career planning guide
SCHOOL OF SPORT STUDIES, LEISURE AND NUTRITION
PRODUCED BY THE LJMU CAREERS TEAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LJMU SCHOOL/FACULTY STAFF
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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE
LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH POSTGRADUATE STUDY Masters study has set me on the right track. When I graduate, I will be looking for a career rather than a job. Josh McDowell, International Journalism MA
For more information, go to: ljmu.ac.uk/postgraduate CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
WHAT’S IN THIS GUIDE
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What’s in this guide ... CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE Careers Relating to Sport Careers in Dance Careers in Outdoor Education Careers in Tourism, Events, Food and Nutrition Volunteering and Placement Case Studies
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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 Get great work experience with your Students’ Union Professional and personal development opportunities abroad
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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 Whether you have a clear plan for your future career, or your ideas are less well developed I strongly advise you to make use of this school Career Planning Guide. You may wish to set up your own business; pursue a career in management; continue further study in sport, dance, outdoor education, tourism, events or nutrition; train as a teacher; or work in a local authority. This guide will offer you essential tips and signposts to help you achieve your goals. More and more people are competing for further study courses and/or a first graduate job. You need to ensure you position yourself at the forefront of readiness for the world of work and by taking up the opportunities this guide provides I am confident you will succeed in fulfilling your aspirations. I wish you all the best in your future career. DR BARBARA WALSH DIRECTOR, SCHOOL OF SPORT STUDIES, LEISURE AND NUTRITION PRODUCED BY: LJMU Careers Team || Tel: 0151 231 2048/3719 || Email: careers@ljmu.ac.uk || Website: www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
Please contact us if you would like this document in an alternate format, e.g. large print.
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Introduction STUDENTS FROM THE SCHOOL OF SPORT STUDIES, LEISURE AND NUTRITION HAVE A RANGE OF CAREER OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM. CAREERS ADVISER LINDA GRAHAM LOOKS AT SOME OF THE OPTIONS TO GET YOU STARTED The School of Sport Studies, Leisure & Nutrition (SSLN) includes a wide range of undergraduate programmes that offer the potential to develop exciting and rewarding careers. As a student of the school you will benefit from training and educational opportunities that are designed specifically to ensure that employer expectations are met and that you as a potential employee are equipped to add value to an organisation. This means that you can be confident that you will be gaining many of the prerequisite skills needed for a variety of careers and graduate opportunities in a wide range of sectors. In recent years however, securing a graduate role has become increasingly competitive, so planning your career early, gaining relevant work and voluntary experience, and engaging in extracurricular activities alongside your studies will be crucial to demonstrate to prospective employers that you have the motivation to succeed in your chosen area and have developed the required skills. The Careers Team is committed to helping you with this preparation and we are here to support you from the beginning of your studies to the end and beyond. Whether we see you during curriculum workshops, careers guidance and employability appointments, at employer events or even via one of our
Your Careers Adviser:
Linda Graham
webinars our aim is to help you achieve your career aspirations. Achieving career success does require you to be proactive from an early stage. This may involve researching different career pathways and entry requirements, making the most of available resources, attending career events or employer talks and so on. To get you started we have provided you with a brief overview of careers in sectors related to your degree in the section below, alongside case studies of current and former students. The information below is only brief but you can find a much more detailed overview of careers related to your degree in our ‘Career Insights’ that are available on our website (check the resources page of the Careers website: www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers).
I am the Careers Adviser linked specifically to the School of Sport Studies, Leisure and Nutrition. I have gained a wealth of experience throughout my career spanning across both the Careers Service and Human Resources within a higher education setting. Before entering HE, I worked in recruitment working closely with employers to recruit into graduate and managerial level positions. I work closely with academic teams to deliver a range of employability and career modules, career talks and sessions to engage with students from across both Schools and support you in achieving your career ambitions. I also offer career guidance meetings in the IM Marsh Library Careers Zone. To book an appointment, call into any of the Careers Zone around the university or call 0151 231 3719/2048. The information over the following pages will provide an introduction to the wide variety of career opportunities available to students.
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
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Careers Relating to Sport Although diverse in subject content, the skills and qualities to gain a graduate job from these routes have many similarities; communication, team working and problem solving, along with enthusiasm, dedication and tenacity. Sport provision is a major industry in most countries. Sport/coaching related degrees enable you to gain a wide range of transferable skills which will be highly valued by employers.
Sport Development
This degree is about helping students to understand how they can make a difference to the provision of opportunities in sport. A key feature that supports this are the workrelated links embedded in all three years of the programme.
and entrepreneurship at the heart of the programme. Opportunities for suitably qualified graduates to work within the exciting and fast–paced sport industry are increasing both in the UK and internationally. Potential careers span the entire sports business spectrum as major clubs, sports marketing agencies, corporate sponsors, national governing bodies and organisations managing major events are all looking for ambitious and talented graduates.
Physical Education
Graduates can look ahead to careers in a range of sport development related organisations, typically including local councils, charitable trusts and private providers, county sport partnerships, and national governing bodies of sport.
This programme takes a broad perspective of physical education in higher education. It combines theory with practice in a range of contexts. There are opportunities for work based learning in all three years, where students can focus on an area of their choice. The career possibilities are wide ranging and diverse, for example teacher training (primary, secondary and tertiary); armed and emergency services; community based occupations; as well as opportunities to continue with research at a higher level.
Sport Business
Sport and Nutrition for Health
This programme is designed to fit industry needs and holds employability
Sport and Nutrition for Health provides students with skills, knowledge and networks
to develop a career in the field of community based public health improvement and opens up careers in health improvement, public health nutrition, sport and physical activity development. A key feature of the course are the work-related learning links embedded in all three years of the degree. Students will be able to apply their theoretical understanding to practical situations, make more informed career choices, develop their professional networks and identify essential workplace skills. Access to an extensive range of providers across the region, including major local authorities and health service providers, community schemes for food, health, sport and physical activity and local schools will enhance student career opportunities. Students will be provided with skills, knowledge and networks to develop a career in this growing industry that is expected to expand further over the next decade to meet and cope with the ever increasing health needs of the population.
Graduate Case Study DAWN BRACEGIRDLE IS A SPORT DEVELOPMENT AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS OPERATIONS MANAGER FOR CITY IN THE COMMUNITY AT MANCHESTER CITY FOOTBALL CLUB Tell us about your job:
I manage the operations for Manchester City Football Club’s Foundation, City in the Community. The Foundation has existed for 30 years, working in disadvantaged areas of Greater Manchester, delivering football inspired inclusive projects that aim to promote health and education benefits. The Foundation has over 100 employees, works in over 150 schools and engaged with close to 40,000 young people in 2017/2018. I manage a team of managers responsible for the delivery of sport development projects, I manage our safeguarding commitments and am a member of the senior leadership team which drives the strategy and direction of the Foundation in line with Manchester City’s strategic objectives.
Tell us three things you like about your job:
❙❙ The opportunity to make a difference for young people ❙❙ Flexible way of working that supports a fantastic work/life balance ❙❙ Pro-active, innovative organisation that is committed to doing things differently in a very traditional business sector.
What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability?
A combination of experience and qualifications is essential in the sector I work in. Demonstrate flexibility in your skills, research the organisation
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you wish to work for and be prepared for any interview process. Commit to a high standard and professionally constructed CV that is concise and to the point. Build your experience, and don’t be afraid to volunteer; most of the coaching team at Manchester City, both in our Academy and in the Foundation, started their career as a volunteer. Organisations that work under a large and well known brand need to develop trust in their workforce, and volunteering is an excellent way to demonstrate your commitment.
Any other advice you would give to students about their employability?
Consider your skill set and don’t be afraid to work on your areas for development. Putting yourself in situations that challenge you will improve your confidence and ensure you are prepared for most situations. Remain up to date and current in your knowledge. Professional sport is a rapidly changing industry that demands constant commitment to ensure you are performing to the highest possible standards. Getting the job is just the start; to keep it and to continue to progress, don’t be afraid of challenging the way things are done if you can see a better way of taking things forward.
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Graduate Case Study KYLE LENAGHAN IS A SPORT DEVELOPMENT WITH PHYSICAL EDUCATION GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS ACADEMY DIRECTOR FOR GLOBAL PREMIER SOCCER IN AMERICA What does your job involve? I lead the Academy Programme in East North Carolina; overseeing the 60 players aged U8-U10. My role is to coordinate the programme; coaching all of the players in both practices and games, developing their skills and ability to begin playing competitively at U11. Tell us three things you like about your job: ❙❙ Coaching the players ❙❙ Being surrounded by like-minded coaches ❙❙ The respectful environment created by the parents and players in America. What did the application process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? The application process began with sending off a CV, which I had updated as part of a module at university, followed by a Skype interview, an induction weekend at St. Georges Park, Skype meeting with the Director of Coaching for Carolina, then finally flying out to the US. I had to research the company, complete a number of session plans, and deliver them at interview/induction. What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones? The Careers Adviser’s support in the CV workshop in the module benefitted me most as my CV is now much more professional. What relevant work experience/skills activities did you use during the selection process? I continued to volunteer with Liverpool Homeless Football Club which
was originally a placement in second year arranged by the University which gave me a lot of experience. I was also a volunteer coach at EitC, Assistant Coordinator of the LJMU Men’s Football Development League and a Futsal coach at Liverpool College (another placement provided by the university). What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? Make the most of the opportunities provided by the university regarding placements; network as much as possible with people and employers in the sector you want to work in. Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again? Definitely try and be involved in more university sports clubs as I joined volleyball in third year but wish I had have joined in first year. What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? Experience gained from projects and placements helped a lot. Any other advice you would give to students about their employability? As mentioned, network as much as you can, create those professional relationships whilst you are at university as you never know what opportunities may arise for you when you get your degree.
Graduate Case Study LAUREN GIBBS IS A SPORT DEVELOPMENT WITH PHYSICAL EDUCATION GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS AN ASSOCIATE RECRUITING CONSULTANT FOR HAYS SPECIALIST RECRUITMENT FORdoes your job involve? What ❙❙ Meeting new people on a daily basis and building strong relationships ❙❙ Hitting personal and team targets and KPI’s ❙❙ Becoming an expert within my specialism and understanding my market ❙❙ Advertising and marketing job adverts and organisations ❙❙ Negotiating Why did you decide to pursue a career in recruitment? ❙❙ Good stepping stone to get into a successful company ❙❙ Progression levels are offered quicker What three things do you like about your job? ❙❙ Competitive ❙❙ Fast paced ❙❙ Rewarded for hard work and achievements are recognised What did the application process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? ❙❙ Applying through online site with CV - I got help at the Careers Zone before leaving university ❙❙ Phone interview ❙❙ Face to face interview - I had a mock interview before but also researched the company and job role ❙❙ Assessment day - I was sent an agenda and prepared by doing roleplay situations with friends beforehand. ❙❙ Final interview What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones? I did interview prep/mock interview with a Careers Adviser and got CV advice.
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
What relevant work experience/ volunteering activities did you use during the selection process? I gained relevant work experience and did extra days volunteering which looked good on my CV. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? The best advice I can give is to get relevant work experience. Your CV also needs to be clear and really sell you as a person with experience and achievements. What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? Guest lectures were useful and the mock interview I did really helped. Any other advice you would give to students about their employability? Try not to get stressed and worried about interviews and try to bring out your personality instead. I am now working within Hays as a Recruiter; my degree was essential in order to get this position. Originally, I was going to go into teaching, I successfully secured a place on the School Direct scheme following a gruelling application process and interview/ assessment day, however I chose to work in recruitment. All the preparation I had with the Careers Adviser in terms of mock interview etc helped when I was going through the stages to get this role. I am constantly learning new skills and knowledge and on great money for a recent graduate with a company that have amazing progression and training pathways.
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Graduate Case Study OLIVIA LOUGHLIN IS A SPORT DEVELOPMENT WITH INCLUSION GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS AN EDUCATION MANAGER FOR MANCHESTER CITY IN THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION What does your job involve? ❙❙ Overseeing a team of staff that deliver a variety of educational programmes across Manchester ❙❙ Managing current internal and external partnerships ❙❙ Developing programme and curriculum content ❙❙ Managing budgets/funding for each programme What three things do you like about your job? ❙❙ Challenging ❙❙ Rewarding to see the impact of the work the organisation does in the local community ❙❙ Fast paced, requires me to make decisions quickly. What did the application process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? ❙❙ Practical interview; multi sports delivery. Prepared with session planning and practising the session. ❙❙ Formal interview; rehearsing answers, preparing list of examples to match to a skill. Gaining advice from other people and ensuring that I had done my research! What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones? Advice on employability, CV writing skills. What relevant work experience/skills activities did you use during the selection process? I played on the hockey team, which was a great way to meet other people separate from the course. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? ❙❙ Complete qualifications relevant to your area of study and take every opportunity to do so. Volunteering is an effective way of demonstrating your commitment. I started volunteering at City in the Community when I was in my last year of sixth form and continued to do this until I graduated.
❙❙ Keep updated with the news!
Be aware of what the latest information is in your area. For example, I ensured that I knew the latest information in the world of sport as much as possible. ❙❙ Use key people around you for help, ask for advice, information - make the most of having resourceful people and information around you. Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again? Probably not! Mainly because I lived in halls, socialised with people from other courses, joined a sports team and still had the balance of focusing on the content of the course to prepare myself for second year. What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? ❙❙ I was fortunate to be selected to be on the IDEALS programme, going to Namibia for two months to do sports coaching. I chose this as my dissertation topic, which helped to ensure the trip was educational in a different way. I refer back to experiences from this time most days, and particularly within the interview process. ❙❙ Opportunity to develop my CV completing various sporting qualifications. Any other advice you would give to students about their employability? Use every opportunity you get to develop your CV. I constantly spoke to academic staff about information, opportunities and consistently asked for advice which helped me massively throughout my degree and still now that I am employed. Develop your networking skills by speaking to key people, this is an essential skill when employed and working with key partners.Keep yourself updated with key news. It is good to be aware of this going into interviews and is an effective way to demonstrate your knowledge.
Graduate Case Study SEAN DWYER IS A SPORT DEVELOPMENT WITH INCLUSION GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS A SCHOOL SPORTS OFFICER FOR MANCHESTER CITY IN THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION What does your job involve ? My role is to help quality assure and support the delivery staff within the primary schools department. We deliver in 108 mainstream schools, and 11 SEN schools across the Manchester and Greater Manchester area. As the School Sports Officer, I liaise with all the schools. This includes meetings, events, and school leagues. What three things do you like about your job? ❙❙ My job allows me to work closely with the community. ❙❙ I can provide opportunities for the local communities. ❙❙ As part of my role, I have the opportunity to deliver content internationally. This means I can have an impact on other communities around the world as well as at home. What did the application process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? The first stage was a practical interview. For this I prepared with session planning and practising the session. Stage two was a formal interview; this required me to prepare by gaining as much knowledge about the organisation as possible. This was completed by research; including, but not limited to, preparing a list of examples to match to a skill and gaining advice from other people.
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What relevant work experience did you use during the selection process? While at LJMU I was fortunate enough to take part in UK Sport and LJMU’s IDEALS program. This allowed me to experience living and delivering abroad. I had previously delivered in the US, but this allowed me to use sport for development, which is what I prefer. The skills I gained on this trip alone had a massive impact on me as a coach/ teacher, and as a person. What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? I was fortunate enough to travel to Namibia as part of the IDEALS program. This experience is often referenced to when I deliver, or I am helping support others, as most issues that coaches face, I have come across before. One of the main areas that I come across often within my role is monitoring and evaluating (M&E). While at LJMU this was a subject that was not one of my favourites. However, I still understood its importance. I now deal with M&E daily, and it is a valuable part of every role within CitC. Any other advice you would give to students about their employability? Don’t be worried about asking for help or advice. During my time at LJMU I would gain support and advice from various members of the lecturing team. The support has continued since leaving LJMU. Always use the support available!
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Sport Coaching The Sport Coaching degree is accredited under the SkillsActive and Sports Coach UK’s Higher Education Endorsement Scheme. It offers a comprehensive curriculum to develop coaching craft knowledge as well as a range of exciting placements with various organisations.
The Sport Coaching programme has developed me further as a coach and as an individual. It has progressed my confidence to coach and teach any age and ability. This course has helped me gain ongoing employment that has led to me being able to teach any sport through knowledge of coaching principles. I am so confident in coaching that I began as a football coach and now I teach everything from MMA to dance. I have learnt a variety of contexts such as science and physical education. University has also given me friends for life.
“
Graduates from the programme may seek employment related to coaching in schools, working abroad, teacher training, coaching elite sport, managerial positions, fast-track graduate schemes and setting up their own coaching businesses. Graduates have all of the necessary skills to progress in a sport coaching domain. They can use their attributes along with the knowledge of coaching principles gained from the programme, resulting in rapid career progression and development.
Daniel Henson, Sport Coaching graduate
Graduate Case Study PHILLIP MCQUAID IS A COACHING DEVELOPMENT GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS A PLAYER CARE AND SUPPORT ASSISTANT FOR EVERTON FC ACADEMY What does your job involve? I am one of three members of the Education & Welfare Team based at Everton FC’s USM Finch Farm training ground. My role predominantly focuses on our players’ welfare through all ages at the Academy, along with overseeing the under 9’s-11’s school release programme. I interact with both players and parents on a daily basis, building up relationships so that they are able to confide in me if they are ever experiencing any difficulties. Part of my role is also providing support for our host families; where all our oversees and non-local boys reside. What three things do you like about your job? ❙❙ The relationships I develop with aspiring young athletes and being able to play a part in their journey. ❙❙ Working in an environment which I love. ❙❙ The sense of pride when a player who has come through the Academy makes his debut at Goodison Park. What did the application process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? The opportunity came around when I was still a third-year student. Everton had contacted the University requesting a number of students to come over to Finch Farm for an interview with the current Head of Education & Welfare for an opportunity to tutor one of the under 18’s through their BTEC in sport. By doing this, I established relationships with both players and staff from the Academy. When the position which I am in now came up, I was already a recognised and trusted candidate applying. What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones? Throughout the degree programme, we had lots of employability support in our modules from tutors and the Careers Adviser. Prior to finishing university, I sat with a member of the Careers Team who helped me enhance my CV in order to give me every opportunity of standing out when applying for jobs.
volunteering, whether it was coaching a local football team or as multisport coach in primary schools based across Liverpool. These experiences may not have been directly related to the position I was applying for, but it was relevant in demonstrating how I possessed certain skills needed to lead a session and manage a group in a sport environment. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? Ensure you are constantly building on an ever-growing CV. Take every opportunity to enhance on your qualifications; these will be what stands out to an employer, along with experience. Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again? Enjoy it and appreciate the opportunities available. In second & third year, the workload tends to increase so especially for those who have relocated for University, take time to appreciate how great Liverpool is. It’s not just great for bars and clubs, it’s a city full of culture and activities. I would also try and network with more people in the career which I want to pursue. What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? I based my dissertation on the impact of adults on youth in sport. The research carried out for this project gave me a great insight into what I am working in now, as I liaise with parents, coaches and teachers on a regular basis. A coach from the Academy came in when I was a second-year student to discuss how the Academy is run. Also, during the same year, the university arranged a trip for our year group to visit Finch Farm for a day. All these experiences just made me more eager to get involved in academy football after university.
What relevant activities did you use during the selection process? Throughout my time at University I actively participated in
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Graduate Case Study JOE RYAN IS AN MSC SPORT COACHING AND BA HONS COACHING DEVELOPMENT GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS FOR LIVERPOOL COUNTY FA/UNSTOPPABLE SPORTS What did the application process involve and how did you prepare? The application process involved an interview and a presentation on the day. On arrival I was given 20 minutes to prepare a short presentation about a question regarding increasing participation. After delivering the presentation I answered questions based on the FA’s values, behaviours and certain areas that related to the job role. Describe the role you are undertaking and your main duties: I took on the role of Women and Girls Project Officer covering for the full time Football Development Officer who was on maternity leave. I look after all female football across Merseyside, delivering football festivals and tournaments, while supporting female coach and referee development and encouraging young girls to join local football teams. What relevant work experience / skills / volunteering / Student Union activities
did you use during the selection process? To prepare myself for the role, I undertook voluntary roles with my local grassroots team to develop my coaching and understandings of grassroots football. I also volunteered at the Liverpool FA within the Football Futures programme as Chair of the Youth Council and supporting the delivery of various programmes with students and across Merseyside. I undertook paid roles with Liverpool Students’ Union delivering the student football league and establishing futsal sessions for the students. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? I would advise students to get as much practical and relevant work experience as possible. For students looking to become full time coaches, they should look to experience as many different and varied coaching opportunities to provide them with new knowledge from different groups. Absorbing different learning opportunities whether it’s formal qualifications,
accessing mentors or taking part in communities of practice will also be very useful. What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? Lots of the assignments we undertook are relevant to the career that I am currently in and looking to develop through including, presentations and training plans. Some of the guest lectures were incredibly relevant and provided information about a potential career. What three tips would give to students about their employability? 1. Networking – build a contact base in your field. 2. Experience – learn in different environments with different groups. 3. Mentor – access a mentor to support your learning and development.
LJMU graduates have secured a variety of sport and coaching roles including: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚
Physical Education Teacher Sport Development Officer Sports Coach
❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚
Physical Education Coach FA Skills Coach Personal Trainer Business Support Executive
❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚
Venue Manager Graduate Management Trainee Strategic Funding Officer Community Sports Coach
❚❚ ❚❚
Occupational Health Assistant Football Administrator
If you aspire to have a career in the competitive world of sport you need to take personal responsibility for gaining a wide range of additional skills and practical qualifications through extra-curricular volunteering and/or work experience.
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Careers in Dance
Dance Practices offers career routes that can be very flexible and can open up a wide range of career options, including the opportunity to be selfemployed building a portfolio career. A career in dance is very exciting but also demanding and requires a lot of commitment, practice, creativity and a lot of determination to succeed. Your degree will prepare you for career opportunities in performance, arts administration, education and community work. All graduates are also equipped to enter a wide range of careers open to ‘graduates of any discipline’. Developing key skills and volunteering will be advantageous if you want to pursue a career in the any of these areas, and it will look great on your CV. Many of our Dance Practices students have gone on to perform professionally, form their own company or work as freelance dance artists. They have worked in community dance, as independent choreographers/directors, as managers or administrators, in professional theatre, or in teaching, from Key Stage 3 up to BTEC level. Other students have continued their studies via teacher training courses or an MA in Dance or have won scholarships for further training, often overseas.
LJMU Dance graduates have secured a variety of job roles including: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚
Dance Teacher Freelance Dancer Further Education Lecturer Senior Arts Development Officer Youth Dance Co-ordinator Community Administrator Primary/Secondary School Teacher
Graduate Case Study ROWENA GANDER IS A DANCE PRACTICES GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS A SELF-EMPLOYED PERFORMER, CHOREOGRAPHER AND TEACHER Briefly, describe the job you are doing: After graduation I registered as self-employed mainly because I knew that it could potentially increase my flexibility with time. If I got a full time job working for somebody else straight away I might not have the time to take part in performance work which is essentially what I want to do. With self-employment I can choose my own working hours, my rate of pay and what jobs I take on or don’t take on. Paid dance performance jobs are rare in Liverpool, so when one is available I need to know that I can be flexible enough with my time to be able to audition, or to be able to create and rehearse my own work for an upcoming event.
What help and support did you access at LJMU? During my final year of study, I applied for the “Try it Out Award” through the Centre of Entrepreneurship. This fund enabled me to put on some fusion dance workshops at a local dance studio. This trial demonstrated that there was a demand for this style of dance, so I went on to successfully apply for the rest of the startup fund from the Centre of Entrepreneurship. Not only did the initial start-up fund help me get equipment and promotional material, I was also given business support and learned how to create a business plan and register as selfemployed. I was also given free legal advice which was extremely helpful.
Choosing this path was difficult at first but once I began to make more contacts and think with a business head I was able to generate income from a few different sources. On a weekly basis I could be doing anything from choreographing group or solo dance work for performance, youth work, teaching my own fusion dance classes, covering classes for teachers who are ill or on holiday, delivering private dance lessons, generating online affiliate links and eBook sales. With a mixture of all of the above I have been able to perform my own work at events in various locations including Las Vegas, Blackpool and Liverpool. Furthermore, I have several performances lined up this year for a number of events, including “Ongoing Perishable Objects” exhibition which was performed at Tate Liverpool in February 2016.
What relevant work experience/skills did you use during the selection process? Throughout each year of my studies I took part in performance projects and workshops inside and outside of my set modules in order to gain more experience and to become more confident with different ways of working and working with different people. This also helped to build up different networks.
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? If you want to go self-employed you should know about your area of expertise and continue to develop within this area. Likewise, if you are trying to get a job at a specific company you should know as much as possible about this company and think about what your skills could do for them.
What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? I think each and every module plays a part in some way or another. The physical training that prepares the body, the performance modules and the written work. I didn’t realise it at the time, but the taking part in the improvisation project as a final year module really allowed me to shift as a performer and choreographer. It really opened my eyes to a new way of working and I began to see who I was becoming as an artist. I also think that working with each other and having external choreographers and teachers helped as it is good to see things from a varied perspective. Some choreographers like very physical work and some prefer very minimal movement and pay great attention to detail. It is important to know the difference. Screen dance gave me the opportunity to learn how to put dance together for film which is key for marketing myself as an artist and a teacher. Finally, the dissertation module really gave me the opportunity to explore my realm of practice which was the starting point for what I am doing now. Any other advice you would give to students about their employability? Think about your entire set of skills. What skills are transferable? Be open and don’t be afraid to learn as you go along.
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Graduate Case Study FAYE JONES IS A DANCE PRACTICES GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS A DANCE TEACHER AT THE HEATH SCHOOL (SCHOOL DIRECT) Why did you decide to apply for a this role? I applied due to my passion and enthusiasm for teaching. I wanted further development of my teaching skills and have greater knowledge and experience within this sector. I also applied to receive the correct qualifications in order for me to be successful in this career route.
you do not pass these you will not be able to take the position, if offered one. What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones or from the Careers Team? I had support sessions with staff to help me with the interview processes and how to go about applying for graduate roles. Staff also explained the variety of options that I could pick as an undergraduate, which helped me a lot when making my decision for my future career.
What did the application / selection process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? The application process was quite difficult as there were various stages in order to gain a place on the course. First you had to create a personal statement explaining why they should choose you to be a part of the course and also reflect on any current experience relevant to the sector. You then applied for the courses you wished to take through UCAS, submitting your personal statement with it. If you were successful enough to get through this stage you were then offered an interview date. The interview for Schools Direct was much different to a university’s interview process (so I had been told). I had to ask tutors or students who had been to a Schools Direct interview to gain more knowledge in what I needed to do in order to be successful. At the interview, I had to take part in a student interview panel, a formal interview with teachers and also a 20 minute class for teachers and students to observe my teaching practice. In order to gain a place onto a course you have to complete the numeracy and literacy skills tests. If
What relevant work experience / skills / volunteering did you have? I incorporated any teaching that I had done throughout my degree, any placements that I had been placed on within my teaching modules within my degree and also any teaching I had done outside of university. I applied for Secondary teaching but I had quite a lot of experience within Primary teaching to, which I included within my application. I also included any skills that I feel were necessary for example interpersonal skills, leaderships skills and also competencies such as confidence and enthusiasm. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? I would advise students to grab any opportunity that arises for them to broaden their knowledge or practice within their sector. Volunteering work is a good attribute to have to improve your employability as this shows you are willing
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to work and that you are p assi o nate within your field. Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again? If I was a first year student again I think I would definitely consider building my experience and practice within teaching in the first year of my degree, as this would of massively supported me throughout my three years on the course and also increase my chances of gaining a place onto a graduate role or even a full time job afterwards. What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? The aspects of my degree what really helped me personally were the placements that we were allocated throughout my three years on the course. It gave me an insight of school procedures and also working within this environment. It allowed me to work with students of all ages which makes me more versatile as a teacher. Any other advice you would give to students about their employability? If you put the hard work in from the start, you will only benefit from this within the future, this will get you to where you want to be within your future career.
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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE
Careers in Outdoor Education For Outdoor Education, the emphasis is on practical experience; professional and academic development provides you with the skills to pursue a range of careers. Economic growth in the outdoor and leisure industries is set to exceed the national UK average over the next 10 years. In the past three years 96% of our graduates have found employment within six months of graduation. These are popular career options and so it can be a competitive industry to enter. Outdoor Education graduates are equipped to progress into rewarding careers such as outdoor coaching/skills training, field study roles, adventure tourism, expedition leadership overseas and teaching. Teaching options include Further Education, Higher Education, Primary, Physical Education and Geography.
LJMU graduates have been successful in gaining careers in: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚
Geography and PE Secondary teaching Teach First Environmental Education Officer Duke of Edinburgh Manager/ Co-ordinator
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Outdoor Activity Tutor Head Outdoor Activity Instructor The Royal Marines Adventure Activities Instructor Overseas Expedition Leader
Graduate Case Study JACK STANYER IS AN OUTDOOR EDUCATION GRADUATE WHO STUDIED FOR A PGCE (SECONDARY) OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES PROGRAMME AT BANGOR UNIVERSITY What did you do after graduating from LJMU? I decided to apply for the PGCE (Secondary) Outdoor Activities programme at Bangor University because I am aspiring towards a career in teaching. Upon completion of the course I will gain qualified teacher status, enabling me to take my first steps in my career. The Outdoor Activities programme at Bangor is very specialist and I feel as though the skills that I am developing through teaching practice in the outdoors will be vital to being an inspiring practitioner in and out of the classroom. What did the application process involve and how did you prepare? The application process for the Outdoor Activities PGCE turned out to be quite robust due to the low number of places on the course (6). I first had to apply by registering online at UCAS Teacher Training, followed by the submission of an application form and personal statement to the Head of the School of Education at Bangor University. I was then selected for an interview day. This involved undertaking professional skills tests in numeracy and literacy. Following the tests, a number of applicants were interviewed as a group. We were asked to discuss elements of the Welsh national curriculum, for example recent changes and national priorities. Finally, I was interviewed one- to- one with the head of the PGCE (Secondary) programme. For each stage of the interview day, I prepared by revising, undertaking practice tests online and reading about the English and Welsh national curricula. Describe the placements you are undertaking and your main duties: I am currently a trainee teacher at two
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separate placements; Ysgol Friars and Conway Centres: Anglesey. My roles and responsibilities at each placement vary greatly. At Ysgol Friars I am responsible for the planning and delivery of a BTEC Level 2 qualification in Outdoor Activities. I plan, teach and reflect on my own practice in order to maintain a high quality of learning for the pupils. Unlike traditional teaching placements, many of my lessons are conducted outside of the classroom engaging in practical adventurous activities all of which are underpinned by theory lessons at school. At the Conway Centres: Anglesey, my role is similar to that of an outdoor activities instructor. However, I am expected to facilitate high quality learning experiences through the medium of outdoor activities. Similarly to school, I am reflective in practice allowing me to truly get the best out of the clients and school groups who visit. Surrounded by a fantastic landscape, the sessions take place on Anglesey, the Menai Strait and Snowdonia; perfect for inspiring and challenging young people whilst fostering a closeness to the natural world. What support did you access in the Careers Zones or from the Careers Team? At LJMU I used the Careers Team a couple of times, under the guidance of my tutor. Once they understood my ambitions, they were able to help me make the next steps towards my desired career. Currently I am not a qualified teacher. However, if it wasn’t for the help, guidance and expertise of the staff at LJMU I wouldn’t have found the course that I am currently undertaking. What relevant work experience activities did you use during the selection process? During the selection process at Bangor University I was able to draw on my experience from the Outdoor Education programme at LJMU. The nature of my degree allowed me to
demonstrate a grounded understanding of the outdoor industry, outdoor education and also offer the unique component of geomorphology illustrating that I can be flexible to teach more than one subject area. I had accumulated a range of work experience during my degree; I spent time volunteering in outdoor education centres and also getting paid work from the sports faculty during school holidays leading climbing sessions at LJMU and at schools around Liverpool and the Wirral. At LJMU I was also able to complete the MTA Summer Mountain Leader award and Single Pitch Award schemes, BCU 4* White Water Leader training, UKCC Safeguarding training and Forest School Level 1, all of which I feel greatly strengthened my application to Bangor. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? My advice to others looking to improve their employability would be to try and get as much relevant experience as possible; try to volunteer with organisations and clubs. Make good use of the resources at university like the Careers Team and speak to tutors because they can always point you in the right direction. Be flexible and prepared to make some sacrifices. Make it clear that you are keen and want to develop personally and professionally in your career. Finally, don’t be afraid to be ambitious when applying for jobs, if it’s something that you’re really passionate about tell the employer because you never know, they might have something for you.
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
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Graduate Case Study GEMMA FISHER IS AN OUTDOOR EDUCATION GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS FOR CAMP FIRE USA AT CAMP NAMANUIN OREGON, USA Why did you decide to apply for this role? The decision to apply for a supervisory role with Camp Namanu was motivated by three previous summer seasons that I had undertaken at a YMCA residential summer camp in Texas. Through my work with the YMCA I had gained experience in supervisory positions that involved leadership responsibilities with campers aged 7-15, and approximately 30 staff members. The job role at Camp Namanu was an Assistant Camp Director and required leadership and role modelling responsibilities to approximately 50 staff members and around 200 campers per week for the duration of summer 2014. With the experience that I had previously gained with the YMCA in Texas, I decided that I would be a strong candidate. What did the application / selection process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? The initial selection came about through a partnership with Camp America that was fostered between my Outdoor Education university course, and the programme recruitment team at Camp America UK. Through the initial selection, my CV was posted to an online summer camp database and was noticed by a Camp Director in Oregon with whom I had two in depth Skype interviews. Through these conversations we discussed development possibilities for the existing programmes that were in place at Camp Namanu, and how these would be improved. Ideas for staff training implementation were also discussed, and the combination of everything that was discussed resulted in my being offered the role of Assistant Camp Director, with an emphasis on directing programmes and logistics within the camp from June to September 2015. Describe the role you are undertaking and your main duties The role that I undertook was Assistant Camp Director (Director of Programmes and Logistics); the main duties of which included designing and delivering staff training to approximately 50 staff members for the two weeks prior to campers arriving, alongside two other members of leadership staff. During the summer I was responsible for the direct supervision, support and guidance of 9-12 programme specialist staff, and the pastoral support and guidance to all other staff on site. Alongside this, my responsibilities also included maintaining, replenishing and auditing of the programme equipment on site, designing weekly programme activity schedules, and providing mid-summer and end of summer staff evaluations. What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones or from the Careers Team? As part of my Outdoor Education degree at LJMU, I had previously completed the World of Work Bronze. The help and guidance from the Careers Team, in addition to that of the programme lecturers on my degree course helped me to develop a confident base from which to effectively communicate my experience and strengths in a professional manner.
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
What relevant work experience/ skills did you use during the selection process? Previous work experience from YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow in Texas for three summer seasons helped considerably during the selection process for the leadership position with Camp Namanu. I believe that the volunteering experience that I had undertaken at a food shelter for badly housed and homeless people before beginning my degree helped with the interview process. Whilst I was volunteering there my role was to prepare hot food and drinks for the users of the centre, as well as engaging in conversation with them. Due to the wide range of individuals that visited, I developed confidence and skills in adapting my communication style depending on the needs of the individual that I was speaking with. This part of the volunteering experience helped considerably during the interview process, as I was able to recognise a wider range of social cues and adapt my own responses to fit these accordingly. I believe the confidence that I had gained through this also ensured that I was able to present myself in a confident light, and remain unfazed during conversational interviews. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? I think that the best piece of advice that anybody ever gave to me was not to lower my goals to fulfil somebody else’s. I didn’t fully appreciate the meaning behind this advice at first, but over time I realised that if I truly followed a direction that made me happy, through volunteering, and always sticking to my values and morals, my inner strengths and true character have always remained visible. This allows employers and peers to recognise these strengths and values too, and it is something that I often look for and encourage when I am in a position of leadership and responsibility. Society needs more individuals that practice positive values and morals, and I believe that it increases employability prospects considerably to remain mindful of this. Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again? I would definitely engage in more voluntary activities that would allow me to positively connect to the local community and environment. I joined an LJMU charity fundraising expedition that hiked up Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa in the summer of 2015, which involved climbing the mountain and fundraising for a charity in the process. I would honestly say to anyone joining university, to truly make the most of the opportunities that are available during first year, as it paves the way for the remaining time there, as well as standing you in good stead for the years that follow. Any other advice you would give to students about their employability? I would say to focus on their unique strengths and their own personal values and morals and this will inevitably lead them to success, because if they are true to their morals and to themselves then that will be visible to those around them.
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE
Careers in Tourism, Events, Food and Nutrition Food, tourism and events have assumed a critical role in the global economy accounting for about 10% of jobs worldwide. It is a popular career option and so can be a competitive industry to enter. Diverse career opportunities are available across the wide spectrum of the events, hospitality and tourism industry and being aware of the range of options open to you is important in making an informed career decision.
Tourism and Leisure Management
Graduates of Tourism and Leisure Management are well placed to work within marketing or management in tourism, promotions and operations, teaching, community leisure, community arts and heritage, museums and galleries, retailing, media and in many other consumer services. Recent graduates are employed by Liverpool City Region (LEP), The Marriott Hotel, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, local authorities, tourism operators, travel agencies, heritage and arts organisations and charitable organisations. There are also opportunities to study abroad or to progress onto postgraduate studies.
The range of job roles within tourism include: ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙
Heritage Manager Conference Co-ordinator Business Administration Tourism Officer Public Relations Officer Tour Manager Tourist Information Centre Manager Travel Agency Manager Graduate Training Programme Theme Park Manager Roles in Marketing and PR
Graduate Case Study JESSICA KENNEDY IS A TOURISM AND LEISURE MANAGEMENT GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS FOR SMALLER EARTH What have you done since graduating? I spent my second summer following the completion of my course working on a summer camp in Massachusetts. On my return to the UK I realised it was time to put everything I had learnt whilst studying at LJMU to use and apply for graduate jobs. I fell in love with the tourism industry back in high school, which led to me enrolling on to college and university courses to study the subject further. As this industry was and still is something that interests me it was really important for me to gain employment in the field. How did the job at Smaller Earth happen? Through my degree I carried out a four week placement at Smaller Earth. After a very successful placement I was sad to leave. I felt I was a good fit in the office and made close relationships with the staff. Management gave me a very good review and even paid for my programme fees to go back to America to work for the summer. When I arrived home from America I received an email regarding a job vacancy for a full time staff member at Smaller Earth, I applied right away and was scheduled an interview the following day. Completing the three day Career Kickstart course at LJMU gave me renewed confidence; I was successful at interview and was chosen for the job. I have worked in different forms of education all my working life, from primary and secondary schools, to adult and further education. I have actually gone back to working mainly in primary schools, where my career first started and where I developed from.
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What support did you access in the Careers Zones or from the Careers Team? On arrival back to the UK following my summer working abroad I utilised the Careers Team specifically to gain more confidence in interview situations. This was something I feared when applying for graduate jobs and really lacked confidence with. After attending the three-day Career Kickstart course my confidence levels massively increased. During the three-day course I was given support and guidance on writing a great CV, assessment centres (which we got to practise which was brilliant) and most importantly how to sell yourself in an interview. On the last day of the course I had a mock interview with one of the staff at the careers centre and it went amazingly well. I felt super confident after it and no longer fear interviews. I put my success in my Smaller Earth interview down to the tips and guidance I received from the Careers Team. What relevant work experience activities did you use during the selection process? During my university studies I worked part time as a receptionist/administrator in a busy serviced office building. Here I gained skills and confidence when networking, speaking on the phone and answering emails. These skills helped me settle in to my work placement easily. Also during university, I spent two of my summer holidays out in the USA gaining international work experience working on a summer camp. Here I met and worked with people from different countries and cultures which opened up my mind and instilled my passion for the tourism industry.
What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? For tourism students specifically, get international work experience. There are so many opportunities available for students to spend their summer breaks working abroad and gaining life changing work experience. When employers see international work experience on your CV it shows you are responsible and independent. Throw yourself in to your work placement giving it 100% effort. You never know what could come of a successful work placement. Keep busy! Whilst studying at university hold down a job, make time for friends, family and hobbies and also volunteer. I volunteered for both Guide Dogs and Ronald McDonald House Charities whilst studying at university as well as working in a bar and in a serviced office. Therefore when it comes to interviews, I have a lot to talk about. The more relevant experience you have to talk about the better but any experience is good experience. Any other advice you would give to students about their employability? Utilise the Careers Team to make yourself as employable as possible. They are there to help you build upon your strengths and work on your weaknesses. They really helped me in my areas of weakness. Without the guidance, tips and interview practise they offered me who knows if I would have gained my graduate job at Smaller Earth.
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
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Events Management Events management is a very competitive sector to enter. Organising events whilst at university provides useful experience, and gaining extensive industry experience through voluntary and paid opportunities will make you stand out. Personal contacts are important, so make the most of visiting speakers at university. The opportunity of self–employment to develop your own business may present itself once graduates have gained relevant experience. Your degree in Events Management will provide you with an excellent foundation and wide knowledge base to enable you to enter careers within a range of industries, including the commercial sector, local authorities and in the voluntary sector. You could choose a career in event administration, sports, arts, music, conventions, exhibitions, meetings, event-related venues, event tourism and event hospitality. In addition, you have the option to be selfemployed as an event professional.
The range of job roles within events include: ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙
Events Management Conference Centre Manager Business Administration Human Resource Manager Public Relations Office Hotel Manager
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Police Officer National Account Manager Venue Manager Retail Management Graduate Training Scheme
Graduate Case Study JESSICA GORE IS AN EVENTS MANAGEMENT GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS AN EVENTS SALES AGENT AT EMIRATES OLD TRAFFORD, LANCASHIRE COUNTY CRICKET CLUB Describe your role and your main duties: My primary tasks are to ensure all new enquiries are responded to and chased within the agreed standards, conduct show-arounds and walk ins to showcase the facilities of EOT and proactively follow up all enquiries/provisional and confirmed bookings with a view to conversion of business. It is also my responsibility to ensure I deliver outstanding customer service in all processes and procedures, and to handle any complaints promptly and professionally. What support did you get in the Careers Zones? I used the Careers Zones to help with my CV. I showed them my current CV and asked to see where I could tweak or improve it to make mine stand out. Our tutors also arranged a number of employability sessions for my course towards the end of my studies, and in these sessions we were told lots of really useful information about interviews, life after studying, LinkedIn, CVs and cover letter writing etc. What relevant work experience did you use during the selection process? Throughout my studies, I always ensured I was keeping myself up to date with developments in the industry. I did this by working with a
number of events/wedding organisations both in Liverpool and Manchester, using LinkedIn to its full potential, making connections with industry related business men and women and reading events industry material and weekly magazines. Our tutors always kept us in the loop of any volunteering opportunities and where I could I always ensured that I took part.
which are qualities an employer would look for.
What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? Keep up to date with their relevant industry, so that they know all the latest trends etc. I think it is also very important to demonstrate a willingness and enthusiasm for what they are doing by volunteering, working within the industry, attending workshops/seminars, using initiative and contacting employers or people within the industry to gain experience and knowledge from them first hand – LinkedIn is a great way of reaching out to the professional market.
Any other advice you would give to students about their employability? Before applying for a job make sure you read up and understand exactly what the company do, their mission statement or objectives as well as ensuring you thoroughly understand the role you will be expected to carry out. This way when it comes to the interview you are able to engage with your interviewer better and demonstrate your dedication and interest in the company. I would also encourage students to have their CVs proofread by an employability adviser; it’s really easy to make an appointment or they could even ask a family member / friend to read over and ensure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes – a fresh pair of eyes will help spot anything that shouldn’t be on there!
Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again? I would do some more volunteering and put myself forward for other roles within university i.e. course rep, as all these added extras show willingness, enthusiasm and responsibility, all of
What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? I found the site visits, field trips, group work and presentations really useful as well as planning our own events from start to finish, putting all the theory we had learnt into practice.
Graduate Case Study SARAH MCKERNAN IS AN EVENTS MANAGEMENT GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS A PROJECT CO-ORDINATOR AT OWL LIVE What does your job involve? I assist in the planning and implementation of events. From pitching to winning the job, sourcing the entertainment and venues, hashing out the budget, and managing the delegate experience. This can be for small events of 20 attendees to large Expos for nearly 4,000 delegates. What three things do you like about your job? I enjoy the variety in the day to day role, the large array of people I get to work with and the perfect balance of office and onsite work. What relevant activities did you use during the selection process? I had a lot of relevant Event Start experience. I was also able to show my practical and theoretical knowledge of the industry which I learned as part of the course. I was a course rep, programme rep and eventually school rep for the Faculty of Education, Health and Community. This showed my employer that I was a driven, people-person, which you absolutely have to be to work in events.
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? Do not underestimate yourself - apply for the job you think you might not get because you never know the experience you could get from the process or indeed, if you might succeed. Volunteer - above all else, working for free in your industry shows you really want to gain experience and be better. It shows a strong work ethic and willingness to learn that employer’s value. What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? Event Start - I actually volunteered for where I now work. This set me in good stead. Learning the theory to make me good at the tasks I would be given in my role. Getting to hone my people skills while at university - this is vital in events and university exposes you to loads of types of people (mega useful!)
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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE
Nutrition Opportunities in the food and nutrition sector are diverse and interesting and popularity has increased over recent years. The range of careers available to you on completion of your degree makes the subject area an exciting and challenging area to move into. Extensive support is available to help you start to think about the route you would like to take and how to get there. Studying a degree in Food or Nutrition will open up a number of career pathways in a commercial environment as well as careers in a community or healthcare-related setting. This course will provide you with a comprehensive overview of your subject taking in scientific, social and commercial aspects of food and nutrition. The BSc in Community Nutrition route is accredited by the Association for Nutrition (this means that graduates from this course are automatically entitled to apply for associate membership of the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists following graduation). This ensures that the knowledge you will develop as part of your course is up-to-date and relevant for a range of careers and employers within these fields. Career opportunities include:
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Working as a qualified, registered nutritionist in both the public and private sector
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Varied roles in the food industry linked to nutritional food product development, food marketing, food quality and safety management and technical support
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Further study in dietetics, public health nutrition, health promotion or teaching
LJMU Food & Nutrition graduates have secured roles, including: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚
Trainee Dietician Nutritionist Health Promotion Adviser PhD student School Food Adviser HE Lecturer
Students have also progressed on to the MSc Dietetics and MSc Public Health Nutrition.
Sport and Nutrition for Health students, please also see p.5 and following case studies for further careers information.
Graduate Case Study BETH BRADSHAW IS A BSC FOOD AND NUTRITION AND MSC PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS A FOOD ACTIVE RESEARCH OFFICER AT FOOD ACTIVE, HEALTH EQUALITIES GROUP, LIVERPOOL What are you doing at the moment? I currently volunteer for Health Equalities Group, I am responsible for formatting the monthly e-bulletin with relevant nutrition, lifestyle and public health news and updates on the organisation’s activities. I write blogs for the website and seek guest blogs from external professionals from within the public health community. I assist the Food and Nutrition Lead, helping to create and develop resources for the campaigns. Recently, I have been working on the ‘GULP’ (Give Up Loving Pop – a campaign aiming to reduce sugary drink consumption in children and local communities in the North West) creating school resources, including a sugary drinks policy toolkit. I have also been offered paid opportunities with the organisation – I delivered a GULP campaign training session to teenagers. I am also running GULP campaign roadshows across six towns within the borough of Knowsley. These roadshows actively engage with the public, advising people about how sugary drinks can be harmful to health and encouraging them to sign up to the 3-week GULP challenge. Advice to current students to improve their employability? ❚❚ Work experience/volunteering opportunities –with such a competitive graduate job market, simply graduating with a
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
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degree does not guarantee you a job within your desired career path. You have to show that you have the initiative to seek unpaid voluntary work within your field. Take every opportunity given to you – even if it seems scary or puts you out of your comfort zone. See every opportunity as a learning curve which will help strengthen your skills set and employability. If applying for postgraduate study, research and fully understand the extent of the workload, demands and expectations of the Master’s course you are interested in. Attend applicant days, schedule an appointment with the course leader to discuss the course in greater depth and answer any queries you might have.
Tips for current students at university ❚❚ Make the most of all the career support, guidance and advice LJMU offers throughout your 3 years studying. ❚❚ Don’t leave it until 3rd year to start really thinking seriously about your career and life after university. ❚❚ If you really enjoy studying, then perhaps think about opting for a further postgraduate programme. Never think it’s too hard for you – if you put your mind to it, a Masters qualification is well within your grasp.
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE
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Food Development and Nutrition The Food Development and Nutrition degree leads to careers in food product development in the commercial food industry, food journalism, teaching, appliance development, health promotion and postgraduate study/research. The content of the programme enables you to understand the principles behind food ingredients, textures, flavours and tastes. You gain an appreciation of the challenges of providing consumers with safe, nutritious and quality foods. Alongside learning what types of changes occur during the cooking, processing and storage of foods, you will develop skills in testing and evaluating the consumer acceptability of new food products plus how to market and promote food products to consumers, preparing you to become a graduate with outstanding qualities and knowledge. This industry never stands still; there are always new and exciting challenges giving you a rewarding career. The opportunity to specialise during your final year gives you the chance to experience and gain a good understanding of careers in your chosen area, focusing on areas such as:
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Specialised aspects of food products development
The latest methods for sensory and consumer evaluation of foods
Specialist evaluation of food behaviours, kitchen spaces and food-related technologies and appliances
Working alongside key industry partners, including Howdens, Meyer Group and Roquette, will enable you to gain essential professional skills and contacts. Many students are successful in securing their first graduate job with employers where they have completed successful placements. You will have the chance to complete industrial and work related placements (between levels 5 and 6 of your degree) with market leaders such as Heinz, Marks and Spencer, PepsiCo and Meyer Group. Such experience will help you build up your professional networks and develop your professional skills. Thanks to excellent links with potential employers who provide work placement opportunities, you get a feel for what it’s really like to work in industry, the community, education or the media and practise skills you have acquired on the course and through work placement.
Recent LJMU graduates from the BA Food Design and Technology course have progressed into the following roles: ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙
Secondary School Teacher New Product Development Assistant Development Chef Home Economist Buyer
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Food Consumer Testing Appliance Testing and Development Food Marketing Food Quality Management
Other careers have included food journalism, teaching and research. Many graduates have progressed quickly in their careers and are now earning excellent salaries.
Graduate Case Study CHRIS KING IS A HOME ECONOMICS (FOOD DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY) GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS A GLOBAL SNACKS R&D TECHNOLOGIST AT PEPSICO INTERNATIONAL Tell us about your current role:
I am a Food Technologist within the Western Europe and Sub Saharan Africa snacks team. I work on potato chip projects, and brands such as Walkers, Ruffles, Lays and Sensations. My work is focussed on the design of the chip, from potato variety and slice thickness, to oil type and the way the slice is fried. As well as regional product development work, I support the global quality programme to ensure PepsiCo is in prime position to delight our consumers and maintain competitive advantage. Whilst it is a cliché, no two days are the same. I spend a lot of time travelling abroad, leading trials in our factories to ensure we can achieve full scale production with the latest great snack innovation. Plus, I eat a lot of crisps!
What relevant work experience did you have?
I did a sandwich placement with PepsiCo R&D between level 5 and 6; I worked in the Nutrition category on Quaker, mainly supporting hot cereals (my big development project was Quaker Supergrains that is on the shelves now!), plus working in Europe on our ready-to-eat cereals products. As well as ‘industrial’ experience, I had a weekend job working in a kitchen whilst at school and university, which gave me great practical culinary experience; as every idea starts at bench scale in our development kitchen.
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How valuable have you found having that work experience?
My placement helped me enormously to establish a relationship with PepsiCo and for them to experience my working style, but also because I had a lot more experience than a ‘typical’ graduate, I was able to turn down a few jobs from various people before accepting the offer from PepsiCo.
Did the Careers Team help you in any way?
I had a great mock interview with Linda Graham in my final year to help prepare me for graduate interviews. My only experience with interviewing before had been quite informal and unstructured, and the one with PepsiCo, so it was great to be interviewed in a different style. I only wish I had visited sooner!
What advice would you give to other students studying at LJMU to improve their employability? ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚
Engage with the Careers Team as soon as you can, my experience was really valuable. Say ‘yes’ to opportunities, you can never have enough experience. Do a placement year, I cannot stress that enough. Get on LinkedIn and make sure your profile is active and up to date.
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Graduate Case Study CATHERINE WHEELDON IS A HOME ECONOMICS (FOOD DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY) GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS FOR FOX’S BISCUITS AS A DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGIST What does your job/graduate scheme involve (e.g. main duties)? I tend to be doing something different every day. Main duties tend to be: creating recipes and making samples, working on Quality Contact Sheets, contacting suppliers and helping on factory trials to ensure my product goes to plan. Three things you like about your job: It is different everyday I can be creative and develop recipes Working life - I just enjoy having the daily routine and looking forward to each day What did the application / selection process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? I first found the job opportunity on a job website. The first process was just filling out an application form for the job in which it asked for information about my degree, work experience and any relevant information which would match the job spec, I was also asked to send in my CV and covering letter. The interview included: a chat about
my experience both in and out of university, what I expected from the job and why I felt I would be good in the role. To help prepare for this, I researched the company so that I knew the history behind the company as well as the products which they made, and read through a range of competency questions. The second stage of the process, I was given a small brief and asked to make a sample and give a small presentation on the product. This was so they could see a range of skills from presentation to baking skills. What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones or from the Careers Team? Advice on how to handle interviews, and help on answering competency-based questions. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? Get as much experience as you can, skills developed can be transferred to your chosen career. If you have questions just ask! Most people are happy to answer a question if you are unsure what to do.
Placement Case Study FOOD DEVELOPMENT AND NUTRITION STUDENT YASHNA WADHER TELLS US ABOUT HER EXPERIENCES WORKING AND STUDYING ABROAD Tell us about your placements: I wanted to do both a China Internship and Study Abroad Placement because I have a passion for travelling. By embarking on these trips, I was able to see parts of the world that I would not think were possible to see while at university. Both experiences allowed me to grow as a person as well as help towards my education and career. The working world today wants to know what is different about you and, in my eyes, it is about the experiences you have. These opportunities provided me with not only skills and knowledge for my degree and my career but also for my life. I wanted to do an internship and studying abroad in order to make the most of the opportunities open to me which will hopefully allow me for better career choices in the future. Where did you find out about the placement/internship? I found out about both placements at a study abroad information talks by the Go Abroad Team. Describe the role you are undertaking and your main duties: During my internship my job role involved writing information booklets on different food regulations for import and export of foods in various countries. This was then used by manufacturers to help them alternate a product for all the ingredients to be legally allowed in a country in terms of food. I also wrote news articles/blogs with the latest food laws in different countries. These articles/blogs were then published on the company’s client news feed page. My study abroad placement did not require a role as such as I was studying at university in the USA. However, I was representing not only myself but also LJMU. When I return to LJMU and while I am at SCSU I am promoting both universities and the opportunity of being able to get an education from abroad. What did the application process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? For both experiences, I had to fill out application forms describing why I wanted to do each placement and why I thought I was suitable for the roles. Although there was only one stage, I had a lot preparation when writing my application to become successful. What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones I seeked the help of the Careers Zone staff for CV writing. This
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allowed me to express myself on paper in a way which would make me look more employable to employers. I was guided on the format and the type of information which should be included for each experience as well as identifying the skills which can be transferable and how that is possible. What relevant work experience / skills / volunteering / Student Union activities did you use during the selection process? For my China Internship, I used my work experience placement at HSBC to talk about why I thought I would be suitable for this internship. When applying for studying abroad I used my previous volunteering opportunity with a charity called ‘Peace Child India’ where I went to Bangalore, India to teach children in rural areas Maths, English, Science and Drama. I also used the fact that I am Course Rep for my degree programme at LJMU which improved my skills such as communication. I also spoke of the experiences I had already had and how that has crafted me as an individual. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? Gain as much as experience as possible regardless of the job sector and regardless of whether it is paid or not. Employers want to see how what you learnt in one job sector can be transferred into another opportunity that you want. It is all about how you apply yourself. Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year again? Absolutely not! Being pro-active in my first year allowed me to gain international experiences in my two years at LJMU so far. Any other advice you would give to students about their employability? If you want to do something and become successful, you must look for an opportunity and take it with both hands. Any experience you do, makes you different and unique in comparison to someone who has the same degree as you - its all about what makes you different from the rest.
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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE
A Conversation with Matt Ward MATT WARD IS AN OUTDOOR EDUCATION WITH PE SCHOOL SPORT/ PGCE (PRIMARY) GRADUATE WHO NOW WORKS AS A DIRECTOR AT HEALTHY ACTIVE LIFESTYLES LTD Describe a typical day:
My typical day involves general business duties, organising staff/activities/ competitions within schools and also delivery of PE School Sport.
Things I like about my job:
Flexibility to organise and deliver activities/competitions and to develop new initiatives within schools.
Things I’m not so keen on:
Workload outside of working hours. The Centre for Entrepreneurship did warn that when you have your own business you don’t clock off at 5pm like others.
Key points in my career development to date: ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙
Outdoor Education Degree PGCE LJMU Centre for Entrepreneurship Setting up of business Business activity increasing at the end of my 3rd business year.
What I wish I’d know when I was a student:
Set your expectations high. I was always quite content with getting a 2:1, but then come the end of 3rd year I had finished with 66%/ 2:1. With a little bit more hard work during 2nd year I may have got a 1st class and as a result a bigger bursary during my PGCE year!
What do you think would make a student stand out at an interview? Confidence with the knowledge and experience to back it up.
What advice would you give students to help them achieve in a competitive job market?
Employers like to see a vast wealth of knowledge and experience. Even if a job isn’t your chosen career path, go for it during your time at university as there will be elements of that job that you can draw upon during interviews, such as, working within a team or holding levels of responsibility.
BBC Sport tour inspires Sport Business students Students from the BA (Hons) Sport Business degree visited the home of BBC Sport at Salford Quays as part of one of their modules. BBC Sport moved to Salford in 2011 from London and the students got the chance to tour the building, view the sports broadcast and radio areas and have talks around digital engagement, live streaming, and how BBC Sport are using technology more to engage youth audience mores in their services (which linked directly to their assessment). The students also got to try out virtual reality (VR) along with being informed about the variety of uses for cutting edge technology for sport audiences. Module leader Louise Williams commented: “We cannot thank BBC Sport enough for the opportunity we were given, we were made to feel so welcome. Learning experiences like this are so valuable to the students understanding and giving them this industry insight enabled them to put what they do in the classroom into practice and it gave them some new career ideas they may not have thought about before – it was a superb morning”.
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The Careers Team organised the visit for this group (who are currently studying the sports media and technology for fan engagement module), and had the chance to ask questions about the very latest ideas that BBC Sport are using and they all thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity.
A student says ...
A student says ...
I thought that the tour where we got to see where everyone actually worked, such as when they were live on air, was very real and interesting, an opportunity not many people get to do. I am very thankful for the opportunity to go on the trip as it has made me realise I would like to pursue a career in the sports media.
I thought the BBC trip was extremely useful and interesting, especially learning about how the BBC aims at targeting the groups/sports that are experiencing underrepresentation by using their website as a platform where matches can be streamed. I also found the general concept of how the BBC aims at targeting the youth age group through social media interesting. The trip proved to be a great insight to how a major organisation runs and the obstacles that it also faces.
Level 4 student Erin Williams
Level 5 student Ryan Miller
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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE
Volunteering & Placement Case Studies SPORT BUSINESS STUDENT GEORGIA MCKAY COMPLETED A PLACEMENT AT LIVERPOOL FOOTBALL CLUB IN THE PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT Tell us about your placement: My placement was within LFC working with the PR team mainly and alongside sponsorship, media, communications, events and legal. I had the opportunity to meet first team players and see them at the training ground. Throughout my placement, I assisted with news articles that were published on the LFC website. I had the opportunity to attend planning events at Anfield regarding player appearances and awards. I photographed the new changing rooms at the ground and assisted writing a report to go alongside the photos that were published later that day. I worked alongside a highly skilled team to ensure everything that happens within the club is suitable for purpose (social media, commercial and partner use). What key skills did you develop? ❚❚ Interpersonal skills such as confidence and leadership ❚❚ Professional skills such as communication, both verbal and written ❚❚ How to work in a professional environment and how to handle different situations ❚❚ The ability to maintain confidentiality Why do you think this experience has been valuable to your future and current studies? I believe this experience has been valuable to my future and current studies, as it has allowed me to gain first-hand experience in an industry I am passionate about and would like to work in after I have completed my studies. It has also allowed me to understand what it takes to work in such a big company and how highly skilled you should
be. It has helped me gain confidence in my ability and improved my written and verbal communication. This is all beneficial to my current studies as it is all linked to being a sports industry professional and may give me the head start that I need to potentially work within a successful business. What were the challenges? Over the two weeks on placement I didn’t really face any challenges as such in a professional manner. Although it was an eye opener to have a 9-5 job and having to be up and on time every day. Did the LJMU Careers Team help you in any way? The Careers Team helped before the placement began with talks and sessions regarding employability etc. What advice would you give to other students studying at LJMU to improve their employability? I would advise students to gain as much work experience as possible in different sectors of the industry they are keen to go into. I currently now have experience in PR, sponsorship, communications, media, coaching and leisure and am still looking for more. Don’t look for paid work all the time, volunteer at places and get to know people in the industry. It isn’t always about what you know, it’s who you know and gaining more connections is likely to increase your chances of employment after your degree.
SPORT BUSINESS STUDENT LUCY GARRETT DID A PLACEMENT AT LIVERPOOL TENNIS CENTRE For my placement, I shadowed and worked alongside the Tennis Manager at Liverpool Tennis Centre. Prior to my placement starting, we had a meeting and discussed information about the Tennis Centre itself, how I could help them and how they could help me. We decided that, due to the small cohort of staff, I would help with the creation of a business plan and then we would discuss all areas of sport business, identifying other areas that I could consider and assist with. One of the key skills that I developed whilst on my placement was my confidence within a work place and the application of my knowledge. My confidence grew as the placement went on, being able to ask different questions and suggest ideas. It was challenging coming into a well organised and developed centre as I did not want to mess up the structure in any way but once I started I was told of my value to them and how I would be an asset not an issue. This experience has enabled me to secure extra volunteering in the
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evenings and I have continued to visit the Centre twice a week after my placement carrying on with the work that we had started and beginning other business activities. It has boosted my belief in my own ability within the modules of our course and allowed for the beginning of my work to be used within a company officially. The LJMU Careers Team helped me with my understanding of what is expected in a workplace and helped me develop my CV to a professional standard. The best advice I would give to a student who wanted to improve their employability is to get as much experience as possible in any area that you are interested, in as many different places as possible. I would also recommend creating a LinkedIn account and keeping it updated.
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BEN WOODS IS A PHYSICAL EDUCATION STUDENT WHO DID A PLACEMENT AT LIVERPOOL COUNTY FA Tell us about your placement:
I worked alongside Football Development Officers helping to deliver and coordinate different initiatives including Walking Football, Just Play, and Mash Up as well as multiple tournaments and leagues. I also helped with refereeing and coaching.
What key skills did you develop?
Confidence, Communication and Teamwork. The experience has helped me massively as my confidence levels are high which has helped my grades improve and has shown me there are other job roles which are suitable for me. For my work with LCFA, I have been nominated for an end of season award and the ceremony takes
place in the Marriott Hotel on the 22nd of June. LCFA have also put me on The FA Level 1 coaching course.
What were the challenges?
Working with different ability participants from all backgrounds, working alongside teachers, setting up tournaments and delivering initiatives set by The FA.
What advice would you give to other students studying at LJMU to improve their employability?
Try to get as much experience in the field you want to pursue as it will help you develop and improve your knowledge of the job role you want to take up.
GARETH HUGHES IS A SPORT COACHING STUDENT WHO DID A PLACEMENT AT LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES UNIVERSITY AS A STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING INTERN Briefly describe your placements:
My responsibilities involved planning and delivering a periodical season plan to the LJMU netball and rugby league teams. This involved strength and conditioning practices such as needs analysis, testing, monitoring, prescription, pre/rehabilitation and programming.
What key skills did you develop?
During my time on placement, I learnt how to implement sportspecific exercises that would transfer to benefit the players in-game. In addition, I developed my communication skills with athletes, this helped me instruct and coach with clarity.
Why do you think this experience has been valuable to your future and current studies?
and Conditioning at Cardiff Metropolitan University. The placement included various sessions which enhanced my knowledge of using theory and practice.
What were the challenges?
The main challenge was building effective working relationships with new peers as quickly as possible in order to communicate effectively and confidently.
What advice would you give to other students studying at LJMU to improve their employability?
Always be prepared to learn from other coaches, as much can be learnt though different coaching pedagogies!
This has been a valuable experience for me as I feel like it has helped me towards gaining a conditional offer to study the MSc Strength
SPORT COACHING STUDENT OLIVER READ TELLS US ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES VOLUNTEERING AS AN UNDER 6 COACH FOR MARSHALLS FC Why did you want to do voluntary work? Participating in voluntary work with a football team gave me the opportunity to coach and deliver on a weekly basis. This gave me constant practice to help me develop my delivery with an age group I had never coached before. Where did you find out about the voluntary work? I initially found out about Marshalls through a relative who had attended LJMU before me and she had also worked at the club. Describe the role you are undertaking and your main duties: I am expected to deliver a technical and engaging football session once a week and then manage one of the teams for 2 matches, one night per week. The most important duties in these sessions are to ensure that the players are all actively engaged and enjoying the session. Furthermore, it is important to technically and appropriately challenge each individual player as much as possible. This is to try and develop each player to the best of my ability in the small amount of time I have with them every week. What did the application process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? I got into contact with the founder of the club. He was happy for
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me to coach at the club, but asked to meet initially to discuss the philosophy and aims of the club and what the expectations were for myself. What help and support did you access from the Careers Team? I used the resources online to do research into the potential for coaching abroad at some point in the future. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? Try and find some form of experience in your desired workplace as soon as you can. Showing that you are keen and willing to work hard is extremely important to potential employers and making the right impression will stand you in good stead for the future. Building up experience and learning from others will only help you. Any other advice you would give to students about their employability? Try to take every opportunity possible. Look around, use the resources given by lecturers and the Careers Team. Putting the extra effort in now will be worth it in the long-term.
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CAREER OPTIONS WITH YOUR DEGREE
SPORT COACHING GRADUATE JESS BERESFORD COMPLETED A PLACEMENT DURING HER STUDIES AS A FOOTBALL AND RUGBY COACH WITH CHALLENGER SPORTS Why did you want to do a placement? I wanted to use my spare time in the summer to gain valuable experience that would contribute towards potential careers in the future. This was not only for my CV but also to develop my personal skills. This massively improved my confidence. Where did you find out about the placement? Recruitment staff from the organisation attended one of the university lectures in my first year. Since then they advertise their vacancies on a range of job sites for students, including the Prospects website. Describe the role you are undertaking and your main duties: It was my duty to lead football and rugby camps each week in a new location around Canada and South East of Northern America. My role included responsibilities such as; overseeing other coaches working on the camp, assigning roles to each of these coaches, conducting weekly reports, recording participants’ attendance, cash handling, organising kit orders and most importantly coaching children between the ages of 3 and 18. Additionally, this meant regular session plans and a contingency plan were produced on a regular basis. The most important role was to act as a role model when coaching, ensuring everyone is enjoying themselves - we often organised themes and small events. In some cases, I taught adults/parents how to coach at a grassroots standard to increase the number of coaches in the area. What did the selection process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? The process was rather fair and informal. Firstly, I had to fill out an application form like any other job application. After this, I attended an interview. This was not the typical sit down interview, as it was more about observing your coaching skills. For interview you had to bring a couple of session plans and two questionnaires filled in. we were then split into groups where each potential coach was assessed for 15 minutes. I prepared myself for this process by taking time to reflect on my coaching sessions, alongside taking the knowledge I have learnt from lectures and applying it to practical situations. What help and support did you access in the Careers Zones? I took advantage of the interview skills support that was provided by the staff in the Careers Zone and the feedback that was attached. Alongside this, the World of Work Certificates contributed towards my development and awareness of the skills I hold. This benefited me massively when asked questions around my experiences.
What relevant work experience/ volunteering activities did you use during the selection process? Prior to my application for Challenger Sports, I had several relevant experiences/ volunteering experiences. I had a placement working alongside Liverpool FC Foundation with U5-8’s and assisting with a special needs session. In addition to this, I volunteered at ALLCoaching as a rugby coach in primary schools and REMYCA FC coaching U10 girls, where I still currently volunteer three years on. I also volunteered in secondary schools, volunteered as a president of a rugby team and a coaching society, all of which shows my passion and enthusiasm towards coaching. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? I would take each opportunity that steps in your path, no matter how big or small it may be. If you are struggling to find a paid job, the best option is to pick up volunteering hours, as potential employers will be able to see your dedication to improving your skills. Would you do anything differently if you were a first-year student again? Instead of struggling, I would seek more guidance from the staff in the Careers Zones to enhance my CV and practise interview skills. Experience wise, I wouldn’t change a thing. I grabbed every single opportunity that came my way, whether it was volunteering, qualifications or activities relevant to coaching. From this I made a whole range of networks. What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? Honestly, every aspect of my degree helped towards the selection process. Presentations helped towards my confidence in public speaking, practical work contributed towards my organisation and planning prior to the interview, and basic lectures gave me the knowledge to solve issues, whether this was the session or an individual. The biggest aspect that shaped me to be a successful candidate in the selection process was the use of work based learning throughout the course of my studies. Any other advice you would give to students about their employability? Every opportunity is a learning curve so you have to grasp every opportunity to make yourself stand out from everyone else.
ADAM HEANEY TELLS US ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCES VOLUNTEERING AND WORKING ABROAD What was the volunteering/work abroad you did?
I went on a trip around 7 countries in Europe with Contiki. I left from London and visited Amsterdam, St. Goar in the Rhine Valley and Munich in Germany, Hopfgarten (Austria), Venice (Italy), Lauterbrunnen and the Swiss Alps (Switzerland) and Paris (France).
What did you do on a daily basis? Challenges? Aspects you enjoy?
Each morning, we tended to wake up around 6am, get breakfast and be on the road again for 7am. Every minute was spent exploring the areas and doing all of our trip activities such as paragliding off of a mountain in Austria, standing at the highest point of the Swiss Alps in Switzerland and a gondola ride in the heart of Venice. We probably should have used the accommodation to get some rest and sleep, but the coach was used more as a bed than the hotels and hostels! The only time I have ever left the UK before is when I visited family in Ireland and one trip to Spain when I was a lot younger. Therefore, this was a completely life-changing experience for me – opening my eyes up to the world and what is potentially out there for the future. The aspect that I enjoyed the most was the unknown – the new people, the new attractions, the new destinations, the new cultures and the new ways of life.
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Why were you interested in doing it? I really wanted to do this Go Global opportunity so I could get confidence from doing something outside of my comfort zone, travelling far from where I live and meeting new people, who have since become good friends. Coming from Northern Ireland, Liverpool has been such a huge step-up, travelling to some amazing and breath-taking destinations in Europe was an even bigger adventure! Going on this trip has definitely given me a lot more confidence and the travel-bug too. I can’t wait to go on my next adventure once I graduate, wherever this may be!
What skills did you gain because of the experience that would benefit you in future employment?
As mentioned previously, I feel like I have had an increased boost in confidence. An experience like my Go Global one will help me with future employers in terms of knowledge of the world and travel experience. It has also made me realise that I definitely want a job where I can travel, and Events Management is definitely a perfect fit!
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SPORT COACHING GRADUATE PETER LAKE TELLS US ABOUT HIS VOLUNTARY WORK AS A SPECIAL SERGEANT FOR STAFFORDSHIRE SPECIAL CONSTABULARY Why did you want to do voluntary work? I have always wanted to help the community and this was the best solution to volunteer in while at university. Where did you find out about the voluntary work? I found this voluntary position through online advertising. Describe the role you are undertaking and your main duties: I recently have been promoted to Special Sergeant. This involves performing my policing duties on response, neighbourhood, events, football and many further responsibilities. Jobs can range from reassurance visits and anti social behaviour to assaults, drunk driving, stabbing and many more. What did the selection process involve and how did you prepare for each stage? The application was a very long process. Initially a written application form and situational judgement test was taken. This involved providing all of my personal details and situation questions which tested my thought process in regards to different situations. The second involved a 50-minute interview with a chief inspector and numerous other highly ranked officers. This involved similar situation questions as the first process and numerous other questions that they wanted to find out about me. The next stage was vetting were a number of fitness and health related test were performed. Finally, I completed 12 weekends worth of training, where a number of tests each weekend had to be passed. Once achieved I became a warranted
Special Constable. Each stage was mainly prepared for through constant revision and practicing at home. What relevant work experience activities did you use during the selection process? Previously I was employed as a retail assistant at Sports Direct and put in charge of the footwear team. Therefore, I provided a range of suitable experiences to discuss. Also I was a swimming teacher in Stafford where my interaction with teaching children and speaking to parents also provided a number of situations for me to talk about. What advice would you give to other students to improve their employability? I would suggest that they get as much experience as they possibly can at university as every piece of experience will be valuable for their knowledge and any employment opportunity in the future. What aspects of your degree were particularly useful in the selection process? My degree developed my people skills and confidence. I believe I would not have been promoted to Sergeant if it wasn’t for this degree. Any other advice you would give to students about their employability? Mainly just get as much experience and try new things when you’re at university
EVENTS MANAGEMENT STUDENT SINEAD MCQUOID TELLS US ABOUT HER EXPERIENCES ON THE GO GLOBAL PROGRAMME I secured a place on the Go Global scheme which I must say is an excellent and very beneficial program. Through my own research I found the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WTTF) which is an animal sanctuary where all animals have been rescued for a better life. In the sanctuary there were two different sections which were elephants and wildlife. It was your choice which section you worked in, I did one week of each. On wildlife you are expected to work six days a week and on elephants it is 5 days a week. The working day starts a
06:30 and ends around 17:00 or whenever the work was completed. The work was challenging especially in the heat but very rewarding. Tasks included cleaning animal enclosures, feeding rounds twice daily, creating enrichments, taking elephants on walks and showering them. I was interested in doing this volunteering as I have always loved animals and wanted to do something where I would feel rewarded as well as helping others (volunteers) and the animals. This related to my degree as I was given the opportunity to manage teams and travel which I think is a big part of events management. I gained many attributes as living in a different culture makes you realise how privileged the UK is, this makes you work without needing to see immediate improvements or benefits for yourself.
LOUISE NUGENT TELLS US ABOUT HER EXPERIENCES VOLUNTEERING AND WORKING ABROAD What was the volunteering/work abroad you did? I volunteered at European Capital of Culture in Pafos, Cyprus and volunteered at the art gallery supporting an exhibition of work from local, national and international artists and photographers. Most events were staged in the open factory or outdoor venues across the Pafos area. What did you do on a daily basis? ❙❙ Open and close the art gallery, 10am-1pm. ❙❙ Meet and greet national and international visitors and local residents. ❙❙ Promote and sell a book displaying all the artworks. What were the challenges and aspects you enjoyed? The main challenges I experienced were working alone and the language barrier, visitors were global and spoke a wide variety of languages. The key aspects I enjoyed included experiencing different cultures and meeting expats living in Cyprus and gaining an understanding of their experiences as a volunteer and a resident of Cyprus.
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Why were you interested in doing it?
❙❙ To enhance my CV and personal development
❙❙ I had focused my dissertation as an
Undergraduate on Event Volunteering and Pafos 2017 – European Capital of Culture. ❙❙ I volunteered for five and a half years doing various events and activities with the public and voluntary sector in UK and felt that my next step would be the challenge of volunteering abroad.
What skills did you gain because of the experience that would benefit you in future employment? ❙❙ Time management ❙❙ Learnt to converse in basic Greek ❙❙ Increased self confidence and self esteem. ❙❙ Engaged with different nationalities and languages. ❙❙ Gain experience in a different area of events management.
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SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU
Get support on your doorstep in our campus
Careers Zones
WHETHER YOU WANT TO EXPLORE YOUR CAREER OPTIONS, GET YOUR CV AND APPLICATION FORM CHECKED, FIND A WORK PLACEMENT,
IMPRESS AT INTERVIEW OR MEET AND NETWORK WITH EMPLOYERS, WE CAN HELP IN A VARIETY OF WAYS VIA OUR CAMPUS CAREERS ZONES.
LJMU’s Careers Team provides tailored careers support to all LJMU students during their studies through delivery of careers education, information, advice and guidance from our three campus-based Careers Zones. The Careers Zones are located in Aldham Robarts Library, Byrom Street and IM Marsh Library. Call in to find out how we can help you. Alternatively phone us on 0151 231 2048/3719 if you can’t make it into a Careers Zone.
What support can I get in the Careers Zones?
Support from your Careers Adviser
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 Sports Studies, Leisure and Nutrition, you have your own dedicated Careers Adviser, Linda Graham. You are likely to meet Linda 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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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
25
Connect with
employers
THERE ARE NUMEROUS WAYS YOU CAN CONNECT WITH
EMPLOYERS WHILE YOU STUDY, ALLOWING YOU TO NETWORK, DISCUSS OPPORTUNITIES, GET THEIR ADVICE AND FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THEIR CAREER JOURNEY.
01.
EMPLOYER VISITS TO CAREERS ZONES
02.
RECRUITMENT FAIRS & FESTIVALS
03.
SPECIALIST WORKSHOPS
Employers regularly visit the three Careers Zones at LJMU to discuss their opportunities and to meet and network with students. See below for more information about who has visited the Zones.
LJMU run a range of large-scale careers fairs, where you can meet and talk with employers about career options, and recruitment fairs, which feature graduate employers and recruitment agencies with jobs to recruit. Go to careers.ljmu.ac.uk to see what is coming up. Other large-scale fairs run around the country so check local listings at https://www.prospects.ac.uk/events
Each year we run a series of specialist workshops for students that fall outside of the regular yearround careers and employability workshops. In the last academic year for instance we ran workshops about graduate schemes, gaining work experience, and applying to graduate courses in dentistry and medicine.
04.
GUEST SPEAKERS
05.
EMPLOYER PRESENTATIONS
Guest speakers are usually featured as part of the curriculum but we also arrange for speakers to come into LJMU to talk about their job role and industry. Sometimes this will be part of an industry event, such as the ‘A Career in Clinical Psychology’ event we arranged last year.
Employers visit the university to highlight job and placement opportunities for students and graduates. Often these will be bigger employers who are advertising graduate schemes or industrial placements. Last year Aldi, the British Council and Teach First all spoke at LJMU.
Employers in the Careers Zones ... Employers visit the Careers Zones each week offering real jobs, internships and other career opportunities. Check with staff in the Careers Zone to find out who’s coming in and don’t miss these great opportunities to meet and network with employers from a range of sectors. Organisations who have visited the Zones include:
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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
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SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU
Careers website THE CAREERS WEBSITE IS THE FIRST PORT OF CALL TO FIND OUT ABOUT CAREERS SERVICES, TO ACCESS ONLINE CAREERS TOOLS AND TO DOWNLOAD ANY OF OUR GUIDES AND RESOURCES
01.
CAREER PLANNING GUIDES
02.
CAREER INSIGHTS
Each year, working alongside academic colleagues, the Careers Team produces school-specific Career Planning Guides, which give information about career options related to your degree as well as a range of articles about careers topics including CVs, applications forms, interviews, finding graduate level jobs and more.
These handy guides provide a more in-depth overview of career options with your degree and signpost you to useful links to get your research into future careers and employers under way.
03.
MINI GUIDES
04.
CAREERS ZONE 24/7
05.
BOOK A WEBINAR
06.
SEARCH FOR JOB OPPORTUNITIES
The Careers Team have distilled their wisdom on career planning, CVs, applications and interviews into a series of short guides. Also use our mini guides for further information on postgraduate study, including teacher training, and subject-specific advice, e.g. for Science, Arts and Nursing students.
We have a range of digital careers tools available to enable you to work on vitally important employability skills at your own pace, in your own time, either on or off campus. The 24/7 tools suite includes CV Builder, Interview Simulator, Careers Newsroom, CV and Interview Learning Zone, Job Search websites, GoinGlobal and more.
A webinar is an online class which you can attend from anywhere on any device with an internet or WiFi connection. Sessions include Finding Hidden Jobs, Effective Applications, Introduction to LinkedIn - the ‘Facebook’ for Professionals, Winning CVs, Interview Success and more. To book go to: https://careers.ljmu.ac.uk
Search for part-time jobs, volunteering opportunities, work placements, internships or graduate roles. Our job search websites are free to all students and graduates and list opportunities with both regional, national and international employers. Go to Careers Zone 24/7 on the Careers website to access the sites.
To visit the Careers website go to:
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU
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Careers Zone 24/7
online careers tools
WE HAVE A RANGE OF DIGITAL CAREERS TOOLS AVAILABLE VIA THE CAREERS TEAM WEBSITE TO ENABLE YOU TO WORK ON VITALLY IMPORTANT EMPLOYABILITY AND TRANSITION SKILLS AT YOUR OWN PACE, IN YOUR OWN TIME, BOTH ON OR OFF CAMPUS
01.
CV AND COVER LETTER BUILDER
02.
INTERVIEW SIMULATOR
CV builder and cover letter builder allow you to create an expert CV and covering letter within minutes and download into multiple templates. Watch videos of employers discussing what they need to see in each section of your CV and covering letter. This tool is ideal for students looking to write their first CV or cover letter. The interview simulator allows you to take a mock interview and test yourself with interactive questions and best practice answers from experienced professionals to build up your confidence and competence.
03.
CAREERS NEWSROOM
04.
CAREER ASSESSMENTS
05.
PRACTICE PSYCHOMETRIC TESTS
Features thousands of articles on careers and employability from leading global publications, updated every week with a newsletter function built in.
Each assessment provides a report for each student with tailored recommendations. Assessments include: personality insights, temperament, strengths, learning styles, sound decision-making, assertiveness, customer focus, emotional control, management skills, stress management and more.
Practice aptitude tests including numerical, verbal, inductive, diagrammatic, logical, situational judgement, critical thinking, error checking and e-tray exercises and a wealth of other assessment tools used by graduate employers via Careers Zone 24/7. See p.50 for further details.
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
06.
GOINGLOBAL DATABASE
07.
INDEED JOB SEARCH
The database allows you to search for jobs and internships around the world. It contains country career guides, information on visas and local culture, employer directories and much more. Access GoinGlobal via Careers Zone 24/7 or visit: http://online.goinglobal.com/default.aspx
Allows you to search millions of jobs, in over 50 countries, from thousands of job sites, newspapers, recruiters and company career sites.
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SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU
CareerSmart:
Explore, Experience and Engage FIND OUT MORE ABOUT LJMU’S CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYABILITY PROGRAMME AND HOW IT CAN HELP YOU WHILST STUDYING AT LJMU
All students in their first year of study will have an opportunity to engage with the first stage of the ‘CareerSmart’ programme as an integral part of a core module of study. The ‘CareerSmart: Explore’ e-learning tool will introduce you to the steps involved in making informed choices about your career. It enables you to consider your strengths and development areas, career motivators, the options available to you and the necessary steps to take to achieve your career goals. You will then have the opportunity to complete the next stage of the programme, ‘CareerSmart: Experience’. Here, you will learn about the value of work-related learning by finding out about the range of opportunities available, eg Work-Based Learning, part-time work, internships, volunteering, work shadowing and international opportunities. You will also learn about the benefits of these experiences including skill development, networking and sector insight. This stage also includes resources on how to find work experience and making the most of the opportunity. The third stage of the programme, ‘CareerSmart: Engage’ is employer-informed and you will find out what graduate recruiters are looking for in successful candidates. The resource will support you through each stage of the graduate recruitment process, including the job search, application process, and selection methods – interviews, psychometric tests, assessment centres. The CareerSmart programme complements the wide range of career-related provision and services available to LJMU students to support your development throughout your studies, including the one-to-one careers information, advice and guidance delivered in the campus Careers Zones.
CareerSmart: Explore e-learning assessment For students starting a programme of study in 2018, the CareerSmart: Explore e-learning resource will be completed as an assessment of one of your first-year modules. The resource will take you through steps to help you to set some goals for your first year, which can help you on your career development journey. The steps include an exploration of the following areas:
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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
29
#GetintoTeaching
A SALARIED ROUTE INTO TEACHING MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO PURSUE A CAREER DOING SOMETHING I LOVE n Bursaries of up to £32,000* and salaried programmes available (subject dependent)
n Starting salary of £22,000-£27,000 a year (upon qualification)
n University-led and School Direct routes
n We are one of a small number of universities offering the PGDE route into teaching, enabling you to top up your qualification with further study and gain a Masters degree in your first year of teaching
n PGDE courses in Early Years, Primary Teaching and a wide variety of Secondary subjects n Excellent career progression opportunities
For a fulfilling career helping young people to achieve their dreams *subject and qualification dependent. For the latest bursary information, visit getintoteaching.education.gov.uk
START YOUR TEACHING JOURNEY TODAY www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
CALL: 0151 231 5340 VISIT: www.ljmu.ac.uk/education
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
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SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU
How to make the most of your
university time
THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS GO TO UNIVERSITY TO ULTIMATELY SECURE A JOB WITH GREAT PROSPECTS. EMPLOYABILITY ADVISER NICOLA DAVENPORT LOOKS AT SOME IDEAS TO IMPROVE YOUR EMPLOYABILITY IN EACH YEAR OF STUDY.
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So you’ve got your place at university, you’re fulfilling all of your course commitments and enjoying yourself, but are you really making the most of your time? In addition to your academic qualifications, employers look for people who can show motivation, enthusiasm, proactivity and commitment. You can demonstrate all of these things through your extracurricular activities and employment. Work experience is key and you can find this in many forms: placements, part-time work, work shadowing, volunteering and internships. Before you look for experience, evaluate your existing skill set and analyse the labour market to find out what you may need in the future - can you find a role that will help you develop these skills now? There are a number of ways the Careers Team can help you improve your employability, so come along and see us.
DID YOU KNOW? Nearly a fifth of LJMU graduates of the class of 2017 did some voluntary work whilst at university, and over 70% of graduates had a paid, parttime job alongside their studies. In addition to looking great on your CV, research suggests that getting involved in voluntary work can also boost your self-esteem and improve your mental health.
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What can I do? In addition to gaining relevant work experience, there are many other ways that you can show motivation and enthusiasm whilst also developing skills. You could: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚
Chair or set up a society, or become a course representative Writing, presenting or other work with a student newspaper or radio station Put on an event – music, charity… Volunteer or fundraise with a charity Complete a sponsored activity/ challenge, such as a run, climbing a mountain Learn a language Do you have a business idea? Get in touch with the Centre for Entrepreneurship! Learn a new skill – cooking, music, sport Enter competitions – writing, business, finance, student, enterprise…. Take up mentoring opportunities
As well as being a great way to get to know people and enjoy yourself, all of these things can help your employability and look great on your CV.
Looking for greater insight about career options related to your degree?
Events Management
Food & Nutrition CAREER INSIGHT
CAREER INSIGHT
LJMU CAREERS TEAM
LJMU CAREERS TEAM
www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
www2.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
0151 231 2048/3719 ❚ careers@ljmu.ac.uk
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
31
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
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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 ... WITH A DEGREE IN DENTISTRY FROM CORK UNDER HIS BELT, KEVIN’S PASSION FOR SPORT CAME TO THE FORE AND HE IS NOW STUDYING FOR A MASTERS IN SPORT COACHING AT LJMU.
“Sport has always been a real passion for me, a hobby I love. I have been involved in coaching for some years now but decided I wanted to push on and improve my performance in this area. My friends spoke very highly about LJMU and, when it came to looking where to study Sport Coaching, I discovered that John Moores really was one of the best. “From the outset I was impressed by the place. The lecturers I contacted were really friendly and welcoming. They answered the questions I needed to ask to make sure that John Moores was the right place for me. “The course has been really eye opening. I have learned so much and now have a scientific background to my coaching practice. I know how to analyse what I do, how to find the best interventions and how to get the most out of the sportspeople I am coaching. “Masters study is tough and challenging but I have really enjoyed working with my fellow students. I think the
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
electronic resources are fantastic and, as they are so accessible, I can work when I choose. Being able to fit your studies around your life really takes the pressure off you as a student. It also helps being in a city that is so easy to call home.”
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU
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Postgraduate Case Study NATALIE TRAYNOR GRADUATED WITH A BA (HONS) DANCE PRACTICES IN 2016 AND IS NOW UNDERTAKING AN MA DANCE PRACTICES Why did you choose postgraduate study?
The course allows you to explore your own artistic and professional practice, meaning that you can focus on an area or multiple areas of your subject that interest you. Not only this, it pushes you to understand your area/areas of interest in a more comprehensive manner. It is mainly an independent study course, however we are required to attend campus for intensive study, several times throughout the academic year. This allows you time to pursue your own practical work and allows for plenty of self-study time, which you can do at the university library or at home.
Work experience / volunteering:
During my time on the undergraduate course, I had plenty of opportunities, such as ❚❚ Created/choreographed theatre and site specific dance works. ❚❚ Performed in live theatre, intermedial and site specific dance works. ❚❚ Volunteered with a local dance organisation and local dance company. ❚❚ Taught local primary and secondary schools. ❚❚ Worked with technology – cameras, lighting, sound, professional standard music and film editing software, creating live sound scores, filmed and edited dance footage.
So far on the MA course, I have had the following experiences: ❚❚ Undertook an internship with a local dance organisation,
❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚
working professionally at a local dance festival. Created live theatre and site specific works. Taught undergraduate students. Attended research conferences. Performed in live theatre, intermedial and site specific works.
It has been extremely valuable to have that work experience, as I got to work with professionals who are currently working in the creative, dance and performance industries. As a result I have made stronger connections with people working in the dance and performance industry.
Advice to other students:
To improve their employability, I would strongly advise other students studying at LJMU to be pro-active, by volunteering and gaining work experience with companies/organisations in their chosen industry, as potential future employers will then already know your face and that you are keen to work in that field. Plus if you’ve made a good impression, they will want to work with you again. With regards to studying a masters, I would say the benefits are, that it’ll further your education and knowledge, as well as improving your employability. Plus it will help you to manage your time and motivate you to succeed in your field.
Postgraduate programmes at the
School of Sport Studies, Leisure and Nutrition PROGRESS YOUR CAREER WITH AN INDUSTRY-FOCUSED MASTERS FROM LJMU’S SCHOOL OF SPORT STUDIES, LEISURE AND NUTRITION. MSc Sport Coaching
❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙
Ideal for coaches keen to enhance their capability through analysis and critical reflection, providing the skills to coach at elite level LJMU is accredited to work with governing bodies of sport to deliver a UKCC Level 4 coaching programme Teaching delivered by expert staff with extensive research and current practitioner experience Opportunity for elite placements
MSc Public Health Nutrition
❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙
Suitable for graduates and professionals from nutrition and health-related fields Taught by expert staff with a wide range of research experience from the Food and Nutrition team and the Centre for Public Health Excellent career opportunities in the public and private sectors
MA Dance Practices
❙❙ ❙❙ ❙❙
A highly flexible programme enabling emerging artists and established professionals to engage in critical debate and dialogue The curriculum links theory, work-based practice and artistic/ educational policies, bringing together professional practice and academic studies Opportunities to carry out research appropriate to your area of expertise or explore another sector which interests you
Research opportunities
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Full time or part time Opportunities to conduct projects alongside researchers working at the vanguard of developments in their fields Supportive research community with dedicated expert supervision
Our taught Masters programmes are eligible for the government’s Postgraduate Loan Scheme (PGLS). PGLS can help you cover course fees and living costs - find out more at gov.uk/funding-for-postgraduate-study
For more information about postgraduate programmes, visit:
ljmu.ac.uk/study/courses www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
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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.
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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
{
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
SUPPORT AND OPPORTUNITIES AT LJMU
35
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.
{
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
36
TACTICS AND CHOICES
Planning your career
NOT SURE WHERE TO START WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR NEXT MOVE? DON’T WORRY, MOST PEOPLE FEEL THAT WAY, BUT WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU TO NAVIGATE YOUR WAY THROUGH YOUR OPTIONS.
10
Questions to ask yourself when exploring your career options
1. Do you have any ideas at all about careers which interest you, however vague these are? If so, make a note of these ideas and explore them further. 2. Do you wish to use the knowledge you have gained or will gain from your degree in your future career? If so, are there certain modules of your degree which you have enjoyed more than others? Try to explore job areas which could relate to these subjects. 3. Have you completed any work experience at all (even if this is unrelated to your degree subject)? Think about what you liked about this work experience and about skills which you enjoyed using. 4. Are there any jobs you have done which you didn’t enjoy? If so, why was this?
6. Think about the feedback you have received from others (for example from tutors or from friends or family) about skills you excel in. Are there particular skills which you are naturally strong in? 7. Do you have any interests outside of university which are unrelated to your studies? For example, do you have any creative interests or do you do any voluntary work? It may be worth exploring career options which relate to these interests. 8. Are you willing to undertake further study if this is required by the type of career you want to go into? 9. What kind of environment would you like to work in? For example, do you see yourself working in an office, in a laboratory or outdoors? 10. Are there any other special circumstances which may affect the type of job you can go into? For example, are you only able to work certain hours or in a certain location?
Help and support available to you..
01. 02. 03.
BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH A CAREERS ADVISER If you are unsure about your career options, you are advised to book an appointment with a Careers Adviser to give your search a focus. An employer can easily spot applications from students just looking for any job, as your heart won’t be in it. To book an appointment, call into a Careers Zone or alternatively phone us on 0151 231 3719/2048.
CAREERS INSIGHTS AND MINI GUIDES Check out our Careers Mini Guides available via the Careers website. Titles include Career Planning for Mature Students, Planning your Career and Graduate Schemes to help you decide which direction to take. The Career Insight for your programme highlights options available to you with your degree.
MEET EMPLOYERS & ATTEND A CAREERS EVENT/FAIR We arrange careers fairs, employer presentations, guest speakers, specialist workshops and regular employer visits to the Careers Zones where you can also meet and network with employers and find out about career opportunities and discuss career routes.
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
“
{ { DID YOU KNOW?
Data from our Career Readiness Survey for 2017/18 showed that only 30% of final-year students had a specific career in mind at the beginning of the academic year. Starting to plan your career right from the start of your degree ensures that you can make applications for graduate jobs or postgraduate courses in your final year and get your career under way.
5. Were there any career ideas you had when you were at school or college? If so, is it worth revisiting or reviewing these ideas?
A Careers Adviser says ...
There are many options open to you after you finish your degree but at the same time it can feel confusing and overwhelming to have so many choices. Any uncertainty about your future career plan is normal and many students feel this way! However, it is important to address this uncertainty and to at least develop a plan of the steps you need to take to move yourself forward.
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
TACTICS AND CHOICES
37
Thinking about
postgraduate study? ARE YOU CONSIDERING
POSTGRADUATE STUDY AS A NEXT STEP? CAREERS ADVISER STEVE BURBAGE LOOKS AT THE REASONS FOR AND AGAINST FURTHER STUDY.
A postgraduate qualification may ‘help you to stand out from the crowd’ but make sure you do your research first as, although it may enhance your career prospects in some cases, in other cases relevant work experience will be more valuable. Many students also opt to undertake postgraduate study to further develop subject knowledge or to convert to a new career area such as law, medicine, education or IT. If you are unsure about what to do next and feel that studying a postgraduate course will give you more time to help you decide, think about whether this is the best strategy. Postgraduate study is time-consuming and can be very costly so you should be reasonably clear about your career goals/aims before starting a course. You can always meet with a Careers Adviser to discuss postgraduate options in more detail by calling into your nearest Careers Zone to make an appointment.
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DISCUSS POSTGRADUATE OPTIONS WITH A CAREERS ADVISER
New postgraduate loans are available for students on Masters courses at universities across the UK. Students under 60 who ordinarily live in England can apply for a loan of up to £10,609; visit https://www.gov.uk/fundingfor-postgraduate-study for more details. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are running their own schemes. For further information on eligibility and available funding, check https:// www.findamasters.com/funding/ guides/masters-loans.aspx. A separate loan system for PhD study will also be available from 2018/19. Additional postgraduate funding options include Professional Career Development Loans, employer sponsorship, bursaries/ scholarships or charitable trusts and foundations. Check https://www. prospects.ac.uk/postgraduate-study/ funding-postgraduate-study for further details.
It’s easy to get bewildered by the wide range of postgraduate courses on offer. Discussing your career objectives and postgraduate study ideas with a Careers Adviser can help to focus your search for the course that’s right for you. Call into a Careers Zone or phone us on 0151 231 2048/3719 to book an appointment.
How and when to apply
DID YOU KNOW? The UK has one of the largest and most diversified postgraduate sectors in the world with almost 21,000 postgraduate course/research options on offer, which can make choosing the right course quite challenging. Therefore it is important that you research each course you are interested in and consider if it would help you achieve your career ambitions.
Help and support available to you..
01. 02. 03.
Funding
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GET HELP WITH YOUR POSTGRADUATE APPLICATION FORM Our Employability Advisers provide tailored feedback and advice on personal statements for postgraduate applications to help you effectively demonstrate your motivation and suitability for your chosen course to admissions tutors. To book an appointment, drop into a Careers Zone or call 0151 231 2048/3719.
DOWNLOAD OUR CAREER MINI GUIDE For further information about different course and funding options, head to our Careers website https:// www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/ and download our handy guides on postgraduate study, applications and PhDs.
20% DISCOUNT OFF POSTGRADUATE STUDY
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
LJMU graduates undertaking postgraduate study at LJMU are entitled to a 20% discount - see terms and conditions at ljmu.ac.uk
The majority of applications are made directly to the institutions concerned; however, some vocational courses such as teaching, law and social work require applications to be made via a central admissions service, which will restrict the amount of courses you can apply to and will usually stipulate a particular closing date. Not all courses have a closing date; however, it is still highly recommended that you do your research well in advance as some courses fill up very quickly and may have particular entry requirements i.e. relevant work experience. Applications (or enquiries) regarding PhDs/ Masters by research should ideally be made around Christmas time; the earlier your application, the more likely it is to attract funding.
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
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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
39
Thinking of starting
your own business?
LJMU’S CENTRE FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP CAN HELP STUDENTS WHO WANT TO DEVELOP A NEW BUSINESS IDEA, WORK AS A FREELANCER, LAUNCH A PRODUCT OR SERVICE OR GROW AN EXISTING BUSINESS. The Centre for Entrepreneurship will help you to build your business concept alongside your studies, connect with the local business community and develop your enterprise skills. We offer:
❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚
Try It Out Awards – a £250 quick response fund to test your idea
❚❚
Idealab – a summer school to develop technology-driven business ideas
Start-up fund – up to £2000 to start your new venture
Year Out - £3000 to support a venture started as part of a sandwich year placement
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CONTACT US @LJMU_Enterprise ❙ www2.ljmu.ac.uk/startup
{
Case Study FINAL YEAR MARKETING STUDENT AMY COLLINS TELLS US HOW SHE TURNED AN INSTAGRAM TREND INTO A VIABLE BUSINESS WITH SUPPORT FROM THE CENTRE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP How did you go about starting your own business? I noticed that lots of artists I admired on Instagram were releasing enamel pins. I felt like I hadn’t put my own creative skills to the test for years so decided to use pins as a way to challenge myself and have a creative outlet. I just started with one pin design to keep the financial risk down and used the money from that to finance the second one. I haven’t put any money into the business apart from that initial couple of hundred pounds. Now, I not only sell my own designs on Etsy but also design and supply pins for other businesses and individuals. What does your job involve? It’s just me doing virtually everything so I wear many hats. I design, market, bookkeep, order stock from various suppliers, liaise with potential clients, send all the parcels out etc. Three things you like about your job: ❙❙ In the last few months I’ve started selling at local makers markets which I love doing. It’s brilliant to see the reaction on people’s faces when they appreciate your designs.
❙❙ I love being part of the Independent Liverpool scene, I kind of straddle the hospitality community and also the local indie artists and artisans. Liverpool is thriving in these areas, I feel very proud to be part of it.
❙❙ The sense of accomplishment when working
for yourself is very fulfilling. I have always had an excellent work ethic but when something works out and you’ve seen it through from concept to end result there’s no better feeling.
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
What were the key challenges that you faced and how did you overcome them? Working for myself is tough as I’m not naturally organised and certainly lack discipline so I have to constantly review working practices and also just be very realistic about what one person can achieve. Another challenge was feeling like a bit of a fraud and not worthy or professional enough sometimes. Because I’ve just learned as I have gone along including graphic design skills, marketing skills and business management skills, it’s easy to convince yourself that you’re out of your depth sometimes. The more I spoke with other entrepreneurs the better I started to feel. I realised that everyone is winging it, everyone is taking risks, learning by doing, failing, then trying something a little different until it sticks. So now instead of comparing myself with everyone else, I just feel incredibly proud to have the confidence to keep trying and keep seeking new opportunities. What help or support did you access from LJMU and how was this useful? I have had some great tips and pointers from the Centre for Entrepreneurship, the most important one being; try to keep it simple, as it’s easy to get carried away with lots of ideas but being great at one thing is so much better. I also have been incorporating some digital marketing skills into my business that I’ve learned on my course too. Now that things are really taking off I have one of my classmates working with me. I can focus more on leads and design and she is organising newsletters and improving my SEO etc. What relevant work experience/skills have proved most useful in running a business? I am a mature student so I have worked many jobs
including 9 years in HMV where I was a manager. I think that every single job I’ve had has contributed in some way to my capabilities as a sole trader and entrepreneur. Because I have worked a lot and know how employable I am it means that I don’t have a fear of failure. If I have to give up Pin Head tomorrow it would be sad but I would be able to move onto another project or job. This doesn’t mean I don’t care, it means I can take risks and live with the outcome no matter what. What advice would you give other students to improve their employability or looking to start their own business? Viktor Frankl sums up precisely my thoughts on running your own business - “Don't aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself.” In other words be brilliant at what you do, help others, be true to yourself and success will come but don’t chase numbers or notoriety as you will only be disappointed. What’s next for your business? I have some ideas up my sleeve to do with working more with charities and some local projects too, but as I’m entering the final year of my Marketing degree I need to be patient and not overload myself with work. I’m determined to do well with my degree so scaling up Pin Head (www.pinheaduk.com) can wait a little longer.
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
40
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.
5
DID YOU KNOW? According to a 2018 survey of large employers (carried out by High Fliers Research), more than a third of the employers taking part in the research warned that graduates who have had no previous work experience are unlikely to be successful during the selection process for the top employers’ graduate programmes. This means that by having no experience you are immediately restricting the opportunities available to you.
Types of work experience
Work experience has become a general term which incorporates a wide range of opportunities and experience. The best way for employers to recruit a future graduate can be to see them in the workplace and how they perform on a daily basis. The following types of work experience can therefore be a way of securing a future graduate position at an organisation.
2. 3. 4. 5.
Year-long placements – This type of placement is also known as an industrial or sandwich placement. They can be a compulsory part of a university course but students on other courses may also have the option to take a year out from their studies and undertake a placement. This usually takes place between the second and third year of your course. Summer placements – Increasingly the term internship is being used to describe placements that take place over the summer holidays usually for between eight and 12 weeks. They can be well-paid and, depending on the organisation, may only be available to students who have completed at least two years of their degree course. Work shadowing – These opportunities are usually short term and unpaid as you will not be undertaking a specific role in an organisation. The main activities include observing staff and getting an insight into a particular job role and organisation. They can be extremely useful in building up contacts. Part-time work – These types of positions tend to be ongoing and you may be working for one or two days per week even during term time. They may not necessarily be linked to your future career but they are still a great way to gain skills, develop your organisational awareness and build up your CV. Internships - This term is increasingly used but is just another name for a placement and can range from two weeks to a year in duration. Find out more about paid undergraduate LJMU internships on the opposite page.
A Careers Adviser says ...
“
1.
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
{
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.
41
{
Help and support available to you..
01. 02. 03.
[
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
[
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
42
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.
8 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
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..
01. 02. 03. 04.
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.
{ { MATURE STUDENTS
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
43
Skills-based CV ^ƚĞƉŚĂŶŝĞ ^ƚLJůĞƐ
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ϭϰ ZĂŶĚŽůƉŚ ǀĞŶƵĞ͕ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů͕ >ϮϮ ϬKW ŵĂŝů͗ ƐƚĞƉŚĂŶŝĞƐƚLJůĞƐΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵ DŽďŝůĞ͗ Ϭϳϴϳϴ ϵϴϳϵϴϳ WĞƌƐŽŶĂů WƌŽĨŝůĞ ŵŽƚŝǀĂƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ŚĂƌĚǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ǀĞŶƚƐ DĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ƵŶĚĞƌŐƌĂĚƵĂƚĞ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƚŚŽƌŽƵŐŚ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ŬĞLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŽƌŝĞƐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ĞdžĐĞůůĞŶƚ ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƚŝŽŶ͕ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚ ŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƚŝŽŶ ƐŬŝůůƐ͕ ŬĞĞŶ ƚŽ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞ Ă ƐƵŵŵĞƌ ŝŶƚĞƌŶƐŚŝƉ ĂƐ Ă DĂƌŬĞƚŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ǀĞŶƚƐ ƐƐŝƐƚĂŶƚ Ăƚ ĞƐƚ ǀĞŶƚƐ͘ ĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ YƵĂůŝĨŝĐĂƚŝŽŶƐ ϮϬϭϳͲƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů :ŽŚŶ DŽŽƌĞƐ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ;>:DhͿ ;,ŽŶƐͿ ǀĞŶƚƐ DĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ;ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ĚĞŐƌĞĞ ĐůĂƐƐŝĨŝĐĂƚŝŽŶ Ϯ͗ϭ Žƌ ĂďŽǀĞ͕ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚ ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ͗ ϲϳйͿ ^ƚƵĚLJŝŶŐ ƌĞůĞǀĂŶƚ ŵŽĚƵůĞƐ ůŝŬĞ ǀĞŶƚ DĂƌŬĞƚŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ /ŶƚĞŐƌĂƚĞĚ DĂƌŬĞƚŝŶŐ ŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƚŝŽŶƐ ŚĂƐ ŚĞůƉĞĚ ŵĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉ Ă ƚŚŽƌŽƵŐŚ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ŬĞLJ ŵĂƌŬĞƚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŽƌŝĞƐ ůŝŬĞ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚŝŶŐ ŵŝdž͕ ĐŽŶƐƵŵĞƌ ďĞŚĂǀŝŽƵƌ ĂŶĚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚ ƐĞŐŵĞŶƚĂƚŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŐŝǀĞŶ ŵĞ ĂŶ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƚ ŝŶƚŽ ĚŝĨĨĞƌĞŶƚ ŵĂƌŬĞƚŝŶŐ ĐŚĂŶŶĞůƐ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ƉƌŝŶƚ ŵĞĚŝĂ ĂŶĚ ƐŽĐŝĂů ŵĞĚŝĂ͘ DŽĚƵůĞƐ ŝŶ ǀĞŶƚ WůĂŶŶŝŶŐ Θ ZŝƐŬ ƐƐĞƐƐŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ^ƚĂŐŝŶŐ ǀĞŶƚƐ ϭΘϮ ĂŶĚ ƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ǀĞŶƚƐ ŚĂǀĞ ƐƚƌĞŶŐƚŚĞŶĞĚ ŵLJ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ĚŝĨĨĞƌĞŶƚ ŬŝŶĚƐ ŽĨ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĞĨĨĞĐƚŝǀĞ ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƚŝŽŶ͘ ϮϬϭϬͲϮϬϭϳ St Matthew’s ,ŝŐŚ ^ĐŚŽŽů͕ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů Ͳ>ĞǀĞůƐ͗ ŶŐůŝƐŚ ; Ϳ͕ ƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ^ƚƵĚŝĞƐ ; Ϳ͕ ^ŽĐŝŽůŽŐLJ ; Ϳ ϵ ' ^ Ɛ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ DĂƚŚƐ ; Ϳ ĂŶĚ ŶŐůŝƐŚ ; Ϳ ^ŬŝůůƐ WƌŽĨŝůĞ ŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƚŝŽŶ Θ ƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ^ĞƌǀŝĐĞ ^ŬŝůůƐ Excellent communication and customer service skills developed from four years’ experience in a ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌͲĨĂĐŝŶŐ ƌŽůĞƐ͘ Ɛ Ă ƐĂůĞƐ ĂĚǀŝƐĞƌ Ăƚ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů^h͕ / ĚĞĂů ǁŝƚŚ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ĞŶƋƵŝƌŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵƉůĂŝŶƚƐ ĞĨĨĞĐƚŝǀĞůLJ͕ ƌĞŵĂŝŶŝŶŐ ĐĂůŵ ƵŶĚĞƌ ƉƌĞƐƐƵƌĞ ĂŶĚ ĂĚĂƉƚŝŶŐ ŵLJ ƐƚLJůĞ ŽĨ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƚŝŽŶ ĨŽƌ ĚŝĨĨĞƌĞŶƚ ƐŝƚƵĂƚŝŽŶƐ͘ Ɛ Ă ŵĞŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ĐĂƌĞ ƚĞĂŵ Ăƚ ŝŶƚƌĞĞ ZĂĐĞĐŽƵƌƐĞ͕ / ŐĂŝŶĞĚ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ůŝĂŝƐŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ŚŝŐŚͲƉƌŽĨŝůĞ ƌĂĐĞ ŐŽĞƌƐ͕ ůŝŬĞ ĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ŐƵĞƐƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƐƉŽŶƐŽƌƐ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝůůƵƐƚƌĂƚĞƐ ŵLJ ĐŽŶĨŝĚĞŶĐĞ ŝŶ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƚŝŶŐ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůůLJ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ Ăůů ůĞǀĞůƐ͘ ^ƚƌŽŶŐ ǁƌŝƚƚĞŶ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƚŝŽŶ ƐŬŝůůƐ ĚĞŵŽŶƐƚƌĂƚĞĚ ďLJ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚŝŶŐ Ă ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ĂƐƐŝŐŶŵĞŶƚƐ Ăƚ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ͘ &ĞĞĚďĂĐŬ ĨƌŽŵ ŵLJ ůĞĐƚƵƌĞƌƐ ŚŝŐŚůŝŐŚƚĞĚ ŵLJ ĐŽŶĐŝƐĞ ǁƌŝƚŝŶŐ ƐƚLJůĞ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶĨŝĚĞŶƚ ƵƐĞ ŽĨ ĂƉƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞ ƚĞƌŵŝŶŽůŽŐLJ͘ / ŚĂǀĞ ĂůƐŽ ƉƌŽĚƵĐĞĚ ĂŶŶŽƚĂƚĞĚ ĨůŽŽƌ ƉůĂŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƌŽŽŵ ůĂLJŽƵƚƐ ĂƐ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ǁŽƌŬͲƌĞůĂƚĞĚ ƉƌŽũĞĐƚƐ ĨŽƌ ŵLJ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ͘ WƌŽũĞĐƚ DĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ Θ KƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƚŝŽŶ ^ŬŝůůƐ &Žƌ ŵLJ ^ƚĂŐŝŶŐ ǀĞŶƚƐ ŵŽĚƵůĞ͕ / ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĞĚ Ă ĐŚĂƌŝƚLJ ĨƵŶĚƌĂŝƐŝŶŐ ĞǀĞŶƚ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ŐƌŽƵƉ ŽĨ ƚŚƌĞĞ ĨĞůůŽǁ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ͘ ĨƚĞƌ ŝŶŝƚŝĂů ĚŝƐĐƵssion, we agreed on staging a “BĂƚƚůĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ands” event in >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů ŝƚLJ ĞŶƚƌĞ͘ DLJ ƚĂƐŬ ǁĂƐ ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ǀĞŶƵĞ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝŶǀŽůǀĞĚ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƚĂĐƚŝŶŐ ƐƵŝƚĂďůĞ ǀĞŶƵĞƐ ƚŽ ĐŚĞĐŬ ĂǀĂŝůĂďŝůŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŝĐĞƐ͘ / ǁĂƐ ĂůƐŽ ƌĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďůĞ ĨŽƌ ĚƌĂǁŝŶŐ ƵƉ a project plan, on which I planned and recorded each team member’s responsibilities, our ŽďũĞĐƚŝǀĞƐ ĂŶĚ Ă ƚŝŵĞůŝŶĞ ŽĨ ƚĂƐŬƐ͘ Ɛ Ă ǁĞůĐŽŵĞ ĂƐƐŝƐƚĂŶƚ Ăƚ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů^h͕ / ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĞĚ Ă ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ƋƵŝnjnjĞƐ ĨŽƌ ďŽƚŚ ŶĞǁ ĂŶĚ ƌĞƚƵƌŶŝŶŐ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ͘ / ƵƐĞĚ ďŽƚŚ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů^h ĂŶĚ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂů ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ƐŽĐŝĂů ŵĞĚŝĂ ƉĂŐĞƐ ƚŽ ƌĂŝƐĞ ĂǁĂƌĞŶĞƐƐ ŽĨ ŵLJ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚĞĚ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂů ĞǀĂůƵĂƚŝŽŶƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ ĞĂĐŚ ĞǀĞŶŝŶŐ ƚŽ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽůůĞĐƚ ŝĚĞĂƐ ĨŽƌ ŶĞǁ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ͘ ŽŵŵĞƌĐŝĂů ǁĂƌĞŶĞƐƐ / ŚĂǀĞ ĂƚƚĞŶĚĞĚ Ă ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ŐƵĞƐƚ ůĞĐƚƵƌĞƐ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌĞĚ ďLJ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞĚ ĞǀĞŶƚ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůƐ Ăƚ >:Dh͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ / ŚĂǀĞ ĨŽƵŶĚ ĞdžƚƌĞŵĞůLJ ďĞŶĞĨŝĐŝĂů ƚŽ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞ ŵLJ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ͘ / ƉĂƌƚŝĐƵůĂƌůLJ ĞŶũŽLJĞĚ Ă ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ŵĂƐƚĞƌ ĐůĂƐƐ ďLJ Žď WƌĂƚƚĞLJ͕ ǁŚŽ ŐĂǀĞ ƵƐ ĂŶ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚŝŶŐ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƚ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĞŶĂ ĂŶĚ ŽŶǀĞŶƚŝŽŶ ĞŶƚƌĞ ; Ϳ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů͘ <ĞĞƉ ƵƉͲƚŽͲĚĂƚĞ ǁŝƚŚ ƚƌĞŶĚƐ ĂŶĚ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŵĞŶƚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚŝŶŐ ƐĞĐƚŽƌ ďLJ ƐƵďƐĐƌŝďŝŶŐ ƚŽ DĂƌŬĞƚŝŶŐ tĞĞŬ͘
7 Additional information to include In addition to your personal details, education details, employment details, and skills you may want to include other information to make your CV stand out. ❚❚ Achievements: Employers like to see achievements and whether you have held positions of responsibility so include this kind of information too. Did you lead the university football team to victory this year? Have you been awarded a scholarship? Have you successfully raised money for a charity and participated in a sponsored event? Have you started a new society? ❚❚ Positions of responsibility: Have you chaired a committee? Acted as treasurer of a society? Been a course rep? Taken on the captain position of a sports team? Positions like these help you to demonstrate that you can make decisions and take on responsibility. ❚❚ Interests: To demonstrate further skills, to get your personality across a bit, or to just add something else to make your CV stand out, include some information about your interests. If you have interests relating to the job, definitely mention these but avoid clichés about activities such as socialising and reading.
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
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If you include a personal profile ensure it is targeted at the role and organisation. Keep it concise and focused.
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List entries in this section in reverse chronological order.
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Highlight any relevant knowledge developed on your course and briefly mention relevant modules.
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Don’t list all your GCSE subjects.
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Use positive language and examples from university, previous work, volunteering, extracurricular activities etc. to demonstrate how you have used these skills.
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List entries in this section in reverse chronological order and provide a brief overview of the role.
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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.
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If you have any interests that relate to the role, include these at the end of your CV in an interests section.
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Preferably use one academic and one employer reference. If you run out of space you can state ‘References available on request’.
Look at the job advert and include all the skills and attributes required for the role.
dĞĂŵǁŽƌŬ džĐĞůůĞŶƚ ƚĞĂŵǁŽƌŬ ƐŬŝůůƐ ĚĞŵŽŶƐƚƌĂƚĞĚ ǁŚŝůƐƚ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ĂƐ Ă ĂŵƉ ŽƵŶƐĞůůŽƌ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ĂŵƉ >ĞĂĚĞƌƐ͘ KƌŐĂŶŝƐĞĚ ĂŶĚ ƉůĂŶŶĞĚ Ă ƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞ ŽĨ ĂĐƚŝǀŝƚŝĞƐ ĨŽƌ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͕ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ĐůŽƐĞůLJ ǁŝƚŚ ŽƚŚĞƌ team members and sharing tasks out based on strengths. By listening to others’ ideas and ďƵŝůĚŝŶŐ Ă ƌĂƉƉŽƌƚ ǁŝƚŚ ĞǀĞƌLJŽŶĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƚĞĂŵ͕ Ăůů ƚĂƐŬƐ ƌĂŶ ƚŽ ƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞ ĂŶĚ ǁĞ ĐƌĞĂƚĞĚ Ă ĨƵŶ͕ ĞĚƵĐĂƚŝŽŶĂů ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ͘ /d ĂŶĚ ^ŽĐŝĂů DĞĚŝĂ ^ŬŝůůƐ ŽŵƉĞƚĞŶƚ ƵƐĞƌ ŽĨ DŝĐƌŽƐŽĨƚ KĨĨŝĐĞ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞƐ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ tŽƌĚ͕ džĐĞů͕ WŽǁĞƌWŽŝŶƚ ĂŶĚ KƵƚůŽŽŬ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ / ƌĞŐƵůĂƌůLJ ƵƐĞ ĨŽƌ ĂƐƐŝŐŶŵĞŶƚƐ Ăƚ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ͘ / ŚĂǀĞ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ĐŽŶĨŝĚĞŶƚ ƐŽĐŝĂů ŵĞĚŝĂ ƐŬŝůůƐ ;dǁŝƚƚĞƌ ĂŶĚ &ĂĐĞŬͿ ĨƌŽŵ ƉƌŽŵŽƚŝŶŐ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ / ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĞĚ ĨŽƌ >:Dh ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ĂƐ Ă ǁĞůĐŽŵĞ ĂƐƐŝƐƚĂŶƚ ĨŽƌ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů^h͘ tŽƌŬ ,ŝƐƚŽƌLJ ϮϬϭϳͲƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů^h͕ KƵƚƌĞĂĐŚ ^ƚĂĨĨ ĂŶĚ tĞůĐŽŵĞ ƐƐŝƐƚĂŶƚ /Ŷ ŽƌĚĞƌ ƚŽ ŚĞůƉ ĨƵŶĚ ŵLJ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ƐƚƵĚŝĞƐ͕ / ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ^ƚƵĚĞŶƚ hŶŝŽŶ Ăƚ >:Dh ĂƐ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ KƵƚƌĞĂĐŚ ƚĞĂŵ ĂŶĚ ƐŝŶĐĞ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ ϮϬϭϴ as a welcome assistant during Freshers’ Week ĂŶĚ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚŽƵƚ ƐĞŵĞƐƚĞƌ ŽŶĞ͕ ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐŝŶŐ Ă ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ͕ ƋƵŝnjnjĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŵĞĚ ďĂƌ ŶŝŐŚƚƐ͘ ^ƵŵŵĞƌ ϮϬϭϴ ^ƵŵŵĞƌ ĂŵƉ͕ ^ĂŶ ŝĞŐŽ͕ ĂůŝĨŽƌŶŝĂ͕ h^ – ĂŵƉ ŽƵŶƐĞůůŽƌ ƐƐŝƐƚĞĚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĚĞƐŝŐŶ ĂŶĚ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌLJ ŽĨ Ă ƐƵŵŵĞƌ ĐĂŵƉ ĨŽƌ ϭϭͲϭϲ LJĞĂƌ ŽůĚƐ͘ ŽĂĐŚĞĚ ƐǁŝŵŵŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƚĞŶŶŝƐ͕ ƉƵƚ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ ĂŶ ĂĐƚŝǀŝƚLJͲďĂƐĞĚ ĞǀĞŶŝŶŐ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞ ĂŶĚ ĂůƐŽ ĚĞĂůƚ ǁŝƚŚ ƉĂƐƚŽƌĂů ĐĂƌĞ͘ Ɖƌŝů ϮϬϭϳͬϮϬϭϴ :ƵǀŝŽ >ƚĚ͕ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů – ƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ĂƌĞ dĞĂŵ DĞŵďĞƌ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ 'ƌĂŶĚ EĂƚŝŽŶĂů tŽƌŬŝŶŐ ĂƐ Ă ŵĞŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ĐĂƌĞ ƚĞĂŵ͕ / ĨĂĐŝůŝƚĂƚĞĚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶƚƌLJ ŽĨ ƌĂĐĞ ŐŽĞƌƐ ŝŶƚŽ ŬĞLJ ĂƌĞĂƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƌĂĐĞĐŽƵƌƐĞ͕ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ŐƌĂŶĚƐƚĂŶĚ ĂƌĞĂƐ͕ ĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƚĞ ĐŽŵƉůĞdžĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŚŽƐƉŝƚĂůŝƚLJ ĂƌĞĂƐ͘ dŚŝƐ ŐĂǀĞ ŵĞ ĞdžĐĞůůĞŶƚ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ŝŶ Ă ĚĞŵĂŶĚŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌͲĨŽĐƵƐƐĞĚ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ͘ dŚĂŶŬƐ ƚŽ ŵLJ ŚĂƌĚǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ĂƚƚŝƚƵĚĞ ĂŶĚ ĞdžĐĞůůĞŶƚ ƉĞƌĨŽƌŵĂŶĐĞ͕ / ǁĂƐ ŝŶǀŝƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƌĞƚƵƌŶ ƚŚĞ ĨŽůůŽǁŝŶŐ LJĞĂƌ͘ ϮϬϭϱͲϮϬϭϳ ĂĨĨĞ EĞƌŽ͕ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů ŝƚLJ ĞŶƚƌĞ – WĂƌƚͲƚŝŵĞ ĂƌŝƐƚĂ tŽƌŬĞĚ ĞĨĨĞĐƚŝǀĞůLJ ŝŶ Ă ƚĞĂŵ ŝŶ Ă ďƵƐLJ ĐĂĨĠ͘ ĞǀĞůŽƉĞĚ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞ ƐŬŝůůƐ͕ ďƵŝůƚ Ă ƌĂƉƉŽƌƚ ǁŝƚŚ ƌĞŐƵůĂƌ ĐƵƐƚŽŵĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ĚĞĂůƚ ǁŝƚŚ ĐŽŵƉůĂŝŶƚƐ ƉƌŽĨĞƐƐŝŽŶĂůůLJ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽŵƉƚůLJ͘ ĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ WŽƐŝƚŝŽŶƐ ŽĨ ZĞƐƉŽŶƐŝďŝůŝƚLJ ƵŬĞ ŽĨ ĚŝŶďƵƌŐŚ 'ŽůĚ ǁĂƌĚ͕ ĂĐŚŝĞǀĞĚ ŝŶ ϮϬϭϲ͘ ĞƌƚŝĨŝĐĂƚĞ ŽĨ ĐŚŝĞǀĞŵĞŶƚ ĂǁĂƌĚĞĚ from St Matthew’s High School for two years of volunteering ĂƐ Ă >ĞĂƌŶŝŶŐ DĞŶƚŽƌ ĂŶĚ ZĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƵĚĚLJ͘ ZĂŝƐĞd £450 for local charities in “Battle of the Bands” event͘ ĚĚŝƚŝŽŶĂů ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƚŝŽŶ /ŶƚĞƌĞƐƚƐ͗ / Ăŵ ĐŽŵŵŝƚƚĞĚ ƚŽ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐ ŵLJ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ŵĂƌŬĞƚŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŵĂƌŬĞƚŝŶŐ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌLJ͘ /Ŷ ĂĚĚŝƚŝŽŶ ƚŽ ƐƵďƐĐƌŝďŝŶŐ ƚŽ DĂƌŬĞƚŝŶŐ tĞĞŬ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚŝŶŐ ƌĞůĞǀĂŶƚ ŽŶůŝŶĞ ĐŽƵƌƐĞƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ &ƵƚƵƌĞůĞĂƌŶ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ͕ / ĂůƐŽ ĂƚƚĞŶĚĞĚ Ă ƌĞĐĞŶƚ ĐĂƌĞĞƌƐ ƚĂůŬ ĚĞůŝǀĞƌĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞ /D Ăƚ >:Dh ƚŽ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞ ŵLJ ƵŶĚĞƌƐƚĂŶĚŝŶŐ ŽĨ ŵĂƌŬĞƚŝŶŐ ĐĂƌĞĞƌƐ͘ / ĂůƐŽ ĞŶũŽLJ ƌƵŶŶŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ LJŽŐĂ ƚŽ ŬĞĞƉ Ĩŝƚ͘ dƌĂǀĞů͗ dƌĂǀĞůůĞĚ ĞdžƚĞŶƐŝǀĞůLJ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƵƌŽƉĞ ĂŶĚ EŽƌƚŚ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ͘ WƵƚ ŵLJ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ŽƌŐĂŶŝƐĂƚŝŽŶĂů ĂŶĚ ƚŝŵĞ ŵĂŶĂŐĞŵĞŶƚ ƐŬŝůůƐ ŝŶƚŽ ƉƌĂĐƚŝĐĞ ĂŶĚ ŝŵŵĞƌƐĞĚ ŵLJƐĞůĨ ŝŶ ĚŝĨĨĞƌĞŶƚ ĐƵůƚƵƌĞƐ͘ ƌŝǀŝŶŐ ůŝĐĞŶĐĞ͗ ,ĂǀĞ ŚĞůĚ Ă ĨƵůů͕ ĐůĞĂŶ ůŝĐĞŶĐĞ ƐŝŶĐĞ ϮϬϭϳ͘ ZĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞƐ ƌ ĂǀŝĚ ůĂƌŬĞ͕ ^ĞŶŝŽƌ >ĞĐƚƵƌĞƌ Ăƚ >:Dh͕ dĞů͗ Ϭϭϱϭ Ϯϯϭ ϱϲϴϰ͕ ŵĂŝů͗ Ě͘Ğ͘ĐůĂƌŬĞΛůũŵƵ͘ĂĐ͘ƵŬ DƌƐ ĂŶŝĞůůĞ ,ŽĐŬŶĞLJ͕ >ŝǀĞƌƉŽŽů^h͕ dĞů͗ Ϭϭϱϭ Ϯϯϭ ϰϵϬϬ͕ ŵĂŝů͗ Ě͘ŚŽĐŬŶĞLJΛůũŵƵ͘ĂĐ͘ƵŬ
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GETTING THE JOB
Chronological CV Thomas Byron
154A Birch Avenue, Hightown, L38 5TH Tel: 07798 231 564, Email: Thomas_Byron@outook.com; Full, clean driving licence
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Personal profile I am an enthusiastic and dedicated Sport Development with Physical Education graduate with a great passion for sport as well as extensive experience in coaching and customer service positions. Through employment, studies and volunteering, I have developed my ability to motivate others as well as the strong communication, organisation and project management skills required for this role. I am keen to join Richwater Council as an Assistant Sports Development Officer. Education and Qualifications 2015-2018 Liverpool John Moores University BA (Hons) Sport Development (2:1) Relevant modules included: Management in Sport Development; Engaging underrepresented Groups in Sport; Managing Sport Development Projects; and Delivering Adapted Activities. Completed NGB L1 qualifications in Dodgeball, Handball, Badminton and Gymnastics.
If you include a personal profile, keep it concise and focused, highlighting relevant experience, interests, knowledge and skills.
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List entries in this section in reverse chronological order, i.e. starting with details about your degree.
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Highlight relevant modules you have completed as part of your studies.
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You don’t need to include all of your GCSE subjects.
You can also draw the reader’s attention to any other qualifications you might have achieved alongside your degree.
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.
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2007 – 2014 North Liverpool High School A-Levels: Physical Education (B), English (C) and Psychology (C) 10 GCSEs including English (B), Maths (B) and PE (A*)
List any other work experience in reverse chronological order and provide a brief overview of the role.
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In this section, you can briefly highlight a number of skills that will help to demonstrate your suitability for your chosen role.
Relevant Experience
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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.
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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.
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If you have space, include details of two referees (preferably one academic and one employer reference). If you run out of space, you can state “References available on request”.
Jan 2016-present Formby Cricket Club - Voluntary Coach Having played cricket for Formby Cricket Club since the age of 15, I started assisting with coaching sessions during my first year at LJMU. I completed NGB L1 and L2 qualifications in cricket. Thanks to my ability to motivate others and my excellent communication skills, I was appointed assistant coach to the boys’ team in 2017. I lead both individual and group training sessions on a regular basis, which has strengthened my confidence in public speaking. As part of the club’s outreach activities, I also lead coaching sessions in a number of primary schools in North Liverpool, coaching basic cricket skills to children aged 7 to 11 and trying to increase interest and participation in the sport. This has given me experience of building up effective working relationships with local schools as well as of designing and delivering engaging coaching sessions appropriate to pupils’ age and abilities. Sept 2017-July 2018 Vauxhall Primary School - Voluntary Teaching Assistant During my final year at university, I volunteered one day a week as a teaching assistant. My duties included supporting key stage 1 and 2 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, including hockey, dodgeball and gymnastics. I ensured I offered differentiated activities for pupils with physical disabilities or lower abilities to keep all pupils engaged and ensure every child had an enjoyable experience. This role developed my understanding of the primary PE curriculum as well as my ability to build effective working relationships with teachers and support staff at the school. I also strengthened my planning and organisation skills as well as my understanding of child protection and safeguarding.
May 2016 Sefton Council, Liverpool - Work shadowing In order to gain a better understanding of sports development, I organised to work shadow one of Sefton Council’s sports development officers for one week. Here I learnt about the importance of building a network of key contacts in local primary and secondary schools to promote available services and encourage participation. I was involved in organising and delivering a sports day at Waterloo Primary School, which improved my project management skills. I also contributed suggestions for a new marketing booklet to be distributed to all schools in the borough, which gave me an initial insight into marketing and promotions.
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An Employability Adviser says ...
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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
Additional Work Experience 2016-2018 Tesco, Liverpool - Customer Service Assistant General customer service and checkout assistant role in the Bold Street Tesco Express branch. Here I provide a friendly and efficient service, dealing with enquiries and complaints in a professional manner. Developed my teamwork skills, as assisting colleagues during busy times is essential to maintain team spirit and reduce waiting time for customers. 2014-2015 Formby Dental Practice – Administrative Assistant Keeping patient records up-to-date, typing up letters and documents, answering the telephone and arranging appointments. Working closely with the practice manager gave me an insight into drawing up staff rotas as well as sharing out the workload across the team.
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Skills profile IT skills Excellent working knowledge of all MS Office packages in particular Word, Excel, and Outlook. I have recently completed a webinar about Prezi to learn how to create more engaging presentation slides and started practising with the software to improve my skills.
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Communication and Customer Service skills As a volunteer coach and teaching assistant, I have greatly developed my confidence in public speaking and presentation skills. Feedback from more experienced coaches and teachers has highlighted in particular my engaging and motivating style of delivery. I have demonstrated excellent customer service skills by dealing professionally and promptly with any enquiries or complaints while working as a customer service assistant at Tesco, suggesting alternative products or processing refunds where appropriate.
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Achievements
Completed Liverpool Half Marathon in 2016, raising over £500 for Sport Relief.
Interests I coach and play cricket three times a week at Formby Cricket Club and am a member of a local running club. To keep up-to-date with developments in the sports and leisure sector, I subscribe to both the Sports Management and Leisure Management newsletters. I also enjoy travelling and am currently learning Spanish.
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References Mrs Eve Hopkins, Senior Lecturer at LJMU, 0151 231 1234, e.hopkins@ljmu.ac.uk Mr Ben Miller, Head Coach, Formby Cricket Club, 07985 632514, bmiller@gmail.co.uk
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
GETTING THE JOB
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Covering letter example A covering letter, which should be around a page of A4 in length, should always accompany your CV. As with the CV, the covering letter should be tailored to the role. If you can, find out the name of the person to send the application to. You should demonstrate that you have researched the organisation, explain why you want to work there, and draw the employerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention to the key skills and experience that are highlighted within your CV.
154A Birch Avenue Hightown L38 5TH Mr Thomas Coogan HR Adviser Richwater Council 20-32 Main Street Richwater RW1 5TH
20th October 2018
Dear Mr Coogan, I am writing to apply for your Assistant Sports Development Officer vacancy as advertised on the Jobs Go Public website and enclose my CV for your consideration. I have recently graduated with a BA (Hons) Sport Development degree from Liverpool John Moores University and am keen to contribute to an increase in sport participation levels in England by pursuing a career in sports development with a local authority. As you can see from my CV, I have been very proactive about gaining relevant experience alongside my studies, starting with a week of work shadowing in Sefton Council at the end of my first year. This short placement has been extremely beneficial, not only because it convinced me that sports development was the career for me, but also because it gave me an insight into the range of work undertaken by a sports development officer in a local council, including supporting schools to deliver government targets for PE-related provision, recruiting and managing a team of volunteers, and working with local communities and existing sports clubs to increase participation in sport. My interest in working at Richwater Council initially arose after reading in the Leisure Management magazine that you are the only local authority in England to have protected spending on sport and recreation services. Considering the financial pressure on council budgets, I was impressed by your decision and the commitment it illustrates to continuing to improve the health and wellbeing of the citizens of Richwater. I am convinced that programmes like your Free Swim Pass Scheme, Mini Marathon and Strictly Cycling have greatly contributed to the 15% increase in physical and mental wellbeing across the borough as reported in the 2017 Health and Wellbeing Survey. As you can see from my CV, I have completed a wide range of voluntary experience to develop my understanding of sport development and practical coaching skills. Volunteering in my cricket club and a local primary school has given me an excellent insight into the PE curriculum as well as the importance of offering differentiated activities for all abilities to ensure maximum engagement. In addition to L1 and L2 NGB qualifications in cricket, I have also completed L1 qualifications in Dodgeball, Badminton, Handball and Gymnastics, which would enable me to get involved in coaching a number of sports in schools within the Richwater Borough. Aside from coaching skills, I have also demonstrated strong communication and organisation skills as a voluntary teaching assistant by planning curriculum-based activities and training sessions for Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils. I am confident that my ability to establish effective working relationships with teachers and support staff will enable me to expand the network of schools Richwater Council works with on your sports development programmes. I have also gained experience in office-based administration and customer-facing roles, which have helped me develop effective customer service skills. My combination of coaching and office-based skills would make me a strong addition to your team, as my ability to work across both settings would allow me to cover any staff or volunteer shortages flexibly and contribute to the smooth running of your programmes. I would be available for interview at your convenience and look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely,
Thomas Byron
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
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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 ...
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Some application forms use a list of specific, usually competency-based, questions to assess your suitability for the role, as well as some questions to explore your motivation and interest in working for the organisation. These could include questions like:
The supporting information/personal statement section is hugely important and should be tailored to the individual role, because this is where you need to convince the employer that you are the right candidate for the job and discuss why you would like to work for their organisation. Address the job requirements outlined on the person specification one by one and in the same order, providing convincing evidence for your suitability and including key words from the job advert.
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
An employer says ...
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Describe a time when you have worked under pressure. Give an example for when you failed to complete a project on time. What do you consider your greatest achievement? Please discuss a time when you have contributed positively to a team project. Describe a situation when you have successfully communicated complex information. At BP we live by the following values: Safety, Respect, Excellence, One Team, and Courage. Please give a specific example of a time when you have demonstrated one of these values in your extra-curricular activities. Please explain why you have chosen to apply to Caterpillar and what has attracted you to your chosen discipline.
The best approach to answer these questions and to provide evidence for how you meet the selection criteria is the STAR technique.
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5
Competency based questions
A structured application form which addresses the person specification and the job description makes it easy for the shortlisting panel to identify and score your evidence for each criterion. Due to the volume of applications employers receive for graduate and entrylevel roles, candidates whose personal statements do not clearly and systematically address all the essential criteria from the person specification are very unlikely to make it to the interview stage.
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
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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
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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.
{
Help and support available to you..
01. 02. 03. 04. 05.
ONE TO ONE SUPPORT IN THE CAREERS ZONE The prospect of attending an interview can be scary, but don’t panic! Our Careers and Employability Advisers are on hand to provide tips on common interview questions to ensure you shine in the interview. To arrange an appointment, call into a Careers Zone or phone us on 0151 231 2048/3719.
WORKSHOPS/WEBINARS Learn how to prepare effectively for interviews in our ‘Interview Success’ workshop and webinar. We cover typical questions, effective answers and how to impress prospective employers at interview. For dates of upcoming sessions, check our events website https://careers.ljmu.ac.uk
INTERVIEW SIMULATOR As part of our Careers Zone 24/7 online careers tools, you can test yourself with interactive questions on the interview simulator. Build up your confidence by taking a mock interview or learn about what makes an effective answer from experienced recruiters. You can access Careers Zone 24/7 via our Careers website www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers/
CAREER MINI GUIDE Our handy mini guide on ‘Preparing for Interviews’ summarises some key advice for before, during and after the interview, and introduces you to common interview questions. Visit our Careers website www. ljmu.ac.uk/careers/ to download your copy.
INTERVIEW PRACTICE SESSIONS Never had an interview before and don’t know what to expect? Beat your interview nerves by booking a practice interview with one of our advisers by calling into a Careers Zone or phoning us on 0151 231 2048/3719.
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
Different types of interview ❚❚ Telephone - Initial employer call that eliminates candidates based on essential criteria. Successful applicants are usually invited to the one-to-one stage. ❚❚ Video - Whether through Skype, FaceTime or YouTube, this type of interview is increasingly popular for graduate roles in sales, media and marketing. They’re usually held during the initial screening process. ❚❚ One-to-one - Face-to-face encounter with one interviewer, after the organisation decides that you’ve got what it’s looking for. They’re usually formal, but can also take place over lunch. You could also be interviewed by different people at different times. ❚❚ Panel - Similar to one-to-one interviews, except two or more people - often from different parts of the organisation - will be assessing you at the same time. ❚❚ Group - Multiple candidates are interviewed together. They’re asked questions in turn, or discuss certain topics. ❚❚ Assessment centres - These involve tasks including presentations, written tests, and group, role-play and in-tray exercises. They’re used to assess a candidate’s performance in a range of situations, and last between one and three days. You’ll appear alongside several other candidates. Find out more about assessment centres on p.50.
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
GETTING THE JOB
49
Before the interview Thorough preparation is the key to a successful interview. One of the main ways to prepare is to research: Research the organisation: This demonstrates how interested and enthusiastic you are about working for the organisation and will help you prepare some questions to ask them at the end. All employers will expect you to display some understanding of what they do and the sector in which they operate! Research the job: Read the job advert and/or person specification. Look at the organisation’s website or recruitment brochure to see which skills or attributes are mentioned. Use any opportunity to meet the recruiter and employees at careers fairs, on placement and other events, such as open days. Research yourself: Think about your strengths and demonstrate self-awareness. What makes you the best candidate for the post?
Look at the job description and/or person specification and make sure you can give at least one positive example (preferably more) for each of the skills and attributes the employer is seeking. Anticipate the questions: It is often possible to predict the kind of questions you may get by looking at the job description and/or person specification or the organisation’s key competencies and corporate values. These provide the selection criteria for the job and they will ask you questions in order to determine whether or not you have what it takes to do the job effectively and fit into the organisation. Practical issues: Practical preparation can often be overlooked but don’t forget this when preparing for your interview. Plan your day so that you arrive as calm, collected and professional as you can be! Find out what the format of the interview is. Where will it be? Do you need to take anything? What are you going to wear? Do you need overnight accommodation?
During the interview With thorough preparation, you are in a good position to respond effectively to questions and display knowledge of yourself, the job and the organisation. When answering, avoid yes/no answers, seek clarification if needed, listen to the questions, be positive and use examples from different experiences. Competency-based questions are commonly used to help interviewers gain a better understanding of your skills set and suitability for the role. These could include: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚
Give an example for when you have used your communication skills to deal with a difficult person. Please discuss a time when you have demonstrated your ability to prioritise conflicting tasks effectively. Describe a situation when you have successfully led a team.
To give structure to your answers and provide clear evidence of your skills, the STAR technique is useful to help you focus your answers and demonstrate your competencies to the recruiter.
Please see the previous section on application forms for further details about STAR and an example. Increasingly, graduate recruiters now use strength-based interviews, which allow them to explore what motivates you, whether you would fit into their organisation and whether you would enjoy the job. Questions are usually more open and give candidates more freedom in their answers than competency-based questions: ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚ ❚❚
What do you enjoy about working in a team? What motivates you? Would you be happy to compromise the quality of your work in order to deliver a project more quickly? What would people who know you well say you are good at? What modules did you enjoy the most during your degree studies?
Your responses should still reflect the required skills, personal attributes and organisational values, but ensure that your responses are natural and that your motivation shines through in all of your answers.
After the interview Learn from the experience. Note down some of the questions they asked. Were you satisfied with your answers or could you do better next time? This will help you prepare for the next stage of the process or get ready for interviews with other employers. If they don’t contact you when they said they would, or if it has been more than two weeks, phone the company and ask for an update. If you have been unsuccessful, ask for feedback on your interview. Most recruiters will be happy to provide this, and although it might not all be positive, it is important to reflect on unsuccessful interviews to help you improve your technique.
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Interviews can be nerve wracking and stressful situations - but don’t panic. A few simple techniques, good preparation and some positive thinking can do wonders to reduce your stress levels and help you shine. If you want to discuss this further, call into your nearest Careers Zone and book an appointment with an adviser.
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
An employer says ...
“
A Careers Adviser says ...
What I look for in candidates during interviews are their personal attributes. Skills you can teach, but you can’t make an individual be motivated, enthusiastic or proactive. In the last candidate I recruited, those attributes came across strongly in the interview and in everything she was talking about. And that’s what made her stand out as a candidate.
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
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GETTING THE JOB
Psychometric tests and assessment centres USE SCREENING TESTS AS
PART OF THEIR RECRUITMENT PROCESS AS RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THEY ARE THE BEST SINGLE PREDICTOR OF PERFORMANCE AND GIVE AN EMPLOYER AN
OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT OF A CANDIDATE’S ABILITIES.
If your initial application is successful, psychometric tests are usually the next part of the screening process. If you successfully navigate them, you are then usually invited to an assessment centre or assessment day. The two main types of psychometric tests used are ability tests (sometimes called aptitude tests) and personality questionnaires. Ability tests are formal tests designed to indicate how well you are able to carry out various aspects of a job i.e. to show employers your potential to do a task well. The tests are typically completed online and are usually a series of multiple choice questions taken under strict time limits. The most common tests used by graduate recruiters are verbal tests, numerical tests, diagrammatic/abstract/logical/spatial reasoning tests, industry-specific tests and situational judgement tests. Personality questionnaires look at behavioural preferences. They are not concerned with your abilities, but how you see yourself in terms of your personality; for example, the way you relate to others, and how you deal with feelings and emotions. There are no rights or wrongs in behavioural style, so the best advice is to be honest in the way you answer the questions. The next stage in the graduate recruitment process is usually an invitation to attend an assessment centre or selection centre event. Assessment centres are costly both in terms of financial outlay and staff resources so tend to be used mainly by larger organisations offering structured graduate training programmes.
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A student says ...
Prepare yourself for each activity. There is plenty of information online and the practice tests on Careers Zone 24/7 of the Careers website is really helpful. Preparation will give you the confidence you need to perform well in any situation. Always keep in mind the type of candidate the company is looking for and also the company’s strategy and values. This information will help you structure your answers well. You are always being assessed so try to talk with the other candidates, current graduates or the staff about relevant topics. Show interest in the company and the position. Be yourself and let the others be too.
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
What happens at an assessment centre? The assessment centre is generally a one day event held in a training centre, hotel, conference centre or the employer’s own premises. Other applicants who have been successful in the first round of the selection process will also be present, typically placed in groups of between six and eight candidates. Assessment centres are usually designed to include exercises that measure you against key aspects of the job. By using a range of methods such as group exercises, further interviews, tests, presentations and intray exercises, the selectors will have a chance to examine your potential as an employee in their organisation more closely. For all of the exercises make sure you understand the instructions or the written brief. If you are unclear, ask for clarification. The activities will have been devised to highlight the attributes they require for the particular role you have applied for. It is an intensive day during which you will be under constant scrutiny and formal and informal assessment, even at meal times.
An employer says ...
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MOST LARGE ORGANISATIONS
The toughest part of our selection process is the online tests, but there are some simple ways you can certainly improve your chances. Make sure you practise the online tests several times – once or twice just isn’t enough and make sure you practise the tests that are used by the employer you are applying to – that is essential - but it certainly won’t hurt to try others. The tests may take longer than you expect/or are told so ensure you allow plenty of time. And finally don’t sit the tests just before the deadline. If you encounter any problems you may not have enough time to contact the employer and get the issue fixed before the closing date.
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
GETTING THE JOB
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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
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers
CAREER PLANNING GUIDE
LJMU will be running a range of careers and recruitment fairs during the academic year. Students from any degree programme are welcome to attend any of these events Still undecided what career to pursue? Careers fairs are designed to help you meet and network with employers and find out about career options.
Careers and Recruitment Fairs 2018/19
Need a placement or job? Recruitment Fairs are designed to help you meet employers with job and placement vacancies to offer.
For more information about these events, including which employers are attending, and which students they are aimed at, visit:
careers.ljmu.ac.uk
SEMESTER 1
SEMESTER 2
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Staff and Student Volunteering Fair 3 October, 2pm-5pm, Byrom Street
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Staff and Student Volunteering Fair 27 February, 1pm-4pm, John Lennon Art and Design Building
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Faculty of Engineering and Technology Careers Fair 11 October, 9am-12pm, Adelphi Hotel
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Creative, Culture, Media and Arts Recruitment Fair 10 April, 1pm-3pm, John Lennon Art and Design Building
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Exploring Placements and Graduate Schemes 16 October, 10am-2pm, Redmonds Building
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Exploring Working with Children, Young People and with Vulnerable Adults 17 October, 2pm-4pm, Byrom Street
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Recruitment Fair 17 April, 10am-1pm, Byrom Street
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Business, Law, Humanities and Social Science Recruitment Fair 18 April, 10am-1pm, Redmonds Building
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Exploring Science-related Career Pathways 24 October, 2pm-4pm, Byrom Street
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Exploring Working in Creative Industries 14 November, 1pm-4pm, John Lennon Art and Design Building
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Exploring Careers in Sport 22 November, 1pm-4pm, Byrom Street
LJMU CAREERS TEAM
0151 231 2048/3719 || careers@ljmu.ac.uk
www.ljmu.ac.uk/careers