JOBSHOP
A guide to Job Hunting Introduction The graduate jobs market has always been competitive, so you will need to be committed to the process of job hunting. You should approach it in a similar way you would an assignment and be ready to do your research, work to deadlines and produce relevant and high quality written work. You will also need to present yourself in a professional manner. When starting out job hunting, you should use as many sources as possible to search for jobs: online newspapers company websites job agencies careers fairs networking/using your existing contacts It is important not only to focus on advertised jobs but invisible jobs too, where you need to be creative and contact companies that are not currently advertising. This factsheet will outline both sources of advertised jobs and nonadvertised vacancies in a hidden job market as well inform you about graduate jobs, schemes and internships.
Advice and information BG Futures offers professional and impartial advice, guidance and information. Services include careers guidance appointments, business advice appointments, application and interview help and access to the Resource Centre. BG graduates who are still seeking employment, will be able to access the services for up to 2 years after graduating. BG Futures provides a number of ways to help you find and apply for work:•
Resource Centre Hardy Building
Staff are available to answer your enquiries and resources are available for use.
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CV and Application
Receive help putting together a CV and advice on your application
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Jobs Boards on campus
Located outside the Resource Centre, The Snug, in the Library and SU.
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BG Futures Jobs+ Vacancies Board http://bishopg.prospects.ac.uk/ This is where we post vacancies we receive from employers who specifically want to recruit BGU students and graduates. It is also part of a national database, so it will include jobs posted to all UK universities on the system.
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BG Futures Jobs+ Connect
https://jobsconnect.bishopg.ac.uk Create an online CV to be contacted with
appropriate jobs •
BG Futures Module on Blackboard / Website Information on Services, exploring your options, making yourself employable, searching & applying jobs, Postgraduate and further study.
Contact us: bgfutures@bishopg.ac.uk | 01522 583605 | Resource Centre in Hardy |
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Sources of Advertised Vacancies Take a look at this factsheet with advice on using the internet to search for a job and research employers: http://issuu.com/bgcareers/docs/using_the_internet
Newspapers Local Newspaper: Lincolnshire Echo, every Thursday or online at www.lincolnshireecho.co.uk Newspaper Jobs Boards: Guardian www.jobs.guardian.co.uk |Independent http://ijobs.independent.co.uk/ Links to national and local newspapers www.wrx.zen.co.uk/britnews.htm or www.thepaperboy.com/uk/ Jobcentre: https://www.gov.uk/jobsearch Career Fairs and Events: BG Futures Website - www.bishopg.ac.uk/careers | Prospects - www.prospects.ac.uk Employment Agencies These are useful for short term, temporary work. Refer to the local press and Yellow Pages (www.yell.com). www.rec.uk.com has a searchable database for Lincolnshire based agencies. www.agencycentral.co.uk search for agencies and jobs by job sector. Major Employers Local Services Police
www.lincs.police.uk
Fire and Rescue
http://microsites.lincolnshire.gov.uk/LFR
Health Service
www.ulh.nhs.uk
The Prison Service
www.direct.gov.uk (http://tinyurl.com/qzt6dqw)
Probation
http://hlnycrc.co.uk/
Education Higher Education
www.jobs.ac.uk
Further Education
www.fejobs.com
Local Government / Public Sector Jobs Links to all County Councils web pages
www.direct.gov.uk | http://tinyurl.com/lasearch
UK public sector organisations
www.governmentjobsdirect.co.uk (Click organisation title)
Local Job Hunting Websites Gainsborough
www.jobstoday.co.uk
Lincoln City Council
www.lincoln.gov.uk
Grantham
www.localrecruit.co.uk/grantham
Lincolnshire County Council
www.lincolnshire.gov.uk
Work Abroad (factsheets) Working Overseas
http://issuu.com/bgcareers/docs/working_overseas
Vacation work/Gap year
http://issuu.com/bgcareers/docs/vacation_and_gap_year_job_hunting
Employer Reviews/ratings
www.hirescores.com | www.thejobcrowd.com
Page |3 Internet search engines These jobsites ‘scan’ the internet and lists jobs advertised on various websites including. www.adview.co.uk
100,000+ new vacancies weekly, many of which are graduate roles
www.adzuna.co.uk
Search for jobs, upload your CV, info on salaries
www.allthetopbananas.com
Search for jobs, upload your CV
www.e4s.co.uk
Search for graduate jobs and internships.
www.fish4.co.uk/jobs
Search by location or job sector.
www.hirescores.com
Search jobs and view employer ratings
www.indeed.co.uk
Search jobs, post your CV
www.jobapplications.co.uk/
Search for companies currently recruiting
www.jobbydoo.co.uk/
Search via location and Keyword
www.jobsite.co.uk
Search by keyword or location, upload your CV
www.monster.co.uk
Search by keyword and location. Upload your CV
www.reed.co.uk
Search by type or location
www.totaljobs.com
Search by keyword, location, search for employers, upload your CV
http://jobs.trovit.co.uk
Search by job title, company, city or county
Jobs Boards These websites advertise jobs, which are posted onto the site directly from employers. www.agencycentral.co.uk
Search for jobs and agencies by job sector
www.thebigchoice.com
Student and graduate jobs. Search by industry and location
www.creativeaccess.org.uk
Opportunities for those from BAME backgrounds
www.cv-library.co.uk
UK's leading independent job board
www.diversityjobsite.co.uk
Search via location, job type or keyword
www.employ-ability.org.uk
Opportunities for disabled and dyslexic students & graduates
www.emptylemon.co.uk
Search via location, job type, skills
http://www.exec-appointments.com/
Executive level jobs board
www.careerbuilder.co.uk
Search for jobs, upload a CV
www.myjobsplace.co.uk
Create a video CV for employers to view, search for jobs
www.europelanguagejobs.com
Jobs board for multilingual jobs
www.myukjobs.co.uk/
Search for jobs in your local area
www.workgateways.com
For international students wishing to work in the UK
http://issuu.com/bgcareers/docs/linkedin
LinkedIn – search for student and graduate jobs
https://students.linkedin.com/uk
Slide share guides
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Graduate schemes and internships Internships
Graduate schemes/ Traineeships
• Provide experience of working in a job
• A mix of on-the-job training, often working in various departments
• Internships can be either paid/unpaid
• Graduate schemes are paid and usually paid at a good rate
• Usually temporary, but could become
• Can be either temporary or permanent • Highly competitive and usually require a 2:1 degree
permanent
Local Government Graduate Schemes Search for county councils via http://tinyurl.com/lasearch. NB: if you are able to get a job within a Local Government) you will have access to other jobs, advertised internally
National Graduate Development Programme (ngdp) Graduate management development programme run by the Local Government Association. www.ngdp.org.uk Other Graduate Schemes There are hundreds of opportunities usually directly through a company. You can often find out about opportunities via a company’s website. Yellow Pages www.yell.com Thompson Directory www.thompsonlocal.com. Regional Graduate Jobs Websites - A Selection of websites providing online advice, information and vacancy listings: National www.prospects.ac.uk
www.targetjobs.co.uk
www.centricagraduates.com
www.gradplus.com
www.evergrad.com
www.gov.uk/faststream
www.insidecareers.co.uk
www.milkround.co.uk
www.graduate-jobs.com
www.graduatelinks.co.uk
| www.misterwhat.co.uk (Search for local and |
http://tinyurl.com/gradclosing
Graduate Scheme Deadlines | www.yell.co.uk
national employers) |
East of England
East Midlands
North West England
South East England
www.gradseast.org.uk
http://tinyurl.com/npzgf4
www.mynorthwestjobs.co.uk
www.kentgrads.org.uk
http://www.step.org.uk/
www.graduatejobssouth.co.uk
South West England
West Midlands
Yorkshire and Humberside
www.gradsouthwest.com
www.graduateadvantage.co.uk
www.graduatesyorkshire.co.uk
Eire and Northern Ireland
Scotland
Wales
www.fas.ie/
www.agcasscotland.org.uk
www.gowales.co.uk
www.maynoothuniversity.ie
www.talentscotland.com
www.prosperec.co.uk
International http://tyba.com/
Find a start-up role by signing up to Tyba. Also view Company Pages to take you behind the scenes of start-ups and help you make a more educated choice.
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Sources of Non-advertised Vacancies Many companies do not actively advertise their vacancies. So if you only look at job adverts you are missing out on a huge number of opportunities! Three steps to help you target the Hidden Job Market 1. FIRST you need to know what type of job you are looking for: If you do not know, you can:•
Go to the Resource Centre to view options with your subject and job sectors information for jobs ideas.
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Go to the BG Futures module on Blackboard to view the Explore your options and Make yourself employable sections.
Once you have taken the above steps, you may wish to speak to a Careers Adviser to discuss your career ideas. 2. NEXT you need to Identify Potential Employers Search by Job Sector Find organisations in the job sector you want to work in and take a look at their website to find out about jobs roles and job opportunities. Search for organisations by using business directories and search via professional body or industry websites. The following contain links to key employers in each job sector: •
BG Futures Job Sector factsheets
http://tinyurl.com/zsp6of9
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Graduate Prospects Job Sectors
www.prospects.ac.uk/sectors.htm
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TARGETjobs Career Sectors
http://targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors
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TARGETjobs Employer Insights
http://targetjobs.co.uk/employer-insights
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Jobs Crowd
www.thejobcrowd.com/employer
Use search engines to find companies: www.yell.com |www.google.co.uk Search by Location If you know where you want to work, you can use local labour market information to find out about the main type of job sectors in that location. Lincolnshire: •
Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce has information on local businesses and start-ups.
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Regional Observatory for the Lincolnshire holds information about the region.
Nationally: •
Office for National Statistics
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UK National Statistics
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Targetjobs Career Location
Page |6 Search by Networking Make a list of your family, friends and contacts. List their job roles and/or companies they work for, ask if they can help. A friend or family member based in the company or organisation might help you get a foot in the door. 3. THEN you need to approach companies about job opportunities This speculative approach is used to make contact with companies who have not advertised a position. This is particularly useful when seeking employment in a Small and Medium-Sized enterprise (SME) as they often do not advertise jobs, but rely on word of mouth and speculative applications. A Speculative application involves sending a CV and covering letter (targeted to that company) expressing your interest in working for them and enquiring about possible opportunities. More information on this approach is available: •
Prospects Website (https://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers-advice/applying-for-jobs/how-to-write-a-speculativejob-application)
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Targetjobs website, (https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/applications-and-cvs)
If you are going to approach companies in this way, try to ensure that you have a named contact so that you can follow-up your CV with a telephone call or have subsequent contact in future. For information on completing CV’s and covering letters go to the Resource Centre or our module on Blackboard.
ALTERNATIVES It is always a good idea to have a plan 'B'; you may need to look at other job sectors or geographical locations. If you decide you need to re-evaluate you career options you should consider what you liked about your first choice and think about what other jobs have some of the same attributes.
Work Experience This could be paid or voluntary. You may need to take a proactive approach to finding work experience; for example if you know the type of job you want, you could seek out a work experience or work shadowing opportunity within your field of interest. MORE INFORMATION •
Work Experience (factsheet) - http://issuu.com/bgcareers/docs/work_experience
Start your own business An alternative to employment or further study is to start your own business. MORE INFORMATION •
Self-employment (factsheet) - http://issuu.com/bgcareers/docs/self_employment
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You can get advice about starting your own business from the Enterprise Development Manager. To book at appointment you can complete a One to one appointment form available from the Resource Centre or bgfutures@bishopg.ac.uk
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Applications and Interviews It is important to put time and effort into each of your applications to make them relevant for the job you are applying for. Much of the application process is about selling your skills and abilities, so do your research and find out what the employer wants, then sell your relevant skills and experience from all areas of your life: education, work and social. Spend time ensuring you have followed any instructions correctly and always double check spelling and grammar. With so many applications to look through, employers will reject any careless applications. Remember to always present a positive attitude at an interview. SHOWCASING YOUR SKILLS AND ABILITIES The key to securing a job is to understand what potential employers want from you and what you have to offer the employer. •
Employability Skills(factsheet) http://issuu.com/bgcareers/docs/employability_skills/1
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Take a look at the following online tools to help you identify your skills
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National Careers Service Skills Health Check Tools - https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk
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Creative Skill Set - http://www.creativeskillset.org/careers/getting_in/
MORE INFORMATION •
Applications (factsheet) Find out how to write a job application
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CV’s and covering letters (factsheet)
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Guide to Job Interviews (factsheet)
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Tests and exercises - assessment centres. http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/onlinetests (Includes information on psychometric tests)
Go to http://issuu.com/bgcareers to view all of our factsheets.
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BG Futures: Careers, Employability and Enterprise Operates in accordance with the University Diversity and Equality Policies. If you require this document in an alternative format, for example in large print, please email us at bgfutures@bishopg.ac.uk