CV Boosting Opportunities Boost your employability and stand out from the crowd!
WELCOME We want you to make the most of your time at university. That’s why we pride ourselves on giving you a range of fun and exciting opportunities to enhance your skills, boost your employability and help you stand out from the crowd. Many employers say that a degree alone is not the only thing they look for when employing a graduate. Our co-curricular activities not only help get you fully involved in university life, but they also help you build the experience you need to succeed in the many and varied roles you may undertake in your future career. This booklet will tell you all about the extra co-curricular activities you can take part in while studying with us.
CONTENTS Birmingham City University Students’ Union page 3
OpportUNIty – Student Jobs on Campus pages 12-13
Find out about the activities on offer at your Students’ Union.
Our job shop can help you find part-time work at the University in a variety of different roles.
Employability Challenge Week pages 4-7
Student Engagement pages 14-15
A jam-packed week that will enhance your skills and help you gain an insight into the professional world. You can also win some fabulous prizes.
Find out how to gain work experience, develop your skills and increase knowledge of your discipline – and get paid for it.
The Leadership Challenge
International Travel Scholarships
pages 8-9
pages 16-19
Take the opportunity to engage in real-life business situations to improve your skills, confidence and employability.
Discover our unique international travel scholarships programme, which gives you the opportunity to volunteer in a country of your choice.
Placements pages 10-11 Undertake a business placement to enhance your employability.
Erasmus pages 20-21 If you are interested in undertaking some of your studies abroad, then Erasmus may be of interest to you.
BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ UNION Your Students’ Union co-ordinates a huge variety of extra-curricular activities. They are a fantastic way to meet new people, improve your employability and have lots of fun.
Societies
There are over 60 societies, all led by students, ranging from faith and belief, academic and media to general interest, performance and fundraising. If you can’t find a society you’re interested in, then why not set up your own? Your Students’ Union’s Development and Opportunities department will support you every step of the way, and as a group leader you will be responsible for recruiting members, organising events, budgeting and lots more, all of which looks amazing on your CV. To view the full list of societies, visit www.bcusu.com/societies.
Sports teams
There are over 20 British Universities and Colleges (BUCS) teams and general sport teams.
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BUCS teams play competitively every Wednesday against universities from around the country and sports range from football, rugby and netball to polo, hockey, tennis and cricket. General sports teams include extreme sports, kickboxing, cheerleading, ballroom and Latin dancing and lots more. For a full list of sports, visit www.bcusu.com/sports.
Volunteering
Your Students’ Union has a variety of exciting volunteering opportunities, including the sustainability project Eco and Kids Adventure, which runs week-long activities for children. See bcusu.com/eco and bcusu.com/ kidsadventure for more information. We also have links with Birmingham Volunteer Service Council (BVSC). For more information, visit bcusu.com/volunteering.
Employability Challenge Week
Employability Challenge Week
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EMPLOYABILITY CHALLENGE WEEK Employability Challenge Week is open to all undergraduate students in the first and second terms each year. You will meet staff from across the University, graduates and experts from organisations such as Deloitte, Jaguar Land Rover and Cogent Elliott, providing you with an insight into the professional world. Fun challenges, talks, mock assessments and CV workshops are just some of the activities that will guide you through the recruitment process for graduate
positions. You will also develop skills in networking, team working, meeting short deadlines, working under pressure and presenting ideas, as well as building your entrepreneurial skills. Potential employers will provide valuable feedback, helping you learn from your experiences.
The skills and experiences you will gain from Employability Challenge Week Activities will include: - CV workshop - mock assessment centre - psychometric tests - interview processes.
You will build skills in: - speaking and listening - body language - networking - building rapport.
Career development
Entrepreneurship thinking
Effective communication skills
Professionalism in the workplace
You will learn about: - negotiating - delegating - leadership - commercial awareness.
You will gain: - organisation and time management skills - an appreciation of constructive criticism - self-reliance - assertiveness.
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What our students say: “ The support I received during Employability Challenge Week gave me the skills necessary to get accepted onto a graduate programme.” Lewis Barnes, BA (Hons) Business and Management “ It was a week of meeting new people, making new friends and, for me, having the opportunity to work with people I wouldn’t have had the chance to otherwise.” Avanti Banerrji, BA (Hons) Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations “ I would definitely recommend the business fair and employability workshop. I have learned a lot about what employers look for and what makes you stand out from the crowd.” Rohiel Khaliq, BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance “ I would definitely tell anyone to make the most out of this week. It is a rare opportunity presented to students to get a feel of the business world outside their comfort zone.” Ally Hiriji, BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance
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The Leadership Challenge
The Leadership Challenge There’s only so much you can learn about leadership in a classroom; real experience is the very best way to boost your confidence and develop the skills employers are really looking for. The Leadership Challenge is all about giving you fantastic leadership experience and helping you demonstrate it to your employers by getting involved in real-life business situations. You’ll be taken out of your comfort zone but you’ll make friends and have fun at the same time. “Think Share Create was a wonderful opportunity to connect with your peers, come together and work on amazing innovative ideas. Because it was a short workshop it encouraged each participant to think outside the box and create something truly amazing. It took me and my team less than two hours to take a wacky idea into something ready for production. Think Share Create just went to show that you can achieve and create anything. No matter the timescale, you can truly achieve anything.”
“Musikscool really gave me an insight into what real teamwork is. Working with a group of students that I had never met before, and having to produce something so creative was a challenge. But as the day progressed we slowly found out each other’s strengths and weaknesses and made something great. We left our differences at the door and took ownership of the project.” Shona Okeke, BA (Hons) Management and Human Resource Management
Jacqueline Maya, Think Share Create Trophy winner, BA (Hons) Human Resource Management
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THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE We believe in pioneering cross-faculty working – after all, out in the real world, that’s precisely how you’ll have to work – and you’ll team up with all kinds of people from different courses and different universities, and employers from large and small companies. It’s a great way to gain an insight into other perspectives.
Activities
You can participate in a number of events as part of the Leadership Challenge. Students from all over Europe compete to manage a virtual company in the European Business Masters Cup Challenge. It’s all about thinking on your feet to respond to live changes – whether it’s a merger, a customer complaint or a change in the market – and make the decisions to keep the company growing. Think Share Create is designed to provide advice and guidance to those interested in starting a business, including workshops that give you the opportunity to work with other students to build a business idea from scratch. Several of our students have taken up the Musikscool challenge to write, record and sell a CD in just one day. 9
Your academic success is just part of who you are and what you can do. The Passport to Practice e-portfolio is a fantastic way to show employers that you’ve got more than just a degree to offer. It is the perfect complement to the Leadership Challenge: a multimedia collection of evidence that proves to employers exactly what you’re made of. You can even use it alongside your CV or LinkedIn profile for a full and exciting portfolio that showcases all your talents. Find out more at www.passport2practice.bcu.ac.uk. For more information about joining the Leadership Challenge, please contact Vanessa Clarke. T: 0121 331 6228 E: vanessa.clarke@bcu.ac.uk
Placements
Placements 10
Placements
There’s no better way to prepare for work than to experience it first-hand; that’s why we put so much time and dedication into our Business Placements Scheme. It’s the perfect way to gain a clear advantage over the competition, building your experience and your confidence by putting theory into practice in a real business.
Who can do a placement year?
Each of our full-time degree courses is available as a sandwich course with a placement and we encourage every student to take their third year as a placement year – making the degree a four-year course in total.
What kind of business placement could I do?
We offer a number of exciting placement opportunities in a range of companies in both the private and public sector. You might choose to undertake a placement in an area near your home or relocate and work in another UK city. International placement opportunities are also available. Job roles can vary, but they generally cover marketing, human resources, purchasing, finance, operations, logistics and research.
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Where will my placement take me?
Our placement students have worked for a range of international and national companies, including well-known leading brands such as KPMG, Porsche, Sky and Unilever. Our placement scheme is highly regarded by employers, many of whom return to us year after year.
How do I secure a business placement?
Our dedicated Placements Office advertises over 1,000 jobs. It is your responsibility to secure a placement, however placements staff are available to support you throughout the whole placement process to ensure that you are familiar with the latest recruitment and selection techniques.
How do I find out more?
Visit the Placements Office or contact Helen Wright. T: 0121 331 5460 E: helen.wright@bcu.a.uk
OpportUNIty – Student Jobs on Campus OpportUNIty – Student Jobs on Campus
When you arrive at the University, you may be looking for part-time work to earn money and develop skills and experience that you can use in your future career. Our ‘OpportUNIty – Student Jobs on Campus’ initiative can help you find part-time paid jobs with the University in a variety of different roles. You can sign up to the scheme and start applying for jobs on campus as soon as you join us, and you will receive feedback at every stage of your employment experience, from help with your interview technique or CV writing to support in developing skills related to your role. Your line managers will provide evidence of the skills you gain as time goes on, helping you to articulate your employability to future employers. Many students work with us as a Student Ambassador, performing a vital role around the University and helping out at Open Days, Applicant Visit Days and school visits to ensure they go smoothly and visitors get the opportunity to gain a student’s view. 12
OPPORTUNITY – STUDENT JOBS ON CAMPUS “I love working alongside University staff and other student ambassadors; it is really rewarding. I enjoy talking about the University and my course, and helping students by answering any queries and giving advice.” Stacey Watkins, Student Ambassador BSc (Hons) Information and Communications Technology “This has been an invaluable experience to me – I’ve learned a lot and it has been such a brilliant opportunity. It’s taught me a lot of professional skills but as it’s not a very formal environment I have really enjoyed it as well. The people I work alongside are really nice so it’s been a lot of fun.” Abraham Adekoya, Administrative Assistant in the International Office BA (Hons) Accountancy and Finance
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“I have gained almost nine months of experience in a role I wish to pursue. My writing and editing skills have been developed really well, which in turn has helped me to be more clear and concise in my university projects. I think it has put me in good stead for the future.” Sarah Holmes, Student Copywriter in the Marketing Department BA (Hons) English and Creative Writing For further information: T: 0121 331 7723 W: www.bcu.ac.uk/opportunity
STUDENT ENGAGEMENT We encourage you to be our partners. We want you to have a real impact on your learning and teaching, and we encourage meaningful conversations between staff and students. Current student engagement schemes include Student Academic Partners (SAP) and the Student Academic Mentoring Programme (StAMP). Over the years, these projects have led to the employment of over 1,000 students across the University and given them the opportunity to influence change. The schemes allow you to gain work experience, develop skills, increase knowledge of your discipline, increase your sense of belonging and create effective relationships with staff and other students.
Student Academic Partners (SAP)
SAP is run in partnership with the Students’ Union and provides a mechanism to integrate students into the academic community of the University. It generates a sense of ownership and pride in the institution and its courses and encourages you to work collaboratively with staff to strengthen learning and teaching. 15
See a SAP project in action at http://y2u.be/jn21lCkhkQU.
Student Academic Mentoring Programme (StAMP)
StAMP was designed to support teams seeking to improve the progression and achievement of their students. Mentoring gives you the opportunity to gain academic support from more experienced students under the guidance of academic staff. Funding opportunities are announced annually but you can approach us with your ideas at any time. For further information: E: elgan.hughes@bcu.ac.uk W: www.bcu.ac.uk/about-us/celt/ student-engagement
Student Engagement
Student Engagement 14
International Travel Scholarships Volunteering can have a positive impact on your employability by providing access to a network of people and challenging opportunities, aiding personal development, enhancing your academic learning and fostering a proactive attitude. Our Make a Difference Travel Scholarship Scheme assists first and second year students to obtain funding of up to ÂŁ1,200 to participate in charitable projects in countries across the world, including Mexico, Ghana, Nepal, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Zambia and Uganda. Whatever the skills you have, there is something that you can do and our students have helped build homes, taught in orphanages, undertaken conservation activities, helped establish social enterprises and worked with under-privileged children.
What employers say A survey by national volunteering charity TimeBank showed that: - 84 per cent of employers said that volunteering is a way to help people find work International Travel Scholarships
- 80 per cent of employers valued volunteering on a CV when recruiting - over 70 per cent of employers believed that those who volunteer have a better chance of earning a higher salary and gaining a promotion. Source: TimeBank survey 2009.
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What our students say
“I would say I gained a lot of experience which I would have not gained if I did not go. Meeting new people, seeing new things and living in a different environment not only made me step out of my comfort zone but made me think and value the things I take for granted.� Uzair Delair volunteered within an orphanage in Mexico BA (Hons) Business and Finance
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“Volunteering is not a walk in the park; it is hard and very challenging. However I would recommend anyone who wants to give back and grow as a person to give volunteering a try; it will enrich your life for the better. Volunteering in Nepal has changed my life and is an experience I will never forget.� Jacqueline Maya volunteered in a school in Nepal BA (Hons) Human Resource Management
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“The trip was personally very rewarding and I would recommend anyone considering volunteering to visit Ghana as the people there are amazing and were all appreciative of the donations and help given. I cannot thank you enough for your generosity in aiding my trip and believe this opportunity for future students will only improve their outlook upon life.� Joshua Bentley volunteered in Ghana building schools BA (Hons) Accountancy
More information please contact Nicole Riley: T: 0121 331 6440 E: nicole.riley@bcu.ac.uk 19
I never figured I would love it so much. I think that an Erasmus exchange is one of the things every student who wants to make the most of their time at university should do. I met a lot of interesting people and had loads of fun.
Erasmus Study Abroad Programme 20
Erasmus Study Abroad Programme
Andrei Tui BA (Hons) Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations Erasmus exchange student, Copenhagen Business School
ERASMUS STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMME
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The Erasmus scheme enables higher education students in 31 European countries to study for part of their degree in another EU country. It currently involves nine out of evey 10 European higher education establishments and supports co-operation between the universities of 33 countries.
For information about which institutions we have links with for each subject, contact:
There are also opportunities to study in the USA for one or two semesters in your second year.
Sarah Hopkins, Academics Partnerships Office Administrator
Erasmus offers a unique opportunity to strengthen your foreign language skills, enhance your CV, experience new cultures and make new contacts and friends.
For more information about Erasmus, visit www.britishcouncil.org/erasmus.
Dr Kathleen Dixon Donnelly, Birmingham City Business School Study Abroad Co-ordinator E: kathleen.donnelly@bcu.ac.uk
E: sarah.hopkins@bcu.ac.uk
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