erasmus work abroad: next steps - university of exeter€¦ · •apply by cv and covering letter...

Erasmus Work Abroad:

Next Steps

www.exeter.ac.uk/globaljobs

Next Steps

Dominic Prosser

Global Employability Consultant

CareerZone

University Forum

[email protected]

18/10/2012

EU work placements: Erasmus

The Erasmus programme is a European

Commission funded programme designed


to support the European activities of

Higher Education institutions, including the

mobility and exchange of students. This

includes work abroad & study abroad.

What is an Erasmus work placement?

An Erasmus Work Placement must be:

� full time | min. 12 weeks | max 12 months

� In EU member countries + Switzerland, Liechtenstein (Turkey, Norway, Iceland)

� approved and recognised by the University and contribute to your qualification

and graduate employability skills/competencies


and graduate employability skills/competencies

� with an eligible organisation – i.e. an organisation of any size that is involved in

economic activities in the public, private or third (voluntary) sector.

� The following types of organisations are not eligible:

• European institutions such as the European Commission and European Parliament

• Organisations managing EU programmes (such as National Agencies)

• National diplomatic representation (embassy/consulate) of the student in the host

country

� Typical placement start dates are July, September, January,

March

� Placements must be completed by 30th September 2014

� The module requires you to do 28 weeks in placement i.e. 7

What is an Erasmus work placement?


� The module requires you to do 28 weeks in placement i.e. 7

months

� You can do more than 1 placement

� There should be minimal gap between placements

What is the Erasmus grant?

An Erasmus Work Placement must be supported by a series of

paperwork proving entitlement. This will secure you the Erasmus Grant.

� 1st grant in 2012/13 is 225 euros/month


� 2nd grant in 2012/13 paid in May: 147 euros/month (Band 3 countries e.g. France, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Italy)

� More on this in briefing session in May 2013

Why do a work placement?

65% of employers think that candidates with

international work experience are more employable


“The value of international experience goes beyond

purely the acquisition of language – it lies in the ability

to see business and personal issues from other than

your own cultural perspective.”

(Charles Macleod, Head of Global Resourcing, PwC)

Why do a work placement?

Work placements :

� enhance your employability potential and your CV with ‘stand out’

international employment experience

� may lead directly to future employment


� may lead directly to future employment

� offer opportunities for personal, academic, cultural and linguistic

development

� Erasmus grant and possibly additional payment or other benefits

from the employer

� develop transferable skills, including …

Develop a rich mix of highly desirable employability skills

� higher degree of flexibility and adaptability

� initiative and the ability to plan

� assertiveness and independence

� improved use of information

� cultural dexterity

� more tolerance, patience and

better understanding of people

� greater diplomacy

� global outlook and mindset

� confidence to work in global


� improved use of information

� motivation & greater confidence

� better listening ability

� commercial awareness in global context

� confidence to work in global

business and seize opportunities

� working effectively in multi-

cultural teams

� willingness to learn and adapt to

a different culture

� foreign language skills

� internationalised local professional

Why do a work placement?“ I believe the Work Placement scheme is a challenging

choice. I am proud I took on the challenge and feel

that my employability skills improved immensely … my

organisational skills have improved and the amount of


organisational skills have improved and the amount of

experience I have behind me makes me feel relatively

calm in the face of job hunting.”

(Laura, BA French and Italian)

Why do a work placement?“I believe that I have enhanced my employability as I

have had an experience that not many people will have

had, while also proving that I am adaptable to new

environments, and am comfortable living in foreign


environments, and am comfortable living in foreign

countries.”

(Chris, BA Business Economics with European Study)

How to find them?

Ultimately it is your responsibility to find a work placement

� recognise that there may be competition for work placements so

you should start the process early i.e. now!

� be willing to put effort into it and consider a range of countries.

Erasmus students find placements in a variety of ways:


Erasmus students find placements in a variety of ways:

� independently by direct contact with an employer in another

country

� via University’s Global Employability Team who manage Erasmus

work abroad.

� job ads from employers via web or other media

How to find them : online sources e.g.

�Eures – the EU jobs portal

http://ec.europa.eu/eures/

�Entrypark – International Career Book

www.entrypark.com/career_book/

�LEO-NET: a dedicated internships site


�LEO-NET: a dedicated internships site

http://leonet.globalplacement.com/en/22/1-home.html

�Search for local newspapers using online directories

e.g www.kidon.com/media-link/

�Local versions of “monster”

e.g. www.monster.fr

�The University’s jobs portal, my career zone :

https://mycareerzone.exeter.ac.uk/

How to find them: EU job alert pages

� get access to Exeter-friendly EU employers from

our EU Employer Database:

www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/global/job_alerts


�get fast track updates on other employers

advertising EU placements on my career zone

Employers offering placements for 2013/14 include:


How to use the EU employer database

�Autumn term

•Regularly check the University’s new erasmus job alert pages – we’re

adding new opportunities daily

•Apply by CV and covering letter in English and Target Language via the

ERASMUS Work Abroad Office to up to 3 employers

• Deadlines specified on each advert : mid/late Nov 2012

�Applications checked to ensure quality of application and fit to employer


�Applications checked to ensure quality of application and fit to employer

needs.

•Poor applications will not be submitted to employers but returned to

you for corrections

�Where necessary applications will be screened/shortlisted to meet quota

of applications (typically 10) to prevent employers being swamped.

�Attend a careerzone CV/Applications session to sharpen your draft

application

�We will help prevent potentially

faux pas such as…

�An estimated 60-80% of jobs are now found informally

through networking with direct or indirect contacts such

as friends, relatives, and alumni.

�Networking is the process of discovering and exploiting

connections between people.

How to find placements: networking


connections between people.

�It requires moving beyond your immediate network and

tapping into other people’s networks

�Use physical and virtual networking

�Start by networking with people you already know and

speak with them about what you want to do.

�Ask whether they know of any employers doing the type

of work that interests you.

How to find them: social media

�Use linked in , twitter and facebook to find jobs –

�Link to corporate facebooks, twitter feeds etc.

�Linked in:

• Start a profile being clear about career aims

• Keep it clear and professional

• Link in with people you can trust who can help you

• Join relevant groups:


• For more tips on linked in /social media go:

www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/jobapplications/social-media/

How to find them: creative personal branding


“Cole fined for Twitter outburst”

Avoid Ashley Cole outburst and

compromising photos

Application support & guidance

� Standard tips for CVs and covering letters, and country specific

guides:

• www.exeter.ac.uk/global jobs > applying for... >

�CV and covering letter checking service


�CV and covering letter checking service

Career Zone offers a CV and covering letter checking service. Before you

book an appointment please ensure you have:

•Read our guides to creating CVs and Covering letters

•Prepared a CV and/or covering letter for a specific Erasmus

placement to bring to the appointment

�CV and Application appointments in

http://mycareerzone.exeter.ac.uk/

� incl. for Autumn 2012 only Spanish CV and letter check

“I spent a fair bit of time researching the company

before submitting my CV and a covering letter.”


Tips from students



Tips from students

“ I found both the placements through the

University but was required to apply for

them as you would any job: I submitted CVs

and attended interviews – this process was


and attended interviews – this process was

demanding but built my confidence.”

(Laura, BA French and Italian)

Success: what to do when you’ve got a placement offer

�As soon as you have a firm offer of a placement from an employer,

send the placement details form (EWA002_A) available via:

tinyurl.com/ewa1314

�The University will then:

�assess the placement

�and if approved liaise with the employer to complete, sign and

return a placement agreement between Employer/Higher


return a placement agreement between Employer/Higher

Education Institution/Student and:

•sets out mutual obligations, rights and responsibilities e.g.

insurance, health and safety, training programme and

intended learning outcomes

�Once contract is ready you will be asked to make an

appointment with the Global Employability Team to sign the

contract and complete a Risk Assessment

TimelineDeadline Requirement

October 2012 Start looking for placements

November 2012 Book to get a draft CV and application letter reviewed in

the career zone

Mid/Late November

2012

Submit completed applications for Exeter EU placements

on mycareeerzone as per deadline supplied in job ad


2012 on mycareeerzone as per deadline supplied in job ad

1st May 2013

23:00 BST

Deadline: to submit EWA002_A Placement Proposal Form

Early May 2013 Erasmus Grant application at Erasmus Work Abroad Grant

briefing talk

12th June 2013

17:00 BST

Deadline by which all employer placement agreements

must be signed by all 3 parties and Risk Assessments

signed and completed by student and University (me).

Erasmus Work Abroad:

Next Steps


Next Steps

Dominic Prosser

Global Employability Consultant

[email protected]

erasmus work abroad: next steps - university of exeter€¦ · •apply by cv and covering letter...

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