School of Arts (Post Graduate)

Employability Adviser: Nicola Urquhart

Introduction

• What is employability?

• Skills developed through postgraduate study

• Deciding what you want to do

• Where you can look for jobs

• Tips on CVs and applications

• Careers and Employability Service

• Questions

What is Employability?

‘A set of attributes, skills and knowledge that all labour market participants should possess to ensure they have the capability of being effective in the workplace – to the benefit of themselves, their employer and the wider economy.’ (CBI, March 2009)

Why are employability skills so important?

• Increased competition – over 400,000 graduates leaving university each year.

‘Our latest UK recruitment campaign closed having attracted 24500. The bank will offer 475 places in 2012.’ HSBC newsletter April 2012

What employers say…

• "Few students are able to articulate what they have gained from their experience in higher education." (Association of Graduate Recruiters, 1995)

Skills developed through postgraduate study

• Written communication

• Verbal communication

• Analytical ability

• Critical thinking

• Planning and organising

• Research/investigative skills

• Problem solving

• Maturity and confidence

• Self motivation

What do postgraduates do?

• “The vast majority of postgraduates enter employment at the end of their studies.”

• “Both doctoral and Masters degree graduates have a lower level of unemployment than Bachelors degree graduates and are more likely to be employed in a professional role”

What do you need to do.

• Decide on the job/sector you want to work in

• Research the sector and employers

• Apply

• Change your job-hunting methods if they are not working

Choosing a Career

Prospects Planner

Prospects planner www.prospects.ac.uk

• Identify what you want out of a job; generate new job ideas and check out your existing ones.

• Find out what motivates you in a job; identify your skills and what you can offer to the job/employer.

• See how these match the jobs you are considering.

• Research your chosen jobs in more detail, compare your options and decide on the right choices for you

Research options

• What can I do with my degree in Film Studies?

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/Film.htm

• What can I do with my degree in Drama? http://

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/drama.htm

• I want to work in the media

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sitesmedia.htm

• I want to work in human rights

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/humanrights.htm

• www.prospects.ac.uk

Where to look for jobs

• Directories

• Careers Fairs

• Job Centres

• Internet

• Newspapers

• Social media

Online sources• Institute of Practitioners in Advertising www.ipa.co.uk/

• Arts Administration - The Stage, Arts Management Weekly, Guardian (Mon & Sat)

• Times Higher Educational Supplement www.thes.co.uk   - good source of jobs in universities.

• Jobs in Higher Education www.jobs.ac.uk

• Monster Jobs www.monster.co.uk

• www.creativeskillset.org

• www.grapevinejobs.com

• www.creative-choices.co.uk

• Guardian vacancies www.jobs.guardian.co.uk/

Recruitment Agencieswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/recruit.htm

• FASHION - George Ellis Recruitment

• MUSIC - Handle Recruitment

• ACCOUNTANCY - Hays Accountancy Personnel

• SECRETARIAL - Nice People Employment Bureau

• STOCKBROKING - Citifocus Ltd

• MEDIA – Jumpforward

• Use your contacts from your work experience/course/friends

• Use social networking sites such as LinkedIn

• Attend events, keep business cards and keep in contact

Networking

What else can you do?

• Ask your friends

• Ask your relatives

• Ask your “network”

How can social media help with job search?

• Social Media: “an umbrella term that defines the various activities that integrate technology, social interaction, and the construction of words, pictures, videos, and audio.” www.wikipedia.org

• Enabling conversations

• Facilitating discussions

Why use LinkedIn?

• Exploring career ideas

• Finding out about an employer and their competition

• Professional networking

• Opportunity to join groups

• For self marketing and increasing your visibility

• Asking for advice

• Staying in touch/reconnecting

Getting started - Networking

•You start by adding people you know in the “real world”

• Connect with others with similar interests or goals

•Explore 1st and 2nd degree connections

Useful information

Training Videos: www.learn.linkedin.com www.learn.linkedin.com/students - 6 step video to

success

New Users Starter Guide http://learn.linkedin.com/new-users/

Webinars: http://learn.linkedin.com/training/

What is ?

• Twitter is a form of micro-blogging

• Twitter gives you 140 characters per ‘tweet’ to

say what’s on your mind

• You can follow people/companies/ recruiters

who interest you.

• Gather an audience

Ideas on who to follow:

• Companies/employers you are interested in working for

• Industry experts/bloggers

• Professional networks and industry/professional publications

• Job sites and job boards

• Recruiters / head-hunters / HR personnel who are hiring for the roles you're targeting

• Your Schools e.g. @CreateNoLimits

• @unikentemploy

Some platforms to consider

Linkedin

• Increase your awareness of the sector, link with potential recruiters

Twitter

• Follow recruiters, twitjobsearch

Blogging

• Demonstrate your commitment , business knowledge and passion.

What is the purpose of a CV?

• To inform the employer about

your education, work experience,

skills and interests

• To show how you meet the

criteria so the employer can not

deselect you

• To ‘sell’ your qualities and to

persuade the employer to invite

you to interview

Where can it go wrong…

• Too long

• Untargeted

• Confusing layout

• Process focused resulting in a ‘passive’ CV

• Incorrect grammar

• Incorrect spelling

Where can it go wrong …

• Out of date contact details

• Wrong application method

• No covering letter

• Application never reaches

intended destination

• Application arrives late

Why you need to use a spell checker

• I am a prefectionist and rarely if

if ever forget details.

• Proven ability to track down

and correct erors.

• I have good writen

comunication skills.

• Develop an annual operating

expense fudget…

And why you must read it carefully as well

• Extra Circular Activities • At secondary school I was a

prefix • Over summer I worked for an

examinations bored. (Kent BA English graduate!)

• I hope to hear from you shorty • I am a conscious individual. • I have a desire to work with

commuters • Dear Madman (instead of

Madam) • My hobbits include - instead of

'hobbies'

What makes an effective CV and covering letter

• Right format

• Well presented

• Proof read/consistent tenses

• You have included all the necessary information

• Your skills and abilities are clearly evidenced

• Conveyed your understanding and enthusiasm for the job

• Targeted it to the job

Matching up your CV with the position/company

• It is not ‘one size fits all’, you need to tailor your CV to each position you apply for.

• Research the organisation. Do they have a mission statement or core values? What will they be looking for in you? Who works there at the moment? What are they passionate about?

What does your CV need to contain?

• Personal details

• Education and qualifications

• Work experience

• Skills

• Interests and additional information

• References

However don’t be constrained by headings.

• Scholarships/Awards

• Voluntary work

• Relevant experience

• Positions of responsibility

• Publication/Presentations

• Conferences attended

• Research skills

• Additional skills

• Languages

PRESENTATION OF YOUR CV (p.10)• The first visual impression your CV

makes is important

• Formatting – make sure it’s consistent

• Size 10-12 font (depending on font style)

• Clear font e.g. Arial, Calibri

• Use plain white or pale A4 size paper

• Check spelling.

• Use bold type and bullet points, but in moderation

• Do not double side.

Hints on wording• Avoid personal pronouns -

No “I’s”

• Avoid producing a passive CV

• Start with verbs wherever possible

• Use short sentences & concise phrases

• Focus on accomplishments

• Refer to specific projects with quantifiable results

Make use of Action Verbs

created instructed analysed produced

negotiated designed calculated maintained

administered controlled reviewed observed

consolidated delivered founded increased

studied invented supplied detected

programmed recommended distributed

developed solved prepared installed selected

arranged formulated solved started

Covering letters

• Never send a ‘naked’ CV

• There are two types of covering letters:

1. Speculative2. Letter of application

What about the covering letter? (P.24)

• One side of good quality A4 paper

• Formal/conventional layout

• Addressed to a named person

• State position applied for & where advertised

• Explain why applying

• Convince the reader of your interest & suitability

• Give dates when available/can start

• Sign off “Yours sincerely” (if sent to named person)

Research by forum3 found:

• Average graduate will send out 70 CVs when looking for their first graduate job.

• Average number of responses is 7 including 4 rejections and the remainder inviting the graduate to interview or further contact.

• The more CVs you send out the more interviews you will get but avoid a scattergun approach.

Maintaining your morale

• Job hunting is like a full time job

• Set yourself goals

• Develop new skills

• Follow your enthusiasms

• Consider doing some voluntary work

• Try a more creative approach

www.kent.ac.uk/ces Telephone: 01227 823299 Email: careerhelp@kent.ac.uk

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm including vacations

Drop-in times (no appointment needed): 10.30 to 12.30 & 2 to 5 pm

Speak to an Adviser:

• Quick query, drop in and speak to an Adviser 10.30am -12.30pm and 2pm-5pm Monday to Friday.

• E mail @careerhelp and an Adviser will respond to your query.

• You can also book a longer career guidance appointment over the phone or pop in.

Action Points

• Look for jobs through a variety of sources

• Don’t just apply to advertised positions

• Tell your network of contacts you are looking for a job

• If you are using LinkedIn don’t leave your profile half finished

• Do make sure applications are of a high quality

• Avoid a scattergun approach

• Stay positive and open to new options

• Make use of the Careers and Employability Service

Questions?

The University of KentCareers and Employability

Service

You can download a copy of this presentation at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm