HOW TO GET A JOB

HOW TO DECIDE WHAT JOB

HOW TO LOOK FOR JOBS

HOW THE JOB SELECTION PROCESS WORKS

HOW TO WRITE A GOOD APPLICATION

A GUIDE TO THE BASICS

How To Decide What To Do With The Rest Of Your Life

• Probably is not the rest of your life, people

change track and jobs many times

• However, it is something you have to think about

• Make a list of your skills and things you would

like to do in a job, eg interacting with people,

data analysis, making money,.....

• Do not embark on further study just to

postpone your decision

• Think about what jobs would involve your skills

and wish list

• List of job types and skills at (I recommend this)

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

HOW TO LOOK FOR JOBS

• Internet makes this easy, eg Google graduate finance

jobs London

• Need to think about where you want to live

• Look for firms at

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

• Use the Job Vacancies database at

http://kent.prospects.ac.uk

• Use online job boards. They vary in what they are offering,

eg graduate-jobs.com

• They are good for finding jobs with smaller firms

• Use company websites, have to know them first

• Fewer jobs in print now days, eg magazines and papers

• Look at Economics Job Market Forum

https://www.kent.ac.uk/economics/index.html

See tab on right hand side of School home page

The enrolment key is Networking

• However, be realistic. No point in wasting effort

• Firms are not just interested in your degree results.

Interested in your experience. Firms look at A

levels. Without As you are not going to hit a top

financial firm

• They often have minimum scores in GCSEs, eg

Maths and English

USEFUL JOB WEBSITES• Prospects website www.prospects.ac.uk

Including

– Options with an Economics degree

www.prospects.ac.uk/links/EconomDeg

– Occupational profiles for 600 career areas

www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Occupations

MORE USEFUL JOB WEBSITES

• www.top100graduateemployers.com

• www.thejobcrowd.com

• www.gradjobs.co.uk

• www.graduate-jobs.com

• www.milkround.com

• www.efinancialcareers.co.uk

This last one is particular useful for financial careers

CAREERS & EMPLOYABILITY FAIR

• Thursday 1st November 2.00 – 5.00 pm in Eliot Great Hall

• Lots of different employers including– Bank of England– PWC– Capita– Reeves– Accenture

• If you attend, do your homework about these companies

THE PROCESS OF APPLYING• It varies a lot between jobs

• Hard work and takes time (from now to September 2013). More continuous than before

• Some mix of

– online/paper application

– CV + cover letter

– online tasks

– Competency questions

– Interview

– Group tasks (where a watch!)– It is hard work making applications and going through the

application process

SOME DOs & DON’Ts• Quality of application is important. This takes hours and days

of time. Take it seriously

• Research your application

• Clamp down on the security of Facebook and other social

network stuff

• In some job applications, experience is vital

• You may have to think of getting relevant experience if you

have known at the moment, eg internship after you graduate

CURRICULUM VITAE

• Even if the application is online, the following rules still apply

• List of education, work and other experiences related to getting you

a job or placement

• You are trying to match your skill set and experience to those that

are required for the job

• Make a list of the job requirements and make sure your CV match

these. Use your brain, job description or look at

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

or www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Occupations

• So have to alter CV to fit the job

• Have a basic CV but make it fit the skills etc.

required for the different jobs you apply for

• CVs are just the beginning of the application process

• CVs are often used as a filter to get the number of

applicants down to a reasonable number

• CVs have to be easy to read

• They are an advert for you. They are often read in

less than 30 seconds

• Design and think clearly about the design and order

of presentation

• No more than two sides (backed or unbacked?)

• Some like one side. But a CV must be clear and bring

out the message. You have the skills they want

• Personal Profile - You can put a short personal statement at the

beginning summarising the type of person you are and matching

the requirements of the job

• Do not have complicated boxes or tables, do not repeat yourself a

lot, eg putting your school next to each educational qualification

• Position the really good things so they catch the eye. Not every

word of your CV will be read closely. So good things go first or last

in a clearly labelled section.

• You have to put exam results down. If they are not good, think

about whether a job is for you.

EXAMPLE CV

• Easy to read

• Personal profile – does the CV justify this profile?

This person has good personal skills and gets on with

well with people

• Everything bullet pointed no long paragraphs

• Has a wide range of skills (numeracy, analytical,

literacy and personal skills), does this come across?

• Experience a bit confusingly organised

• Second year marks?

• Third year modules?

• Computing skills a bit hidden

• Would put maths grade A much more visibly

• Put average mark of 64% in first bullet point.

Depending on results, might give individual marks.

• Overall could do with a little more punch

• Other comments?

COVER LETTER• A covering letter is a short introduction of yourself

• Written in clear English – no mistakes

• Make sure that it matches the requirements of the job

• You can make no more than 3 short points

• Try to have a name you are writing to

• Show you know the firm

• Do not go over the top

EXAMPLE COVER LETTER

• Which University and what am I studying?

• Could show more knowledge of XXX

• Has “economics given an extensive knowledge of

business and customers.......?

• Paragraph beginning “Overall ...” is a bit over the top?

• C.V is an error

• Other errors or suggestions?

CAN YOU IMPROVE YOUR PROFILE?• Difficult as pressure of work

• May need to apply for internships and work experience.

Especially in the financial sector. Be realistic.

• Apply to smaller firms for experience

• Will you be paid?

• Now much more common

• Look at http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/vacwork.htm

http://www.kent.ac.uk/ces/work-experience.html

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/skillsmenu.htm

http://news.efinancialcareers.com/uk-en/students/

WHAT WE WILL DO TO HELP YOU

• Help you with CV and covering letter workshops on

one to one basis

• Come with your printed CV and example cover

letter (not all at the same time!)

• Next week talk on “Further Academic Study”

• In week 6, we will have some numeracy and other

competency tests

• Interview advice and mock interviews in week 7

• Weeks 8-12, drop in advice sessions

• Email me to arrange a meeting

• Anything else?

CONCLUSION AND WHAT TO DO NOW

• Decide what you are going to do. Nothing or a big

effort

• Sort out you CV and start applying. Be prepared for

the effort involved and the different types of

assessment involved

• If in doubt ask for help

• Do not postpone this