Careers Workshop for Sociology and Criminology:What career optionsdo you have?

John McMenaminCareers ConsultantCareer Development Centre

Objectives

This session will help you to:– Expand your horizons and explore a wide range

of potential roles– Explore other ways of engaging with the job

market

Getting started

– What job do I want?– What have I got to offer?– What jobs are out there?

The majority of graduate schemes do not require a specific degree subject

– Before you dismiss a potential graduate scheme, check out their entry requirements. You may be surprised.

“Everyone else is talking about going into teaching, maybe I’ll try that”

– Teaching isn’t for everyone so if you aren’t sure about it, do get a bit of experience before committing yourself to it.

– The UWAS scheme will give you 15 days of experience in a school so you can see if it’s right for you.

– Find out more here: westminster.ac.uk/uwas

“Maybe I’ll do a Masters, that’ll look good on my CV and I won’t need to look for a job for another year”

– The only reason to do a masters is this:

Love of the subject and a desire to learn more about it

– There really shouldn’t be any other justification.

“Someone said I should work for MI5 but I don’t think I’d make a good James Bond”

– If you have language skills, analytical skills and an insight into how people/criminals think, these are, broadly, the skills that MI5 are looking for in their intelligence officers

– Mythbusting: – Intelligence officers spend most of their time in the office– Intelligence officers do not have firearms training and nobody

in MI5 carries a weapon– Intelligence officers CAN tell their immediate loved ones what

they do for a living but for their own protection, they are given a cover story

– Visit www.mi5.gov.uk/careers to see if you are eligible to apply

“I don’t want to do volunteering, rattling a tin in the high street or working in a musty charity shop is not appealing to me”– The range of voluntary roles is HUGE. It isn’t just

fundraising or selling second-hand clothing.– Volunteering gives you exposure to activities which you

would not be able to get experience of in a traditional paid role.

– It is an opportunity for you to develop skills and gain experience while contributing to the ongoing activity of an organisation that is seeking to improve the lives of others.

– Visit do-it.org.uk to see the broad range of opportunities available, often less than 2 miles from your home.

How employers like to engage with the job market is not how you prefer to engage with the job market…

The value of networking

Advertisements/websites

Recruitment agencies

Professional organisations

Networking/Word of mouth

Contacts from existing staff

Internal promotion or lateral moveEmployersrecruit this way

Most people lookfor jobs this way

Targeting companies

– Business activity– Size– Training – Prospects– Culture

– Travel– Location– Salary– Benefits– Security

75%

Iceberg principle

The open job market

Advertisedposts

The hiddenJob market

Direct approachesNetworking

25%

Open job market

– Internet– Engage– Company websites– Job sites – Social media – LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter

– Recruitment agencies – Recruitment fairs– Local and national press– Job centre Plus

Finding the hidden jobs

– Networking – conventional & social media– Informational interviewing– Work (experience), temping and volunteering– Speculative applications - in writing– Cold calling - in person, by phone

Networking

– Family, friends, fellow students– Clubs and associations– Tutors and careers consultants– Previous employers– Professional associations– Alumni Association

Social networking

Linkedin, facebook, twitter:

– Establish contact with professionals you have recently met

– Research or follow specific companies/people– Identify industry trends

But take care over your online profile. http://www.careerplayer.com/tips-and-advice/general-advice/social-media-and-job-hunting/

Informational interviewing

– When you find someone who knows about a field or occupation

– Ask for a short interview / chat – 10 minutes– This is not JOB SEARCH – it is RESEARCH

Making the most ofinformational interviews– Imagine the conversation is with your hero and you want

their opinion on something. Offer an open question (who, what, why, how) but don’t interrogate them.

– Some questions you might ask– How did you get started in your business?– What’s the best thing about your job?– What’s the worst thing about your job?– What advice would you give to someone just starting out

in the industry?– What do you see as the coming trends in your business?– Listen to what they are saying and ask follow-up

questions that occur to you. “Interesting… so why…?”

Benefits of networking / interviewing

– What employers are looking for?– Information about specific companies– Industry trends, challenges and opportunities– Job hunting advice– Expand your network – add them on LinkedIn!– Possible experience / work opportunities – if the

interaction goes well, try your luck by asking if there is a possibility of work shadowing

Networking/informational interviewing exercise

– On the back of your action plan – write “ME” in the middle of the page

– Pick one of the jobs that you’d like. Who do you know who might be able to help you with finding information about the job and potential vacancies?

Networking exercise

– I want to become a writer

Self-published his own book whichdid quite well Tony

(Uncle)

Theresa(Neighbour) Works for a local

publisher

Jenny (Zumba)

Part of a local writer’s group

Matthew(Brother)

Julie(Friend)

Published author

Sumi(Colleague)

Nigel(ex colleague)

Now works for aliterary agent

Mark(Her husband)

Plays squash with anAccount manager atHodder & Stoughton

As you start chasing leads, you can add to it. Note: The above is just an exploration of an immediate network of friends and family and does not include contact through groups (alumni association, professional bodies), social media (linkedin) or ‘warm’ leads to working as a writer at work / at university.

ME

Speculative approaches

– Identify possible companies via:- word of mouth / networking - newspapers / online business news- online communities- professional bodies

– Identify relevant contact via:- cold calling (phone or in person)

- linkedin/twitter

Speculative applications

– Research the company / roles– Target named person, with a relevant role

in the organisation– Develop a persuasive, targeted CV and

covering letter– Follow up with a phone call– Ask for further contacts– Keep a record of all activity - follow-up

Your action plan

– What are you aiming for?(Your career goals)

– What is your current situation? (Job hunting activities underway) – What actions will you take? (Specific action steps with target dates)

Access services and resources book appointments book yourself in for events find and view vacancies find work placements view employers view careers information download resources complete online forms ask a question

engage.westminster.ac.uk

Career Development Centre Services

1-to-1Guidance

E-Advice

Vacancies& Events

InformationResources

Volunteering

Talent Bank

Mentoring

Career Development Centre Services

Engage – engage.westminster.ac.uk Online appointments, vacancies and events system Includes an enormous range of additional resources

on Engage Plus including job search Information and advice on CVs, Covering letters and application forms

Resources Guides, general and sector specific publicationsFace-to-face advice and guidance – bookable via Engage 20 minute quick query session 45 minute in-depth individual guidance or mock interview session

In summary

– Know what you have to offer and what you want– Know what’s out there– Explore your options thoroughly– Develop your network– Plan your campaign– Review it regularly

....and, if you need help, seek advice and guidance

Download these slides from slideshare

– slideshare.net/cdcwestminster/bitesized-career-talks-job-seeking-strategies-2017

– Visit slideshare.net/cdcwestminster to see slides on all of our other sessions too

Contact us

Cavendish House1st Floor101 New Cavendish Street100 metres from Cavendish Campus

T: 020 7911 5184E: careers@westminster.ac.uk

engage.westminster.ac.uk