EMPLOYABILITY Career Plan for final year students Introduction This guide gives an overview of deadlines and closing dates you need to know in your final year. It also reminds you about how to develop your skills to increase your employability. Please note that the action points in this guide are not necessarily in order of importance. Read through the whole plan and pick out the parts that are relevant to you.
Careers Checkpoint: The year to… Apply APPLY FOR EMPLOYMENT Employment § Get your CV and application information ready § Identify referees § Graduate internships Application (often open in the Autumn term) § Job Application (Usually after Easter) ü
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Attend a mock interview session _______
Where to find help § Go to the Hardy Resource Centre for information and resources § View resources on the BG Futures section of Blackboard APPLY FOR COURSES Postgraduate/further study Applications often open in the autumn term § Apply for course _________________________________ § Apply for funding _________________________________
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Where to find help § Go to the Hardy Resource Centre for information and resources § View resources on the BG Futures section of Blackboard (Quick guide infographic - https://magic.piktochart.com/output/14823294-final-year-career-plan)
……….Go!
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Before Christmas Employment Research careers See the career plans both first years and second/penultimate year students for further information on researching a career idea. Apply for Jobs Remember some large recruiters have closing dates before Christmas, so make your start as soon as possible. Large employers
with graduate training programmes are often able to predict their recruitment needs and so begin to recruit at the beginning of the academic year for positions starting the following summer. Most application deadlines fall between October and February, though some have open recruitment throughout the year. These employers tend to use employer directories, the national press and HE careers services to advertise their vacancies.
Smaller employers
will only advertise vacancies as and when they arise and it may not be possible to apply for jobs before you have graduated. These use the local press, HE careers services in their area, the national press and trade magazines to advertise their vacancies, they may also
Speculative
advertise on their own website. 40% of job vacancies are never advertised, particularly in very competitive career areas like the media and advertising. Speculative approaches and networking then become more important in your search for a job.
Apply for internships/graduate schemes n
Many internship/graduate schemes application cycle will open in the autumn term. Some will even close their applications in November/December.
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See the Graduate Job Search factsheet for details on where to search for internships/graduate schemes
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Join the Jobs+ Connect database to advertise the type of job you are looking for and to be contacted with job opportunities
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Register with the Jobs+ Vacancies Board to search for opportunities
Competing applications See the following factsheets:n
Applications
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CV’s and covering letters
Gain Work Experience If you don’t already have some work experience try to gain some during your final year as this will improve your CV and employability. n
Some employers provide Christmas vacation work experience schemes. Search the Online Jobs Board for possible vacation work experience placements and part-time and casual work. Go to our module on Blackboard and select Jobs Vacancies, register and login to search for vacancies.
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View the Job Sector page on the Make yourself Employable section on Blackboard to find links to jobs boards and organisation in the sector you are interested in.
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View these websites to search for work experience placements. | www.targetjobs.ac.uk | www.prospects.ac.uk |http://bishopg.prospects.ac.uk
Page |3 Voluntary work Volunteering is a good way to gain experience and make links with employers in the area of work you are interested in. There are a range of opportunities to volunteer both on and off campus. You can also search for voluntary opportunities: n
On the Jobs+ Vacancies Board http://bishopg.prospects.ac.uk
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On the Jobs Boards located across campus
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On the SU website
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Visit the Volunteer Centre Lincoln website for local volunteering opportunities and links to training and funding information. www.volunteercentrelincoln.org.uk.
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See Prospects Volunteer Opportunities for UK and overseas voluntary opportunities.
Update your CV and Covering Letter Include the skills and experience you have gained at university. n
Go to the Resource Centre to view information to help you write a CV, covering letter or an application form. See also the Jobshop section of Blackboard.
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Get your CV checked by an adviser. Book an appointment by emailing bgfutures@bishopg.ac.uk
Attend Careers Fairs and Events Make the most of the opportunities to attend career talks and events both within and outside of Bishop Grosseteste. View the Events page on Blackboard for events information.
Postgraduate Study Many courses will open their recruitment cycle in the autumn term. If you require funding, you are advised to apply for both the course and funding as soon as possible. See the following factsheets:n
Career Planning: Reviewing choices and taking action
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Postgraduate study
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Postgraduate study (funding)
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Teacher Training Application
Careers Advice Career Options If you are still uncertain what you want to do when you finish your course or need to discuss a plan of action for your chosen career, you can book a Careers Guidance Appointment with the Careers Advisor. Help with applications/interviews The careers advisers can give advice on your application and conduct mock interviews. Email bgfutures@bishopg.ac.uk to book an appointment. NB: You are advised to send information for checking in good time. The Careers Adviser will contact you as soon as possible, however may not be able to check a CV/ application or conduct a mock interview for a very tight deadline.
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After Christmas n
Continue to apply for jobs using the Jobs+ Vacancies Board and other vacancy sources.
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Continue to attend Career Events and Talks.
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Submit applications for further postgraduate study soon.
Towards the End of your course n
Continue to apply for jobs using the Jobs+ Vacancies Board and other vacancy sources.
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Continue to attend Career Fairs, Events and Talks.
After you graduate You may continue to use our service for up to two years after you have graduated to help you gain you first job. See our website (www.bishopg.ac.uk/careers) for further details. Other sources of careers help: • https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk – National Careers Service. • http://www.prospects.ac.uk - The UK's official graduate careers website • If you live in another area, check what service the local university can offer you, www.prospects.ac.uk has an A-Z of UK Careers Services. DLHE Survey – You will be contacted six months after you have graduated to fill in a form about your ‘graduate destination’ i.e. are you employed, studying etc. Please give answers to this survey in as much detail as possible. We are able to use the information provided to help future students with their career choice and employability.
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 For more information go to Blackboard or www.bishopg.ac.uk/careers