‘ Our business is all about online. When we look for new staff, we’re particularly interested in their practical skills and how they can apply these to our work. The online portfolio is tangible evidence of their interest and ability for working in digital media. It’s an innovative way for prospective new team members to show their mettle and it shows us they already probably talk the same language as us.’

Matt Fox Director, Kineo

‘ We are interested in talented students applying to us with strong academics but just as important are your employability skills including impact, drive, flexibility, curiosity, integrity and commercial awareness. Applicants who stand out are those who have done research and are well-prepared. As a leading employer of graduates, we recognise the important role played by the Sussex Plus initiative at the University of Sussex in producing high-calibre, motivated individuals who are ready to enter the world of professional services.’

Graduate Recruitment Manager PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Don’t just take our word for it...This is what employers say:

Sussex Plus is run by the Careers and Employability Centre University of Sussex Brighton BN1 9QL T 01273 678429 E careers@sussex.ac.uk www.sussex.ac.uk/careers

For more information about Sussex Plus and how it can benefit your students, see www.sussex.ac.uk/sussexplus

Help your students to stand out from the crowd‘ Our students greatly benefitted from making webfolios as part of their placement preparation. There are mutual benefits for departments in getting involved with Sussex Plus.’

Paul Vincent Senior Media Production Tutor

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What is Sussex Plus?Sussex Plus brings together a student’s academic achievements, paid work experience, volunteering, extra-curricular activities, responsibilities and interests. Many projects have looked at pieces of this jigsaw. The Careers and Employability Centre is combining all this evidence in one place.

What are the benefits ofSussex Plus?Your students will:

● enhance and hone life skills like presentation or leadership, and increase confidence levels through the Careers and Employability Centre’s skills workshop programme

● create a webfolio attested by the University

● be eye-catching in today’s competitive graduate jobs market. Employers expect to recruit individuals who have a broad range of skills and experience in addition to the intellectual flexibility developed by a degree

Sussex Plus encourages students to develop their skills by getting involved in extra-curricular activities, enabling them to reflect on their experiences and document what they have learnt in an attractive webfolio. This isn’t a paper exercise. A webfolio is like an online CV but with so much more.

Benefits for the University: key performance indicators

In the current recession, graduates need to be extra-polished and have developed as professionals, in order to gain the job, course or voluntary position they want. Sussex Plus forms an integral part of the university’s aims of encouraging:● Sussex to be in the Top 20 of

the League Tables by 2015. The percentage of first degree leavers in graduate level jobs six months after graduating should increase from 65% to 70% by 2015

● 100% of first degree programmes to achieve scores of over 4 in the National Student Satisfaction Survey personal development section by 2015

Students can scan in certificates and links to web pages, or include photos, details of projects completed, skills developed outside the curriculum and reflective learning. Students have the chance to get ahead of the game with employers and admissions tutors, and stand out amongst the competition.

‘ I like Sussex Plus because it allows you to create an interactive, dynamic CV to share with employers. It made me realise the gaps in my experience, and how much I could utilise from my life to sell myself to prospective employers.’

Cassandra Harvey-Smith 2nd year BA English Language

‘ I enjoyed creating my webfolio. I am sure it will help with job hunting. It encouraged me to think about myself and how to introduce myself properly. The webfolio summarised my experiences really well.’

Bailing Li 2nd year BSc Business and Finance

What do our students think about Sussex Plus?

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