SCHOOL OF SPORT & EXERCISE SCIENCES CAREER PLANNING GUIDE by LJMUCareers

career planning guide

SCHOOL OF SPORT & EXERCISE SCIENCES

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

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH POSTGRADUATE STUDY 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

What’s in this guide ... CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE Sport and Exercise Science and Science and Football Applied Sports Psychology Connected to industry: Exclusive Everton FC internships for LJMU students The spotlight on careers in cardiac sciences Spotlight on careers within the allied health professions

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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 Placement Learning Support Unit

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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 The following booklet has been specifically created to assist you in the pursuit of your future career goals. The booklet has been created in partnership with the Careers Team and hosts a wealth of advice and guidance for you to absorb, utilise and act on. As a current student, one of the most difficult questions to answer is not your next exam question but “what am I going to do next?” You may or may not know the answer to this question, you may not have even considered your response, but now is the time to start planning. The School is committed to ensuring that you are equipped with a skill set that enables understanding and encourages you to challenge and enhance existing theory, research and practice aligned to, or influenced by, sport, physical activity, exercise and health. We encourage you to develop as high level critical thinkers equipped to make improvements to professional practice, to performance and ultimately to improve lives and enhance our wider society. Whichever career path you take, we would hope that you can carry these philosophical concepts with you. Please remember that we do not expect you to decide what to do for the rest of your life; you may change your mind a few times before committing to a particular career path. However, it is important that you explore the landscape of job opportunities that are available to you and identify ‘early’ how you can best equip yourselves for such a career choice. The advice, guidance and steer which is accessible through this booklet offers you a fantastic opportunity to see the future more clearly and prepare yourself for it, so please use it, and us, to help plan your vocational journey. PROFESSOR DAVE RICHARDSON, DIRECTOR, SCHOOL OF SPORT & EXERCISE SCIENCES

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

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www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Sport and Exercise Science and Science and Football SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCES STUDENTS HAVE A WEALTH OF CAREER OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM. CAREERS ADVISER LAURA ALDRIDGE LOOKS AT SOME OPTIONS TO GET YOU STARTED. A degree in sport and exercise science or science and football will open up a number of career options to you, including support roles in professional sports, working in community sports and healthy lifestyle promotion or careers in allied health professions. The study of a range of modules in sport physiology, psychology, biomechanics, nutrition and physical activity will help you identify your key interests and strengths within the sports science field, which in turn will provide a useful starting point for your careers research. You may be interested in sports scientist roles such as: biomechanist, performance analyst and strength and conditioning coach. There can be high competition for entry to these roles and further postgraduate study may be required. To find out more about pathways into sports scientist roles, you may wish to consult the careers guide on the BASES website: www.bases.org.uk/careers. Sports scientists may work for professional sports clubs, like football, rugby or athletics clubs or sports governing bodies and national sporting associations, like the FA, Sport England or English Institute of Sport. However, many of our sports science graduates also consider a career within the health sector. For example, it is possible to go on to train in areas such as physiotherapy and dietetics. There are two year ‘accelerated’ Masters courses in physiotherapy and dietetics that may be open to sports science graduates. Make sure that you double check the academic entry requirements with individual universities. There are other roles you can consider within the NHS as well. Many hospitals and primary care trusts advertise for specialists with exercise backgrounds to work in areas such as cardiac rehabilitation, exercise physiology and health promotion. The BASES careers guide makes reference to the fact that ‘The National Health Service plan has incorporated physical activity within its national service frameworks and this highlights both the job opportunities and the increasingly important role played by exercise in maintaining the nation’s health’.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

The Scientist Training Programme (STP) is a graduate-entry programme leading to more senior scientist roles within the NHS. There are job roles available within the cardiac science field as part of the STP programme. If successful in securing a role on the STP, you will be employed by an NHS trust for the duration of your training. The NHS will also support you to complete Masters level study relevant to your job specialism. The NHS usually recruits for the STP around January, so look out for these vacancies during your final year. There is very high competition for STP job vacancies. Therefore, if you are applying to the programme, please make sure that you think about other job options as well to ensure that you have a back-up plan. You can find more information about the STP at: www. healthcareers.nhs.uk. Please also refer to the case study on P.18 of this guide. The other graduate entry route to the NHS is the NHS Management Training Scheme. This is open to students from any degree background and offers successful applicants the chance to specialise in areas such as finance management, health informatics management, human resources management and general management. You can find more details about this scheme at www. nhsgraduates.co.uk/. The NHS usually starts recruitment for this scheme in the autumn, so keep an eye on the above website for details of the application process. There are also job opportunities within the NHS within the exercise referral field. Posts may be advertised as ‘physical activity specialist’ or ‘exercise referral consultant’. In order to gain entry to one of these roles, it may also be necessary to have a personal training qualification (accredited by the Register of Exercise Practitioners – REP) as well as a sports science degree. There are also other job roles within the NHS which sports science graduates may first undertake to gain experience. This may include roles such as assistant physiotherapist or dietetic assistant. To find out more about the range of job opportunities within the NHS, refer to: www.healthcareers.nhs.uk

Your Careers Adviser: Laura Aldridge I have been working in the careers guidance profession for a number of years. I started as a career adviser in an education setting, working in both schools and colleges in Staffordshire and then London, and then I eventually became a team manager. I also have a background in teaching and training and hold both careers guidance and teaching qualifications. I moved into the Higher Education setting in 2004 and worked for City University in London before joining Liverpool John Moores University as a careers adviser in 2007. I have worked with the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences for 11 years. In addition to providing one to one careers guidance to students, I assist with the delivery of a range of careers modules. I deliver workshops on a range of employability related topics. To complement the workshops which I run as part of the curriculum, I also work with the Employer Engagement Team to organise an optional programme of careers and employer events for students. Furthermore, I produce bespoke careers information to help you with your career planning. I also conduct original research into important employability matters and have recently completed an externally funded project. The following careers information is designed to give you an overview of the broad range of career options open to you during your degree course. It may surprise you to know that around half of graduate vacancies are open to graduates of any degree discipline. The skills which science graduates develop can be applied to a variety of job sectors. This guide is designed to give you a starting point for your research, and there may be many other job options you could consider. Please note that although all information in this guide was accurate at the time of going to press, some information may be subject to change. Therefore, please make sure that you do further research into job areas of interest to you, by using the websites supplied. To book an appointment with me or any other adviser call in to the Careers Zone at Byrom Street, located by the reception in James Parsons Building. Alternatively telephone 0151 231 2048.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Graduate Case Study JAMES MOREHEN COMPLETED A BSC IN SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE FOLLOWED BY AN MSC IN SPORTS PHYSIOLOGY. HE IS NOW STUDYING FOR A PHD IN SPORTS NUTRITION WHILST WORKING AS A PERFORMANCE NUTRITIONIST. What does your job role involve?

My two colleagues and I are developing and implementing strategic performance nutrition support to all 16 national England football teams across both the men’s and women’s pathways for over 500 players. This includes working within a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) of medics, physiotherapists and physical performance coaches as well as working closely with key stakeholders who influence the nutrition support to our players, for example performance chefs, airlines and overseas hotel support staff and chefs.

Three things you like about your job: ❙❙ We work with the best footballers in our country at their respective age and some of the best in the world.

❙❙ We can directly influence the nutritional strategies of our players in an attempt to fuel and recover effectively from the demands of international and tournament football. ❙❙ Working with such a wide and professional MDT, I can constantly reflect every day and as such am on a continual path of learning and developing for the better.

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

Initially, I applied with my CV and covering letter outlining why I believed I suited the criteria that the FA were after. Following this, I was invited for a phone interview with the Head of Performance services. This lasted around 20-25 minutes. After successfully passing this stage, I was then invited to St. Georges Park, the home of the National Football Centre where I had to complete 3 different tasks that could not be prepared for over a 4-hour face to face interview process.

Please tell us more about your PhD study and your field of research? My PhD has researched into the anthropometric profiles of professional rugby league players, particularly assessing how body composition profiles develop through academy players into senior players and then how this may change during the pre-season phase. We have also investigated how the physical demands of the game, for example distance covered and physical collisions, cause elevations in blood markers of damage and inflammation.

What other work experience did you do?

I volunteered at all the open days I could for the School of Sport and Exercise Science. I volunteered my Saturday mornings to gain experience at St Helens Rugby League club for a full season as well as carrying on my applied placement module within the university for a full season.

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

Be willing to go the extra mile, volunteer your time and learn from people you respect in the industry. Always reflect on what went well, bad and indifferent and if you do not have a mentor then get one.

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

Offer to help out on any MSc or PhD research projects. Get experience in any industry that you are thinking about so that you can have first-hand exposure and decide if it’s for you. Go for a coffee with those you respect to ask them what it is really like!

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

The applied modules allowed me to gain some real first-hand experience with athletes. Supporting this, the strength and conditioning internship allowed me to see if a career in S and C was for me, but also provided me with raw coaching experience with athletes. Completing a viva whilst on the MSc programme was a huge insight into what it can be like to be ‘grilled’ when working in professional sport in terms of knowing the fundamentals of what you are talking about but also how this may be applied to the elite athletes.

Please tell us more about the career path which you intend to follow in the future after completing your PhD study?

I will continue to work with England Football with an overall aim of supporting the Senior Men’s squad at a World Cup. I would also like to launch my own private consultancy business, to include a mentorship programme for future practitioners and a consultancy option for those seeking out nutritional education to improve individual goals.

Other options Many LJMU sports science graduates are interested in a career in teaching. It is important to be aware that the PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate in Education) course in PE teaching is one of the most popular PGCE courses, and there is strong competition for places. It is therefore important to try and gain relevant work experience in a school during your degree course. There are also other routes into teaching such as ‘School Direct’ or ‘Teach First’. Sports science graduates are also eligible to train in primary teaching. Depending on your academic background, it may also be possible to complete a subject knowledge enhancement course in physics or chemistry, if you wish to teach science. To find out more about teacher training options, refer to the ‘routes into teaching’ factsheet on the Careers website - www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers. You may also consider a career in sports development. Sports development officer roles are usually advertised by universities, colleges or councils. Some charities recruit for these roles as well. There are also opportunities within the leisure industry for sports science graduates. There are a limited number of trainee management schemes for graduates within the leisure industry, although it is possible to enter the industry via a non-graduate role and progress into management from within the company. Within the leisure industry, there are opportunities within health and fitness centres, local gyms and councils. However, you are by no means restricted to the above areas and could use your skills, interests and work experience to enter careers in a variety of other sectors, including research, marketing, retail management, consultancy, or finance and accountancy. The numerical and analytical skills gained from your science degree are also valued within the finance and business sector, and many graduate roles are open to candidates from any degree background.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

Work Experience If you are interested in working in the job areas described on the previous pages, then it is essential to gain relevant work experience. Remember that if you are hoping to go onto a teacher training course after your degree course, it is vital to gain some work experience in a school with the age group of pupils you are hoping to teach in the future. LJMU’s volunteering department offers voluntary work opportunities in local schools – for further details, please refer to: https://www2.ljmu.ac.uk/volunteering If you are interested in working in the health sector (for example in physiotherapy), it is important to try and gain some work experience in an NHS setting. To arrange work experience in a hospital setting, you could contact the volunteer co-ordinator for your local hospital. There may also be a chance during your degree course to complete internships with professional sports clubs, so look out for these opportunities during your studies.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Postgraduate Case Study EMILY JEVONS GRADUATED FROM BSC SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE IN 2016 AND IS NOW STUDYING FOR A PHD IN EXERCISE METABOLISM. Why did you decide to apply for your PhD? During my undergraduate degree I was always interested in physiology and as I moved through the degree programme I got to focus on this more. Originally, following my degree I wanted to do a taught MSc programme but then in the summer after my degree I helped out with a PhD student’s study in the laboratory and this helped me realise my love for research! I then decided I wanted to do an MPhil instead of an MSc and went from there! What did the application process involve for the PhD? As I started as an MPhil student, my supervisor and I put in applications for funding throughout the year so I could continue my research and transfer through to PhD. Although not successful at first, we did manage to find funding and I was able to continue my studies! I then had to complete an MPhil transfer report and viva. However, not all PhD applications go this way and during the time where I had no funding I did get to experience other application processes. I was interviewed for two other PhDs at separate universities. For one I had to write an essay before the interview as well and although I didn’t end up taking either of the positions after being offered them both, going through that interview process and writing an academic CV was a really valuable experience. Please tell us about what your PhD involves? My PhD project title is “Examining intramuscular substrate utilization and the underlying mechanisms in response to exercise and recovery”. My PhD is made up of four research projects, one completed during the MPhil, two ongoing and one to be started in my final year. The first study examines energy sources used in a race situation whilst comparing two different microscopy methods, whereas my second study is examining energy sources used during two typical training sessions. My third study will examine the effect of carbohydrate restriction during recovery, and my final study will examine the effect of a pharmacological intervention to promote carbohydrate and fat used to enhance the adaptive response to exercise. Together, these studies will allow me to use a variety of techniques and provide novel information, demonstrating the importance of energy sources from muscular stores in moderately active to elite individuals. From this knowledge we can attempt to maximize the adaptive response to exercise through nutritional strategies. What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones? During my undergraduate degree they really helped me write my CV and how to structure a cover letter. This was very valuable as it helped me write out my applications for postgraduate study, placements and my part time employment.

How have you benefited from, career research, membership of professional bodies, involvement in Student Union activities? I found membership of professional bodies such as The British Association of Sport and Exercise Science (BASES), was really useful to follow new research areas and is very student friendly. With my BASES membership I received a magazine every few months with some interesting articles from a variety of different academics and applied practitioners. They also had book discounts which was great when I was managing on a student budget! With regards to the Students’ Union, I found joining sports teams and societies a really influential part of my university experience. I was part of LJMU swim team throughout my undergraduate degree and being able to represent the university in competition was great! As a postgraduate I don’t have much to do with the sports teams and societies, though this academic year I have been the Postgraduate Research Faculty of Science Representative for John Moores Students’ Union (JMSU) which has allowed me to stay involved and provide feedback to the JMSU on postgraduate student life. Please tell us about the previous work experience which you have completed and how this has helped you? During my undergraduate degree I completed a few placements, some were within the university itself whilst some were arranged by the university but were external. In total I completed four placements throughout my degree, three in the environmental chambers (which built on my knowledge each time) and one for Sale Sharks as a nutritionist for their academy players. I also gained experience through helping in the laboratories and being a participant in studies myself. This in the end was essential as it allowed me to realise my love for research and influenced my decision to swap from a taught MSc to an MPhil. Would you do anything differently in terms of career planning if you were a first-year undergraduate student again? Yes, I would have gone to see the Careers Team earlier than I did as speaking to them really helped boost my confidence when thinking about what I wanted to do after my degree. What are you your plans after finishing your PhD? I am hoping to stay in research and do a post-doctoral research position and then in the long term I would like to become a lecturer.

MINI GUIDE

MULTIPLE MINI INTERVIEWS Students who are applying for job opportunities within the science or healthcare sector are increasingly likely to face multiple mini interviews (MMIs) as part of the recruitment process. Find out more about what they are and how best to negotiate them in our handy mini guide on the topic. You can download a copy of the guide from the ‘online guides and resources’ page of our website:

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

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Graduate Case Study JAMES MCMAHON GRADUATED FROM BSC SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE IN 2015 AND MSC CLINICAL EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY IN 2016. HE NOW WORKS AS A HEALTH AND WELLBEING PHYSIOLOGIST FOR NUFFIELD HEALTH. What does your job involve? My main duties within this role involve the completion of health assessments which include venepuncture, body composition analysis, blood pressure monitoring, resting ECG, spinal assessment and spirometry. In addition, some clients may complete an aerobic fitness test or an Exercise ECG. My additional duties include the general running of the health clinic such as answering client calls, clerical duties and running a laboratory to analyse clients’ bloods. Please list three things which you like about your job: ❙❙ The completion of clinical tests such as ECG and spirometry ❙❙ Completing exercise ECG tests ❙❙ The completion of venepuncture and its subsequent analysis within the laboratory. What did the application and interview process involve for this job and how did you prepare for each stage? The application process was very long but it was also well structured as I feel it allowed for the applicant to show of a number of different attributes to help him or her stand out more against other potential applicants. My original application for the role of an academy health and wellbeing physiologist with Nuffield Health began with a cover letter. Following this I completed a telephone interview and finally after this I was invited to attend the assessment day. At the assessment day I completed five different assessments – a clinical interview, operational interview, role play scenario, group presentation and a theory exam. I was not provided with much information prior to the assessment day on what to expect so the main way I prepared was by brushing up on my notes from my Masters course which helped with the clinical interview, group presentation and theory exam. For the operational interview and role play scenario I was able to draw on my experience from my placement interview and from my experience working within both retail and tourism. All of these communication skills are transferrable and the most important thing is being able to relate these past experiences to what is being asked of you on the day. What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones from The Careers Team whilst you were a student at LJMU? Whilst at LJMU I gained advice originally from the Careers Team in

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relation to the direction that I should head in, following the completion of my undergraduate degree. I always knew I wanted to complete an MSc in a physiology related field but I was torn between choosing the clinical route or the sport route. Following my discussions with advisers from the Careers Team, this opened my eyes and made it clear what direction I truly had a passion for. During my Masters I made use of the Careers Team again as one of the advisers checked through a cover letter which I was able to subsequently use to cement my job with Nuffield Health. Which relevant work experience did you draw on during the interview process for this job? During my Masters I was able to complete a placement within the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital within cardiac rehabilitation. This placement gave me the necessary experience of working within the healthcare setting and I was able to draw on this experience when answering questions during the interview process for Nuffield Health. In particular, it was the experience of face-to-face communication with patients in the hospital that I was able to draw on during the interview. During my time at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital I learnt how to talk to people with empathy and I learnt that each individual person was different and I needed to talk to each individual in a different way, in order to encourage him or her to engage with me. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? I always advise students that I have contact with to make the most of their time at university by using the Careers Team to strengthen their CVs and cover letters. I would also advise students to ensure that they gain as much experience within the real world, through placements or volunteering. Not only does this give you valuable experience to talk about in applications and job interviews but it also gets your face out there which is sometimes enough on its own to gain you a potential job. Which aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? The most valuable areas from my university programmes were the guest speakers and the placement opportunity.

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CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Graduate Case Study GEORGIOS GRIKMAS GRADUATED FROM THE MSC BIOMECHANICS OF GAIT AND POSTURE IN 2012 AND NOW WORKS AT A REHABILITATION CENTRE FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, IN GREECE. What does your job involve? Please tell us more about your job roles, and the clinic which you work for. I work at ELEPAP, a rehabilitation centre for those with disabilities and the first social charity in Greece. The centre has been striving, since 1937, to offer rehabilitation services to more than 100,000 children with motor disabilities and neurodevelopmental problems, from birth to school age, in its six branches in Athens, Thessaloniki, Ioannina, Chania, Volos and Agrinio. In the gait laboratory, our team assesses the abnormal gait patterns and the balance disturbances of people with either neurological or musculoskeletal disorders. The final target of our work is to create an extensive report which can enlighten the orthopaedic surgeons or the physiotherapist in order to decide which type of surgery or which exercise protocol meets the patient’s needs. Our team consists of two orthopaedic surgeons, two physiotherapists and a biomechanist. My role is to operate the biomechanical software, filter and analyse the data as to provide the biomechanical aspect in the report. I also have the responsibility to set both short and long term goals in order to meet the deadlines. Additionally, I also see to the maintenance of the equipment. Finally, I have to draw up a monthly report for the general managers. At the AMC College I teach the biomechanics and gait and posture modules for the BSc podiatry and physiotherapy and for the MSc physiotherapy. I also have the responsibility of running the podiatry programme and assisting my fellow colleagues who are lecturing in this programme. Three things you like about your job: ❙❙ I like assessing and discovering some rare cases in gait patterns. ❙❙ I am constantly being updated and following international guidelines. ❙❙ I am in contact with great colleagues from other universities and gait laboratories all over Europe. What did the application/selection process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? I had to prepare a CV and a cover letter when I applied to both of the above jobs. For the job at the ELEPAP centre, I went through an interview with the previous biomechanist, the current orthopaedic surgeon and the general manager. They showed a great interest in the Masters programme which I had completed at LJMU, and my dissertation. Even though the other applicants had a PhD in sport biomechanics, the fact that my Masters title and content was in posture and gait ensured my position. The previous biomechanist knew about the research work of the LJMU staff (and specifically the work of the programme leader of my Masters Course Dr Gabor Barton) which confirmed the knowledge that I have acquired from my Masters. For my job at AMC College I also went through an interview with the general manager and the programme leader of the BSc in physiotherapy as firstly I was recruited as a lecturer. They also liked the fact that a physiotherapist chose to specialise in biomechanics, which is generally not common in Greece. They needed a lecturer for their biomechanics modules and wanted to further enhance their research in this field.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

Overall, I believe my studies at LJMU prepared me to face the challenges in both my jobs and gave me the confidence to be myself. What relevant work experience did you use during the selection process? When I applied to the above jobs I had already been working as a physiotherapist for almost ten years in various rehabilitation fields and I had completed my Masters programme, so I think that this counted in the selection process. I had also done a few presentations at conferences and I had already volunteered in the Special Olympic Games, which all helped. Additionally, I believe that my familiarisation with all the biomechanical equipment that LJMU has, was something that my employers valued. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? ❙❙ I would recommend the MSc in Biomechanics of Gait and Posture as it offers many job opportunities. ❙❙ Make sure that you have regular contact with the academic staff as their advice is invaluable. ❙❙ It is useful to attend conferences and courses which are relevant to your field. This is a good opportunity to enhance your knowledge, stay unbiased in new methods and equipment and meet great colleagues from other countries. ❙❙ Instead of waiting for jobs to be advertised, try the speculative approach. Send a tailored CV and cover letter to the companies which you really want to work for. What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? The confidence which I acquired in the LJMU laboratories was important as it gave me access to equipment not everyone has the opportunity to practise with. I also had great support from my lecturers at LJMU and thanks to Dr Barton I was first informed about the gait and motion lab of ELEPAP. The reputation which the LJMU academic staff have in the field of biomechanics also meant that my Masters course was valued by prospective employers. As a Masters student at LJMU, I worked with state of the art equipment and my dissertation was about the topic of ‘virtual reality rehabilitation’ which is still considered a brand new rehabilitation area. This enhanced my employment prospects. During my Masters, the LJMU staff organised sessions where they invited lecturers from other universities, PhD students and relevant companies to inform us regarding their brand new projects. At LJMU I also had the chance to visit a gait laboratory in a rehabilitation centre for children at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, similar to the one which I am working at now. Finally, the knowledge that I acquired generally in biomechanics (and especially in the assessment of gait, balance and posture) played a major part in helping me to gain the skills for my current job roles.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Graduate Case Study ADRIAN ROOSE IS A SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS FOR LIVERPOOL HEART AND CHEST HOSPITAL AS AN EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGIST What does your job involve? Prescribing a relevant exercise/physical activity and education programme for recent cardiac procedure patients including MI, bypass, stents, ICD, valve repair/replacements etc, as well as a host of other cardiovascular diseases (CVD) such as peripheral vascular disease (PVD) and stroke (CVA). As part of the exercise team, we are involved in the assessment process, which allows us to perform a functional capacity test, talk about goals and create a bespoke programme based on their assessment needs, procedure, symptoms and aspirations. We are responsible for ensuring that post-CVD patients exercise in a safe and friendly environment, preparing them for their integration back to their normal lifestyle. We work within guidelines prepared by the British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation and locally by our employer. Our service is a comprehensive community based programme in Knowsley covering all areas of the borough in local centres, which are accessible to the patients. Tell us about three things you like about your job. ❚❚ Every day is different (sorry about the cliché, but it is true). ❚❚

I have a lot of patient contact.

❚❚

There is always a chance to upskill in the form of hospital mandatory training, relevant experience from other departments, or courses appropriate to my discipline.

What did the application/selection process involve? I was interviewed by a panel of three members of the CVD management team. Also, as my initial post was a secondment, it was a requirement to be interviewed again when the post became available permanently. The preparation was heavily swayed towards safety guidelines and patient liaison, with scenarios required to demonstrate knowledge and experience.

What relevant work experience and skills benefited you during the selection process? I was already working for the NHS so I was familiar with national and local protocols. It is always advantageous to be working for the NHS if you are looking for particular employment within the sector. Due to my previous work experience I was able to demonstrate particular skills such as patient interaction, multidisciplinary work, time keeping, organisational skills and autonomy as examples. If employment experience is not an option, work experience is vital, as in my experience work placements have sometimes led to students being employed on a full-time basis. What advice would you give students to improve their employability? Gain as much work experience as possible, even if it is not relevant to the post, as it shows willing and many jobs demonstrate similar themes and skill requirements. Vocational skills are always an advantage as well as showing a prospective employer that you have the personality and people skills for the job. Always be enthusiastic and tenacious as you may have to wait for that job you want, but try to get employment in a similar area or organisation that will get you noticed, give you the desired experience and will allow you to keep up to date with training and vacancies. What aspects of your degree were particularly useful during the selection process? I attended a two-week block placement and this employer gave me a reference when applying for jobs. My current employment as an exercise physiologist required a sport science degree or similar, therefore all aspects were important. Although, in hindsight, the physiology and exercise testing element were particularly beneficial.

Facts and figures

28.5 percentage of 2016 UK sport science graduates in full-time further study or a combination of work and study six months after graduation (source: Prospects website)

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4 is the minimum amount of weeks’ work experience in a UK secondary school which LJMU currently require applicants to have before they apply to the Postgraduate Diploma in Education in Secondary PE Teaching. This work experience needs to be in place before application. In reality many applicants may have more than four weeks’ experience in a school.

15 percentage of applicants who applied to The Clearing House for Postgraduate Courses in Clinical Psychology in 2017 gained a place on a Doctorate Course in Clinical Psychology.

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Applied Sport Psychology Sport psychologists generally work with sports teams and athletes, and you could work as an independent consultant or be employed by professional teams or sporting bodies. An exercise psychologist may work in GP referral, physical activity domains, and public health or private companies including workplace health and exercise providers. Many sport and exercise psychologists combine consultancy work with university or college lecturing. There can be high competition for these types of roles and it is good to gain some relevant experience. Your degree in applied sport psychology will put you in a good position to enter a number of careers within the sport and exercise psychology sector. The British Psychological Society (BPS) accredited course at LJMU carries the Graduate Basis for Chartered Membership (GBC) of the Society, which provides an important stepping stone towards further professional training, either to become a sport and exercise psychologist or a psychologist in another discipline. Your strong grounding in science and psychology will also enable you to consider both science and management roles within different organisations. You may also consider a career in research. If you wish to become a sport and exercise psychologist after your BPS-accredited first degree, further training involves completing a postgraduate qualification and a period of supervised practice. Specifically, this involves studying for a BPS-accredited Masters in sport psychology or sport and exercise psychology, a programme that can be undertaken at LJMU. Some applied sport psychology degree graduates also consider a career in health psychology, and opt to undertake LJMU’s Masters in health psychology. For sport

and exercise psychologists, Masters training is followed by either the Stage 2 Qualification in sport and exercise psychology with the BPS, or a Professional Doctorate in sport and exercise psychology. LJMU has the facility to offer both of these Stage 2 training options. Both these qualifications target the achievement of chartered psychologist status with the BPS and sport and exercise psychologist registration with the Health and Care Professions Council. This professional doctorate (pending BPS accreditation and HCPC approval) also confers a PhD. Students who complete a Masters in health psychology may undertake the Stage 2 Qualification in health psychology with the BPS, or a Professional Doctorate in heath psychology at LJMU. The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES) offers accreditation as a sport and exercise scientist, which then leads to professional registration as a Chartered Scientist with the Science Council. This normally requires a sports science degree, though a deficient entry profile can be rectified through independent learning (subject to approval of a development plan at entry), and a Masters degree in a sport and/or exercise science discipline. Some students may wish to use this qualification route to work in the sport sciences, but if HCPC registration as a sport and exercise psychologist is the goal then a GBC conversion course and BPS accredited sport and exercise psychology Masters will be required before undertaking either the Stage 2 or Professional Doctorate qualification.

Graduate Case Study NICK WANDSWORTH COMPLETED THE MSC SPORTS PSYCHOLOGY IN 2015, AND HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING TOWARDS CHARTERED STATUS AS A SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGIST BY COMPLETING THE PROFESSIONAL DOCTORATE IN SPORT AND EXERCISE PSYCHOLOGY AT LJMU. HE IS ALSO EMPLOYED AS A LECTURER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BOLTON. Why did you decide to apply for the Professional Doctorate? The Professional Doctorate combines the Stage 2 training (required to become a qualified sports psychologist) with doctoral level research and so is the perfect mix of research and practice. This is vital to the development of a sport psychologist. The course combines supervision with peer discussion and debate, which aids the holistic development of practitioners. Upon completion I will be a chartered sport and exercise psychologist and a Dr. of Sport and Exercise Psychology. What did the application process involve for the Professional Doctorate? I completed an online application to show that I had access to the appropriate job opportunities (or applied experience) to meet the demands of the course. I had to show that I would have a chance to ‘tick’ all of the competencies required to fully complete the course. What other help and support have you accessed during your time at university? I have attended talks by the Centre for Entrepreneurship about how to set up an independent business, and how to manage the finance, promotion and advertisement of that business.

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How have you benefited from previous work experience, career research, membership of professional bodies, and involvement in Student Union activities, e.g. clubs or societies? My work experience has provided me with an opportunity to apply my theoretical knowledge into an elite environment and gave me the foundations to progress into full-time professional practice. I had placements in the past with Everton Football Club and West Bromwich Albion Football Club. The research opportunities on the course have challenged me to write and publish at doctoral level, and have helped me bridge the gap between theory and practice in my own role as a lecturer. Would you do anything differently in terms of career planning if you were a first-year undergraduate student again? I would not specialise in football so early on in my career and be open to working in a variety of sports and environments. What are your plans for when you finish your Professional Doctorate? I am already in a full-time lecturing role, so I would like to progress to a senior position within this university. I would also like to set up my own consulting practice, working with elite athletes from a variety of sports.

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Placement Case Study SAM PORTER COMPLETED THE MSC APPLIED SPORT PSYCHOLOGY AT LJMU IN 2018. DURING THIS COURSE HE COMPLETED A VOLUNTARY PLACEMENT WITH ‘SUPPORTING CHAMPIONS’. What did your placement involve? As part of my MSc in Sports Psychology, I completed a voluntary placement with Supporting Champions. My primary role was to fundamentally underpin Supporting Champions’ content and systems with psychological science and data of the user experience. This entailed psychological profiling and looking at use of terms, thematic analysis, search engine optimisation and social media communication. I was involved in the logistical and operational planning and execution of an elite sport, business and education conference at the Emirates Stadium, London. I have also created various video-based conference packages to allow speakers, delegates and non-attendees to immerse themselves in the educational experience of the conference. Lastly, I assisted in the generation of the company’s strategic business plan. Please list three things which you enjoyed about your placement: I enjoyed networking, being taken outside of my comfort zone and working directly with high performance support staff at the cutting edge of sport science. What did the application process involve for your placement and how did you prepare for each stage? The application stage consisted of submitting a two-minute video highlighting my suitability for the role and why I wanted the placement with Supporting Champions. This had to be submitted alongside a CV and covering letter. When I was preparing my CV I contacted Byrom Careers Zone and Anja Heid (one of the employability advisers) was instrumental in helping me tailor my CV and cover letter and making sure it was ready to submit. I was then asked to prepare for one of three topics centred on marketing and social media techniques. I thoroughly examined literature and websites to understand the topic and then prepared a short presentation and proposal for the interview. At the interview, I presented this alongside answering questions from the panel of interviewers. What help and support have you accessed in the Careers Zone whilst you have been at university? I have found the support from the advisers at the Careers Zone invaluable, they have helped me tailor my CV and covering letter to many relevant placement and job roles, whilst at university. In particular,

they have helped me to shape the format of my applications so that I have been able to highlight my experiences and skills more for the relevant roles. Without this, my application would have just become another number on the pile of many applications which employers receive. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? The best piece of advice I have heard from networking with individuals in elite sport and business whilst on this placement is; ‘to get out there and do something, anything whatsoever’. It is better to to do any work experience, instead of staying inside your habitual comfort zone. I would also recommend that students take part in activities which raise self-awareness, as understanding yourself and how you operate is going to be one of the biggest factors which employees look for in an individual when hiring you. It is important to start this process as early as possible, so that you can reflect upon, and adapt accordingly, following your work experience. Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year again? It sounds a cliché but it is important to gain work experience which involves working with others, in any context. I have learnt quite a lot as well from working in a bar in Liverpool City Centre. It is about how you frame this work experience and which mindset you approach it with. However, I would also encourage current students to work with a diverse range of people in a range of different sports as early as possible. It is not just future employers who will like to see this experience but the athletes whom you may work with in your future career will value this kind of experience as well. Make sure that you enjoy the few years which you have at university but make the most of your opportunities whilst you have them.

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

The lecturers themselves are fantastic and really teach us the craft skills and fundamental psychological science needed to operate in elite sport. A range of guest lecturers also provided great insight into what it takes to work in a variety of different settings. A visit to Saracens Football Club and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) in London really reaffirmed what we had been taught in classes and how it transfers into the real world.

Other branches of psychology Given that the LJMU applied sport psychology programme is BPSaccredited and confers GBC, this means that you could consider training in other fields of psychology after your degree course, such as: clinical, counselling, educational, forensic, health, and occupational. All these fields of psychology would require further training such as Masters and then Doctorate level study. To find out more about these different branches of psychology, refer to the careers section of the BPS website: http://careers.bps.org.uk

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Postgraduate Case Study JOSHUA RICE GRADUATED FROM BSC SCIENCE AND FOOTBALL IN 2017. HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING TOWARDS A PHD. Describe your PhD study: The aim of my PhD study is to evaluate the importance of physical development strategies to successful performance in elite youth soccer. Why did you decide to apply for PhD study? Alongside my PhD I was offered the chance to work at Liverpool Football Club within the sport science department. Therefore alongside gaining a PhD, I am also able to gain 3 years of experience working within the applied field on a full time basis. What did the application process involve for the PhD? After being offered the role at Liverpool Football Club, I was put forward for an interview with Professor Barry Drust. At this interview, I was asked questions about potential topic areas which I would be interested in conducting my research within. What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones? I accessed both CV and interview support from the advisers at Byrom Street Careers Zone.

How have you benefited from previous work experience? I benefitted from an opportunity which I gained to be an intern at Everton Football Club for a full season. This was during my final year of study. I also was the manager of John Moores Football Club which gave me some good experience of leading and developing sessions. Would you do anything differently in terms of career planning if you were a first-year undergraduate student again? I would ensure that I took every opportunity which is thrown at me, and I would not just take the easy route at the time. I have done various volunteering with the likes of Bristol City Football Club and Huddersfield Town. I have also volunteered in the university laboratories. The hardest part was in my final year when I was balancing a full time degree with a full time internship. What are your plans after finishing your PhD? After my PhD I hope to either stay on at Liverpool Football Club as a full time fitness coach or if not I hope to find another premier league club to work within.

Postgraduate Case Study ROBERT SEABORNE HAS PREVIOUSLY STUDIED A BSC SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE AND MSC IN SPORTS NUTRITION AND RECENTLY COMPLETED A PHD IN CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY Why did you decide to apply for your postgraduate course? At the time of applying, it seemed to me to be the next logical step in my career. I had spoken at length to a number of very passionate and inspiring lecturers who inadvertently passed on these traits to me. I realised then that I still wanted to continue learning about human biology, but take on a greater amount of control into what I was learning. A research based PhD was the ideal option. What did the application process involve for the programme? Initially, I had several informal conversations with lecturers who I had identified as being potential mentors for my PhD research programme. The ideas and conversations that were had quickly escalated and the decision was made to apply for the internally awarded university PhD scholarship scheme, with myself as the named research student, and my now supervisor as my director of studies. The application itself involved detailed overviews of the proposed research, the potential outcomes and impact of the research, as well as a detailed personal statement and CV. Once the application was submitted, it was a waiting game to see whether the application was successful or not, which fortunately for me, it was. Would you do anything differently in terms of career planning if you were a first-year undergraduate student again? It is difficult to say. The Sport and Exercise Science BSc course at LJMU is great in that it offers a wide variety of opportunities from psychology

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through to molecular physiology, which expose you to many aspects of science. Outside of the structured course, there are always opportunities to be involved in research projects, applied work and internal working opportunities such as course reps. To a certain degree, I managed to take advantage of these opportunities, however looking back, I could have done a lot more! These opportunities are very exciting and useful for a number of reasons, however most importantly they provide you with information that cannot be taught in a lecture theatre. Being exposed to these different environments gives you a wealth of information and experiences that will make it a lot easier for you to decide what career path you wish to choose. These experiences will help to shape your future. What are your plans for when you finish your PhD? My plan post-PhD is to continue into a career in both research and academia. I have fortunately managed to finish my PhD with about 6-months to spare, so I am currently finishing a number of very exciting research projects, whilst trying to identify a research position that will allow me to continue investigating molecular physiology. Eventually, I hope to apply for a number of fellowships to continue my passion in research, but to also undertake a lectureship role, to help inspire and guide the next generation of students and researchers.

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Graduate Case Study CHRISTOPHER MULLEN IS A SCIENCE AND FOOTBALL GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS FOR ACCRINGTON STANLEY COMMUNITY TRUST AS A SPORT DEVELOPMENT OFFICER What did the application/selection process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? My application involved sending a CV and covering letter relating to the role and responsibilities of the job. After visiting the offices off my own back to introduce myself to some of the staff, I gained an interview where I had to complete a presentation and coaching session based on sports development. I prepared by researching the Trust and its programmes, whilst my coaching session was based on FA coaching badges. What relevant work experience did you use during the selection process? During the selection process, my work experience at Everton in the Community aided my understanding of sports development and how community trusts work, whilst my work experience at Blackburn Rovers gave me a greater knowledge of how a professional football club operates.

What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? Gain as much work experience as you can. Unfortunately it isn’t just what you know, it is who you know! If you apply for a job, visit the company and show your face. Always go for any available extra courses or qualifications. Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again? Become involved in volunteering/work experience much sooner. The more contacts you gain and know well, the more chance of getting a job out of it! What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? Guest lectures proved to be really useful, allowing me to network and make contacts even before my degree was finished!

Graduate Case Study: Becoming a Doctor PHIL PIERCE COURSE IS A SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE GRADUATE WHO IS NOW STUDYING MEDICINE AND SURGERY MB BS HONS AT NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY Why did you decide to apply for the medicine course? I always had an interest in medicine but I never thought that I was focused enough when I was younger to apply for and finish the course. Once I had completed my sport science degree, worked for a few years and gained some maturity and valuable life experience, I realised that I had to go for it and make an amazing career for myself. What will this course involve? The course is a five-year medicine and surgery course that will teach me the underlying medical knowledge that I need to become a doctor, along with clinical skills through hospital placements and patient interaction in order to fully prepare me for the world of medicine once I graduate and throughout my career. How have you benefited from previous work experience, career research, membership of professional bodies etc? I benefited massively from work and life experience and I would say it was one of the major factors which led to me being offered a place on the course. The application process for medicine requires a lot of extracurricular weight and does not just go on academics alone. Taking on work placements in hospitals showed the universities that I had a genuine interest in medicine, while being involved in clubs and taking part in different activities showed them that I had a wide range of skills and interests, along with the attributes that it takes to become a good doctor. What did the application and selection process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? The application process may involve taking a BMAT, GAMSAT or UKCAT exam (depending on the universities and course you are applying for). Gaining some work experience in a medical or healthcare setting is also important. I then had to apply through UCAS (the deadline for medical applications is in October instead of January) and then I was invited for an interview at Newcastle University. To prepare for the UKCAT exam, I bought a couple of books and just practised as best as I could until I started to get the hang of the questions. I also attended a ‘Kaplan’ UKCAT course which helped a lot with techniques and shortcuts as the time limits for each question become quite tricky. When I made my UCAS application, I researched what each university was looking for and what previous medical applicants had included. Make sure you have a good

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personal statement that includes everything important the universities need to know about you. An emphasis on what you have learnt from your medical work experience is key to a successful application. Once I was invited for interview I carried out more research on the university and course itself, along with practising example questions that may come up. My advice to students would be that it is still important to get your personality across, so try not to answer in robot fashion. Having a mock interview also really helped me prepare for the real thing. What help and support did you access from the Careers Team? I genuinely believe that I may not have been offered a place in medical school if it wasn’t for the support I got from one of the career advisers at the Careers Zone. I asked her for help with my application and she was great throughout the whole process. From helping me with my written application and personal statement, to finding out potential questions that Newcastle interviewers could ask and then giving me a mock interview, she played a vital role in my success. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? Your end grade does matter and your attitude towards work is noted when it comes to becoming employed, so I would advise students to put as much effort in as they can because it really does make life a lot easier when it comes to being employed. What would you do differently if you were a first-year student again? I am going to be a first-year student again (albeit a lot older) and I am going to do some things differently. I am going to take advantage of the clubs and activities that the university has to offer, along with the help that is offered for the course. Also I will make a very conscious effort to improve my time management and not leave all things to the last minute. I am also going to utilise any help that the university and lecturers can give me from day one to help me succeed and give me an advantage once I have graduated. You find that there is a lot of competition for most things that you do, and the easier you can make things for yourself, the better.

NB: Science graduates would usually apply for the four-year course but Phil has obtained a place on the five-year course.

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Connected to industry: Exclusive Everton FC internships for LJMU students LJMU sports and exercise science and science and football students now have exclusive internship places at Everton Football Club. The experience involves working in the professional football environment for a full season with the Youth Academy teams, from training days to home matches, and travelling with the team to away games. Students design and implement fitness sessions, testing and match-day warm-ups. Securing a position on the internship programme in the first place is also something that the students have to work hard for. There is an application and interview process which involves developing communication skills and volunteering experience. Dr Martin Littlewood, Principal Lecturer in Science and Football, explains the value

of the internship programme to students: “This internship model has developed over the past five years and now we have nine undergraduate and postgraduates working at the Club. The students gain a variety of skills from applying their degree knowledge to a practical setting and this instils the confidence for them to progress into different careers from performance analysis to sport psychology.” John McKeown, Head of Academy Sports Science at Everton Football Club explains the value of the internships to the Club: “The partnership between Everton Football Club and LJMU is mutually beneficial. The students get the experience they need and the Club gains from their assistance and skills across a range of sports science disciplines. We have a significant number of interns who have gone on to work in key roles at the Club and we encourage

a mentor programme between interns to aid this transition from academic study to practical application.” Christina Cunningham, BSc (Hons) Science and Football student and Everton intern commented: “The internship programme with Everton Football Club has been an amazing experience. Being able to learn the basics and develop into being responsible for taking physiological and performance analysis-based sessions is something unique to the internship. I believe that without this kind of work experience, it would be very hard to get the knowledge and experience in implementing vital skills that are essential when working within such an elite level of sport. “My experience at Everton has been first class. To be able to work alongside some of the best in the field, to be shown and trusted to use vital equipment and implement/lead fitness sessions, and be viewed as an equal to the full-time staff, has allowed for an experience that’s second to none.”

Applying for an Everton internship? With competition for places on the Everton internship programme so intense, get your application form checked by the expert team of Employability Advisers at the Careers Zone prior to submission. Should you secure an interview, you can also book a practice interview with our team to ensure you feel as confident as possible beforehand.

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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Graduate Case Study MEGAN WOODS GRADUATED IN SCIENCE AND FOOTBALL IN 2017 AND HAS PREVIOUSLY COMPLETED SOME WORK EXPERIENCE WITH EVERTON LADIES FOOTBALL CLUB AS A PERFORMANCE ANALYST. What did your work experience involve? My roles and responsibilities were to record all matches, both home and away, as well as training sessions. My main duty was to provide postmatch feedback to the coaching staff which involved me breaking down specific areas of the game and making a post-match report to provide match statistics. Three things you liked about your work experience: ❙❙ I was able to work in an environment with good facilities (in Finch Farm). ❙❙ I continued to learn and grow as an analyst by working with good staff members. ❙❙ Every day was different. How did you gain entry to this job area? I volunteered with the club throughout my whole university journey, which allowed me to gain further knowledge and experience. This helped me throughout my course. Whilst at college, I had worked previously with the club, which led to this opportunity.

Which aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? The degree as a whole allowed me to gain the opportunities I have done due to what I learnt during the course. However, one module in particular which was really helpful was the performance analysis module. This was useful in terms of the practical sessions as it gave an insight on how to use the relevant software. This was helpful when I was working for the club as it gave me an idea about how to use this software. Guest lectures were also useful as they were often motivational and gave me beneficial tasks to complete. Have you completed any further study following your degree course? I am currently working towards an MSc in Performance Analysis in Sport at The University of Salford.

What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? I would advise current students to gain experience whilst you are studying. You can try to arrange this yourself or by asking the tutors to try and place you within a club where they have contacts. Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again? If I could go back to being a first year student, I would change my psychological approach by being less shy and more interactive. This would help me with the next stage of my career as you can’t be shy in the sports industry.

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The spotlight on careers in cardiac sciences CAREERS ADVISER LAURA ALDRIDGE TAKES AN IN DEPTH LOOK AT THE DIFFERENT PATHWAYS INTO THIS CAREER AREA. Cardiac sciences is a career area, which is often of interest to sports sciences students. The knowledge that a sports science student gains from their degree about anatomy and physiology can be very useful in this job field. However, it is important to understand the different entry routes into this diverse career path. What is cardiac sciences? This field of work involves investigating known and suspected heart disease. Cardiac scientists carry out vital diagnostic, monitoring and analytical tests for patients with known or probable heart disease. What kind of tasks do cardiac scientists carry out? Cardiac scientists have direct contact with patients of all ages. Depending on their precise role, they could carry out a range of procedures such as:

❙❙ Echocardiography – this involves the use of ultrasound to obtain ❙❙

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pictures of the heart. This helps to diagnose and track diseases which may affect the structure or the function of the heart. Pacemaker and implantable defibrillator (ICD) implantation and follow up – this entails measuring and programming pacemaker/ICD devices to ensure that they are working correctly when they are implanted and at subsequent follow-up. Exercise stress testing – this involves monitoring a patient as he or she conducts exercise (usually on a treadmill) to check if the blood vessels in his or her heart are functioning correctly. Electrocardiography – this involves placing electrodes on the chest, arms and legs to detect the electrical activity within the heart. This helps to detect rhythm or structural abnormalities as well identifying those at risk or those having a heart attack. Event recorder - ECG / BP monitoring – this entails applying a device that is worn for up to a week and analysing the subsequent results. This test helps to diagnose rhythm abnormalities that may be less frequent and were not detected on a standard resting electrocardiogram. Pressure monitoring at Cardiac Catheterisation – this involves monitoring and measuring the invasive pressures in the heart during procedures such as cardiac catherisation, electrophysiological studies and coronary angioplasty.

What kind of skills and qualities are needed in this job role? As this role involves direct contact with patients, it is important that cardiac scientists have strong interpersonal and communication skills. Cardiac scientists need to have good scientific knowledge and technical ability as they have to be comfortable using modern technology and complex equipment. They work within a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare professionals and therefore good team-working skills are also essential. Cardiac scientists need to have good attention to detail, as accuracy is very important when they are carrying out tests, and communicating results to patients or other professionals. Those who are applying to the Scientist Training Programme also need to show evidence of strong leadership skills. Routes into this career path for a sports science student The Scientist Training Programme (STP) is one of the routes for science graduates into clinical scientist roles in England within the NHS. Those who are successful in gaining a place on the STP (within the cardiac science specialism) would be employed within the NHS on a three year paid training programme which includes work-based and academic learning. The STP also provides successful applicants with an opportunity to complete a funded, part time professionally accredited Masters degree at a university relevant to their chosen specialism.

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Those who are employed as clinical scientists within the cardiac science field work at a more senior level and have responsibility for carrying out more complicated tests and interpreting the results of each test. They may also have supervisory or management responsibilities, for example for resources. Healthcare science practitioners assess patients using diagnostic equipment, and they put together technical reports of the tests that they perform. They may be based in a hospital cardiology department, but they can work in other settings as well. Healthcare science practitioner roles are open to those with A-levels. However, due to the highly competitive nature of the Scientist Training Programme, graduates do sometimes apply to trainee healthcare science practitioner roles as well, which then involves completion of further training via the NHS Practitioner Training Programme (PTP). Where are opportunities in cardiac sciences advertised? The NHS usually advertise for the STP vacancies once a year, in early January. You can find details of these opportunities on the STP website. Trainee healthcare science practitioner roles are advertised on www.jobs.nhs.uk. What kind of work experience is helpful for these roles? As cardiac science job opportunities can be very competitive to gain entry to, it is essential for students to gain some relevant work experience to increase their chances of success. The following could be helpful types of work experience:

❙❙ General volunteering in a hospital setting for example as a ward volunteer.

❙❙ Paid work within the NHS for example as a healthcare assistant. ❙❙ Other voluntary or paid work within a care setting for example within a care home or hospice.

❙❙ Placements within a cardiac setting. For example those students who

study for the MSc in Clinical Exercise Physiology at LJMU complete a cardiac placement within a hospital setting. In addition, LJMU has appropriately qualified staff who undertake cardiac screening and other cardiac science roles within their research and therefore observation at these events may be beneficial.

It is important that applicants to cardiac science job roles are able to demonstrate a genuine interest in working with the healthcare sector, and a commitment to patient care. At interviews for NHS posts, interviewers often ask questions that require candidates to describe a time when they have demonstrated the NHS values. Clearly, it is easier for candidates to do this if they have already spent some time gaining experience in a hospital or other care setting. It is also vital that applicants for cardiac science roles can show a realistic understanding of what this job field involves, which is why it is helpful to do a relevant placement. Other job roles which may be of interest If you are interested in careers within cardiac science, you may also wish to investigate the following job areas:

❙❙ Respiratory physiology and sleep sciences ❙❙ Neurophysiology ❙❙ Exercise physiology

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Useful Websites

Facts & Figures

519 2017 for 33 cardiac science job The number of applications in

❙❙ Scientist Training Programme

www.nshcs.hee.nhs.uk/join-programme/nhs-scientist-training-programme

❙❙ Healthcare Science Practitioner Training Programme

vacancies which were advertised within The Scientist Training Programme.

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Three

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www.nshcs.hee.nhs.uk/ptp-join/nhs-practitioner-training-programme/ about-the-practitioner-training-programme NHS Jobs Website: www.jobs.nhs.uk/ Health Careers Website: www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/ The Society for Cardiological Science and Technology: www.scst.org.uk/pages/default.asp NHS Values: www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/thenhs/about/Pages/nhscoreprinciples.aspx

The number of graduates in 2018 off the LJMU MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology Course that received job offers for the cardiac science specialism of the Scientist Training Programme. Other Useful Mini Guides, available on the Careers Team website:

❙❙ The Benefits of Volunteering ❙❙ A Guide to Multiple Mini Interviews

All information in this guide was correct at the time of going to print. However, some facts can be subject to change, therefore, students are advised to refer to the websites provided for the most up to date information. Some information in this article was taken from the Health Careers website, accessed June 2018. Thank you to Dr David Oxborough for his contribution to this article.

Graduate Case Study ANELIESE LAGAN GRADUATED FROM A BSC SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE IN 2015 AND THE MSC CLINICAL EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY IN 2017. SHE IS CURRENTLY WORKING AS AN APPRENTICE CARDIAC PHYSIOLOGIST AT MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY NHS FOUNDATION TRUST. What does your job involve (e.g. main duties)? When fully qualified I will independently carry out cardiac tests such as electrocradigrams, echocardiograms, holter monitoring, blood pressure measurement, tilt table testing and exercise stress testing. I will also monitor patients’ physiology in the catheter laboratory during procedures such as angiogram, angioplasty and pacemaker implantation. Please list three things which you like about your job: ❙❙ The patient interaction. ❙❙ The fact that every day is different. ❙❙ The team work and camaraderie. How do you think that your MSc course in Clinical Exercise Physiology helped you to secure this job? The MSc course taught me clinical skills such as electrocardiography and blood pressure monitoring. It also provided knowledge around cardiovascular disease, risk factors of cardiovascular disease and how exercise impacts this. My placement at Aintree Hospital was invaluable in enhancing my skills and allowing me to transfer knowledge from the classroom to the fast paced hospital environment. What did the application and interview process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? The first stage of the selection process involved submitting an application form online through www.jobs.nhs.uk. I conveyed my interest in the role by documenting my relevant skills and experiences. I then matched this to the person specification to ensure it was clear how I was the best person for the role. The second and last stage of the application process was a panel interview at the hospital, so I researched the hospital and the trust, in particular their values and what they stand for. I also practised interview questions relating to my previous experience and how I work with patients. I had a mock interview with Laura Aldridge (careers adviser) which was really helpful. Furthermore, I encouraged friends and family to ask me practice interview questions based on the NHS Trust and my skills. I would recommend that students make an informal visit to the hospital or business which he or she is applying for, if that is possible. I was able to meet the team and build a rapport with one of the ladies who interviewed me and she was genuinely pleased that I obtained the job.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

What help and support did you access from the Careers Team at Byrom Careers Zone? I accessed the application checking and mock interview services, and also the interview simulator online (which can be accessed via the Careers Team website). I couldn’t recommenced the Careers Team enough. Without a doubt, their knowledge and advice helped me secure my job. They also check in with you throughout the process and I really felt like they cared. What relevant work experience did you use during the selection process? The skills and experience I gained throughout my work placement at university was invaluable to me securing this job. It enabled me to transfer my knowledge and skills from the classroom to the workplace which is quite important in my role. I also attended a careers event put on by the Careers Team and this really helped me make my decision on which career I wanted to pursue. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? ❙❙ Obtain as much work experience as you can, it will help you make a decision on which career path you want to follow. I originally wanted a career in research, my work experience showed me that this career wasn’t for me and that cardiac physiology suited me better. ❙❙ Use the Careers Team, their knowledge and advice is first class. ❙❙ Be flexible in your career goals. After studying my MSc it wasn’t initially my intention to do an apprenticeship in cardiac physiology but it is a brilliant opportunity. Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year again? I would volunteer to help on more research projects to increase my skills and knowledge. I would also make better use of the Careers Team. What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process ? The most useful aspect of my degree programmes were definitely work placements as the knowledge and skills gained from these related to my current job and helped me to secure this position.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Graduate Case Study SIMON OATES COMPLETED A BSC SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE IN 2017, AND THE MSC CLINICAL EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY IN 2018. HE GAINED A PLACE ON THE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE NHS SCIENTIST TRAINING PROGRAMME, AND IS BASED IN LONDON WHERE HE IS WORKING AS A TRAINEE HEALTHCARE SCIENTIST, WITHIN THE CARDIAC SPECIALISM. What will your job within the Scientist Training Programme involve (e.g. main duties)? I will utilise various diagnostic equipment and tests such as ECGs, echocardiography and exercise stress tests to diagnose and treat patients. I will assist in operations such as pacemaker implantation and follow up, percutaneous coronary interventions and coronary artery bypass grafts. The Scientist Training Programme (STP) will give me the chance to develop into a leader and to be in charge of healthcare staff and to be a teacher to them. I will also complete a part time fully funded Masters degree over the three year duration of the STP. Three things you like about your job: ❙❙ It will be academically stimulating. ❙❙ I will have the satisfaction of helping people and utilising my scientific knowledge. ❙❙ No two days will be the same. What did the application process involve for the Scientist Training Programme and how did you prepare for each stage? I first had to create an online ORIEL account and complete the application form. I had to answer four questions about my skills and experience (which had a maximum limit of 250 words). It is crucial to give strong answers to these questions, in order to score well at the application stage. I worked closely with my supervisor and an employability adviser (from the Careers Team), who checked through my answers. Then I had to pass online logical and numerical tests. The best way to prepare for these tests is by completing the practice tests which are available on www.trytalent1.com. (There are also practice tests available on Careers Zone 24/7 of the Careers Team website - www.ljmu. ac.uk/careers). After being successful in the online tests and with my application form, I was shortlisted for interview. I did a mock interview with Laura Aldridge (from the Careers Team) which really helped and I prepared myself for each of the four interview stations as best I could. What did the interview process involve? The interviews for the STP were in ‘multiple mini interview’ format which meant that there were four stations. Two were specific to the cardiac science specialism so I had to be clued up on what the job is and the science underpinning it. One station was about general science which required a good knowledge of scientific principles. I would also recommend that candidates brush up on their research skills, in preparation for this interview station. The other station asked questions about my leadership skills so there were questions which tested my ability to lead others and to work as part of a team. I was also asked questions which assessed my awareness of NHS values. For this station, I would recommend that candidates try and apply the NHS values in their answers. How do you think that your BSc degree, and your MSc in Clinical Exercise Physiology, helped you to secure this job? My undergraduate project in the area of cardiac science (which

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

is in peer review for publication) probably helped me to stand out from the crowd, along with the research skills and experience which I gained from this project. The technical skills module in my MSc course helped familiarise me with the hands on skills needed for the job. The other MSc modules helped me gain a deeper physiology knowledge which I used at interview, and which I will use in the job. More generally, I think the confidence I gained through doing presentations and the work placement really helped in the interview (even though I was still nervous). What relevant work experience and volunteering did you draw upon during the selection process? I enhanced my interpersonal skills by doing some general ward volunteering at a hospital. This really helped me understand the caring nature of NHS employees. I also did placements during the third year of my undergraduate degree and during my MSc, which helped to familiarise me with the clinical environment. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? ❙❙ If you are set on a career as a cardiac physiologist then it is also advisable to look into the NHS Practitioner Training Programme as the STP is notoriously competitive to gain entry to. ❙❙ Get as much experience in hospitals as you can, whether this is through general volunteering, part time paid work or course placements. This will not only boost your employability but also help you decide which job roles are right for you. ❙❙ Utilise all help available if applying for the STP, whether this is from your lecturers or supervisors or from the Careers Team. Everyone is happy to help and I found the support which I received invaluable, during my application.

Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again? ❙❙ I would try to be a little more decisive and proactive in looking at long term career goals, possibly gaining work experience in some form, in a variety of occupations would help this. ❙❙ I would have a look into the NHS undergraduate training schemes (Practitioner Training Programmes) if set on working in healthcare as some physiologist roles are restricted to those who are applying from accredited courses.

What aspects of your degree and Masters course were particularly useful in the selection process? ❙❙ The placements within hospitals. ❙❙ The cardiovascular physiology modules. ❙❙ The research skills which I developed. ❙❙ The variety of ways in which we were examined (via presentations, essays and group works etc.).

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE

Spotlight on careers within the allied health professions DID YOU KNOW THAT SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCES GRADUATES MAY BE ABLE TO PURSUE AN ACCELERATED ROUTE INTO SOME HEALTH CAREERS? THE OPTIONS MAY BE BROADER THAN YOU THINK WITHIN ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONS. CAREERS ADVISER LAURA ALDRIDGE GIVES AN OVERVIEW OF WHICH OPPORTUNITIES MAY BE OPEN TO YOU. What are the allied health professions? The ‘allied health professions’ is a term used for those careers which involve working directly with patients, but not as a doctor or nurse. The allied health professions include roles such as chiropodist, dietitian, occupational therapist, orthotist, physiotherapist, radiographer and speech and language therapist. What are the options for sport science graduates within the allied health professions? Some (though not all) allied health professions offer an accelerated route for graduates, which means that instead of completing another three or four-year undergraduate course, you may be able to qualify in some of these fields by completing a two-year Masters (or postgraduate diploma) course. Examples of allied health professions with an accelerated route for graduates include: dietetics, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, radiography and speech therapy. You can find a list of which universities offer recognised vocational courses in the allied health professions on the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) website at http:// www.hpc-uk.org/education/programmes/. If you are looking for Masters courses which train you in a specific field, look for courses which are listed as ‘pre-registration courses’ as these qualify you to work in the related job area. You may still be able to consider the three-year BSc courses in the aforementioned fields as well. However, many graduates do choose the two-year courses if these are available, as they provide a faster route to training and qualification. What academic qualifications do I need to apply to courses within the allied health professions? If you are interested in applying to Masters courses in one of these fields, make sure that you check the academic entry requirements for each individual course carefully, as they may have both A-level requirements and specific degree requirements. You can find out specific requirements by checking with the admissions tutors for each course.

Do I need work experience to apply to some of these courses? It is important to gain some relevant work experience before you apply to these types of courses. This may include, for example, work shadowing a professional who works in the field that you are hoping to go into. Different universities may have different work experience requirement for their courses, so make sure that you research this carefully. Overall though, if you are hoping to go into one of the allied health professions, any work experience within a hospital or care setting would be useful. Voluntary work within a hospital environment can also give you a useful insight into what it is like to work in an NHS setting and will also show your commitment to working in a healthcare profession. To find out about voluntary work within hospitals, contact the volunteer co-ordinator for your local hospital. How do I apply to these types of courses? If you are applying to the two-year Masters (or postgraduate diploma) courses, then normally you would apply directly to the university which runs the course. There are some exceptions to this, however, so make sure that you research the application process of each individual university. Some of these courses can also have a January start date and this may affect the timescale of when you need to apply, so make sure you also check application deadlines carefully with each university. How competitive is the application process? There are high levels of competition for places on some of these courses, such as the dietetics and

physiotherapy courses. This is why it is important to ensure that you can make the strongest application possible by gaining relevant work experience before applying. You can also have your application checked by the Employability Advisers at the Byrom Street Careers Zone. Also make sure that you have a back-up plan in case you are not successful in gaining a place on one of these courses. Are there any other routes into the allied health professions? If you wish to qualify within one of the allied health professions, you would normally need to complete a HCPC-recognised course. However, there are ‘assistant’ roles within the NHS you can apply to directly after your degree course, without completing another course. On the NHS jobs website, these roles are usually advertised as ‘assistant physiotherapist’, ‘therapy assistant’ or ‘assistant dietitian’. Some graduates may work in these roles before deciding to go on to complete a further course to qualify fully in the relevant professional field.

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Some information in this article was taken from the Health Careers website. All facts were correct at the time of going to print. Some information can be subject to change, however, so please double check any facts (for example regarding academic entry requirements) before applying to courses.

Relevant employer events If you are considering a career in the allied health professions, you may be interested in the following events which usually take place once a year organised by the Careers Team: ‘A career in therapeutic radiography’ or ‘Working in physiotherapy and nutrition’. Check our events page for details and dates - https://careers.ljmu.ac.uk

Useful websites ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

Health Careers: www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/ Health and Care Professions Council: A website which allows you to search for NHS recognised courses which can train you in one of the allied health professions www.hpc-uk.org/education/ The Association of UK Dietitians: www.bda.uk.com/careers/home

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

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Chartered Society of Physiotherapists: www.csp.org.uk/professional-union/careers-development/ career-physiotherapy NHS Bursaries Information: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/Students NHS Jobs: www.jobs.nhs.uk

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

Get support on your doorstep in our campus

Careers Zones

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

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

LJMU’s Careers Team provides tailored careers support to all LJMU students during their studies through delivery of careers education, information, advice and guidance from our three campus-based Careers Zones. The Careers Zones are located in Aldham Robarts Library, Byrom Street and IM Marsh Library. Call in to find out how we can help you. Alternatively 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

Support from Employability Advisers

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

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

In the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, you have your own dedicated Careers Adviser, Laura Aldridge. You are likely to meet Laura at some point during your programme of study. She is available for:

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

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Signposting to useful resources and information

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Expert job sector advice and information tailored to your needs

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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

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

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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

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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“

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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

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.

CAREERS AND RECRUITMENT FAIRS

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:

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

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

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

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

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

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

01.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDES

02.

CAREER INSIGHTS

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

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

03.

MINI GUIDES

04.

CAREERS ZONE 24/7

05.

BOOK A WEBINAR

06.

SEARCH FOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES

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

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

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

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

To visit the Careers website go to:

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

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

Careers Zone 24/7

online careers tools

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

01.

CV AND COVER LETTER BUILDER

02.

INTERVIEW SIMULATOR

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

03.

CAREERS NEWSROOM

04.

CAREER ASSESSMENTS

05.

PRACTICE PSYCHOMETRIC TESTS

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

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

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

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

06.

GOINGLOBAL DATABASE

07.

INDEED JOB SEARCH

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

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

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

CareerSmart:

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

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

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

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

A Careers Adviser says ...

“

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

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

Student feedback about CareerSmart: ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙

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CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

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

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

Be the one who inspires SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

#GetintoTeaching

USE YOUR DEGREE TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON STEM EDUCATION

The national shortage of STEM teachers means graduates with a degree in a science, maths or technology-related area are in great demand.

We welcome applicants from a variety of different degree backgrounds, not just those who hold a degree in the specific subject areas.

There are sector scholarships and generous government bursaries of up to £32,000* to help you start your career in teaching, plus great opportunities for career progression. You’ll also be inspiring young minds and helping to shape the future of STEM education.

If you have the potential and passion to teach, call the Faculty Admissions Team for an informal chat. The team can answer your questions and will guide you through the options available, including information about Subject Knowledge Enhancement courses and subject-specific A Level requirements.

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

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

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

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

How to make the most of your

university time

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

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

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

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: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

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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?

Sport & Exercise Science CAREER INSIGHT

Science & Football CAREER INSIGHT

Applied Sports Psychology CAREER INSIGHT

LJMU CAREERS TEAM

www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

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

Download our course-specific Career Insights from:

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

YOUR CAREER JOURNEY SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

FIRST YEAR: EXPLORE Meet

Join

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

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

Explore

LJMU and all its opportunities and support and research voluntary opportunities

Plan

start to think about your career ideas and begin planning

START UNIVERSITY

Go global

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

SECOND YEAR: EXPERIENCE Research

your chosen career path/ options

Experience

Get involved

get relevant paid work, volunteer or work shadow

Get advice

seek out opportunities to enhance your university experience

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

Find

get relevant experience via a placement or internship

FINAL YEAR: ENGAGE Utilise

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

Reflect

on your experiences and how you can evidence these to employers

Engage

with your career sector and/ or organisation

Apply

for graduate schemes and graduate level jobs or consider further study

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

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

Move up to Masters

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

Fit your studies around your life

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

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

What a Masters says about you

Can I afford it?

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

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

What next?

“

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 ... ARGENTINIAN IRENE HEYN CAME TO LIVERPOOL TO STUDY FOR HER MASTERS IN CLINICAL EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY AT LJMU. “After my undergraduate degree I decided that further study was not for me and I would not be returning to education. Some years later, however, whilst travelling in New Zealand, I met an academic who was teaching on a Clinical Exercise Physiology programme. The more I heard about the programme the more interested I became and I soon decided that it was what I wanted to do. I felt that my undergraduate studies had not led me anywhere in particular so, by specialising in something I really believed in, I would finally find the career I really wanted. “Having decided to study in Europe, LJMU was an obvious choice due to its league table position. I also had some knowledge of the city, having travelled to Liverpool a couple of years ago and made some friends here. “The course is everything I could have hoped for. I wouldn’t say that Masters study is incredibly hard, I would just say that it is a matter of time management. As I work fulltime I sometimes find it difficult to juggle everything but I get it done because I know will be worth the effort. “I would recommend postgraduate study to anyone who has real passion and drive. The knowledge of the academics at LJMU is of such a high standard, the labs are superbly well equipped for practical work and the placements we undertake mean that we can put all of our academic learning into practice.”

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

Professional and personal development

opportunities abroad

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

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01.

GET IN TOUCH

Study Abroad

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

03.

Go Global

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

05.

{

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

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

SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU

Placement Learning Support Unit SPORT AND EXERCISE SCIENCE STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO A PLACEMENT LEARNING SUPPORT UNIT TO HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME AT LJMU.

We recognise that sometimes it can be difficult being a student, and you won’t feel satisfied or successful. Coaching is a way of helping you to improve, develop, learn new skills, find personal success, achieve your aims and to manage life change and personal challenges. We know sometimes you just need someone on our side to ask the right questions. Coaching in this respect is a learning relationship which will benefit you particularly if you don’t feel you are managing your development.

How it works in practice You can make an appointment and discuss different aspects of your personal development, such as:

❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

What students say ...

Graduate skills e.g. communication, personal planning and organising Experiences e.g. placements, volunteering CV for placements Subject e.g. understanding how you learn Emotional intelligence e.g. managing stress

These areas are crucial to you managing as a student. We want to equip you with the tools that will help you get where you want to be in life… to dream, plan and achieve!

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CONTACT DETAILS:

{

The team is managed by Jamie Fearn (Placement Support Unit Manager), along with Work Based Learning Officers and administrative support. We are located in room 904 James Parsons, Byrom Street. You can email us on scienceplsu@ljmu.ac.uk, call 0151 231 2079 or visit www2.ljmu.ac.uk/scs and click on Placement Learning Support Unit.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

“

In the Faculty of Science we feel the purpose of your time here is for you to be equipped with a set of skills, knowledge, understanding and personal attributes that make you more likely to make choices and behave in ways which mean you can be satisfied and successful both now and in future.

When asked what they most enjoyed about their appointment students across the Faculty have said…

❚❚

The team “made it very clear what was required to give in our feedback and the benefits of engaging in the process. It has really helped me to learn to break down my work and highlight my skills developed.”

❚❚

“That it was a very informal meeting, where I could ask all the questions that I had…”

❚❚

“Very helpful and useful.”

❚❚

“It was really beneficial and the members of staff in the office are so helpful and very friendly. Lovely atmosphere!”

❚❚

“It was greatly beneficial to me as I was given very helpful advice in how to pursue potential placement providers and was followed up with an interview detailing all that was discussed.”

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

TACTICS AND CHOICES

Planning your career

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

Questions to ask yourself when exploring your career options

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

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

Help and support available to you..

01. 02. 03.

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

CAREERS INSIGHTS AND MINI GUIDES Check out our Careers Mini Guides available via the Careers website. Titles include Career Planning for Mature Students, Planning your Career 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

Thinking about

postgraduate study? ARE YOU CONSIDERING

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

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

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DISCUSS POSTGRADUATE OPTIONS WITH A CAREERS ADVISER

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

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

How and when to apply

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

Help and support available to you..

01. 02. 03.

Funding

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

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

20% DISCOUNT OFF POSTGRADUATE STUDY

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

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

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

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

TACTICS AND CHOICES

Finding

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

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

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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www2.ljmu.ac.uk/startup/

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Graduate Case Study ANGELA CLUCAS GRADUATED IN 2016 WITH AN MSC IN SPORTS NUTRITION AND NOW RUNS HER OWN BUSINESS CALLED NEXT LEVEL NUTRITION Please tell us more about the business, which you have set up, and your job role within this? I am the owner and performance nutritionist at Next Level Nutrition (www.nextleveliom. com). The company has been running for two years now, as it was set up immediately after my MSc in Sports Nutrition at LJMU. I work with a variety of clients from elite athletes to ‘weekend warriors’ (i.e. those who only exercise at weekends). I also work with busy parents, and everyone in between. The MSc at LJMU really gave me the confidence in my own ability to go and start a business and take what I had learnt in the classroom out into the real world. A big contributor to this was the placement I did and the opportunity to work in elite sport whilst still studying was invaluable.

What do you enjoy about your work? ❙❙ I enjoy helping my clients; seeing them

reach their personal bests, or just having more energy and zest for life. ❙❙ I like being my own boss. Travel is a big part of my life and being able to work from anywhere and not having limited holidays mean I can take Next Level wherever I go. It is the perfect balance for me. ❙❙ I like meeting new people. Being a business owner has led to some interesting opportunities such as being asked to talk at corporate events on both nutrition and setting up a business. I love having the opportunity to try to inspire others to make a change.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

What help and support did you access from the Centre for Entrepreneurship?

I took part in their three-day training programme after which we were invited to pitch our business idea for funding. I was awarded £1600 which allowed me to invest in vital equipment and technology needed to get set up. As a student just finishing my MSc, this was a fantastic boost and prevented me from having to take a bank loan.

Please tell us about your past work experience or employment history, prior to setting up your own business? After finishing my undergraduate course, and before starting my MSc, I worked in various IT and finance companies where I learnt valuable customer service, administration and marketing skills. These skills have proved invaluable now I am working for myself, as I know both how to and how not to run a business!

Do you have any advice for students who may be considering the possibility of setting up a business?

Go for it! You can always start small, set it up on the side while working and then build it up. If it doesn’t work out, you can always get a job to raise more cash and try again. Don’t be put off by the people who say ‘what if it doesn’t work?’ My response to this is; ‘but what if it does?’ Avoid getting into debt with any big

investments and take things one day at a time.

Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again? If I was a first-year student again I would take every opportunity available to me. I would advise current students to volunteer for everything, to network with others, to ask questions and listen more. The connections you can make at LJMU will serve you for a lifetime if you take the time to network sincerely.

Which aspects of your degree or MSc were particularly useful and relevant to the work that you now do?

The chance to take a placement in elite sport, in my case with Huddersfield Giants Rugby League, was an invaluable learning experience. It enhanced my understanding of what is required of a performance nutritionist in the field. The ‘real world experience’ of my lecturers was invaluable. I knew that what I was learning was being applied in the real world, not just in a lecture theatre. This gave me the confidence to know I could hit the ground running with my business, as I knew that I was prepared for what was happening today in the field of nutrition.

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

TACTICS AND CHOICES

The importance of relevant

work experience

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

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THE DIFFERENT WAYS YOU CAN GET EXPERIENCE UNDER YOUR BELT.

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

Types of work experience

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

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

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A Careers Adviser says ...

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

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

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

GETTING THE JOB

How to write a winning

CV and covering letter

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

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Top CV tips

Different styles of CV CHRONOLOGICAL CV

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

Help and support available to you..

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ONE TO ONE SUPPORT IN THE CAREERS ZONE

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

WORKSHOPS/WEBINARS

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

CV BUILDER & COVERING LETTER BUILDER

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

DOWNLOAD OUR CAREER MINI GUIDE

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

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

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

SKILLS CV

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

HYBRID CV

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

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

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

GETTING THE JOB

Skills-based CV Teresa Nowak

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.

List entries in this section in reverse chronological order.

Highlight relevant content of your degree, e.g. specific modules that have helped you develop relevant knowledge for the position.

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.

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.

Also include some brief details about any voluntary or community-based work where applicable.

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

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.

123 Northern Road, Liverpool, L22 1AB Email: teresanowak@gmail.com, Mobile: 07456 123 321

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Personal Profile I am a caring and empathetic second-year Sport and Exercise Science undergraduate with strong interpersonal, communication and teamwork skills demonstrated during my studies, volunteering and work history in customer-facing roles. Through researching suitable career options, I have developed a keen interest in pursuing a career in the healthcare sector, specifically in physiotherapy. I would like to undertake some work shadowing or a placement at Grove Physiotherapy alongside my studies to gain relevant work experience to apply for postgraduate physiotherapy courses. Education and Qualifications 2017-present Liverpool John Moores University BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science (first-year average: 65%)  Studying relevant modules like Human Movement Foundations, Physiology Principles, Psychology Principles, and Biomechanics Principles has developed my knowledge of human anatomy and movement, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular physiology, as well as motivational techniques and sports psychology. 2009-2016 International High School of Wroclaw, Poland International Baccalaureate: 26 points (equivalent to 304 UCAS points), including Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics at Higher Level.

Skills Profile Communication and interpersonal skills  I have developed my communication and interpersonal skills to a high level from working in customer-facing roles. As a retail assistant at Boots Pharmacy, I gained confidence in communicating with customers, building on the skills I have been developing as a hospital volunteer, where I showed patience and compassion while assisting elderly patients on the wards and professionalism when liaising with healthcare staff.  Coaching a local women’s volleyball team has strengthened my ability to motivate others. I trialled a number of motivational techniques I have learnt about in sport psychology modules at university, which improved team morale and our performance in recent tournaments as evidenced by winning the Merseyside Cup recently.  Strong writing skills demonstrated by writing reports and essays for university assignments. Feedback from my lecturers has highlighted my concise and accurate writing style as well as my confidence in using appropriate scientific terminology.  Language skills: English (fluent), Polish (native), German (advanced). Teamwork and leadership  As a member of the retail team in Boots, I work effectively with others to ensure the smooth running of the store and reduce waiting times for customers. I promote a positive team spirit and support team members with their tasks when my own workload allows it.  Acting as team leader for a number of group assignments for my university course has greatly strengthened my leadership skills. I agreed and allocated a suitable workload for each team member, arranged progress meetings, offered feedback and suggestions for improvement on team members’ work and drafted an assignment timeline to record deadline dates for individual tasks, which resulted in strong marks for the assignments.

Time management and organisation skills  My time management and planning skills are essential to effectively manage my commitments from part-time employment, volunteering, extracurricular activities and my studies. Using a diary and weekly academic planner, I record work and coaching commitments in advance to be able to then plan my academic work around these. Producing weekly to-do lists allows me to monitor my progress and has resulted in an average mark of 2:1 during my first year as well as success as a coach.  I have developed my ability to work effectively under pressure as a retail assistant and hotel receptionist. Through remaining calm under pressure, I provide an efficient and professional service to customers in an extremely busy working environment.

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

IT skills  Confident user of Microsoft Office programmes, including Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.  I demonstrated my ability to learn new software or in-house technologies quickly in previous employment, e.g. using the booking system at the Central Hotel on a regular basis after a short training period.

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

Employment History 2017-present Boots, Liverpool – Retail Assistant (part-time) My duties include arranging promotional displays, dealing with customer queries, stocking shelves and staffing the tills. I have undertaken a number of internal customer service training courses and volunteered to complete training on the Boots photography services, which demonstrates my willingness to learn and develop in the workplace. 2014-2017 Central Hotel, Wroclaw – Receptionist I was responsible for processing bookings and check-ins/outs, and dealing with customer enquiries and complaints. After leaving school, I worked full-time for nine months before relocating to Liverpool to start my university degree.

Voluntary Work 2017-present North Liverpool Volleyball Club – Voluntary Coach My responsibilities include leading training sessions and warm-ups as well as providing motivational support using knowledge gained on my course. 2017-present Aintree University Hospital – Volunteer This role involves signposting visitors to wards and providing refreshments to patients, assisting elderly patients at meal times and with personal hygiene, showing patience, care and concern for their wellbeing.

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Achievements and Positions of Responsibility  

Completed Mersey Tunnel 10k in 2017, raising over £750 for Cancer Research UK. Student representative for BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science 2018/19.

Interests I am committed to improving my understanding of physiotherapy and keeping up-to-date with research, so I regularly read news articles on the CSP and justphysio websites. To gain an insight into careers within this field, I recently attended an employer event on Careers in Physiotherapy and Nutrition at LJMU. In my spare time, I enjoy running and swimming. References available on request

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

GETTING THE JOB

Chronological CV 1

If you include a personal profile, keep it concise and focused, highlighting relevant experience, interests, knowledge and skills. You can personalise this introduction to your CV by including the organisation’s name and the job title.

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

Highlight relevant modules you have completed as part of your studies. You can also reflect on any related knowledge developed from these and discuss relevant practical experience, site visits or guest lectures.

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

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

Also provide a brief overview of other experience and employment, including any skills gained.

You can provide some brief details for additional skills not already covered in other sections of your CV or highlight again any skills of particular relevance for the role.

If you have any interests that are relevant for your chosen role, make sure you highlight these first and then include some brief details for any additional interests.

Paul Watson

12 Oak Avenue, Liverpool, L16 9AB Tel: 07912 121212, Email: p.f.watson@outlook.com

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Education and Qualifications 2015-2018  

Liverpool John Moores University BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science (2:1 – 68%) Relevant modules included: Psychology Principles; Sport and Exercise Biomechanics; Psychological and Developmental Issues in Sport; and Skeletal Muscle Physiology, Metabolism and Nutrition. During my final year, I completed a dissertation on “Is muscle strength a key factor for determining success among academy footballers in England?”

2008-2015 St Hilda’s High School and Sixth Form, Liverpool A-Levels: Physical Education (A), Biology (B) and Chemistry (B) 9 GCSEs including English (B), Maths (B) and Double Science (AA) Relevant Experience Oct 2017-present Everton FC Academy, Voluntary Coach  Following the completion of an internship for my Applied Placement module at the academy, I was offered the opportunity to gain further experience as a voluntary coach. After initially shadowing and assisting coaches, I am now jointly responsible for leading pitch-based and gym-based training and pre-match warm-ups for U9s and U11 groups. I also design and deliver strength and conditioning sessions for individuals and groups.  Working with other staff, I have contributed to data collection for physiological aspects of training using Polar HR for heart rate monitoring and then entering data into Excel sheets. This role has not only strengthened my communication and teamwork skills but also further developed my understanding of the academy system.  Having built up a network of contacts within the club, I was also able to attend training sessions and briefings with the senior team, which gave me an additional insight into performance and match analysis at senior level.

Sept 2016-July 2017 St David’s College, Liverpool - Teaching Assistant  During my second year at university, I volunteered for one day a week as a teaching assistant. My duties included supporting key stage 3 and 4 pupils in the lower ability set during PE lessons and assisting teachers to deliver PE lessons. Towards the end of the school year, I also independently designed and delivered short activities.  I ensured I offered differentiated activities for pupils with disabilities or lower abilities to keep all pupils engaged. This role developed my ability to build effective working relationships with teachers and support staff. I also strengthened my session planning skills as well as my understanding of child protection and safeguarding.

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”.

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.

 From working with permanent staff in the academy, I gained an insight into the importance of collecting GPS data using Catapult Minimax software for post-match analysis to build a match report for coaching staff. Sitting in on pre-/post-match analysis and briefing sessions with players highlighted the sophisticated use of fitness, performance and match data at academy level.

May-Sept 2017 Rochdale AFC Academy, Summer Internship  I assisted coaches in delivering warm-ups and functional training sessions for all age groups within the academy, focusing on plyometric training to improve speed, strength and agility. I also supported players’ individual strength and conditioning programmes in the gym working on correct technique and collecting data to be able to evaluate players’ progress against their individual development plan.

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Personal profile I am a motivated and knowledgeable Sports and Exercise Science graduate with extensive coaching experience and a thorough understanding of the academy system. Through relevant employment, voluntary work and my studies, I have developed an indepth insight into key psychological and physiological concepts as well as strong communication, teamwork and time management skills. I am keen to pursue a career in professional football coaching and am confident that the Academy Coach role at Bestkick United FC would be the ideal first step towards my career goal.

May 2016 Liverpool Ladies FC Centre of Excellence  During this week-long work shadowing placement, I gained an insight into performance testing and analysis, assisting staff in entering test results into Excel databases and observing coaches designing and delivering both individual and group training sessions to help players enhance their performance. Speaking with other staff like physiotherapists and nutritionists gave me a good understanding of how different professionals work together to develop and support players.

Additional Employment 2015-2017 Sainsbury’s Local, Bold Street, Liverpool - Till Assistant Working as a till assistant in a busy Sainsbury’s Local branch further developed my communication skills as well as my ability to work under pressure in a busy environment. 2013-2015 The Hungry Horse, Liverpool - Bar staff My duties included taking customers’ food and drink orders, cash handling, and assisting to serve on and clear tables during busy times. This role developed my teamwork, customer service and organisation skills to a high standard.

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IT Skills  Excellent working knowledge of all MS Office packages in particular Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.  I have demonstrated my ability to quickly familiarise myself with equipment like heart rate monitors, GPS trackers and related software during relevant work experience. Interests As a student member of BASES, I keep myself up-to-date with the latest research and developments in the field of sport and exercise science. In my spare time, I enjoy keeping fit by playing 5-a-side football and running. References Dr Lee Webster, Senior Lecturer at LJMU, 0151 231 1234, l.a.webster@ljmu.ac.uk Matthew Gibson, Head Coach, Everton FC Academy, 07987 987 987, mgibs@efc.co.uk

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

GETTING THE JOB

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

12 Oak Avenue Liverpool L16 9AB Mr Brendan Pardew Academy Head Coach Bestkick United FC 34 High Street Bridgewater BD7 8HG

12th November 2018

Dear Mr Pardew, I am writing to apply for your current vacancy for an Academy Coach as advertised on your website and enclose my CV for your consideration. I have recently completed a BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science degree at Liverpool John Moores University. As you can see on my CV, I have studied a range of modules to gain the knowledge and confidence required to successfully support academy players to develop both physiologically and psychologically. Due to my interest in the academy system and having built up a network of contacts in the academies of both Everton FC and Rochdale AFC, I completed a finalyear research project on whether muscle strength was a key factor in determining success among academy footballers. For this, I collected and evaluated data from a number of tests, including agility, sprint and muscular endurance tests. My experience of gathering and analysing data which can be used to inform a player’s strength and conditioning training relates well to this role. My enthusiasm for a career in professional coaching is illustrated by the amount of unpaid experience I have gained alongside my degree studies. The understanding of the academy system and practical coaching skills I developed during my internships and voluntary positions enable me to deliver both pitch-based and gym-based warm-ups as well as strength and conditioning sessions to individuals and groups across all ages within Bestkick United FC’s academy as required for this role. In addition, I am confident that my strong interpersonal and communication skills will allow me to build up effective relationships with players, parents and other staff. I am aware that Bestkick United FC’s academy has an impressive track record of developing promising young players, which is illustrated not only by four players being awarded professional contracts with your own team after the 2017/18 season, but also by the number of players being signed by other clubs and their academies across all professional leagues, including Stoke and Burnley. Having researched your vision and values in more detail, I am confident that the professionalism and commitment you instil in your academy players by teaching them values like integrity, teamwork, respect and sportsmanship is a major contributing factor to this success. My experience of working with young players at academy level and pupils of secondary school age has given me a thorough understanding of key stages in their psychological and physiological development and the need to differentiate coaching activities according to age and ability level. This is matched perfectly by the three stages of your academy philosophy: Learning to Love the Game, Learning to Compete, and Learning To Win. The voluntary work I completed in a school setting has not only strengthened my ability to engage with young people but also built up my confidence in developing strong partnerships with teachers and other staff in the school. As I am aware that Bestkick United FC is keen to expand its Outreach programme with local schools, I am confident that these skills would make me an asset to your team. I hope that on consideration of my CV you will be persuaded of my real commitment to pursuing a career as an Academy Coach at Bestkick United FC. I would be available for interview at your convenience and look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely,

Paul Watson

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

GETTING THE JOB

How to write effective

Application forms

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

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❚❚ ❚❚

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

An Employability Adviser says ...

“

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

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

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

An employer says ...

❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚

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

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

“

Competency based questions

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

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

GETTING THE JOB

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Help and support available to you..

01. 02. 03.

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

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

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

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

A student says ...

“

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

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

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

GETTING THE JOB

How to succeed at

interviews

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

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

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Help and support available to you..

01. 02. 03. 04. 05.

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

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

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

CAREER MINI GUIDES Our handy mini guide on ‘Preparing for Interviews’ summarises some key advice if you are about to face an interview. Our mini guide on “Multiple Mini Interviews’ explains this new format of interview and how to negotiate them. Visit our Careers website www.ljmu.ac.uk/ careers/ to download your copies.

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.50.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

GETTING THE JOB

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

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

During the interview With thorough preparation, you are in a good position to respond effectively to questions and display knowledge of yourself, the job and the organisation. When answering, avoid yes/no answers, seek clarification if needed, listen to the questions, be positive and use examples from different experiences. Competency-based questions are commonly used to help interviewers gain a better understanding of your skills set and suitability for the role. These could include: ❙❙ Give an example for when you have used your communication skills to deal with a difficult person. ❙❙ Please discuss a time when you have demonstrated your ability to prioritise conflicting tasks effectively. ❙❙ Describe a situation when you have successfully led a team. To give structure to your answers and provide clear evidence of your skills, the STAR technique is useful to help you focus your answers

and demonstrate your competencies to the recruiter. Please see the previous section on application forms for further details about STAR and an example. Increasingly, graduate recruiters now use strength-based interviews, which allow them to explore what motivates you, whether you would fit into their organisation and whether you would enjoy the job. Questions are usually more open and give candidates more freedom in their answers than competency-based questions: ❙❙ What do you enjoy about working in a team? ❙❙ What motivates you? ❙❙ Would you be happy to compromise the quality of your work in order to deliver a project more quickly? ❙❙ What would people who know you well say you are good at? ❙❙ What modules did you enjoy the most during your degree studies? Your responses should still reflect the required skills, personal attributes and organisational values, but ensure that your responses are natural and that your motivation shines through in all of your answers.

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

Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) The multiple mini interview (MMI) format means essentially that a candidate will be interviewed by more than one interviewer. With this kind of format, candidates will usually rotate around different tables or ‘stations’ where at each station they will face different types of questions. Some MMIs (for example for dentistry or medicine) can include other types of exercises such as a role play or even a practical exercise. Usually a candidate’s time at each station will be timed so that the interview does not over-run. Students who are applying for job opportunities within the science or healthcare sector would be most likely to face MMIs. For example, students may encounter the MMI format if applying for the following types of opportunities:

❙❙ The Scientist Training Programme (STP) ❙❙ Graduate entry dentistry or medicine courses ❙❙ Physician associate training courses

During an MMI, it is likely that each interview station will assess a particular skill, quality or area of knowledge which the employer is looking for. Therefore, each interview station usually has a theme and it is helpful if a candidate can recognise what each station is testing. For example, for National Health Service (NHS) interviews e.g. for the Scientist Training Programme (STP), interviewers may use a ‘values based’ style of interviewing. This means that candidates will face questions which ask them to give examples of times when they have demonstrated a particular NHS value. Therefore, it is important that prior to the interview that candidates familiarise themselves with the NHS Constitution and its values and behaviours: https:// www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/thenhs/about/Pages/nhscoreprinciples.aspx Please refer to our mini guide about MMIs on the Careers Team website for more information - www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

The above are just examples and not an exhaustive list, MMIs may occur in other interview situations as well.

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

GETTING THE JOB

Psychometric tests and assessment centres USE SCREENING TESTS AS

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

OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF A CANDIDATE’S ABILITIES.

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

“

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

Help and support available to you..

01. 02. 03. 04.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers

CAREER PLANNING GUIDE

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

Careers and Recruitment Fairs 2018/19

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

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

careers.ljmu.ac.uk

SEMESTER 1

SEMESTER 2

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LJMU CAREERS TEAM

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