how to win at the job game
DESCRIPTION
HOW TO WIN AT THE JOB GAME. OUTLINE. How to decide what job How to improve your profile How to look for work experience/internships How the job selection process works How to write a good internship application. How To Decide What To Do With The Rest Of Your Life. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
HOW TO WIN AT THE JOB GAME
OUTLINE
• How to decide what job
• How to improve your profile
• How to look for work experience/internships
• How the job selection process works
• How to write a good internship application
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
• Do not embark on further study just to
postpone your decision
• Make a list of your skills and things you would like to
do in a job, eg interacting with people, data analysis,
making money,.....
• Think about what jobs would involve your skills and
wish list
• List of job types and skills at (I recommend the first)
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin.htm
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Occupations
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
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW?
• Think about what you want to do after your degree. The next
two years rush past and the serious employee has to think
about the future NOW
• Consider internships and work experience in the field you
wish to work in. More about this later
• There are a number of University run initiatives
Job Market Forum
• This is a School of Economics run Moodle module which you can
register for, see the right hand button on the School of Economics
home page https://www.kent.ac.uk/economics/index.html
• The Job market forum is for past and present Economics students
who are in the job market. It is a forum for student discussion about
jobs in general and employment advice
• If wish to receive a reference from a member of the School, we require
you to upload your CV onto this site. In the first instance, you should
be asking your personal tutor/academic adviser for a reference.
MyFolio
• MyFolio is the University of Kent’s student owned e-
portfolio and Personal Development
• It is a personal develop planning (PDP) tool
• It is designed to help you set and achieve personal
and employment related goals
• Most usefully, it records your achievements
• It is at https://myfolio.kent.ac.uk/myfolio/
Employability Points Scheme
• This University of Kent scheme provides students with the
means to demonstrate activity across a range of activities.
• The scheme has links with a number of external firms and
organisations. Students can get work experience with a
number of participating companies.
• More details at http://www.kent.ac.uk/employabilitypoints/
or contact: Christopher Broad, Employability Points
Co-ordinator, email: [email protected]
University of Kent Careers Employability Award
The University of Kent Careers Employability Award helps students to
identify and plan
• Possible future careers
• Potential employers
• The student’s employment skills
• Present these skills in CVs and job applications
The award takes about 12 hours, is free, undertaken online using Moodle
and further details can be found at
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm
Other Possibilities• Volunteering, see Kent Union
http://www.kentunion.co.uk/volunteering/• Student Ambassador Scheme, see http
://www.kent.ac.uk/ems/student-ambassadors/• Course Rep (bit late for this)• University Societies• Language and IT skills, see http://
www.kent.ac.uk/cewl/courses/language-express.html and http://www.kent.ac.uk/student/skills/ecdl/
INTERNSHIPS AND WORK EXPERIENCE?
• Difficult as pressure of work
• Apply to smaller firms for experience
• Will you be paid?
• Unpaid internships are common
• Need to think about where you are going to live
HOW TO LOOK FOR INTERNSHIPS
• Internet makes this easy, eg Google graduate finance internships
London
• 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/ This last one is good for financial internships and job advice
• Use your family and any contacts
• Use company websites, have to know them first
• However, be realistic. No point in wasting effort
• Firms are not just interested in your degree
results so far. 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 grade B at least
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– 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
CURRICULUM VITAE
• Even if the application is online, the following rules still apply
• List of education, work and other experiences related to getting you
an internship or work experience
• You are trying to match your skill set and experience to those that
are required for the internship
• Make a list of the requirements and make sure your CV match these.
Use your brain, internship 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 internship
• Have a basic CV but make it fit the skills etc.
required for the different internships you apply for
• CVs are just one part 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?
• This student’s computing skills a bit hidden
• Would put maths grade A much more visibly
• Put average mark of 67% 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
internship
• 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.......?
• Leadership , is that what they want?
• Paragraph beginning “Overall ...” is a bit over the top?
• C.V is an error
• Other errors or suggestions?
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”
• Weeks 6-12, drop in advice sessions
• Email me to arrange a meeting
• Anything else you would like?
CONCLUSION AND WHAT TO DO NOW
• Decide what you are going to do. Nothing or a big effort
• Consider signing up for University initiatives
• However, work experience and especially internships are what will
really kick start success in your search for a good job
• 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 THESE ACTIONS