HELP TO BUILD YOUR CV GRADUATE JOBS PART-TIME AND VACATION WORK ADVICE ON POSTGRADUATE STUDY PERFECT YOUR INTERVIEW TECHNIQUE HOW TO SUCCEED AT ASSESSMENT CENTRES

Careers & Employability Centre

kindly sponsored by

The besT modern universiTy

in The uK

The Times, Good University Guide 2013

FIRST IN SCOTLAND FOR GRADUATE LEVEL JOBSThe Independent, The Complete University Guide 2012

Top for GraduaTe LeveL Jobs

The Guardian, University Guide 2012

… TOP UNIVERSITY FOR GRADUATE EMPLOYMENT… THE ROBERT GORDON UNIVERSITYThe Telegraph, ‘Graduate jobs: Top 10 universities for getting a job’, July 2012

www.rgu.ac.uk/careersonmoodle

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STARTING YOUR GRADUATE JOB SEARCH

A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR – BP

BP is again pleased to sponsor this careers booklet which is packed full of great tips about how to identify the best career for you. It also helps develop the skills you will need to ensure that you are ‘work ready’ by the time you begin your search for a job. As a major employer and a significant recruiter in the North East of Scotland, we know how competitive the job market can be and we have worked closely with the University Careers Centre to develop an understanding of what employers are looking for when recruiting graduates. We would strongly encourage you to make use of the Careers Centre from an early time at University. It can help you with guidance as you progress through your course, advice on how to produce CVs and also help you think about your approach with interviews and assessment centres in whatever your chosen field may be. We hope that you find this booklet useful and wish you every success in your chosen career.

Amanda Chilcott HR Director, BP North Sea

FAQs 4

Part Time Work 5

Work Experience and Volunteering 6

Enterprise and Employability 7

Choosing a Career that suits you 8

International Careers 9

Starting your Graduate Job Search 10

Selling Yourself 12

CVs 14

Cover Letters 20

Application Forms 22

Personal Statement 24

Interviews 26

Assessment Centres 28

Social Media 30

Postgraduate and Further Study 32

Changing your Course 33

Student and Graduate Feedback 34

Careers Centre Resources 35

Where are we? 36

contents

For information on careers with BP please visit: www.bp.com/careers

‘On completion of my Computing Science degree which included a placement at Talisman, I had the choice of many different career paths: IT support, Development or Project/Account management. I decided to gain experience from a business point of view, and was successful in my application with IDS as an Account Manager. I handle current and potential business from a client-facing perspective, in order to help generate new interest and maintain current. I am relishing the opportunity to gain experience from a business point of view to enhance my current skills set.’

Colin DawsonComputing Science Graduate

What do RGU Graduates do?

‘I manage conference and event enquiries and then converting them into sales at Hilton. This includes organising the events, meet and greet clients, showrounds of the hotel facilities and lead food tastings. Right

now I am coordinating some special offers for events and Christmas within the hotel. Since my placement of doing reception in a hotel I’ve wanted to work doing events so I have the perfect job!‘

Victoria GillettInternational Tourism Graduate

‘As a trainee QS\Proposals Engineer in the tendering team, I am involved in producing competitive bids to win work for the company. This involves working closely with senior engineers and

clients to produce fully costed, robust technical solutions.’ Gordon Daly

Graduate Diploma Surveying Graduate

‘After joining BP as an electrical engineer I have had the opportunity to work in both projects and operations. I started in a projects office designing and delivering production, drilling and living quarters electrical equipment for a new oil platform to be based in the Caspian Sea.

My operations experience has been on rotation in Algeria at a gas processing facility. I work in the technical support team and get involved with small and large modifications, maintenance, construction and root cause failure analysis.’

Michael KnightMEng Electrical & Electronic Engineering

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FAQs

How can I make an appointment with a Careers Consultant? Book a 30 minute appointment online at www.rgu.ac.uk/mycareer. Log in using your university username and password, select ‘book an appointment’ and choose a date, time and location convenient to you. Alternatively, you can attend a 10 minute drop in service – times are advertised at www.rgu.ac.uk/careers I am looking for a part time job – can you help me? Yes. Look at Page 5 of this Handbook for more information, but don’t forget that the Careers Centre hosts an annual Part Time Jobs Fair in September, as well as collating local vacancies through www.netvibes.com/rgucareers

How do I look for a graduate job? Look at page 10 of this Handbook for more information, but don’t forget to sign up for personalised emails through www.rgu.ac.uk/mycareer

What can I do with my degree? To explore your options, explore ‘Starting your Graduate Job Search’ on page 10 of this handbook, using the resources mentioned then make an appointment with a Careers Consultant to discuss further.

Can you help me to prepare a CV/Complete an application form? Make sure you have read the appropriate section of this handbook and visited the careers section on moodle – there are links to our employability modules on CVs and application forms. Once you have reviewed your CV/Application form against our advice, you can then seek feedback from one of our Careers Consultants. Make sure you bring your CV/ Application form in hard copy.

I have a job interview arranged, can you help me to prepare? Yes, we have a range of resources to help you including interview DVDs and links to other resources, available online via our moodle page. We can also arrange a mock interview so you can practise and get feedback on how to improve your performance at interview. There is also a DVD of an Assessment Centre and access to books on psychometric tests.

I cannot come into the Careers Centre, can I access support on line? We can arrange an interview for you with one of our Careers Consultants via telephone or Skype. We also offer advice by email and our ‘Preparing to Succeed’ employability modules are available on Moodle on a range of topics.

Can you help me to connect with employers? Yes, we arrange a number of Careers Fairs each year and in addition also host employer on campus events. See our website and events calendar for forthcoming events. You may also look at the Employer Directory available at www.rgu.ac.uk/mycareer which lists all employers who have sought to recruit an RGU student.

Can I use the Careers Centre after I graduate? Yes, we encourage graduates to use our services for as long as they need to post graduation and to access ‘My Career’ for ongoing vacancy information.

Employers look for evidence of extra curricular activities – why? It is an extremely competitive job market so employers don’t just consider your qualifications and work experience they want to see you are an enthusiastic, motivated individual who uses their spare time to gain new experiences and skills, or just to have a good work/life balance.

Many students get a part time job for the extra income to support them whilst they are at university. But don’t underestimate the benefits of having part time work experience on your CV. As well as boosting your bank balance, part time work allows you to develop many of the transferable skills that graduate employers are looking for, such as: teamwork, communication, interpersonal, problem solving, initiative, leadership and many more.

Think carefully about how you will balance part time work with your studies, particularly if you are in your final year or a postgraduate student. We recommend that you don’t work more than 15 hours per week and this is supported by the National Association of Student Employment Services (NASES).

As well as looking on www.rgu.ac.uk/mycareer for part time opportunities, you can also access www.netvibes.com/rgucareers for links to a wide range of part time opportunities in Aberdeen and surrounding area and don’t forgot to attend our annual Part Time Jobs Fair held in September on the Garthdee Campus. You can also apply for part time work by handing in your CV to employers, or looking at shop windows for adverts.

When applying for part time work, employers don’t need the same in-depth information as you will put in a CV for graduate/placement positions – look at the Part Time Work Presentation at www.rgu.ac.uk/preparingtosucceed for advice.

Don’t forget that a National Insurance Number is required for working in the UK. If you do not have one, you will need to contact Job Centre Plus on 0845 6000 643 to make an appointment for an ‘evidence of identity interview’.

If you are an International Student your student visa will indicate how many hours you are allowed to work. Typically this is 20 hours per week during term time, but remember to balance this with your studies – we would recommend no more than 15 hours. It is your responsibility to ensure that you adhere to the conditions of your visa. For more information please contact isa@rgu.ac.uk

Part Time Work

Part Time Jobs Fair 2011

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Work Experience and Volunteering

RGU:RAG Presentation Day with cheque for £7610.33

A degree alone is not enough. Many employers are looking for applicants to have the ‘added extra’. Work experience and voluntary work whilst at university are great ways to get this.

Work experience whether through an internship or formal placement as part of your course is a great way of discovering more about employers and gaining an insight into what you like and don’t like in a working environment. Employers will want to know about your work experience, whether on your CV, application form or in an interview. It is beneficial to have experiences you can draw upon, more so if it is directly related to the job applied for – but if not don’t worry, as all work experience is good work experience.

Placements are typically organised through your schools Placement Office and you should contact them for more information.

Internships are mostly career related placements with graduate employers, designed to provide a taste of the organisation, job role and encourage students to apply to that employer in their final year. In addition to internships offered by individual companies organisations such as Talent Scotland, Third Sector Internship and Saltire Foundation also offer diverse internship opportunities on behalf of a range of SME’s (Small to Medium Sized Enterprise) and international organisations.

Voluntary work allows you to build your knowledge and skills and enhance your CV. Whilst you may not be able to get work experience within larger organisations, there are smaller organisations within the voluntary sector who appreciate assistance with their marketing, public relations or finances. At university, you can volunteer through the Student Union and work towards your MV Award, go to www.rguunion.co.uk/volunteering

The Careers Centre runs the BP Student Tutoring Scheme which asks students to volunteer for half a day per week over eight weeks in a local primary or secondary school. For more information go to the events section at www.rgu.ac.uk/mycareer

‘I always knew that a degree isn’t enough to get you a job these days. Times are tough, and employers are looking for something more, something that shows you’ll go the extra mile. So I decided to not only study my degree, but to get involved with the charities society and with volunteering. I got my dream job because I gave my time to get the experience, the skills and the knowledge that I needed.’Stephanie Dowling 2012 3D Design Graduate now working as Fund Raiser/Events Manager at CLAN, Aberdeen

Being enterprising can take many forms from doing freelancing whilst you’re at university, to becoming self employed, to developing a brand new product or service, to setting up a business with potential for growth and employment for others.

There are elective modules in enterprise available at the University and advice from the Careers Centre too. In addition, the Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE) works with all of Scotland’s universities, providing a free service to students and new graduates who want to explore the world of enterprise. RGU has two SIE Student Interns who organise enterprise events on campus and a dedicated Business Adviser who can meet with you.

Following the enterprise path can provide you with the opportunity to develop your career in ways in which would not otherwise be possible through employment. The transferable skills you will learn along the way will be extremely valuable to you when you go to look for work and will help you stand out from the crowd, not to mention the excellent networking opportunities you will have developed.

‘After I left Uni I felt a bit lost. I started getting some jewellery making tools together so I could start making my jewellery designs at home. After working for a few months I was really unhappy with how my business was progressing, I decided to make an appointment with the Careers Centre because they had been really encouraging and friendly while I was at Uni so I felt comfortable contacting them. They gave me the contact details for Dawn Shand from SIE who helped give me a focus and very insightful advice on how to help my business progress. She also advised me to go on the SIE bootcamp which I thoroughly enjoyed and learned a lot from. I met lots of like minded people who are in the same position as me and who were able to give me advice and ideas and also have made some great friends as well.’

Kirsten Mackie3-D Design Graduate, 2011

Enterprise and Employability

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Choosing a Career that suits you

Not sure what to do when you leave university? Don’t worry! It is never too late or too early to start planning your career, whether you are in your first year or your last, using 4 simple steps:

Self Awareness: The most important and hardest part of career planning. Before you can start thinking about the types of jobs that are out there, you need to know about you. What skills do you have, what do you like, and as importantly what you dislike? Think about your interests and hobbies, are there aspects of these you would like to take forward into a career? Make an appointment to speak to a Careers Consultants or look at online tools such as Target Jobs Careers Report or Windmills Online Careers Consultant.

Opportunities: Most people are only aware of the careers that they are exposed to. But what else is there? By researching companies and jobs you may uncover a position that you may not have realised existed. Look further than the job title, read the job description – just because you think you know what a job involves doesn’t mean you do!

Decision Making: Once you know what you like and are interested in, it is important to compare this with what the career offers to allow you to make a well informed decision. You should consider the industry sector, and what future prospects exist for positions in this area, and where your skills and interests fit in.

Taking Action: Once you have made your decision, you need to develop your own action plan for taking the next steps towards achieving your career goals. Further sections within this handbook will support you in your career planning, employability and job seeking.

OPPORtUNitiES

SElF AwARENESS

tAkiNG ActiON

DEciSiON MAkiNG

Graduates from Robert Gordon University work in graduate-level positions for a variety of organisations across the globe. Every year the Careers Centre supports students on their employment options when considering international opportunities. We offer you a wide range of quality assured careers resources and advice to enable you to realise your international ambitions

Key resources available via our dedicated International Careers page acccessible via www.rgu.ac.uk/careersonmoodle

Going Global gives you access to International Country Careers Guides (covering visa and immigration information, country specific labour market and applications/CV advice, culture and salary information and job search resources), an International Employer Directory and searchable database of more than 600,000 job listings around the world (updated twice a day).

Exodus is a comprehensive guide to working, studying and living abroad. We recommend you begin your research with the ‘Getting Started’ section before moving on to specific country and topic information.

International Country Career Guides can be downloaded from moodle. These guides are of use, not only to international students looking to return to their home countries after completing their studies, but to any student with the ambition to build a career in some of the worlds most dynamic economies.

International Job Search Websites and Job Directories connect with a wide range of international job opportunities from a variety of online jobsites.

If you are an International Student considering working in the UK on completion of your course you must start your job search early – we recommend you start your career planning and job search when you begin your studies.

Working in the UK (visa and immigration information) information for international students about the changes to the UK’s visa and immigration rules (April 2012) and how they impact on you is also available to download from this page, including a informative presentation by our colleagues in the International Student Advice / Visa and Immigration Service.Please note the Careers Centre does not provide advice on any individual international students visa issues – all concerns you

have regarding your student visa should be forwarded to isa@rgu.ac.uk

More information, advice and resources to support you to compete effectively for graduate/professional level jobs in the UK is available via the Preparing to Succeed modules, the Careers Information Gateway, your courses specific careers Moodle page and by speaking to the Careers Consultants in the Careers Centre.

International Careers

www.rgu.ac.uk/careersonmoodle

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Starting your Graduate Job Search

Don’t leave it until your final stage of your degree to start looking for graduate jobs, many companies have early closing dates and it is important that you don’t miss out. Graduate Vacancies can be found in a variety of places:

My Career is the Careers Centre database that allows you to search for all types of opportunities from employers specifically recruiting Robert Gordon University students. Make sure you sign up for targeted emails through www.rgu.ac.uk/mycareer to be notified of relevant opportunities, or use the Employer Directory a searchable resource which allows you to identify potential employers from organisations that have engaged with the University.

Employer Directories advertise graduate vacancies and are published annually. Whilst some are available to pick up free of charge from the Careers Centre, all of them are available online. As well as useful articles on industry information they highlight details of employers who recruit students for work placements/internships and graduate jobs. Key directories include: TARGETjobs, Inside Careers, The Times Top 100 Employers, Milkround.com and the Prospects Directory.

Newspapers, both local and national are a key source of graduate jobs as well as part time and non graduate roles. Make sure you find out what day the Jobs Section is included with your paper.

Professional Journals are an excellent source of vacancies as well as current labour market information. Don’t forget to check your course specific careers moodle page which has links to various professional bodies.

Recruitment Agencies are there to find suitable applicants for organisations that are actively recruiting to fill vacancies. There is no charge to the applicant only to the employer. You can be registered to more than one agency, and use them to find part time, full time and temporary positions that are related to your degree and non-graduate positions.

Remember that Recruitment Consultants are not Careers Advisers and therefore, will not provide careers advice so you need to be clear about the skills, knowledge and experience you have to offer and the type of work you are looking for before you register with them.

Online, you can find many different vacancy websites. Some are linked to recruitment agencies; others pull vacancies from a range of other job search websites. It is often possible to set up structured feeds from these types of websites to your email account alerting you to new opportunities that match your job search requirements.

The Hidden Job Market. Up to 70% of all jobs are never advertised on the open market and are filled through internal advertising, speculative applications, word of mouth or through contacts (source TargetJobs).

Speculative Applications involves sending your CV and a cover letter to organisations that you are interested in working for. Remember to ensure these are targeted to the organisation and position you are trying to attain.

Careers Fairs are a good way for you to meet and talk to employers in an informal environment about their organisation. There are two fairs held every year, the RGU Autumn Careers Fair held at the Garthdee Campus and the North of Scotland Graduate Recruitment Fair is held in April at a central venue in Aberdeen. Check our website for details of which employers will be present and how you can make the most of the fair.

Images from RGU Careers Fair 2011

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With the current economic situation, the labour market has never been so competitive. In July 2012 the BBC reported that there has been ‘an average of 52 job applications for every graduate position this year – an 11% increase on last year’.

Whether it’s on a daily, monthly or yearly basis, all of us at some point in our lives have to try and sell ourselves to somebody else. The question you need to ask yourself is ‘am I any good at it?’

Whether you are completing an application or attending a job interview the key is to know your worth. For example, before you buy a mobile phone you will look into what features the phone has and the cost of the contract and what is included. The same applies when applying for a job – you need to consider what skills and experience you have to offer and their relationship to the job and communicate this to the employer.

Selling Yourself

‘My time with the Careers Centre left me not just with a re jigged CV which better showcased my skills, education and achievements, but perhaps most importantly with a renewed confidence and understanding of what I have to offer. The support and encouragement offered by them as well their expertise in careers advice meant I was successful in securing a fabulous job before I had left RGU. I can confidently say that that was a direct result of the help and friendly advice I received which helped me sell myself and believe in the skills I had to offer.’

Louise ThomHRM Graduate 2012

To start the process of getting to know your worth write down a list of strengths and weaknesses. These can be anything which you consider relevant to the job such as your technical skills, qualifications and employability skills such as communication, teamwork, organisation etc. Once you have finished your list look at the strengths and reflect on why they are such an asset and why any company would be happy to employ you. The next step is to take a look at your weaknesses and come up with a plan to overcome them.

By doing this before completing an application or attending an interview you will be allowing yourself to focus on the attributes you have to offer and they will be at the forefront of your mind during all stages of the application process.

S 10%Situation: How, when, where and with whom? The Situation and Task are usually

combined and form the introduction.

Whilst employed at Aberdeen Technologies Ltd last summer, I was asked to review the current inventory system.T 10%

Task: Describe the task you were faced with.

A

70%

Action: What action did YOU take?

The Action you took should form the main body of your answer. This part is about YOUR role in the action, even if you worked as part of the team the employer wants to know the part that you played. Ensure that your description clearly identifies the skill you are discussing.

To do this, I had to look at how often stock was ordered, how often it stayed in the warehouse and identify any areas of over ordering. I worked out a method of tracking the products in the warehouse, ensuring there was minimal stock whilst meeting demand. I then submitted my proposal to my manager.

R10%

Result: What result/conclusion did you achieve?What did you learn from the experience?

The result is your conclusion – try and be specific in what you achieved e.g. membership of the society increased by 35%

My manager approved my ideas, and after implementation cut stock levels by 30% and reduced costs by 15%.

Next you need to think about how you communicate your strengths. To help you evidence your skills we recommend you use the STAR approach. For each skill or strength, identify that you have experienced success by using this skill. Use examples from your studies, work or extracurricular activities. The STAR approach is a bit like writing a mini essay:

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Your CV is normally your first point of contact with an employer, yet many people don’t put in the effort a CV deserves – instead thinking they will sell themselves when they get to interview. But, unless you get this element of your application right you won’t be invited to the interview.

You need to ensure that you amend and update your CV every time you use it to match your skills and experience to the job you are applying for. Ensure that you are being descriptive in the information you have written – look at ‘Selling Yourself’ on page 12 for more information.

Potential employers may take just 20 seconds to make a judgement on your CV. Ensure that it is a positive one, by making it easier for employers to see the key information:

• Does the format of your CV have clear headers, and make use of bold and italics to highlight key information so that employers can pick out relevant information whilst scanning your CV.

• Keep your CV to 2 pages – any more and employers are not interested, any less you are not using all the space to sell yourself.

• Consider the order of your CV. In April 2011, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) stated that employers only absorb 60% of information from the first page and 40% of information from the second.

• Your CV should be legible so choose a font such as Arial or Verdana in a point no less than size 11.

• Check, re-check and check again your spelling and grammar. If an employer spots a mistake, it may lead to them questioning the quality of your work – after all, in their eyes you have had time to ensure your CV is perfect.

• Use bullet points with short, punchy sentences to make sure that all your information is accessible.

• Don’t undersell your work experience. Any placement, part-time, vacation or voluntary work is valuable in highlighting transferable skills. Ensure you consider your achievements and extracurricular activities to give an insight into your motivation and personality.

CVs

‘Employers advertise jobs because we want to hire someone, so give us a reason to see you, rather than an easy reason to reject you. It is so important that your CV and covering letter give the correct first impression to an employer, and stands out for the right reasons and not the wrong ones. Make sure you are highlighting relevant and transferrable skills, and please, please, please check and double check the spelling and grammar!’Heather SharkeyLiaison Manager, Miller Construction (UK) Limited

There are two common types of CV to be found in the UK – Skills-Based and Chronological. If you are applying for a position outside the UK, look at the section on International Careers for more guidance on other CV formats. If you are studying a creative course, you may wish to apply for positions using a creative CV. More information can be found within the CV section of www.rgu.ac.uk/careersonmoodle

A Skills-Based CV is very popular with employers. It allows you to showcase your education, relevant work experience as well as demonstrating that you have what the employer is looking for by evidencing your potential through a skills profile. This is the CV format you should choose (template of which can be found on following pages) unless you have in-depth related work experience at the level you are applying. In which case, you should consider a Reverse Chronological CV (template of which can be found on following pages).

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Skills-based CV Template

You do not need to write Curriculum Vitae at the start of your CV - instead use your name as the header. Ensure that you use up-to-date contact details, and if you are moving accommodation over the summer take this into account.

Your email address should be professional: no lusciouslucy or desperatedan @email.com

The first section within your CV should reflect your current full time activity. As a student, this will be your studies. You should start with your most recent first and work backwards - however, there is no need to include your primary education.

Whilst there is nothing better than relevant work experience, if you have not got any or your experience is limited you may wish to consider including a Projects section.

This would allow you to highlight projects that you have worked on that have required you to apply the theoretical knowledge into practical settings. In constructing the information, you may wish to consider the STAR approach that can be found on page 21 of the Careers Handbook.

This section allows you to evidence

any experience you have that is relevant

to the job you are applying. This may be part time work, work experience,

placement or volunteering. Make

sure that you refer to the job description,

and ensure you mention all the

activities that you were involved in.

The key modules section of your

CV allows you to demonstrate to an employer that you

have the theoretical knowledge required

to do the job. You do not need to list every

module you have studied, or the grade. Instead focus on five

or six that are relevant to the job.

The Career Objective or Personal Profile

Section allows you to introduce the reader

to your CV, and to you. It needs to say

“this is who I am, what I have to offer and

what I want to look for”.

You should ensure that it is no more than 3 or 4 lines long, and

is tailored towards the job you are applying.

 

 

It is important that you don’t leave gaps on your CV, and also allow an employer to understand your full work history. This section allows you to list other jobs or voluntary positions that you may have held. You do not need to go into detail with your duties, as it is not relevant the employer may not be interested but you can use this information within the Skills and Achievement section to allow you to evidence you skills.

Telling statements are factually correct,

Selling statements are also factually correct but are achievement orientated and make the statement sound much more impressive.

Example of Telling Statement

• Worked as a Surveyor’s Assistant during my work placement with a Construction Agency in Aberdeen.

• Responsible for producing and proof reading proposals and issuing these to relevant departments.

• Responsible for tracking and monitoring project costs

Example of Selling Statement

• Selected from over 80 applicants for a 12 month work placement as a Surveyor’s Assistant within the Aberdeen branch of a national, multi-award winning Construction Agency.

• After 2 months, was allocated full responsibility for producing proposals for local, national and international projects, including the new Dam at New World Location.

• Was fully accountable for managing a project budget of over £250,000.

If your course is affiliated to a

Professional Body, or there is one that you can join - then

do! They are a great source for labour

market information, professional

development as well as vacancies. It also shows an employer

that you take a genuine interest in the

profession you want to join.

Unless an employer specifies that you list the names and contact details of your referees, it is suffice to write “references available on request”. Before you use a referee, ensure you have their permission to pass on their details and they are aware of the position you are applying to by sending them a copy of the job description allowing them to tailor your reference.

Review your CV against the Job Description/Person Specification and if there is anything additional you wish to add then this is the space to do so.You may wish to highlight that you are able to travel independently, or that you are an active member in the local branch of your Professional Body as this person has done.

Re-read the job description to identify

skills that are important to the position, select

the ones that you perceive to be the most

important, but also are able to sell yourself

positively.

If you have not got a lot of experience in the

area you are applying this section allows you

to show an employer that you are competent

at the skills needed to do the job.

You should ensure that as well as evidencing

your ability with the skill through education,

work and social activities you should

also highlight particular achievements.

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Reverse Chronological CV Template

This section allows you to go into detail on the jobs

(and placements) that you have had that are directly

relevant to the position you are applying for. This will

allow you to demonstrate a clear commitment to an area

of work, the achievements you have secured through it

and the progress you have made in your career to date.

You should be concise and explicit in describing how your

duties and achievements link you to the job description / person specification for the job including the ‘essential’

and ‘preferred’ skills, e.g. communication, team player etc

The key modules section of your CV allows you to

demonstrate to an employer that you have the theoretical

knowledge required to do the job.

You do not need to list every module you have studied, or

the grade. Instead focus on five or six that are relevant to

the job.

You should also include, concisely, any directly related

‘projects / course work’ you have undertaken that directly

connects you to the type of work you are applying for.

You should also note any accredited placements

undertaken as part of your course - however they should

be detailed in the Work History area of Your CV

Anita McBruce1A The Courtyard, Invernowhere, Aberdeenshire, AB99 9XY(t) 01234 567890 (m) 07654 321098 (e) a.mcb@normal.co.uk

Career Objective

Final year BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance student with the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, with one year accredited placement experience with a mid tier chartered accountancy firm seeking a graduate CA traineeship to further expand professional knowledge, skills and qualifications. Offering a strong work ethic, history of high achievement in study and work, and proven client facing skills.

Education

BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance Sept. 2009 - June 2013Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

Key Modules: Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Personal and Business Accounting, Money and Financial Markets, Corporate Ethics, Financial Accounting for Groups and CompaniesProjects: ‘Public body accounting in the age of austerity’ – a 15,000 word research report on salient issues for the accountancy profession with respect to public body finance in the current environment of fiscal austerityPlacement: 40 week assessed placement (3rd year) with Anderson, Anderson and Brown LLP (Aberdeen) – assigned to support the audit team and actively participated in audits of 3 SME clients

Aberdeenshire Royal Acadmey, Auchenshoogle, AberdeenshireSept. 2003 – May 2009Advanced Highers: English (B), Modern Studies (B), Highers: English (A), Maths (B), Accounts and Finance (A), Modern Studies (A), Physics (A), Chemistry (B) 8 Standard Grades at Credit level.

Related Professional Experience

Audit Trainee (student placement – 40 weeks) Sept. 2010 – July 2011Anderson, Anderson and Brown LLP, Queen’s Road, Aberdeen, AB15 4LY

• Placed within one of the Audit teams – tasked with providing audit support to senior members of the team – working under the direction of a Partner and the Training and Development Manager.

• Successful supported the delivery of three large scale corporate audits in addition to several small scale company and private client audits.

• Liaised with clients to provide advice and support on all areas of financial concerns referring to senior colleagues where appropriate.

• Constructed reports and communicated key issues from my work with clients into the wider final audit report to agreed deadlines.

• Actively participated in daily progress/business meetings – providing update on my work and receiving the support of colleagues to progress issues encountered. Occasionally able to offer advice and opinion to senior colleagues based on my studies from University.

• Was given responsibility (under the direction of the local HR team) to review, research and develop the company’s profile as a ‘recruiter of choice’ for accountancy students in the North East of Scotland. Final report was presented to senior partners and has subsequently been adopted and implemented by the company

• Leading from the above I recruited a volunteer campus brand manager (for RGU) and designed the engagement strategy to be used to allow the company tocommunicate its graduate offer to students

• Achieved an A grade in my placement report; jointly assessed by University tutors and the company (Training and Development Manager)

The Career Objective or Personal Profile Section allows you to introduce the reader to your CV, and to you. It needs to say “this is who I am, what I have to offer and what I want to look for.

You should ensure that it is no more than 3 or 4 lines long, and is tailored towards the job you are applying.

You can use this section to help reinforce your skills set

which has been discussed above. It can also allow you to highlight some more personal

information about yourself and your interests/personality and showcase some achievements

you have acquired which do not fit easily in to the

structure above.

Other items you may wish to consider highlighting here

include membership of any related professional body.

Significant or related volunteering experience may

be better positioned in the ‘Other Work Experience’

section where you can provide more detail on how it connects

you to the job description

This section allows you to showcase jobs that you have had, that are not immediately relevant to the position you are applying but allow the employer to see how you can demonstrate your ownership of the skill set they are looking for.

Unless an employer specifies that you list the names and contact details of your referees, it is suffice to write “references available on request.

Before you use a referee, ensure you have their permission to pass on their details and they are aware of the position you are applying to by sending them a copy of the job description allowing them to tailor your reference.

Other Work Experience

Summer Intern June 2010 – Sept 2010 Alpha Beta Consultancy, High Street, Invernowhere, Aberdeenshire

• 16 week. self sourced, summer internship with a small business consultancy offering bespoke business solution services to SME organisation

• Shadowed senior consultant in client meetings and assisted with the preparation and delivery of consultancy reports.

• Supported the senior consultant in collecting evidence from desk audits communicating directly with company employees and working to tight deadlines in relation to analysis and reporting of audits in to they main consultancy report.

• Additionally responsible for routine office administration tasks (including diary management),utilising my meticulous nature and developing my organisation skills

Relief Barperson/Waitress (casual – mainly weekends) Dec. 2009 – Sept 2011Cliff Edge Hotel, Auchenshoogle, Aberdeenshire

• Meeting and greet hotel guest and offering exceptional customer service while providing food and beverage services in the lounge bar and award winning restaurant.

• Responsible for collating table orders and processing final bill payments.• Worked effectively as a team with the other front of house staff and hotel kitchen to routinely

facilitate the service of over 150 covers on a busy weekend evening service

Additional Skills

IT• Competent user of all Microsoft Office products including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Project

and Outlook• Familiar with SAGE and ORACLE• Social media savvy – constructed and maintained Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter presence

for Alpha Beat Consultancy

Languages• German (fluent – bilingual – mother of German descent) • French & Italian (conversational level and Standard Grade Credit passes in both)

Social Care• SVQ level 2 qualified in Social Care – work place based qualification achieved whilst engaged

as a volunteer befriended with Care Scotland – for 2 years I befriended a preteen with Asperser’s Syndrome – supporting him develop and practice strategies for engaging more effective with the world around him.

Additional Achievements

• Section Leader, 1st Auchenshoogle, Girls Brigade (2010 – present) • Volunteer Befriended (with disadvantaged young people), Care Scotland (2009 – 2011) • Driving Licence (include if you have access or own a car)• Finance Secretary for the Business Society – RGUnion (Sept 2012 – June 2013)

References available on Request

Review the job description / person specification – have

you been able to demonstrate, through the details you have

provided, clear evidence in your Education and Career

History sections, all the ‘essential’ and ‘desired’

elements the employer is looking for?

This section will allow you to address any skills which

are asked for but are not yet covered, for example, IT Skill, languages, familiarisation with

various technical procedures etc.

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When applying for a position with a CV, it is essential to attach an accompanying cover letter, outlining the role you are applying for and why you feel you are suitable. Although less common, employers may also request a cover letter to accompany an application form.

Don’t make an employer work to read your cover letter, keep it succinct and no more than one page of A4.

The cover letter highlights to employers that you have the necessary skills and experience needed for the jobs you are applying for. It should give the personal touch that your CV may lack.

Not all vacancies are advertised and so sometimes it is worthwhile submitting a speculative application. In this instance, the content and quality of the cover letter is key as it is the first impression you make with an employer. Consider what your unique selling points are in relation to the company and what roles you can undertake for the company and highlight this within the letter.

Ensure your CV and cover letter are in the same format. If you are posting your application, then they should be printed on the same paper.

If you are emailing your CV and cover letter, ensure your CV is attached as a PDF so that the format you intend the reader to view your CV in is the same and put your cover letter into the body of the email – this will ensure that your email is not marked as spam – and clearly write in the subject line the post you are applying for.

Personalise your application by getting the name of the person responsible for recruitment and address your email/letter to them. Applications that are addressed ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ may not make it onto the recruiters address.

Cover Letters Cover Letter Template

Your AddressDate

NamePositionCompanyAddress

Dear Title and Surname or Sir/Madam

introductory line stating purpose of letter

Paragraph One:State why you are writing, (e.g. for a vacancy that has been advertised or a speculative approach) and what you are currently doing (e.g. course and level of study and when you graduate(d)).

Paragraph Two:Match your relevant skills and knowledge including any experience to the job. You may wish to refer to sections on your CV here, and draw attention to other parts of your CV that make you specially suited to and support your application.

Paragraph Three:Explain why you are interested in that company in particular and what appeals to you about that vacancy. Demonstrate that you have researched the company and are aware of the services or products that they deliver and the market in which they operate. End your letter positively, detailing when you are available for an interview and, importantly any dates you are not.

Yours sincerely (if you have addressed the letter to a named person)Yours faithfully (if letter is addressed Sir/Madam)

Sign your name here

Print Name

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When completing an application form whether online or paper, preparation is important. You should print or download the application form. Use this as a first draft to ensure you can fit everything in you want to and also to make sure you answer the questions positively.

Employers use application forms to judge each candidate using the same information which makes the process more systematic and ultimately fairer. Application forms also allow employers to restrict the information they receive to the areas they are particularly interested in, tailored to the role they are recruiting for.

Ensure that you read the form thoroughly and follow all instructions. Make certain that you adhere to the word/ character count.

DO keep your own copy, this means that when you come to the interview stage you can remember what you told the employer, many employers will take their lead at interview from information on your application form.

Be informative, detailed but concise in your answers. Give employers the essential detail but leave them wanting to meet you to find out more. Use the job description and person specification as a guide, bearing in mind the competencies and qualities that the employer is looking for, and answer the questions with evidence of these skills.

Don’t dismiss anything as irrelevant without careful thought – students often think that their vacation work as a waiter, shop assistant or security guard is not relevant, and of no interest to a graduate employer. This is not the case. Employers can learn a great deal about your motivation and skills from jobs such as these, so include them! Don’t make lists on your application form, detail the relevance and the extent of your interest.

Application Forms

‘Make sure that you know what the company actually does and what the actual job entails that you are applying for. I have seen some very poor attempts in this area’BP Recruiter

‘Read the questions carefully and answer with clarity and demonstrate what you did in relation to the question or how you would approach it. Big companies screen these forms and the vast majority are rejected at this stage. Poor form filling means no interview’BP Recruiter

The Careers Centre were very welcoming and explained the application process and what employers are looking for. I had experience in the area that I was applying for but needed to show the company why I was best suited for the role and what I could offer them. The adviser provided me with excellent and valuable advice on how to draw attention to my skills and strengths and how I can up sell myself.

Philippa AndersonManagement Graduate 2012

Most applications either have a section for competency-based questions or a personal statement. This can often be the hardest section of the form for most applicants. For more information on personal statements go to page 24 of this handbook. Competency-based questions begin with ‘give an example of’ or ‘describe a time when you’ and ask for examples of specific skills such as problem solving, leadership, communication or teamwork, e.g.

• Give me an example of where you have demonstrated your ability to work effectively as part of a team?

• Describe a time where you needed help to complete a job, project or task. How did you go about asking?

These skills are normally the ones that are essential for success with that employer. You need to construct a paragraph for each situation, ensuring that the focus is on you – even if the situation involved a group. One way of answering these questions is via the STAR approach that can be found in the ‘Selling yourself section’ on page 12.

References: Generally in application forms employers expect one academic and onepersonal or employer reference. Ensure that you have asked your referees permission to give their names and provide them with details of the position you have applied for so they can relate the reference to the job.

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You may be asked to complete a personal statement as part of an application process. It is important to get this right and it provides you with an opportunity to promote yourself successfully to an employer. It is important that you don’t repeat information that you have already provided elsewhere, but see this section as an opportunity to present new information.

Before you start it is a good idea to draw up a profile of your skills. This will ensure that you have noted everything down and you do not forget to include something important when it comes to writing the statement. More information can be found in the ‘Selling yourself section’ on page 12.

You can usually identify what the employer is looking for, in an applicant, by reading the job description and person specification for the position where both the essential and desirable criteria will be listed. If there is no person specification available you should try and work out what is required by referring to the organisations website, or by going to careers resources available on line such as Target Jobs and Prospects. Re-read your application and compare it with the job description/person specification to ensure that all points have been evidenced.

Think about the structure and style. It is better not to present your statement as a solid block of text; this makes it difficult for the reader to pick out important points and is daunting to read. Using headings and paragraphs to address each of the points in the person specification may help you to prepare an appropriate and professional statement. Positive language throughout will impress much more than sentences which begin with ‘I think I am a....’ or ‘I developed….’ It is better to say ‘I am confident I….’ or ‘I developed excellent..…’ You may prefer to write in more of an essay format. The style is up to you but make sure it is concise and easy to read. Usually a page to a page and a half of text is sufficient for most employers. Type your statement rather than hand write it and use a UK spell checker.

Personal Statement

A positive opening statement indicating that you are confident that you have the skills and qualities required to successfully undertake the position is a good way to grab the reader’s attention and encourage them to read on.

Why should they employ you? In this part of the statement demonstrate why you are a suitable applicant. Try to convey how you can contribute to the work of the organisation and, using your skills profile, give evidence as to how you match each point of the person specification. Highlight any relevant work experience you have undertaken or related modules you have studied. You can give examples from your studies, placements, voluntary experience, interests and part time jobs.

Remember to use STAR (see page12) For example,

During my recent successful placement in the sales and marketing team at Aberdeen Tools Ltd I liaised with customers, listening carefully to identify their requirements before discussing and suggesting a number of potential products. This allowed me to demonstrate my excellent communication, organisational and record keeping skills on a daily basis whilst contributing to the team’s sales targets.

Explain why you want to work for them. Why are you interested in a career in XXXX? What specific aspects of the job particularly appeal to you and why do you want to work for this particular organisation? The more you have researched the organisation the better you will be able to demonstrate your interest and motivation to do the job.

Finally, provide a few words summing up why they ought to employ you. Emphasise your commitment and enthusiasm for a career in XXXX. Before you submit your application, check you have addressed each essential criteria and some of the desirable ones too if you can. A good tip is to read your statement out loud or better still get someone else check it over for you. Always keep a copy to refer to before you go for an interview.

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An employer will invite you for an interview because they think that you may be the candidate that they are looking for. It is up to you to sell yourself and confirm that they are right.

Remember, the recruitment process is a competition. Therefore, it is important that you have thoroughly researched the company, their competitors and industry sector that they operate in. The interview is an opportunity to present your skills, experience, personality and suitability, whilst giving you the chance to evaluate the company and the job. The interview process may be challenging but employers don’t expect perfection so try to relax, be you and enjoy the experience.

Interview types vary between organisations. Some graduate recruiters initially have telephone interviews to ‘screen’ a high number of candidates. Smaller companies may have a one-off one-to-one interview; however more likely in larger organisations is a Panel Interview. The final stage may be an Assessment Centre so employers can assess your skills directly.

Preparation is key! When invited to interview ensure you have all appropriate details such as location and timing. Refresh yourself on the position and the organisation and the application you submitted. Consider questions you may be asked and think of questions you may wish to ask. Make sure that you prepare your answers and refer to the job description and your application to support you.

Interviews

TyPES OF qUESTIONS:

CoMPETENCy

Detail a time when you had to persuade someone to change his or her mind?

Who is the most difficult person you have had to work with? What did you do?

Tell me about a time when you were part of a successful team. What part did you play?

What is your greatest achievement? What obstacles did you have to overcome?

Tell me about an innovative idea that you have had. How did you implement it?

Look at the video examples of graduate interviews and the presentation on Interviews which you can find at www.rgu.ac.uk/preparingtosucceed. Once you have prepared, and should you wish further support you can book a Mock Interview at the Careers Centre to practice and get feedback.

Typical structure of an interview starts with a short introduction by those interviewing, stating who they are and the format the interview will take place. The middle part of the interview typically lasts around 30-45 mins and consists of:

BEhAVIoURAl (Personality, Attitude, Motivation)...

Why have you applied for this job?

What do you know about this organisation?

Use 3 adjectives to describe yourself.

AdMINISTRATIVE (Salary, Terms and Conditions, Availability)...

What are your salary expectations for this post?

What type of environment do you work best in?

Would you be willing to travel to other locations as part of this role?

TEll ME ABoUT yoURSElF ...

How would your friends describe you?

What are your strengths/weaknesses?

Structure of an Interview

Can you do the job? The interviewer will assess skills, achievements, experience and learning potential by asking questions on your work experiences, and studies.

Will you do the job? Here, the interviewer is interested in finding out more about your motivation to do the job, interest in the position, company and industry. They will want to find out more about your work ethic and outside influences by asking you questions on projects you have been involved in at university and extra curricular activities.

Will you Fit the organisation? The interviewer is interested in learning more about your communication style, attitude and personality, values, work style and appearance to better understand how you will fit in with the organisation.

The interview will be rounded off with a conclusion lasting 5-10mins, allowing you to ask questions. You will usually be told when you should expect to hear from the employer and thanked for your time.

If asked to deliver a presentation you will be notified in the interview invitation and advised what resources may or may not be available. Ensure you plan your topic with careful attention to timing, allowing for any questions to be asked. Consider the delivery method and your intended audience. It is also worthwhile preparing hand-outs.

Behaviour during interview is crucial ensure you make a good first impression. Maintain positive body language throughout, any distracting mannerisms may detract from what you are trying to say. Speed, pitch, rhythm and tone of voice are equally important.

It’s OK to be nervous, interviewers are human and should quickly put you at ease. They may push you to get the best out of you so be prepared to voice opinions and to analyse yourself.

Listen and give relevant answers not necessarily those you have pre-prepared. Apply the STAR approach to your responses (page 12) and if you don’t understand a question or need time to think, say so, don’t launch in blindly or stare wildly into space! Finally thank interviewers for their time.

What employers DON’T want you to do is to underestimate your skills and abilities, ramble or waffle, use jargon words, nor antagonise or argue with them. They don’t want to hear about your weaknesses without saying what you are doing about them.

Asking questions at interview is an important part of the interview decision process so think ahead and prepare. Genuinely ask yourself ‘Do you have all the information you need to make a decision about whether this is the job for you?’ Ask questions which demonstrate that you are already thinking about your performance or development in the job should you be offered the position.

After the interview and whatever the outcome, treat it as a learning experience and reflect on your performance. Were you uncomfortable with or unprepared for any questions? Note down any difficult questions you struggled with. It is worth aiming to get feedback from an employer, not all will supply this, but some are very happy to do so and whether positive or negative will hopefully be constructive for future interviews.

28 29

An Assessment Centre is an extended selection procedure, usually lasting a day or two. It allows an employer to test candidates skills further than they can at a traditional interview.

The benefit to applicants is that a number of different selectors get to see you over a longer period of time and have the chance to see what you can do in relation to the required job competencies, rather than what you say you can do, in a variety of situations.

The Careers Centre can support you in understanding a typical assessment day and preparing you with practice exercises and informative discussions. There is also an Assessment Centre DVD that is available to view at www.rgu.ac.uk/preparingtosucceed

During an Assessment Centre selectors assess your performance against pre determined criteria necessary for you to do the job well and fit in with the organisation.

Typically, a variety of the following activities may shape the Assessment Centre:

Assessment Centres

‘As part of the MBA program, I was given the opportunity to participate in a Mock Assessment Centre facilitated by the Careers Centre. It was a unique chance to compare your own perception of team dynamics and my individual performance with feedback from external observers. It was certainly one of the most useful activities I have participated in, and the feedback has allowed me to gain a valuable insight into the final stages of a selection process and be able to confidently apply this to my own applications.’

DANIELE DI LORENZO MBA Oil and Gas Management 2012

• Information sessions• Social/informal events• One-to-one or panel interview• Psychometric and Aptitude tests• Case studies

• In-tray exercises• Presentations• Group activities• Practical tasks• Discussions and role plays

Find out the format of the assessment centre. How long will it last? What sort of exercises will be carried out? What support is available for transport and expenses? Make sure you are dressed appropriately; some companies have a much more relaxed approach to dress than others but, if in doubt, wear a suit. You won’t be criticised for being too smart but employers will notice if you walk in wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt!

Ensure you know yourself, why you are the best person for the job. Be prepared to demonstrate these skills and strengths through the activities you are asked to undertake. Keeping abreast of current affairs and having a commercial awareness can be useful too.

Throughout the Assessment Centre stay enthusiastic and motivated, no matter how tired you may get. Maintain positive body language, excellent communication skills, good eye contact and it can be very important to have a good sense of humour!

During the social or informal part including meal times of the event remember to behave in a way that shows you in a positive light as you are being assessed throughout. Talking to other candidates as well as the company employees will help you prepare for the group activities.

you are competing against the competencies. There may be a position available for every assessment centre candidate, therefore don’t compete aggressively against other candidates, be yourself, show your strengths and support others in participating fully.

Ask for feedback: Hopefully you will be offered a position but if this is not the case you can ask the employer for feedback on your performance. This information will help you to prepare effectively for the next assessment centre.

30 31

The 2011 Jobvite Social Recruiting Survey which received over 8,000 responses from Human Resource professionals in the US found that 89% will recruit from social networks. In addition, the 2011 survey of 1,205 job candidates discovered that 16% of them found their current job through a social network site compared to 11% in 2010. In April 2011, Guardian Careers wrote that ExecuNet showed that 77% of recruiters said they used search engines to find background data on candidates.

Why should you be using Social Media? It enables you to build links and to learn about an industry and potential employers as well as connecting to networks and explore possibilities. It can provide you with an excellent platform to showcase your knowledge and interest in a career area. It also allows you to make an impression – but as well as being positive, it can also be negative.

Social Media

Careers Centre @ rgucareers 17 Sep

Google yourself and think about what impression you are giving

employers www.google.co.uk

Careers Centre @ rgucareers 17 Sep

Explore these tools, find out which ones you like – you don’t need to use

them all!

LinkedIn has over 161million members from over 200 countries. You need to set up a profile to use the site, but it allows you to explore career ideas, gather more information on employers and their competition, network professionally and provide you with an opportunity to join groups that may be of interest to your chosen career area. With your own profile LinkedIn also allows you to market yourself and increase your visibility, or stay in touch with individuals who you have met in employer presentations or met through work placements.

When setting up a LinkedIn Profile, ensure that you include: photo, profile summary, education details as well as details of current and past job roles/volunteering/internships.

you are 40 times more likely to receive connections if your profile is 100% complete. denise Taylor ‘how to use linkedin to find a new job’.

In 2010 The Telegraph said that 50% of employers had rejected candidates after looking at their facebook page as they discovered they had: boasted about drinks and drugs; lied about their qualifications; made racist comments; and inappropriate photographs. Make sure that you have updated the privacy settings on your Facebook profile!

Employers also use Facebook as a way to communicate with potential applicants, and advertise their vacancies. By liking their page, you can keep up-to-date on the latest news, which will prove useful in applications and interviews. In addition many organisations such as ‘Civil Service Fast Stream’ offer Q and A sessions.

Twitter is a form of micro-blogging and gives you 140 characters to ‘tweet’ to say what’s on your mind. You can elect to ‘follow’ companies, who use twitter to notify individuals of vacancies, upcoming open days or online Q&A sessions.

Don’t forget that social media tools can also help develop and showcase your employability skills:

LinkedIn: Business and customer awareness and confidence.

Twitter: Communication and capacity to develop.

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Postgraduate study may interest you for a number of reasons; it may be a necessity for you to enter a particular profession such as Teaching, Social Work or Physiotherapy, it may be a desire to specialise in a particular field such as Communications or Management or to continue your research interests to MSc or PhD level.

Having a postgraduate qualification may give you an edge over other applicants and potentially attract a higher salary, but remember it is the whole package that is important so work experience and strong transferable skills can be just as valuable.

Make sure you undertake thorough research into the types of postgraduate courses available, where they are offered, what funding is available and where graduates from the courses are now.

Early application is advisable, for example primary teaching closes early December the year before the course starts, other courses may not have closing dates but depending how competitive entry is places may be filled quickly. Use the information in this handbook on CVs, cover letters, personal statements and interviews as this is directly applicable for postgraduate study. In an application consider the following:

• Why do you want to do the course/research?• Why this subject?• Why this university?• What academic skills have you got to offer?• What transferable skills can you offer?• What are your strengths?• What is the relevance of your first degree to this study?• What are your careers aims?

Postgraduate and Further Study

If you have decided that the course you are studying is not for you then you should take some time to consider your options and seek help and advice.

Don’t ignore your feelings, it may just be that you don’t like your course as you are unsure what career path it opens up for you, and having a clearer direction will allow you to be more focused in your studies.

Speak to your Course Leader or Tutor as soon as possible to see if any issues can be resolved. Try to identify what it is about the course that you do not like, perhaps a change of module or having some additional support will help?

Discuss your future options with a Careers Consultant. We can support you with identifying your skills and considering how they match in with different careers. We will be able to work with you to develop a career action plan to move you and your ideas forward.

Consider the impact of leaving your course halfway through the year as each full year of study is accredited. Speak to your Course Leader about the qualification you may be eligible for if you successfully pass all your modules. Look at Page 8 of this Handbook for more information on how to choose a career.

Don’t rush from one course to another without thinking about what your decision process was for your original course, are you in danger of making the same mistake again? You may decide to change course, either within Robert Gordon University or by moving to another institution, take time out of education, or seek employment with training.

Make sure that you research your ideas. Find out about jobs available in different industries and learn what options are open to you with your subject.

Finally you should think about the funding implications if you leave your course now. Contact your funding body e.g. SAAS, to find out how your decision might affect the funding you receive in the future.

Changing Your course

34 35

With no doubt the Careers Service is the best service that RGU offers! Staff are extremely helpful, supportive, enthusiastic and passionate about their work. They are real experts willing to help students and graduates. Mock interview is an absolute hit-it made me get my first proper job after graduation. MSc Information and Library Studies

The careers appointment has provided with a better insight to the skills I have obtained throughout my career history and whilst I was at university and college.BA (Hons) International Hospitality Management

I was given clear guidance and where my CV and cover letter needed to be improved. I feel much happier with them both and think that prospective employers would be suitably impressed with it. MSc Financial Management

I am able to tailor my CV to specifically what employers will be looking for and have the best information for finding graduate employment at my disposal.BA (Hons) Management

A very positive impact! Particularly with how the Careers Adviser was able to bring all the somewhat scattered puzzle pieces together and it made sense! They made me see that all the professional experiences I’ve had are not a waste and it all goes down to me ‘owning’ every interview session to sell myself. MSc Project Management

Very positive impact that open my eyes to what employers really want from their prospective employee. MSC Petroleum Production Engineering

A large impact, I’m more confident about my applications- and I’m seeing results.MSc Social Work postgraduate

My recent appointment with the careers centre has been very valuable in helping me to complete my postgraduate application. BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology

I feel more positive applying for jobs and more confident about what employers are looking for with regards to a personal statementBSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult Nursing)

Made me feel more confident and positive about applying for jobs and interviews. BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy

It has really helped me prepare for interviews. Although the drop in session was quite brief, I got some great advice and managed to ace the telephone interview. I also had a mock interview and the interviewer took a great deal of time to prepare for the interview. The questions asked were very useful and the feedback was detailed and informative. MSc Information Management

I feel a lot more confident in writing a CV now. I think that the new format the Careers Consultant has given me will definitely make my CV more appealing to potential employers.MSc International Marketing Management

The session was very useful. It made me understand what employers are looking for in the CV. Secondly the session helped me build my CV.MBA Oil and Gas Management

I had a mock interview with you a little while back and was just writing to let you know that my interview with Shell went really well and I got the placement! Thanks for all your help during the process - I really appreciate it!BSc(Hons) Forensic and Analytical Science

I would just like to tell you that since you helped me alter my CV I have been asked for four interviews. Thanks again for your help.MEng Mechanical Engineering

I would just like to thank you for squeezing me in to your schedule two weeks ago for a mock interview and providing me with interview advice for my Lloyds Pharmacy summer placement interview. Luckily I was offered a position so all the interview preparation and travelling was worth it!MPharm

Student and Graduate Feedback

CAREERS ON MOODLE

The Careers section of Moodle links you to a wide range of resources and materials including:Careers Information Gateway: a collection of links separated into headings based on this Handbook to enable you to progress further your own research and development.International Careers: this page pulls together country specific information, vacancy sources and labour market information allowing you to realise your global ambitions. This area also provides you with instant access to: MyCareer; Preparing to Succeed; and an electronic version of this Handbook. Don’t forget to access your course specific moodle page where you will find additional links and guidance related to your degree. www.rgu.ac.uk/careersonmoodle

My CAREER

Log on to www.rgu.ac.uk/mycareer using your university username and password. You can access our database of local, national and international employers where graduate, part time and work experience opportunities are advertised. Make sure you complete your profile to receive automatic mailings of opportunities you have indicated an interest in. You can also book an appointment to meet with a Careers Consultant to discuss your options, ideas and to receive advice on application processes. www.rgu.ac.uk/mycareer

PREPARING TO SUCCEED

This online module provides you with in-depth online presentations, links to support materials on all areas of the career planning, job search and application process. For example, videos on graduate interviews and assessment centres; links to psychometric / ability tests; and career interest guides. You can follow the whole programme, or select the areas which are most relevant to your particular need. www.rgu.ac.uk/preparingtosucceed

careers centre resources

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Where Are we?

www.rgu.ac.uk/careers

T: 01224 262110 E: careers@rgu.ac.uk

Opening Times:MONDAY 9am–5pm

TUESDAY 9am–5pm

WEDNESDAY 11am–5pm

THURSDAY 9am–5pm

FRIDAY 9am–5pm

Check our website for our drop in times in both locations.

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Careers & Employability Centre new location from September 2012