Job Searching Information Technology
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm Careers and Employability
Service
Slide 3
Agenda The graduate labour market and preparing to apply for
jobs. How to search for jobs: Graduate directories Vacancy websites
Social media Networking The speculative approach Newspapers
Recruitment agencies Creative approaches Page 2
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The Graduate Labour Market is Complex! Competitive! Page 3
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An average of 73 candidates chasing each vacancy, up from 30
applicants per job before the economic downturn. The Guardian,
07/12. Page 4
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Over a third of this years entry-level positions will be filled
by graduates who have already worked for their organisations either
through internships, industrial placements or vacation work. High
Fliers Research Limited, 2013 Page 5
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Graduates who have had no previous work experience at all are
unlikely to be successful during the selection process. High Fliers
Research Limited, 2013 Page 6
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So before you job search you need to prepare! Develop your
employability skills: Get work experience. Join a club/society.
Volunteer. Make the most of opportunities on your course. Use the
Careers and Employability Service: Create a good CV. Get top tips
on application forms. Practise your interview/assessment centre
skills. Page 7
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Activity In pairs discuss: What type of jobs are you likely to
look for? How have you searched for jobs in the past? What would
you like to get out of this session? At the end each pair to
feedback to the group. Page 8 3 minutes
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Graduate directories Available to collect for free from the
Careers Resources room G0-05 (Whilst stocks last!) Page 9
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Vacancy websites www.kent.ac.uk/ces See hand-out CVs may be
scanned so include your technical skills Page 10
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Finding vacancy websites for your sector www.prospects.ac.uk
Job sectors Graduate jobs in Employers and vacancy sources
www.targetjobsit.co.uk http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/computers
ci.htmhttp://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/computers ci.htm
http://www.gradcracker.com/ Page 11
Using Social Media to Job Search Twitter Follow companies
Follow @ukmemploy Get industry updates www.twitjobsearch.com Dont
moan! Page 13
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Facebook Like company pages Like
www.facebook.com/ukmemployabilitywww.facebook.com/ukmemployability
Is your profile professional enough?! Real example of what not to
do: Reasons not to go to work #1: work sucks a** Page 14
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LinkedIn www.linkedin.com Search for jobs. Use key words in
your profile. Follow companies. Connect with people in the
industry. Join relevant groups. Page 15
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Network mind map example Page 16 MeFamily Market research
AuthorFriendsBBC Business owner Workmates University Events
management Church Waste management Fashion retail
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Make your own network mind map Page 17 3 minutes
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Speculative approaches The BBC say a third of jobs are never
advertised (others say 70-80%) Send your CV and cover letter (to
the correct person) The organisation can see that: You are
interested in them specifically You have initiative They could
avoid recruitment advertising fees Page 18
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Newspapers Local papers e.g. Kent Messenger
http://www.kentjobs.co.uk http://www.kentjobs.co.uk London papers
e.g. Metro http://londonjobs.metro.co.uk
http://londonjobs.metro.co.uk The Guardian
http://jobs.guardian.co.uk http://jobs.guardian.co.uk The Telegraph
http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk The Times
http://jobs.thetimes.co.uk/jobs/london
http://jobs.thetimes.co.uk/jobs/london Page 19
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Recruitment agencies Page 20 Pros Recruitment consultant may
know the organisation well so can help you to prepare for your
interview Can save time with CV writing as you may not have to
tailor it to each role Some agencies have exclusive access to jobs
so you can only apply through them Usually a free service for you
Cons They may not have your best interests at heart, the consultant
is paid commission upon your employment They can be very persuasive
and make you believe a position is suited to you when it is not
Some recruitment agencies may play on your weaknesses and
insecurities to convince you to take a job Organisations ask
recruitment agencies to find the most suitable person for their job
vacancy. You will usually have an interview with the recruitment
agency and then the organisation if shortlisted.
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Creative approaches Page 21
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Further Information www.kent.ac.uk/ces
www.facebook.com/ukmemployability www.twitter.com/ukmemploy Page
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