PG study and your Career Open Day, November 2012

Sue BennettDirector, Student Careers & Skills

Student Careers and Skills

Making a good beginning to life at Warwick, academic success, long-term employability and international citizenshipStudent Careers and Skills: from prospective student to 3 years beyondStudents as independent learners, who can make choices about their futures and have ‘career adaptability’

ContextStudent expectations: significant Government regulation and surveys → penalties, league tables → possible reputational damage, adverse press coverage, league table position, applications and conversion ratesContinuing very tough economic climateTurbulent and challenging labour market 1m unemployed 16-24 year olds in UK

Are there graduate jobs in 2012?77% of top graduate employers will maintain/increase recruitment and median starting salaries are £29,00011,296 placements for students and recent graduates 64% are offering placements (6-12 months); 58% are offering paid vacation internships of 3+ weeksLeading graduate employers have increased targets by 6.4% in 2012, following a rise of 2.8% in 201165% say graduates with no previous work experience have little or no chance of receiving a graduate job offer36% of graduate jobs will be filled by graduates who have already worked for that organisation

Source: The Graduate Market in 2012, www.highfliers.co.uk

The value of placementsStudents use them to: get experience; be noticed by potential employers; improve their network; refine their career decisions; test out sectors and organisations; gain work experience for CV etc.Employers use them to: reduce costs of recruitment by taking students straight onto graduate schemes E.g. Vacancies filled by graduates who have already worked for that employer: 71% in investment banking, 51% in Law, media in 49%*

* Source: the Times Top 100 Graduate Employers High Fliers 2012

Graduate EmploymentFind out about the career paths and employment destinations of recent graduates from Warwick including:Jobs; employers; average salaries; locations; further study optionsGo.warwick.ac.uk/whatdowarwickgradsdoGlobal Ambitions case studies from international students http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/scs/findingajob/ambitions/

About Warwick

23,500 students: 13,000 UGs, 10,500 PGs27% are international students78 languages spoken on campusConsistently in top 10 in national league tablesNo. 1 in Russell Group for careers advice*Consistently in top 20 for student satisfaction**

*International Student Barometer, 2012** National Student Survey, 2012

What employers want and whyA good degree from a good university

As it’s a guarantee of quality

Work experienceBecause they will be useful to the organisation very quickly

A record of achievement, e.g. sports, societies, volunteeringBecause they will bring their commitment and enthusiasm to the organisation, and be a “self-starter”

The ability to tell your unique storyBecause being able to reflect and analyse, and draw the threads of your life together is rare and valuable. Employers consider these graduates to be future leaders of their organisations

So . . . Invest in your educationGet the best degree you can by concentrating on academic & personal skillsMake the most of your extra-curricular experiencesDevelop your skills and confidence (volunteering, work experience, skills programmes, clubs and societies)

And . . . Invest in your futureWork out what matters to you in your career and understand your strengthsDevelop your career management skillsGet work experience (“try before you buy”)Research your optionsMake plans and effective applications

Employer news4,310 adverts were placed by employers in past 12m, and 320+ regularly come to campus for fairs and other eventsMany employers still have vacancies, and are pursuing recent graduatesVery wide range of sectors: from Deloitte, KPMG to local high growth SMEs and international development organisations

Our services2 Student helpdesksResources, events and 1:1 servicesOnline and face-to-face supportInformation and advice, referral to other servicesStudent portal, inc. vacancies, tailored resources, CV builder, employer profiles

What interests our students?*

90% want/plan to work in an international contextTop career choices: Finance & Consultancy; Marketing & Advertising; Government & Politics; Media; Education; Law; Engineering; International DevelopmentEmployer choice influenced by: salary & benefits; opportunity to progress; work/life balanceStrong desire to “make a difference, serve a greater good”

* Biennial Survey of students, University of Warwick, July 2011

Extra-curricular achievements – Warwick Advantage

Presents opportunities (e.g. Warwick Volunteers, SU, Student Staff Liaison Committee, Clubs and Societies, Sport, Career rep), career-related and/or discipline-relatedPrompts you to analyse, reflect upon and record your extra-curricular achievementsRecognition with Warwick Advantage and Warwick Global Advantage Awards, employer sponsorship and winners are sought by employers

Student Development

2 programmes (PGT, PGR), free, open to all in dedicated PG space on central campusTailored departmental provisionOnline provision, e-learning, online top tipsAcademic support PGRs: poster competition, Café Scientifique, e-portfolioInduction: a good beginning to life at Warwick

External RelationsEmployers consult us on engaging with studentsWe present employers to students (services are employer-informed, not employer-led)Presents a balanced range of sectorsWe remain connected and up-to-date via regular contact, feedback and visits to employersPlacement learning unit

External RelationsEmployer liaison and events– 5 Careers Fairs a year, and overall 320+ employers

participate each year, with 7,500 student visits – Over 80 company presentations on campus a year– 20+ employer sessions on selection & application process– 20 Sector events, focussing on areas of student interest,

e.g. marketing, public sector, HR, publishing, international development

– PhD employer networking event– Working with a range of 1,500 employers to engage with

Warwick students

Warwick Volunteers

2,350+ volunteers, 10+% of student body Students as project leaders and volunteersChoice of 50 projects: environment; sports; community; education; older people; young people; human rights; healthTo help, meet new people, improve CV, inform career choices, have fun

CareersProviding students with information and resources to assist in finding out what the options are and to research different sectors, employers, vacancies…– Student portal, myAdvantage – Help Desks – resources and drop in, job search

advisers, careers guidance, University House & Library– Vacancies database – Destination statistics – what do our graduates do?*– Free support beyond graduation for up to 3 years

*go.warwick.ac.uk/whatdowarwickgradsdo

CareersProviding advice and guidance to students to assist them in making a decision that is right for them– The Guidance team offers expert advice and guidance– In-depth, up-to-date knowledge of different sector areas

with consultants assigned to departments– Career planning and decision making– Advice and guidance on applications and assessment– 1:1 appointments with careers consultants– Career Management skills sessions

Work Experience12 month placements as part of a degree or a voluntary year out in industrySummer internships, BBSRC internships for PGRsShort-term work experience, part-time work, volunteering and work shadowingAll listed on myAdvantage searchable databaseSupport in finding work experience placements and internships

Student voices

Don’t leave it until the last minute – explore options earlyMake the most of your time here – huge range of options availableGet work experienceMeet employers at careers eventsUse Student Careers and Skills!

In summary

Work out what future career success means to youLearn from your experiencesResearch optionsNetwork to find opportunitiesArticulate your skills and experiencesBe proactive