How to boost your employability with a part-time job

John McMenaminCareers ConsultantCareer Development Centremcmenaj@westminster.ac.uk

Objectives

By the end of this session you should:– recognise the importance of skills to employers– be able to identify skills that can be gained and

developed from part-time work and other experiences

– be able to sell your skills to potential employers regardless of where they were gained/developed

– be able to identify sources of part-time work– be familiar with the University’s Talent Bank

scheme, how to apply for it and the benefits you can gain from being part of it

What are skills?

– Abilities acquired through education and other experiences.

– “an ability to do an activity or job well, especially because you have practised it.”

Cambridge advanced learners dictionary

Types of skills

Skills are often bundled into subsets such as:

– key skills– transferable skills– academic skills– employability skills

Though the skills in question are often the same.

– Other terms in use: capabilities, competencies, abilities.

Employers’ Expectations of Graduates– Degree

– Experience

– Skills

Carl Gilleard – Former CEO Association ofGraduate Recruiters

http://mycareer.wmin.ac.uk/video/mpeg/r4113_bb.mpg (required student login)

Degree– For some roles the subject knowledge gained from your

degree will be utilised to some extent in the role. However, some employers will not necessarily care what your degree subject was, the final classification is important (ideally 2:1 or better)

– A degree is more than subject knowledge, it is a set of values, qualities, skills and experiences that employers value. Chief among these is the concept of committing to something for a long period and doing well.

– Degree + Experience + Skills = Employable

Experience– Ideally the experience will be relevant to the role

you are applying for but…– Any experience which has enhanced your

“employability” will be useful. Experience can be gained from: part-time work volunteering work experience/placements/internships extra-curricular activities –

clubs/societies/interests – Degree + Experience + Skills = Employable

Skills– A combination of applied knowledge and

experience which make you able to function effectively in the workplace.

– Skills gained in one job can be transferred to another. For example, customer service skills.

– Degree + Experience + Transferable Skills = Employable

Skills and qualities employers want• Commercial awareness

(or business acumen)

• Communication

• Teamwork

• Negotiation and persuasion(especially useful in customer service)

• Problem solving

• Leadership

• Organisation

• Perseverance and motivation

• Ability to work under pressure

• ConfidenceSource: TargetJobs.co.uk

Selling skills gained in part-time roles to an employerIdeally, your part-time role would be related to your future graduate career but that isn’t always possible and certainly isn’t absolutely necessary.

– What skills has this woman gained in her part-time job at Subway that will be of use in her planned career as a marketing executive?

– Teamwork– Communication– Working under pressure– Customer service– Multi-tasking– Attention to detail– Commercial awareness

How about this man and his intended career in sales?

Or this man who wants to work in finance?

Or this woman who wants to be a TV presenter?

Experience need not be relevant but ideally it would be– Any job can give you useful skills but some jobs require

relevant experience before you can do them at graduate level

– Examples include: Teaching, lab-based roles, most retail/sales roles, IT support roles (at 2nd and 3rd line)

– So how can you get experience in these? – Part-time roles, volunteering, internships, university

schemes

Evidencing your skills in applications and interviews– Typically in application forms and interviews you

are invited to provide evidence of your skills.

– The questions will take the form of “Describe a time when…” or “Give an example of…”

– These “competency-based” questions are asking you to talk about your skills by telling a story about something that you did in your past.

Finding part-time roles– Easiest method: walk the streets, pop in and ask.

– You may want to take along a CV that is tailored towards the particular kind of role you are looking for and possibly even a covering letter that explains your motivation and what you have to offer.

– The less energetic method: search online– Career Development Centre job listings

http://careers.westminster.ac.uk – Google – “Part time jobs in London” – follow the link to

indeed.co.uk – over 7000 roles, Guardian – over 200 roles.

– Other sources: local newspaper and Free-Ads style publications

Got a non-relevant part-time job but want relevant experience? – Consider volunteering.– Visit http://do-it.org.uk – there are thousands of

voluntary opportunities in an around London all of which will provide you with an excellent opportunity to apply and further develop your skills and gain valuable experience whilst helping a charitable cause.

– If you want help with finding suitable volunteering, have a chat with Berekhet Berakhy at the Career Development Centre b.berakhy@westminster.ac.uk

Want to go into teaching but lack classroom experience?– Get in touch with the University of Westminster Associates in

Schools (UWAS) team– http://westminster.ac.uk/uwas – Provides 15 days of classroom-based experience,

supporting an experienced teacher

Want a part-time role that is flexible around your studies, pays relatively well and will be a great source of skills and experience?

– Apply to join the Talent Bank

What is the Talent Bank? - Gives students the opportunity to apply for paid temporary

and part-time vacancies across all campuses and various departments.

- Applications open at certain points throughout the year and students are pre screened and tested so we are able to accurately match Talent Bank students to suitable roles.

Talent Bank Roles

Database Administrator, Residential Coordinator, Alumni Administrator, Language Assistant, Procurement administrator, Invigilators, Business Development Admin Assistant, Temp Events Admin Assistant, HEIF Research Assistant, Focus group Assistant, DLHE Survey Telephone Researchers, Envelope Stuffer, Archiving Assistant, Student Ambassadors, Super Fans, Receptionist, Welcome Pack Assembler, Library Shelver, IT Assistant, Notetaker, Exam Transcriber, HR Administrator

Talent Bank Student Specification  Demonstrated via

Application form Supporting Statement

CV Assessment

Essential Self-motivated with the ability to work independently

  x   x

Enthusiasm, initiative with a ‘can-do’ attitude   x   x

Able to work in a team   x   x

Excellent written & verbal communication skills x x x x

Excellent attention to detail x x x x

Reliability and good timekeeping   x   x

DesirablePrevious work experience     x  

Excellent customer service skills x   x x

Intermediate/Excellent Word skills x     x

Intermediate/Excellent Excel skills x     x

Intermediate/Excellent Outlook skills x     x

Intermediate/Excellent Typing speed x     x

Intermediate/Excellent Online research skills x     x

Talent Bank Student Case Study

Talent Bank Student Case Study

– November 2012 Successfully applied to the Talent Bank – December 2012 Applied & was recruited as a Database Administrator– March 2012 Applied & was recruited as a Procurement Assistant– July 2013 Graduated from University of Westminster– June 2014 Working in the accounts department of a PR firm, studying

for his ACCA.

What we see… Title of CV Email address CV not relevant Supporting Statement not relevant ‘In my CV’ 3+ page CV All lists, no detail Communication prior & after your application

Summary

– Skills are a key part of being employable– Being able to identify the skills you have gained from a given

experience can be a skill in itself– All work experience will help you develop transferable skills that

employers value regardless of its relevance to the role on offer– There are plenty of part-time jobs out there if you look for them– The university operates a number of schemes which can help you gain

valuable experience while you study

Career Development Centre Services

Information and advice on CVs, Covering letters and application forms

Resources Guides, general and sector specific publications,

DVDs and much more

Face-to-face advice and guidance 20 minute quick query session 45 minute in-depth individual guidance or mock

interview session

Contact us

Central London1st Floor, Cavendish House101 New Cavendish StreetLondon

W1W 6XH

HarrowRoom EG.15Maria Hewlett BuildingNearest Tube: Northwick Park

T 020 7911 5184 E careers@westminster.ac.ukwestminster.ac.uk/careers