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Careers Advisory Service

June KayCareers Development Consultant(BA History & Human Resource Management, PG Diploma Careers Guidance)

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

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Undergraduate Destinations 2006

70%

4%

4%

7%

4%

4%7%

Employed F-T

Employed P_T

Self-employed

further study only

Unavailable

Unemployed

work & further study

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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.

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Further Study…..

Taught Masters Software Design & Engineering & Music Composition (both self funded)

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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

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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

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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

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Knowledge Transfer Partnerships

KTP Associate

University Company

Innovation Strategic

to Company

KTP project

2-3 years

Works inEmployed by

Knowledge Transfer

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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

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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

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Or Alternatively

Gap Year – voluntary work, travel, work experience.

Self-Employment

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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….

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Application Process

CV or Application Form plus covering letter

Telephone Interview Aptitude Tests Face To Face Interview Assessment Centre

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Graduate Recruitment Cycle

Organisations start recruiting in the Autumn

Interviews normally from mid- January

Assessment Centres from February

Start work June – September

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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

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How to Succeed - CVs Tailor your CV for each individual

vacancy Highlight transferable skills and

achievements Don’t be too modest or implicit Write a positive upbeat covering letter Get draft checked

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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Plan of Action Do nothing until after finals or

graduation Some applications in

Michaelmas Term Full commitment to the ‘Milk

Round’ Year out

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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

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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

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Careers Advisory Service

49 New Elvet Open 10am – 5pm Tel 0191 334 41437 www.durham.ac.uk/careers-

advice

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Remember don’t wait for your ship to come in…………

…..swim out to meet it!