Reach your career potential

www.exeter.ac.uk/careers

2 Career Zone

A Good Degree (This demonstrates academic rigour and intellect, critical and analytical thinking, and research skills).

Graduate Level Skills (Skills such as enterprise skills, commercial awareness and cultural awareness, team-working, problem-solving, communicating, project management, and numeracy).

Career Management Skills (This skills set involves writing effective CVs and application forms, honing interview techniques, enhancing assessment centre and psychometric testing performance, and researching the labour market).

Work-Related Learning / Work ExperienceMany employers will simply not be interested without some element of work-based or work-related learning. (This can include a part time job while you are studying, an internship during the summer, work experience relevant to your degree, and attendance at skills workshops offered by Employability and Graduate Development).

Self-efficacy(Demonstrating that you have the self-confidence and tenacity to pursue your chosen career path, and also that you possess the ability to articulate yourself effectively to a prospective employer, is essential).

Bags of Passion (Demonstrating a keen interest in, and knowing why you want to work within a certain industry and/ or for a particular organisation is incredibly important. Many recruiters now differentiate on this alone).

The Winning Formula

= Graduate Level Job

+

+

+

+

+

3Career Zone

Making yourself employable is a big part of getting the job you want – good qualifications are only half the answer! It is never too early to start planning for life after university.Whether you have a specific career in mind, or have no idea about which direction to take, there are many opportunities that you can take advantage of to make you more employable when you leave university.

Students should be thinking about their career paths from their first year onwards.

I am delighted to see the University of Exeter considers employability to be an important

aspect of the student experience.

Carl GilleardCEO, Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR)

The Career Zone provided an invaluable service in aiding my future career plans.

The careers consultant meeting gave me expert knowledge and information on my

career path whilst the resources in the information room facilitated my research.

The mock interview was very insightful, really useful and an opportunity not to

miss out on!

2nd Year Geography student

Start Now

4 Career Zone

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5Career Zone

Skills Training Available To You

Two days of interactive activities designed to help you develop, reflect on and articulate

personal and employability skills required for any career path.

Make the most of the Career Zone and employability opportunities available to you.

In this competitive market, the Exeter Award and Exeter Leader’s Award are excellent tools

to help students develop the skills they need to become the enterprising employees that today’s

small businesses require.

Colin FribbensChairman of the Exeter Federation of Small Businesses

They showed me the range of pathways possible and gave me great advice on certain

sections of employment, specific skills and how to extend and apply them.

1st Year English and French (Combined Hons) student

The Exeter Awardand Leaders AwardDesigned to enhance your employability by providing

official recognition and evidence of extracurricular activities and achievements. The Leaders Award focuses on leadership

and achievement.

eXfactor

Employability central programmeA wide range of personal development and employability activities ranging from time and stress management to project planning to social entrepreneurship sessions. Something for everyone!

Career development talks in your disciplineCurriculum based career talks containing key messages about what you need to be doing at different stages of your time at Exeter.

This helps you to ensure you are in the best possible position to gain graduate level work or further study upon completing your degree.

6 Career Zone

Exploring Your Options

Come And See Us In The Career Zone

As us for anything career related where we can help you work out

your next steps from getting started with career planning to applying

for jobs.

Prospect Planner

Identify what you want out of a job and generate career ideas.

Find out what motivates you in a job, identify your skills and what

you can offer to the job/employer and see how these can help you

find the right career for you.

Career Zone Resources

Use our computers to search or apply for jobs, create CVs, practice

tests etc. Look at our selection of over 200 books on making

applications, accepting job offers, working abroad. Collect our

materials to take away such as Target Jobs, Careers Guides.

Career Mentor Scheme

Meet with mentors who can provide personal career guidance, insight

and networking opportunities to help you to develop your future

career plans.

Careers Advice

Discuss in depth career-related enquiries from career research to

planning for interviews to exploring further fields of study in a

20 minute 1:1 appointment with a Careers Consultant.

Careers Fairs

Meet exhibitors from a wide range of organisations and find out about

the latest graduate vacancies, internships, placement schemes

and part time and casual work. You can also investigate further

study options, vacation work and gap year opportunities.

Attend Sector Focussed Events

Learn and understand more about the sector you are looking to work

in. Not only will it build up your industry knowledge but it will give

you the chance to network with people working in the field you

are interested in.

Exepert

Contact individual alumni for career insight and advice. This gives you

the chance to learn more about what a role entails, or ask specific

questions about working at a particular company.

7Career Zone

Gain Work Experience, Casual Work or Voluntary Work

Student Campus Partnership (SCP)

Work for the University of Exeter undertaking on campus internships

• Between4weeks-12months

• Upto15hrsperweekterm-time and more during vacations

• £7.89-£8.30anhour

• Supportandonlinetraining resources for students

Community and Volunteering

Make the most of the on campus activities available to you while you are at Exeter.

Any opportunities where you are playing sports, taking part in societies, volunteering, especially if you have a position of responsibility, will help you demonstrate your team-working and leadership skills

Work Experience

Gain work experience relevant to your future career such as internships or placements while you are studying, during the vacation, or when you graduate.

Casual Work

Getting a part time job will definitely boost your CV, as any job will provide valuable skills recognisable to future employers. You never know; it may lead to a full-time position after graduating.

Global Opportunities

International work placements and opportunities abroad. There are also funded programmes such as Erasmus Work Abroad and Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs.

Student Business Partnership (SBP)

Internships for current students with companies and organisations

• Between4–12weeksduring vacation time

• From7hrs–full-timehrs

• AtleastNationalMinimumWage

• Supportandacareersworkshop for students

Graduate Business Partnership (GBP)

Internships with small, medium or large sized companies and organisations

• Between8weeks-12months

• From7hrs–full-timehrs

• Availabletostartthroughout the year

• Paidaminimumof£16,376prorota

• Supportandemployabilitytraining for graduates

Work experience and internships often make you stand out to employers. You develop skills that give you something to discuss during interviews, you experience the world of work meaning that it will not be such a steep learning curve for you when starting your graduate job.

Our Work Placement Schemes offer industry related projects, providing a range of work experience opportunities that facilitate relevant commercial and industrial experience.

Further ways to boost your CV

Working on campus needn’t be a huge commitment…but by working hard I

managed to earn a positive reputation which has now led to further employment

…I couldn’t be more pleased!University of Exeter Graduate

Find out more

in the Career Zone

or on My Career Zone

8 Career Zone

My Career Zone

Help and support

•SearchourFAQs,infosheetsand web links, if they don’t help you can ask us a question•Keepuptodatewiththelatest news relating to your career•Bookcareerappointmentstohave your CV/covering letters reviewed or for careers advice

Events

•Careersfairs•Skillssessions•Workshops•Employerpresentations•Mockinterviews•TheExeterAwardand The Leaders Award

Jobs

•Graduaterecruitment•Internationalopportunities•Workexperience,placements and internships •Casual/parttime/vacationwork•Volunteeringandopportunities

www.exeter.ac.uk/mycareerzone

My Career Zone is your system that allows you to set your preferences and interests so that we can help you find the most relevant career information for you.

All you need to do is:Log in using your Exeter username and password. Set your preferences according to the type of information you are currently seeking and the career options you are interested in for your future.

You can revise this as and when your needs change. View jobs, book appointments, read our information. My Career Zone is here to help, so see what it can do for you!

9Career Zone

The Career ZoneYour central point for all career-related activities that will help you enhance your employability

You can find us in the Student Services Centre in the Forum.

EnquiriesYour first port of call; ask us anything career related and we will help you work out your next steps, from getting started with your career planning to applying for jobs. Careers advice appointments will take place in the Career Zone so come to The Career Zone Enquiries Desk if you have a booked appointment.

ResourcesUse our computers to access My Career Zone, search or apply for jobs, create your CV, practise psychometric tests, or search for anything related to your employability.

We hold over 200 books on a diverse array of topics, including job or internship applications, psychometric testing, post graduate study and funding, gap year information, working abroad, volunteering, insights into various career sectors.

We also have loads of takeaway materials; come in to collect your copy of the Exeter Careers Guide, Target Jobs and Prospects directories, various subject or industry specific magazines, postgraduate publications and so much more.

Work Experience and JobsCome and talk to us about finding casual or graduate jobs and internships, both on and off campus

Community and VolunteeringFind out about opportunities with the Students’ Guild such as volunteering, signing up to societies and activities, and being a course representative.

Employer ZoneCome and meet employers in a relaxed and informal setting and find out more about their opportunities.

Global OpportunitiesExplore international work placements and job opportunities abroad, and gain advice and support from the global employability team.

Enterprise and Self EmploymentFind out about how you can develop your enterprise skills and hone your creativity for both employment and self-employment. The Enterprise Educator, Entrepreneur-in-Residence and other entrepreneurs are available to offer their advice and support with developing your enterprising mindset for any workplace, setting up your own business or becoming self-employed

10 Career Zone

Professional Development Suite

The Professional Development Suite contains dedicated training rooms for the delivery of training for all students; undergraduates, Masters Level and Research Postgraduates.

Personal Development Skills Training sessions such as Networking skills, Negotiation skills, Leadership and Managing People are delivered in the Professional Development Suite. These sessions also count towards The Exeter Award and Exeter Leaders Award.

Careers In...For the top career areas that Exeter students aspire to, we offer a series of “Careers in... conferences” that enable students to find out more about the sector and offer the opportunity to network with professionals. Sectors include Education, Third Sector, Environment and Conservation.

First Aid And Sign Language CoursesWe deliver a range of courses to help you develop your practical skills in First Aid and Sign Language to support your volunteering with Societies and further your employability.

Enterprise TrainingWe offer a range of training designed to support students enhance their creative mindset and develop their enterprise skills. These skills are relevant whether you are interested in being enterprising as an employee or keen to set up your own business venture, whether commercial or a social enterprise.

Enterprise SuiteCome and use the Enterprise Suite if you are setting up your own business or enterprise. Students involved in enterprise-related activities and societies are welcome to use this space to meet. To book this space, please email enterprise@exeter.ac.uk

Researcher DevelopmentResearcher Development is an integral part of our service and works in close collaboration with the Colleges to offer a participant centred development programme which can assist researchers and doctoral candidates to complete research and enhance employability. Researchers can access all careers related activities offered through the Career Zone.

The Professional Development Suite is based the Old Library

11Career Zone

Contact usYour central point for all career-related activitiesthat will help you enhance your employability

Use My Career Zone to get answers to your careers questionsandbookappointmentsandevents24hoursaday:www.exeter.ac.uk/mycareerzone Visit our website for information on careers topics: www.exeter.ac.uk/careers Come and see us in the Career Zone in the Forum.

Unicard

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DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT?

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Then Log in to Student Information Desk Online and Ask SID. A brand new online provision here to make access to student

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2012

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