Employability

Natalie SmithEmployability Adviser

Agenda

Time Speaker Topic2.15 – 2.35

Natalie Smith(Careers and Employability Service)

The Careers and Employability Service. Employability skills/what are graduate recruiters

looking for? Introduction to employability initiatives at Kent.

2.35 – 2.55

Rejane GywnneSteph HughesSuzanne Payne(Kent Union)

Jobshop Volunteering Employability Toolkit

2.55 – 3.05

Vanessa Burley(Partnership Development Office)

Student Ambassador Scheme

3.05 – 3.15

Chris Broad(Kent Innovation and Enterprise)

Employability Points

3.15 – 3.25

Kaye Bachelard(Unit for Enhancement of Learning and Teaching)

Personal development planning MyFolio

3.25 – 3.45

Bruce Woodcock(Careers and Employability Service)

The Careers Employability Award. The Careers Network. Resources for SMSAS students on the Careers

and Employability Service website.

Page 2

Agenda – Natalie Smith

• What is the Careers and Employability Service?

• What is employability?

• What employability skills are graduate recruiters looking for?

• How can you develop employability skills and provide evidence for them?

• Introduction to employability initiatives at the University of Kent.

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

The Careers and Employability Service

• Location

• Staff

• Opening times

• www.kent.ac.uk/ces/

Services and Facilities• Reception & careers library

• Quick queries

• Careers guidance interviews

• Talks & presentations

• Options leaflets & free careers literature

• Reference files, books & postgraduate prospectuses

• Vacancies - www.kent.ac.uk/careers/jobs/index.htm

• Alumni careers network

• Careers Employability Award on Moodle

Natalie Smith

CV and covering letter checks

Fridays

2.00pm – 5.00pm

No appointment needed

Page 6

What are employability skills?

‘A set of attributes, skills and knowledge that all labour market participants should possess to ensure they have the capability of being effective in the workplace – to the benefit of themselves, their employer and the wider economy.’

(CBI, March 2009)

Page 7

What employability skills are graduate recruiters looking for?

Page 8

Communication

Report writing

Team working

Leadership

Planning and organisation

Project management

Enterprise

Problem Solving

Reflection

Adaptability

Energy

Drive and resilience

Integrity

Reliability

Enthusiasm/passion

Self awareness

Confidence

Contextual/cultural awareness

Capacity to develop

NumeracyPositive attitude

Business and customer awareness

IT skills

Why are employability skills so important?

• Increased competition

• Global economy

Page 9

How can you develop employability skills and provide evidence for them?

Through your course:

•Numeracy

•Problem solving

•Written work

•Research

•Presentations

•Working in groups

•Using ICT skills

Page 10

How can you develop employability skills and provide evidence for them?

Through extra-curricular activities:

•Clubs/societies

•Volunteering

•Learning a language

•Travelling

Page 11

How can you develop employability skills and provide evidence for them?

Through gaining work experience:

•Part time work

•Internships/placements

•Company events

Page 12

Providing evidence for employability skills

• Evidence/examples/details.

• STAR approach:

Situation

Task

Action

Result

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/compet/skillquest.htm

Page 13

Employability initiatives at the University of Kent

• The Careers Employability Award

• Kent Student Certificate for Volunteering

• Jobshop

• Stand Out Training

• Student Ambassador Scheme

• Clubs and Societies

• Learn a language with the Centre for English and World Languages

Page 14

Employability initiatives at the University of Kent

• Careers and Employability Service presentations

• Work/study abroad

• Kent Careers Network

• Peer mentoring schemes

• Employability Points Scheme

• MyFolio

• Employability Toolkit

Page 15

Where to get more information.

• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

• http://www.kent.ac.uk/employability/

• http://www.kent.ac.uk/smsas/currentstudents/support/supportschemes.html

• www.kent.ac.uk/ces/

• Follow us on Twitter: @unikentemploy

Page 16