Postgraduate Careers (Business School):

MSc Accelerated Career Leaders Programme 2014-2015

CONTENTS

About the Programme

Page 2 Postgraduate Careers Team: Who We Are and How to Find UsPage 2 Prerequisites, Prior Learning, Entry Conditions, Credits and

Continuing ProgrammesPage 2 Programme AimsPage 3 Learning Objectives and OutcomesPage 3 Meetings and AttendancePage 4 How to Book on Employer Events, Workshops and Seminar SessionsPage 5 Careers Timeline

Applications and Recruitment Toolkit

Page 6 Finding a Job and Identifying Your SkillsPage 7 Your Skills PortfolioPage 9 Linking Your Skills and Experience Page 10 Where to Find VacanciesPage 12 Creating Your CVPage 13 CV ExercisePage 14 Writing Your Covering LetterPage 15 Action Words: How to Create ImpactPage 18 Application Forms – a Guide to Competency Questions Page 19 Competency Questions – More ExamplesPage 20 How to Build a Professional Student LinkedIn ProfilePage 21 How to Network Professionally OnlinePage 22 Psychometric TestsPage 26 Useful Practice Websites and ResourcesPage 27 InterviewsPage 28 MSc Password Protected ResourcesPage 31 And Finally… (Top Tips)

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Your Career, Your Waywww.nottingham.ac.uk/business/careers/postgraduatecareers

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Postgraduate Careers Team: Who We Are and How to Find Us

Julie Blant Postgraduate Careers Service ManagerMegan Davies Postgraduate Careers Consultant (starts November)Ewan Henry Employer Relations ConsultantClare Simcock Postgraduate Careers AdministratorTim Orton Postgraduate Careers Administrator

Appointments and enquiries can be made: In person, come to the Postgraduate Careers Office, Room A72,

in Business School North Building and we will be happy to help you. By emailing BusinessPCS@nottingham.ac.uk at any time. NB:

Please state your name, course, contact telephone number and availability for an appointment if you are emailing.

Prerequisites, Prior Learning, Entry Conditions, Credits and Continuing Programmes

There are no prerequisites for this programme No prior learning is expected This programme is not credit bearing

You will receive a Certificate of Professional Development with your transcript if you complete the requirements as outlined in the CPD Certificate booklet you have been provided with (this is also available on Moodle> MSc Careers).

Elements of this programme are a prerequisite in order to be eligible to apply for the MSc Company Based Dissertations. Please make sure you attend all 4 compulsory lectures before the application deadline (usually end of February)

Programme Aims

The aim of this programme is to develop each student’s understanding of career management skills and how you can apply your knowledge to achieve success within the job market.

You will consider your own skills, interests, experiences and goals in order to identify suitable opportunities. You will develop the techniques needed to be able to make applications that have a positive impact on employers and to navigate the recruitment process.

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Your Career, Your Waywww.nottingham.ac.uk/business/careers/postgraduatecareers

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Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Students will develop the knowledge and skills to:

Describe how the Postgraduate Careers Team can assist them Identify suitable materials and resources for their career planning Explore their own skills profile and identify strengths and areas for

development Understand the elements that should be included on a CV/LinkedIn

profile Identify key information they wish to include on their own

CV/LinkedIn profile Effectively market the value of an MSc qualification Structure an effective covering letter Research the job market relevant to individual aims Identify suitable sources of information Show a range of networking techniques Choose appropriate questions to ask organisations Write the type of evidence they need to use on an application form Identify some common interview question types Structure an appropriate answer Identify sources of help available.

Meetings and Attendance

You are expected to maintain professional standards throughout the course by arriving at the sessions on time and participating fully with minimal disruption to fellow students. The sessions are designed to provide a thorough grounding in the essential tools necessary to achieve success in your job search and in furthering your career goals.

Lectures: Four Compulsory lectures. Small group sessions - a mixture of lectures, interactive activities

and workshops. Videos and other media will be used where appropriate.

NB: Attendance will be monitored and in order to apply for the MSc Company Based Projects you are required to attend the following four compulsory lectures:

LinkedIn, CV’s and Covering Letters Job Search and Networking Strategies Application Forms Interview Skills

You are advised to attend small group sessions on Team Work and Presentation Skills.

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The programme is subject to change (any changes will be notified to you by email and on Moodle).

Slides and handouts from the sessions will be available on Moodle in the MSc Careers Module. You will be shown how to access these in the first session.

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How to Book on Employer Events, Workshops and Seminar Sessions

Events organised by the Postgraduate Careers Team

You will receive weekly emails (sent to your university account) of forthcoming events with links to the relevant section of MOODLE in order to book your place. Booking operates on a “first come, first served” basis.

It is important to read these emails, it is your responsibility to prioritise and book your place. If you book events and fail to turn up your future bookings may be removed. Please be professional and inform us of any difficulties you may have.

Events organised by the Careers and Employability Service

All students are welcome to attend employer events that are run by our colleagues based on University Park.

To book you will need to register through MyCareer, further instructions are available on the website, see link address below.

http://nottingham.ac.uk/careers/students/events/ourevents/index.aspx

Other events

We will do our best to give you notice (usually by email) of other events of possible interest such as virtual Careers Fairs, Webinars, Guest Speakers in the University etc. Where appropriate booking details will be provided.

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Careers Timeline

It is important that you start planning your career strategy and job search as soon as possible. The UK Recruitment Cycle for Graduate Schemes begins in Early Autumn 2014 for jobs due to start in September 2015. Below is a timetable to help you plan BUT remember it is up to you to set up appointments when necessary and check times and dates for each of the workshops and seminars that will help you achieve your objectives.

Book an initial appointment with a Postgraduate Careers Consultant

(October onwards)

Attend sessions (October onwards)

Research companies and plan your time if you are applying to graduate

training programmes (October/November/December)

Prepare your LinkedIn profile and CV and get them reviewed (as soon as

possible)

Attend the Business & Management Careers Fair (Monday 13th October

2014)

Review the programme of company recruitment presentations on

MyCareer and attend those that are relevant to your choices (October

onwards)

Submit online applications (October – December and beyond!)

Attend careers workshops (January – March 2015)

Interviews and Assessment Centres often take place from December

onwards

Make sure you are available for Career Catch Up week in June 2015

Provide the Postgraduate Careers Team with up-to-date contact information and update us on your job search (June/July 2015)

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Finding a Job and Identifying Your Skills

Many people will spend more time planning a holiday than planning their career.

There is a temptation to rush into job applications without first thinking about where your skills are suited, what interests you most and what you have to offer a prospective employer.

If you make lots of applications without preparation you will most likely get a lot of rejections and this can damage your confidence

Slow down and take the time to think about what motivates you, your confidence levels and how well prepared you are to market your strengths and articulate these effectively.

When you have a better idea of what you have to offer you can start to research organisations that may be of interest and begin to build your network of contacts in industry sectors or in roles that appeal to you.

Do your preparation well and make sure you understand the company and what they offer before thinking about making any applications.

Job Adverts need to be read carefully, try highlighting key words and make sure you give evidence of how you match these requirements in your CV or application.

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Company culture – how does the company describe itself? Does this fit with your ideals? The information provided should give you some clues to decide if you will be a good match, or not.

Your Skills Portfolio

Use the following skills portfolio exercise to help you.

In order to find a fulfilling career and impress employers it is crucial that you have a good understanding of your skills and that you are able to demonstrate

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them clearly in your applications. Use the table below to list your key transferrable skills.

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Linking Your Skills and Experiences

Your task now is to make sense of these skills in relation to your experiences so far. When employers ask questions about skills and strengths, either in an application form, or at interview, you will be a stronger candidate if you provide examples rather than simply state that you have ‘excellent communication skills’ or that you are ‘a good team player’.

Once you have chosen all the skills you feel you have from the previous exercise, select 6 which you feel are the ones which are most relevant for the career you are interested in or that you feel are your real strengths. Write these in the space provided below. Once you have decided on these think of as many examples as possible of when you have developed and demonstrated this skill. You can use examples from anywhere including; work experience, voluntary activities, your studies, sports or social activities you have been involved in.

This is exactly the type of ‘skills audit’ that you need to undertake before you even begin to complete any applications. Failure to convince an employer that you are aware of what you have to offer can lead to automatic rejection, even if you meet the academic requirements!

Below is an example of linking skills with evidence.

Skill area Evidence of when/how usedTeam working skills Worked as one of 12 customer advisers within a

customer service team, sharing knowledge and supporting each other to respond to daily enquiries. Worked together to maintain high standards and exceed team goals.

Selling skills Exceeded sales targets by 27% for the Birmingham centre, during the last financial year. Generated new business leads by successfully opening an average of 130 new accounts each month.

Customer service skills Achieved high level customer satisfaction within the team, and received an award for consistently exceeding customers’ expectations and offering excellent service.

Windmills Job 2004

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Now you have a better idea of what you have to offer you can start to research organisations that may be of interest and begin to build your network of contacts in industry sectors or in roles that appeal to you.

Do your preparation well and make sure you understand the company and what they offer before thinking about making any applications.

Job Adverts need to be read carefully, try highlighting key words and make sure you give evidence of how you match these requirements in your CV or application.

Company culture – how does the company describe itself? Does this fit with your ideals? The information provided should give you some clues to decide if you will be a good match, or not.

Where to Find Vacancies

Please note that the following resources are paid for on a subscription basis by Postgraduate Careers. You should not share these links/passwords with anyone outside of the Business School MSc Programmes – if you do this will contravene our licences and prevent further usage.

Postgraduate Careers - Vacancy Database

Go to: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/business/businesspcs/vacancies/ Username: NUBSPG Password: PG707VA (all case sensitive) You will receive weekly emails highlighting vacancies within the database. We email to your University email address.

GoinGlobal

GoinGlobal career and employment resources include world-wide job openings, internship listings, industry profiles and country-specific career information. Content includes topics such as: work permit/visa regulations, CV/resume writing guidelines and examples, employment trends, salary ranges, networking groups, cultural/interviewing advice, corporate profiles and worldwide job listings….plus much more! Also visit the global forum to chat about living and working abroad.

You must register using the link below using a NUBS computer - you cannot register using your home or personal computer as you will not be recognised as being a NUBS student.

Go to: http://online.goinglobal.com/default.aspx

Executive Grapevine Your Career, Your Way

www.nottingham.ac.uk/business/careers/postgraduatecareersbusinesspcs@nottingham.ac.uk

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Executive Grapevine is a worldwide executive recruitment search tool. The database contains more than 7,000 executive recruitment firms including all of the leading head-hunters and 18,000 recruitment consultants located in the UK and worldwide. Executive Grapevine is a well-established reference source providing some of the most accurate and in-depth profiles of the world’s leading search firms. Suitable for those with professional experience prior to the MSc programme.

Go to: http://egoldr.askgrapevine.com ID: nubs Password: mba ( all case sensitive)

Also

Collect the publications available to you from the Postgraduate Careers Team.

There are many, many websites that you can use including:

My Career – Careers and Employability Service, search for vacancies

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/The UK’s official Graduate Careers Website

http://targetjobs.co.uk/We've got vacancies aplenty, great advice and top tips on employers to help you get hired.

http://www.insidecareers.co.uk/We’re more than just a graduate jobs board. We provide a range of careers advice to help secure your job.

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Creating Your CV

Your Career, Your Waywww.nottingham.ac.uk/business/careers/postgraduatecareers

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Essential informationPersonal details

Name, address, telephone number, email address. Make sure you have a professional sounding email, such as your full name,

rather than a nickname: if necessary setup a new account.

Education (in reverse chronological order) University education A levels (or equivalent) Number of GCSEs (or equivalent)

Work experience Include both paid and voluntary work and any part-time or on-campus work

you’ve done. Feature the skills which are most relevant to the job you are applying for. You can split this into a first section ‘Relevant work experience’, outlining

directly related experience, and ‘Other experience’, listing everything else.

Skills IT, languages (including the level of competency) and any technical skills

for example, analytical techniques.

Positions of responsibility This is optional: include it if you have any relevant responsibilities.

Interests Leisure activities, club/society memberships, travel

References If you do give references, then a good rule of thumb is to include one

employer and one academic referee for jobs and two academic referees for courses.

Length Most employers will expect the standard UK CV length of two pages. NB: CVs for banking jobs should be no more than one page.

Targeting the information in your CV to a particular type of work is essential in catching the recruiter’s eye.

This means that there is no ‘general CV’: each time you apply for a job you need to tweak it to fit the job role.

How do you do that?

The place to start is the person specification on the job description, as this tells you all you need to know about the type of person the employer is looking for. Sometimes this is laid out separately to all the other information given; other times it’s a bit more subtle and you have to read between the lines.

One useful tactic is to look at how the company talks about itself: they will probably want you to have the same traits. Your aim is to make your CV match all of the criteria.

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CV Exercise

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Telefonica

Your adventure starts here.

We’re Telefónica, a world leader in global communications and the name behind O2. We’ve launched Talentum, our new approach to hiring and inspiring the brightest students and graduates

across Europe. We want people who love stepping out of their comfort zones and taking on new challenges.

The role:

Do you have a strong global mindset? Do you want to be an international Leader? Do you want to learn about the Telefónica European business? Our two-year European Leadership Programme could get your career off to a flyer. If you have a strong academic record, a second language to English (Spanish, German, Czech, Slovak) this could be the scheme for you. It’s designed to prepare high-performing graduates to be the leaders of tomorrow and to put you on the path to an international career, through world-class training, which includes a 6 months European assignment to another country.

Do you want to become a professional marketer? Our two-year Marketing Graduate Programme could be your choice. This programme is designed to enable high-performing graduates to experience between 1-3 placements. These placements could cover areas such as Strategy, Marketing Communications/ Campaign Execution. By the end of these placements, you will have gained experience in a number of aspects of Marketing, to enable you to take a substantive role as a competent and well-rounded marketer with the understanding and context of the end to end marketing process. You will have the opportunity to apply to study for a recognised Marketing qualification

Requirements for European Leadership:Minimum 2:1 degree in any disciplineFluent English + one of the following languages: Spanish, German, Czech, SlovakAnalytical skillsOnline IT / Digital SkillsGeographically mobile and comfortable spending time working and living abroad.Strong Commercial Awareness

Requirements for MarketingMinimum 2:1 degree preferably in a relevant subject such as Marketing, Media Studies or Communication would be advantageousFluent English + additional language skills desirable (German, Slovak, Czech or Spanish)Strong Commercial AwarenessAnalytical skillsOnline IT/Digital skillsCreativity

TaskWhat skills and experience would you need to provide evidence of in your CV, covering letter and your application form if you were to apply for one of these roles?

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Writing Your Covering Letter

Covering letters should always be included with your CV or application forms unless you are specifically requested not to send one.

Your Career, Your Waywww.nottingham.ac.uk/business/careers/postgraduatecareers

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ExampleDisha Bhatia

Chatterley CourtRagby RoadBicycle ParkNottingham

NG3 2MY

26th September 2014

Dear Ms Green

Graduate Recruitment Scheme

I am writing to apply for the graduate recruitment scheme advertised in The Sunday Times, “20 Best Big Companies to Work for, 2014”. I have enclosed my CV for your consideration.

From my past experience as a Research co-ordinator on employee motivation and a Business Leader in which I was mainly concerned and responsible for Employee-team Empowerment and Change Management I have developed a deep interest in the area of human capital.

I have developed relevant skills like analysing complex situations, ability to work effectively in a diverse team. Innovative thinking, taking initiative, leadership skills, presentation skills, finding source of inspiration and empowering others which are important in being a successful consultant. A career as a consultant in human capital appeals to me because it will enable me to gain a deeper level of personal satisfaction.

I am attracted to Deloitte particularly because of its internationally recognised good reputation of professional services and emphasis on quality with integrity. My work experience, skills, talent and interest will enable me to deliver the standard of service which Deloitte is well known for. I have attended three Drop-in Sessions and Presentations by Deloitte which have confirmed my interest in Deloitte as a company which has values and beliefs that align with my own. The training provided by Deloitte will also help me attain my long-term goal of being a senior consultant analyst in Human Capital.

I hope that, on consideration of my CV, you will be persuaded of my potential to perform well and make a real valuable contribution as an employee of Deloitte. I will be available for an interview at your convenience. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Disha Bhatia (Miss)

Include your address and contact details

Always write to a named person

Use a simple, clear font

Introductory line, make it clear what you are applying for

1st paragraph – why this role interests you

2nd paragraph – what relevant skills you have

3rd paragraph – why this company and role interest you

4th paragraph – concluding statement

Action Words: How to Create Impact

On application forms, CVs and within covering letters and interviews you need to have impact. Describing what you have done, rather than simply listing the task/activities that you have undertaken, has several advantages:

It adds ‘personality’ to your CV. A prospective employer can assess the level of involvement/responsibility

that you had. It shows a ‘business-like’ approach to your application. By describing, rather than listing, you can show that you understand the

skills required for the job that you are applying for.

Communication…

Addressed Co-ordinated Introduced Recommended

Suggested

Advised Corresponded

Lectured Reconciled Summarised

Argued Counselled Led Referred TrainedBriefed Debated Liaised Related TranslatedChaired Directed Mediated Renegotiate

dTutored

Coached Encouraged Met Reported ValidatedCommanded Explained Named Responded VerifiedCommunicated

Guided Negotiated Reviewed Welcomed

Consulted Handled Nominated ShowedContacted Helped Persuaded SoldConverted Influenced Presented SpecifiedConvinced Instructed Promoted SpokeCo-operated Interviewed Recognised Stated

Making changes…

Accelerated Edited Induced Reduced Straightened

Added Eliminated Innovated Re-evaluated

Streamlined

Adjusted Enhanced Integrated Rehabilitated

Tightened

Balanced Enlarged Intensified Renovated TransferredChanged Expanded Maximised Reorganised TransformedCombined Followed-up Moderated Revamped TrebledCorrected Heightened Modified Revised UpdatedDecreased Improved Moulded SimplifiedDiminished Improvised Moved SmoothedDoubled Increased Perfected Stimulated

Achievements…

Accomplished

Built Demonstrated

Proved Shipped

Achieved Caused Effected Realised SolvedAttained Compiled Organised Resolved SucceededAuthored Completed Produced Satisfied Won

Start…

Arranged Developed Fostered Launched RaisedAssembled Devised Founded Made Set upBegan Drafted Generated Originated ShapedCo-founded Drew-up Initiated Piloted StartedConceived Established Inspired Pioneered UndertookConstructed Formed Instituted PlannedCreated Formulated Invented Prepared

Get…

Acquired Earned Included Received SelectedAwarded Extracted Obtained Recruited TookChose Gained Procured RescuedCollected Hired Purchased Saved

Maintain…

Assured Ensured Maintained Ran ServicedConditioned Galvanised Monitored Regulated SupportedConsolidated Insured Policed ReinforcedContinued Kept Prevailed Secured

Find/Search

Checked Found Located Researched SourcedDiscovered Hunted Looked Scrutinised StudiedExamined Inspected Perceived Sifted SurveyedExplored Investigated Pinpointed Sought Unearthed

Describe…

Catalogued Designated Illustrated RecordedClarified Detailed Mapped Substantiate

dComposed Formalised Marketed TypedDefined Highlighted Projected WorkedDescribed Identified Proposed Wrote

In charge…

Administered

Controlled Headed Ordered Took Over

Authorised Dealt Influenced PresidedCaptained Delegated Managed PromotedConducted Employed Mastered RepresentedContracted Governed Officiated Spearheade

d

Numerical/Computational…

Audited Computed Networked Profited SystemisedBudgeted Correlated Paid Programmed TabulatedCalculated Financed Processed Scheduled

Send/give

Delivered Distributed Publicised SubmittedDispatched Forwarded Revealed SuppliedDisplayed Placed Sent

Decision

Allocated Appreciated Assumed Diagnosed InterpretedAllotted Arbitrated Decided Elected JustifiedAppraised Assessed Determined Evaluated Prioritised

Positive Action

Aided Enacted Foresaw Performed StructuredApplied Enjoyed Implemente

dPlayed Surmounted

Aspired Enlisted Incorporated Pleased TargetedAssimilated Exceeded Involved Prompted TravelledAssisted Executed Motivated Provided UnifiedAttended Expedited Orientated Screened UsedEnabled Experienced Participated Served Utilised

Other Useful Action Words

Accompanied

Closed Facilitated Prohibited

Appointed Concluded Familiarised StoppedAssigned Exhibited Filed TestedBrought Expended Finalised Treat

Positive description words to highlight your best attributes

Ambitious Diverse Harmonious Proficient ThoroughAble Economical Helpful Punctual ThoughtfulActive Effective Honest Qualified TolerantCapable Efficient Honourable Reliable Understandi

ngCompetent Energetic Humorous Resourceful UsefulComprehensive

Enthusiastic

Imaginative Responsible Versatile

Confident Excellent Loyal Sincere VitalConscientious Exceptional Notable Stringent VividConsistent Exclusive Permanent Substantial WideDependable Experience

dPractical Successful Wise

Distinctive Fair Prestigious Technical

Application Forms – A Guide to Competency Questions

Tell us about a time when you demonstrated effective leadership? (150 words)For many years, I have worked in a local bookshop and, alongside my normal sales duties, I was promoted to part-time marketing manager last year. With the lead marketing manager on maternity leave, I was tasked with running our exhibition stand at READER, the largest annual independent booksellers show in the UK. I led both the administration of the stand and the five staff members working on it, advising the sales team on priorities based on our marketing strategies and guiding them through any problems or complicated customer queries which arose. Overall, the show was a success, with the bookshop gaining exposure to new customers and selling a number of titles while at the show. I was praised for the smooth running of the stand, which allowed the staff to devote the majority of their time to their sales duties.

Describe an instance where you have delivered more than was expected of you. (150 words)Last term I was elected to be my student halls’ bicycle security officer. This position was perceived to be something of a joke and the previous two position holders had done very little. However, having had my bike stolen three times while at university, I was determined to break the norm and do more than was expected of the person in the role. So far I have negotiated a 20 per cent student discount on bike locks with the local bike shop and have raised awareness of bicycle security by liaising with security staff to ensure that free bicycle identification kits are distributed in halls. With only two bicycles stolen from students in my halls in the first half of this term (compared with ten last term) the measures have had some success, which I am confident will continue throughout the year.

What do you perceive as your weaknesses? (150 words)While I am very interested in joining the Telefonica graduate scheme, I am inexperienced, having not previously worked in a business-related position or an office-based role. Nonetheless I am hopeful that my passion for the technology sector will help me to understand the day-to-day elements of the job quickly. I have also come to learn about the business behind the technology sector through the research I have done while contributing stories about mobile broadband to the moconews.net website. Also, I am aware that having studied history, I lack the theoretical knowledge and mathematical expertise which would help me in the several parts of the rotation scheme. However, I have been trying to develop my skills in this area through taking a business MSc and by reading some introductory finance textbooks.

Why do you want this job? (150 words)I am especially interested in working for Telefonica having seen your chief executive on the news last week. He seems like an ambitious leader keen to expand the firm, and I am looking to begin my career at a successful company such as yours. As a native Czech speaker, I am

DO

Use the STAR method to answer questions where you are asked to describe a scenario. Outline the:

SituationTaskActionResult

Try to get as many positive traits across as possible – hard work, loyalty, motivation, a history of achievement etc.

Highlight your achievements using facts and figures where possible to give a tangible impression of your successes.

Vary your examples and write about things that are unique to you. The more interesting examples you use the more likely it is for your application to be noticed.

Make sure you are genuinely interested in the job/company before applying. If you can’t find any reasons why you want the job then save yourself time and apply for something that does interest you!

DON’T

Go off topic or write irrelevant things – doing this can suggest you have no relevant example or that you have misread the question.

Make things up! You may be asked for further details about the scenarios you have used at an interview and any fabricated stories will be found out. No-one wants to employ a liar.

Be scared to write about something quirky or unique, it is better to stand out from the crowd.

Make any spelling or grammatical mistakes – these look awful and show poor attention to detail. You may also have your application instantly rejected.

Be apologetic for skills you don’t have, focus on those

Competency Questions – More Examples

The following questions are designed to encourage you to provide evidence of specific abilities. Your examples can be taken from your education, work experience, placements or spare-time or other voluntary activities but do not write solely about course-work. Planning, implementation and achieving results: Describe a challenging project, activity or event which you have planned and taken through to a conclusion. Include your objective, what you did, any changes you made to your plan and state how you measured your success.

Tips This question is basically designed to draw out examples of behaviour in the two key competences of planning and achieving. The selector will be looking for:

your ability to set goals for yourself and others; how you kept focused on the objective and avoided distractions; your adaptability, ability and willingness to change to meet

different situations; being able to think strategically and analytically; proactive and results-oriented.

Influencing, communication and teamwork:Describe how you have achieved a goal through influencing the actions or opinions of others (perhaps in a team context). What were the circumstances? What did you do to make a difference? How do you know the result was satisfactory?

Tips The selector will be looking for:

ability to accurately assess who are the key people to influence; recognition that you have used different styles and approaches with

different people; ability to influence without causing resentment, know the dangers; a good listener can choose and select an appropriate form of

communication; recognition of the different roles needed for a team to work well; awareness of anti-team behaviour and ability to avoid it; goal and achievement orientation - results do matter!

Analysis, problem solving and creative thinking: Describe a difficult problem that you have solved. State how you decided what the critical issues were. Say what you did and what your solution was. What other approaches could you have taken?

Tips The selector will be looking for;

ability to break a problem down into its main elements in a logical way;

being vigilant in looking for underlying causes, making deductions from the evidence;

evaluation of the options and making decisions; recognition that there were other options, how you decided against them; ability to come up with novel and innovative ideas; being able to look at things differently.

How to Build a Professional Student LinkedIn Profile

Think of your LinkedIn profile as an interactive business card. It’s a summary of your professional experience, interests, and capabilities that is designed to attract the attention of important people who are searching for you online — recruiters, networking contacts, and grad school admissions officers. A strong profile is a key differentiator in the job market. So let’s get started...

1. Craft an informative profile headlineYour profile headline gives people a short, memorable way to understand who you are in a professional context. Think of the headline as the slogan for your professional brand, such as “Student, National University” or “Recent honors grad seeking marketing position.” Check out the profiles of students and recent alums you admire for ideas and inspiration.

2. Display an appropriate photoRemember that LinkedIn is not Facebook or MySpace. If you choose to post a photograph — and we recommend that you do — select a professional, high-quality headshot of you alone. Party photos, cartoon avatars, and cute pics of your puppy don’t fit in the professional environment of LinkedIn.

3. Show off your educationBe sure to include information about all institutions you’ve attended. Include your major and minor if you have one, as well as highlights of your activities. It’s also appropriate to include study abroad programs and summer institutes. Don’t be shy — your LinkedIn profile is an appropriate place to show off your strong GPA and any honors or awards you’ve won.

4. Develop a professional summary statementYour summary statement should resemble the first few paragraphs of your best-written cover letter — concise and confident about your goals and qualifications. Remember to include relevant internships, volunteer work, and extra curriculars. Present your summary statement in short blocks of text for easy reading. Bullet points are great, too.

5. Fill your “Specialties” section with keywords“Specialties” is the place to include key words and phrases that a recruiter or hiring manager might type into a search engine to find a person like you. The best place to find relevant keywords is in the job listings that appeal to you and the LinkedIn profiles of people who currently hold the kinds of positions you want.

6. Update your status weeklyA great way to stay on other people’s radar screens and enhance your professional image is to update your status at least once a week. Tell people about events you’re attending, major projects you’ve completed, professional books you’re reading, or any other news that you would tell someone at a networking reception or on a quick catch-up phone call.

7. Show your connectedness with LinkedIn Group badgesJoining Groups and displaying the group badges on your profile are the perfect ways to fill out the professionalism of your profile and show your desire to connect to people with whom you have something in common. Most students start by joining their university’s LinkedIn group as well as the larger industry groups related to the career they want to pursue.

8. Collect diverse recommendationsNothing builds credibility like third-party endorsements. The most impressive LinkedIn profiles have at least one recommendation associated with each position a person has held. Think about soliciting recommendations from professors, internship coordinators and colleagues, employers, and professional mentors.

9. Claim your unique LinkedIn URLTo increase the professional results that appear when people type your name into a search engine, set your LinkedIn profile to “public” and claim a unique URL for your profile (for example: www.linkedin.com/in/yourname). This also makes it easier to include your LinkedIn URL in your email signature, which is a great way to demonstrate your professionalism.

10. Share your workA final way to enhance your LinkedIn profile is to add examples of your writing, design work, or other accomplishments by displaying URLs or adding LinkedIn Applications. By including URLs, you can direct people to your website, blog, or Twitter feed. Through Applications, you can share a PowerPoint or store a downloadable

version of your resume. Visit grads.linkedin.com today!

How to Network Professionally Online

You’ve heard it a million times (so it wouldn’t hurt to hear it again): “Success is not just about what you know; it’s about who you know.” With LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional online network, the “who” is at your fingertips. Follow these easy steps to get connected now—and to turn those connections into opportunities.

1. 100% complete = 100% more likely to get noticedYou can’t build connections if people don’t know you exist or see what you have to offer. Your LinkedIn profile is your online business card, your resume, and your letters of rec all in one. Don’t be shy: users with complete profiles are 40 times more likely to receive opportunities through LinkedIn.

2. You’re more experienced than you thinkComplete profiles are so important because the more information you provide, the more people will find reasons to connect with you. Think really broadly about all the experience you have, including summer jobs, unpaid internships, volunteer work, and student organizations. You never know what might catch someone’s eye.

3. Use your inboxContrary to popular belief, networking doesn’t mean reaching out to strangers. The best networks begin with those you know and trust, and then grow based on personal referrals. Start building your LinkedIn network by uploading your online address book and connecting to friends, relatives, internship colleagues, and professionals you know in the “real world.”

4. Get personalAs you build your connections on LinkedIn, always customize your connection requests with a friendly note and, if necessary, a reminder of where you met or what organization you have in common. If you’re being referred by a mutual friend, write a brief intro of who you are and why you’d like to connect. You’ll impress people with your personal touch.

5. Join the “in” crowdAnother way to form new online relationships is to join LinkedIn Groups. Start with your university group—alums love to connect with students—and then find volunteer organizations or professional associations you already belong to. As a member, you can comment on discussions, find exclusive job listings, and meet people who share common interests.

6. Lend a (virtual) handAs you build connections and group memberships, think about what you can do to support other people. Comment on a classmate’s status update, forward a job listing that fits the criteria of a friend, or write a recommendation for a summer job colleague. You’ll find that your generosity is always rewarded (and, of course, it feels really good to help someone!).

7. Update your status #early and #oftenNetworking is not just about who you know; it’s about who knows you. Stay on other people’s radar screens by updating your LinkedIn status at least once a week—you can do this directly on LinkedIn or by linking your Twitter account and marking tweets with #in. Mention events you’re attending, projects you’ve completed, and other professional news.

8. Question (and answer) everythingLinkedIn’s Answers feature is a great place to seek advice from a wide variety of people all around the world. You can also show the world what you have to offer by answering people’s questions about a topic where you have some expertise. The more active you are in Answers, the more people will view your profile and want to connect with you.

9. Do your homeworkBefore an informational interview, a job interview, or a networking get-together, use LinkedIn to learn about the background and interests of the people you’re scheduled to meet. Access Company Pages to research organizations and their employees, and use Advanced Search to find things you have in common with people you’re meeting.

10. Now step away from the computer...There’s a perception that young people are only comfortable communicating online, so be sure to support your online networking with real human contact. Set up phone calls, attend live events, and send snail mail notes to people you interact with on LinkedIn. Remember that online methods should supplement, not replace, in-person

relationship-building. Visit grads.linkedin.com today

Psychometric Tests

General advice, tips and preparation techniques

You're not alone – The reality is most others are just as nervous and

worried. So don't think about others in your test - your preparation focus

should be "I can do this", and worry less about uncontrollable external

factors. If you're up against Stephen Hawking for your next job, well bad

luck.

Practice, practice, practice – Most people think doing a load of tests or

mock interviews is "practice." Not necessarily! Good practice requires

dedication, working with focus, analyzing what went wrong, working on

your weak spots and then trying the practice material again - all the while

getting better. Doing 10 tests means nothing. Doing 20 tests from a

smattering of sites means nothing. If you can't see consistent

improvement in accuracy or speed, then you're not preparing effectively.

Being mediocre isn't hard but being really good at your skills takes a lot of

effort.

Don't give up – "This is too hard." If you're struggling with numbers, then

it takes time to get better. Don't give up. It's OK to fall, pick yourself up

and keep going. Millions before you have done that and you're no

different. Focused effort pays. Some tests are pretty hard - and that's

with a reason. You want your real tests to feel comfortable. Don't give up.

Keep going.

Practice with a fresh mind – Have a good plan for your preparation.

Choose a time of the day that works for you. Be fresh when you sit down,

keep distractions away, time yourself, adhere to the rules and when you

take your practice test - do it with full concentration. Don't stop halfway;

don't abandon the test because it "didn't feel right." Once you start, don't

stop until it's done. Then work on analysis.

Prepare well, thoroughly and with discipline. A surprisingly large

number of people prepare poorly - and you can use that to your

advantage. It's just like all those application stories you read. You'd think

people do not submit sloppy cover letters, but they do all the time.

Similarly, a lot of people are simply not too well prepared, and just

spending some time preparing well will take you to a level where you're

competing with the good ones.

Remember that it's as much psychological as it is skills – if you let

the test, its environment, the people intimidate you, you've lost half the

battle already. Shut the world out when you're practising. Shut it out

during the tests.

Pay attention to the tips – No matter what material you use for

practice, absorb the tips and short-cut techniques. Use them – the

practice environment is a "safe" environment, and there's no penalty

for getting it wrong. Just being a few seconds faster in a real test can

make a big difference.

Tune your mind to compute – Practice test materials are great, but for

flexing your mind muscles on numerical ability and quantitative aptitude,

the world around you offers plenty of practice. Calculate your lunch or

dinner prices in your head, calculate percentages and ratios as you read

business articles, make mental calculations of revenue of the shop near

your house; they're all great ways to train your mind. For some, numbers

are easy and natural, but for most others, it needs practice.

Few win every battle – Most people do fail sometime or another. So

don't let the fear of failure hold you back. Didn't make it through test X?

Never mind, prepare and act on what went wrong, go after the next

opportunity

Finally, enjoy your practice – When you do it well, you feel good, your

confidence improves, and it's not an ordeal. Don't let your practice

become an ordeal and a dread. Enjoy the journey. Good luck.

Numerical skills

Useful ratios and percentages to speed up problem solving and analysis

Many questions in numerical reasoning, data interpretation and other problem

solving tests involve the usage of percentages and ratios. You may multiply by

percentages, use ratios as part of calculations, divide by decimals and so on.

Often, these % and ratios tend to be "familiar" (it's rare for questions to ask you

to calculate 39.2% of something - it will probably be 40%)

Let's look at some examples:

What is 75% of 240? Would you do 75% x 240? No. What you should do is (3/4)

x 240 = 3 x 60 = 180. Which is much simpler than doing 240 x 0.75. Similarly,

why do x 15% when you can do x 3/20?

Look for opportunities to use simple fractions instead of 2 digit multiplications.

Whether you are strong at maths or not, learn these ratios well and they can

help you speeding up approximations and a lot of other calculations.

Fractio

n %

Decim

al

1/3 33

% 0.33

1/4 25

% 0.25

1/5 20

% 0.20

1/6 17

% 0.17

1/7 14

% 0.14

1/8 13

% 0.13

1/9 11

% 0.11

1/10 10

% 0.10

1/11 9% 0.09

1/12 8% 0.08

1/20 5% 0.05

1/40 2.5

% 0.025

2/5 40

% 0.40

3/5 60

% 0.60

3/8 38

% 0.38

3/4 75

% 0.75

3/20 15

% 0.15

4/5 80

% 0.80

5/9 56

% 0.56

A few examples:

- What is 75% of 120? (120 x 3/4 = 90!)

- 3/5th of a company's sales came from book subscriptions (...you mean

60%!)

- Expenditure is 0.38 of the sales (= sales x 3/8)

Success in numerical reasoning tests is not just about knowing how to

solve problems; it's also about how to solve a problem quickly,

efficiently and by intelligent application of mathematical shortcuts

and eliminations. Knowing how to shave a few seconds off of each

question will simply mean solving a couple of extra questions which might

mean a big difference in the final outcome.

Verbal skills

Take time to think carefully about arguments in newspapers, books

and business articles you read. Ask questions as you read e.g.

“what evidence has been presented for or against the argument?”,

“are the facts clear?”, “is there sufficient evidence to justify the

conclusion?”, “is this argument logical?” etc.

Look up the meaning of words you are unfamiliar with. Always try

and improve your vocabulary.

Think and question as you are reading about more complex words

and sentence structures. Are there other words with similar

meanings? If so, what are the opposite of these words? Do

sentences contain double negatives or ambiguous statements?

Abstract & diagrammatic skills

These are about finding patterns and identifying categories and

rules. Spend time thinking about the features that make objects

alike and what makes them different.

Use puzzle books, these are readily available and will help you

gain confidence in identifying sequences and patterns and the

various rules that these puzzles follow.

Useful Practice Websites and Resources

Practice aptitude tests

There are a range of links below to practice tests. Most have free examples. Some may incur a small charge to use (you can also find others online):

Practice Aptitude Tests http://www.practiceaptitudetests.com/

Cubiks Online Assessment http://www.cubiksonline.com/cubiks/practicetests/

AptitudeTest.com http://www.aptitude-test.com/

Job Test Prep - Psychometric Tests http://www.jobtestprep.co.uk/default.aspx

Kenexa Practice Tests http://www.psl.com/practice/

Morrisby http://www.morrisby.com/  

Psychometricadvantage.co.uk http://www.psychometricadvantage.co.uk/  

Psychometric Success http://www.psychometric-success.com/  

Saville Consulting http://www.savilleconsulting.com/  

SHLDirect.com http://www.shldirect.com/  

Practice aptitude tests may also be available at specific employer websites, such as JP Morgan, HSBC, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Procter & Gamble and the Civil Service.

Please note that websites are liable to change and that Postgraduate Careers (Business School) are not responsible for links external to our own website.

See page 28 for details of tests that you can access through the University of Nottingham.

Interviews

By the time you get to this stage you know that your application has impressed the employer – well done!

Now you have to bring your CV to life and provide and articulate evidence to support your claims. The Interview lecture will give you a good understanding of the process and what you may need to do.

How to prepare

Research the company (again…what is new since your application?) Research the role (again!) Think about your skills and enthusiasm for the company and the job

role and what examples you can use of how you match their requirements.

Sort out the practicalities e.g. how will you get there? What should you wear? etc.

Think about the questions they might ask and how you can connect your experiences to their requirements.

Possible questions:

Tell me about yourself. What motivates you, why do you want this job? What are your strengths/weaknesses? Where do you see yourself in five years’ time? What do you like most/least about your course/last job?

These questions are designed to find out if you can do the job, if you really want to do the job and how self-aware you are.

Other types of questions are used and you will find out more in the Interview skills sessions about behavioural interviews, case interviews, telephone interviews etc. Do make sure you attend!

Common interview mistakes: Not showing an understanding of the job Not providing interesting and relevant examples of your experience Not being able to explain why you want the job! Coming across as being underprepared Asking the wrong questions, or not asking any questions at all.

Remember even a bad interview experience is helpful to prepare you for the next occasion, so reflect on how you could do better and seek advice from your Postgraduate Careers Team.

MSc Password Protected Resources

SELF ASSESSMENT & CAREER PLANNING

Please note that the following resources are paid for on a subscription basis by the Postgraduate Careers Team. You should not share these links/passwords with anyone outside of the Business School MSc Programmes – if you do, this will contravene our licences and prevent further usage.

CareerLeader College A tool developed by Harvard Business School that measures your business interests, motivations and areas of strength. A Profile Report is generated and sent to your email account. You may wish to book a Careers Consultation to assist you in interpreting the results. Email BusinessPCS@nottingham.ac.uk, Subject: CareerLeader College.

10 Minutes With The package features 10 minute videos with business leaders discussing their industries, current roles and their career paths.

Go to: www.10MinutesWith.com  

Use your University of Nottingham email address to register

Vault Career Insider Detailed industry guides, employee surveys, information on case interviews and an array of careers articles to help you explore options.

Go to: http://careerinsider.vault.com/wps/portal/careerinsider?parrefer=6185

You must use the full link above for Vault to recognise you as a NUBS student

PSYCHOMETRIC TESTS

Profiling for Success Ability Tests, Personality and Learning Style Questionnaires. On completion of the tests a report will be sent direct to your University email account with a detailed report. Feedback is available if required.

Go to http://www.profilingforsuccess.com/take-an-assessment.php

Client Code: tflhe

Access Code: notts

Password: notts060716

You must use your University of Nottingham email address to register.

VACANCIES

Please note that the following resources are paid for on a subscription basis by the Postgraduate Careers Team. You should not share these links/passwords with anyone outside of the Business School MSc Programmes – if you do this will contravene our licences and prevent further usage.

Postgraduate Careers Service Vacancy Database

Go to: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/business/businesspcs/vacancies/

Username: NUBSPG Password: PG707VA (all case sensitive) You will receive weekly emails highlighting vacancies within the

database We email to your University email address.

GoinGlobal GoinGlobal career and employment resources include world-wide job openings, internship listings, industry profiles and country-specific career information. Content includes topics such as: work permit/visa regulations, CV/resume writing guidelines and examples, employment trends, salary ranges, networking groups, cultural/interviewing advice, corporate profiles and worldwide job listings….plus much more! Also visit the global forum to chat about living and working abroad.

You must register using the link below using a NUBS computer - you cannot register using your home or personal computer as you will not be recognised as being a NUBS student.

Go to: http://online.goinglobal.com/default.aspx

Executive Grapevine Executive Grapevine is a worldwide executive recruitment search tool. The database contains more than 7,000 executive recruitment firms including all of the leading head-hunters and

18,000 recruitment consultants located in the UK and worldwide. Executive Grapevine is a well-established reference source providing some of the most accurate and in-depth profiles of the world’s leading search firms. Suitable for those with professional experience prior to the MSc programme.

Go to: http://egoldr.askgrapevine.com ID: nubs Password: mba (all case sensitive)

NEGOTIATING OFFERS

Please note that the following resource is paid for on a subscription basis by the Postgraduate Careers Team. You should not share these links/passwords with anyone outside of the Business School MSc Programmes – if you do this will contravene our licences and prevent further usage.

Pay Negotiation.com Sign up for one-hour salary negotiation coaching. To help students negotiate job offers as effectively as possible the Postgraduate Careers Team have paid for a limited number of places on this online salary negotiation training course taught by negotiation professors from London Business School and INSEAD and career coaches like Daniel Porot.

Go to http://www.paynegotiation.com/members/pni/nubs12.php

Register your University email address.

Places allocated on a first-come first served basis.

And Finally… (Top Tips)

The labour market has become increasingly competitive. Use these job hunting tips to improve your chances of getting an interview.

Start with the basics – ask yourself questions that will shape your job hunting

• What am I good at?• What do I really enjoy doing?

Whilst these questions sound very basic and theoretical, they are the fundamentals of the next step.

Define your skills – confirm the value proposition, before you create your CV

• What are my core skills (i.e. managing teams, being creative, delivery…etc.)?• How have I utilised these skills in the past?• How transferable are these core skills?• What skills can I bring to a future employer, which will add value to their business?

You will notice no reference to industry specifics. The reason for this is that in any change of career, it is the core skills you need to focus on. These are your true ‘value adds’.

Build a great CV – a CV is not merely a chronological list of employment

• Your curriculum vitae is not an autobiography.• Make a CV relevant for the application. Have an adaptable CV to amplify your appropriate core skills to the role.• Build your CV using your career history whilst highlighting core skills.• Your CV is a ‘value proposal’ to demonstrate how you can add value to the employer.• Seek out advice on your CV and be prepared to take critique (don’t be protective) – your CV is a ‘means to an end’.• Never add anything in a CV that you are not prepared to demonstrate or elaborate on.• Stick to the facts – not opinions.

A CV has one purpose in its lifetime – to achieve an interview.

Focus on the positives – approach each opportunity as though it were your first. It is easy to become caught up in the ‘negative spiral’ of a job seeker, especially the longer the search goes on to secure your ideal role. This will

not enhance your chances of obtaining your next role. Stay focused on your abilities.

• What have been your major career accomplishments?What were the ultimate ‘outcomes’

• How did you achieve these accomplishments?Is the core activity replicable?

• What challenges did you overcome along the way? Which of your core skills were utilised?

Build an online presence – promote yourselfMore and more agencies and employers are searching online for suitable applicants. If you do not have an online presence you may be missing out on opportunities.

• Promote yourself in a positive manner online, utilising the various social media tools available (LinkedIn, create your own blog, Facebook, Twitter, Xing…etc.)• Is your online image a consistent positive demonstration of your value adds?• Are you ensuring Search Engine Optimisation for your online image - will agents and employers find you?• Take an active role in relevant groups and online discussions, whilst displaying positivity and consistency.• Set job alerts for relevant job boards – this means that appropriate adverts will come in to you.• Work proactively with a limited number of high quality agents who will promote your expertise to relevant companies.• Attend relevant webinars, online seminars, and online events, asking credible and positive questions.

Interview tips – preparation is keyRegardless of experience, seniority, past history or existing circumstances, an interview can be a very nerve-wracking experience. This is particularly relevant if you have been out of the job seeker market for some time or it is your first time seeking a job.

• Prior to the interview event, go back to the start:What are my core skills?What am I good at?How does this benefit the potential employer?How do my previous accomplishments demonstrate this?

• Gain interview advice; from a professional, friends or family. Use your Postgraduate Careers Team!• Run some ‘mock’ interviews, perhaps with a professional, friends or family• Be prepared to go into detail with your answers, but ensure that you answer the question asked.• Research the employer and be prepared to answer questions on why you wish to work for them.• Research the role and ensure that you are 100% committed to going for the interview.

Maintain a Positive Mental AttitudeWhat does having a positive mental attitude whilst job hunting actually mean?• Prepare – work hard to be ready for job opportunities.• Attention to detail – your CV, your interview, your online presence.• Take action – Put yourself out there, be proactive, make contacts, take risks and prepare to be vulnerable.

• Expect positive results – optimism improves your chances of success. If/when you fail in a job application, assess, learn the lessons and continue on – smarter and better prepared.

Listen to othersFinally, and very importantly, when job hunting be prepared to take advice, don’t be defensive, remain positive and make yourself available for opportunities by being proactive.