Careers Liaison Officer

Induction Training

Janice Simpson

Senior Careers Adviser

Session outline

Overview of Careers

Overview of the ways that Careers supports students

to develop their employability

Introduction to the CLO role

Introduction to the Departmental Employability Plan

Introduction to the University’s Employability Strategy

and key targets

Overview of Careers

Careers Education, Advice

& Guidance

• Departmental & Central activities

• 1-1 appointments

• Workshops

• York Award and skills training

• Employability

Business, Community &

Enterprise

• Volunteering

• York Students in Schools (YSIS)

• Student Internship Bureau

• Winter internships

• Enterprise

Operations

• Frontline support

• Information & resources

• Events & fairs

• Employer liaison

How do we support students ?

Make opportunities available for them to develop their skills

and experience: work, volunteering, courses, enterprise…

Provide information through our website, social media and

information room/staff

Provide online learning materials: *Employability Tutorial *CV Guide *Interview Guide

Provide opportunities to network with employers and alumni

from a wide range of sectors through out events

programme

Support the career planning process through workshops,

talks and 1-1 support

For graduates: career support

• Continue to have access to careers support – no

time limit

• In person, by email and phone

• Career coaching available over summer

• Able to attend career events and fairs

• Opportunity to apply for a SIB Winter Internship

What don’t we do ?

Place students into jobs or internships; make introductions

to employers

Tell students/graduates what to do – we support them

through their decision making

Write / proofread or re-write applications for students

Run departmental events without departmental support - we

can advise/support activities

Tell you what your department should do – we can discuss

options and possibilities and offer advice and are happy to

attend departmental meetings and training events

Which Careers Adviser

works with each department ?

Janice Simpson: Biology/Biochemistry, Chemistry, Environment,

Psychology, Maths

Kate Copland: History, English, Archaeology, History of Art, TFTV,

Medieval Studies

Kelly McDonald: Law, Management, Economics, Politics, Health

Sciences, HYMS

Bev Thomas: Philosophy, PEP, Education, Language & Linguistics,

Music

Vicky Barton: Social Policy & Social Work, Social & Political Sciences,

Sociology, Women’s Studies

Rachel Howlett: Physics, Electronics, Computer Science

For departments

• Information on how students engage with services

• Graduate destination data

• Employability Tutorial

• Workshops /online activities

CVs/applications, interviews

Work experience

LMI, job insights

Business simulations, skills sessions

• Drop-in appointments/stands

• Support & contacts

Careers Days, Alumni events

‘I think that the careers service is a hidden gem’

Philosophy student 2010

CLOs and Employability

University Employability

Strategy

Careers plan and activities

Departmental

Plan and activities

Overview of the CLO role

Main link between Careers and department. Responsible

for:

Encouraging departmental engagement with University

targets:

- KPI of 80% of all York graduates to achieve a

professional/graduate destination by 2018

- 75% of 1st year UGs to have accessed the

Employability Tutorial (ET)

- 50% of all UGs and PGTs to have accessed the

ET

Overview of the CLO role

Championing careers and employability within the

department and encouraging colleagues to support these

issues

Co-ordinating activities relating to employability and career

management skills – Departmental Employability Plan)

Facilitating communication between Careers, departmental

staff and students

Acting as a liaison point for departmental staff who

require input from Careers

(draft) Employability Strategy

Priorities 2015-18

1. Students are supported to consider and plan their

future options, from their first point of contact with

York and beyond

• We will strengthen links between Careers professionals and

academic departments, particularly through the development

of a more substantial Careers Liaison Officer role

• We will provide students with planning resources and support

appropriate to their needs and interests

2. All York students connect with the working word

throughout their university life, via work-based or

work-related activities and events involving employers

and/or alumni

• All students will experience work-related learning, involving

employers, during their programme of study - this may take a

variety of forms including volunteering, enterprise, case

studies and networking opportunities

• Undertaking a work-based placement will be an option for all

students

• We will promote/offer more extra-curricular work opportunities

3. Students leave York aware of their capabilities and with

the confidence and motivation to become the best in

their chosen fields

• Identify and reach out to final year students identified as being

unprepared for lie after graduation and offer them appropriate

support

• We will showcase the importance of turning the skills and

attributes gained from a York education into successful

applications to work and study

• Provide support and resources to enable students to develop

the skills and confidence to succeed

4. Employers view York as a ‘University of Choice’ for

recruiting high quality students and graduates

• Strategic view of the role that employer partnerships can play

in helping the university to deliver its employability strategy

• Proactively engage with a growing number of employers,

locally, nationally and internationally

• Facilitate interactions between employers and academics

across the institution

Departmental

Employability Plans

Developed by Careers Adviser and CLO i

Approved by Employability Co-ordination Group

Captures current and planned employability activities:

In the curriculum

In collaboration with Careers

Outside the curriculum

Specifically for Postgrads

Used to inform MTP discussions

Summary report provided to ECG

Departmental Initiatives

- some examples

Environment Dept

Bid for funding from Careers to develop a flood risk management

case study exercise for 1st years

Has now run for 3 years with support from external organisations

eg Environment Agency, Yorkshire Water, City Council

Computer Science

Have embedded Employability Tutorial in the Y1 Skills module,

so part of a credit bearing module

Departmental initiatives

- some examples

Psychology

Developed group meetings for students to discuss employability

plans with supervisor in addition to 1-1 meetings

CLO developed supervisor notes and a video to use with groups

@Work (English, History, Education, History of Art, Politics)

Discipline linked project based volunteering

Training and support provided jointly by Careers and department

Range of projects mostly with local organisations

What works well ?

Strong support from HoD/senior staff in department

CLO being present at Careers sessions – participating or

introducing the CA

Staff promoting careers events to students (tutorials, lectures)

Set times to discuss (student) Employability Plans in supervision

Careers activities as part of modules

Ensuring that staff and students know about the departmental

plan and employability related activities

Having specific time set aside for the role (150 hours ?)

Employer / Alumni input to activities

What are the pitfalls ?

Departmental targets (ET, DLHE)

Not having enough time allocated to the role

Lack of / limited support for employability in department

Your status and the status of the role in your department

Lack of / limited admin support

Timetabling difficulties

If you experience any difficulties in your department please

let your CA or Liz Smith, Careers Service Director, know

Finally …..

Thank you for listening

Any questions ?

www.york.ac.uk/careers