School of Computer ScienceSchool of Computer ScienceCOMP60990 Research Skills COMP60990 Research Skills

and Professional Issuesand Professional Issues

John RichardsonJohn Richardson

MLP, Careers & Employability MLP, Careers & Employability DivisionDivision

The University of ManchesterThe University of Manchester

COMP60990 Research Skills COMP60990 Research Skills and Professional Issuesand Professional Issues• Wednesday 3rd November Kilburn 1.1 10-11 Wednesday 3rd November Kilburn 1.1 10-11

– Planning your Career – led by Careers ServicePlanning your Career – led by Careers Service

• Wednesday 10Wednesday 10thth November Stopford Theatre 1 10-11 November Stopford Theatre 1 10-11

– Successful Applications - Led by DeloitteSuccessful Applications - Led by Deloitte

• Wednesday 24th November Stopford Theatre 1 10-11 Wednesday 24th November Stopford Theatre 1 10-11 – Successful Interviews Successful Interviews - - Led by BTLed by BT

Time is Short!Time is Short!

Over to you!Over to you!

• How many have a job already?How many have a job already?

• How many know what they want to do?How many know what they want to do?

• How many have a plan?How many have a plan?

• How many think it will be easy to get a job?How many think it will be easy to get a job?

• When is the peak recruitment time by When is the peak recruitment time by companies?companies?

• TIME IS SHORTTIME IS SHORT

Week 1 Planning Your CareerWeek 1 Planning Your Career

1.1. What are my options?What are my options?

2.2. What do Employers look for?What do Employers look for?

3.3. Where can I get help?Where can I get help?

IT OptionsIT Options

• Spend one minute writing down the types Spend one minute writing down the types of employers who would employ IT PG of employers who would employ IT PG students on IT related work?students on IT related work?

My ListMy List

• Investement BankingInvestement Banking• IT ServicesIT Services• Public SectorPublic Sector• RetailRetail• Retail BankingRetail Banking• Technology ConsultingTechnology Consulting• TelecommunicationsTelecommunications• Games DevelopmentGames Development• Industrial EmployersIndustrial Employers• Software DevelopmentSoftware Development• Web Design HousesWeb Design Houses• MediaMedia

Another way of looking at Another way of looking at itit

• Companies who CREATE TechnologyCompanies who CREATE Technologyeg. IBM, Microsoft, HP Compaq, Intel, Cisco, Oracleeg. IBM, Microsoft, HP Compaq, Intel, Cisco, Oracle

• Companies who HARNESS Companies who HARNESS Technology Technology eg. Accenture, Nortel Networks, PWC,eg. Accenture, Nortel Networks, PWC, LogicaCMG, Reuters, EDS, Cap GeminiLogicaCMG, Reuters, EDS, Cap Gemini

• Companies who USE the TechnologyCompanies who USE the Technologyeg. BBC, NHS, Orange, Oxfam, Astra Zeneca, M&Seg. BBC, NHS, Orange, Oxfam, Astra Zeneca, M&S

Some companies overlap or even operate in all 3 zonesSome companies overlap or even operate in all 3 zones• Small BusinessesSmall Businesses• Yourself - Start your own business!Yourself - Start your own business!

Employers of Recent Manchester Employers of Recent Manchester Computer ScientistsComputer Scientists

In which Business In which Business Activity could I get Activity could I get involved?involved?• Business AnalysisBusiness Analysis• DevelopmentDevelopment• NetworksNetworks• System IntegrationSystem Integration• Technical SalesTechnical Sales• Web Development /e-businessWeb Development /e-business• SupportSupport• Project ManagementProject Management• ConsultingConsulting• Communications TechnologyCommunications Technology• SecuritySecurity• Data Information ManagementData Information Management

How do I decide?How do I decide?

1.1. The work you’d like to doThe work you’d like to do Coding? None? Some? Mainly business focused?Coding? None? Some? Mainly business focused?

2.2. Where you want to workWhere you want to work Culture, environment, location, Life styleCulture, environment, location, Life style

3.3. What you are prepared to doWhat you are prepared to do Daily troubleshooting, long term project work, Daily troubleshooting, long term project work,

mobility?mobility?

4.4. In Which kind of Business do I want to work?In Which kind of Business do I want to work? Gaming? Retail? Finance? NHS? Gaming? Retail? Finance? NHS?

What Companies look forWhat Companies look for

• A good academic achievementA good academic achievement

• Technical knowledge with an ability to Technical knowledge with an ability to apply it in a commercial world.apply it in a commercial world.

• But what else?But what else?

Key attributes that Companies Key attributes that Companies look forlook for

• Technical CompetenceTechnical Competence• LeadershipLeadership• DriveDrive• InitiativeInitiative• Team workingTeam working• Creativity Creativity • Problem Solving SkillsProblem Solving Skills• Communication Skills Communication Skills • Priority setting SkillsPriority setting Skills• And so onAnd so on

Example 1Example 1

• We are looking for people from any degree We are looking for people from any degree background who are expecting a 2:1 in any background who are expecting a 2:1 in any subject, who are adaptable, driven, good team subject, who are adaptable, driven, good team players and have a passion for the area of work players and have a passion for the area of work they are applying tothey are applying to

• IBMIBM

Example 2Example 2• We need our Graduates to bring fresh ideas to help We need our Graduates to bring fresh ideas to help

us keep people connected and stay ahead in the us keep people connected and stay ahead in the industry. We’re looking for people who challenge, industry. We’re looking for people who challenge, push, and spot opportunities. People who ask why push, and spot opportunities. People who ask why things are done like they are and then change things are done like they are and then change them. People who want to work at the forefront of them. People who want to work at the forefront of what next and to influence where it goes nextwhat next and to influence where it goes next

• BTBT

Example 3Example 3• We look for drive, enthusiasm, ambition, and the We look for drive, enthusiasm, ambition, and the

ability to think creatively and relate well to ability to think creatively and relate well to others. In addition to mobility and a relevant 2:1 others. In addition to mobility and a relevant 2:1 degree, successful applicants will possess degree, successful applicants will possess strong influencing, analytical and technical skills.strong influencing, analytical and technical skills.

• BP BP

So how will Companies So how will Companies evaluate applicants?evaluate applicants?

• Companies work to the principle that what Companies work to the principle that what you have done is the best evidence of you have done is the best evidence of what you are capable of doing in the what you are capable of doing in the future.future.

COMP60990 Research Skills COMP60990 Research Skills and Professional Issuesand Professional Issues• Wednesday 3rd November Kilburn 1.1 10-11 Wednesday 3rd November Kilburn 1.1 10-11

– Planning your Career – led by Careers ServicePlanning your Career – led by Careers Service

• Wednesday 10Wednesday 10thth November Stopford Theatre 1 10-11 November Stopford Theatre 1 10-11

– Successful Applications - Led by DeloitteSuccessful Applications - Led by Deloitte

• Wednesday 24th November Stopford Theatre 1 10-11 Wednesday 24th November Stopford Theatre 1 10-11 – Successful Interviews Successful Interviews - - Led by BTLed by BT

There is help aroundThere is help around

• http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students/postgraduates/students/postgraduates/videohowwehelppostgraduates/videohowwehelppostgraduates/

There is help aroundThere is help around

http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/

students/postgraduates/

There is a lot of help at handThere is a lot of help at hand -Visit us -Visit us• Come and visit the Careers ServiceCome and visit the Careers Service

– Collect your copy of the directoriesCollect your copy of the directories– Scan our shelves (by sector, country specifc…)Scan our shelves (by sector, country specifc…)– Talk to careers adviserTalk to careers adviser– CV/AF Drop in SessionsCV/AF Drop in Sessions– Videos to watch on interviews/applications, assessment centres …Videos to watch on interviews/applications, assessment centres …– Mock interviewsMock interviews

• Visit our web siteVisit our web site– http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students/http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students/– Employer presentationsEmployer presentations– Insight talksInsight talks– Events Events – On line live vacanciesOn line live vacancies– And lots more up to date relevant information to help youAnd lots more up to date relevant information to help you

I want to think about careers I want to think about careers but where do I start?but where do I start?

• Careers AdviceCareers Advice – book a personal – book a personal meeting with a careers consultantmeeting with a careers consultant

• Careers talks and workshopsCareers talks and workshops – an – an extensive range of eventsextensive range of events

Students from ALLStudents from ALLyears are welcome!years are welcome!

What about help with CVs and What about help with CVs and interviews?interviews?

• Drop in “quick query” adviceDrop in “quick query” advice – for help with CVs, application forms and for help with CVs, application forms and

interviewsinterviews

• Mock interviewsMock interviews

• Handouts – takeaway from the careers Handouts – takeaway from the careers office or download from our website:office or download from our website:– ““Finding and applying for part-time jobs”Finding and applying for part-time jobs”

Part-Time Jobs -

Finding andApplying

Careers Service Crawford House Booth Street East 0161 275 2829

For opening times see website.

Last Updated: August 2008

The Essentials Series

This publication is available in alternative formats on request. Enquire at the information desk or email

careers@manchester.ac.uk

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers

The University of Manchester Careers Service

What’s on your website?What’s on your website?

http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/studentshttp://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students//

24 hour access to up-to-date information, advice, 24 hour access to up-to-date information, advice, vacancies, blogs, webchats and details of forthcoming vacancies, blogs, webchats and details of forthcoming eventsevents

http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students/international/http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students/international/For particular help for International StudentsFor particular help for International Students

Where can I find you?Where can I find you?

Crawford HouseCrawford House – – Entrance Entrance on Booth Street Easton Booth Street East(opposite the Aquatics Centre)(opposite the Aquatics Centre)

Appointments Appointments Phone : 0161 275 2829Phone : 0161 275 2829

www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students

In SummaryIn Summary

• Time FliesTime Flies

• Don’t leave everything to last minuteDon’t leave everything to last minute

• Start Researching- The Start Researching- The companies/yourselfcompanies/yourself

• Use the resources and help around youUse the resources and help around you

• Any questions?Any questions?