Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Workplaces
OU ONLINE TALENTCONNECT:
STUDENT USER GUIDE
Welcoming
Contents page
Introduction
- What can a careers fair offer you?
- Benefits
How to Navigate around the Fair
- Accessing OU Online TalentConnect
- Home Page
- Completing your profile
- Employer Booths
- Communicating in an event
- Employer Presentations – The Auditorium
- Networking Area
- Guidance for students
Preparing for the Fair
- ‘Prepare for the Fair’ cheat sheet
- Planning your strategy - research is key
- Which employers do you particularly want to target at the careers fair?
- Think ahead about your introduction to employers
- Some ideas for questions to prepare and ask employers
At The Fair
- Practical considerations
- Starting conversations
- Follow Up Activities
How to contact us
Introduction
OU Online Talent Connect is the Open University’s platform to host careers fairs and events
online. It is an interactive online platform to connect you to employers, employment and
volunteering opportunities and to support you on your career journey.
What can a careers fair offer you?
Whether you know where you want to work or not, a careers fair can introduce you to a
range of possibilities and it’s a perfect opportunity to directly communicate with employers.
This could be introducing you to different companies, industries, insights into different job
roles, work experience and job vacancies.
Events like these are great networking and research opportunities. Even if you don’t find the
perfect job in the right location you may find ideas of the type of organisations you would like
to approach locally, or discover job roles open to you that you hadn’t previously considered.
Before you attend the fair, take some time to think about what your objectives and goals are for attending, as this can help you define a strategy focused on….
what you want to find out
who to approach, and
what you want to share about yourself
Benefits:
Meet with individual employers to talk about their opportunities and tell them about you
Attend webinars to gain further insight into organisations
Chat to Careers and Employability Services Consultants at the Career Booth
Meet with other students and graduates in the networking lounge
How to Navigate around the Fair
Accessing OU Online TalentConnect
Log in to the event at https://oucareers.online-event.co
Username - enter the email address you registered with
Password – enter the password you entered when registering.
Lost passwords – please see log in page where you can request a password reminder.
Not registered – click here: https://oucareers.online-event.co/invitation/ou-online-
talentconnect-welcoming-workpl
On entering the event, a welcome video will automatically play. You can expand this to
watch it in full screen and replay it at any time by heading to settings and clicking on
‘Welcome video’.
For this event you will be asked to give your consent for exhibitors to contact you, which is
required under GDPR regulations, this will be required when you first log in.
Home Page
When you first enter the fair, you will arrive here at our Home Page. Here you will be able to
navigate yourself around the fair, with helpful icons highlighted in the image below.
Information Point: Here you can view featured content or search for content by
entering a name or title; this could be an organisation or a resource you are looking
for.
Interactive Agenda: Clicking on this symbol will display the interactive event agenda
which will include a list of dates and times of our webinars. You will be able to click
on an item to be taken to the specific location. You can also add any items to you
own personal agenda so you can organise your way through the fair.
Who’s here: See who is in the event by clicking to view their profile; this will bring up
employers, OU staff and peers.
Event Bag: Click here to view and manage the items you have collected in your
event bag.
Settings: Clicking here will allow you to access Your Profile; look at
Recommendations and request Support.
Completing your Profile
A complete and accurate profile will help during networking opportunities. In the settings icon
on the Home Page click on ‘Your Profile’. You are able to edit your profile before,
during or after the fair.
Your profile is visible to everyone attending the fair, so we would advise that you do
not include personal information such as contact details. For the same reason, please
also refrain from uploading your CV to public areas. If you need to share this kind of
information with an employer, you can do so via a private message.
Uploading a Profile Picture
Upload straight from your computer or phone by clicking on the small camera icon in the
bottom left hand corner. Remember to keep your photo professional as employers will be
looking at this, you could use your LinkedIn photo here.
About You
This area is for you to give a brief overview of yourself, things you could include are;
- What you are studying?
- What level of study you are at?
- Why you are attending the fair?
- What are you hoping to get out of it, for example are you looking for a full time job or
some work experience in a new field?
If you have a LinkedIn account we would encourage you to share your URL here. This is a
great way for employers to look at your work history at a quick glance and connect with you
for future conversations and opportunities. People are more likely to connect with you if you
have a photo on your profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account we would highly
recommend setting one up and you will find support on how to do this on the Careers
website, including a webinar on top tips.
Password
Passwords can be changed here. Passwords must meet minimum security requirements. If
you enter a password that does not, the system will let you know what you need to change.
Email Subscription Status
You can choose to receive email notifications when you are sent a message or when new
content is uploaded – select Subscribed or Unsubscribed.
Completing your profile
After editing your fields, please press submit to save your changes.
Employer Booths
Once you have clicked on ‘Employer Hall’ from the ‘Home Page’ you will see a list of
organisations and their logos. You can then click on the organisation you would like to find
out more about. Below are some example booths from previous fairs.
The image to the left shows the icons available at the
booths. Please note not all of these will be available in
all employer’s booths.
Chat now!: Click the large icon at the top to open a text
chat with the booth holder. Please note that booth
holders will not be online 24/7 so you may not receive
an immediate response.
Information: this icon allows you to read all about the
booth you have visited with an overview of the
organisation and their opportunities.
Website: allows you to click through to their
organisation website
Videos: if the organisation has uploaded any videos to
their booth this is where you will be able to view them.
Twitter, Facebook & LinkedIn: will take you to the booth holders social media pages.
FAQs: Employers may not be online for the entire duration of the fair, so we are encouraging
them to complete the FAQ section for you to read.
Documents: which you can preview, download and/or add information to your event bag.
Information about opportunities will be displayed in here. We have encouraged participating
organisations to highlight a variety of opportunities. The majority of organisations will have
national opportunities.
Webcast: some employers may host presentations which will be visible in the main
auditorium live and then on demand afterwards in their booth.
Wall: This will take you to the discussion wall to chat with the booth holder (same function as
the Chat now! Button at the top).
Meetings: Not all organisations will use this function but if they do you will be able to book a
time to have a 1-2-1 chat with a booth representative. This can either be in text, audio or
video format. Please note this feature is not available in mobile.
Contact Us: You can use this icon to send a direct message to the representative on the
booth.
Communicating in an event
Notifications
A red exclamation mark will appear on thebell icon in the bottom-right of your screen if you
have received a private message, wall post on your profile, or if you have a response to a
question you have asked anywhere in the fair.
Click on the bell icon to view your notifications.
You may also receive email notifications. You can switch these on or off in your
profile.
Chats
Live chat can take place in the networking area and in a booth. You will be able to click on
the ‘Chat now!’ button to start a text conversation. Chat looks like this:
Once a person has responded to your post, you will see a number appear after reply (circled
in red). Click on ‘reply’ to see their response.
Chats in booths and the networking area are public and visible to everyone attending
the fair, so please be mindful of what information you post. If you wish to discuss a
sensitive matter for example, then a private message may be a better option.
You may delete your own comments if required. Moderators also have the facility to
delete any comments which contravene the OU Student Computing Policy, or if they
have concerns around safeguarding.
Private Messages
You can send and receive secure, private messages with other attendees. Click on the
envelope icon on their profile and fill in the message and a subject. You can also attach and
send files this way by clicking attach and adding a file from your desktop.
Video Chat
If you receive a video chat request, a notification will appear inviting you to chat. To join the
video chat, click on the notification to be taken to it. Video chats are completely optional.
Employer Presentations – The Auditorium
The Auditorium
Accessed via the ‘Home Page’ this is where you can view presentations. There are two
types of presentations;
On demand. Pre-recorded sessions that can be accessed at any time by clicking on
the ‘view’ button.
Live presentations. These will commence automatically at the appointed time, and
will be available on demand afterwards.
It is advisable to check your system capabilities for viewing presentations prior to the event.
Please use this link http://www.ivent-uk.com/port-test/
Interactivity
On your viewing page you may see multiple application widgets (explained below) which you
can use during the webinar. These widgets open or close windows in the webinar which are
completely under your control and can be moved, resized or minimised at any time during
the webinar.
Live chat: This widget when clicked will open the public chat and Q&A – post your
comments. Hovering over another users name and clicking will open their profile.
Twitter: The event host may have added a twitter feed in the webcast that you can
view or contribute to. Click to tweet (you will need a twitter account and will be
asked to sign in).
Who is here: To see who else is in the webcast with you click this widget. Clicking
on a name will open their profile.
Bio: This will show information about the speaker.
Polls: Whilst watching a live presentation you may be asked to take part in a poll,
this is not mandatory. To access polls click on this widget.
Help: If you have any difficulties or any questions you can click on help/support
which can be found under the settings widget. Click on the help widget to view
FAQ’s or email the webcast support team.
Announcements: You may see an announcement displayed on your screen. This
will be in a message box or as a banner which will scroll along the bottom of the
viewing window.
Networking Area
You can chat to fellow visitors to the fair in this area as well as interact with polls and
discussion subjects. You’ll also find our careers FAQs in the Networking Lounge.
Guidance for Students
When posting online, please remember that you are sharing comments with many
individuals. It is important not to share personal information which could leave you in a
vulnerable position, trigger a safeguarding concern and/or distress other people.
Communicating online guidelines provide more information about appropriate online
behaviour.
In the interest of protecting your personal data, do not upload your CV in a shared area. If
you do want to share your CV or contact details with an employer, we would advise you do
this via the private message function.
Even when sharing your information privately, be careful about what personal information
(e.g., date of birth, address, phone number) you post online.
Please refer to OU Privacy Policy and Ivent Privacy Policy for further information.
PREPARING
‘Prepare for the Fair’ checklist
This checklist has been devised so that you can record thoughts and planned actions specific to your needs, as you’re reading the information and advice below.
http://www3.open.ac.uk/documents/8/mb19140101115888.pdf
Planning your strategy - research is key
When it comes to researching employers, think about what you want to know, and how you will find out more about them; be curious…. Here are some suggestions to get you started:
1. Look at the company website:
Careers/recruitment section
Get a feel for what they do (their ‘about us’ section is a good place to start)
The services they provide and the market in which they operate 2. Does the organisation have a social media presence?
A LinkedIn Company Page for example is a centralised location to learn about a company's operations, current news, products and services, employees, job opportunities and more.
Facebook and Twitter can also be great places to understand more about what’s currently relevant to those companies - what’s on their minds? - as well as getting a better ‘feel’ for their culture and how they engage with their clients/customers, employees and potential recruits.
3. Search any recent news articles about the company – do they have any new initiatives, projects or markets they are moving into? Any recent successes or particular challenges they are facing as an organisation?
4. Take a look at vacancies at the companies which interest you; as well as company-own websites, our OpportunityHub is a great place to start, as this will link to live vacancies with employers we’re already working closely with. And there are other graduate vacancy sources too such as Prospects , Targetjobs and Milkround.
5. What do employees (past and present) think of the company? To get a feel for the opinions of others, you can take a look at employee review websites such as Glassdoor and theJobCrowd
Which employers do you particularly want to target at the careers fair?
You’ll probably want to target a small number of employers as a priority – but there will be plenty of chance to take advantage of the wealth of opportunities, exhibitors and careers support across the event.
Have a look at which employers are available during the event
Look at the schedule for webinars and other events taking place and plan when you’ll attend
If you cannot catch an employer on the day, you can leave questions for them and come back later to see their response to you
Think ahead about your introduction to employers
How can you break the ice? Think about the key things you want an employer to know about you.
Your unique selling points are what make you stand out from the crowd. Unique selling points can be:
Specific skills – technical or personal Knowledge – about your studies, industry or market Experience – what you’ve done and achieved
If you would like some help with this, try writing 3 top things you want to showcase about yourself, and then how you want to frame these:
1
2
3
e.g. I’m X and I am currently studying business management and really enjoying marketing modules. My professional background is in insurance and I would like to learn more about
your company and the kinds of opportunities that may be suitable for the transferable skills I can bring and my career development in marketing functions
Some ideas for questions to prepare and ask employers:
Do ask….
About the company: this could be about the size and scope of the company, the culture, what they enjoy about working there, current and future drivers of the business
Work opportunities: How many people they employ, or the number of opportunities available, what ongoing training and development is available.
Recruitment process: What is involved in the recruitment process, what makes for a strong application, any tips and hints they can share
Tip:
Use the above advice to start formulating 5 key questions that you want to ask employers. Make use of the checklist to record them and prompt you during the fair.
AT THE FAIR:
Practical considerations:
Prepare your workspace
Log in 15 minutes before any planned start time and check your internet connection
Keep a note pad and pen to write notes
Review your preparation strategy at the start of the day
Learn more about the attendees and employers
Have a look at the different profiles of attendees, and resources that are available in the employer booths.
Remember to write down contact details for employers (e.g. email or social media details) so that you can follow up these conversations.
Starting conversations:
Firstly review your unique selling points and introduction, then review your open and closed questions – we recommend that starting with an open question to show interest first in the person and organisation before firing specific questions about job roles, salary etc.
Try to phrase your questions to show that you have done a little research on the organisation : e.g. “I know your organisation is passionate about diversity, please tell me a little bit more about…
Don’t forget…
Keep a copy of the fair guide with you for reference and chat to someone on the careers stand if you need a bit more guidance.
I feel nervous about networking – help!
If you're a less confident networker, see this as an opportunity to practice your skills. Step outside your comfort zone by setting a personal target: for example identifying two or three employers you want to speak to and preparing some questions beforehand. The networking lounge at the event is also a great opportunity to network with other OU students and graduates.
Start conversations with employers with open ended questions as the responder is encouraged to take the lead on talking and you can use active listening to show interest.
There are some excellent tips in an article by the Guardian: Networking tips for the nervous
Go with a curious mind: what sort of people are they looking for, and what does their application processes involve?
To learn about a simple framework to networking and help with building this skill, have a look at the following careers webinar: Networking and Social Media
Don’t forget…
Note the name and job title of the people you’ve had a meaningful discussion with. See if they would be happy to provide you with their contact details or connect with you on
LinkedIn.
FOLLOW UP ACTIVITIES:
Record the information that you have gained
Follow up your new contacts (employers and fellow students) via LinkedIn or email (you may even want to ask any follow up questions)
Follow employers on social media to keep up to date with their recruitment events and vacancies (LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter)
From the learning gained, you may recognise potential gaps in skills or experience that you want to make a plan to fill
Look on OpportunityHub (look at live vacancies, sign up to alerts and access job seeking resources)
Employers you have spoken to may have advertised live vacancies – make note of any deadlines (in the application form, reference your contact at the OU Online Talent Connect event)
Visit The Careers and Employability Services website where you can contact us for a careers consultation. We can support you to review your interests and goals and work out some practical next steps. Are there any particular areas of career planning or job seeking you want help with, review your CV? Interview preparation?
Provide us with feedback so we know what’s worked well for you and any suggestions for improvements to future events
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this event please contact a member of the Careers and
Employability Service via our 'Ask a Question' option on OpportunityHub here:
https://opportunityhub.open.ac.uk/students/questions/
