times Higher Education Supplement • Specialist periodicals • Prospects Postgrad • Prospects Today

9. Questions to Consider About Further Study • Is the course suitable? • Is the course officially recognised? • Is my background suitable? • Is the course necessary? • Will I get a job afterwards? • Will I want a job afterwards? • Will the course add something to my CV?

10. Most Important Skills Sought By Graduate Recruiters • Business Awareness • Adaptability • Initiative • Computer Literacy • Numeracy • Organisation/Time Management • Languages • Interpersonal/Communication Skills • Leadership • Problem Solving • Team Working

11. Not a Clue!! “I want a job but have no idea what I want to do” • Use Prospects Planner • Look at what past UCL students did • Look at ‘Your degree….what next’ • Buy ‘Build Your Own Rainbow’ (£15) • Look at the occupational profiles • Or www.prospects.ac.uk • Look through Career Directories • Use Hobsons Casebooks • Contact people from the Linx Database

12. UCL Careers Service 49 - 51, Gordon Square London • Surgery • Mon – Thurs • 11am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 4.30pm • Long appointments (inc. practice interviews) • Books, videos, take-away literature • Careers talks, skills workshops, fairs • Computer-aided guidance (Funderfinder, Ecctis, Prospects Planner, Linx database)