Sociology Career Insight by LJMUCareers

Sociology CAREER INSIGHT

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

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Career Insight: Sociology

Introduction A sociology degree provides a thorough intellectual grounding and equips you with transferable skills sought by many employers. The transferable skills developed during the degree include the ability to research and analyse complex ideas, develop well founded arguments and theories, present clear and succinct reports, plus develop practical skills such as time management and team working. All of these skills are vital in a competitive employment market, and provide a firm foundation on which to base career development. Graduates can enter careers in a variety of other sectors, including. Law, Hospitality and sales, Accountancy, Public administration, Social and community work, Education Health work & Media and creative industries. Many graduate roles are open to candidates from any degree background or you could gain required qualifications by undertaking postgraduate study. In recent years, securing a graduate role has become increasingly competitive, so gaining relevant work or voluntary experience and engaging in extracurricular activities alongside your studies is crucial to demonstrate to prospective employers that you have the motivation to succeed in your chosen area and have developed the required skills. Being aware of the range of options open to you is important to make an informed career decision. Researching different career pathways and entry requirements is essential preparation for your graduate career, so ensure you make the most of available resources, attend career events or employer talks, and take every opportunity to network with professionals to find out as much as possible about the career areas that interest you.

Typical job options The majority of those entering employment after graduation work in the public sector. The type of jobs includes: support work, information and advisory roles and administration within local authorities, charities and voluntary organisations. You could start exploring typical job options via http://www.prospects.ac.uk/options_sociology.htm

Your options within the health and social care sector include: Social Worker: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/social_worker_job_description.htm http://www.hpc-uk.org/aboutus/ http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/social/becomingasocialworker/b00200996/stepup http://www.skillsforcare.org.uk/home/home.aspx

Support Work: https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/familysupportworker.as px https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/residentialsupportworke r.aspx Youth and Community Work: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/youth_worker_job_description.htm http://www.prospects.ac.uk/community_development_worker_job_description.htm

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Career Insight: Sociology

http://www.nya.org.uk/ http://www.cdf.org.uk/ Youth Offending Teams: https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/advice/planning/jobprofiles/Pages/youthoffendingteamoffic er.aspx http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/yjb/ http://www.justice.gov.uk/contacts/yjb/yots/north-west Probation Officer: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/probation_officer_job_description.htm http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/probation/probation-trusts http://www.workwithoffenders.co.uk/ Prison Officer: https://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/job-descriptions/278195-prison-officer-job-description https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/national-offender-management-service Police Officer: http://www.totaljobs.com/careers-advice/job-profile/public-sector-jobs/police-officer-job-description http://www.policecouldyou.co.uk/ http://www.merseyside.police.uk/ Community worker: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/community_development_worker_job_description.htm Housing manager: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/housing_manager_officer_job_description.htm Welfare advice worker: http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/job-descriptions/279605-welfare-rights-adviser-job-description

Your options within the education sector include: Learning Mentor: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/learning_mentor_job_description.htm http://www.workingwithkids.co.uk/learning-mentor.html Teaching post 16/FE Lecturer: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/further_education_lecturer_job_description.htm http://www.excellencegateway.org.uk/ Primary/Secondary Teacher: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/primary_school_teacher_job_description.htm http://www.prospects.ac.uk/secondary_school_teacher_job_description.htm http://www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/teacher-training http://graduates.teachfirst.org.uk/

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Career Insight: Sociology

Other options include: Social Researcher: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/social_researcher_job_description.htm http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/networks/gsr http://www.natcen.ac.uk/ http://www.the-sra.org.uk/ Advice and Guidance Work: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/advice_worker_job_description.htm https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ http://www.adviceuk.org.uk/ http://www.prospects.ac.uk/careers_adviser_job_description.htm http://www.prospects.ac.uk/adult_guidance_worker_job_description.htm Roles within the charity and voluntary sector: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/charity_officer_job_description.htm http://www.prospects.ac.uk/charity_fundraiser_job_description.htm http://www.prospects.ac.uk/volunteer_coordinator_job_description.htm http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/ Civil Service Fast Streamer: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/civil_service_fast_streamer_job_description.htm http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/the-different-streams/ Working in the NHS: the NHS is a major graduate employer in the UK, not just in medical roles, but in a range of administration-related positions. http://www.nhsgraduates.co.uk/ http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/ http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/index.html Personnel Officer: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/human_resources_officer_job_description.htm Public sector administrator: http://www.prospects.ac.uk/local_government_officer_job_description.htm Over the last year many students from these courses have been successful in gaining professional level jobs after graduation. The jobs below have been extracted from the Destinations of Leavers in Higher Education survey; Recruitment Consultant, Account Manager, Marketing Executive, Domestic Violence Project Assistant and a Caseworker. This demonstrates the many transferable skills used by graduates from this course. The suggestions listed here are by no means exhaustive so we would encourage you to conduct further research to find out about additional careers open to you and consider other relevant options, e.g. based on previous work or voluntary experience, skills and interests. To explore job options by sector, check http://www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs.htm you can also use career planning tools like http://www.prospects.ac.uk/myprospects_planner_login.htm and http://targetjobs.co.uk/careersreport to generate initial career ideas. Ensure you check entry requirements for each area, e.g. will you need a degree in a specific subject? Is a 2:1 degree classification essential? Will you need to complete a postgraduate degree (e.g. for

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Career Insight: Sociology

social work or law)? Is any specific work experience required? If it is, how could you go about gaining the required experience? We also recommend that you download a copy of our “Planning your Career” guide from the Careers website at https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm this includes a list of useful questions to help you explore your career options and introduces you to the DOTS model to help you with your career planning.

Main employers Sociology graduates can be found working in the public and voluntary sector however, there are also good opportunities in the private sector in areas like retail or law. Typical employers depend on the roles and sectors graduates enter, but could include: 

Local Councils/Government: http://www.ngdp.org.uk/ http://www.lgjobs.com/ https://www.gov.uk/find-your-local-council www.faststream.gov.uk

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NHS: http://www.nhscareers.nhs.uk/ http://www.jobs.nhs.uk/

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Probation trusts: http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/probation/probation-trusts

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Police forces: http://www.police.uk/?view=force_sites

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Registered Charities: http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/find-charities/

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Prison Service http://www.justice.gov.uk/about/hmps/

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Civil Service: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/recruitment

Useful links and websites LJMU Vacancy website - http://ljmu.prospects.ac.uk/ Milkround – Graduate jobs, placements & internships - http://www.milkround.com/ Jobs in the public sector - http://www.jobsgopublic.com/ Vacancies in higher education and research - http://www.jobs.ac.uk/ Graduate Talent Pool – Graduate internship opportunities - http://graduatetalentpool.direct.gov.uk/ British Sociological Association - http://www.britsoc.co.uk/

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© 2017. Liverpool John Moores University. The content of this document is copyright material of Liverpool John Moores University. No part of this document may be reproduced or distributed without prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Career Insight: Sociology

CommunityCare - Website for “everyone in social care”: Information on upcoming events, legal changes, vacancies in the youth justice and voluntary sector - http://www.communitycare.co.uk/ Information about postgraduate study - http://www.postgrad.com/ Careers in Care and Social Work http://www.skillsforcareanddevelopment.org.uk/Careersincare/careers_in_care.aspx Community Service Volunteers - http://volunteeringmatters.org.uk/ Vacancies in charities and the not-for-profit sector - http://www.charityjob.co.uk/ News and careers advice for ethical careers - http://www.ethicalcareers.org/ Graduate Management Programme in the not-for-profit sector http://www.charity-works.co.uk/graduate-management-programme/

Follow relevant companies/websites through Twitter: @LJMUCareers

@britsoci

@Prospects

@CharityJOB

@CitizensAdvice

Depending on your specific career interests, you could also follow relevant websites and organisations e.g. @retailweek for news relating to the retail sector. Recruitment cycles and deadlines will vary depending on the type of work you are applying for. Again, research is key to ensure that you do not miss relevant opportunities. As a rule of thumb, the selection process takes longer in larger organisations, as they tend to receive a higher number of applications and use several different stages to reduce the number of potential candidates. As a result, application deadlines can be as early as October/November in your final year of study for a start date in August or September of the following year. If you are considering postgraduate study, find out if there are any specific closing dates for applications by contacting relevant universities directly. Many graduate training schemes with large companies will accept applications from students of any degree background. If you are interested in these roles, you will need to be aware of the recruitment cycle. Many employers begin the graduate recruitment process during the autumn term for final-year students – some placements are advertised then as well. Most closing dates are in November and December, but some are earlier so it is important to start researching companies that you want to apply to early on. The application process for graduate training schemes usually involves completing an online application form, which may require you to answer ‘competency based questions’. This may be followed by psychometric tests, a telephone interview and an assessment centre. You may also need to submit your CV. Most of the large recruiters have a section on the student/graduate pages of their website that outlines the different steps of their selection process, so check these to find out what is required. For more information about graduate schemes, download the ‘Graduate Schemes’ guide from https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm. The Careers Team runs a “Graduate Schemes Uncovered” workshop and webinar on a regular basis – please check our events pages on https://careers.ljmu.ac.uk for details. Many of these opportunities are advertised in the Prospects Student Career Guide and the Targetjobs directories (available from Careers Zones) and on websites such as Prospects, Milkround and Targetjobs – also check organisations’ own websites. You may also find work through small and medium-sized enterprises/businesses (SMEs). These types of companies don’t usually have structured training schemes but will recruit ‘as required’.

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Career Insight: Sociology

Depending on previous experience, you might find yourself applying for entry-level roles on an administrator grade at first i.e. job titles like marketing administrator, marketing/PR assistant; but once you have gained experience in one of these roles this should open up opportunities for promotion within your organisation, or give you the required experience to apply for higher-grade positions with other employers. Some SMEs may use their own application form but most applications will be by CV and covering letter. These positions will be advertised on company websites, relevant recruitment websites, the Job Centre and national and local newspapers. The ‘creative’ or ‘speculative’ approach to job hunting, outlined above, is also important when looking for graduate roles. Making contacts and approaching organisations speculatively to look for work is a common route into employment. For more information about the speculative approach to job hunting, download a copy of our guide to ‘The Hidden Jobs Market’ from https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm. You can get advice about the recruitment process by booking a one-to-one appointment with a careers or employability adviser by calling into your nearest Careers Zone or you can attend relevant workshops or webinars run by the Careers Team.

Key events and networking 

Liverpool Careers Fairs: are usually held in the autumn and spring of each year, see fairs website http://www.liverpoolfairs.org.uk/ for details.

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Manchester Careers Fairs: open to students and graduates from any university; check http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/events/ for details.

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Careers and employability events at LJMU: keep an eye on our events page at https://careers.ljmu.ac.uk for details of upcoming employability workshops, networking sessions and employer talks.

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LinkedIn: You could also consider setting up a LinkedIn account https://www.linkedin.com to network online with professionals and organisations in your chosen industry.

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LiverpoolSU Clubs and Societies: http://www.liverpoolsu.com/clubsandsocs.

Other information Centre for Entrepreneurship - support for LJMU students and graduates interested in starting up their own business https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/startup/. Postgraduate Study - download our mini-guide on “Thinking about Postgraduate Study” fromhttps://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/123871.htm for an overview of the different options available

Careers Zones Campus-based Careers Zones provide easy access to careers support in convenient locations at Byrom Street, Aldham Robarts Library and at IM Marsh, staffed by the Careers Team. Support available includes CV and application form reviews, Careers Adviser appointments, drop-in quick queries, practice interviews and access to careers resources and information. The Zones also host regular employer visits during term time where you can meet and network with employers and discuss job and placement opportunities. For the latest updates and details of locations and opening times, try our Twitter and Facebook pages.

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