Careers Centre

Developing your USP - how students add value through work experience

Gill Barber and Annabelle CrossSenior Careers Consultants7th January 2011

http://careerweb.leeds.ac.uk/

Careers Centre

We aim to give: An understanding of why employers want students with

work experience Benefits of work experience to students An introduction to the range of work experience options

open to students and some examples of successful initiatives at the UoL

Barriers for students to engage with work experience Knowledge of how the Careers Centre can support students

seeking placements and academic departments supporting those opportunities

Careers Centre

Did you know? Organisations are looking for more than a degree.

43% of employers convert > 40% of interns to graduate recruits (10% convert > 80%)

Source: 2008 Association of Graduate Recruiters Survey

Competition is increasing with the average number of graduates chasing every job on offer this year rising to 48 per vacancy (FMCG being 250 per vacancy!)

Source: July 2009 Association of Graduate Recruiters Survey

Careers Centre

When recruiting, employers look for evidence of the following skills:

Effective communication Ability to follow instruction Understanding customer needs Ability to learn Showing initiative Team working skills Experience of a commercial environment

beyond the lecture theatre Evidence of motivation and determination

- Source: July 2009 Association of Graduate Recruiters Survey

Careers Centre

Employers’ believe there are 3 main ways to improve skills (in order of effectiveness):

Completing an internship or industrial placement

Taking on a leadership position in a student society

Gaining very people-focussed work experience

Source: 2008 Association of Graduate Recruiters Survey

Careers Centre

Benefits of Work Experience to students INCREASE knowledge of the world of work DEVELOP self-confidence ENHANCE coursework AID career planning IMPROVE transferable skills IMPRESSIVE addition to their CV EMPLOYER contacts/NETWORKING BETTER motivated BOOST finances

Careers Centre

Work Experience on a student’s CV/Application shows that:

They can transfer academic learning to the workplace

Provides supplementary evidence that they have the skills & qualities employers look for

Sets them apart from the crowd (approx 500k per year!)

Makes them a safer recruit

Careers Centre

Range of work experience options

Placement Year Summer internships / Vacation work Project based work (course/self generated) Work shadowing Work simulations / case studies Voluntary work Part time casual work Self employment

Careers Centre

UoL initiatives

Unilever Mars Leeds City Council and POLIS Clinical Psychology with IPS Opera North Graduate Internships Research Internships CSER 8000….

Careers Centre

CSER 8000 – Work Placement Year Option This module is aimed at Level 2 students, who would like to

take their third year as a work placement year WHEN THEIR PARENT DEPARTMENT DOES NOT OFFER THIS OPTION

This effectively extends a 3 year degree programme to a 4 year one, consequently, the title of their degree is altered so that their existing named degree becomes a BA / BSc xxx (Industry) or BA / BSc xxx (Industrial Placement).

Currently 11 students on placement from Music, Joint Honours, History & POLIS

Careers Centre

Barriers to Obtaining Work Experience

Lack of confidence Lack of awareness Lack of support ‘Head in the Sand’ approach Removal from year/peer group (for 12 month

placements) Time

Careers Centre

How can the Careers Centre support students?

Advice & Guidance on ALL aspects of work experience such as: Deciding and planning what they want to do Helping them in their placement search Applying and Competing (CVs, Application forms,

Interviews etc) Reviewing, reflecting and transferring their

experience/skills

Careers Centre

How can the Careers Centre support faculties?

Generic talks/workshops Faculty specific talks/workshops Liaison with Employers and linking to departments CSER 8000

…Anything else?

Careers Centre

Not forgetting…..

Leeds for Life - Helps tutors support students to engage with

opportunities Helps students to reflect, review and evidence

their experience

Careers Centre

Final Thought………..

‘Ability is what you’re capable of doing;

Motivation determines what you do;

Attitude determines how well you do it’

Lou Holtz

Careers Centre

QUESTIONS