SCHOOL OF LAW CAREER PLANNING GUIDE by LJMUCareers

career planning guide

SCHOOL OF LAW

PRODUCED BY THE LJMU CAREERS TEAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LJMU SCHOOL/FACULTY STAFF

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH POSTGRADUATE STUDY Masters study has set me on the right track. When I graduate, I will be looking for a career rather than a job. Josh McDowell, International Journalism MA

For more information, go to: ljmu.ac.uk/postgraduate CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

WHAT’S IN THIS GUIDE

What’s in this guide ... CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE Careers in law

Careers in criminal justice

Careers in psychology/forensic psychology

Postgraduate study in the School of Law

Student development and work experience

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU Get support on your doorstep in our campus Careers Zones

Connect with employers

Careers Website

Careers Zone 24/7: Online careers tools

CareerSmart: Explore, Experience and Engage

Get great work experience with your Students’ Union

How to make the most of your university time

Move up to Masters: The benefits of postgraduate study

Professional and personal development opportunities abroad

TACTICS AND CHOICES Planning your career

Thinking about postgraduate study

Finding graduate level jobs

Thinking of starting your own business?

The importance of relevant work experience

GETTING THE JOB How to write a winning CV and covering letter

How to write effective application forms

How to succeed at interviews

Psychometric tests and assessment centres

Introduction Programmes in the School of Law provide a wide range of diverse career opportunities, all of which are challenging, personally rewarding and socially beneficial. Career opportunities will exist in the legal professions (as solicitors, barristers and paralegals) and in a wide range of criminal justice agencies (including the police, prisons, probation and other offender-support bodies). Law programmes will provide students with the skills needed to pursue careers in academia and other research-focused environments. Clear academic progression routes are available via the provision of a number of specialised postgraduate programmes, in both Law and Criminal Justice, delivering cutting-edge research-informed teaching. The development of generic skills is supported through a wide range of extracurricular activities. The School’s programmes, in conjunction with the Careers Team, will assist you in fulfilling your potential to develop your career planning and prepare yourself for work. This guide, alongside School staff and the Careers Team, will support you in pursuing work placements, study visits, pro bono legal activity and other practice-based experience, all designed to assist you in gaining the best opportunities to succeed in your chosen career path.

KAREN COOPER & NOEL CROSS, PROGRAMME LEADERS, SCHOOL OF LAW

PRODUCED BY: LJMU Careers Team || Tel: 0151 231 2048/3719 || Email: careers@ljmu.ac.uk || Website: www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

Please contact us if you would like this document in an alternate format, e.g. large print.

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CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Introduction STUDENTS FROM THE SCHOOL OF LAW HAVE A RANGE OF CAREER OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM. CAREERS ADVISER STEVE BURBAGE LOOKS AT SOME OPTIONS TO GET YOU STARTED. The School of Law offers undergraduate courses in: Law, Criminal Justice, Law and Criminal Justice, and Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice. The School also has an extensive portfolio of postgraduate courses: LLM in Qualifying Law (formerly Graduate Diploma in Law); Legal Practice Course (the LPC); LLM LPC; LLM Master of Laws; LLM in Legal Practice; MA Criminal Justice; MSc/LLM Global Crime, Justice and Security; LLM International Business Corporate and Finance Law; as well as research degrees (MPhil and PhD). The School is one of the UK’s leading law schools, with a reputation for delivering excellent career-focused degrees in a stimulating, innovative and upbeat learning environment. It is strongly committed to improving the employability of its students and has established a range of initiatives designed to enhance this e.g. the launch of a legal advice centre which provides free legal advice to members of the community (the centre is staffed by students with the support and guidance of staff and practising solicitors) and the introduction of an LLB sandwich degree.

In recent years, securing a graduate role has become increasingly competitive, so gaining relevant work or voluntary experience and engaging in extracurricular activities alongside your studies is essential to demonstrate to prospective employers that you have the motivation to succeed in your chosen area and have developed the required skills. Being aware of the range of options open to you is crucial to make an informed career decision. The Careers Team is committed to helping you with this preparation and we are here to support you throughout your studies at LJMU and beyond. Whether we see you during curriculum workshops, careers guidance and employability advice appointments, or employer events, our aim is to help you achieve your career aspirations. Achieving career success does require you to be proactive from an early stage. This may involve researching different career pathways and entry requirements, making the most of available resources, attending careers events or employer talks and so on. To get you started we have provided you with a brief overview of the different career options available in various job sectors from the legal/criminal justice/ forensic psychology field, alongside case studies of current and former students. The information is only brief, but you can find a much more detailed overview of careers related to your degree in our ‘Career Insights’ that are available to download from the online guides and resources page of our website: www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

Your Careers Adviser: Steve Burbage

Steve has been the Careers Adviser for the School of Law since 2005. In addition to providing one-to-one expert careers guidance to students, Steve also teaches on a number of course programmes (LLB and Criminal Justice), delivers careers talks and sessions on a range of different employabilityrelated topics, produces a range of bespoke careers information to help you with your career planning and works closely with other staff to organise employer events e.g. career as a solicitor/ barrister talk and criminal justice networking event. To book an appointment with me or any other adviser, call in to the Aldham Careers Zone. Alternatively, telephone 0151 231 3719.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Careers in Law The Law degree programme at LJMU provides the essential academic training required to become a solicitor or barrister in England and Wales, allowing you to progress directly onto the Legal Practice Course (LPC) or the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC). In addition to preparing future lawyers, the LLB has a wide-ranging appeal in a broad array of careers, from local and central government, the criminal justice system and the commercial world. Jobs directly related to a law degree include: solicitor, barrister, chartered legal executive, paralegal and barrister’s clerk. If you’re considering a career in law, your two main options are practising as a solicitor or barrister. Currently both career pathways require further study (LPC for aspiring solicitors, BPTC for future barristers) and on-the-job training (training contract for solicitors, pupillage for barristers). Following a recent announcement by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), the current system of qualifying as a solicitor is set to change from 2020. Under the new regulations, candidates will need to pass a two-stage Solicitors Qualifying Examination, have been awarded a degree (or have gained equivalent experience) and have completed at least two years of qualifying legal work experience. This effectively removes the requirement for all aspiring solicitors to complete the LPC. For further information, please check https://www.sra.org.uk/sra/ policy/training-for-tomorrow/resources/ sqe-questions-answers.page

SOLICITOR

Solicitors provide legal advice; they find solutions to problems and represent clients in negotiations. They spend a lot of time meeting with clients, researching cases, writing legal documents, liaising with other professionals and representing clients in court. Commercial clients call in solicitors for advice on matters including litigation, property, tax and finance. Solicitors also provide advice on a range of personal issues e.g. wills and probate, buying and selling residential property, divorce and personal injury claims.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

BARRISTER

Barristers are specialists in advocacy who represent clients in court. Their day-to-day duties include conducting legal research on behalf of their clients, advising solicitors, drafting documents, managing cases, and taking instructions from and representing clients in court. While solicitors are usually the first port of call for a client seeking legal advice on an issue, barristers generally only become involved in preparation for an issue going to court. Barristers are mostly hired by solicitors to plead the case in court on behalf of the client.

from our website www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers and review the information provided on relevant legal careers websites like www.lawcareers.net/ There are around 16,000 barristers practising in England and Wales, while there are over 138,000 practising solicitors.

For further information about both roles, please download the Law ‘Career Insight’

Typical/main employers Most solicitors work in firms, which can vary in size from the huge magic circle firms like Allen and Overy and Clifford Chance to those found on the high street of any town or city; however, they can also be employed by a wide range of other companies and organisations such as: local government, Crown Prosecution Service, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, Government Legal Service, Law Centres and commerce and industry (often referred to as working ‘in-house’) – around 25,000 lawyers are employed to work in-house by approximately 3,000 companies/nongovernmental organisations. The number of solicitors working in-house is increasing at a faster rate than those in private practice, and a recent report on ‘The Future of Legal Services’ (January 2016) by The Law Society of England and Wales predicts 35 per cent of solicitors will work in-house by 2020. As can clearly be seen, there are many potential employment opportunities available. That is why it is crucial for you to do your research first in order to establish which career path(s) would be most appropriate/suitable for you. For a better idea of the different employment opportunities available, go to ‘Careers Zone 24/7’ on the Careers website to download a copy of the training contract guide - www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers. Most barristers (around 13,000) are in private practice - also known as ‘the private bar’. Technically they are self-employed, but must be a member of a chambers (also known as a set) in order to practise. Around 3,000 barristers are employed either by solicitors’ firms or other businesses, charities, Crown Prosecution Service, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service, Army Legal Services or the Government Legal Service. Outside of the legal profession, employers can include banks and building societies, insurance companies and HR departments of large firms (this is by no means an exhaustive list).

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Graduate Case Study ALEX JONES IS AN LLB & BPTC GRADUATE AND IS CURRENTLY COMPLETING HIS PUPILLAGE WITH ATLANTIC CHAMBERS Having strong academic ability is the norm for legal professionals. Those who have the confidence, determination and drive to enter the legal world should appreciate that being intelligent is no longer a sufficient enough accolade to secure employment. What is crucial is employability. Upon starting a degree the word employability has no meaning, but fast-forward three very quick years and it is the foundation of any candidate. A respected degree classification, first or upper second class, will improve your chances of securing an interview. Employability is what will set you apart from the other hundred or so applicants. Law is a very competitive field and I cannot speak highly enough of LJMU for their assistance in ‘making you stand out’. Each individual will have unique qualities and they should be tailored to the chosen profession; personally I aspire to pursue a career as a barrister and as such took every opportunity which would help me along the way. An individual can increase their employability in a number of ways and LJMU stand out from their competitors in their efforts of going above and beyond in making you not only employable but also a desirable, ‘well-rounded’ candidate. I have been heavily involved in LJMU’s mooting activities and have not only participated but have also mentored teams to the National Finals, beating excellent Russell Group universities along the way. I can categorically confirm that without the support of the staff and the whole-hearted backing of the university in general we would not have achieved so much. I can proudly say that I have mooted in both the Supreme Court and Royal Courts of Justice; in an interview that experience is priceless. All Law students ought to be aware that networking is one of the most important things for any budding lawyer and it’s imperative

that you start early. The legal world is daunting to those unfamiliar with its landscape, and I was no different. Once again, fast forward three years and I am now not only familiar but also comfortable in legal settings. LJMU has close links with Inner Temple and I have been fortunate enough to visit on numerous occasions, every time facilitated by LJMU. This allowed me to network, gain confidence and educate myself on the career I wished to pursue; having ‘slapup’ dinners and free wine along the way. The university’s support in improving my employability combined with lecturers’ references enabled me to secure a £5000 BPTC scholarship from Inner Temple. Networking comes in all shapes and sizes, from organised talks with barristers, legal professional evenings, public debates, right through to wine tasting evenings and speed dating with local professionals. LJMU really show a desire to help, whatever form that may take. I strongly believe that had I not chosen LJMU I would not have met Lord Chief Justice Leveson, Lady Justice Hallett or Sir David Madison. I would not have mooted in the Supreme Court or Royal Courts of Justice, been crowned regional mooting champion or won the Liverpool Law Fair Debate. Other institutions may have better academic reputations, they may be impressive on paper but the true test for any candidate is their employability. Your qualities and experiences not only as a lawyer but also as a person is what will impress any interviewing panel. I cannot recommend LJMU enough and can state with confidence that without LJMU’s support and guidance I would not be as confident or employable as I am today. There are three rules which I give to all legal newcomers; build your CV as both a lawyer and an individual and Network! Network! Network!

Graduate Case Study DECLAN FRIERS GRADUATED IN 2016 AND IS NOW WORKING AS A TRAINEE SOLICITOR FOR PATTERSON, TAYLOR & CO. SOLICITORS LTD IN BELFAST What does your job role involve?

As a trainee solicitor, I attend Queen’s University to complete the Institute of Professional Legal Studies Solicitor course (the Northern Ireland equivalent of the LPC) whilst also working part-time at a solicitors firm. Whilst the office is general practice, I have gained most experience in family and criminal law. I have consultations with clients, attend courthouses across the province, brief counsel, and attend police interviews, police stations and various prisons.

Three things you like about your job:

❙❙ In both criminal and family law, each case is different and I have enjoyed the challenge of dealing with many different types of client and providing a legal service tailored to their individual circumstances. ❙❙ I enjoy travelling to different courthouses and prisons across Northern Ireland and working ‘on the move’. ❙❙ I like the spontaneous nature of criminal law. Often the entire week will change based on one phone call or arrest. The work is never repetitive and whilst challenging, this has been a big factor in my enjoyment of the job.

What did the application/selection process involve?

I had previous work experience at Patterson, Taylor & Co outside of term time and this ultimately led to an offer of employment pending a successful application to the Queen’s University IPLS course and

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

achieving a 2:1 LLB Hons degree. Over Christmas in my final year at LJMU, I sat the entrance exams for the Solicitor Course and was offered a place. Anyone hoping to practise in Northern Ireland should apply to law firms seeking trainee solicitors and then sit the IPLS exams as this is the most direct route to practising in Northern Ireland.

What relevant work experience did you use during the selection process?

In addition to work experience as a junior clerk in Patterson, Taylor & Co, I also worked behind the bar of the Shankly Suite in Liverpool Football Club. As an avid Manchester United supporter this was often difficult, but I made some great friends and plenty of memories! Having a part-time job whilst studying is a great way to show potential employers your desire to work hard.

What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process?

The teaching staff at the School of Law were always exceptionally helpful and their experience was evident during lectures and tutorials. I believe the standard of teaching and guidance offered at LJMU was invaluable when it came to job applications and interviews but additionally, lecturers often talked about experience from their respective fields and in practice, which gave me a sense of where I would like to work in the future.

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Graduate Case Study EMMA BLAMIRE GRADUATED WITH AN LLB (HONS) IN 2017 AND NOW WORKS AS A TRAINEE SOLICITOR FOR CARTMELL SHEPHERDS What did the application/selection process involve and what support did you access from the Careers Team?

The application process involved creating an application letter and CV. I found it useful to ask someone who is already in a legal job for advice on what should and should not be included in a CV. I also asked an adviser from the Careers Team to check through my application, and they will also give you great advice on how to present yourself in an interview. In the application letter, it is important to sell yourself and emphasise any previous experience you have. The next stage involved attending an interview. The best piece of advice I can give is to research the company that you are applying to. If you do not know about the business you are applying to, you will not look interested in the business and the business will not be interested in you.

What advice would you give other students to improve their employability?

I would recommend to get as much experience as possible and apply as early as possible (second year) so that you have time to change things if necessary. The more work experience you can gain the better because it will set you apart from other candidates with the same degree as you.

What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process?

The most useful aspect of my degree for the selection process was the discussions that I had with course leaders and lecturers, as these made it much easier to talk to legal professionals during interviews.

Graduate Case Study LAW GRADUATE DYLAN CALDWELL IS NOW WORKING AT BROWN BARRON WHERE HE WILL BECOME A TRAINEE SOLICITOR UPON COMPLETING THE LPC IN SUMMER 2019 What does your job involve? I handled a caseload of around 80 files in the medical negligence department at Fletchers Solicitors Ltd. I obtained medical records, drafted witness statements, instructed experts and drafted letters of claim as per the pre-action protocol for clinical disputes. In July 2018 I started a new role at Brown Barron where I will become a trainee solicitor upon successfully completing my LPC in summer 2019. My seats include property, local authority work, family law, and wills and probate. If all goes to plan, I will be a qualified solicitor by the age of 24. Why did you decide to apply for the job at Fletchers? In November 2016, I undertook a one-week work experience placement with Fletchers Solicitors at their head office in Southport. This was an invaluable insight into law in practice and also allowed me to network with employees of the firm in the hope that one day I would successfully gain a job at the firm. Three things you like about your job: ❙❙ I love being able to build a client rapport with those who have been unfortunate enough to suffer medical negligence. ❙❙ I enjoy being given the responsibility of handling a caseload and working to strict KPIs. ❙❙ My job is incredibly rewarding where I can have a huge impact in helping clients reach a successful outcome at the end of their case. What did the application/selection process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? The application process for my role at Fletchers entailed a covering letter and CV for a role advertised on their website. I then attended an interview with a senior solicitor and a member of management. The questions varied from life experience questions, how I would positively impact the firm and what previous experiences have stood me in good stead to work in the legal industry. For the role which I have just secured at Brown Barron, I was lucky in the fact that a family friend mentioned my name to the firm who were looking for a new trainee solicitor who grew up in the area, who had recently completed a law degree and achieved a high grade. I sent in my CV and was invited for an informal interview.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

The informal interview was a chat with two partners for us to get to know one another. I was lucky enough to be offered a role within a day. What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones? When applying for jobs/training contracts, I utilised the fantastic staff who work for the Careers Team at LJMU. This included sending my CV and cover letters to them for review so they could highlight areas for improvement. I also paid particular attention to any emails which were sent highlighting opportunities for work experience. It was an email from the Careers Team which gained me a week’s work experience at Fletchers Solicitors and without this, it is unlikely I would have been awarded a role at the firm. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? Networking is invaluable. I like many students wrongly dismissed just how invaluable this is in securing a graduate job. I had networked with a senior solicitor on LinkedIn and when I had an interview at Fletchers Solicitors, it just so happened to be with that same senior solicitor who even commented that she was impressed by the fact I was actively networking with professionals already working in the legal industry. Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year again? Revise that little bit harder for exams. You will find that many firms take on graduates years in advance and therefore your first year grades are the grades which they will go off when selecting applicants. What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? Guest lectures were very helpful in giving insights into their firm/their role/their area of law. This allowed me to identify areas of law which appealed to me and those which did not appeal so much. Any other advice you would give to students about their employability? Fellow students and I received many rejections from a whole host of law firms. It is important to stay confident and never give up.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

The Employability and Business Skills module LJMU School of Law lecturer Sarah Stirk (pictured) argues the case for students taking part in the Employability and Business skills module, whether they intend to pursue a career in law or in another sector.

term. Many students have continued in their placements or been invited to return over the summer.

The Employability and Business Skills module is designed to give students an insight into the skills needed to succeed in business, whether that is in the legal sector or not. The module provides students with the opportunity to have direct contact with numerous employers and receive feedback on their personal portfolio. Students can also take part in mock interviews, CV and cover letter workshops with employers, psychometric testing sessions and undertake work experience during the university

As well as developing students’ employability skills, feedback from students on the Employability and Business Skills module has highlighted how much this module has helped focus their studies and given them a renewed motivation and desire to widen their ideas or opened their eyes to other areas of law they had not previously considered as well as improving their time management skills.

Graduate Case Study KARISHA YOUNG IS A LAW GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS FOR MARIA FOGG FAMILY LAW IN A PARALEGAL POSITION WHICH IS SET TO LEAD TO A TRAINING CONTRACT What does your job involve? The job duties and responsibilities of paralegals in family law include: ❙❙ Preparing and drafting: pleadings, judgments, statements, documents, and other correspondence e.g. debt and asset lists, witness affidavits, child support worksheets, responsive pleadings, etc. ❙❙ Performing legal research ❙❙ Maintaining attorney calendars and case files ❙❙ Scheduling appointments, court appearances and mediation/ deposition hearings ❙❙ Serving as a liaison between the client and attorney, conducting client interviews ❙❙ Preparing trial notebooks and providing assistance in trial settings ❙❙ Maintaining effective communication with clients is a major responsibility of family law paralegals. In fact, much of their day is spent communicating with clients, because family law often involves emotionally charged issues such as child custody, child support and division of assets. Family law paralegals must have excellent interpersonal communication skills and must be capable of handling clients who may be anxious, upset, or distressed. Three things you like about your job: The upsides to family law include the opportunities to litigate in court and the collegiality of working in teams, and helping clients who have been in similar situations as myself. What did the application/selection process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? Using the Law Society’s find a solicitor facility (available on their website) I searched for different companies emailing them a copy of my CV. Maria Fogg Family Law then asked me to come for an interview. Within the hour I received a phone call back to say I had been offered the job role. I prepared by considering the questions I may be asked during the interview process, being familiar with the company’s website and the policies they stand for. I also prepared by deciding my outfit and travel in advance in case of any disruptions. What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones? I received help with my CV. The adviser went through which sections

needed improving, and also gave me advice on the job selection process, including techniques to prepare for these. What relevant work experience/skills did you use during the selection process? My life skills from previous jobs and pro bono work with the Citizens Advice Bureau. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? My advice would be to access help and support from the Careers Team, make contacts by going to any networking events, and take the leap of faith by walking into different solicitors to see if they have any work placements coming up. If you’re a young student, show off your academic skills, if you are a mature student who has recently returned to education, use your life skills. Doing so will not only impress the employer, it will also make you stand out from the rest of the crowd. Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again? I would ensure I spent more time planning and researching for my essays and exams instead of rushing my final draft. I would also have planned my social, work and home life in advance. This saves you from feeling overwhelmed with the workload. And to believe you can do it! What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? The aspect of my degree that was most relevant was the Employability and Business Skills Module that I completed in my second year. This was because we weren’t just taught the academic aspects of pursuing a career in law but also the practical aspects, which is very useful when it comes to the application process. This included practising the STAR method that many employers use, and networking with other solicitors, which gave me more contacts on LinkedIn and mock interview opportunities with real employers. Any other advice you would give to students about their employability? Use the Careers Zone for help and guidance, and always look out for volunteering opportunities as this impresses potential employers.

Erasmus at the School of Law The School of Law offers a variety of international work placement opportunities for its students via the Erasmus+ scheme; Asia internships and the Sharjah summer school scheme. First, students can work as research assistants at the University of Malaga on a range of topics for at least two months. The Erasmus+ scheme requires students to work at least two months abroad. Main tasks are to engage in legal research, translation and prepare teaching materials. Secondly, students can work in law firms in Malta. LJMU students have worked in areas such as family law, criminal law, commercial law, international law and maritime law.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

The Asia internships enable students to undertake work placements in either Vietnam or Tokyo. The variety of placements on offer is wide and students can gain valuable work experience with international law firms. The Sharjah summer school scheme allows students to study for a week at the University of Sharjah, UAE. This programme offers students the chance to experience a new culture, develop their cultural awareness and communication skills, helping to boost their employability upon graduation. If you’d like further information about the programme, please contact Dr Alison Lui at: A.Lui@ljmu.ac.uk.

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Spotlight on the Diversity Access Scheme NAHIDA ULLAH COMPLETED A DEGREE IN FRENCH STUDIES AT UNIVERSITY OF LONDON IN PARIS, A MASTERS IN QUALIFYING LAW AT LJMU AND HAS JUST GRADUATED FROM THE LEGAL PRACTICE COURSE AT LJMU

As most law students know all too well, the legal field is highly competitive and ‘getting your foot in the door’ (a phrase that you will hear a lot!) is extremely difficult. After completing a Masters in Qualifying Law at LJMU in 2017, I was concerned about financing the Legal Practice Course and felt as though the odds were against me. Lo and behold, I received an email advertising the Law Society’s Diversity Access Scheme, which included a full LPC scholarship, a mentor scheme and opportunities for legal experience. The application process included completing an essay about a legal topic, for which my tutor at the time kindly gave me direction (shout out to Bleddyn Davies, he makes Brexit interesting somehow). I also explained why I want to become a solicitor and gave a general picture of who I am and discussed the barriers that I have overcome to access higher education. The interview took place in London in front of a panel of judges and I cried (oops) but fought to continue answering questions. I was then given a work scenario and asked how I would manage the issue. I used all of my relevant past experiences to make the best impression that I could and hoped for the best.

When I got the call a few weeks later to say that I had been successful, of course I cried again. This opportunity provided me with the support that I could not have received elsewhere. My mentor is a qualified family lawyer who has been so helpful and kind to me throughout the course and has given me direction and reassurance. I have secured a legal work placement in London with the Government Legal Department, which will include shadowing lawyers who draft parliamentary bills and visiting the Supreme Court (Disneyland for lawyers)! I have also attended a legal training day with the in-house legal team at the Royal Bank of Scotland based in London and I have predominantly been provided with so many fantastic opportunities to network. Applying for this scheme is one of the best decisions that I have ever made and I am so grateful for the confidence and motivation it has given me. Forget about ‘foot in the door’, I say dive in head first and never let an opportunity pass, because the saddest thing in life is wasted talent (I stole that from A Bronx Tale).

Pro Bono Legal Advice Centre be solved, but a reality to be experienced “ Life is not a problem toSoren ” Kierkegaard It is increasingly recognised that law students can hone their practical skills, and deepen their understanding of the law, by gaining practical experience alongside their academic studies. As a consequence, in April 2014 we established a pro bono Legal Advice Centre (LAC) in the School of Law, which runs throughout the academic year. The Centre is open to students, staff, and members of the public, and offers clinics in family, employment, civil litigation and wills and administration advice. After making an appointment, clients attend a fact-finding interview with students working in pairs, who then research the client’s issue and provide a written letter of advice within 14 days. Students are supervised throughout the interview and research process by solicitors from leading local firms, working pro bono. The LAC also benefits from legal case management software which gives students valuable experience of the kind of system they will use every day in their professional lives. In addition, we run drop-in clinics, allowing students from Level 4 upwards to shadow local solicitors giving verbal advice to clients with family and civil litigation queries. We are also able to conduct documentary research activities on a pro bono basis for local law firms. We are continuing to pilot Keele University’s award-winning CLOCK scheme in the Liverpool Family Courts, training students to work alongside the Personal Support Unit to act as lay court assistants for litigants who do not have any representation. The LAC received national recognition less than a year after launching, having been shortlisted in March 2015 for two national LawWorks & Attorney General Awards (Best Contribution by a Law School and Best New Student Pro Bono Activity).

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

Students can volunteer in different clinics within the LAC from Level 4 upwards and are fully trained in issues of procedure, confidentiality, data protection and IT. By volunteering for the LAC, students enhance their skills in:

❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙

Research Interviewing Drafting File management

They also gain valuable experience in dealing with real clients, build their network and profile within the local legal community, and deepen their understanding of the substantive legal issues they research for their clients. Students interested in doing so can undertake research based on the work of the LAC. In addition, there are several places available per year for students to work as assistant coordinators in the LAC on a voluntary basis, helping to run day to day administration and project development. Finally, by undertaking pro bono work, students are ultimately helping to ensure access to justice for the most vulnerable in LJMU’s community. Any queries about the LAC should be directed to Rachel Stalker, Senior Lecturer and Legal Advice Centre Coordinator (r.stalker@ljmu.ac.uk).

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Careers in Criminal Justice Studying towards a degree in Criminal Justice at LJMU will help you develop a number of skills, which will put you in a good position to enter a range of careers, both within and outside of the criminal justice system. Although your degree would be an excellent foundation for different career paths in the public, voluntary and charity sectors, you are by no means restricted to these areas and could use your transferable skills and work experience to enter careers in a variety of diverse fields, including research, retail, consultancy, law, accountancy or social work. A significant proportion of criminal justice graduates who enter employment after graduation work in the public sector. Types of work include: information and advisory roles, support work and administration within the public sector, charities and voluntary organisations.

Typical/main employers Although many criminal justice graduates work in the public and voluntary sector, there are good opportunities in the private sector in areas like retail or law. Typical employers in the public sector include:

Your options within the criminal justice and social care sector include: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

Probation Officer: www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/probation-officer Youth Worker: www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/youth-worker Social Worker: www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/social-worker Prison Officer: www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/prison-officer Police Officer: www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/police-officer

The suggestions listed here are by no means exhaustive so we would encourage you to consider other relevant options e.g. based on previous work or voluntary experience, skills and interests. To explore job options by sector, check www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles You can also use career planning tools like www.prospects.ac.uk/planner to generate initial career ideas.

{

OPPORTUNITIES IN THE CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE: The CPS offers a range of legal and support roles including administration officers, equality and diversity officers, casework assistants, as well as roles within finance and HR - www.cps.gov.uk/careers/.

{

❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

Probation trusts Police forces HM Prison Service Local government Civil Service

Occupational profiles listed on www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles include a section on typical employers and vacancy sources, so use these as a starting point to research potential employers within the career areas that interest you.

Volunteering Students are also actively encouraged to take part in voluntary work within the criminal justice sphere during the course of their studies. We believe this enhances an individual’s knowledge, but also their employment prospects. Members of staff can always be approached to discuss these placements; however, we encourage students to proactively seek out voluntary opportunities to improve their independence in this type of scenario. Some of our current and previous students have worked as volunteers in numerous settings, such as: Youth Offending Teams, Police Special Constables, drug treatment and support agencies, youth work, Citizens Advice Bureau, and Victim Support.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Bringing criminal justice to life ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

Work placements Internships Projects with work-based contacts Simulations of workplace activity Employer-driven case studies Off-campus work-related learning

❚❚ ❚❚

❚❚

Examples include:

Simulations of workplace activity, such as the preparation of pre-sentence reports as part of the Youth Justice Module at Level 6, and the preparation of CVs as part of the Professional Development module at Level 5. Employer-driven case studies and mock job interviews conducted by criminal justice professionals on the Professional Development module at Level 5. Opportunities to learn about life in the criminal justice workplace through a series of professional guest speakers across various modules, such as Media, the Public and Criminal Justice, Professional Development, Prisons and Policing. Off-campus work-related learning, such as trips to prisons on the Prisons module.

“

❚❚

Work placements on the Work-Based Project module at Level 6.

An employer says ...

The opportunity to discuss such an emotive subject with students, other professionals and peers was a fascinating and thought-provoking experience. The students, as always, applied themselves well in debating a complex issue with some very interesting questions being asked on the role of faith groups in rehabilitation and the cost of imprisonment. I was pleased that the debate allowed for a wider discussion on sentencing and the criminal justice system and I hope the students found it as useful an experience as I did. Ben McCrorie, Special Projects Manager in the Chief Executive’s Office at Cheshire Probation, was part of a death penalty debate with Level 5 CJ students

An employer says ...

“

Work-related learning and ensuring that students are engaged in the realities of working in the criminal justice sector are an essential part of all of LJMU’s Criminal Justice (CJ) programmes, with all of the following being essential parts of the programmes:

The event was a fantastic experience. The delegates were responsive and attentive and produced thorough professional presentations. The day was a great opportunity for all criminal justice students, providing the opportunity to develop their skills and contribute to the criminal justice discourse. Dave Wood, Senior Probation Officer from Merseyside Probation, was a guest speaker at the Experiencing Justice Conference for Level 5 CJ students

The Routledge Guide to Working in Criminal Justice: Employability skills and careers in the criminal justice sector Every year thousands of people compete for employment in the UK. Employability and the ability to demonstrate the skills, attributes and behaviours required in a full-time job have become integral to securing employment and developing a career. This book aims to offer a one-stop guide to becoming employable and to careers in the criminal justice sector and beyond, exploring the key organisations and employers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, explaining how they operate and detailing how they are changing. Written in an engaging and accessible style by four experts on employability and the criminal justice sector (including LJMU’s Ester Ragonese and Jo Ives), this book combines useful hints on becoming employable with helpful insights from those working in specific sectors. The book covers careers in:

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

Probation The police Prisons The courts Prosecution services and advocacy Youth justice

Packed with hints and tips, advice from current students, useful web links and lists of recommended reading, this book provides a clear guide to the career decision-making and transition processes and covers the essential elements required to making the first step towards securing a job in the above sectors.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Graduate Case Study CRIMINAL JUSTICE GRADUATE ELLENNA ROSE WILKINSON IS A PROBATION SERVICES OFFICER FOR HER MAJESTY’S PRISON AND PROBATION SERVICE WHILST TRAINING TO BE A PROBATION OFFICER What does your job involve? PQiP is a work-based learning programme that combines skills development and applied academic study. As a PQiP learner I have developed my knowledge and understanding of the service by working with offenders as well as completing my vocational qualification. As well as being able to work in an office, I have also been given the opportunity to carry out three placements over the 15-month programme. For one day a week throughout the programme I will be given the opportunity to work in: prisons, courts and approved premises. On a day-to-day basis I work with offenders in one-to-one sessions and carry out risk assessments to help manage their risk within the community. I also work in multi-agency teams with police officers, social workers and mental health professionals to manage offenders. I have to communicate with them to help support my professional reports. The work is demanding and rewarding, and I have learnt to be resilient and to continuously use my professional judgement. Three things you like about your job: ❙❙ I love working with different individuals and supporting them to change their future. ❙❙ Having a good supportive team. ❙❙ No day is ever the same! What did the application/selection process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? There is quite a long process for applying for the PQiP programme. Firstly, you need to apply online, and fill out the lengthy application that asks for examples of times you have shown the key skills needed to be a probation officer. For this process I ensured I had a list of all my employers, volunteering opportunities and their contact details. I also did some research online to check on the probation website as to what is needed to be a Probation Officer and made notes of times I had done something that could link to that skill/attribute. If you have passed the initial application process, you are then invited to complete two tests online. I would suggest carrying out practice tests prior to completing this. If you have not done one before, they can seem complicated. Finally, if you have completed both tests successfully, you will be invited to the assessment

centre day and this consists of a written exercise, group exercise and an interview. To prepare for this, I ensured I had my application answers, my CV and other key information that may be needed. I ensured I knew about the service and what was desired for the role. What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones? I spoke to the Careers Team in order to see if my application could help me get into my dream role of working with young offenders. What relevant work experience/volunteering activities did you use during the selection process? I spoke quite a bit about my volunteering with Positive Futures, experience in youth work and about my work-based placement in my final year of university. I was lucky enough to have had my placement with the Youth Offending Team in Liverpool. I also spoke about my work for the Students Union and the confidence and support that job role gave me with working with new individuals, on a day-to-day basis. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? Volunteer as much as you can. I know how easy it is to have two days a week off university however, giving up a couple of hours a week looks very promising to future employers, and it shows not only dedication but can teach you new transferable skills. Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again? Volunteer earlier - I did not start volunteering until end of my first year/ second year and I wish I had done this earlier. What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? My whole degree was very useful when applying for my position as many of my modules form the basis of my PQiP qualification. It is also useful to have knowledge of probation, prisons and youth offending as they all link to the probation service.

Graduate Case Study HEATHER EASTON IS AN LLB LAW GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS A CONSTABLE FOR GREATER MANCHESTER POLICE What does your job role involve? I have recently completed my training stage which involved placements, personal safety training and legal study. Since August 2017, I have taken on the role of a constable in the Tameside division of Manchester, under the supervision of a tutor. I am also studying for a Diploma in Policing within my training. Three things you like about your job: ❚❚ Being involved in an organisation that strives towards protecting people. ❚❚ Being part of a team. ❚❚ The variety of the role. What did the application/selection process involve? After submitting an application along with a CV, I was invited for a telephone interview and asked three questions related to policing that I could evidence from my own experience. For the next stage, I completed an assessment centre which lasted around five to six hours, where I had a competency-based interview, maths and English assessments, role play exercises and psychometric tests. After this I was invited to an interview, where I focused on showing my experience

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

and how I would apply this to being a police officer. After my interview I was given a conditional offer of employment, subject to vetting, medical and fitness. What help or support did you access from the Careers Team at LJMU? I attended all the careers lectures that were provided by LJMU and I found that helpful in terms of identifying job options related to my degree and what to expect during the application and selection process. I feel students should access support, especially around assessment centres as they are being used a lot more. What advice would you give other students to improve their employability? In your first year, settle in and once you develop an interest for a particular subject, have a go at a couple of weeks’ work experience to make your face known; from there you can volunteer to gain more experience over longer time periods. Additionally, get involved in networking events to gather information about options with your degree.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Graduate Case Study SABHIA HUSSAIN IS A LAW GRADUATE WHO WORKED AT JDX CONSULTING AFTER GRADUATING AND HAS RECENTLY STARTED ON THE GRADUATE PROGRAMME AT RBS What does your job/graduate scheme involve? JDX – Outreached to different financial projects for various clients. My time here has seen me work at Deutsche Bank on various tax-related projects over nine months. This included learning about applicable regulation, data cleansing, and outreaching to the Bank’s clients to obtain various pieces of information. RBS – I am due to start this new role soon, however I am aware it consists of four six month placements in different areas of the bank. The scheme is designed with the objective of advising small businesses how to adapt and progress with changes, including the introduction of new technology. Why did you decide to apply for a graduate scheme? I enjoy hands-on learning and I like the idea of being able to potentially grow within a company. A graduate scheme allows for both these things. Furthermore, if you are unsure about where you can see yourself working, a graduate scheme more often than not allows you to experience a company within different areas with a view to keeping you on in the future. This way, there’s an element of job security alongside the freedom of not necessarily being tied down to one department. Essentially, if the scheme is within a company you have the ambition to work in, it is an invaluable foot in the door to explore where you fit best. Three things you like about your job: JDX – Allowed me to gain experience which then helped me to impress on a later interview for a graduate scheme I was aiming for. Exposure to various clients allows for great networking to explore potential future roles and the chance to create links with other contracting consultants from different companies. Again, this enhances your chances massively for future opportunities. JDX specifically higher graduates from various backgrounds which means I have been able to work alongside people from different disciplines. This creates quite a dynamic environment and I thoroughly enjoy the company of my colleagues. What did the application/selection process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? JDX – I applied through LinkedIn and received a call back from a recruiter who then gave me a preliminary interview on the spot. I was then later invited to a face-to-face interview with a manager at the Birmingham office. To prepare, I ensured I knew my CV inside out. I then ensured I had considered different examples of past experiences that displayed various skills e.g. teamwork, organisation, passion for the field etc. This is a great way to get you in the mind set for competency-based interviews where you are asked to provide examples of various situations that demonstrate different skills. RBS – Initially I had to complete what was essentially an online CV detailing previous work experience and education history. I was then invited to sit numerous online tests which included logical reasoning and numerical reasoning. Following the completion of different tests, I was asked to undertake a video interview in which the questions were pre-recorded. Finally, I was invited to an assessment centre which consisted of different tasks over the course of a day. These included a one-to-one interview, a team task with other candidates, a written task and a further one-to-one role play in relation to the earlier team task.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

To prepare I ensured I had examples ready that displayed the various skills I possess in order to showcase my employability. In particular, I tried to focus on why I was unique to ensure I was memorable. Furthermore, I researched the role in depth to ensure I understood it as much as possible - this helped to tailor my interview answers. What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones? At university, I attended a session regarding LinkedIn and also had a meeting on how to write my CV. Both of these were incredibly useful. My first job after graduation was a direct result of my use of LinkedIn. Previous to the session, I hadn’t the faintest clue of how LinkedIn worked, but once I used the knowledge I gained, I realised what a valuable resource it was. Personally, learning how to construct a CV was something I always struggled with. The help I received enabled me to learn how to streamline my CV and make it more applicable/targeted. What relevant work experience/ skills did you use during the selection process? Outside of university I regularly participated in various charitable activities. This in itself allows for you to show yourself as well rounded and organised. Additionally, it allows for you to connect with people of differing expertise, cultures and experiences. This broadens your own horizons making you more personable and ultimately, more impressive in interviews. At University I was a student representative for my cohort - this was a great talking point in interviews. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability Try and break up the routine where possible by working part-time or volunteering. Organisation is key, however the benefits are undeniably worthwhile. This will enable you to build interpersonal skills, learn about the world and understand things from differing points of view. These skills are highly valued by employers and from my experience, allow for more confident interviews and general conversations. Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again? I think I would try not to stress myself out as much by worrying about achieving high grades. High grades are a natural result of working hard but also working smartly by tailoring your working style to what works for you. What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? The aspects of my degree that related well to real life occurrences were very useful when interviewing and networking. Paying attention to the little anecdotes in lectures where your lecturer highlights the effects of your topics to life around you. They make great talking points and demonstrate your understanding of your degree in the working world. Any other advice you would give to students about their employability? Finding a job can take time. Not just in the logistic sense of filling out applications and completing interviews or other stages, but in terms of building on experience so that you move from strength to strength and grow in confidence. Try not to become disheartened if you receive rejections or can’t find a role straightaway. As long as you continue to develop yourself and knock on doors, eventually the right one will open!

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Careers in Psychology and Forensic Psychology Studying towards a degree in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice at LJMU, which is recognised/accredited by the British Psychological Society (BPS), will help you develop a number of skills and put you in a good position to enter a range of careers. Your degree is an excellent foundation to pursue different career paths in the criminal justice sector e.g. as a trainee forensic psychologist, trainee probation officer, victim support worker or working in witness support. However, you are by no means restricted to these areas and could use your transferable skills and work experience to enter careers in a variety of diverse fields such as: research, support work, social work, marketing, HR, accountancy or retail management. Studying towards a BPS-accredited degree means you will be eligible for graduate membership of the BPS, which is a key requirement to pursue many psychologyrelated postgraduate courses and is the first step towards becoming a chartered psychologist. If you are interested in becoming a psychologist after you graduate, it is important to be aware that this requires a lengthy period of training following your degree course. For example, to enter areas of psychology such as counselling, forensic and clinical psychology, three or more years of training are required following your degree course. Furthermore, in order to gain entry to some of these training courses, work experience may well be necessary. To find out more about the routes into various branches of psychology, you can refer to the careers section of the BPS website: https://careers.bps.org.uk

Typical/main employers Although many psychology graduates (employer information regarding the Criminal Justice degree programme at LJMU has already been covered – please see previous pages) work in the public sector, there are good opportunities in the private sector in areas like retail management or law. Typical employers in the public sector include:

❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

HM Prison Service Probation trusts Police forces Local government Civil Service NHS Universities

Graduate Case Study HANNAH CREIGHTON IS A CRIMINAL JUSTICE GRADUATE WHO NOWS WORKS AS AN AMBITION NAVIGATOR (LOW INTENSITY) FOR MERSEY CARE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST What does your job involve?

I manage a caseload of clients who are prescribed opiate substitute medication, which involves meeting with each client on a regular basis for key work sessions to discuss their substance misuse, prescribed medication, mental and physical health, as well as social issues. Alongside these regular appointments, I accompany each of my clients to a review with their doctor who prescribes their medication.

What did the application/selection process involve and how did you prepare for each stage?

Originally, I was employed by Lifeline, who had the contract to provide this service for the local authority at the time. After successfully completing an online application form, I was invited to attend a group activity and an interview. Before writing my application, I researched the company, including its visions, values and history, which alongside volunteering for the company helped to develop background knowledge around the role. This research also helped with preparing for my interview. In addition to this I attended a session with an employability adviser for advice on tailoring my application as well as interview preparation.

What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones?

During my second year, I had a couple of appointments with a careers adviser, who discussed and suggested areas I may like to work in, leaving me with information to conduct further research. While writing my first few job applications, I got support from the employability advisers, who taught me how to tailor my CV/job application to each specific job, and

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

how to communicate my skills and past experience effectively.

What relevant work experience/skills/volunteering did you use during the selection process?

I used the majority of my past experience and voluntary roles. The most important of these for my current role was my voluntary experience, as I had volunteered for Lifeline for around 18 months. Further to this, my other work experience with a wide variety of people within a range of settings was beneficial, showing that I could communicate effectively.

What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability?

Researching the field and narrowing down what sector you would like to work in early in your degree would be very beneficial, as this would then allow you to visit different organisations to help you further narrow your selection. Utilising the support from careers and employability advisers and events would also help with this process. My main piece of advice would be to volunteer!! Second to this would be to try and gain experience in a variety of settings.

Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again? I would volunteer with a second organisation, which would have given me a wider basic understanding, i.e. community mental health services or probation.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Graduate Case Study TAYLOR DOUGAN IS A CRIMINAL JUSTICE GRADUATE WHO WORKS AS A TEAM LEADER & CLIENT SUPPORT WORKER FOR GENIE IN THE GUTTER What does your job role involve?

My main duties as a team leader are overseeing volunteers, delegating tasks, ensuring the daily running of the service, and ensuring data collection and monitoring systems are updated. As a client support worker, I take referrals for new clients, assess clients’ needs and identify any additional support they may require, support clients into detox/ rehab if appropriate, and deliver one-to-one sessions and recovery groups.

Three things you like about your job:

❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

Helping those who are normally cast aside by society to fulfil their creative and recovery potential. That no two days are ever the same. I am learning new skills every day and making wide connections within the recovery community.

What help or support did you access from the Careers Team?

Through the World of Work module within my second year I gained a lot of knowledge on application processes and interview skills. I would recommend students take advantage of the mock interview as it does prepare you for real life interviews.

What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process?

I originally became aware of Genie as the manager, Janine Davies, gave a guest lecture within my Drugs & Alcohol module on what Genie provides as a service. I really wanted to get involved with the charity in some way, so applied for a volunteer role. From this, my relationship and involvement with the charity grew and I could draw a lot on my experience with them during my interview.

Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again?

I would have taken advantage of the support offered by the Careers Team a lot earlier and started to build my employability skills set to give me a greater advantage within the world of work. I benefited from my work experience at the Student Union, which gave me confidence in interacting with peers I had not met before, a skill I transferred into my volunteering and job interviews.

Graduate Case Study ABIGAIL ASPEY IS A FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE GRADUATE WHO WORKS AS A CASEWORKER FOR THE HOME OFFICE What does your job involve ? My job involves decision-making for people applying for citizenship in the UK. This is achieved using a specific framework and set of steps to come to a decision. What did the application/selection process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? The first steps of the application were competency and situationbased questions. You were then marked on these and if you scored in the top tier, you were invited for an interview. Prior to the interview, you were informed that the day would include an exam and if you passed the exam, an interview based on two competencies. I looked on the internet for people’s previous experiences and planned my responses based on their advice. What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones? I had a meeting in my third year with a careers adviser. They pointed me in the right direction when I discussed the career areas I would be interested in pursuing. They really helped me understand all my options and the best ways to make myself more employable.

as it gives you time to complete them without getting too overwhelmed in your last year. Don’t worry too much about getting work experience in the area you would like to pursue, as any work experience will make you stand out amongst those who have not completed any. Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again? I would definitely have completed more work experience whilst I had less work and less stress. I started completing mine in my second year and it was stressful trying to keep up with my grades as well as searching, and preparing for, my work experience. What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process ? During the selection process, I remember having a guest lecture from someone who gave advice on how to apply for jobs in the field of Criminal Justice. They gave an insight on what someone on the other side of the application would be looking for and this really helped me when applying for jobs.

What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? Explore all possible work experience opportunities in your first year,

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Postgraduate study in the School of Law The School of Law offers an exciting range of postgraduate study and research options, including:

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MA Criminal Justice MSc/LLM Global Crime, Justice and Security LLM in Qualifying Law

❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

LLM International Business Corporate and Finance Law Legal Practice Course LLM Legal Practice

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LLM Master of Laws Postgraduate research opportunities LLM LPC

For further details, please see information below and online postgraduate prospectus: https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/about-us/faculties/faculty-of-arts-professional-and-social-studies/school-of-law/courses

LLM Legal Practice

LLM in Qualifying Law

The LLM in Legal Practice is specifically designed for those who have already completed the final academic stage of their legal training (the Legal Practice Course or the Bar Practitioner Course). It is a research-intensive programme in which students can focus on a particular area of law, either from their studies or their time in practice, to produce a dissertation. Areas of study have included such diverse topics as the legacy special court for Sierra Leone, the effects of the cuts to legal aid on family law, or the suitability of the current marine insurance regime. The wide range of expertise within LJMU’s School of Law means that a supervisor can be found for almost any topic. Supervisors are experts in their area and come from both practitioner and academic backgrounds.

The LLM in Qualifying Law (formerly the Graduate Diploma in Law) at LJMU is designed for students who already hold an undergraduate degree in any subject to change and advance their career in law.

The LLM in Legal Practice is offered on both a full-time and parttime basis, with many of our part-time students currently practising as lawyers. This breadth of educational and practice experience means that the students have an interesting and enriching learning experience. The Law Society, Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Bar Council and the Bar Standards Board have expressed their support for programmes that allow practitioners and would-be practitioners to convert their LPC/BVC/BPTC postgraduate diplomas to Masters level degrees. As such the LLM in Legal Practice is a great qualification to have.

The course is validated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and the Bar Standards Board (BSB) and is delivered by experts within the School of Law, which produces internationally-recognised research. You will be taught by both practitioners in law (many of whom are solicitors) and academics in law and so you will get the best of both worlds. The course is designed to provide students with knowledge of the foundation subjects in law (which a student would usually cover within a three-year undergraduate law degree) and can be studied full-time over one academic year or part-time over two years. In addition to the core foundation subjects students will undertake to complete the qualifying part of the degree, students will also carry out a dissertation in any area of law not already studied on the programme. On completion of the course, graduates will be able to pursue a career either as a solicitor or barrister (in the same way as a law graduate) by going onto a Legal Practice Course (LPC) for solicitors or a BPTC (Bar Professional Training Course) for barristers, or they can pursue an academic career by undertaking an MPhil or PhD. The course is designed so that students can get involved in all the extracurricular activities that are offered by the School of Law, such as competitions in mooting and mediation or participation in the Pro Bono Legal Clinic. All students can also join the very successful Student Law Society.

Postgraduate Case Study LLB LAW GRADUATE GOVINDER CHAMBAY COMPLETED AN LLM INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CORPORATE AND FINANCE LAW Why did you decide to apply for your postgraduate course?

My intended career path is to practise as a barrister at the Bar of England & Wales. As my module choices left me a little short in terms of substantive research areas, particularly those related to commercial law, a Masters in International Business Corporate and Finance Law offered me the opportunity to fill the gaps in my legal knowledge. Moreover, as a Masters is research-based, which the bar is renowned for, this also aligned with my future career path.

How have you benefited from your involvement in extracurricular activities?

I have benefited immensely from my participation in legal extracurricular activities. This has provided invaluable networking

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opportunities by allowing me exposure to legal professionals. Alongside this, mooting, ADR and debating competitions have not only allowed me to develop my public speaking skills, but have proven themselves a fantastic way of demonstrating commitment to my future career path. Regarding previous work experience, following graduation I worked as a paralegal in a regional solicitors firm that specialised in insolvency. This has proved to be an invaluable asset, as this has allowed me to demonstrate industry relevant knowledge and skills when being interviewed.

Would you do anything differently in terms of career planning if you were a first-year undergraduate student again? I would certainly begin planning my career within my first year. You have greater

potential to succeed in your academic studies when they are given meaning and purpose regarding your intended career path. Furthermore, I would certainly have made greater efforts to build a strong CV from the very beginning.

What are your plans after finishing your postgraduate programme? From September, I am studying the BPTC at BPP Manchester. I have recently secured a scholarship award from The Inner Temple of over 19k which will make an invaluable contribution towards my BPTC fees and living expenses. My extracurricular activities and work experience played a crucial role in securing the scholarship award.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

The Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice Course The Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice is a specialist course offering the opportunity to pass those subjects required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for qualification as a solicitor in England and Wales. As a Law student who has completed a qualifying Law degree or a graduate who has taken the Graduate Diploma in Law conversion course (i.e. LLM in Qualifying Law), you will have extensive knowledge of the law. On the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice, we will provide the opportunities for you to use that extensive knowledge to advise and support clients and solve legal problems. The course has a professional focus and you will learn everything you need to equip you for your future legal career. This is a demanding course and you will need to prove that you can work to deadlines and produce documentation of an appropriate standard and demonstrate excellent skills in areas such as communication, oral and written, and research. This is what you would expect if you consulted a solicitor, and it is what you will achieve on the course if you fully engage with the learning opportunities. LJMU’s School of Law has offered the course since 1994. Originally we offered part-time courses only so our first cohort graduated in 1996. Every year since then, our graduates have been joining the legal profession across the UK, and they number more than 1100. Many of our graduates now have senior posts in prestigious legal firms, or in legal services across Government. Some have set up their own law firms and others have earned judicial appointments including a Tribunal Judge and an Assistant Coroner. Our alumni have also played senior roles in commercial

organisations - one of our graduates is currently a Foundation Trust Secretary within the NHS. This huge network of LPC graduates enables us to provide meaningful work experience through our Solicitor Mentor Scheme, and it is fair to say that many of our students have found employment and training contracts by responding to notifications of vacancies sent directly by employers to the LPC teaching team. You may be aware that the SRA is proposing changes to the route to qualification as a solicitor. The proposal is to create a national assessment in two parts covering elements of the current qualifying Law degree and the current LPC. That assessment will be implemented nationally in 2020 and will stand alone, and students will have to decide how they will undertake the vast amount of learning they will require to pass the assessment. Institutions are currently planning how they will offer that learning opportunity. Here at LJMU Law School our vast experience of delivering academic and vocational courses means that we are well placed to deliver high quality learning opportunities aimed at the new assessment.

Our LPC graduates recommend us to prospective students. Here are a selection of comments from recent graduates: “My time at LJMU was first and foremost really good fun! I studied the course part-time and I found managing the workload, alongside working full-time as a paralegal, manageable and there was plenty of guidance available from the tutors. I was at university one full day a week with classmates with whom I made really excellent friendships. The course itself was very well-structured, the classes were engaging with patient and experienced tutors and the electives were varied. I obtained a distinction, but I couldn’t have achieved that without the help of the tutors.”

Harriet Edwards (graduated 2016), Trainee Solicitor at Weightmans in Manchester

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

“LJMU is an excellent academic institution with an outstanding support system and wonderful legal team. I recommend the LPC at LJMU to anyone considering undertaking the course as I truly believe the quality of teaching and level of support available are the reasons for my success!” Harriet Clayton (graduated 2017), Winner of the Liverpool Law Society Rupert Bremner prize 2017 and Trainee at DLA Piper

“I loved the LPC at LJMU. The facilities in the Redmonds Building are first rate, and the course tutors were fantastic. Not only do they bring in-depth knowledge to the subjects, but also practical realworld experience. Highly recommended!” Neil Diamond (graduated 2016), Solicitor at Security Industry Authority

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

The LLM LPC This new course builds upon the ongoing success of our PG Diploma in Legal Practice. It offers students the opportunity to combine the study of legal practice to meet Solicitors Regulation Authority requirements with the creation of a dissertation reflecting extensive research into a chosen area of law. The course will contribute to your personal development and may enhance your chances of securing employment within a very competitive legal profession. The course is structured to enable you to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and attributes that will prepare you for your work in the legal profession as you complete the LPC element of the course. Full details of that part of the course are set out under the information on the Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice Course (see p.17). In addition to your work on the LPC you will be introduced to research methodologies early in the new year for full-time students, and at the same time in year 2 for part-time students. You will be mentored whilst you identify an area of law or legal practice you wish to explore in greater depth. You will then create a research proposal to be submitted after the LPC Stage 1 examinations. Once you have completed LPC Stage 2 examinations in June you will start to work on your dissertation with the support of your allocated supervisor with a view to submission in September of that year. Whilst this course is a new combination, the teaching team have extensive experience of supervising postgraduate dissertations across a number of programmes. The School of Law has produced a diverse portfolio of quality work within law and criminal justice. In the latest REF results (2014) the impact of our research was ranked as being 100% internationally

Look for

excellent. Overall, 97% of our research was rated as being either internationally excellent or internationally recognised. You can be confident that we can provide appropriate advice and support as you complete your dissertation, and should you decide to continue your academic journey by studying for further qualifications.

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DID YOU KNOW? Students on the LLM LPC are usually eligible to apply for a postgraduate loan of up to £10,609 (academic year 2018/19) – for further information, go to https://www.gov.uk/masters-loan

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jobs and internships from around the world

GoinGlobal Database INCLUDES:

❚❚Jobs search with 16 million+ listings ❚❚Internship search ❚❚Country career guides ❚❚Global city guides ❚❚USA city career guides ❚❚Employer directory AVAILABLE VIA THE CAREERS WEBSITE:

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Student development and work experience The School of Law has a dedicated Student Development Coordinator (SDC) to help you expand your skillset and gain valuable work experience during your time at LJMU. SDC Steve Altham is available to support and provide information to you on the opportunities available while studying in the School of Law.

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Steve can help with the following:

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Provide local support with CVs, covering letters, application forms and interviews for jobs and placements Help when looking for a placement/work experience Help in evidencing and articulating your skills/experiences Show you how to promote your brand using social media e.g. LinkedIn Signpost you to the relevant Employability Adviser, Careers Adviser, careers and employability workshop or employer event etc.

You may also see Steve helping with the following:

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Supporting and delivering employability activities within the academic curriculum Supporting local employability events alongside academic/ careers staff Making sure health and safety processes are complete for placements Researching into student views and perceptions of employability in Law School programmes Enhancing the Law School Personal Development Planning (PDP) process Promoting job and placement websites

CONTACT DETAILS To find out more, please contact Steve by email at s.altham@ ljmu.ac.uk, telephone 0151 231 3036 or ask for him at the Law School Office main window, 4th Floor, Redmonds Building.

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LLB (sandwich year) programme Employability skills are crucial to students in an increasingly competitive labour market. The legal market is facing enormous challenges due to fragmentation and deregulation of the sector, the growth of alternative business structures and cuts in legal aid funding. However, deregulation creates more competition and encourages innovation. There is still a demand for lawyers although students need to be creative and think laterally. This is exactly why LJMU’s School of Law is offering the LLB (sandwich year) programme where students will gain invaluable experience in industry or abroad. The LLB Hons (sandwich year) programme is a full-time four-year programme where students can either:

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Carry out a work placement in an organisation (legal or nonlegal) in the United Kingdom or Carry out a work placement in an organisation (legal or nonlegal) in Europe via the Erasmus+ scheme

The LLB Hons (sandwich year) programme at LJMU’s School of Law integrates the Erasmus+ scheme, thus fostering links with universities and organisations at the European level. Employers are increasingly asking students for work experience and so integrating a year in industry would enhance your employability skills. By undertaking work experience, students will gain valuable soft skills, a better understanding of the workplace and law in practice. LJMU’s School of Law is one of only a few UK law schools that offer this opportunity as a part of the degree programme. Students undertaking the LLB Hons (sandwich year) programme will maintain close contact with the placement tutor during their third year. With the job market becoming increasingly globalised and competitive, the experience gained during the year abroad or in industry will be a unique selling point of an LJMU student. If you have any queries, please contact Dr Alison Lui, the LLB (sandwich year) programme tutor: A.Lui@ljmu.ac.uk.

Placement Case Study LLB STUDENT THOMAS HURLEY TELLS US ABOUT HIS SANDWICH PLACEMENT AT DWF The idea of taking a year out of university to complete a placement within a highly respectable and commercial law firm seemed extremely daunting at first. But then I realised that it was in my best interest to obtain some valuable legal experience which is sought by the majority of law firms today. During my placement I worked with such a supportive and diverse group of people who basically introduced me to what life is like working within a commercial environment. It was always my duty to act in the best interests of our clients, which meant completing numerous tasks on a day-to-day basis. As part of my role within the team, I was responsible for preparing a variety of documents which would be used in court, such as claim forms and witness statements etc. It was also my responsibility to liaise between our clients and their customers, which was always a challenge as each case was unique and subject to the customers’ financial circumstances. During my placement I learnt a lot about how a commercial law firm operates and it provided me with an invaluable experience that I can take with me when pursuing a career in law. Outside of work, the firm organised plenty of social events where on at least ten occasions an open bar was provided which was always favourable. My placement

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

enabled me to network and socialise with many professionals who ultimately shared their previous experiences with me and advised on what routes to take which are desirable to a law firm. Working within a top 20 international law firm has not only taught me about the commercial side of law but has helped me develop vital skills that are required to pursue a career in the legal sector. My placement has undeniably improved my written and verbal communication skills, my ability to manage and organise a workload and my ability to analyse important information. It is widely known that a career in law is extremely competitive so having a year’s experience working within a firm of solicitors has undoubtedly enhanced the opportunities that will become available to me once I have finished my studies. It was difficult trying to decide whether or not to pursue a placement year knowing that all of my friends would be graduating a year before me; however, it was easily the best decision I have ever made.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

Get support on your doorstep in our campus

Careers Zones

WHETHER YOU WANT TO EXPLORE YOUR CAREER OPTIONS, GET YOUR CV AND APPLICATION FORM CHECKED, FIND A WORK PLACEMENT,

IMPRESS AT INTERVIEW OR MEET AND NETWORK WITH EMPLOYERS, WE CAN HELP IN A VARIETY OF WAYS VIA OUR CAMPUS CAREERS ZONES.

LJMU’s Careers Team provides tailored careers support to all LJMU students during their studies through delivery of careers education, information, advice and guidance from our three campus-based Careers Zones. The Careers Zones are located in Aldham Robarts Library, Byrom Street and IM Marsh Library. Call in to find out how we can help you. Alternatively call 0151 231 2048/3719 if you can’t make it into a Careers Zone.

What support can I get in the Careers Zones?

Support from your Careers Adviser

Support from Employability Advisers

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Bookable appointments with Careers and Employability Advisers to provide you with individual, tailored support

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Drop ins (no appointment required) to speak to an adviser and access help with quick careers and employabilityrelated questions

In the School of Law, you have your own dedicated Careers Adviser, Steve Burbage. You are likely to meet Steve at some point during your programme of study. He is available for:

Our Employability Advisers Anja Heid, Jenny Hammond, Nicola Davenport, Gwyneth Tyrer, Sally Beyer and Karen Forman work across the university Careers Zones providing professional, personalised advice on:

Signposting to useful resources and information

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Signposting to careers events, workshops and fairs

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Access to a range of employers who regularly visit the Zones

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Help to access our online careers tools via ‘Careers Zone 24/7’

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Help to access our job search websites including GoinGlobal

Expert job sector advice and information tailored to your needs

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Careers guidance interviews to discuss career options with your degree, including finding jobs/ postgraduate options and gaining relevant work experience

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Looking for jobs and the application process Tailoring your CV & covering letters Writing applications and personal statements for work experience, jobs, postgraduate study and PhDs Preparing for interviews

INTERVIEW PRACTICE SESSIONS We offer individual interview practice sessions to help build your confidence by experiencing a one-to-one ‘mock’ interview with a trained assessor who will give you detailed feedback and advice. Whether you want to practise your interview technique or are preparing for a real life interview, you can book in to use this service.

A student says ...

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I booked an appointment at the Careers Zone to speak to an Employability Adviser. She recommended several improvements to my CV and new opportunities I should consider including going to local networking events. I met my future manager at the very first event I went to. The Employability Adviser has kept in touch for a long time after the appointment to help me with my LinkedIn account and my formal interview with the manager later. Overall, the recommendations from staff from the Careers Zones were close to real businesses’ expectations, which was extremely helpful.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

Connect with

employers

THERE ARE NUMEROUS WAYS YOU CAN CONNECT WITH

EMPLOYERS WHILE YOU STUDY, ALLOWING YOU TO NETWORK, DISCUSS OPPORTUNITIES, GET THEIR ADVICE AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEIR CAREER JOURNEY.

01.

EMPLOYER VISITS TO CAREERS ZONES

02.

RECRUITMENT FAIRS & FESTIVALS

03.

SPECIALIST WORKSHOPS

Employers regularly visit the three Careers Zones at LJMU to discuss their opportunities and to meet and network with students. See below for more information about who has visted the Zones.

LJMU run a range of large-scale careers fairs, where you can meet and talk with employers about career options, and recruitment fairs, which feature graduate employers and recruitment agencies with jobs to recruit. Go to careers.ljmu.ac.uk to see what is coming up. Other large-scale fairs run around the country so check local listings at https://www.prospects.ac.uk/events

Each year we run a series of specialist workshops for students that fall outside of the regular yearround careers and employability workshops. In the last academic year for instance we ran workshops about graduate schemes, gaining work experience, and applying to graduate courses in dentistry and medicine.

04.

GUEST SPEAKERS

05.

EMPLOYER PRESENTATIONS

Guest speakers are usually featured as part of the curriculum but we also arrange for speakers to come into LJMU to talk about their job role and industry. Sometimes this will be part of an industry event, such as the ‘A Career in Clinical Psychology ’ event we arranged last year.

Employers visit the university to highlight job and placement opportunities for students and graduates. Often these will be bigger employers who are advertising graduate schemes or industrial placements. Last year Aldi, the British Council and Teach First all spoke at LJMU.

Employers in the Careers Zones ... Employers visit the Careers Zones each week offering real jobs, internships and other career opportunities. Check with staff in the Careers Zone to find out who’s coming in and don’t miss these great opportunities to meet and network with employers from a range of sectors. Organisations who have visited the Zones include:

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Liverpool Universities Officer Training Corps Civil Service Fast Stream Careers in Teaching Hire STEM Women CRISIS Smaller Earth Brook Barclays Digital Eagles Enterprise Rent-a-Car NCS Challenge

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

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All Wales Public Service Graduate Programme Camp Counsellors USA Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service Liverpool FC Foundation The Right Legal Group VMM International Catch 22 Chatteris Education Foundation Shropshire Wildlife Trust Hays Construction

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Everton in the Community Decathlon Reed Digital Service Cover Hays Recruitment Anthony Nolan/Marrow QVC Reed Scientific Camp America HMRC

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

Careers website THE CAREERS WEBSITE IS THE FIRST PORT OF CALL TO FIND OUT ABOUT CAREERS SERVICES, TO ACCESS ONLINE CAREERS TOOLS AND TO DOWNLOAD ANY OF OUR GUIDES AND RESOURCES

01.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDES

02.

CAREER INSIGHTS

Each year, working alongside academic colleagues, the Careers Team produces school-specific Career Planning Guides, which give information about career options related to your degree as well as a range of articles about careers topics including CVs, applications forms, interviews, finding graduate level jobs and more.

These handy guides provide a more in-depth overview of career options with your degree and signpost you to useful links to get your research into future careers and employers under way.

03.

MINI GUIDES

04.

CAREERS ZONE 24/7

05.

BOOK A WEBINAR

06.

SEARCH FOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES

The Careers Team have distilled their wisdom on career planning, CVs, applications and interviews into a series of short guides. Also use our mini guides for further information on postgraduate study, including teacher training, and subject-specific advice, e.g. for Science, Arts and Nursing students.

We have a range of digital careers tools available to enable you to work on vitally important employability skills at your own pace, in your own time, either on or off campus. The 24/7 tools suite includes CV Builder, Interview Simulator, Careers Newsroom, CV and Interview Learning Zone, Job Search websites, GoinGlobal and more.

A webinar is an online class which you can attend from anywhere on any device with an internet or WiFi connection. Sessions include Finding Hidden Jobs, Effective Applications, Introduction to LinkedIn - the ‘Facebook’ for Professionals, Winning CVs, Interview Success and more. To book go to: https://careers.ljmu.ac.uk

Search for part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, work placements, internships or graduate roles. Our job search websites are free to all students and graduates and list opportunities with both regional, national and international employers. Go to Careers Zone 24/7 on the Careers website to access the sites.

To visit the Careers website go to:

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

Careers Zone 24/7

online careers tools

WE HAVE A RANGE OF DIGITAL CAREERS TOOLS AVAILABLE VIA THE CAREERS TEAM WEBSITE TO ENABLE YOU TO WORK ON VITALLY IMPORTANT EMPLOYABILITY AND TRANSITION SKILLS AT YOUR OWN PACE, IN YOUR OWN TIME, BOTH ON OR OFF CAMPUS

01.

CV AND COVER LETTER BUILDER

02.

INTERVIEW SIMULATOR

CV builder and cover letter builder allow you to create an expert CV and covering letter within minutes and download into multiple templates. Watch videos of employers discussing what they need to see in each section of your CV and covering letter. This tool is ideal for students looking to write their first CV or cover letter. The interview simulator allows you to take a mock interview and test yourself with interactive questions and best practice answers from experienced professionals to build up your confidence and competence.

03.

CAREERS NEWSROOM

04.

CAREER ASSESSMENTS

05.

PRACTICE PSYCHOMETRIC TESTS

Features thousands of articles on careers and employability from leading global publications, updated every week with a newsletter function built in.

Each assessment provides a report for each student with tailored recommendations. Assessments include: personality insights, temperament, strengths, learning styles, sound decision-making, assertiveness, customer focus, emotional control, management skills, stress management and more.

Practice aptitude tests including numerical, verbal, inductive, diagrammatic, logical, situational judgement, critical thinking, error checking and e-tray exercises and a wealth of other assessment tools used by graduate employers via Careers Zone 24/7. See p.46 for further details.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

06.

GOINGLOBAL DATABASE

07.

INDEED JOB SEARCH

The database allows you to search for jobs and internships around the world. It contains country career guides, information on visas and local culture, employer directories and much more. Access GoinGlobal via Careers Zone 24/7 or visit: http://online.goinglobal.com/default.aspx

Allows you to search millions of jobs, in over 50 countries, from thousands of job sites, newspapers, recruiters and company career sites.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

CareerSmart:

Explore, Experience and Engage FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LJMU’S CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYABILITY PROGRAMME AND HOW IT CAN HELP YOU WHILST STUDYING AT LJMU

All students in their first year of study will have an opportunity to engage with the first stage of the ‘CareerSmart’ programme as an integral part of a core module of study. The ‘CareerSmart: Explore’ e-learning tool will introduce you to the steps involved in making informed choices about your career. It enables you to consider your strengths and development areas, career motivators, the options available to you and the necessary steps to take to achieve your career goals. You will then have the opportunity to complete the next stage of the programme, ‘CareerSmart: Experience’. Here, you will learn about the value of work-related learning by finding out about the range of opportunities available, eg Work-Based Learning, part-time work, internships, volunteering, work shadowing and international opportunities. You will also learn about the benefits of these experiences including skill development, networking and sector insight. This stage also includes resources on how to find work experience and making the most of the opportunity. The third stage of the programme, ‘CareerSmart: Engage’ is employer-informed and you will find out what graduate recruiters are looking for in successful candidates. The resource will support you through each stage of the graduate recruitment process, including the job search, application process, and selection methods – interviews, psychometric tests, assessment centres. The CareerSmart programme complements the wide range of career-related provision and services available to LJMU students to support your development throughout your studies, including the one-to-one careers information, advice and guidance delivered in the campus Careers Zones.

CareerSmart: Explore e-learning assessment For students starting a programme of study in 2018, the CareerSmart: Explore e-learning resource will be completed as an assessment of one of your first-year modules. The resource will take you through steps to help you to set some goals for your first year, which can help you on your career development journey. The steps include an exploration of the following areas:

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Where am I now? Reflecting on your current skills, interests and experience Where do I want to be? Discovering your career options with your degree How do I get there? Understanding the steps to take to achieve your career plans

A Careers Adviser says ...

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Competition for professional jobs is tough but LJMU are confident that our enhanced career development and employability programme will enable you to compete against the best candidates and win.

There are many options open to you after you finish university. However, whilst it is great to know that there are so many options open to you, at the same time it can feel confusing and overwhelming to have so many choices. The first thing to remember is that uncertainty about your future career plan is normal and that many students feel this way! Although it may appear as if everyone around you has ‘a plan’ and that your fellow students all know what job they want to do in the future, this may not necessarily be the case. It is important not to panic if you are undecided about which career path you want to take. Nevertheless, it is vital to address this uncertainty and to develop a plan of the steps which you need to take to move yourself forward. Remember that the process of career planning can take time as you need to do some reflection about your own suitability in relation to career choice, and you also need time to thoroughly research your options. Therefore try and start the process of thinking about future careers as early as you can, ideally from your first year of university.

Student feedback about CareerSmart: ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙

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CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

“Gave me a great starting block for planning my future career.” “It helped me feel more confident about my future and what I need to do to get there.” “It got me actively thinking about my future in advance. I think it is very important to think ahead before you graduate to give yourself time to be certain of what career you want to pursue, so you can start applying for placements and internships to enhance your chances of being successful. And I think that the assignment really helped me with that.” “It helped me realise how many roles are available and how much our university can help.” “I found it really helpful and it gave me some ideas of how to make the most of my university experience.” “I feel I am now able to start doing the right things, like getting involved more, to help me become more prepared for a job at the end of my course.”

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

Looking for out of hours careers support?

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

Access our online careers tools at any time, from anywhere

Careers Zone 24 7 CAREERS ZONE 24/7 INCLUDES: CV BUILDER, COVERING LETTER BUILDER, INTERVIEW SIMULATOR, CAREERS NEWSROOM, CAREER ASSESSMENTS, ASSESSMENT CENTRE TOOL, JOB SEARCH ENGINES, GOINGLOBAL DATABASE, APTITUDE TESTS, EMPLOYER ADVICE VIDEOS, CAREER COACHING VIDEOS AND MUCH MORE ...

Access Careers Zone 24/7 from the Careers website:

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers LJMU CAREERS TEAM

0151 231 2048/3719 || careers@ljmu.ac.uk

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

work experience with your Students’ Union

Get great

DID YOU KNOW THAT BY GETTING INVOLVED WITH JMSU YOU COULD HUGELY INCREASE YOUR SKILLS AND

EMPLOYABILITY, ENHANCE YOUR CV AND IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF FINDING A JOB ONCE YOU LEAVE UNIVERSITY? Iya! We’re JMSU. Like the name says - we are here for LJMU students. Every single one of you. We represent you, we support you, and we make sure you have an absolutely boss time at Uni. We offer loads of opportunities for you to gain valuable (and fun) work experience whilst you’re studying at LJMU.

❙❙ We offer full-time, year round, paid jobs … in our four Student Officer positions. ❙❙ You can volunteer with us ... As the Captain, President or Committee Member of a sports club or society, or as a Course or Faculty Rep.

❙❙ Or join our student staff team in flexible, paid positions ... We have a variety of roles, from promoting our events and campaigns across campus, to working in our Creative Content team, to working with our Reception Team.

Hear from students who have worked and volunteered with us: Karl Kinson, UG Computer Science ... volunteers as a Course Rep.

I have been a key person that connects students in class to the staff that run the course. I do this by collecting feedback from students and then presenting this to the appropriate people in either the Faculty or the SU. It’s the best feeling ever knowing that you aren’t just attending university but you are helping improve the experience here, no matter how small that change is. This role gives you so much confidence and I cannot wait to continue next year.

Daisy Clack, MA Human Resource Management ... has worked as student staff, currently works as a Student Staff Supervisor and has completed work experience with the HR department. I have worked as a member of student staff for over 3 years, which has majorly developed my confidence and communication skills. Becoming a Supervisor of the student staff team has given me an amazing skillset which I can reference in job applications when planning for my future career. I have been able to do this role while studying full time. I have also completed work experience with the HR manager, which has given me so much valuable knowledge in my specific area of interest, meaning I can now transfer theory from my Master’s Degree in to the workplace.

WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU You can find us across campus, so it doesn’t matter where you study, we’re always close by. Our main base is at the John Foster Building on Mount Pleasant, where our reception, Advice Centre and offices are, but we’re also in the social spaces at Byrom Street, Tithebarn Street, Redmonds Building and IM Marsh.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

Jess Beresford, Sport Coaching student ... Worked as a Welcome Rep, Outreach staff, volunteered as a Course Rep, President of Women’s Rugby Union and founder and President of Sport Coaching Society. After being a member of Women’s Rugby Union for two years I was voted President in my final year, which has given me experience in management, organisation and funding; all of which are important in the sporting industry. I decided to challenge myself more and set up my own society (Sports Coaching society). This valuable experience allowed me to network with a range of people and be recognised for my achievements. It put me in a perfect position for post-graduation. The community-based roles at the Students’ Union increased my confidence by engaging with people from a range of backgrounds. This helped to enhance my employability and interpersonal skills whilst working in an enjoyable environment.

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CONNECT WITH US You can email us at: studentsunion@ljmu.ac.uk Phone: 0151 231 4900

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www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

Be the one who inspires SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

#GetintoTeaching

A SALARIED ROUTE INTO TEACHING MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO PURSUE A CAREER DOING SOMETHING I LOVE n Bursaries of up to £32,000* and salaried programmes available (subject dependent)

n Starting salary of £22,000-£27,000 a year (upon qualification)

n University-led and School Direct routes

n We are one of a small number of universities offering the PGDE route into teaching, enabling you to top up your qualification with further study and gain a Masters degree in your first year of teaching

n PGDE courses in Early Years, Primary Teaching and a wide variety of Secondary subjects n Excellent career progression opportunities

For a fulfilling career helping young people to achieve their dreams *subject and qualification dependent. For the latest bursary information, visit getintoteaching.education.gov.uk

START YOUR TEACHING JOURNEY TODAY www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CALL: 0151 231 5340 VISIT: www.ljmu.ac.uk/education

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

How to make the most of your

university time

THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS GO TO UNIVERSITY TO ULTIMATELY SECURE A JOB WITH GREAT PROSPECTS. EMPLOYABILITY ADVISER NICOLA DAVENPORT LOOKS AT SOME IDEAS TO IMPROVE YOUR EMPLOYABILITY IN EACH YEAR OF STUDY.

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So you’ve got your place at university, you’re fulfilling all of your course commitments and enjoying yourself, but are you really making the most of your time? In addition to your academic qualifications, employers look for people who can show motivation, enthusiasm, proactivity and commitment. You can demonstrate all of these things through your extracurricular activities and employment. Work experience is key and you can find this in many forms: placements, part time work, work shadowing, volunteering and internships. Before you look for experience, evaluate your existing skill set and analyse the labour market to find out what you may need in the future - can you find a role that will help you develop these skills now? There are a number of ways the Careers Team can help you improve your employability, so come along and see us.

DID YOU KNOW? Nearly a fifth of LJMU graduates of the class of 2017 did some voluntary work whilst at university, and over 70% of graduates had a paid, parttime job alongside their studies. In addition to looking great on your CV, research suggests that getting involved in voluntary work can also boost your self-esteem and improve your mental health.

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What can i do? In addition to gaining relevant work experience, there are many other ways that you can show motivation and enthusiasm whilst also developing skills. You could: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

Chair or set up a society, or become a course representative Writing, presenting or other work with a student newspaper or radio station Put on an event – music, charity… Volunteer or fundraise with a charity Complete a sponsored activity/ challenge, such as a run, climbing a mountain Learn a language Do you have a business idea? Get in touch with the Centre for Entrepreneurship! Learn a new skill – cooking, music, sport Enter competitions – writing, business, finance, student, enterprise…. Take up mentoring opportunities

As well as being a great way to get to know people and enjoy yourself, all of these things can help your employability and look great on your CV.

Looking for greater insight about career options related to your degree?

Criminal Justice CAREER INSIGHT

Criminology & Psychology CAREER INSIGHT

LJMU CAREERS TEAM 0151 231 2048/3719 ❚ careers@ljmu.ac.uk

www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

LJMU CAREERS TEAM 0151 231 2048/3719 ❚ careers@ljmu.ac.uk

www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

Criminology & Sociology

Criminology CAREER INSIGHT

Forensic Psychology & Criminal Justice CAREER INSIGHT

CAREER INSIGHT

Law & Criminal Justice

Law

CAREER INSIGHT

LJMU CAREERS TEAM

www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

0151 231 2048/3719 ❚ careers@ljmu.ac.uk

Download our course-specific Career Insights from:

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

YOUR CAREER JOURNEY SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

FIRST YEAR: EXPLORE Meet

Join

your Careers Team at a Careers Zone or visit the Careers website www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

clubs or societies or become a course representative via the Students’ Union

Explore

LJMU and all its opportunities and support and research voluntary opportunities

Plan

start to think about your career ideas and begin planning

START UNIVERSITY

Go global

take a look at the opportunities abroad via LJMU or an external provider

SECOND YEAR: EXPERIENCE Research

your chosen career path/ options

Experience

Get involved

get relevant paid work, volunteer or work shadow

Get advice

seek out opportunities to enhance your university experience

from your Careers Team (advice and guidance, CVs, interview help)

Find

get relevant experience via a placement or internship

FINAL YEAR: ENGAGE Utilise

your Careers Team and their expert knowledge to look for and get your dream job

Reflect

on your experiences and how you can evidence these to employers

Engage

with your career sector and/ or organisation

Apply

for graduate schemes and graduate level jobs or consider further study

Graduate Outcomes is a national survey which gathers information about the activities and viewpoints of graduates 15 months after they’ve finished their studies. For graduating students GRADUATION your response to this survey is very important as it will provide future students with insight into their potential career destinations, enable LJMU’s Careers Team to offer tailored careers advice which you can continue to access for life as a LJMU graduate, provide higher education institutions, policy makers, researchers and others with data to understand current trends within the graduate jobs market and contribute to the University’s positioning in league tables. Anyone who graduates after 1 August 2017 will be asked to complete the Graduate Outcomes survey. The Graduate Outcomes survey is a statutory process for all higher education providers and is coordinated by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). The operations and data collection element of the Graduate Outcomes survey will be undertaken by a third-party survey contractor who will work in collaboration with HESA, Funding Bodies and UK Higher Education Providers. To help LJMU, all you need to do before you leave University is ensure you keep your contact details up to date via LJMU Connect (https://ljmuconnect.com) and complete the survey when you are contacted approximately 15 months after completing your course. www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

Move up to Masters

The benefits of postgraduate study As you plan your next step after graduation, don’t forget that a Masters could give you the opportunity to assess your aspirations, enhance your career prospects, enjoy further study in your chosen subject or allow you to change direction. Postgraduate study at LJMU is an increasingly popular choice and one that can make you stand out from the crowd in the jobs market.

Fit your studies around your life

Many of our taught masters programmes are only a year long and, if you want to work whilst you study, some are available on a parttime basis. We even offer distance learning and evening taught programmes. In essence, there’s something for everyone in our choice of over 140 courses.

deliver the knowledge, skills and experience you need to achieve your professional ambitions.

What a Masters says about you

Can I afford it?

Our programmes are delivered by academics actively involved in innovative research or consultancy. It is this combination of academic expertise and ‘real world’ experience that ensures our offerings are up-to-date, accredited by key professional bodies and

On top of the recently introduced postgraduate loans, there are Professional Career Development loans, employer sponsorships and bursaries available for higher-level study. And what’s best of all, as a continuing LJMU student, you may be eligible for a massive 20% off your postgraduate tuition fees or a scholarship for international students (see terms and conditions at ljmu.ac.uk).

What next?

To find out more about postgraduate options at LJMU, take a look at our web pages: ljmu.ac.uk/postgraduate

My postgraduate experience ... FOLLOWING HIS LLB LAW DEGREE AT LJMU, DANIEL RECENTLY COMPLETED HIS MASTERS IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS, CORPORATE AND FINANCE LAW AT LJMU.

“

Postgraduate study itself demonstrates your ability to learn independently, to apply yourself to real research and to venture into unchartered waters. It also opens new doors, giving you the opportunity to study in areas you may not have considered and explore different career paths.

“When it came to deciding where to study for my Masters it had to be LJMU. With such highly qualified people in such specialist subjects, there was no better place to be. The people on my course were all different ages, from different backgrounds and different nationalities and that made for a really fascinating experience. “The work on the course was certainly challenging but the sense of accomplishment you experience on finishing a piece of work, and the pride you have in yourself when you succeed, really spurs you on. “In terms of support I’ve never wanted for anything. John Moores doesn’t patronise Masters students by bombarding you with unnecessary support, they just let you know it is always there if you need it. The university is a friendly, unpretentious place which is really ambitious to provide a great learning experience – and that’s what it does.”

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

Professional and personal development

opportunities abroad

EMPLOYERS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING EXTRA ON YOUR CV. CONSIDER ADDING SOME INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO YOURS BY COMPLETING A TRIP ABROAD Pursuing a degree at university can be a daunting experience, especially if you choose to live away from home. However, once you have taken that initial leap, you may find that the path to further experiences becomes a lot clearer as your confidence grows. Whether you wish to study, intern or volunteer abroad, you may be surprised at the range of opportunities available to you via multiple funding routes. The best news is, you don’t have to limit yourself to just one either.

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01.

GET IN TOUCH

Study Abroad

LJMU have a number of Erasmus+ partners in Europe and partner universities in the USA where you can study abroad for one semester during your second year of study or for a whole year, in between your second and third year at LJMU. LJMU students are entitled to Erasmus+ grants or the LJMU travel bursary if studying in the US, helping you to afford your placement. Talk to the International Mobility Coordinator in your School about potential placements to suit your course needs and follow @LJMUGlobalOpps on Twitter and Instagram for more information when applications are open.

03.

Go Global

LJMU offer students the chance to bid for up to £1,500 (£750 for postgraduate students)* to help fund the adventure of a lifetime. You can find an experience anywhere in the world that will help you develop both personally and professionally, and LJMU will help you to achieve it. This could involve working with animal conservation teams in Africa, building houses in developing communities, being a camp counsellor, taking part in sports development programmes or anything else you set your mind to. For further information, visit www.ljmu.ac.uk/ students/go-abroad/ where you can find out more details on the many opportunities available, including the organisations LJMU work with to offer these opportunities to students, such as Smaller Earth ljmu.smallerearth.com. *Funding limit is subject to change

05.

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For more information about international opportunities: Email: goabroadteam@ljmu.ac.uk Follow: @LJMUGlobalOpps Visit: ljmu.ac.uk/students/go-abroad

Erasmus+ Traineeship (work placement)

02.

Putting your knowledge to good use in a work environment is great for your CV, but working abroad will certainly make your CV stand out from the crowd. With Erasmus+ traineeships, you can work in Europe for two to 12 months and get funding with the Erasmus+ grant to help you with your expenses. You can complete your traineeship at almost any organisation in Europe, whether that be one of the organisations LJMU has an existing relationship with, or whether it be a traineeship you have sourced yourself. Talk to your tutor to find out what options they can recommend to you.

CRCC Asia Internship

04.

LJMU have partnered up with CRCC Asia to offer Liverpool John Moores students the opportunity to complete a two-month summer internship in Asia in sectors including business, IT, law, media, tourism, marketing, not-for-profit and green technology. Students have previously worked in Shanghai, Tokyo and Ho Chi Minh City, with more international opportunities available each year. The programme is funded, including flights, accommodation, visas and insurance, and students have the chance to immerse themselves in a new culture, learn a new language and expand their global network. Look out for more information by following @LJMUGlobalOpps on Twitter and Instagram.

International Summer Schools

Each summer, LJMU students have the opportunity to attend one of several LJMU International Summer Schools. In 2018, students visited Shanghai, Changshu and Jiaxing in China, Lima, Sharjah and Zaragoza, where they completed one-to-two week programmes at our partner universities, as well as exploring new cultures, learning new languages and making new friends. These opportunities are funded by LJMU, including flights, accommodation, visas and insurance, and the university plans to expand the opportunities even further across the globe.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

TACTICS AND CHOICES

Planning your career

NOT SURE WHERE TO START WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR NEXT MOVE? DON’T WORRY, MOST PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY, BUT WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU TO NAVIGATE YOUR WAY THROUGH YOUR OPTIONS.

Questions to ask yourself when exploring your career options

1. Do you have any ideas at all about careers which interest you, however vague these are? If so, make a note of these ideas and explore them further. 2. Do you wish to use the knowledge you have gained or will gain from your degree in your future career? If so, are there certain modules of your degree which you have enjoyed more than others? Try to explore job areas which could relate to these subjects. 3. Have you completed any work experience at all (even if this is unrelated to your degree subject)? Think about what you liked about this work experience and about skills which you enjoyed using. 4. Are there any jobs you have done which you didn’t enjoy? If so, why was this?

6. Think about the feedback you have received from others (for example from tutors or from friends or family) about skills you excel in. Are there particular skills which you are naturally strong in? 7. Do you have any interests outside of university which are unrelated to your studies? For example, do you have any creative interests or do you do any voluntary work? It may be worth exploring career options which relate to these interests. 8. Are you willing to undertake further study if this is required by the type of career you want to go into? 9. What kind of environment would you like to work in? For example, do you see yourself working in an office, in a laboratory or outdoors? 10. Are there any other special circumstances which may affect the type of job you can go into? For example, are you only able to work certain hours or in a certain location?

Help and support available to you..

01. 02. 03.

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH A CAREERS ADVISER If you are unsure about your career options, you are advised to book an appointment with a Careers Adviser to give your search a focus. An employer can easily spot applications from students just looking for any job, as your heart won’t be in it. To book an appointment, call into a Careers Zone or alternatively phone us on 0151 231 3719/2048.

CAREERS INSIGHTS AND MINI GUIDES Check out our Careers Mini Guides available via the Careers website. Titles include Career Planning for Mature Students, Planning your Career, Graduate Schemes to help you decide which direction to take. The Career Insight for your programme highlights options available to you with your degree.

MEET EMPLOYERS & ATTEND A CAREERS EVENT/FAIR We arrange careers fairs, employer presentations, guest speakers, specialist workshops and regular employer visits to the Careers Zones where you can also meet and network with employers and find out about career opportunities and discuss career routes.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

“

{ { DID YOU KNOW?

Data from our Career Readiness Survey for 2017/18 showed that only 30% of final-year students had a specific career in mind at the beginning of the academic year. Starting to plan your career right from the start of your degree ensures that you can make applications for graduate jobs or postgraduate courses in your final year and get your career under way.

5. Were there any career ideas you had when you were at school or college? If so, is it worth revisiting or reviewing these ideas?

A Careers Adviser says ...

There are many options open to you after you finish your degree but at the same time it can feel confusing and overwhelming to have so many choices. Any uncertainty about your future career plan is normal and many students feel this way! However, it is important to address this uncertainty and to at least develop a plan of the steps you need to take to move yourself forward.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

TACTICS AND CHOICES

Thinking about

postgraduate study? ARE YOU CONSIDERING

POSTGRADUATE STUDY AS A NEXT STEP? CAREERS ADVISER STEVE BURBAGE LOOKS AT THE REASONS FOR AND AGAINST FURTHER STUDY.

A postgraduate qualification may ‘help you to stand out from the crowd’ but make sure you do your research first as, although it may enhance your career prospects in some cases, in other cases relevant work experience will be more valuable. Many students also opt to undertake postgraduate study to further develop subject knowledge or to convert to a new career area such as law, medicine, education or IT. If you are unsure about what to do next and feel that studying a postgraduate course will give you more time to help you decide, think about whether this is the best strategy. Postgraduate study is time-consuming and can be very costly so you should be reasonably clear about your career goals/aims before starting a course. You can always meet with a Careers Adviser to discuss postgraduate options in more detail by calling into your nearest Careers Zone to make an appointment.

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DISCUSS POSTGRADUATE OPTIONS WITH A CAREERS ADVISER

New postgraduate loans are available for students on Masters courses at universities across the UK. Students under 60 who ordinarily live in England can apply for a loan of up to £10,609; visit https://www.gov.uk/fundingfor-postgraduate-study for more details. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are running their own schemes. For further information on eligibility and available funding, check https:// www.findamasters.com/funding/ guides/masters-loans.aspx. A separate loan system for PhD study will also be available from 2018/19. Additional postgraduate funding options include Professional Career Development Loans, employer sponsorship, bursaries/ scholarships or charitable trusts and foundations. Check https://www. prospects.ac.uk/postgraduate-study/ funding-postgraduate-study for further details.

It’s easy to get bewildered by the wide range of postgraduate courses on offer. Discussing your career objectives and postgraduate study ideas with a Careers Adviser can help to focus your search for the course that’s right for you. Call into a Careers Zone or phone us on 0151 231 2048/3719 to book an appointment.

How and when to apply

DID YOU KNOW? The UK has one of the largest and most diversified postgraduate sectors in the world with almost 21,000 postgraduate course/research options on offer, which can make choosing the right course quite challenging. Therefore it is important that you research each course you are interested in and consider if it would help you achieve your career ambitions.

Help and support available to you..

01. 02. 03.

Funding

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GET HELP WITH YOUR POSTGRADUATE APPLICATION FORM Our Employability Advisers provide tailored feedback and advice on personal statements for postgraduate applications to help you effectively demonstrate your motivation and suitability for your chosen course to admissions tutors. To book an appointment, drop into a Careers Zone or call 0151 231 2048/3719.

DOWNLOAD OUR CAREER MINI GUIDE For further information about different course and funding options, head to our Careers website www. ljmu.ac.uk/careers/ and download our handy guides on postgraduate study, applications and PhDs.

20% DISCOUNT OFF POSTGRADUATE STUDY

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

LJMU graduates undertaking postgraduate study at LJMU are entitled to a 20% discount - see terms and conditions at ljmu.ac.uk

The majority of applications are made directly to the institutions concerned; however, some vocational courses such as teaching, law and social work require applications to be made via a central admissions service, which will restrict the amount of courses you can apply to and will usually stipulate a particular closing date. Not all courses have a closing date; however, it is still highly recommended that you do your research well in advance as some courses fill up very quickly and may have particular entry requirements i.e. relevant work experience. Applications (or enquiries) regarding PhDs/ Masters by research should ideally be made around Christmas time; the earlier your application, the more likely it is to attract funding.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

TACTICS AND CHOICES

Finding

graduate level jobs YOUR DEGREE WILL OPEN UP A HUGE RANGE OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU. KNOWING YOUR OPTIONS IN THE GRADUATE LABOUR MARKET IS THE FIRST STEP TO YOUR DREAM JOB.

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Graduate opportunities exist across all sectors and with employers of all sizes, but there are significant differences in the recruitment process and focus of the roles. Much depends on the size of the company. For example, most large private sector companies and multinationals recruit and train a number of graduates via a graduate scheme every year, whereas many public sector employers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) advertise graduate roles on a more ad-hoc basis. Most graduate schemes involve training in different business areas or working on a range of projects, and around half of all the schemes with large companies are open to graduates from any degree subject. The application process for these programmes can be lengthy, with closing dates as early as Christmas in your final year, followed by online tests, telephone/video interviews and assessment centres. Many companies of all sizes also use recruitment agencies to fill temporary vacancies. These can be great to enhance your CV and may lead to additional opportunities within the same company.

DID YOU KNOW? We advertise thousands of vacancies each year via the job search facility on our Careers Zone 24/7 platform; this includes graduate jobs, placements/internships, voluntary roles as well as part-time work. You can also search for overseas jobs and internships on our GoinGlobal database, which is also available via the platform. Go to the Careers website and follow the links for Careers Zone 24/7 - www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

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Help and support available to you..

01. 02. 03.

ONE TO ONE SUPPORT IN THE CAREERS ZONE If you are unsure of your options after you graduate, you can speak to a Careers Adviser to discuss which sectors and opportunities may best suit you, and our Employability Advisers can help you ace your applications for a range of graduate positions. To book an appointment, call into a Careers Zone or phone us on 0151 231 2048/3719.

WORKSHOPS/WEBINARS

Throughout the academic year, we run a number of events to help you understand your job options in the graduate labour market, from our workshops and webinars on graduate schemes and the hidden job market to a range of employer talks and fairs. Keep an eye on our events website https://careers.ljmu.ac.uk/ and get networking!

CAREER MINI GUIDE Head to our Careers website www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/ and download our guides on graduate schemes and the hidden job market for further information.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

The hidden job market Organisations are under no legal obligation to advertise their jobs externally, so you will only be able to search a fraction of the job market online. What you don’t see are hundreds of roles offered and accepted through other means and never advertised to the general public. This is often referred to as the ‘hidden job market’. Networking is the key to opening the door to the hidden job market, and it is easier than you think:

Get out there!

Each year the Careers Team invites employers of all sizes and sectors onto campus for a range of events, talks, fairs and careers presentations. This gives you the chance to network with employers to talk about potential opportunities and learn more about the sectors that interest you.

Get online

Use social media to follow organisations and interact with individuals who may be able to offer you advice, support and even job opportunities in the future. You may also learn about sector-specific networking events you could attend to meet future employers.

Get LinkedIn

LinkedIn is the leading professional network and your profile acts as a CV. You can connect with individuals and organisations to increase your network, gain insight into your industry and also search for jobs - https://university. linkedin.com/linkedin-for-students

You have to speculate to accumulate

You can also contact prospective employers through a speculative application, i.e. sending a CV and covering letter to organisations of interest to you when they do not currently advertise suitable vacancies. If your application impresses them, they may contact you to discuss possible upcoming positions.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

TACTICS AND CHOICES

Thinking of starting

your own business?

LJMU’S CENTRE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP CAN HELP STUDENTS WHO WANT TO DEVELOP A NEW BUSINESS IDEA, WORK AS A FREELANCER, LAUNCH A PRODUCT OR SERVICE OR GROW AN EXISTING BUSINESS. The Centre for Entrepreneurship will help you to build your business concept alongside your studies, connect with the local business community and develop your enterprise skills. We offer:

❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

Try It Out Awards – a £250 quick response fund to test your idea

❚❚

Idealab – a summer school to develop technology-driven business ideas

Start-up fund – up to £2000 to start your new venture

Year Out - £3000 to support a venture started as part of a sandwich year placement

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Case Study FINAL YEAR MARKETING STUDENT AMY COLLINS TELLS US HOW SHE TURNED AN INSTAGRAM TREND INTO A VIABLE BUSINESS WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CENTRE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP How did you go about starting your own business? I noticed that lots of artists I admired on Instagram were releasing enamel pins. I felt like I hadn’t put my own creative skills to the test for years so decided to use pins as a way to challenge myself and have a creative outlet. I just started with one pin design to keep the financial risk down and used the money from that to finance the second one. I haven’t put any money into the business apart from that initial couple of hundred pounds. Now, I not only sell my own designs on Etsy but also design and supply pins for other businesses and individuals. What does your job involve? It’s just me doing virtually everything so I wear many hats. I design, market, bookkeep, order stock from various suppliers, liaise with potential clients, send all the parcels out etc. Three things you like about your job: ❙❙ In the last few months I’ve started selling at local makers markets which I love doing. It’s brilliant to see the reaction on people’s faces when they appreciate your designs.

❙❙ I love being part of the Independent Liverpool scene, I kind of straddle the hospitality community and also the local indie artists and artisans. Liverpool is thriving in these areas, I feel very proud to be part of it.

❙❙ The sense of accomplishment when working

for yourself is very fulfilling. I have always had an excellent work ethic but when something works out and you’ve seen it through from concept to end result there’s no better feeling.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

What were the key challenges that you faced and how did you overcome them? Working for myself is tough as I’m not naturally organised and certainly lack discipline so I have to constantly review working practices and also just be very realistic about what one person can achieve. Another challenge was feeling like a bit of a fraud and not worthy or professional enough sometimes. Because I’ve just learned as I have gone along including graphic design skills, marketing skills and business management skills, it’s easy to convince yourself that you’re out of your depth sometimes. The more I spoke with other entrepreneurs the better I started to feel. I realised that everyone is winging it, everyone is taking risks, learning by doing, failing, then trying something a little different until it sticks. So now instead of comparing myself with everyone else, I just feel incredibly proud to have the confidence to keep trying and keep seeking new opportunities. What help or support did you access from LJMU and how was this useful? I have had some great tips and pointers from the Centre for Entrepreneurship, the most important one being; try to keep it simple, as it’s easy to get carried away with lots of ideas but being great at one thing is so much better. I also have been incorporating some digital marketing skills into my business that I’ve learned on my course too. Now that things are really taking off I have one of my classmates working with me. I can focus more on leads and design and she is organising newsletters and improving my SEO etc. What relevant work experience/skills have proved most useful in running a business? I am a mature student so I have worked many jobs

including 9 years in HMV where I was a manager. I think that every single job I’ve had has contributed in some way to my capabilities as a sole trader and entrepreneur. Because I have worked a lot and know how employable I am it means that I don’t have a fear of failure. If I have to give up Pin Head tomorrow it would be sad but I would be able to move onto another project or job. This doesn’t mean I don’t care, it means I can take risks and live with the outcome no matter what. What advice would you give other students to improve their employability or looking to start their own business? Viktor Frankl sums up precisely my thoughts on running your own business - “Don't aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself.” In other words be brilliant at what you do, help others, be true to yourself and success will come but don’t chase numbers or notoriety as you will only be disappointed. What’s next for your business? I have some ideas up my sleeve to do with working more with charities and some local projects too, but as I’m entering the final year of my Marketing degree I need to be patient and not overload myself with work. I’m determined to do well with my degree so scaling up Pin Head (www.pinheaduk.com) can wait a little longer.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

TACTICS AND CHOICES

The importance of relevant

work experience

WORK EXPERIENCE CAN OFTEN BE THE DECISIVE FACTOR IN SECURING THE JOB YOU WANT; HERE WE LOOK AT WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT AND

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THE DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN GET EXPERIENCE UNDER YOUR BELT.

DID YOU KNOW? According to a 2018 survey of large employers (carried out by High Fliers Research), more than a third of the employers taking part in the research warned that graduates who have had no previous work experience are unlikely to be successful during the selection process for the top employers’ graduate programmes. This means that by having no experience you are immediately restricting the opportunities available to you.

Types of work experience

Work experience has become a general term which incorporates a wide range of opportunities and experience. The best way for employers to recruit a future graduate can be to see them in the workplace and how they perform on a daily basis. The following types of work experience can therefore be a way of securing a future graduate position at an organisation.

2. 3. 4. 5.

Year-long placements – This type of placement is also known as an industrial or sandwich placement. They can be a compulsory part of a university course but students on other courses may also have the option to take a year out from their studies and undertake a placement. This usually takes place between the second and third year of your course. Summer placements – Increasingly the term internship is being used to describe placements that take place over the summer holidays usually for between eight and 12 weeks. They can be well-paid and, depending on the organisation, may only be available to students who have completed at least two years of their degree course. Work shadowing – These opportunities are usually short term and unpaid as you will not be undertaking a specific role in an organisation. The main activities include observing staff and getting an insight into a particular job role and organisation. They can be extremely useful in building up contacts. Part-time work – These types of positions tend to be ongoing and you may be working for one or two days per week even during term time. They may not necessarily be linked to your future career but they are still a great way to gain skills, develop your organisational awareness and build up your CV. Internships - This term is increasingly used but is just another name for a placement and can range from two weeks to a year in duration. Find out more about paid undergraduate LJMU internships on the opposite page.

A Careers Adviser says ...

“

Put yourself in an employer’s position. Even if you do well at interview, if you have no work experience, and no employment references and another candidate does, they are more likely to appoint the person who has ‘proof’ of their abilities in the workplace. It is important to get hands-on experience in possible future job roles. This helps to build up your CV and provides examples to use in applications and interviews. It is also a great way to make contacts, build confidence and develop a range of skills that, even if not entirely related to your future graduate role, show that you are a motivated person who wants to develop.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

The voluntary sector Many people may not consider volunteering as it is unpaid, but it isn’t important to future employers whether your work experience is paid or unpaid. In fact, volunteering looks fantastic on your CV, as it says something about you as a person that you are prepared to work on an unpaid basis to support a community, for example, and develop personally. As with other work experience opportunities, it is a great way to improve your organisational and cultural awareness and build up contacts. There are many ways to find volunteering opportunities. You can search websites such as https://do-it.org/ for a wide variety of roles or go directly to the charity or organisation you want to support to ask about volunteering opportunities. LJMU also runs volunteering projects in schools and colleges for students to get involved with. For other opportunities outside of a school/college environment, there is a service for students called Volunteering Liverpool. LJMU is a part of the partnership running this service along with John Moores Students’ Union, Liverpool Guild of Students, Liverpool Hope University, The City of Liverpool College, and Volunteer Centre Liverpool. The Volunteering Liverpool website offers volunteering opportunities for all students in Liverpool across a variety of areas. www.liverpoolguild.org/main-menu/ volunteer to search for opportunities in areas such as arts, health, environment, sport and many more.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

TACTICS AND CHOICES

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MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR VACATIONS A number of working holiday providers such as Camp America, Camp Leaders, Ski Canada, CCUSA and JET visit LJMU each year to promote their summer and year-long placement programmes. These programmes are a great way to travel, meet new people, experience different cultures and gain skills and experiences that will look great on your CV. Keep an eye on our events website (https:// careers.ljmu.ac.uk/) for details of talks, which usually take place during the autumn term each year.

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Help and support available to you..

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LJMU VOLUNTEERING If you would like to arrange some volunteering or get more information you can email volunteer@ljmu.ac.uk, follow @volunteer_LJMU on Twitter or call the volunteering manager Chris Prescott on 0151 904 6356.

WORKSHOPS/WEBINARS AND EMPLOYER EVENTS

The Careers Team runs a number of workshops/webinars and events throughout the academic year, including employer presentations and visits to the Careers Zones, where you can find out about work experience and volunteering opportunities. Check our events website https://careers.ljmu.ac.uk/ regularly, and also look out for placement fairs organised by your faculty.

DOWNLOAD OUR CAREER MINI GUIDES For further advice, download our mini guides on part-time jobs and work experience from the Careers website at www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/

LJMU CareerSmart Internship Programme

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A fixed number of 20 day funded internships are available every summer to level 5 and 6 students. In a range of disciplines, the internships will be with a local employer, usually starting in early June. For more information, visit:

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/ plan-your-future/ljmu-internships

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

GETTING THE JOB

How to write a winning

CV and covering letter

DID YOU KNOW THAT EMPLOYERS TYPICALLY SPEND UNDER TEN SECONDS INITIALLY REVIEWING A CV? EMPLOYABILITY ADVISER JENNY HAMMOND OFFERS SOME ADVICE TO MAKE SURE YOURS MAKES THE CUT.

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Top CV tips

Different styles of CV CHRONOLOGICAL CV

Always tailor the CV for each job and organisation you apply to! If you have a person specification, make sure you address the points in this using examples and evidence Use key words from the job advert and the employer’s website to customise your CV to show the employer that you speak ‘their language’ and would fit in well at the company. Structure the CV to make the most of your relevant skills and experience. If you have previously carried out a similar role or worked on a project using applicable skills, list these on the front page. Highlight and quantify both professional and personal achievements where you can. Make sure the CV is no longer than two sides of A4 and use a clear, concise writing style. Put your name at the top of the document (never use the title ‘CV’ as this is selfevident!). Add a link to your LinkedIn page, blog, online portfolio and perhaps your Twitter handle if you tweet about your industry. Consider using bold font, sub-headings and bullet points to break up information. Always check through your CV for spelling and grammatical mistakes or get someone to check through it for you – employers often discard applications containing spelling and grammatical errors.

Help and support available to you..

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ONE TO ONE SUPPORT IN THE CAREERS ZONE

If you are unsure about the content and structure of your CV or would like some advice on tailoring your CV to a particular role or sector, our Employability Advisers can give you professional feedback. Call into a Careers Zone or phone us on 0151 231 2048/3719 to book an appointment.

WORKSHOPS/WEBINARS

Find out how to write a winning CV by attending one of our workshops or webinars. For dates of upcoming sessions, check our event website https://careers.ljmu.ac.uk/

CV BUILDER & COVERING LETTER BUILDER

These tools allow you to create a CV and covering from scratch and includes tips and advice from employers on each section of your CV and covering letter. This tool is ideal for students looking to write their first CV/ covering letter.

DOWNLOAD OUR CAREER MINI GUIDE

Our handy mini guide on CVs and covering letters provides lots more advice on what to include in each section of your CV and how to write effective covering letters. Visit our Careers website www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/ to download your copy.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

If you have plenty of relevant work experience you should use the chronological or traditional CV format, as this style draws attention to your relevant experience, which you list on the first page. Within this section you should provide an overview of key responsibilities but more importantly you should highlight any achievements. For example, did you take on extra responsibilities or gain a promotion? Did you meet or exceed targets? Did you find an effective solution to a problem? Can you demonstrate how you offered excellent customer service and gained good feedback? Highlight the skills developed in these roles as well, especially those required for the post you’re applying for.

SKILLS CV

If your experience is lacking or you are changing career path, you may want to use a skills-based CV. Within the ‘skills profile’ on the first page, you should outline relevant skills required for the role. By drawing on examples from work, university and extra-curricular activities you can demonstrate that you have what the employer is looking for. You still include employment information, but can list this more briefly, perhaps on the second page.

HYBRID CV

If you have some experience but this is fairly limited, a combination of the two styles may work best to enable you to highlight experience and skills in separate sections.

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If you are a mature applicant, a career changer, or if you have fragmented work experience, employers will be interested in reading a brief overview of your background but make the most of your experience by using positive language, highlighting what you have gained from previous experience such as commercial awareness and responsibility and skills such as teamwork and communication.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

GETTING THE JOB

Skills-based CV Simon Howard

72 Lichfield Street, Liverpool, L7 5BH 07711 223 344, s.howard@2017.ljmu.ac.uk

I am an enthusiastic and compassionate second-year BA (Hons) Criminal Justice undergraduate with a thorough understanding of the criminal justice system as well as a non-judgemental attitude gained through my volunteering experience at the Samaritans. My employment, degree studies and voluntary work have helped me to develop the communication, interpersonal and problem-solving skills required to work with young offenders. I thrive on new challenges and am keen to volunteer as a mentor within the Youth Offending Team.

EDUCATION

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2017-present Liverpool John Moores University BA (Hons) Criminal Justice (first-year average: 65%) Modules include: Criminal Law and Criminal Justice; Criminal Justice Process; Injustices in a ‘Just’ System; Decision Making in Criminal Justice. For my Professional Development in Criminal Justice module, I attended a number of guest lectures, including by staff from the Youth Offending Team and the National Probation Service, which improved my understanding of multiagency working and the challenges of working with offenders. I am planning to select optional modules in Youth Justice and Substance Use in my final year.

If you include a personal profile at the start of your CV, ensure it is tailored to the role and organisation by highlighting key skills, knowledge and experience. Keep it concise and focused.

Include relevant content from your degree, e.g. modules you have studied, guest lectures, coursework etc.

Briefly summarise your secondary school qualifications.

Clearly highlight any relevant experience on the first page of your CV.

Outline relevant skills for the role in a separate skills profile. If you have a person specification, match your skills to this and use keywords from the job advert as sub-headings. Providing examples to show when and how you have demonstrated the required skills clearly demonstrates your suitability for the role to prospective employers.

Provide a brief summary of other work experience on the second page.

Additional information such as achievements and interests can be listed towards the end of the CV. These can demonstrate your enthusiasm and leadership potential or make interesting talking points in interviews.

2010-2017 Merseyside Grammar School, Liverpool A levels: Sociology (C), Psychology (B), German (C), AS-Level: Biology (C) 10 GCSEs at grades A-C, including Maths (C), English (C) and Biology (A)

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

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Dec 2017-present The Samaritans, Liverpool - Listening Volunteer After completing several weeks’ training, I have been covering a mix of day and night shifts flexibly around my work and study schedule. My ability to be empathetic, non-judgmental and openminded is essential when speaking with distressed callers dealing with various issues, such as mental health, substance use or loneliness. I listen carefully to each caller, allow them to talk as much as they need to, and ask appropriate, open questions, always ensuring confidentiality. SKILLS PROFILE

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Communication and interpersonal skills I have demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills, including empathy and listening skills, as well as an ability to communicate clearly and sensitively with callers in my role at the Samaritans. I also use excellent communication skills in my position as a student advocate, adapting my style of communication to suit individual groups/pupils and building a rapport with young people. Strong writing skills developed by completing reports and essays for university assignments. Feedback from my lecturers has particularly highlighted my concise and professional writing style. Working independently and as part of a team Completing a number of group assignments for my university course has further developed my teamwork skills. I volunteered to act as team leader on a number of occasions, which has improved my leadership skills by agreeing and allocating a suitable workload for each team member, arranging progress meetings, offering feedback and suggestions for improvement on team members’ work and drafting an assignment timeline to record deadline dates for individual tasks.

Highlight any relevant interests that illustrate your enthusiasm for your chosen sector, e.g. independent reading and research, attending relevant events, completing extracurricular training courses etc.

Provide the details of two referees, preferably one academic and one employer/voluntary work contact. If you have run out of space, you can state ‘References available on request’.

Additional information to include In addition to your personal details, education details, employment details, and skills you may want to include other information to make your CV stand out. ❚❚ Achievements: Employers like to see achievements and whether you have held positions of responsibility so include this kind of information too. Did you lead the university football team to victory this year? Have you been awarded a scholarship? Have you successfully raised money for a charity and participated in a sponsored event? Have you started a new society? ❚❚ Positions of responsibility: Have you chaired a committee? Acted as treasurer of a society? Been a course rep? Taken on the captain position of a sports team? Positions like these help you to demonstrate that you can make decisions and take on responsibility. ❚❚ Interests: To demonstrate further skills, to get your personality across a bit, or to just add something else to make your CV stand out, include some information about your interests. If you have interests relating to the job, definitely mention these but avoid clichés about activities such as socialising and reading

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

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Problem-solving skills As a course representative at LJMU, I am responsible for feeding back student issues and concerns during board of study meetings and resolving any student complaints about the content and delivery of the course. This position has strengthened my problem-solving skills and helped me develop the confidence to liaise with students and staff across all levels. By using my negotiation and influencing skills and improving my professional network among senior staff in the faculty, I have been able to resolve any issues professionally using tact and diplomacy. As a customer service assistant at Tesco, I regularly deal with customer complaints, e.g. regarding unavailable/faulty products or long queues at busy times. I respond by listening to the customer, calming down irate customers and then offering suitable alternatives or refunds. I have frequently been commended by my line manager for my professional attitude and problem-solving abilities.

IT Skills Confident user of MS Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Ability to learn new software and systems easily as demonstrated by effectively using till and stock check systems after a brief training period in my role at Tesco.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE 

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As a listening volunteer at The Samaritans, I worked independently and drew on my training when dealing with callers. I am hoping to pass this experience on and become a mentor at some point in the future.

2018-present LJMU, Liverpool – Student Advocate Working with staff from Student Recruitment, I contribute to widening participation activities, such as campus tours, course taster sessions and school visits for local primary and secondary pupils. I also work at open days, providing information about LJMU and student life to prospective students. 2016-present Tesco, Liverpool - Customer Service Assistant Gained excellent customer service, communication and teamwork skills working throughout the store. I am able to confidently deal with problems and always ensure customers receive excellent customer service by being friendly, professional and polite at all times.

ACHIEVEMENTS   

Course Representative for L4 Criminal Justice course for academic year 2017/18 Completed Liverpool 10k in 2018, raising over £400 for the charity Trailblazers Achieved Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award in 2017

INTERESTS 

I am committed to pursuing a career in the criminal justice sector and enjoy keeping up-to-date with news affecting the sector and relevant research by reading updates on the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies website. In my spare time, I work out in the gym several times a week and also enjoy going to gigs and music festivals.

REFERENCES  

Ms Hilary McCarthy, Team Leader, The Samaritans, HilaryMc@Lpoolsamaritans.co.uk. Paul Smith, Programme Leader, LJMU, P.Smith@ljmu.ac.uk, 0151 231 2222.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

GETTING THE JOB

Chronological CV Iram Mirza

12 Liverpool Road, St Helens, WA10 3PG Tel: 07878 123 123, Email: i.mirza@outlook.com

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Personal profile Enthusiastic and dedicated LLB graduate with a keen interest in family law looking to secure a paralegal position at Brown and Jones Solicitors. Excellent legal research, IT, organisational and teamwork skills and proven track record of operating effectively in legal practice demonstrated by successfully completing a number of legal internships and voluntary work as a legal adviser in the Citizens Advice Bureau. Education and Qualifications 2015-2018 

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Liverpool John Moores University Law LLB (Hons) – 2:1 In addition to core modules in Criminal Law, Independent Learning and Legal Skills, and Principles of Contract Law, I have also chosen optional modules in Child Care and Protection as well as Family Law, which covered areas like divorce, cohabitation and same-sex marriages. Having conducted research for assignments across a variety of legal specialisms, I am familiar with a wide range of legal databases, including LexisNexis and Westlaw, and the use of the internet in legal research.

2008 – 2015 St Helens High School and Sixth Form A-Levels: French (A), Economics (B) and History (C) 9 GCSEs including English (B) and Maths (B) Legal Experience January 2017-present St Helens Citizens Advice Bureau – Voluntary Legal Adviser  After initially volunteering as a receptionist, I successfully applied to complete the training to become a voluntary legal adviser. In this position, I manage my own caseload of clients, advising them on a variety of issues including housing, family and consumer rights. This has developed my interviewing and listening skills as well as my ability to build rapport with clients in highly emotional and stressful situations.  Through delivering advice on legal rights and obligations to my clients, legal research and undertaking relevant training, I have developed legal knowledge and experience that will assist me in my long-term career aim of pursuing a career as a solicitor.  Drafting letters on behalf of clients and keeping client documentation up-to-date demonstrates my strong attention to detail and confident communication skills, including my ability to use legal terminology appropriately.  I have also demonstrated confidence in research techniques for areas like housing and divorce and greatly strengthened my organisation skills and ability to work independently under pressure within a busy and highly demanding environment.

An Employability Adviser says ...

One thing to remember is that using a ‘one size fits all’ approach isn’t the best option. You should always find out what the employer is looking for and modify your CV to meet these requirements. Look at the person specification or entry requirements and ensure all the points from these are evidenced in the CV. Each time you apply for a different job, adapt and tailor the CV for that specific role and organisation. To grab the employer’s attention, make sure the most important and relevant information is on the first page, as this is the first thing the employer will see!

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

If you include a personal profile, keep it concise and focused, highlighting relevant experience, interests, knowledge and skills.

List entries in this section in reverse chronological order, i.e. starting with details about your degree.

If you have completed relevant modules as part of your course, you can list some of these here, and briefly highlight relevant knowledge and skills gained.

Provide a brief overview of your secondary school qualifications.

Including relevant work experience (paid or unpaid) in a separate section on the first page of your CV helps to highlight this to the reader. Briefly outline your duties in these roles and discuss what you have learnt in these positions. You can also make reference to any relevant skills you have used and improved.

Giving details of achievements and any positions of responsibility illustrates your leadership potential to prospective employers and can also provide some interesting talking points during an interview.

List any other work experience in reverse chronological order and provide a brief overview of the role.

If you have space, include details of two referees (preferably one academic and one employer reference). If you run out of space, you can state “References available on request”.

Summer 2016 Field, Fisher, Waterhouse Solicitors - Vacation Placement  Two weeks’ work experience in a mainly commercial practice with a specialism in banking. I conducted research in commercial law, international law and litigation and assisted solicitors in the corporate finance department drawing up contracts for a multinational take-over bid.

July/August 2017 Smith, Rhymer & Thompson Solicitors - Vacation Placement  This gave me experience of working in a busy inner-city legal aid practice and improved my understanding of: issuing and serving writs, summonses, caveats, winding up petitions and bankruptcy notices, fixing dates for trial, preparing documents for Civil Appeals Office, setting up County Court pre-paid reviews, drafting affidavits, appearances before High Court Masters and Family Division Registrars, and shadowing solicitors attending police stations to aid clients.

“

Achievements and Positions of Responsibility 

Course representative for LLB during academic year 2017/18: This involved liaising with other students and academics to resolve any problems or difficulties with the course and then providing feedback on students’ issues and concerns at monthly board of study meetings. Communicating effectively with both my peers and senior members of academic staff to resolve any issues and student complaints diplomatically has greatly improved my confidence and negotiation skills.

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National Client Interviewing Competition: I was selected to represent LJMU in the regional semi-finals in 2017.

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Captain of the ladies rugby team 2016/17: Increased membership by 15% and secured additional sponsorship for the team.

Additional Experience 2016-2018 LiverpoolSU, Receptionist and Welcome Assistant In order to help fund my university studies, I worked for the Student Union at LJMU as a receptionist and as a welcome assistant during Freshers’ Week, organising a number of events, quizzes and themed bar nights. 2013-2015 St Helens Dental Practice, Part-time Administrator My duties included keeping patient records up to date, typing up letters and documents, answering the telephone and arranging appointments. Working closely with the practice manager, I gained an insight into drawing up staff rotas and sharing out the workload across the team. It also gave me experience of working in an administrative environment and ensuring confidentiality of personal data.

Additional Information   

IT skills: Excellent working knowledge of all MS Office packages in particular Word, Outlook and PowerPoint. I also have fast and accurate keyboard skills and am able to learn new software and systems as demonstrated in my voluntary role at the CAB. Interests: I enjoy keeping up to date with developments in the legal sector by regularly reading the Law Gazette. I have also attended the Liverpool and Manchester Law fairs regularly throughout my university studies to network with local employers. Full, clean driving licence held since 2016. Access to own car.

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References Mr Adam Smith, Senior Lecturer at LJMU, 0151 231 1234, a.e.smith@ljmu.ac.uk Mrs Eve Miller, Centre Manager at St Helens CAB, 01744 987 987, e.miller@cab.org.uk

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

GETTING THE JOB

Covering letter example A covering letter, which should be around a page of A4 in length, should always accompany your CV. As with the CV, the covering letter should be tailored to the role. If you can, find out the name of the person to send the application to. You should demonstrate that you have researched the organisation, explain why you want to work there, and draw the employer’s attention to the key skills and experience that are highlighted within your CV.

12 Liverpool Road St Helens WA10 3PG Mr F Jones Brown and Jones Solicitors 25 New Street Liverpool L2 6YH

1 October 2018

Dear Mr Jones I am writing to apply for your current paralegal vacancy as advertised in the Law Gazette on 20th September 2018 and enclose my CV for your consideration. I am a determined and enthusiastic LLB graduate from Liverpool John Moores University with strong organisation and teamwork skills, which would enable me to integrate well into your existing team and work effectively in a busy legal environment. I am particularly attracted by the opportunity of working for a medium-sized family law practice such as yours and have some experience of this field from my role as a voluntary legal adviser at the Citizens Advice Bureau, as you can see on my CV. As part of my Family Law module, one of your trainee solicitors, Emma Perry, gave a talk about the challenges and rewards of practising family law, which further confirmed my ambition to pursue a career in this field. Speaking to Emma after the lecture, I was impressed by her real enthusiasm for your firm and learnt more about the support she has had with her professional development from staff across all levels. I am aware that Brown and Jones Solicitors attracts a wide range of clients from across Merseyside. I look forward to the opportunity to work with clients and have experience of this from my current role within St Helens Citizens Advice Bureau. Having advised a number of clients on issues such as divorce, child maintenance and property disputes, I have developed a solid foundation of the relevant legal knowledge. I was impressed to read the positive client testimonials on your website, which frequently highlighted the empathy and commitment of your staff, and this has been further recognised by Brown and Jones Solicitors winning ‘Best Family Firm’ at the 2018 Liverpool Law Society Awards. I am confident that my strong interpersonal and communication skills would make me an excellent addition to your team and allow me to contribute to your continued success. As you can see on my CV, I have been involved in a range of extracurricular activities at university, including the National Client Interviewing Competition. As captain of the ladies rugby team and course representative, I have demonstrated not only strong leadership skills but also my ability to resolve challenging issues with tact and diplomacy, which I am confident will be a useful skills for working in family law. No doubt you will receive many applications for this position but I hope that my obvious enthusiasm for family law and relevant work experience will persuade you of my suitability for this role. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely

Iram Mirza

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

GETTING THE JOB

How to write effective

Application forms

INSTEAD OF A CV, MANY EMPLOYERS USE APPLICATION FORMS AS THE FIRST STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS. EMPLOYABILITY ADVISER ANJA HEID OFFERS SOME TIPS TO IMPRESS EMPLOYERS.

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Top tips for completing application forms Good preparation is essential! Where possible, read through the whole form before you start filling it in, so you can collect any relevant information you need to complete the form and decide on your most suitable evidence for each section. Research the organisation thoroughly and analyse the person specification so you are familiar with the job requirements and can show employers that you have done your homework. Avoid spelling mistakes, grammatical errors and text-speak. Some graduate recruiters reject more than half of all applications because of the poor standard of English on the application forms. For online applications, draft your answers in Word, and spellcheck them before copying and pasting onto the form. Ask a friend or family member to proofread your work. Answer the questions! It can be tempting to use answers from previous application forms, but these might not cover all aspects required for a similar question. Read each question carefully and check that your response provides all the necessary details. Keep within any given word limits. Sell yourself! The application form might only be the first stage of the recruitment process, but if you are too modest or too unspecific in your answers, you are unlikely to make it to the next stage. Ensure your evidence is recent, relevant and tailored to reflect the skills and knowledge required for the role. And finally, keep a copy of the completed application form. As you are likely to apply for a number of positions at the same time, it will be useful to have a record of each application to prepare for a potential interview or assessment centre.

An Employability Adviser says ...

“

Some application forms use a list of specific, usually competency-based, questions to assess your suitability for the role, as well as some questions to explore your motivation and interest in working for the organisation. These could include questions like:

The supporting information/personal statement section is hugely important and should be tailored to the individual role, because this is where you need to convince the employer that you are the right candidate for the job and discuss why you would like to work for their organisation. Address the job requirements outlined on the person specification one by one and in the same order, providing convincing evidence for your suitability and including key words from the job advert.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

An employer says ...

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Describe a time when you have worked under pressure. Give an example for when you failed to complete a project on time. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Please discuss a time when you have contributed positively to a team project. Describe a situation when you have successfully communicated complex information. At BP we live by the following values: Safety, Respect, Excellence, One Team, and Courage. Please give a specific example of a time when you have demonstrated one of these values in your extra-curricular activities. Please explain why you have chosen to apply to Caterpillar and what has attracted you to your chosen discipline.

The best approach to answer these questions and to provide evidence for how you meet the selection criteria is the STAR technique.

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Competency based questions

A structured application form which addresses the person specification and the job description makes it easy for the shortlisting panel to identify and score your evidence for each criterion. Due to the volume of applications employers receive for graduate and entrylevel roles, candidates whose personal statements do not clearly and systematically address all the essential criteria from the person specification are very unlikely to make it to the interview stage.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

GETTING THE JOB

STAR technique example STAR is a simple strategy that will help you provide concise, focused answers on application forms and at interview. In the example below, a student has been asked to ‘describe a time when you have demonstrated excellent organisation skills’. SITUATION (briefly describe the context for your example. When was this? Where was this?):

When the club needed new equipment for the games room last year, I volunteered to take the leading role in raising £1,000 to buy a new pool table and games console in time for the summer holidays, which gave me six weeks to raise the required funds.

then recorded in my project plan. For example, I tasked one experienced volunteer to raise £200 from a bag packing event at a local supermarket for week five, while I put another in charge of organising the cake sale for our main fundraising event/open day in week six. I chaired a weekly team meeting to monitor progress and identify team members that needed help. For example, when one team member was struggling to secure raffle prizes, I set aside time within my schedule for the remaining weeks to contact local companies. Thanks to my excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills, I was able to persuade several businesses to donate vouchers or cash prizes.

ACTION (describe what you did to achieve the task, how you did it and what skills you used):

RESULT (briefly describe the outcome. What did you learn? Would you do anything differently in hindsight?):

TASK (describe what you had to do. What were you hoping to achieve?):

First of all, I drafted a basic project plan to record my fundraising target and key tasks for each week. For example, my tasks for the first two weeks included recruiting volunteers to help me organise the fundraising and researching local events over the next couple of weeks to identify a suitable date for our open day. Once I had recruited a sufficient number of volunteers, I was able to allocate tasks and fundraising targets to each team member, which I

Our open day was a great success and we raised a total of £1,250 from this and the bag packing events in a local supermarket. I found it really beneficial to have taken on a leadership role for this project and have since volunteered to lead on academic projects as well. The experience of organising the various aspects of this project has also strengthened my planning skills, and I have applied this to organising my academic work more effectively this year.

Help and support available to you..

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ONE TO ONE SUPPORT IN THE CAREERS ZONE Our Employability Advisers can give you tailored feedback and advice on draft application forms to help you sell yourself effectively to potential employers. Call into a Careers Zone or phone us on 0151 231 2048/3719 to arrange an appointment.

WORKSHOPS/WEBINARS Our ‘Effective Applications’ workshop and webinar will help you understand what employers are looking for in application forms, so you give yourself the best possible chance of getting to that all-important interview. For dates of upcoming sessions, check our events website https://careers.ljmu.ac.uk/

DOWNLOAD OUR CAREER MINI GUIDE Our mini guide on application forms provides lots more advice on how to tackle application forms and also includes a sample personal statement. Visit our Careers website www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/ to download your copy.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

A Student says ...

“

As a regular volunteer for my local youth club, I have been involved in organising a number of fundraising events.

The advice I have had from the Employability Advisers on my application forms has been really useful. They are friendly and professional, and the information I was given was hugely relevant. I got specific and tailored feedback on which areas I needed to work on further, and this really helped me to improve my application.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

GETTING THE JOB

How to succeed at

interviews

PREPARATION IS THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW. CAREERS ADVISER HAYLEY FALLON EXPLAINS WHAT YOU CAN DO TO MAKE A GOOD IMPRESSION AND BOOST YOUR CHANCES OF SUCCESS.

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DID YOU KNOW? First impressions are crucial. Studies have shown that someone forms judgements about you within the first four minutes of meeting you. Give a good impression to your interviewer from the very first moment. Be on time, shake hands confidently, smile and introduce yourself. Walk tall, maintain eye contact, sit upright, talk clearly and be enthusiastic and positive.

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Help and support available to you..

01. 02. 03. 04. 05.

ONE TO ONE SUPPORT IN THE CAREERS ZONE The prospect of attending an interview can be scary, but don’t panic! Our Careers and Employability Advisers are on hand to provide tips on common interview questions to ensure you shine in the interview. To arrange an appointment, call into a Careers Zone or phone us on 0151 231 2048/3719.

WORKSHOPS/WEBINARS Learn how to prepare effectively for interviews in our ‘Interview Success’ workshop and webinar. We cover typical questions, effective answers and how to impress prospective employers at interview. For dates of upcoming sessions, check our events website https://careers.ljmu.ac.uk/

INTERVIEW SIMULATOR As part of our Careers Zone 24/7 online careers tools, you can test yourself with interactive questions on the interview simulator. Build up your confidence by taking a mock interview or learn about what makes an effective answer from experienced recruiters. You can access Careers Zone 24/7 via our Careers website www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/

CAREER MINI GUIDE Our handy mini guide on ‘Preparing for Interviews’ summarises some key advice for before, during and after the interview, and introduces you to common interview questions. Visit the Careers website to download your copy - www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

INTERVIEW PRACTICE SESSIONS Never had an interview before and don’t know what to expect? Beat your interview nerves by booking a practice interview with one of our advisers by calling into a Careers Zone or phoning us on 0151 231 2048/3719.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

Different types of interview ❚❚ Telephone - Initial employer call that eliminates candidates based on essential criteria. Successful applicants are usually invited to the one-to-one stage. ❚❚ Video - Whether through Skype, FaceTime or YouTube, this type of interview is increasingly popular for graduate roles in sales, media and marketing. They’re usually held during the initial screening process. ❚❚ One-to-one - Face-to-face encounter with one interviewer, after the organisation decides that you’ve got what it’s looking for. They’re usually formal, but can also take place over lunch. You could also be interviewed by different people at different times. ❚❚ Panel - Similar to one-to-one interviews, except two or more people - often from different parts of the organisation - will be assessing you at the same time. ❚❚ Group - Multiple candidates are interviewed together. They’re asked questions in turn, or discuss certain topics. ❚❚ Assessment centres - These involve tasks including presentations, written tests, and group, role-play and in-tray exercises. They’re used to assess a candidate’s performance in a range of situations, and last between one and three days. You’ll appear alongside several other candidates. Find out more about assessment centres on p.42.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

GETTING THE JOB

Before the interview Thorough preparation is the key to a successful interview. One of the main ways to prepare is to research: Research the organisation: This demonstrates how interested and enthusiastic you are about working for the organisation and will help you prepare some questions to ask them at the end. All employers will expect you to display some understanding of what they do and the sector in which they operate! Research the job: Read the job advert and/or person specification. Look at the organisation’s website or recruitment brochure to see which skills or attributes are mentioned. Use any opportunity to meet the recruiter and employees at careers fairs, on placement and other events, such as open days. Research yourself: Think about your strengths and demonstrate self-awareness. What makes you the best candidate for the post?

Look at the job description and/or person specification and make sure you can give at least one positive example (preferably more) for each of the skills and attributes the employer is seeking. Anticipate the questions: It is often possible to predict the kind of questions you may get by looking at the job description and/or person specification or the organisation’s key competencies and corporate values. These provide the selection criteria for the job and they will ask you questions in order to determine whether or not you have what it takes to do the job effectively and fit into the organisation. Practical issues: Practical preparation can often be overlooked but don’t forget this when preparing for your interview. Plan your day so that you arrive as calm, collected and professional as you can be! Find out what the format of the interview is. Where will it be? Do you need to take anything? What are you going to wear? Do you need overnight accommodation?

During the interview With thorough preparation, you are in a good position to respond effectively to questions and display knowledge of yourself, the job and the organisation. When answering, avoid yes/no answers, seek clarification if needed, listen to the questions, be positive and use examples from different experiences. Competency-based questions are commonly used to help interviewers gain a better understanding of your skills set and suitability for the role. These could include: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

Give an example for when you have used your communication skills to deal with a difficult person. Please discuss a time when you have demonstrated your ability to prioritise conflicting tasks effectively. Describe a situation when you have successfully led a team.

To give structure to your answers and provide clear evidence of your skills, the STAR technique is useful to help you focus your answers and demonstrate your competencies to the recruiter.

Please see the previous section on application forms for further details about STAR and an example. Increasingly, graduate recruiters now use strength-based interviews, which allow them to explore what motivates you, whether you would fit into their organisation and whether you would enjoy the job. Questions are usually more open and give candidates more freedom in their answers than competency-based questions: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

What do you enjoy about working in a team? What motivates you? Would you be happy to compromise the quality of your work in order to deliver a project more quickly? What would people who know you well say you are good at? What modules did you enjoy the most during your degree studies?

Your responses should still reflect the required skills, personal attributes and organisational values, but ensure that your responses are natural and that your motivation shines through in all of your answers.

After the interview Learn from the experience. Note down some of the questions they asked. Were you satisfied with your answers or could you do better next time? This will help you prepare for the next stage of the process or get ready for interviews with other employers. If they don’t contact you when they said they would, or if it has been more than two weeks, phone the company and ask for an update. If you have been unsuccessful, ask for feedback on your interview. Most recruiters will be happy to provide this, and although it might not all be positive, it is important to reflect on unsuccessful interviews to help you improve your technique.

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Interviews can be nerve wracking and stressful situations - but don’t panic. A few simple techniques, good preparation and some positive thinking can do wonders to reduce your stress levels and help you shine. If you want to discuss this further, call into your nearest Careers Zone and book an appointment with an adviser.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

An employer says ...

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A Careers Adviser says ...

What I look for in candidates during interviews are their personal attributes. Skills you can teach, but you can’t make an individual be motivated, enthusiastic or proactive. In the last candidate I recruited, those attributes came across strongly in the interview and in everything she was talking about. And that’s what made her stand out as a candidate.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

GETTING THE JOB

Psychometric tests and assessment centres USE SCREENING TESTS AS

PART OF THEIR RECRUITMENT PROCESS AS RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THEY ARE THE BEST SINGLE PREDICTOR OF PERFORMANCE AND GIVE AN EMPLOYER AN

OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF A CANDIDATE’S ABILITIES.

If your initial application is successful, psychometric tests are usually the next part of the screening process. If you successfully navigate them, you are then usually invited to an assessment centre or assessment day. The two main types of psychometric tests used are ability tests (sometimes called aptitude tests) and personality questionnaires. Ability tests are formal tests designed to indicate how well you are able to carry out various aspects of a job i.e. to show employers your potential to do a task well. The tests are typically completed online and are usually a series of multiple choice questions taken under strict time limits. The most common tests used by graduate recruiters are verbal tests, numerical tests, diagrammatic/abstract/logical/spatial reasoning tests, industry-specific tests and situational judgement tests. Personality questionnaires look at behavioural preferences. They are not concerned with your abilities, but how you see yourself in terms of your personality; for example, the way you relate to others, and how you deal with feelings and emotions. There are no rights or wrongs in behavioural style, so the best advice is to be honest in the way you answer the questions. The next stage in the graduate recruitment process is usually an invitation to attend an assessment centre or selection centre event. Assessment centres are costly both in terms of financial outlay and staff resources so tend to be used mainly by larger organisations offering structured graduate training programmes.

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A student says ...

Prepare yourself for each activity. There is plenty of information online and the practice tests on Careers Zone 24/7 of the Careers website is really helpful. Preparation will give you the confidence you need to perform well in any situation. Always keep in mind the type of candidate the company is looking for and also the company’s strategy and values. This information will help you structure your answers well. You are always being assessed so try to talk with the other candidates, current graduates or the staff about relevant topics. Show interest in the company and the position. Be yourself and let the others be too.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

What happens at an assessment centre? The assessment centre is generally a one day event held in a training centre, hotel, conference centre or the employer’s own premises. Other applicants who have been successful in the first round of the selection process will also be present, typically placed in groups of between six and eight candidates. Assessment centres are usually designed to include exercises that measure you against key aspects of the job. By using a range of methods such as group exercises, further interviews, tests, presentations and intray exercises, the selectors will have a chance to examine your potential as an employee in their organisation more closely. For all of the exercises make sure you understand the instructions or the written brief. If you are unclear, ask for clarification. The activities will have been devised to highlight the attributes they require for the particular role you have applied for. It is an intensive day during which you will be under constant scrutiny and formal and informal assessment, even at meal times.

An employer says ...

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MOST LARGE ORGANISATIONS

The toughest part of our selection process is the online tests, but there are some simple ways you can certainly improve your chances. Make sure you practise the online tests several times – once or twice just isn’t enough and make sure you practise the tests that are used by the employer you are applying to – that is essential - but it certainly won’t hurt to try others. The tests may take longer than you expect/or are told so ensure you allow plenty of time. And finally don’t sit the tests just before the deadline. If you encounter any problems you may not have enough time to contact the employer and get the issue fixed before the closing date.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

GETTING THE JOB

Help and support available to you..

01. 02. 03. 04.

ONE TO ONE SUPPORT IN THE CAREERS ZONE For individual advice on preparing for psychometric tests and assessment centres, speak to our advisers. To arrange an appointment, call into a Careers Zone or phone us on 0151 231 2048/3719.

WORKSHOPS We offer psychometric testing practice sessions to help you ace your online tests. For dates of upcoming sessions, check our events website https://careers.ljmu.ac.uk

ASSESSMENT CENTRE TOOL AND PSYCHOMETRIC TESTS Looking to practise aptitude tests and assessment centre exercises? Head to our Careers website www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers, follow the link to Careers Zone 24/7, log in and get practising!

DOWNLOAD OUR CAREER MINI GUIDES For further advice on psychometric tests and assessment centres, visit our Careers website and download a copy of our handy mini guides - www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

Applying for a graduate scheme? PRACTISE A RANGE OF TESTS USED BY GRADUATE EMPLOYERS DURING THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS

Use our assessment centre tool and our range of aptitude tests to get up to speed with tests used by graduate employers recruiting for graduate schemes APTITUDE TESTS INCLUDE:

❚ numerical ❚ verbal ❚ inductive ❚ diagrammatic ❚ logical ❚ situational judgement ❚ critical thinking ❚ error checking and e-tray exercises TO ACCESS THESE TOOLS GO TO 'CAREERS ZONE 24/7' ON THE LJMU CAREERS WEBSITE:

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

LJMU will be running a range of careers and recruitment fairs during the academic year. Students from any degree programme are welcome to attend any of these events Still undecided what career to pursue? Careers fairs are designed to help you meet and network with employers and find out about career options.

Careers and Recruitment Fairs 2018/19

Need a placement or job? Recruitment Fairs are designed to help you meet employers with job and placement vacancies to offer.

For more information about these events, including which employers are attending, and which students they are aimed at, visit:

careers.ljmu.ac.uk

SEMESTER 1

SEMESTER 2

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Staff and Student Volunteering Fair 3 October, 2pm-5pm, Byrom Street

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Staff and Student Volunteering Fair 27 February, 1pm-4pm, John Lennon Art and Design Building

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Faculty of Engineering and Technology Careers Fair 11 October, 9am-12pm, Adelphi Hotel

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Creative, Culture, Media and Arts Recruitment Fair 10 April, 1pm-3pm, John Lennon Art and Design Building

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Exploring Placements and Graduate Schemes 16 October, 10am-2pm, Redmonds Building

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Exploring Working with Children, Young People and with Vulnerable Adults 17 October, 2pm-4pm, Byrom Street

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Recruitment Fair 17 April, 10am-1pm, Byrom Street

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Business, Law, Humanities and Social Science Recruitment Fair 18 April, 10am-1pm, Redmonds Building

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Exploring Science-related Career Pathways 24 October, 2pm-4pm, Byrom Street

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Exploring Working in Creative Industries 14 November, 1pm-4pm, John Lennon Art and Design Building

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Exploring Careers in Sport 22 November, 1pm-4pm, Byrom Street

LJMU CAREERS TEAM

0151 231 2048/3719 || careers@ljmu.ac.uk