The Employability Service

David Bulmer

Services

• Careers Advice– 20 minute drop in sessions for quick queries

• Employability• Placements• Graduate careers

– Longer appointments for specific issues• Career pathways guidance• Practise interviews• Completing application forms

Services

• One to One Interview Slots – Employability Drop Ins

• CVs and covering letters• Part time work and work experience

– Placement Drop Ins• Placement search and applications• CVs and covering letters

– Careers Drop Ins• Graduate job search and applications• CVs and covering letters

Services

• Extensive Careers Resources– Concise Careers Guides

• Available online and in print, guides on everything from covering letters and CVs to interviews and job searching

– FAQs• Available online and in print, information on searching for

a job in your field

– Destinations• Available online, careers resource helping you design

your career around your expertise and interests

Services

• Online Job Shop– Part time and casual vacancies– Placements– Work experience– Graduate careers

Services

• Help and support in finding placements– Dedicated staff members for placements– Placement drop in sessions– Longer sessions for advice and guidance on

applications– Vetting of placement companies– Support during your placement

Services

• Events– Jobs fairs and other employer events– Workshops on

• CV’s• interview techniques• creative job hunting

– Psychometric Testing sessions, for practise on some of the tools employers use when recruiting

Services

• Careers Resources Centre– Student Life Centre, Borough Road– Hard copies of CCGs and FAQs– Prospects and other graduate directories– Job Shop employment search– Drop in sessions and other appointments

An Example CV

• Take a look at the example CV• Make a note of anything that stands out

• What would you suggest to improve it?

Creative Job Hunting

• A request for a job that you send to a company although the company has not advertised one

(Financial Times Lexicon: http://lexicon.ft.com/ )

STEP 1) – INDUSTRY RESEARCH

STEP 2) - SEARCH FOR SUITABLE ORGANISATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES

STEP 3) - PUT TOGETHER A SPECULATIVE APPLICATION

STEP 4) – FOLLOW UP FOR FEEDBACK

What is the Speculative Approach to Job Hunting?

• Trade Publications / Websites: – http://www.computerweekly.com/– http://www.computing.co.uk/

• Careers Publications and Websites:

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/ http://targetjobs.co.uk/• Networking & making links with those already working in the

sector, information interviewing • Social Media – Linked In groups, Facebook Groups, Following

relevant organisations on Twitter• Sector Skills Councils: http://www.e-skills.com/

Researching your Industry:

• Online directories (good for geographical search) e.g. www.yell.com http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/index.shtml

• Sector - specific jobsites- examples: Jobserve: http://www.jobserve.com/gb/en/Job-Search/

• http://www.theitjobboard.co.uk• Sector – specific recruitment agencies:

http://www.rec.uk.com/member-directory/details-rec-members• Networking online or face to face (e.g. sector-based events) • Leads from press articles in the sector• Where have other LSBU students from my course worked?

Searching for Specific Organisations/ Opportunities

• It unearths opportunities which aren’t advertised (hidden labour market)- between 70% and 80% of jobs are never advertised

• If executed effectively, It impresses employers by showing that you have initiative/motivation and a genuine interest in their business

• You may get signposted to other organisations/ opportunities• It can be combined with traditional techniques to help you

maximise your opportunities (such as applying to adverts and searching online)

What are the Advantages of a Speculative Approach?

• It takes time (often more time that traditional search methods)………..but this should be weighed against the potential for results

• It requires confidence and assertiveness…..however if you can master these, this can be seen as an advantage- less jobseekers will choose these methods as they are perceived as more challenging

Any Disadvantages?

• Research the company thoroughly beforehand and make sure you are clear about:

-What they do & why

-How they make a profit (if applicable)

-Where they are based • Ensure your covering letter includes:

- Your understanding of their activities

- An explanation as to why you are interested in working with them

- Relevant skills you can offer them

Some Rules for Speculative Applications

• Avoid the “scattergun” approach • Always follow up by phone if you don’t hear anything- a

short conversation sometimes goes a long way• Don’t be put off by knock-backs. If a particular

organisation can’t help you, you can still ask for their advice/ opinions on the best way forward. You can still ask for their feedback on your application

Some More Rules:

• Bring your CV in to be checked and get access to the university job shop website

Next Steps ?

Employability Skills

• What skills would you think employers are specifically looking for?

Employability Skills• Self-management – readiness to accept responsibility, flexibility,

resilience, self-starting, appropriate assertiveness, time management, readiness to improve own performance based on feedback/reflective learning.

• Team working – respecting others, co-operating, negotiating/persuading, contributing to discussions, and awareness of interdependence with others.

• Business and customer awareness – basic understanding of the key drivers for business success – including the importance of innovation and taking calculated risks – and the need to provide customer satisfaction and build customer loyalty

Employability Skills• Problem solving – analysing facts and situations and applying

creative thinking to develop appropriate solutions.• Communication and literacy – application of literacy, ability to

produce clear, structured written work and oral literacy - including listening and questioning.

• Application of numeracy – manipulation of numbers, general mathematical awareness and its application in practical contexts (e.g. measuring, weighing, estimating and applying formulae).

• Application of information technology – basic IT skills, including familiarity with word processing, spreadsheets, file management and use of internet search engines.

Employability Skills• Underpinning all these attributes, the key foundation,

must be a positive attitude:– a 'can-do' approach– a readiness to take part and contribute– openness to new ideas– a drive to make these happen.

• Employers also value entrepreneurial graduates who demonstrate an innovative approach, creative thinking, bring fresh knowledge and challenge assumptions.

What You Need

• Knowledge– The right specialist knowledge to get the job

done

• Skills– The ability to perform a set of specific and

general tasks

• Attitude– The right approach to work and life

What To Do Now

• Firstly, do some thinking:– Work out what you want to achieve over the

course of your degree– Work out what direction you’d like to go in

when you graduate– Work out what you need to be able to do and

know in order to get there

What To Do Now

• Secondly, take some action– Get some experience

• Volunteering• Part time work• Placements, work shadowing, work experience

– Develop some skills• Learning Resource Centre• Students’ Union

What To Do Now

• Thirdly, do some reflection– It’s important to be able to describe and sell

the skills you’re developing– Keep a log, diary, journal or some other way

of recording your personal development– It will be very useful when you come to CVs,

cover letters, applications and interviews

Getting In Touch

• Call the main Employability and Careers Service reception on 020 7815 6431

• Email questions or queries to sscareers@lsbu.ac.uk

• Visit our website for information on services and timetables https://my.lsbu.ac.uk/page/employability

• Come and see us; Student Life Centre

Any Questions?