SCHOOL OF NURSING AND ALLIED HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE CAREER PLANING GUIDE

career planning guide

SCHOOL OF NURSING

AND ALLIED HEALTH AND

PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE

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

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH POSTGRADUATE STUDY The practical experience and knowledge I am gaining here should give me exactly what I need to get the job I want.

Mario Artukovic, Strength and Conditioning MSc

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

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

WHAT’S IN THIS GUIDE

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What’s in this guide ...

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE Careers in social work

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LJMU students win awards

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Careers in environmental health

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A conversation with a chief nurse

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A conversation with a chief nurse

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A conversation with a public health student

Midwifery

Careers in the health and social care field

Nursing careers – adult, mental health and child Paramedic Practice

Careers in public health

Opportunities for nursing students to develop their skills and employability

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An interview with the LJMU Midwifery Society

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A conversation with a consultant midwife

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A conversation with an environmental health practitioner

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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

How to make the most of your university time Move up to Masters: The benefits of postgraduate study Professional and personal development opportunities abroad Get great work experience with your Students’ Union

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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

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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

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Introduction Careers in health and social care provide you with so many exciting and diverse options as you move forward. Maximising the structures available to you now is a critical element in supporting you to gain the skills and knowledge required to help you focus on career options and choices. I am enjoying a career which has taken me from clinical practice, to healthcare management, education and research, all of which has been stimulating, satisfying and challenging. At every stage of this experience I have been rewarded by the opportunities to shape and influence patient care, clinical practice and teaching and learning. It is a privilege to do so. This guide is a wonderful resource and will help you think about the options available to you and provide further information about the outstanding support provided by the Careers Team. Use this guide and other support structures around you, make informed choices and keep an open mind! I wish you well in your future careers and know that you have an exhilarating time ahead.

RAPHAELA KANE DIRECTOR, SCHOOL OF NURSING & ALLIED HEALTH

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.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Introduction STUDENTS FROM THE SCHOOL OF NURSING AND ALLIED HEALTH AND PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE HAVE A RANGE OF CAREER OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM. CAREERS ADVISER HAYLEY FALLON LOOKS AT SOME OF THE OPTIONS TO GET YOU STARTED. The School of Nursing and Allied Health and the Public Health Institute offer undergraduate and postgraduate courses in nursing, midwifery, social work, paramedic practice, health and social care and environmental health. As a student of the School of Nursing and Allied Health or Public Health Institute you will benefit from training and educational opportunities that are designed specifically to meet the sector’s needs. This means that you can be confident that you will be gaining many of the prerequisite skills needed for a variety of careers in the health, social care and environmental health sectors.

In recent years, securing a graduate role has become increasingly competitive.

Planning your career early, gaining relevant work and voluntary experience and engaging in extracurricular activities will be crucial to demonstrate to prospective employers that you have the motivation to succeed in your chosen area and have developed the required skills. The Careers

Team at LJMU is committed to helping you with this preparation and we are here to support you from the beginning of your studies to the end and beyond. Whether we see you during curriculum workshops, career guidance appointments, at employer events or even via one of our webinars, 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 career resources, attending career events or employer talks and so on. To get you started we have spoken to some recent graduates and undergraduates from your faculty to hear their stories and share their top career tips.

For a more detailed overview of careers related to your degree, you should read our ‘Career Insights’ that are available on our website - www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers.

Your Careers Adviser: Hayley Fallon

I have been working in Higher Education (HE) since 2005 with experience in both human resources and the graduate employability field. Prior to working in HE I worked in the private sector supporting staff training initiatives alongside spending a year working in Australia before undertaking my postgraduate qualifications.

In addition to providing one-to-one careers guidance to students, I assist with the delivery of a range of careers modules, deliver career talks and sessions on a range of employability-related topics, produce bespoke careers information to help you with your career planning and work closely with staff and employers to organise career and alumni events. The information over the following pages will provide an introduction to the wide variety of career opportunities available to you.

To book an appointment, call into the Careers Zone in Byrom Street or phone 0151 231 2048. You can also follow me on Twitter and Facebook where I post relevant job opportunities and sector news - @Hayley_Fallon

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

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Careers in social work In addition to providing you with an approved qualification required to practise as a social worker (recognised by the HCPC) your master’s qualification in social work will enable you to develop a range of transferable skills. In addition you will gain specific social work skills such as the ability to deal with people in a caring and professional manner and assess situations for change. Most social work job opportunities are with local authorities, although as a qualified social worker you can also work for a number of other organisations including NHS trusts, GP practices, hospices, voluntary organisations and so on.

To find out more about social work careers including vacancy sources, read our ‘Social Work Career Insight’ available on our website.

Graduate Case Study JOE VALINT COMPLETED HIS SOCIAL WORK MA AT LJMU IN 2017 AND IS NOW A SOCIAL WORKER AT LIVERPOOL CITY COUNCIL Briefly, what does your job involve?

I perform Care Act assessments with adults of all ages with additional needs. I then organise appropriate support (carer visits, day centres, nursing homes etc). I conduct mental capacity assessments and best interests decisions as appropriate. This can include DoLs applications and work with the Court of Protection. I also undertake safeguarding investigations when there is an allegation made of abuse or neglect.

Three things that I like about my job: ❙❙ My team is generic which means the work is always varied. I have worked with a 20-year-old with autism up to a 102-yearold with Alzheimer’s. ❙❙ Working with adults means you can often help to give people back a bit of independence that they may have lost or never had. ❙❙ In LCC, the money is pretty good!

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

Key points in my career development to date: ❙❙ Graduated October 2017. Began with a role in charity sector. ❙❙ Applied for and offered a 12 month contract with LCC in Jan 2018. ❙❙ My job recently became a permanent post.

For your first graduate job, what did the application process involve and how did you prepare?

There is a long written application you need to submit, then a long wait, then an interview.

When applying for jobs with councils, be aware of how long the process takes. I initially applied for my current role in October 2017 and didn’t start until March 2018. When being interviewed, always link your answers to real life examples. Do not just show you know the legislation, show how you have used it. Second year placements should help give you more examples.

What advice would you give to other students studying the MA in Social Work to improve their employability?

My second placement was the biggest learning curve for me. Ask lots of questions and try and get as much varied experience as possible. You will need it for applications later one.

Currently there are quite a few jobs out there but if not agency work is also pretty easy to get once you’re qualified. This will help you gain even more experience.

Any other comments you would like to make: Finally don’t take your work home with you and don’t agree to work endless overtime.

It’s easy to do and once you get in the habit, it’s hard to break. You have to have boundaries and be able to switch off.

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Graduate Case Study REBECCA WILCOCK COMPLETED HER SOCIAL WORK MA AT LJMU IN 2017 AND IS NOW A SUPERVISING SOCIAL WORKER AT UK FOSTERING Briefly, what does your job involve?

My role as a Supervising Social Worker involves working with foster carers and the children/young people that they have in their homes/placement. I attend meetings such as LAC reviews and PEP meetings, offer monthly support visits, offer advice and guidance on all aspects of care, such as behaviour management, health and safety and education. I assess prospective foster carers by using the BAAF Form F assessment tool.

Three things that I like about my job: ❙❙ Working with foster carers and children/ young people on a day-to-day basis allows me to have strong, valuable working relationships. ❙❙ Foster Carer Events- we spend two to three days out of the year on fun days out, where we get to spend time as one big foster carer family. ❙❙ The ability to work independently and manage my own caseload.

Look for

Key points in my career development to date: ❙❙ I have nearly completed the ASYE which has been supported by my current employer. ❙❙ I will gain a senior role within 18 months of employment with my current employer. ❙❙ The ability to be involved with Form F assessing alongside my cases enabling me to take prospective carers through to panel and finalising their role as a foster carer.

For your first job, what did the application process involve and how did you prepare?

I completed an application form which was sent online, and I then received an invitation for an interview. I prepared by reading up on current legislation and policies. I carried out some research on the employer to make sure I was as prepared as possible.

What advice would you give to other students studying the MA in Social Work to improve their employability?

To be open minded and apply for jobs that at first may not seem to catch your eye. Try to engage in some voluntary work within local authorities if possible as this will allow you to observe staff before you decide on which role you would like to undertake.

Tips or advice for those looking for jobs in social work: Be thorough in your job applications, and condense your work so that you have the essential information needed to meet the criteria. Ask someone to proofread your application form for any spelling or grammatical mistakes. Read the job description to see how the role would suit or develop your individual skills and experiences.

jobs and internships from around the world

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AVAILABLE VIA THE CAREERS WEBSITE:

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

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Continuing Professional Development

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ADVANCING YOUR CAREER AFTER YOU HAVE GRADUATED Learning doesn’t stop once you graduate. In many ways the biggest learning curves are yet to come.

The School of Nursing and Allied Health and the Public Health Institute offer you an extensive range of Continuing Professional Development training programmes that will equip you with the skills, confidence and competence required by the healthcare sector.

Our CPDs can be studied as a single, standalone module or as part of a larger award.

FLEXIBLE, SUPPORTIVE LEARNING Our CPD courses will enhance your existing skills, help you develop specialised expertise and enhance your long-term job prospects. Thanks to our modular framework, courses can also be studied alongside your existing professional and personal commitments. Undergraduate and postgraduate modules can be studied on a stand-alone basis or as part of a larger award, such as an undergraduate or Masters degree.

Throughout your studies you will be supported by Programme Leaders who act as Personal Tutors, providing

both academic guidance and pastoral support so that you can achieve your full potential at LJMU. MASTERS DEGREES THAT CAN BE STUDIED ALONGSIDE YOUR JOB We offer Advanced Healthcare Practice (Clinical) MSc, PGCert and Public Health MSc that can be achieved through CPD pathways, so you can achieve a Masters degree without having to leave employment.

For more information about CPD courses offered by LJMU, visit:

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

ljmu.ac.uk/cpd

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Midwifery On completion of your midwifery course at LJMU you will be able to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and start your career as a midwife, supporting women and their families through pregnancy, childbirth and during the postnatal period. Your midwifery qualification and experience from LJMU will open a wide range of options to develop your career in the directions that interest you most.

For example, as your knowledge and expertise increase, you could move into senior practitioner roles becoming a team or unit manager. You may choose to specialise in a particular area of perinatal care and study for further qualifications. As part of this process you might carry out research that helps move the profession forward. For more information about your midwifery career and useful websites/vacancy sources, read our ‘Midwifery Career Insight’ accessible on our website.

Graduate Case Study LILLIAN HALEWOOD IS A MIDWIFERY GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS A MIDWIFE AT WHISTON HOSPITAL Briefly, can you tell us a little bit about how you got to where you are today?

When I was in high school I went to an AimHigher event at LJMU and accidentally got put in the Healthcare group (which I wasn’t happy about at the time!). Hearing about the different healthcare courses and the careers they could lead to planted the seed in my mind at the age of fourteen and I started researching a career in midwifery. The more I researched, the more I knew it was for me; it was something I was enthused to learn more about and developed a strong passion for. I continued to research how to become a midwife and worked hard to develop my knowledge of the profession, issues surrounding it, and gained as much relevant experience as I could. I volunteered in Children’s Centres, on a midwifery-led birth unit, at antenatal classes, and did work experience with a community midwife, as well as attending a home birth. I successfully applied for Midwifery whilst doing my A Levels and completed my degree at LJMU in 2016. I undertook the practical element of my training at Whiston Hospital where I now work.

What does your current job involve?

The majority of midwives in my Trust rotate between working on the antenatal and postnatal ward and on delivery suite, as well as between working nights and days. I feel like our team is very supportive and there are lots of exciting (and some daunting!) changes facing midwifery at the moment. I try to be as involved as I can; taking part in discussions about improving our department, fundraising (I recently did an abseil down the hospital to raise money for our Maternity Department), and social events.

Three things that I like about my job: ❚❚ ❚❚

Caring for and making a difference to women and their families.

It’s interesting and varied. There are a variety of possibilities for

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❚❚

career progression should I wish to move away from clinical practice in the future. I am interested in research and education and would like to continue studying.

I am a member of a great team and am proud to work for the NHS.

Things I’m not so keen on:

It can be a very stressful job – the NHS is underfunded and short staffed, and the number of births is increasing, as well as the needs and expectations of the people we care for and our ever-expanding role.

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

During my third year I had the opportunity to do an elective placement for four weeks anywhere in the world - the catch was that it was self-funded. I successfully applied for a Go Global grant from LJMU to help me fund a placement in Tanzania; working in a large regional hospital and spending time working and living with a tribe in a much more remote area. It was an incredible experience and I made wonderful friends from all over the world! I urge anyone with the opportunity to take full advantage of this!

Study hard, read broadly, and make the most of opportunities that arise during placement and in university. It’s also important to cut yourself some slack though and remember that there are only so many hours in the day. Nobody is perfect and healthcare degrees involving practice placements like midwifery are arguably some of the toughest. You don’t want to burn out before you have even qualified!

Always remember why you wanted to join the profession in the first place and how good you must be to have got onto the course.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

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Graduate Case Study FRAN CLIPPERTON IS A MIDWIFERY GRADUATE WHO CURRENTLY WORKS AS A MIDWIFE AT WARRINGTON & HALTON HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST Tell us a little bit about how you got to where you are today: I worked in a commercial and management role for 18 years before deciding I’d like to work in a more caring profession. I completed an Open University course while still working full-time, then volunteered for nine months before starting my midwifery degree at LJMU. What does your current job involve?

I provide health, education, medical and social care to women and their families during the antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal period. I work with women to tailor individualised care to their needs. Since completing my degree, I’ve qualified as an examination of the new-born practitioner, and as an acupuncture midwife, so I perform these roles to offer continuity of care, or through clinics.

Three things that I like about my job: ❚❚ The team I work with are all very supportive and have really helped me find my feet since qualifying ❚❚ I enjoy supporting and caring for people ❚❚ It’s very social – I’m always engaging with people

What did the application process involve and how did you prepare?

I applied via NHS-jobs, demonstrating in my application how I met all the required criteria. I had done lots of additional study days, online training and open days whilst a student which was helpful to show different skills and competencies. Once shortlisted, there was an interview with two people which included some scenarios – the work I had done for my viva helped with preparing for this.

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

Do relevant extra training and/or volunteering if you can. Get involved on placement – demonstrate to them that you’re interested and helpful. Make it easy for people to see how you fit with what they’re looking for – provide clear answers that give examples of how you meet the requirements. People always need good team players, so consistently support your colleagues in university and on placement and you will get it back in spades.

Looking for a career where you can make a difference?

DID YOU KNOW THAT A DEGREE IN A SOCIAL SCIENCE SUBJECT GIVES YOU AN IDEAL BACKGROUND TO LEAD ONTO A SOCIAL WORK MASTERS DEGREE AND PURSUE A CAREER IN SOCIAL WORK? Our MA Social Work programme is recognised by the Health and Care Professions Council and will qualify you as a social worker.

If you have a strong belief in human rights, social justice and a non-judgemental approach to working with individuals and communities in need, then social work could be the right career for you.

With a starting salary of over £25,000, good opportunities for progression to senior posts and the opportunity to work in a fulfilling job that aims to improve the lives of others, social work can be an excellent career choice.

For more information go to:

ljmu.ac.uk/study/courses www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Careers in environmental health

To become an Environmental Health Practitioner (EHP), you need to obtain a degree accredited by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH). The course at LJMU is accredited which means that successful graduates have this recognition.

In addition students will also complete their food practical examination and integrated Professional Assessment, which are also required elements for registration. Successfully completing your degree programme is therefore your first step towards registration as an Environmental Health Practitioner.

After your degree you will then need to pass both the Portfolio of Professional Practice (PPP) and a professional interview.

Most Environmental Health graduates from LJMU find work in the public sector, particularly local government, although others are increasingly finding employment in the private sector, in consultancies or organisations such as food retailers, holiday firms and airlines. The transferable skills you gain will also qualify you for a range of careers in other health-related fields besides environmental health. To find out more about your career in the environmental health sector including vacancy sources, read our ‘Environmental Health Career Insight’ available on our website.

Graduate Case Study SHARON BEGLEY-MOORE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS A STUDENT ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER FOR WEST LANCASHIRE BOROUGH COUNCIL Tell us a little bit about how you got to where you are today: As a mature student studying for an Environmental Health degree, my goal was always to eventually qualify as an EHO. However, the course does also prepare you for a variety of other careers such as health and safety officer or roles in public health. I wanted to take the year out to complete my PPP and as soon as opportunities arose for placements, I applied, luckily securing a role in a local authority within 20 minutes commute of home.

What does your current job involve?

I am on rotation for two or three months in each discipline of environmental health for the purpose of gaining experience in each area.

This is mainly by shadowing officers, following cases through and being involved in the decision process involved to reach a conclusion for each job. Each experience feeds into an area required for PPP report purposes.

Three things that I like about my job: ❚❚

The variety of the work in environmental health. It is so broad and varied, it keeps your interest.

❚❚ ❚❚

No day is the same.

You are always learning due to the expanse of work areas that are dealt with on a weekly basis. You would find it hard to become bored.

Things I’m not so keen on:

As I am on an unpaid placement I’m not actively involved in the work, only shadowing. Being unpaid has also been a tough 10 months so far and not an avenue everyone could pursue.

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What did the application process involve and how did you prepare?

I had to submit a CV to apply for this role. The workshops put on by the Careers Team really helped me to brush up in this area. I was invited to interview and was required to be knowledgeable in all areas of environmental health. I prepared by brushing up on all areas, legislation and how to formally enforce in each area. As a mature student I focused on what other transferable skills I could bring. I also outlined what they would gain in giving me the opportunity to come on board as a student EHO. I had the opportunity to discuss my dissertation as it focused on EHO’s and how they perceived hoarding. This fact is still remembered today by the interviewing officer who actively sought out an opportunity to take me to a property where hoarding was an issue.

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

I voluntarily arranged job shadowing opportunities with local authorities while studying. I also actively sought a placement during second year as it is a module option. I feel I greatly benefited from this opportunity. I noted all of this on my CV and I believe it showed initiative and enthusiasm for the role. I wanted to help myself stand out from other candidates. I also believe having a directly relevant dissertation contributed as it is an area you can discuss and show enthusiasm for when interviewed.

Look for an angle to make yourself stand out. Don’t be afraid to ask for contacts for job shadowing opportunities. My experience then opened doors by providing contacts for research in my dissertation.

I could directly approach officers who were more than willing to be interviewed as part of my research project.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

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Graduate Case Study LOUISA SHARPE GRADUATED WITH A BSC (HONS) IN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH IN 2018. SHE IS NOW A COMMISSIONING SUPPORT OFFICER FOR THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT AT ST HELENS COUNCIL What does your job involve?

My current role involves the commissioning of enhanced services to GP’s and pharmacies such as nicotine replacement therapy, emergency hormonal contraception, health checks, the national diabetes prevention programme, supervised consumption, needle and syringe programme, contraceptive implants, substance misuse and chlamydia screening. I also deal with all payments to the GP’s and pharmacies for these services, keeping records up-to-date of the number of residents accessing these services. Alongside this, I attend and minute meetings with the commissioning managers for sexual health and substance misuse for the monitoring of those services so that the best possible outcomes are being achieved for the residents of St Helens.

Three things that I like about my job:

❙❙ St Helens has many health inequalities and I enjoy working

alongside a team that work hard and use each other’s expertise trying to improve health outcomes. ❙❙ Going out into the community and talking to pharmacists and GP’s building up good working relationships. Visiting different organisations that have been commissioned, learning their role within public health such as homeless centres and substance misuse detox units. ❙❙ Being able to convert what I have learnt over the past three years and use it in a working environment.

What did the selection process involve and how did you prepare?

The role was advertised on St Helens Council website as a six-month full-time position at the end of my second year of study. I felt it would be a good opportunity to gain experience within the field over the

summer. I completed the application matching up my skills and experiences to the person specification and was invited to interview.

Before the interview, I researched St Helens Council and then looked at the St Helens profile for public health, such as life expectancy, obesity, substance misuse data etc. I also read their ongoing campaigns, so I had a good understanding of their priorities; this also gave me confidence that I could give a knowledgeable answer to any questions.

When I was due to return to university in September, they offered me a permanent role with days that worked around my studies.

What work experience/volunteering had you done to help you get your position?

I’m a mature student and had worked for several years for local government, so had quite a lot of office based and customer care experience. I also had volunteering experience working with a local community group and each week I worked on the switchboard for Childline.

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

Use your spare time over the summer wisely to gain experience, and if you are unable to get a paid position, volunteer. Before university, I worked in a Sure Start Centre and I often worked with graduates who did not have work experience, so were struggling to find employment.

The local job centre would send them on a six-week placement to gain work experience for their CV, and nearly all went on to gain employment. This shows the more experience you have of working, the more employable you are. Also the more confident you will be in an interview as you will be able to give examples of your skills and abilities to match what they are asking.

Graduate Case Study MARK VYSE IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH GRADUATE WHO CURRENTLY WORKS AS A TECHNICAL OFFICER (POLLUTION) FOR CHESHIRE EAST COUNCIL Tell us a little bit about how you got to where you are today: After graduating I was offered a 12-month placement with Flintshire County Council to complete my Portfolio of Professional Practice. I applied for the role with Cheshire East after seven months and was successful with my application.

What does your current job involve?

Investigating statutory nuisance (noise, light pollution, accumulation of waste), liaising with customers and other Cheshire East Council colleagues to resolve complaints.

Three things that I like about my job: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

No two days are the same.

Freedom to organise and resolve my own case load.

I’m continually challenged and learning.

Things I’m not so keen on:

Dog barking complaints, rude customers and the long commute!

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

What did the application process involve and how did you prepare?

I had to complete an online application form and was invited for a final interview. I researched the role and person specification to ensure I knew what was expected of me at interview. I also made sure I was familiar with Cheshire East as an organisation – its role, customers, area and structure.

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

Attend all the careers team workshop sessions, have a strong LinkedIn profile and if possible look for volunteering opportunities in the role/ organisation you want to work with/in.

Any advice for those looking for jobs in your sector?

Know your legislation, develop a thick skin, ensure your people skills are good and understand that the learning doesn’t stop when university finishes!

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Careers in the health and social care field

Health and Social Care for Individuals, Families and Communities is an excellent foundation for a range of careers working in the health and social care sector. In addition, the transferable skills you develop mean that a wide range of careers not related to your degree are also an option. The majority of those entering employment after graduation from similar degree programmes work in the public sector and the type of jobs include working in third sector organisations, support work, advisory roles, work in housing associations and service providers for children and young people. Further study is also a popular option such as teacher training, social work and nursing. Graduate training schemes are another attractive possibility and many of these employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject. To find out more about the variety of careers available to you following your degree in health and social care, read our ‘Health and Social Care Career Insight’ available on our website.

Graduate Case Study DERVLA O’CONNELL GRADUATED WITH A DEGREE IN HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES IN 2014 AND SUCCESSFULLY GAINED A PLACE ON THE LJMU MA SOCIAL WORK PROGRAMME. HERE SHE SHARES HER EXPERIENCE OF THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND CAREER TIPS: What postgraduate course are you studying?

What attracted you to this course?

I am currently studying the two-year MA Social Work course at LJMU. Several factors influenced my decision to apply to this course. For example I worked in a children’s home during my undergraduate degree and this enabled me to see the work of social workers and it became something I was extremely interested in. I decided that once I finished the degree course I wanted to enter a recognised ‘profession’ and so social work was my clear choice. My degree course also gave me a good insight into what social work was all about and so I knew what I would be getting into.

How has your degree helped prepare you for this postgraduate study option?

Health and Social Care for Individuals, Families and Communities was very broad and included looking at the child, the family and the role of the adult. I feel it gave me a good general foundation into the health and social care sector as a whole. Social work focuses on social care but you also need a good understanding of health implications which the course covered.

What did the application process involve?

I had to submit an extended personal statement directly to LJMU. This included writing a detailed record of how I met the required 500 hours of relevant work experience. I also had to write a 1000-word statement covering my motivation and commitment to social work, how I have

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demonstrated tenacity and the ability to deal with the unexpected and examples of when I have developed helping relationships. I was able to use all of my work experiences for this!

My application was successful and then I was invited to attend an interview day. I was asked typical questions such as why I wanted to become a social worker, what experience I had, what I had been reading recently and why I thought it was interesting and important in relation to the social work profession. It was really important to be prepared for this, so practise questions, prepare some answers, and do your research!

What relevant work experience and volunteering did you refer to during this selection process? How did this help you?

I have done quite a lot of volunteering over the years and have worked as a childcare worker in a children’s home which has proven very useful.

I have worked with children, teenagers, adults with learning disabilities and I have liaised and worked with other professionals such as CAMHS, social workers and teachers. In my roles I have completed mother and baby assessments, children and baby assessments etc. I think the fact that I have worked with several different types of vulnerable groups has given me an excellent foundation and understanding. This was also really helpful when detailing my 500 hours of relevant experience needed to get onto the MA programme.

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

The Health and Social Care for Individuals, Families and Communities course at LJMU is very broad so keep an open mind about your career options. Don’t get anxious at the beginning when people talk about not being sure what they want to do – that is fine. If, for example, you want to go into nursing, go straight to nursing admissions or see a careers adviser.

Get as much experience as you can. If you want to go into social work you need to build this up very early on – even just one day a week. As the course goes on, put as much effort in as possible during first and second year – don’t leave it all until the third year!

What are you enjoying most about your postgraduate course?

I enjoy the fact that it is quite challenging – I like being constantly challenged to learn new things. I am glad that I am on a course that will lead to me being in the profession I want to be in – I am particularly looking forward to my professional placements and putting the theory into practice. I enjoy the fact that I am making changes and helping people’s lives.

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Graduate Case Study RACHEAL BOYLAN IS A HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS AN EDUCATION AND WELL-BEING ASSISTANT SPECIALIST AT BROOK – HEALTHY LIVES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE Tell us a little bit about how you got to where you are today:

Whilst completing my final year at LJMU, I completed a 40-hour placement at Brook. Although it was a short placement, I learnt a great deal, made a good impression and I was asked to apply for a job, which I was successful in gaining.

What does your current job involve?

My current job involves supporting the needs of young people around topics of relationships, sexual health, confidence, self-esteem and body image. We are primarily a sexual health service, but our work has expanded so much in recent years and we are now delivering a range of sessions to young people. We work closely with partnership agencies to offer further support for young people around Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), mental health and addictions.

Three things that I like about my job: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

Supporting the needs of young people.

Seeing young people achieve their goals.

Empowering young people to make the right decisions for them.

Three things I’m not so keen on:

I honestly couldn’t say that there is anything I dislike about my job. I am so lucky that I have got a job which I really love doing. I work with a really supportive team of people, who are all equally dedicated to supporting the needs of young people. Although we do have some stressful days, they always turn out to be rewarding and it makes the stress worthwhile.

What was the application process like and how did you prepare?

The initial part of the recruitment process was to complete an application form. The next stage was to deliver a presentation on a topic of your choice, one version which was suitable for professionals, and then adapting the presentation to be aimed at young people. The final stage was an interview.

What relevant work experience/volunteering did you refer to?

I had previously completed work experience in a day centre for people with mental health conditions, and for six years I had volunteered at a youth club for young people with disabilities. I had plenty of relevant experience I could talk about. However, it’s important to remember that whatever experience you have, in many respects the skills are transferable to a variety of roles – so just make sure you are doing something whilst at university!

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

My advice would be to gain as much experience as you can.

Volunteering or placements can be an excellent pathway into a career, as the employer can see how well you could fit into a role. There is a lot of competition, and degrees play such a vital part in the process of applying for jobs, however employers look very favourably on previous work and volunteering. Also have confidence in yourself - when I first started at Brook, I would have said my confidence was relatively good, but by throwing myself into the work and leading on different sessions with young people my confidence has only continued to grow.

Graduate Case Study CHARLOTTE PICKSTOCK IS A HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES GRADUATE WHO IS NOW TRAINING TO BE A PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER VIA SCHOOL DIRECT How has your degree helped prepare you for your teacher training course?

It has helped me in many ways, for example developing my understanding of children’s rights, safeguarding issues and children’s mental health. My degree also allowed me to complete placements in different school settings, such as a school for children with complex learning difficulties giving me excellent hands-on experience.

Why do you want to become a teacher?

I have had lots of experience working with children in different settings and from different backgrounds. I have always really enjoyed my experiences especially the rewards of seeing students develop. I am also very passionate about ensuring that all children are taught and cared for in a way that suits their specific abilities. I want to take this passion and implement it in educational settings. I want to be a teacher as I want to make a difference in children’s lives.

For the School Direct PGDE course, what did the application process involve and how did you prepare?

For the School Direct route into teacher training, you still attend university, but the majority of your learning will be completed in a school. I completed my application form via UCAS. I found it very useful going to the Careers Team to discuss my options and to get my personal statement checked before sending it. Following this, the school’s training provider contacted me informing me that I had an interview. My interview consisted of an English test and I had to prepare a 20-minute activity, based on a book, which I would complete with a group of children. This was assessed by a member of LJMU and the deputy head teacher. If you were successful in the test and activity

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you were invited to an interview. The interview was in front of a teacher, the deputy head and the head teacher. They asked questions to explore my understanding of the course and why I wanted to be a teacher.

In addition to the interview you are required to pass an English and Maths Professional Skills Test, so it was important to prepare for these too and check when the school wants you to pass them. Some schools require you to pass these before the interview. The interview was a success and I was offered a conditional place on the course following the completion of my degree.

The application and interview process is not as daunting as it sounds! It was enjoyable and the teachers are encouraging as they want you to do well.

What relevant work experience/volunteering did you refer to during the selection process?

For teaching it is important to build up relevant experience. I have gained lots of experiences in settings with children from nursery placements, primary schools and in schools for children with disabilities, in addition to being a Scout and Beaver group leader. I have also worked alongside children who had parents in prison. I developed many skills and an understanding of the importance of being patient, confident, enthusiastic and understanding children’s needs and abilities.

Did the LJMU Careers Team help you in any way?

Yes I visited the Careers Team to discuss all of my options, as well as having meetings about my personal statement. They also helped with interview preparation and I was given a list of frequently asked interview questions. They also helped me with my preparation for the professional skills test.

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Graduate Case Study PAUL SEMPLE IS A WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE (NOW HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE FOR INDIVIDUAL, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES) GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS AN NCS CO-ORDINATOR AND DUKE OF EDINBURGH MANAGER FOR EVERTON IN THE COMMUNITY Tell us a little bit about how you got to where you are today:

During my degree, we completed modules and placements to help us gain experience in a work environment. I applied for a summer job with one of the organisations and was recruited on a part-time basis during my degree which then turned into a full-time role. I then applied for a full-time role with a partner, working in schools across the North West, running sessions and signing young people up to youth programmes.

After two and a half years I then had a career change and went into teaching. I soon realised this wasn’t for me and so started working with Everton in the Community, a partner from my previous job. I was offered a full-time role with them, working as NCS Co-ordinator and Duke of Edinburgh Manager.

What does your current job involve?

My current role involves working with some of the most vulnerable people across Merseyside and North Wales. I work on the National Citizen Service programme (NCS), one of the fastest growing youth projects across the UK, working with 16-18 year olds, upskilling them and giving them new experiences. I also manage the Duke of Edinburgh programme, similar to NCS, giving young people aged 14-25 the opportunity to gain new skills and get recognised for the work they complete. My role involves working face-to-face with young people, social workers, case workers, parents, guardians and outside partners.

Three things that I like about my job: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

Giving young people an opportunity to learn and gain recognition for achievements.

Going on residential with our groups and seeing how much of a positive impact the experience can have.

Working with one of the biggest charities in Merseyside and partners who are passionate about giving the Merseyside community support and opportunities.

What I’m not so keen on:

The paperwork!! Registration forms need to be logged and everything needs to be recorded when completing sessions. When on residential, it can be very tiring and you don’t get a lot of rest. But on the other hand, it is one of the best aspects of the job.

What did the application process involve and how did you prepare?

I contacted the charity, as I used to work in partnership with them before I started teaching. I did not want to continue teaching so I was seeking part-time work. I was informed that there was a full-time job they would like me to apply for. Once the application went live, I completed it, with references and a full personal statement. I was invited for an interview, where I knew I would be asked about my previous experience. I wasn’t very nervous as I knew I had a lot of experience to talk about. I prepared by listing my experiences and some of the skills that I could offer. I re-read my CV and made sure I could back each statement made with relevant examples. I had the interview and was informed that evening that I had got the role!

What relevant work experience/volunteering did you refer to during the selection process?

Experiences from placements I completed at university, for example, in youth clubs, education centres and football coaching. I also talked about delivering sessions in schools, keeping calm and composed during challenging situations and working with others to plan and prepare the sessions. I also spoke about working on youth-led projects and how I empowered young people to achieve their goals.

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

Get as much experience as you can and build contacts! The more experience you have, the more you can talk about in applications and interviews. If you don’t have it to talk about, it makes the process a lot more stressful and difficult to manage.

Download our range of nursing and midwifery guides from the careers website NURSING AND MIDWIFERY - JOB HUNTING TIPS AND USEFUL WEBSITES NURSING AND MIDWIFERY - TACKLING APPLICATION FORMS PLANNING YOUR NURSING CAREER PREPARING FOR YOUR MIDWIFERY INTERVIEW PREPARING FOR YOUR NURSING INTERVIEW

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Nursing careers – Adult, Mental Health and Child

Once you have successfully completed your Adult, Mental Health or Child Nursing course at LJMU and gained registration on the Nursing and Midwifery Register, you will be able to apply for your first nursing post within your chosen field of practice. Career opportunities for registered nurses continue to be very good in and outside the NHS. In 2016 over 95% of our graduates went on to secure professional and/or managerial posts after they graduated. Registered nurses can work in a variety of settings; public, private, voluntary and overseas, though most of our graduates choose to begin their career within the NHS. There are also a growing number of nurse specialist posts in different clinical areas and some graduates also pursue careers in teaching, research or management, or continue their studies with a master’s programme. To find out more about planning your nursing career, you should read our ‘Planning your Nursing Career’ mini guide available on our website. You could also explore the ‘careers’ section on the NHS careers website which contains useful information about the variety of nursing roles: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/nursing. Remember as nursing students you will be exposed to a diverse range of practice placements within the community, NHS and voluntary sectors, giving you the opportunity to network and learn from other healthcare professionals. Make the most of every opportunity and create the right impression at all times. To develop your employability, you could also consider other extra-curricular activities such as becoming a Student Nurse Mentor, a Student Quality Ambassador, attending the Royal College of Nursing annual conference etc. For more information about the Student Mentoring Service and the Student Quality Ambassador roles see pages 22-24.

Graduate Case Study DARIAN LOVELL IS AN ADULT NURSING GRADUATE (2016) WHO NOW WORKS AS A STAFF NURSE AT WALTON CENTRE FOUNDATION TRUST What did you enjoy most about your nurse training?

The most enjoyable part of my training was the practical element. I gained a lot of knowledge and skills during the clinical skills sessions.

The clinical placements then enabled me to put these into practice and increase my competence and confidence. The variety of clinical placements also provided me with a valuable insight into which areas of nursing I was interested in, which gave me clarity and direction when I started looking for jobs.

in pre-registration student interviews, moderate OSCE’s, take part in the NMC review of the BSc programme and complete the 3i’s teaching course.

I was also involved in the development and implementation of the ‘Links to Health and Social Care e-journal’. I published a piece as an author and I edited other articles. This opportunity led me to present at the RCN education conference in Cardiff with a nursing lecturer which was an invaluable experience.

What did the application process involve and how did you prepare?

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

I was determined to work at the Walton Centre due to my interest in neurology. Once I found a job advertised on NHS jobs I applied and after about two weeks I received an invitation to interview. I then arranged an informal visit as I had never had a placement at the Walton Centre. I would highly recommend this as it was beneficial to visit the ward and meet some of the staff, which made the interview slightly less daunting. My interview preparation consisted of going through the job advertisement and person specification to highlight the important information I would discuss at interview. I also booked a mock interview with the Careers Team which was extremely beneficial as this provided me with interview style questions and scenarios.

Did you do anything during your time at university to develop your skills outside of placements and lectures?

I was a student mentor which was extremely beneficial, as it enabled me to expand and develop my own knowledge by teaching clinical skills to other nursing students. The role also enabled me to take part

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Get involved in as many additional activities relating to the course, such as being a student mentor or getting involved with the e-journal.

They enabled me to develop personally and professionally and provided many examples to discuss during the interview. It ultimately helps you stand out from other candidates by demonstrating motivation and enthusiasm.

Tips or advice for those looking for jobs in your sector:

When looking for jobs don’t be afraid to apply to trusts that you haven’t had a placement in. The main thing is that you are interested in the job role you are applying for. Take the time to research and read up on areas/specialities you might be interested in. If you are unsure, apply for as many jobs as you can and if you get invited for interview, utilise the time at the end to ask questions regarding the area which might help you decide. Take your time when applying for jobs, don’t rush, get someone to proofread your application and seek help when preparing for interviews.

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Graduate Case Study REBECCA SARJEANT GRADUATED FROM LJMU WITH A BSC (HONS) IN CHILD NURSING WITH REGISTERED NURSE STATUS. SHE NOW WORKS AS A CARDIOTHORACIC PAEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE NURSE AT NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE NHS FOUNDATION TRUST. What does your job involve?

As a staff nurse I care for children with a wide range of heart, lung and airway conditions. We are a paediatric transplant centre, accepting patients from all over the UK for heart/lung transplantation and assessment, as well as congenital heart defects from within the North East region. I assess, plan, deliver and evaluate high quality patient care on the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The patients may be linked to machines which take over the work normally done by the lungs, heart and kidneys; my role is to manage the patients and these machines, and support the families throughout the child’s inpatient experience. We receive patients from theatres following surgery for congenital heart defects, and care for them throughout the post-operative period until they are well enough to be discharged to the High Dependency Unit (HDU) or ward. The PICU is a collaboration between surgeons, doctors, physiotherapists, dieticians, play specialists and other members of the multi-disciplinary team; the bedside nurse consolidates individual orders into a care plan to be implemented for that shift or period.

Three things that I like about my job: 1. Challenging – one shift I may have a fairly stable long-term patient, 2.

3.

the next I may be looking after a volatile post-operative patient.

Specialised – the unit is one of only two in the country providing paediatric heart/lung transplantation and bridge to transplant (VAD). We are often perceived as being the ‘last chance’ for children in heart failure.

Nursing autonomy – I am able to adjust ventilator settings according to blood gas results, work independently in a cubicle, titration of drug infusions up/down according to the patient’s clinical presentation and various other elements of patient care according to set protocols.

Key points in my career development to date: ❙❙ Completing my 12-month preceptorship programme. ❙❙ Undertaking VAD (ventricular assist device) training, enabling me

to care for children waiting for transplant whilst on a berlin heart/ heartware device. ❙❙ Undertaking training in dialysis using the prismaflex. ❙❙ Accepting link nurse roles for safeguarding, patient diaries, psychological support and child development. ❙❙ Founding member of ‘TESS’; a team emotional support system, which aims to reduce feelings of stress in the workplace by providing debriefs after incidents. We have a named nurse on each shift that staff can approach if required.

What did the application process involve for your first job?

I started actively applying for jobs in April of third year; I carried out job searches on NHS jobs in the run up to this on a weekly basis. I kept my personal statement updated and adapted it as required for any jobs I applied for. On a few occasions, I emailed/phoned the unit I was interested in to see whether they would be accepting newly-qualified nurses as there were one or two places that were only advertising for experienced staff.

I travelled up to Newcastle and back in a day for an afternoon interview.

I ensured that I’d done as much background research as possible. I was asked about topics to which I could reference the six C’s of nursing, as well as my understanding of accountability and the general staff nurse role.

I made sure to revise my knowledge of the circulatory system; I wasn’t asked anything to do with clinical skills or anatomy and physiology in my cardiac interview, however another PICU asked me to identify the signs of raised intracranial pressure so I always advise going over anatomy notes relevant to the speciality.

What kinds of work experience and volunteering did you do to help you get to where you are today?

When I was 17, I was lucky enough to be able to travel to Sri Lanka for a month-long hospital placement, partially sponsored by a Nuffield Science bursary. This gave me an in-depth look into healthcare services in the developing world, and enhanced my drive to be accepted on a medically focused course. As a student nurse, I worked as a healthcare assistant for bank shifts at Alder Hey Hospital which was a useful way of getting experience on wards I hadn’t had the chance to be placed on, orthopaedics for example. I was also a member of the Student Mentoring Scheme, and through this was on the organising committee for the first North West Student Health Conference in 2012, as well as presenting at other conferences (such as the LJMU Teaching and Learning Conference) throughout the academic year.

Any tips or advice for those looking for jobs in your sector?

PICU nursing is hard, and an incredibly stressful area in which to work; one of the interview questions referenced this and how I dealt with it. Be prepared to learn quickly! There was some work to be done off the unit, such as a hefty medicines management book, which needed completing before I was able to check oral and intravenous medication.

Double-check in your interview what will be expected of you as a new staff nurse as all centres will differ. Be able to describe blood flow around the heart; it will make a lot more sense when identifying how certain defects affect circulation/oxygenation.

EVE MOUSLEY GRADUATED IN 2012 IN MENTAL HEALTH NURSING. SHE IS NOW A WARD MANAGER AT MERSEY CARE What does your job involve?

I am the ward manager for Poplar Ward in Scott Clinic. Poplar Ward is the only female ward in the secure division of Mersey Care and provides medium-secure care for up to eight women.

The workforce that I currently manage is approximately 34 staff. My job involves the day-to-day management of complex challenges that can arise in such an environment whilst providing and maintaining high standards of patient care and leadership to my colleagues.

Three things that I like about my job: ❙❙ Having to think and act quickly in managing challenging and difficult situations that can arise when dealing with such a complex patient group. ❙❙ Having a greater insight and understanding of the Trust’s strategy and vision for the future and being able to lead my colleagues towards achieving this. ❙❙ The sense of pride when seeing quality improvements being made and the ward achieving accomplishments and being recognised for the positive and wonderful work that they do on a daily basis.

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Graduate Case Study STEPHANIE THOMPSON GRADUATED WITH A BSC (HONS) IN ADULT NURSING IN 2016.

SHE IS NOW A WARD SISTER AT ARROWE PARK HOSPITAL What does your job involve?

I currently work on the Acute Medical Unit, which is one of the largest and busiest units within the trust. Every year we help care for over 25,000 patients and it is my responsibility to ensure we maintain excellent standards of care to all. I have to ensure the ward maintains its quality standards, including vital aspects such as infection control. I regularly co-ordinate the unit to support staff and help guarantee safe, compassionate and effective care to all our patients. I have to liaise with allied health professionals to support medical admissions, triage appropriately, queue manage and achieve timely discharges.

Three things that I like about my job: ❙❙ Being able to help and support my colleagues. This job role has given me greater opportunities to learn and develop as a professional and it is great to be able to help wherever possible. ❙❙ Meeting the patients throughout the unit and listening to their stories. On an acute unit, patients come from a wide range of backgrounds and it is great experience to improve upon interpersonal skills, conflict resolution and social skills within healthcare, such as liaising with safeguarding and social services. ❙❙ I am very thankful for the platform it has given me to raise issues within workplaces, such as mental health and wellbeing at work and I enjoy working within teams to help improve upon this.

Things I’m not so keen on: ❙❙ I find it difficult after a long and busy day to relax at home. As a senior nurse, the role involves dedication which means emails outside of work and ensuring staff are happy with their shifts and work life. ❙❙ I wish I could do more regarding health and wellbeing at work and help to improve staff morale within the unit. Although small changes may take a long time I hope to have more time in the future to improve upon this.

Tell us about how you got to where you are: I began working within AMU in September 2016. The team are very supportive and are always there to help with learning and development. I began signing up for training days to ensure I was clinically trained as best as I could be. This included becoming a Clinical Champion, attending courses such as ECG Rhythm Recognition and being ILS trained. I began discussing ideas I believe would benefit the unit to the managers and asked about co-ordinating the unit.

Over time I became a more confident nurse and my clinical skills were vast. As jobs started to become open, I expressed an interest so the

How did you get to where you are?

I believe that I got to where I am by not giving up and working extremely hard! I qualified when I was 20 and I’ve since returned back to university every single year to do some form of professional development, so I am always learning and I am always open to new ideas. I believe that in order to succeed you have to be open to new challenges. I have moved across the secure division numerous times in different roles which has provided me with a wealth of knowledge and experience that I wouldn’t have gained if I’d have resisted change.

Tell us about the recruitment process at your Trust and your top tips?

The recruitment process for staff nurses consists of several stages: Application: You are required to submit the application form online. Make this as comprehensive as possible and include as much experience and personal strengths as you can.

Assessment Centre: If you are shortlisted from application, you will be invited to an assessment centre, which usually consists of: Group Discussion - Your interactions and engagement with others will be assessed as well as the content of your discussion.

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managers understood my desire to excel within my career, and at a later date when I felt ready, I applied and was lucky enough to be given the opportunity.

Tell us about the recruitment process at your Trust and what are your top tips?

I attended an open day with Wirral University Teaching Hospital, alongside lots of other final-year students, newly-qualified staff and skilled nurses. The trust appointed staff to look after us throughout the day and after introducing themselves, the day began. There were presentations about the trust, the values and the recruitment process.

I then had to complete an English test. This was a short essay question, asking us to incorporate the trust values of #PROUD, into how we feel we have delivered excellent standards of care. After this I completed a short maths test and then the interview. The staff took us in for group interviews and asked us questions regarding the Francis report, the NMC and situational questions. They allowed us to discuss between us and it was a very relaxed environment.

My tips would be to enjoy it (I know it sounds clichéd) but it is never as bad as you think it is going to be. The staff are there to help and support you throughout the process and they want you to succeed.

Also it’s very important to be yourself - it is you that will convince them that you are an excellent, caring and compassionate nurse.

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

You always have to be willing and ready to learn. Each day within nursing is a new day, providing new opportunities and new learning curves and you have to be open to this. Take the opportunities that arise in university that help develop your professional portfolio, enrol in online learning courses and take part in teaching sessions within placements.

From doing this you will learn a great amount that can be transferred into your RGN role.

Take time to learn about yourself. What are your strengths and weaknesses? What are your best attributes? What skills and characteristics do you have that may set you aside from others?

Everyone has something that makes him or her a great nurse or great colleague, so find yourself and use it to your advantage. On our unit self-reflection is key and staff have to be honest and open to enable us to offer support and learning opportunities where necessary.

Written Piece - You will be asked to write a written piece in a specified time frame. This is something that you will be expected to be able to do in practice such as a care plan.

Maths Examination - You will then be asked to complete a medicines calculation exam where a 100% pass rate is required.

If you are successful in all of the above, you will then be invited to a valuesbased interview. My top tip is have a positive attitude! I believe that the attitude that an individual presents at interview is extremely important and gives a real vibe into their values and how much they want the job.

Do your homework! If you really want a job, do your research, get an idea as to what they might ask, prepare as much as you can and give yourself the best possible chance. You can tell when an individual has researched for a job and when someone has just turned up.

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

Get as much experience as possible in different environments. Work hard on placement and build a positive reputation for yourself. It will take you far when you’re looking for a reference.

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Paramedic Practice The Paramedic Practice course at LJMU has been developed with North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) NHS Trust in response to the demands of the continuously developing role of the paramedic. During the course you will develop the interpersonal skills needed to care for people in distressing circumstances. Working alongside other health professionals and other emergency services you will also promote the development of strong leadership skills. Ultimately you will have the confidence to work effectively and independently.

Successful completion of the course allows you to apply for registration with the HCPC. This will then allow you to practise as a paramedic in both the NHS and private healthcare sectors and you may wish to top up your qualification by progressing onto a oneyear BSc (Hons) Health and Social Care Development. Recent graduates all successfully secured employment with the NWAS NHS Trust.

Graduate Case Study

MIKE AINSLIE GRADUATED IN 2012 WITH A DIPHE PARAMEDIC PRACTICE AND NOW WORKS AS A PARAMEDIC FOR NORTH WEST AMBULANCE SERVICE

Briefly describe your current job: I work as a paramedic for NWAS. My job involves responding to emergency and non-emergency calls either in a front-line ambulance or a rapid response car.

Three things that I like about the job role/chosen profession: There are lots of things I like about my job. Not knowing what I’ll be doing or where I’ll be is a great feeling. I couldn’t work in an office doing the same job in the same place all day every day as I like to be out and about! I love helping people. It’s why we all sign up to this job; being able to save someone’s life and have them thank you is probably the most rewarding thing about being a paramedic. I like learning, and as a paramedic, every day is a school day!

Key points in my career development to date: Key points are completing my rapid response driver training and passing the pre-hospital emergency life support course.

For your first job, can you briefly outline what the application process involved and how you prepared?

The application and selection process ran very smoothly with the assistance of LJMU. We were told when to apply and the processes involved quite early on in our final year. We also had recruitment personnel from NWAS come into university to guide us through. After we completed our application forms, we had an interview and soon after we were told that we were successful. We had about a month or two between finishing university and starting work. We first of all had to complete a three-week emergency driving course followed by a six-week induction.

What are your long-term career plans?

My long term career plan is to obtain my BSc and then progress onto the MSc and I would eventually like to become a Critical Care Paramedic working on HEMS or an Advanced Paramedic.

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What relevant work experience/skills/volunteering did you have?

I joined St John Ambulance in Wales when I was 13. I knew then I wanted to be a paramedic. I’m still a member 15 years later and occasionally attend events as and when needed. At 18, I started working in my local hospital to gain valuable experience in the medical profession. I completed an Access to HE course and was successful in applying for the paramedic course. I truly believe that having had this experience in the NHS and for St John Ambulance before I started the course was invaluable. The most important thing in this job is being able to communicate with people effectively. I don’t believe you can teach this, as it’s something that improves with experience. I could be breaking bad news to an 86-year-old lady whose husband has just died after over 60 years of marriage one minute, then the next job I could be trying to calm down an agitated mental health patient. We never know what our next incident will be but having this experience has taught me how best to communicate and adapt to the situation. I’m extremely grateful for the experience I’ve had as I feel it has helped me greatly.

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

The best advice I can give to improve employability is to stand out from the crowd! Be different and be the best! That might involve completing some extra CPD courses or volunteering your time doing some charity work etc. If I was an employer, I’d be looking for that person who has gone the extra mile. I believe experience combined with education is the key. Gain as much experience as possible and stand out from the crowd and you can’t go far wrong!

Any other comments you would like to make: As cheesy as it sounds, I think that being a paramedic is the best job in the world and it is a privilege. I am grateful to LJMU for everything and for the help and support the staff gave me when I was a student.

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Graduate Case Study RACHEL CHILDS IS A PARAMEDIC STUDIES GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS A COMMUNITY SPECIALIST PARAMEDIC FOR NORTH WEST AMBULANCE SERVICE Tell us about how you got to where you are today:

I started as a student on the paramedic studies foundation degree course at LJMU in 2007. After this I gained a full-time position as a paramedic with NWAS and continued studying for the BSc Hons degree and graduated in 2011. In 2013 I took a secondment opportunity with North West Air Ambulance as a Helicopter Emergency Paramedic for three years. In 2014 I then commenced my MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice at LJMU. For the past 10 months I have been working as a Community Specialist Paramedic in Wythenshawe and have so far completed five Masters modules. During the past 8 years since qualifying I have been a student mentor and have delivered some teaching and assisted with practical study sessions at LJMU.

What does your current job involve?

The community specialist paramedic role is to provide awareness and education to a community in the appropriate use of 999, and develop alternative pathways to avoid hospital attendance and unplanned admission. My current role involves working in primary care alongside GP’s and other community teams, using advanced holistic assessment skills, to provide timely health and social care interventions in the community. The aim is to provide a more coordinated and robust response to enable patients to remain safely at home and to prevent avoidable hospital admissions through advanced care planning. The role also includes working closely with nursing and residential homes, and frequent callers to reduce their 999 impact. My job role also includes the innovation and development of referral pathways for utilisation by NWAS staff when it is not appropriate for a patient to go to hospital.

Three things that I like about my job: ❚❚

Working independently and making autonomous decisions, whilst at the same time still being part of one big green team.

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Having the opportunity to experience and appreciate the wider healthcare environment in order to drive on system change within the ambulance service.

Meeting a new patient and having the ability to improve their whole well-being and not just their health status.

Three things I’m not so keen on: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

Administration.

Getting up early five days a week (I could sleep forever!)

I can’t think of a third!

Can you outline what the application process involved and how you prepared?

Most NWAS applications follow the same process, but can be tailored depending on the type of job you’re applying for. Initially this involves an application via NHS jobs, followed by online psychometric testing.

Then, if successful, a written clinical examination. This is followed by a practical skills assessment and finally an interview. The recruitment process for my current role also included a 10 minute presentation at interview stage. My Helicopter Emergency Paramedic application also included a fitness test and some map reading!

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

Keep up to date with current healthcare news and developments.

Be aware of any local changes in the trust/service you are looking at for employment. If you have the time, try to spare a few hours for volunteering or doing some part-time work in a health-related setting.

Graduate Case Study RICHARD EVANS IS A PARAMEDIC STUDIES GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS AN ADVANCED PARAMEDIC FOR NORTH WEST AMBULANCE SERVICE How did you get to where you are today and what does your current job involve?

I graduated from LJMU in 2009 as a registered paramedic. I have been employed by NWAS since then and have progressed up to the post of advanced paramedic. As an advanced paramedic I am the first line manager for a team of senior paramedics. They in turn manage the staff base of paramedics and emergency medical technicians. We are dispatched routinely to the most unwell patients that the trust deals with ranging from cardiac arrests, major trauma and major medical illness and take overall clinical lead at these incidents. We are also available for remote advice calls for ambulance crews who need advice and support emergency calls and help signpost them to the most appropriate destination.

Three things that I like about my job: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

Being able to support and develop existing staff members and supporting them at emergency calls.

Responding to the most unwell patients that the trust responds to.

Shift work, because it allows me to have a good work-life balance and spend time with my family!

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

What did the application process involve and how did you prepare?

After serving time as a paramedic and then as a senior paramedic I applied for my current post as an advanced paramedic. After completing the application form, I had to sit a psychometric ‘managerial situational awareness’ test. After passing this, I then progressed to the practical testing phase. This consisted of a clinical assessment paper and a 30-minute Observed Structured Clinical Exam (OSCE). Phase three was a final interview.

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

Don’t primarily look to improve your employability - look first to improve and maintain the highest clinical standards of care and performance. Having high standards of theory and practical skills will increase your confidence in yourself as a practitioner and make you more employable as a by-product. Never lose sight of why you applied to join the profession in the first place. And don’t just work to become a paramedic, work to be the very best paramedic you can be – this will be one of the most employable traits you can have.

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Careers in Public Health By the time you graduate with a qualification in public health from LJMU, you will have developed a range of essential professional skills and an extensive public health knowledge base. You can expect to be able to forge a successful career in public health or a number of related fields including but not limited to: public health intelligence, community drugs education, health promotion, smoking cessation, nutrition advisor and housing support. Your career may focus on a particular area of public health or may be much broader in its nature. There are a wide range of options available to you after graduation and we would expect graduates to find roles in local authorities; national government agencies; within the voluntary sector (both in the UK and internationally). ​ fter graduation you may decide to continue with your studies and LJMU also offers a number of MSc programmes in public health (MSc A Public Health; MSc International Public Health, MSc Public Health (Addictions). Alternatively, a career in Social Work could be open to you if you have the relevant experience.

Postgraduate Case Study LIBBY WILKINSON GRADUATED WITH AN MSC INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH AND NOW WORKS AS A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES AND ENGLISH TEACHER AT MULTIKIDS INCLUSIVE ACADEMY IN GHANA What does your job involve?

Teaching a programme called Global Perspectives to a group of students with a range of learning needs.

Tell us a little bit about how you got to where you are today?

I was an intern for the West Africa AIDS Foundation in Ghana and began networking with contacts. I heard about the school Multikids Inclusive Academy, which is the only school in the country that caters for children with diverse needs, such as cerebral palsy, autism, dyslexia and down syndrome.

What relevant work experience /skills did you have? ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

I had worked with children with special needs before attending university.

I supported students with dyslexia at the University of Liverpool I have an undergrad degree in Health and Social Care – gaining knowledge around children’s rights to education and working with vulnerable groups.

I have a TEFL qualification, which supported my teaching role

What are your long term career plans?

I would like to develop the programme Global Perspectives in a

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range of schools across Ghana and to help develop more in-school sexual health education programmes.

Three things that I like about the job role/chosen profession: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

I get to use the knowledge I gained during my MSc. Engaging with a range of diverse cultures and backgrounds Developing my international public health perspectives

Things I’m not so keen on:

Lower salary than the UK and occasional cultural differences.

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

Volunteer and gain as much experience as you can. Go to lectures and talks given outside of scheduled time to network with contacts. Attend workshops to develop skills on how to write an effective CV.

Tips or advice for those looking for jobs in your sector:

Network with as many people as you can. If you want to work internationally, it is easier to find a job once in the country. Gain a lot of relevant experience internationally.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

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CPD Case Study SARAH DALTON STUDIED THE BOWEL CANCER SCREENING PRACTITIONER CPD COURSE AT LJMU AND CURRENTLY WORKS AS A SPECIALIST SCREENING PRACTITIONER (SSP) AT MANCHESTER ROYAL INFIRMARY What made you decide to study this course at LJMU? In order for me to become a specialist in this field I needed to complete a specialist course. My manager had completed this course at Liverpool John Moores University and was very impressed with the course and teaching staff so encouraged me to enrol.

How has this course helped you in your current role?

The course has enabled me to put the topics discussed on this course into action in my role as SSP. Bowel cancer is an emotive subject and needs to be discussed in an empathetic way with patients and their families. This course included topics such as breaking bad news (BBN). Participating in role plays to include topics such as BBN meant that nurses could view how others were BBN and we were able to learn from each other’s techniques. It is extremely important to feel confident in the fact that following BBN, this patient can now be cared for and treated for their bowel cancer.

Why do you feel continuing professional development is so important?

Research for cancer is consistently improving so it is essential for nurses to keep up-to-date with new findings. As bowel cancer is one of the more successfully treated cancers, many people are now in remission following taking part in the bowel cancer screening programme and this course ensured I was fully up-to-date with the latest findings and progress in treating bowel cancer.

What was the best part of this course?

I enjoyed a lecture from Professor Myint who is a Lead Clinician at Clatterbridge Hospital. He discussed the treatment of rectal cancers using contact radiotherapy (papillon). The lecture really opened my eyes to other treatment options that were available as an alternative to surgery.

CPD Case Study LINDSEY SAINSBURY STUDIED A POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN COUNSELLING & PSYCHOTHERAPY WHILE WORKING AS A COUNSELLOR AT SOUTH SEFTON SIXTH FORM COLLEGE What does a typical day in your role involve?

Typically I arrive at the college around 15 minutes before my first client arrives. I use this time to look over any notes I have made on the previous session, make sure I have all the relevant paperwork I need and generally use this time to ground myself. My clients consist of students aged between 16-19 and staff members. Clients come from various socio-economic backgrounds with a wide variety of issues. Sessions last 50 minutes with ten minutes in between to write notes and prepare for my next client. Other duties vary from day to day but might include reading relevant research literature, collecting and monitoring statistics, liaising with pastoral staff and general paperwork. Once a month I attend supervision to discuss my client caseload.

How has the course prepared you for your current role?

This course of study has given me an excellent grounding in contemporary theory and practice and enabled me to develop greatly in terms of both my professional and personal development.

It has increased my ability to critically evaluate research and given me a strong appreciation of the value of evidence-based practice.

It has also helped me to develop as a self-reflective practitioner by providing a safe and supportive environment in which to explore how my values, culture and personality influence my client work.

Most notably, this course has helped me to develop my confidence

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as an autonomous learner and helped me to increase my confidence in my own abilities.

What made you apply for the course at LJMU? I returned to education as a mature student after a life-threatening illness. After completing a Psychology degree I considered pursuing a career in this field but found that my heart was not really in it. After a bit of soul searching, I realised that I have benefited greatly from personal therapy in my own life and the ethos of the person-centred approach resonated greatly with my own values, and what’s more I really enjoy working with people on a one-to-one basis. I was also strongly attracted to a career in counselling and psychotherapy as it necessitates a real commitment to ongoing and lifelong learning and personal development.

What was the best part of the course?

For me the best part of the course was the people I have had the privilege of meeting and working with. I feel I have really benefited from the experience and support of the teaching staff and guest speakers from the forefront of current research and practice within the person-centred and experiential field. This is an extremely demanding course both academically and emotionally, but I’ve met some fantastic people along the way.

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Opportunities for nursing students to develop their skills and employability…

LJMU OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR NURSING STUDENTS TO JOIN THE STUDENT MENTORING SERVICE (SMS) OR BECOME A STUDENT QUALITY AMBASSADOR (SQA). PHIL RATHE, ACADEMIC LEAD FOR THE SMS AND SQA PROJECTS FOR NURSING STUDENTS EXPLAINS ALL Student Mentoring Service (SMS) The Student Mentoring Service (SMS) was established in 2007 at Liverpool John Moores University as an innovative and unique opportunity to provide help and support to first-year nursing students from all fields - Adult, Mental Health and Child.

The Student Mentoring Service has proven to be incredibly successful and benefits both first-year nursing students and the Student Mentors themselves.

The student mentor support, which is offered to first year students, begins during their induction week. Student mentors conduct sessions to explain their role and how they can support students during their first year. The student mentors are able to answer questions and offer help and advice around academic issues, practise placement questions or sometimes they are there just to say hi. New students are allocated a student mentor during the first week of their course.

Student mentors also offer invaluable support to the university. They are present during University open days and this gives potential students the opportunity to speak to current students about the academic programme, types of placements offered and a chance to see demonstrations in the university’s practice suites. The Student Mentors gain valuable experience in public speaking, presentation skills, and a chance to share their own knowledge. They also gain that something ‘extra’ for their CV. A new development to the Student Mentor Service is the participation in interview days. During these interview days, the student mentors meet and greet potential students at their interview. It gives potential students the opportunity to ask the mentors questions. A recent development in the recruitment process is that student mentors have also been given training to allow them to participate in the actual interview for PreRegistration Nursing across all fields. This has proven to be a valuable experience for

the student mentor, especially when they will soon be attending their own interviews for staff nurse jobs.

The Student Mentoring Service also participates in events in the community.

During Stroke Awareness Week, the student mentors provide free blood pressure testing in a variety of public locations. Support is also offered to local charities such as the Vital Sounds Foundation, who offer free cardiac screening to young adults to reduce the number of Sudden Cardiac Arrest in those aged 15-35. These events not only enhance student knowledge and clinical skills, but they also help to educate the public. Furthermore, students can use these as great examples to talk about during job interviews.

Through participation in Student Mentoring Service activities, mentors gain and develop a number of skills, which are transferable to all aspects of clinical practice. They are exposed to multi-disciplinary team working at every event. Leadership, communication, time management and collaborative working are all developed. Many student mentors have gained confidence in their own knowledge and in sharing this with others.

Many have also gained employment prior to completing their degree programme and this may well be due to the commitment, time and effort, which they give to the Student Mentoring Service.

If you are interested in becoming a student mentor, an email is sent to student nurses at the start of second year. All potential mentors are interviewed for the post. Successful candidates, who are performing well academically, and are excelling on placement are given specialist training by senior student mentors. It is an opportunity that should not be missed!

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www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

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Student Quality Ambassador (SQA) Scheme

The Student Nursing Times Awards celebrates the very best in nurse education, recognises and rewards brilliant educational establishments and honours those who are committed to developing new nursing talent as mentors, lecturers and providers of placements. The awards also pay tribute to students who have demonstrated the academic achievement, clinical prowess and personal qualities that will make them brilliant nurses.

The Student Quality Ambassador Project was praised by judges for the collaboration of 9 North West Universities and numerous NHS trusts for their partnership working

to utilize healthcare students to share best practice and raise quality care. The SQA project allows for the students’ “voices” to be heard and meets with the recommendations of Keogh (2013) who recognised that the inclusion of students to gain frank and honest opinions on the quality of care in trusts promotes open and honest discussions.

A further recommendation which the SQA project was able to meet is, Keogh (2013) “would strongly encourage Directors of Nursing to think about how they can harness the loyalty and innovation of student nurses, who move from ward to ward, so they become ambassadors for their hospital and for promoting innovative nursing practice.”

SQAs joined ‘Quality Walkarounds’ with Directors at Liverpool Heart & Chest Hospital and Mersey Care NHS Trust. The SQAs involved offered ideas from theory and other

How do I become an SQA? As a student quality ambassador (SQA) you should have a desire to champion good practice and enhance the quality of patient care. You should be interested in:

❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

Involvement in quality initiatives in practice and theory Identifying areas for development and recognising and sharing good practice Facilitating change when required Commenting on and enhancing current practice Working alongside and liaising between practice areas, PEF’s, HEI’s, students, service users/patients/carers and other professionals Transparency, safety thermometer, patient, staff and the student experience Change management Attending workshops and development days with regional SQA’s Have an interest in all NHS innovations Supporting other students to champion good practice Assisting trusts to host student innovation events

practice environments and were the ‘fresh eyes’ looking at the clinical environment.

SQAs have continued their role by carrying out the ‘15 step challenges’ at Leighton and Aintree hospitals. Both trusts have gained valuable insights from the SQAs where excellent practices have been highlighted and areas where improvements can be made have been discussed.

You should possess the following personal qualities: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

Assertive Confident Good negotiating skills Excellent communication skills Positive and professional role model Open and honest attitude

What do you get from being a student quality ambassador? ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

Development of skills Increased confidence Opportunities to be involved in and develop initiatives Enhanced CV Opportunities to network with students across the North West Make valuable professional connections Meet new people, have fun and drive quality of healthcare

Carmel O’Boyle (BSc Adult Nursing) is a student quality ambassador, student mentor and also won the Student Citizenship Award for her significant contribution to the community.

“

The Student Quality Ambassador Scheme is another initiative student nurses at LJMU can get involved in to further develop their skills and gain valuable experiences. The SQA scheme at LJMU won partnership of the year with Health Education North West in the Student Nursing Times Awards of 2014.

I became the chair of the LJMU Student Quality Ambassadors. This has been a fantastic opportunity and has given me an insight into the many different areas of the NHS. It has given me confidence to be the best student nurse I can be. I have presented at conferences, taken part in quality audits and even completed the 3i’s teaching course. This has given me the confidence and skills I will need to progress in my career. I have also helped to manage a team and conduct interviews, working closely with our academic lead. I hope this experience will hone my leadership skills to enable my career development. I was also selected to be a student mentor and I am proud to be a student that others can turn to for help. I was also awarded the LJMU Citizenship Award for my charity work; this was an honour and a proud moment for me and my family.

If you are interested in getting involved with the Student Mentoring Service or becoming a student quality ambassador, please contact Phil Rathe on p.a.rathe@ljmu.ac.uk

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Student Mentoring Service Case Study LIA COOPER, ERIN COLLINS (ADULT NURSING) AND AMELIA SULLIVAN (PAEDIATRIC NURSING) ARE STUDENT MENTORS FOR THE SCHOOL OF NURSING. THEY TELL US ABOUT WHY THEY GOT INVOLVED AND HOW IT HAS BENEFITED THEM. THEY WILL ALL BE GRADUATING IN 2019.

What do you enjoy most about it and how have you benefited?

Lia - I enjoy every aspect of the role and the opportunities that come with it. It has enabled me to make a greater impression on my mentors when I start a new placement. Being a course rep has also given me opportunities to contribute ideas to the planning for the new building that will have simulation rooms. I have also been asked to help plan the new programme for the nursing apprenticeships. The role of the SQA has developed my engagement with other universities as we try to collectively make the student nurse more educated, developed and supported throughout our training.

Erin – It is such a rewarding role. By participating in open and applicant days I have gained confidence within myself. Presenting in front of large groups has always been daunting, but now I can get up in front of people with the knowledge I have gained and demonstrate skills without hesitating. I never thought it would be possible! I also enjoy the fact that student mentors make up part of the panel for the nursing interviews.

Why did you get involved with the Student Mentoring Service?

Lia – I decided I wanted to become a student mentor on my interview day as they stood out and helped me to feel at ease. I wanted to make the same difference to others who might also be feeling nervous or anxious. I am a course representative and student quality ambassador (SQA). These roles are slightly different. I was chosen by fellow students to become a course rep, and I had to apply for the role of the SQA. All roles I take pride in and ensure that all students are happy, informed of new changes and supported.

Erin – When given the chance to become a student mentor, I thought it was a great opportunity to help to develop more skills such as confidence, communication and it would allow me to build a better relationship with the academic staff that work with us during our course. I am able to support other students with any issues they face and the role has opened up doors and opportunities to get involved with events that I didn’t even realise the university provided!

Amelia – My reasons are similar to Lia and Erin. I wanted to become a student mentor after the impact these students made on my decision to attend the university. Student mentor services are not available in other universities and the student mentors are valued and are a great support to other students.

Amelia- I thoroughly enjoy the role as student mentor too and feel it has benefited me in many similar ways. Like Erin, it has helped me to gain confidence when speaking in front of people. This is a really useful skill and will only benefit me in practice as a nurse. Being part of the interviews has also helped me to understand how they work and what I may face when applying for jobs. I have also been able to make new friends with student nurses in other years This means we are able to support each other as well as getting to know the lecturers better.

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

Lia- Become more self-aware, know your limitations but do not be afraid of being confident. Be reflective, proactive, use your own initiative and manage your time effectively. Also, most importantly, be yourself.

Erin – I believe a friendly face and first impressions have a huge impact on how successful a person can be. You need to have a positive attitude as this reflects well on the work that you do. Gain as many skills and as much knowledge as you can in regards to your area to help employers choose you rather than other applicants.

Amelia- First impressions are crucial, so ensure you are confident and have sufficient knowledge about the role you are applying for. Be able to identify what makes you different to other applicants. Be yourself and if the role does not work out for you, ask for feedback to improve your employability in future.

What kind of activities and tasks have you been involved in?

We get involved with open days, applicant days, college talks, interview days, induction weeks for the new starters and health promotion events such as blood pressure days and cardiovascular screenings. We have also had the opportunity to represent the university at the Student Nursing Times Awards. We support new students by getting in contact with them and address common questions such as; placement documents, recommended books, how to get to placements and what to do on your first day, social activities etc.

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LJMU scoop top accolade at Student Nursing Times Awards LJMU is also celebrating after the university was named Nurse Education Provider of the Year (Pre-registration) at the Student Nursing Times Awards 2018.

The university was nominated by students who praised the department’s great teachers and multiple teaching platforms including webcast, simulation, practice suites and lectures, which they felt helped them to develop a really broad range of skills and knowledge.

They also highlighted the mentor schemes and the support available for students, as well as the well-equipped practice suites and investment in new facilities.

Director of the School of Nursing and Allied Health Professor Raphaela Kane said: “It’s such a great achievement for the work of our staff to be recognised with this award and even more special as we were nominated by our own students. “Judges have indicated that the passion expressed by our students in both their written submission and their interview stood out from the crowd.”

She added: “We are immensely proud to be producing the next generation of nurses and aim to provide them with the best possible start to their careers while developing research and practices to meet the needs of the community.”

LJMU student Midwife, Ela Yuregir, scooped Student Midwife of the Year award at The Royal College of Midwives’ (RCM) Annual Midwifery Awards 2016 Ela Yuregir, a former Midwifery student at LJMU, who graduated in 2016, was awarded Student Midwife of the Year award at The Royal College of Midwives’ (RCM) Annual Midwifery Awards in March 2016.

Ela was described as an ‘inspirational’ student midwife and was also the founder of the LJMU Midwifery Society. She had also previously been honoured with “Outstanding Contribution to the workplace” at the University School Awards in 2014.

Ela has organised numerous workshops and fundraising events and was also a student quality ambassador at Liverpool Women’s Hospital during her time at LJMU. Her contribution to the student experience was described as ‘inspirational’ by judges. They said: “Ela has taken academic endeavour forward by publishing her coursework. She is an extremely charismatic student who demonstrates strong role modelling for students and midwives alike. Whilst reluctant to describe herself as a leader, we feel she demonstrates strong leadership qualities.”

Ela said: “Just to be nominated by my peers was a great surprise for me and to attend the awards with them was an incredible experience.

I was thrilled to win the award particularly up against such great candidates from across the UK.”

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left to right, are: RCM’s Head of Education, Carmel Lloyd, RCM’s Chief Executive Prof Cathy Warwick, RCM I-LEARN Student Midwife of the Year, Ela Yuregir, and BBC Broadcaster, Kate Silverton.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my midwifery training at LJMU from day one. The constant support from my academic tutors, faculty, LiverpoolSU and colleagues at Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust is what enabled me to carry out the projects that led to my nomination and I will be sad to leave such an amazing programme.”

Cathy Warwick, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said: “To win an award is a real achievement. It’s truly inspiring to see student midwives like Ela setting up student societies and taking the initiative to organise successful events for her fellow students. The future of midwifery is surely in safe hands with many more hardworking and caring student midwives like Ela across the UK.” Sue Martin, Programme Lead for Midwifery at LJMU, commented: “We’re delighted that Ela has been awarded Student Midwife of the Year at the Royal College of Midwives’ Annual Midwifery Awards.

Representing the School with this prestigious accolade highlights her drive, charisma and the solid efforts she has made in demonstrating a professional work ethic and enhancing student experience while in practice. She has gone above and beyond the expectations we set our students and we are proud of all she’s achieved so far. We have no doubt at all that Ela will go on to have a hugely successful career in midwifery and the healthcare sector.”

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

An interview with the LJMU Midwifery Society WE CHAT TO THE LJMU MIDWIFERY SOCIETY TO FIND OUT WHY IT WAS SET UP AND HOW STUDENTS CAN GET INVOLVED

Midwives work individually and as part of a team to provide support and education to women and their families during pregnancy, childbirth and in the immediate postnatal period.

At LJMU we want our graduates to be confident, competent and skilled practitioners capable of working independently and as part of a team. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has recently commended the teaching and facilities at LJMU as ‘outstanding’, so you can be confident of the best possible learning experience.

In addition to your development academically and in clinical practice you will also develop close and strong relationships with your fellow students and a great opportunity to develop this further is through the LJMU Midwifery Society. The LJMU Midwifery Society won “Best Academic Society” at the Liverpool SU Loves You awards in March 2015 and we chatted to the founding members Ela Yuregir, Emma Sprawson, Ellen Smith and Harriet Wicks to tell us a little more….

Tell us a little bit about the Midwifery Society. When did you set it up and why?

Originally three of us set up the society – Ela, Emma and Ellen - and now Harriet has also joined the committee. Although the four of us sit as a “committee”, we very much see the Society as a whole group involving all the students. We identified that a lot of the additional study days and events were frequently expensive and incurred considerable travel costs. So we wanted to facilitate a group for all students (not just midwives) with an interest in midwifery that would enable us to attend such events as well as develop our own. We also wanted to create a united front for all LJMU student midwives across all cohorts.

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Left to right: Emma Sprawson, Harriet Wicks, Ela Yuregir, Ellen Smith

What do you do as a society?

We are in the early stages of our development as a society but so far we have held a few events. For example we have organised a study day with various midwifery speakers including consultant midwife and author Sheena Byrom and One2One consultant midwife Simon Meighan, with over 60 student midwives, social work students, midwives and teachers travelling from as far as Newcastle to attend. We gained excellent feedback from the day and are already receiving enquiries into when our next study day will be.

We also hosted a screening of the health documentary “Microbirth” and organised a CPD-accredited training day on Foetal Alcohol Syndrome. Other workshops have included hypnobirthing, fetal malpositioning, independent midwifery and smoking cessation. We are also launching a research “Journal Club” in which students get together and critique current research in midwifery. The Society has featured in several midwifery publications and offers students a fantastic platform to enhance their CV through various events and networking with organisations.

How can students get involved if they would like to?

Membership is open to any student at LJMU who has an interest in midwifery, and most of our events are also open to non-members.

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CONNECT WITH THE MIDWIFERY SOCIETY LjmuMidSoc

@LjmuMidSoc

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A conversation with a Chief Nurse WE CHAT TO SARAH O’BRIEN, CHIEF NURSE, ST HELENS CCG, ABOUT HER ROLE

What does your job involve?

Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) hold the health budget for the local population they serve and it is their role to commission and monitor local health services including: hospitals, community health services (e.g. district nursing), mental health and recently many CCGs have taken on cocommissioning of primary care (GP surgeries) with NHS England.

As Chief Nurse for the CCG I am responsible for quality and safety across all the health services we commission and I am the professional lead for the local practice nurses. I am a voting

member of the Governing Body of the CCG and I have statutory responsibility for safeguarding.

Therefore I sit on the local adults’ safeguarding board and local children’s safeguarding board.

A lot of my role involves me reviewing quality indicators across local health services and advising where things need to improve. I can be required to lead on the review of existing services and the redesign or commissioning of new services. I have to give assurance to lead nurses at NHS England regarding the quality and safety of healthcare in St Helens.

Three things I like about my job: 1. The opportunity to lead local nurses and raise standards.

2. The variety. In my role I work closely with colleagues across the health service, police and local authority.

3. I contribute to improving healthcare for local people.

Key points in my career development to date: ❚❚ My appointment as a Diabetes Nurse Consultant – diabetes was my clinical

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passion and that role enabled me to really influence and improve patient care.

Receiving a Visiting Professor post at LJMU – nursing really needs to forge stronger links between practice and research and this role is a great opportunity.

Moving into commissioning from an acute hospital – I have learnt so much!

What I wish I had known as a student: Not to be afraid to challenge and always take the opportunity in front of you even if it feels scary.

Top career tips: ❚❚ Always put the patient first and never lose sight of that. ❚❚ Learn about the bigger picture and how politics affect the NHS and nursing. ❚❚ Find a good role model and learn from them. ❚❚ Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

A conversation with a Consultant Midwife WE CHAT TO KATIE WAINWRIGHT FROM ONE TO ONE NORTH WEST (LTD) ABOUT HER ROLE AS A CONSULTANT MIDWIFE. debriefing/supporting midwives with their caseloads in the organisation. It’s a very varied job – no two days are the same and so I’m kept on my toes!

Three things I like about my job: 1. Working with some incredibly dedicated midwives 2. Meeting some wonderful families and helping to support their choices for their pregnancy and birth journey 3. The flexibility to manage my own diary and work in a variety of settings

What does your job involve?

There is no such thing as a ‘typical day’ in my job, but to give you a flavour of the kinds of things I do – it may be going to a meeting about important clinical changes in the company, or to feed back important information to all the midwives. In my position I have a small caseload of my own women, so I will do antenatal or postnatal visits for them, and also visit other women at home who may have additional factors they need a plan of care for – such as twins. I will often stay on call for these women if they are birthing at home, so the day may involve an early start or a late finish if a baby decides that today is his or her birthday!

Obviously in between and around these things, I deal with phone calls, paperwork, and

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What I wish I’d known when I was a student midwife: If I’m honest – not a lot. The journey to learning new things and the challenges of difficult situations you may not have come across as a student only serve to strengthen your skills and confidence.

What do you think would make a newly qualified midwife stand out at an interview?

What do you look for?

Passion, drive, and commitment. You can definitely tell when midwives regurgitate a textbook or the latest “hot topic” – while it’s important to have a good knowledge of your subject, speak from the heart, show your passion and your potential will shine through!

What do you think are some of the challenges facing newly-qualified midwives in terms of managing their future careers?

I think midwives are expected to have such a wide breadth of knowledge and skills now, and that can be demanding to consolidate when newly qualified – most midwives will know where they want to work and what kind of midwife they want to be – so just go for it! Unfortunately, some organisations can put restrictions on certain areas for newly-qualified midwives – community for example isn’t available to newly-qualified midwives in all organisations.

Any general advice or career tips you would give to newly-qualified midwives when starting out? ❚❚ Be true to yourself and the type of midwife you want to be! ❚❚ Never stop learning and growing, and share that with others. ❚❚ Don’t waste your interview – show the employer who you are and why they should choose you. But, also remember that this time is also for you to decide if a potential employer is for you. ❚❚ Find yourself a ‘mentor’ – someone who you can confide in and seek guidance from as you move through your career.

They may be a peer, a supervisor, someone from another profession, just someone you can trust and be open with.

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

A conversation with a Chief Nurse

Lisa Grant is a former nursing student from Liverpool John Moores University. Lisa is now the Chief Nurse and Chief Operating Officer at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals (RLBUHT). She was previously Director of Nursing and Modernisation at the Walton Centre from 2011 and has worked in various roles, gaining extensive experience, including at Aintree, Wirral Hospitals and the Christie Hospital. Lisa started her career as a staff nurse at the Royal in 1998. Lisa holds a Diploma in Nursing, Diploma in Management, a Masters in Management and Leadership and an MBA.

What does your current job involve?

I am an Executive Director who is a member of the Trust Board. I provide advice and guidance to the Board on quality-related matters and nursing and I am also responsible for the operational day-to-day running of the trust. I provide professional leadership for nursing and allied health professionals within the trust achieving all national standards, promoting innovation and best practice locally, and representing the trust nationally.

I am responsible for setting the strategic direction of nursing which encompasses patient safety, quality governance, risk management, patient experience, nurse training, education and research. I am also responsible for ensuring that there are processes in place for the operational delivery of services that include emergency medicine, medicine and surgery.

Things I’m not so keen on: ❙❙ I sometimes have to attend a lot of meetings and therefore miss being out across the clinical areas ❙❙ I have to say I absolutely love being at the place I started my career and although the job can be very busy and demanding it is a special place to work and this is my dream job so I can’t complain.

very best safe patient care they can. By implementing the programme and rewarding our nurses with the RLB Nurse title and badge it will hopefully give them the recognition they deserve and symbolise their knowledge and skills to everyone they meet.

The programme will also support all of our nurses with regards to nurse revalidation.

What I wish I’d known when I was a student nurse: That you truly can do whatever you want and that you should follow your dream no matter what and that nursing is a fantastic opportunity. You will meet people who will impact on your life greatly in a special and positive way.

What do you think would make a newlyqualified nurse stand out at an interview?

What are you looking for in nurses for the RLBUHT? Someone who genuinely has a passion for patient safety and experience, who has enthusiasm and can give examples within their own practice on how they have learnt lessons and made improvements. Someone who is open and honest, knows their own limitations and when to ask for help, and someone who is confident to report incidents and raise any concerns.

Key points in my career development to date: When I achieved my MA in Management and Leadership and was appointed Director of Nursing and Modernisation at The Walton Centre. The ultimate highlight has to be coming back as Chief Nurse at RLBUHT to the place I started my student placements and held my first Staff Nurse post.

We understand you have recently introduced the RLB Nurse Badge again at RLBUHT. Tell us a little more about this?

I want the very best nurses to choose The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospital as a place to work with the pride and passion that I had when I started as a student nurse. I want nurses to be proud of their hospital and bring a sense of belonging to their workplace and I want the public to recognise the fantastic work all of our nurses do. I wanted to develop a programme that provided every trained nurse with the skills and competencies they require to deliver the

What do you think are some of the challenges facing newly-qualified nurses in terms of managing their future careers?

I think for newly qualified nurses there is a lot of choice with regards to current jobs on offer across the health service. The key is to find somewhere that will support and develop you and that will hopefully give you confidence and competence as we are trying to do for our staff with the RLB Programme.

Any general advice or career tips you would give to our nursing students and particularly those who will be graduating soon?

Choose your first job carefully and look for people in your career who will help and develop you. If I hadn’t had people like that I wouldn’t be doing the job I am doing today.

Three things I like about my job: ❙❙ I have the opportunity to go to any clinical area at any time and get to talk to patients and staff. ❙❙ I ensure nursing has a voice at the hospital and have the opportunity to work with fantastic nurses to drive initiatives such as The Royal Liverpool Nurse Programme. ❙❙ I have the ability to support the nursing workforce to provide the very best patient care that we possibly can deliver.

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A conversation with an Environmental Health Practitioner WE CHAT TO VANESSA WARDLE, CIEH CYMRU WALES REGIONAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ABOUT HER ROLE 2.

3.

What does your job involve?

My job involves inspection of food premises to assess statutory standards are being met or maintained with regards to food safety and health and safety. I also undertake advisory roles/ audits on request and investigate food poisoning allegations or food complaints. I train people in Level 2 Food Hygiene and I also carry out occasional work for the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) in working for the CIEH Cymru Wales region. I assist in formulating and delivering the ‘Six Pack’ training scheme in Wales which assists officers in maintaining their continued professional development. The region locates speakers and I arrange six conferences a year. I also act as a liaison with CIEH members in Wales and CIEH itself.

Three things I like about my job 1. Day-to-day contact with a wide range of people. I enjoy interactions....which are mostly good, and when difficult I enjoy the challenge!

Training - I love passing on 23 years of knowledge and stories of what I have found in food premises. Stories about rats, cockroaches and dealing with some difficult people!

Food safety and health and safety are part of our daily life, which is as important in our own homes as in a commercial setting - we can all learn from better knowledge and we can all relate to it.

Three things I’m not so keen on 1. Sticky shoes after a dirty floor in food premises!

2. When a rat jumps out of a rubbish skip proof that bin lids need to be kept closed or rats can get in!

3. Turning up to inspect a business and it’s “Closed on a Monday!”

Key points in my career development to date: ❚❚ Qualifying as an examiner in 1997 for CIEH and having carried out many interviews since in London. ❚❚ Qualifying as an EHO in 1993 but then qualifying as an Environmental Health Practitioner in 2008, and having worked as a district officer, EHO consultant, and a service manager in food safety and health and safety for 12 years. ❚❚ Being able to train people in what I feel passionate about having gained my teaching certificate in 2001. Also now helping interview final-year students at LJMU!

What helped you get to where you are today?

I volunteered to help at my local environmental health department and was the first female student EHO. I also undertook work experience in a local cheese factory, this came with good offerings of cheese on a Friday!

What I wish I’d known when I was a student: To join and take an active part in the local CIEH branch which organises activities and free training and communicates what is happening in the field of environmental health. I would have volunteered as a student representative had I known. This can assist the student population in ‘having a say’.

What do you think would make an EHP stand out at an interview? ❚❚ Try to relax and be yourself. You also need to ‘sell yourself’. Everyone has unique skills to demonstrate so explain how these skills can be of benefit to the department or employer. ❚❚ Be enthusiastic about doing whatever is required, being able to embrace changes and be happy to maintain personal development. ❚❚ Know your stuff! Have knowledge of what is current in the company you want to join. If it is a private company, check to see what they offer and the scope of their business. If it’s a local authority, check to see what environmental/ public health issues they have. ❚❚ Never be afraid to ask for a question to be repeated or come back to it if you need to. Pause to think of the most appropriate example of a scenario to give – you need to give examples!

A conversation with a Public Health student WE CHAT TO JANE HARRIS, INTELLIGENCE AND SURVEILLANCE RESEARCH MANAGER, AT LJMU’S PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE health. My first degree is in geography and I really wanted to formalise everything I had learnt whilst working at PHI. I felt that I had a lot of practical experience having been involved in a wide range of research projects during my time at the Institute but I wanted to increase my understanding of the history and theory behind public health as a discipline.

What made you decide to study at LJMU? I have worked as a researcher at LJMU’s Public Health Institute (PHI) for six years and during that time I had learned a lot about public health and have become pretty certain that I wanted to continue a career in the field of public health research. In 2013 I was offered the opportunity to study on the Masters course by our acting director and filled in the application form the very next day!

What made you apply for this course at LJMU? Although I have worked at the Centre for a number of years, I did not have a background in public

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How is this course helping you in your current role?

The course has helped me in numerous ways.

When I first began to work at the Institute, I was transferring the skills I had gained from another branch of social sciences to the field of public health, but now I feel that I have a greater understanding of the way in which public health has grown as a discipline, and this helped me to question and change the way I work on a day-to-day basis. As a researcher, I have also tended to stay within certain specialisms but the course has given me the opportunity to both develop my own research interests and look at new and wider public health issues that I had not

considered before and I use this new knowledge to inform my work. Lastly, the course has given me the opportunity to study with and learn from clinicians, practitioners and commissioners in public health and gaining their perspective has given me invaluable lessons about the way our work is delivered and received.

What is the best thing about this course?

The people! I really cannot thank the teaching team enough for the enthusiasm, encouragement and support they give to students on the course (and I am not just saying that because they work down the corridor from me!). I’ve also had the opportunity to hear from a whole range of guest speakers who have a wealth of practical public health experience and who have been honest about not just the positives but also the difficulties experienced by those working in public health. And finally, the students on the course are from such a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences and the opportunities for discussion during the course have helped me learn from my course mates as much as from the formal teaching.

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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 phone us on 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

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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 Nursing and Allied Health and Institute of Public Health, you have your own dedicated Careers Adviser, Hayley Fallon. You are likely to meet Hayley at some point during your programme of study. She is available for:

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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

Support from Employability Advisers 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:

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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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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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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

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

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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 visited 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:

❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

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

❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

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

❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

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

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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

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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.58 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.

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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:

❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

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 ...

“

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: ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙

❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙

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

Be the one who inspires SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

35

#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

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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?

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

37

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

38

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?

“

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.

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

My postgraduate experience ...

ANGELA STUDIED FOR A DEGREE IN NURSING AT SALFORD UNIVERSITY AT THE BEGINNING OF HER CAREER. WANTING TO DEVELOP HER EXPERTISE, SHE RECENTLY UNDERTOOK HER SPECIALIST COMMUNITY PRACTITIONER QUALIFICATION AT LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES.

“I decided to embark on postgraduate study as I wanted to further my academic skills and improve the service I offer to children and their families.

“I did find it difficult to get back into education after so long as I am a mature student with young children but, in terms of support, I really couldn’t have asked for more. There was a plethora of people to help me get back into academic writing and deal with the challenges I was facing juggling education and family life.

“If you are thinking of postgraduate study I’d say don’t question it, just do it. LJMU gets my vote every time. The staff here give you the support you need to achieve your dreams.

I can’t imagine anywhere else where the tutors would go to the same lengths that ours did. I really can’t thank them enough.”

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

39

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.

{

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

40

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

Looking for out of hours careers support?

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

41

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

42

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.

10

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 and 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

43

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 https:// 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

44

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 a great way 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

45

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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CONTACT US @LJMU_Enterprise ❙ www2.ljmu.ac.uk/startup

{

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

46

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.

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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.

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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 ...

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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. Visit 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

48

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.

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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

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Skills-based CV ŵŝŶĂ <ŚĂŶ &ůĂƚ ϮϮϭ ͕ >ŝďĞƌƚLJ 'ĂƌĚĞŶƐ͕ Ϯϵ ,ĂƚƚŽŶ 'ĂƌĚĞŶ͕ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů͕ >ϯ Ϯ ŵĂŝů͗ ĂŵŝŶĂŬŚĂŶΛŐŽŽŐůĞŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵ͕ DŽďŝůĞ͗ Ϭϳϱϲϳ ϭϮϯ ϵϴϳ

/ Ăŵ ĂŶ ĞŶƚŚƵƐŝĂƐƚŝĐ͕ ĐĂƌŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĂƉƉƌŽĂĐŚĂďůĞ ƐĞĐŽŶĚͲLJĞĂƌ ,ĞĂůƚŚ ĂŶĚ ^ŽĐŝĂů ĂƌĞ ƵŶĚĞƌŐƌĂĚƵĂƚĞ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƚŚŽƌŽƵŐŚ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ĐŚŝůĚ ƉƌŽƚĞĐƚŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƐĂĨĞŐƵĂƌĚŝŶŐ͘ DLJ ĞŵƉůŽLJŵĞŶƚ͕ ĚĞŐƌĞĞ ƐƚƵĚŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ǀŽůƵŶƚĂƌLJ ǁŽƌŬ ƚƵƚŽƌŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚŝŶŐ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂŶĚ LJŽƵŶŐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŚĂǀĞ ŚĞůƉĞĚ ŵĞ ƚŽ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƚŝŽŶ͕ ŝŶƚĞƌƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů͕ ƚĞĂŵǁŽƌŬ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽďůĞŵͲƐŽůǀŝŶŐ ƐŬŝůůƐ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚŝƐ ƉŽƐŝƚŝŽŶ͘ / ƚŚƌŝǀĞ ŽŶ ŶĞǁ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ ĂŶĚ Ăŵ ŬĞĞŶ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ the Barnardo’s volunteering programŵĞ ĂƐ ĂŶ ƐƐŝƐƚĂŶƚ &ĂŵŝůLJ ^ƵƉƉŽƌƚ tŽƌŬĞƌ͘

ĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ YƵĂůŝĨŝĐĂƚŝŽŶƐ

ϮϬϭϳͲƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů :ŽŚŶ DŽŽƌĞƐ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ;,ŽŶƐͿ ,ĞĂůƚŚ ĂŶĚ ^ŽĐŝĂů ĂƌĞ ĨŽƌ /ŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐ͕ &ĂŵŝůŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŽŵŵƵŶŝƚŝĞƐ  ZĞůĞǀĂŶƚ ŵŽĚƵůĞƐ ůŝŬĞ /ŶƚƌŽĚƵĐƚŝŽŶ ƚŽ ^ĂĨĞŐƵĂƌĚŝŶŐ͕ ĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƉƉůLJŝŶŐ <ŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ŽĨ ^ĂĨĞŐƵĂƌĚŝŶŐ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ ^ĞƚƚŝŶŐƐ͕ ĂŶĚ tŽƌŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ ŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ŽŶƚĞdžƚƐ ŚĂǀĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ŵLJ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ŵƵůƚŝͲĂŐĞŶĐLJ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ĞĨĨĞĐƚŝǀĞ ĐŚŝůĚ ƉƌŽƚĞĐƚŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƐĂĨĞŐƵĂƌĚŝŶŐ͘  &ŝƌƐƚͲLJĞĂƌ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ͗ ϲϱй

ϮϬϭϬͲϮϬϭϳ

^ŽƵƚŚ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů ,ŝŐŚ͕ ŝŐďƵƌƚŚ Ͳ>ĞǀĞůƐ͗ ^ŽĐŝŽůŽŐLJ ; Ϳ͕ ŶŐůŝƐŚ ; Ϳ ĂŶĚ 'ĞŶĞƌĂů ^ƚƵĚŝĞƐ ; Ϳ ϵ ' ^ Ɛ Ăƚ ŐƌĂĚĞ Žƌ ĂďŽǀĞ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ DĂƚŚƐ ; Ϳ ĂŶĚ ŶŐůŝƐŚ ; Ϳ

ZĞůĞǀĂŶƚ džƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ

ϮϬϭϳͲƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ĐƚŝŽŶ dƵƚŽƌŝŶŐ͕ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů – sŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌ dƵƚŽƌ ĐƚŝŽŶ dƵƚŽƌŝŶŐ ŝƐ Ă ƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌĞĚ ĐŚĂƌŝƚLJ ǁŚŽƐĞ ŵŝƐƐŝŽŶ ŝƐ ƚŽ ƚĂĐŬůĞ ĞĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶĂů ĚŝƐĂĚǀĂŶƚĂŐĞ ďLJ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ďĞŶĞĨŝƚƐ ŽĨ ƚƵŝƚŝŽŶ ŵŽƌĞ ǁŝĚĞůLJ ĂĐĐĞƐƐŝďůĞ͘ Ɛ Ă ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌ ƚƵƚŽƌ͕ / ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ ĨƌĞĞ ŶŐůŝƐŚ ƚƵŝƚŝŽŶ ƚŽ ' ^ ƉƵƉŝůƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ͬ ďŽƌĚĞƌůŝŶĞ͘ / ǁŽƌŬ ǁŝƚŚ ŽŶĞ Žƌ ƚǁŽ ƉƵƉŝůƐ Ăƚ Ă ƚŝŵĞ͕ ŵĞĞƚŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ĂŶ ŚŽƵƌ ĞĂĐŚ ǁĞĞŬ ĨŽƌ ĂŶ ĞŝŐŚƚͲ ǁĞĞŬ ƉĞƌŝŽĚ͘ dŚŝƐ ƌŽůĞ ŚĂƐ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ŵLJ ĂďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ ĞŶŐĂŐĞ ǁŝƚŚ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƚŝǀĂƚĞ LJŽƵŶŐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƉůĂŶŶŝŶŐ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ŽƵƚĐŽŵĞƐ ŚĂƐ ĂůƐŽ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞĚ ŵLJ ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƚŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƚŝŵĞ ŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ƐŬŝůůƐ͘

ϮϬϭϱͲϮϬϭϳ

^ŽƵƚŚ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů ,ŝŐŚ͕ ŝŐďƵƌƚŚ – sŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌ >ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ DĞŶƚŽƌ dŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ ^ŝdžƚŚ &Žƌŵ͕ / ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌĞĚ ƚǁŽ ŚŽƵƌƐ ƉĞƌ ǁĞĞŬ ĂƐ Ă ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ŵĞŶƚŽƌ ŝŶ ŵLJ ŚŝŐŚ ƐĐŚŽŽů͕ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ zĞĂƌ ^ĞǀĞŶ ƉƵƉŝůƐ ǁŚŽ ǁĞƌĞ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐŝŶŐ ĚŝĨĨŝĐƵůƚŝĞƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂŶƐŝƚŝŽŶ ŝŶƚŽ ƐĞĐŽŶĚĂƌLJ ƐĐŚŽŽů͘ / ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚ ŚŽŵĞǁŽƌŬ ĂƐƐŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ ŝŶ ƐŵĂůů ŐƌŽƵƉƐ ĂŶĚ ĂůƐŽ ĂĐƚĞĚ ĂƐ Ă ďƵĚĚLJ ĨŽƌ ƚǁŽ ƉƵƉŝůƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ŵLJ ůŝƐƚĞŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞƌƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ƐŬŝůůƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŵLJ ĂďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ ĞŶŐĂŐĞ͕ ŵŽƚŝǀĂƚĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞ LJŽƵŶŐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͘

^ŬŝůůƐ WƌŽĨŝůĞ

ŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƚŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞƌƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ƐŬŝůůƐ  / ŚĂǀĞ ĚĞŵŽŶƐƚƌĂƚĞĚ ĞdžĐĞůůĞŶƚ ŝŶƚĞƌƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ƐŬŝůůƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĂďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƚĞ ĐůĞĂƌůLJ ĂŶĚ ƐĞŶƐŝƚŝǀĞůLJ ǁŝƚŚ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂŶĚ LJŽƵŶŐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŝŶ ŵLJ ǀŽůƵŶƚĂƌLJ ǁŽƌŬ ĂƐ Ă ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ŵĞŶƚŽƌ ĂŶĚ ƚƵƚŽƌ͘ tŚĞŶ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ' ^ ƉƵƉŝůƐ ǁŚŽ ǁĞƌĞ ĨĞĞůŝŶŐ ĂŶdžŝŽƵƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶĞĚ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĂĐĂĚĞŵŝĐ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚƐ͕ / ĞŶƐƵƌĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ / ŐĂǀĞ ƚŚĞŵ ŽƉƉŽƌƚƵŶŝƚŝĞƐ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ĂŶĚ ĂĨƚĞƌ ƚƵƚŽƌŝĂůƐ ƚŽ ƐŚĂƌĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĨĞĞůŝŶŐƐ͕ ůŝƐƚĞŶĞĚ ĐĂƌĞĨƵůůLJ ƚŽ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞĚ ƌĞĂƐƐƵƌĂŶĐĞ͕ ĞŵƉĂƚŚLJ ĂŶĚ ĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ͘  ^ƚƌŽŶŐ ǁƌŝƚŝŶŐ ƐŬŝůůƐ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ǁƌŝƚŝŶŐ ƌĞƉŽƌƚƐ ĂŶĚ ĞƐƐĂLJƐ ĨŽƌ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ĂƐƐŝŐŶŵĞŶƚƐ͘ &ĞĞĚďĂĐŬ ĨƌŽŵ ŵLJ ůĞĐƚƵƌĞƌƐ ŚĂƐ ƉĂƌƚŝĐƵůĂƌůLJ ŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚĞĚ ŵLJ ĐŽŶĐŝƐĞ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂů ǁƌŝƚŝŶŐ ƐƚLJůĞ͘ / ŚĂǀĞ ďƵŝůƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞƐĞ skills in my role as a volunteer tutor by keeping accurate records about individual pupils’ progress and ƵƉĚĂƚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ůĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ ƉůĂŶƐ͘

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If you have any interests that relate to the position, include these at the end of your CV in an interests section to highlight your enthusiasm for the role to the employer.

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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”.

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

7 8 9 10

1

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

2

List entries in this section in reverse chronological order.

3

Highlighting relevant content from your course, e.g. modules or relevant coursework, helps the reader assess your suitability for the position.

4

You don’t need to list all of your GCSE subjects.

5

List entries in this section in reverse chronological order and provide a brief overview of each role, highlighting any potential overlap of duties and responsibilities.

6

Look at the job advert and provide evidence for all the skills and attributes required for the role. Use positive language and examples from university, previous work, volunteering, extracurricular activities etc. to demonstrate how you have used these skills.

7

Provide a brief overview of your other employment.

8

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

tŽƌŬŝŶŐ ŝŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚůLJ ĂŶĚ ĂƐ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ Ă ƚĞĂŵ  / ĐĂŶ ǁŽƌŬ ŝŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚůLJ ǁŝƚŚ ŵŝŶŝŵĂů ƐƵƉĞƌǀŝƐŝŽŶ ĂƐ ĚĞŵŽŶƐƚƌĂƚĞĚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ŵLJ ƌŽůĞ ĂƐ Ă ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌ ƚƵƚŽƌ͘ ĨƚĞƌ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚŝŶŐ ĂŶ ŝŶŝƚŝĂů ƚƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ŵĞŶƚŽƌŝŶŐ ƉĞƌŝŽĚ͕ / ŝŶĚĞƉĞŶĚĞŶƚůLJ ĐƌĞĂƚĞĚ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶ ƉůĂŶƐ and weekly learning outcomes for individual students, according to the organisation’s guidelŝŶĞƐ͘ / ĂůƐŽ ĞǀĂůƵĂƚĞ ŵLJ ƚƵƚŽƌŝĂůƐ ƚŽ ŝĚĞŶƚŝĨLJ ĂƌĞĂƐ ĨŽƌ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ͘  džĐĞůůĞŶƚ ƚĞĂŵǁŽƌŬ ƐŬŝůůƐ ĚĞŵŽŶƐƚƌĂƚĞĚ ǁŚŝůƐƚ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ĂƐ Ă ĂŵƉ ŽƵŶƐĞůůŽƌ͘ / ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƉůĂŶŶĞĚ Ă ƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞ ŽĨ ĂĐƚŝǀŝƚŝĞƐ ĨŽƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͕ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ĐůŽƐĞůLJ ǁŝƚŚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƚĞĂŵ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ƐŚĂƌŝŶŐ ƚĂƐŬƐ ŽƵƚ based on strengths. By listening to others’ ideas and building a rapport with everyone in the team, all ƚĂƐŬƐ ƌĂŶ ƚŽ ƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞ ĂŶĚ ǁĞ ĐƌĞĂƚĞĚ Ă ĨƵŶ͕ ƐĂĨĞ ĂŶĚ ĞĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶĂů ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͘

WƌŽďůĞŵͲƐŽůǀŝŶŐ ƐŬŝůůƐ  Ɛ Ă ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƚŝǀĞ Ăƚ >:Dh͕ / Ăŵ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďůĞ ĨŽƌ ĨĞĞĚŝŶŐ ďĂĐŬ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶƐ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ďŽĂƌĚ ŽĨ ƐƚƵĚLJ ŵĞĞƚŝŶŐƐ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƐŽůǀŝŶŐ ĂŶLJ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚ ĐŽŵƉůĂŝŶƚƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƚĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ͘ dŚŝƐ ƉŽƐŝƚŝŽŶ ŚĂƐ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ŵLJ ƉƌŽďůĞŵͲƐŽůǀŝŶŐ ƐŬŝůůƐ ĂŶĚ ŚĞůƉĞĚ ŵĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶĨŝĚĞŶĐĞ ƚŽ ůŝĂŝƐĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƚĂĨĨ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ Ăůů ůĞǀĞůƐ͘ LJ ƵƐŝŶŐ ŵLJ ŶĞŐŽƚŝĂƚŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĨůƵĞŶĐŝŶŐ ƐŬŝůůƐ ĂŶĚ ŝŵƉƌŽǀŝŶŐ ŵLJ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂů ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬ ĂŵŽŶŐ ƐĞŶŝŽƌ ƐƚĂĨĨ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐƵůƚLJ͕ / ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ƌĞƐŽůǀĞ ĂŶLJ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůůLJ ƵƐŝŶŐ ƚĂĐƚ ĂŶĚ ĚŝƉůŽŵĂĐLJ͘  tŽƌŬŝŶŐ ĂƐ Ă ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĂƐƐŝƐƚĂŶƚ Ăƚ dĞƐĐŽ džƉƌĞƐƐ͕ / ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĞĚ ŽŶ ŵLJ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂů ĂƚƚŝƚƵĚĞ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽďůĞŵͲƐŽůǀŝŶŐ ƐŬŝůůƐ ĨŽƌ ƌĞŐƵůĂƌůLJ ĚĞĂůŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ĞŶƋƵŝƌŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵƉůĂŝŶƚƐ͕ Ğ͘Ő͘ ƌĞŐĂƌĚŝŶŐ ƵŶĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞͬĨĂƵůƚLJ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ Žƌ ůŽŶŐ ƋƵĞƵĞƐ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ďƵƐLJ ƚŝŵĞƐ͘ / ƌĞƐƉŽŶĚ ďLJ ůŝƐƚĞŶŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ͕ ĐĂůŵŝŶŐ ĚŽǁŶ ŝƌĂƚĞ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽĨĨĞƌŝŶŐ ƐƵŝƚĂďůĞ ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƚŝǀĞƐ Žƌ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐŝŶŐ ƌĞĨƵŶĚƐ͘

/d ƐŬŝůůƐ  ŽŶĨŝĚĞŶƚ ƵƐĞƌ ŽĨ DŝĐƌŽƐŽĨƚ KĨĨŝĐĞ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞƐ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ tŽƌĚ͕ džĐĞů͕ KƵƚůŽŽŬ ĂŶĚ WŽǁĞƌWŽŝŶƚ͘

ŵƉůŽLJŵĞŶƚ ,ŝƐƚŽƌLJ

ϮϬϭϳͲƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ dĞƐĐŽ džƉƌĞƐƐ͕ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů – ƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ ĂŶĚ ŚĞĐŬŽƵƚ ƐƐŝƐƚĂŶƚ / ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ Ă ĨƌŝĞŶĚůLJ ĂŶĚ ĞĨĨŝĐŝĞŶƚ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƚŽ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ͕ ĚĞĂůŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ĞŶƋƵŝƌŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵƉůĂŝŶƚƐ ƉƌŽŵƉƚůLJ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůůLJ͘ dŚŝƐ ƌŽůĞ ŚĂƐ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ŵLJ ƚĞĂŵǁŽƌŬ ƐŬŝůůƐ͕ ĂƐ ƐŚĂƌŝŶŐ ŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌŬůŽĂĚ ĨĂŝƌůLJ ĂŶĚ ĂƐƐŝƐƚŝŶŐ ĐŽůůĞĂŐƵĞƐ ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ďƵƐLJ ƚŝŵĞƐ ŝƐ ĞƐƐĞŶƚŝĂů ƚŽ ŵĂŝŶƚĂŝŶ ƚĞĂŵ ƐƉŝƌŝƚ ĂŶĚ ƌĞĚƵĐĞ ǁĂŝƚŝŶŐ ƚŝŵĞ ĨŽƌ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ͘

^ƵŵŵĞƌ ϮϬϭϴ &ƌĞĞĚŽŵ ĂŵƉ͕ &ůŽƌŝĚĂ͕ h^ – ĂŵƉ ŽƵŶƐĞůůŽƌ ƐƐŝƐƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ ĂŶĚ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐƵŵŵĞƌ ĐĂŵƉ ĨŽƌ ϭϬͲϭϯ LJĞĂƌ ŽůĚƐ͘ ŽĂĐŚĞĚ ƐǁŝŵŵŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƚĞŶŶŝƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƵƚ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ ĂŶ ĂĐƚŝǀŝƚLJͲďĂƐĞĚ ĞǀĞŶŝŶŐ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞ͘

ĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚƐ

 ŽƵƌƐĞ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƚŝǀĞ ĨŽƌ >ϰ ;,ŽŶƐͿ ,ĞĂůƚŚ ĂŶĚ ^ŽĐŝĂů ĂƌĞ ĨŽƌ /ŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐ͕ &ĂŵŝůŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŽŵŵƵŶŝƚŝĞƐ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳͬϭϴ͘  ŽŵƉůĞƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ DĞƌƐĞLJ dƵŶŶĞů ϭϬŬ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϳ͕ ƌĂŝƐŝŶŐ ŽǀĞƌ άϮϱϬ ĨŽƌ ŵLJ ůŽĐĂů LJŽƵƚŚ ĐůƵď͘

/ŶƚĞƌĞƐƚƐ

/ ĞŶũŽLJ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ ŶĞǁƐ ƐƚŽƌŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚƐ ƌĞůĂƚŝŶŐ ƚŽ ƐŽĐŝĂů ĐĂƌĞ ďLJ ƌĞŐƵůĂƌůLJ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ ĂƌƚŝĐůĞƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ĂƌĞ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ͘ Ɛ / Ăŵ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ ŝŶ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐ Ă ĐĂƌĞĞƌ ŝŶ ƐŽĐŝĂů ǁŽƌŬ ĂĨƚĞƌ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚŝŶŐ ŵLJ ĚĞŐƌĞĞ ƐƚƵĚŝĞƐ͕ / ŚĂǀĞ ĂƚƚĞŶĚĞĚ ƐĞǀĞƌĂů ĐĂƌĞĞƌ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ Ă &ƌŽŶƚůŝŶĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶ ĞǀĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŽŵƉĂƐƐ :ŽďƐ &Ăŝƌ͘ /Ŷ ŵLJ ƐƉĂƌĞ ƚŝŵĞ͕ / ĞŶũŽLJ ŬĞĞƉŝŶŐ Ĩŝƚ ďLJ ŐŽŝŶŐ ƚŽ LJŽŐĂ ƐĞƐƐŝŽŶƐ ŝŶ ŵLJ ůŽĐĂů ŐLJŵ͘

ZĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ

 ĚĂŵ ^ŵŝƚŚ͕ WĞƌƐŽŶĂů dƵƚŽƌ Ăƚ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů :ŽŚŶ DŽŽƌĞƐ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ͕ Ϭϭϱϭ Ϯϯϭ ϵϴϳϲ͕ Ă͘ď͘ƐŵŝƚŚΛůũŵƵ͘ĂĐ͘ƵŬ  ǀĂ DŝůůĞƌ͕ ĞŶƚƌĞ DĂŶĂŐĞƌ ĨŽƌ ĐƚŝŽŶ sŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌŝŶŐ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů͕ Ϭϳϴϵϭ Ϯϯϰϱϲϳ͕ Ğ͘ŵŝůůĞƌΛĂǀůŝǀ͘ŽƌŐ͘ƵŬ

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

50

GETTING THE JOB

Chronological CV Sarah Jones

1

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

Personal profile I am an enthusiastic, caring and dedicated Midwifery graduate with a thorough understanding and practical experience of supporting women and families during the antenatal, intranatal and postnatal period. Through previous experience in the healthcare sector and clinical placements I completed as part of my degree, I have developed strong communication, interpersonal, teamwork and advocacy skills. I am keen to join Heywood Community Care Trust as a Newly-Qualified Midwife.

2

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

3

Highlight relevant modules you have completed as part of your studies and also mention any additional activities you have volunteered for, e.g. student representative, quality ambassador etc.

4

You can also draw the readers’ attention to any relevant coursework or a final-year dissertation.

5 6

You don’t need to include all of your GCSE subjects.

7

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

8

If you have any interests that are relevant for your chosen role, make sure you highlight these on your CV.

9

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”.

48 Beach Road, Hightown, Merseyside, L38 6EF Tel: 07898 898 898, Email: sarah.e.jones@outlook.com

2 3 4 5 6

Education and Qualifications 2015-2018  

Liverpool John Moores University BA (Hons) Midwifery (2:1 – 68%) Relevant modules included: The Family-Examination of the Newborn; The Woman’s Journey: Complex Care; The Role of the Midwife within the Interprofessional Team; Developing Autonomous Midwifery Practice; Complex Antenatal and Postnatal Practice.

During my final year, I completed a research project on the challenges of improving antenatal care for asylum seekers.

2009 – 2014 Formby High School A-Levels: Biology (A), Chemistry (B) and General Studies (B) 11 GCSEs at grade A-C, including English (B), Maths (B) and Biology (A*) Relevant Experience 2015-2018 Various placements completed on BA (Hons) Midwifery degree Alongside my studies, I have successfully completed a number of clinical placements ranging from one to eight weeks in length. These have given me practical experience of all aspects of antenatal, postnatal and intrapartum care. My placements in hospital settings have covered antenatal and postnatal wards, the delivery suite, high dependency rooms, and the obstetric assessment unit. In community settings I gained experience with home births, ante- and postnatal clinics, children’s centres and home visits. Key placements included: Bridgewater Community Care Trust, Widnes  Under the supervision of a qualified community midwife, I provided advice and guidance to women and their families within the community setting. I gained an insight into managing a caseload of clients in a range of environments, including home visits, health centres, and children centres.  My duties involved assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating programmes of care throughout pregnancy, labour and the postnatal period. I also assisted my mentor in delivering a number of antenatal classes in local community centres.  This experience has strengthened my ability to effectively prioritise my workload and has given me a solid foundation of providing care for women having a normal pregnancy and birth.

Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust  Completed placements in the antenatal clinic, MLU, and high dependency rooms. These have given me an in-depth insight into the importance of information sharing within the multidisciplinary team. Thanks to my excellent interpersonal skills and professionalism, I have established strong relationships with other healthcare staff.  I gained experience of giving support and advice on the daily care of the baby, including breastfeeding, bathing, making up feeds, and parenting. My duties also included maintaining documentation and acting as an advocate for women and their families. I ensured I provided 

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

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.

individualised care and a holistic approach to care for women and families of different nationality, age, and religion.

I further developed my ability to remain calm in stressful situations as well as my communication and interpersonal skills by interacting professionally and compassionately with women and their families.

February 2015 One-to-One Midwives, Birkenhead – Work shadowing To gain a better understanding of the role of a case-loading midwife, I arranged a two-day work shadowing placement. I learnt about the importance One-to-One places on the continuity of care and the flexible service this organisation provides. I also gained an insight into how they work in partnership with the wider NHS healthcare team to deliver innovative services within the community.

“

1

2014-2015

Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – Bank Healthcare Assistant As a bank healthcare assistant, I was involved in providing patient care under the direction and supervision of qualified nurses. This included bed-making, assisting patients with nutritional requirements, personal hygiene, feeding patients and keeping the ward environment clean and tidy.

Working on a bank basis illustrates my flexibility, both with regards to working hours but also my ability to adapt to changing environments and to quickly build up effective relationships with both patients and other members of the MDT. 2012-2014 Green Bank Nursing Home, Southport - Volunteer Every Saturday during sixth form, I assisted staff in a local nursing home with patient care, including personal hygiene, mealtimes and medication rounds. This experience confirmed my desire to develop a career in the healthcare sector and helped me develop essential skills in communication, compassion and teamwork.

7

Additional Work Experience 2012-2014 Costa Coffee, Formby – Part-time Barista Worked effectively in a team in a busy café. Developed strong customer service skills, built a rapport with regular customers and dealt with complaints professionally and promptly.

Additional Information  

8 9

 

IT skills: Excellent working knowledge of all MS Office packages in particular Word, Outlook and PowerPoint.

100% attendance and punctuality in all my placements illustrates my real passion and commitment to be a midwife.

Full, clean driving licence, access to own car.

Interests: I am committed to my professional development and subscribe to the Midwives Magazine to ensure I keep up-to-date with the latest research and developments in my field. I also enjoy keeping fit and am currently training to compete in a 10k charity run.

References  Dr Sue Smith, Senior Lecturer at LJMU, 0151 231 1234, s.e.smith@ljmu.ac.uk  Mrs Eve Miller, Senior Midwife, Bridgewater Community Care Trust, 01928 987 654, e.miller@bridgewater.org.uk

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

GETTING THE JOB

51

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 employerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention to the key skills and experience that are highlighted within your CV.

48 Beach Road Hightown L38 6EF Mrs Tina Rogers Senior Midwife Heywood Community Care Trust 123 Hatton Road Warrington WA12 8TH

20th November 2018

Dear Mrs Rogers, I am writing to apply for your current vacancy for a Newly-Qualified Midwife as advertised on your website and enclose my CV for your consideration.

I have recently completed a BA (Hons) Midwifery degree at Liverpool John Moores University. As you can see on my CV, I have studied a range of modules to help me develop the knowledge and confidence to support women and their families during the antenatal, intranatal and postnatal period. For my final-year dissertation, I researched the challenges maternity services face in improving antenatal care for asylum seekers. I interviewed asylum seekers and both hospitalbased and community-based midwives that had experience with this group of service users and identified a lack of trust in institutions and accessibility of services as some of the key issues. While researching Heywood Community Care Trust, I was delighted to find out that you have recently undertaken a unique pilot project with the Refugee Council to tackle this problem and ensure that pregnant asylum seekers are provided with continuity of care. I would be keen to form a part of any further projects or research you undertake in this area and contribute some of the findings of my dissertation.

As part of my degree studies at LJMU, I have successfully undertaken clinical placements in both hospital-based and community-based maternity services. Although both settings have given me valuable experience of supporting women and their families, I particularly enjoyed all aspects of community care and am looking to build a long-term career in this area. Having contacted one of your junior midwives, Estelle Harris, on LinkedIn, I am extremely motivated to complete my preceptorship period in your trust as Estelle was very complimentary about the excellent support and development opportunities you offer to newly-qualified midwives.

I am committed to promoting normality while providing holistic and evidence-based antenatal and postnatal care to women and families. Through both my academic work and practical placements, I have developed an understanding of the importance of supporting informed choice and researchbased education. As a result, I would be particularly interested in contributing to new initiatives like the Early Bird programme in your trust. I have developed strong communication and interpersonal skills in interactions with women and their families as well as members of the multidisciplinary team, which allows me to act as an advocate for women effectively.

As you can see on my CV, I enjoy keeping up-to-date with new research and developments in my field by subscribing to the Midwives Magazine. I have sought out any additional opportunities to further my professional development during my studies, and am currently working towards my Certificate in Examination of the Newborn. As LJMU is currently the only university which offers this within the Midwifery degree course in the North West, I am confident that the skills I have developed from this further training would make me a strong addition to your team, providing continuity of care within a community setting.

I hope that on consideration of my CV you will be persuaded of my real commitment to pursuing a career as a midwife in your trust. I would be available for interview at your convenience and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Sarah Jones

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

52

GETTING THE JOB

Example Nursing CV Melissa Robertson

123 Liverpool Road, Warrington, WA3 4AB Mobile: 07856 789 789, E-mail: m.robertson@2016.ljmu.ac.uk

1 2

Final-year BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing student due to qualify in July with a predicted grade of 2:1. Strongly committed to providing high-quality, patient-centred care in a respectful and empathetic manner while ensuring the individual needs of all patients are met. Positive and adaptable individual with the ability to work under pressure and integrate well into the multidisciplinary team. Now seeking a first nursing post in a community setting to further develop professional skills and support patients’ health and wellbeing, with an ultimate goal to specialise in the management of long-term conditions.

Key Skills and Achievements    



3

Developed comprehensive understanding of the management of long-term conditions from community-based university placements and my final-year project on the role of community nurses in improving the quality of life of patients with arthritis.

Strong communicator with the ability to use a range of techniques to adapt to different patients, including individuals with dementia, as well as carers and members of the MDT. Competent in manual handling, safeguarding vulnerable adults, infection control, equality and diversity, and supporting grieving relatives.

Active involvement in extracurricular activities and university life at LJMU as a student mentor and elected course representative. Assisted in the production of an induction booklet for new students and participated in course management meetings and Curriculum Development Group, raising and resolving issues on behalf of student nurses.

Student member of the Royal College of Nursing.

Placement Experience

2016-present

1

Provide a brief summary of your relevant key skills, experience and interests. Tailor this section to reflect the requirements of each post.

2

Highlight achievements, positions of responsibility and relevant professional skills prominently on your CV.

3

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.

4

Briefly highlight any relevant modules and knowledge gained from these.

5

You don’t need to list all of your GCSE subjects.

A range of placements undertaken including:

Community Nursing – District Nursing teams in Bootle and Anfield  Managed my own caseload by prioritising tasks while maintaining high standards of care.  Communicated effectively with patients and assessed healthcare needs in accordance with care plans, providing appropriate wound care and treatments to prevent hospital admissions. Administered medication and applied dressings with minimal supervision from the registered nurse, illustrating my ability to work independently.  Assisted in palliative care visits, improving my knowledge regarding the range of services available to patients and observed the importance of care and compassion at all times.  Developed excellent organisation skills through arranging additional services for patients, Halton General Hospital – Stroke Unit Placement e.g. referrals to meals-on-wheels, social services, or community equipment nursing teams.  Provided person-centred care to patients, assisting them with hygiene and dressing where required. Used a range of communication techniques, such as altering tone and volume of Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust voice, gestures and lip-reading. Many patients complimented me on my empathetic nature.

Medical Surgery placement – Vascular Surgery Ward  Assessed, planned and reviewed care. Recorded patient observations clearly and  Effectively and compassionately followed patients through the admission, theatre, and accurately, including management of fluid balances, reporting any concerns to appropriate post-op care process, strengthening my verbal communication skills, building a trusting staff in a timely manner. Developed my understanding of express and implied consent, relationship with patients and demonstrating required techniques in manual handling. local policies and best practice, safeguarding guidelines and dealing with relatives.  Active member of the multi-disciplinary team, developing my skills in assertiveness by discussing patient care with senior healthcare professionals, and helping to rehabilitate Education and Professional Qualifications patients for discharge. Recognised the importance of teamwork and role boundaries.  Took part in discharge planning, giving attention to detail to ensure appropriate referrals 2016-present BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing, Liverpool John Moores University were made for district nursing, social care, and any equipment needed following Studying modules such as Complexity of Care in Adult Nursing, Advancing your Nursing discharge.

Practice, and Becoming an Informed Reflective Practitioner developed my understanding of the role and responsibilities of an adult nurse as well as strong clinical skills and confidence to deal with patients in both community and hospital settings.

4

6

Keep this section fairly short by providing a brief summary of the role and any relevant skills you have developed.

7

You can also provide a brief overview of relevant professional training and CPD activities you completed alongside your studies.

8

If you have any interests that relate to your chosen role, make sure you include these at the end of your CV. This illustrates to a prospective employer that you have a real enthusiasm for your chosen sector and career.

9

Ideally 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”.

5 6

7

2007-2014 St Joseph’s High School and Sixth Form, Warrington  A levels - Biology (B), Sociology (C), English (C)  9 GCSEs including English, Maths & Science (grades A-C) Other related Experience 2017-present Apex Nursing Agency – Health Care Assistant Provide health care relief cover to the Royal Liverpool and Whiston Hospitals. Working regularly at short notice, my teamwork skills and adaptability are being developed further by integrating effectively into new teams to provide assistance on a variety of medical wards.

2014-2016 Holly Lodge Day Centre – Full-time Care Assistant Realised the importance of emotional resilience by providing quality care and personal support to individuals with severe learning disabilities, their families and carers. Developed an insight into care in the community and the role of the multi-disciplinary team.

Professional Activities and Training    

06/2018 05/2018 03/2018 10/2014

Liverpool CCG RCN First Steps Liverpool CCG Holly Lodge Day Centre

Additional Information

8





9 CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

Caring for patients with dementia (2 days) Clinical Observations (e-learning) Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Manual Handling and Infection Control

Interests: As a student member of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and a Student Committee representative, I attend regular regional and national forums enabling me to keep up-to-date with developments in the nursing sector. I also enjoy reading about current issues and developments in the Nursing Times and RCN Bulletin.

Full clean driving licence held since 2014.

References

Alison Jones: Senior Lecturer, LJMU. A.Jones@ljmu.ac.uk, 0151 213 4343.

Tony Lawrence: Ward Manager, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust. T.Lawrence@nhs.co.uk. Phone: 0151 987 6543

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

NURSING

GETTING THE JOB

53

CAREERS FAIR DONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T MISS THE CHANCE TO MEET AND NETWORK WITH OVER 30 NURSING EMPLOYERS ...

January 2019 LOOK OUT FOR DETAILS OF HOW TO REGISTER FROM NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 AT:

careers.ljmu.ac.uk

LJMU CAREERS TEAM

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

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

54

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 ...

“

1.

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.

“

5

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

55

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

56

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.

{

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.

{

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 our Careers website www. ljmu.ac.uk/careers/ to download your copy.

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.58.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

GETTING THE JOB

57

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.

“

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 ...

“

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

58

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.

“

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 ...

“

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

59

Help and support available to you..

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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

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

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers