ISSUE 6 - FEBRUARY 2016
WORK IT! CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY SERVICES NEWSLETTER
HOW TO BECOME T H E M O ST DESIRABLE JOB CA N D I D AT E !
W H AT ’ S I N S I D E ?
- CA R E E R A D V I C E Y O U S H O U L D N E V E R FO L L O W - A SW I T C H I N T I M E : CHANGING JOB MARKET - H O W T O D R E S S FO R AN INTERVIEW -THE INTERNSHIP P R O - C O N L I ST !
Annual
Careers
Day 2016
17th March 2016 10-4 pm Block 17
Learn about job opportunities Network with employers Create your presence in the job market
For more information, contact Alpa Katkoria on a.katkoria@mdx.ac
Career Advice 4 - How to become the most desirable job candidate? 5 - The internship pro-con list 6 - Career advice you should NEVER follow
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Current Trends
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8 - Get it right: How to dress for an interview 10 - Work it out: Choose the right work wardrobe 12 - A switch in time: Changing job market
Success Stories 13 - Middlesex University receives award for autism awareness 14 - The graduate: An instruction manual 16 - Career Scope 17 - Legally Snapped
Winding Up 18 - Career Horoscope Contributors:
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Arwa Abizer Karishma Adnani Nishi Gurbani Priyanka Johri Rea Dujmusic Syeda Haider 3
Career Advice
How to become the m ost d e sira b le job ca n d idat e ? BY REA DUJMUSIC
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eing a hard working student, achieving high grades and successfully graduating from university are very important steps to go through before you start searching for a permanent job in your field of interest. However, there is much more you can do that will prepare you for your future career and help you to become the most desirable job candidate. Remember, the competition is high; there will be many other successful graduates who will be applying for the same job as you. So how do you differentiate yourself from the others? Very often when it comes to fresh graduates, especially the ones who don’t have previous work experience, employers will be looking into your skills and additional knowledge. Don’t wait until you graduate to start searching through job postings only to discover that you might be missing some requirements. Start your search today. Find out what skills you need to possess for your desired position so by the time you graduate and start your search for a permanent job, you will be a perfect candidate.
How do you acquire those skills? Many workshops in the UAE are offering courses where you can learn new skills. However, sometimes it might be difficult to manage the timing or the expenses they carry. That is why online learning is a very good alternative. There are websites which offer free learning courses. They are easily accessible, quick, free of charge, and you can learn at your own pace. Alison website (www.alison.com) offers a range of courses that will enable you to
What skills do you need? The first step is to detect which skills you need to acquire. Research the companies that you would like to work for, find out what are they looking for and what kind of expertise is particularly essential for them. Go through various job advertisements, find jobs that interest you, and make a list of all skills that are mentioned there. After you have made a list, you will notice which ones are the most important to have.
acquire skills in Business and Enterprise, Digital Literacy, IT, Human Resources, Psychology, Languages, Finance and many more options. Choose the course of your interest, watch a couple of videos, solve a test and if you pass it, you will earn a diploma that will be saved in your profile. Another amazing website for online learning is edX (https://www.edx.org). It was founded by Harvard and MIT University and provides highquality courses from world’s best universities
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free of charge. Whether you are interested in Science, Politics, Social Studies, Business or IT, obtaining an official Harvard certificate has never been easier.
professionals give speeches on various topics, such as how to improve your creativity, decision-making, body language, public speaking and many other skills that are very important for certain jobs. Finally, yet equally important is Lynda.com (www.lynda.com) where you can open an account free of charge through our Middlesex UniHub page with your Middlesex Email ID. Search for ‘My study’, then choose ‘Database’ and scroll down to ‘lynda.com’. After you register, you will gain access to thousands of educational courses from business, software and technology to the development of creative skills.
Moreover, a highly informative website TED (www.ted.com) provides videos where
the INTERNSHIP pro-cons list!
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here are so many reasons why internship is useful; so many employers ask for experience in your chosen field, sometimes it can be more important than your qualifications depending on your career path. They help you get to grips with what you would be expected to do in the role, as well as gain familiarity with the working day and environment. So what are the main reasons why you should complete an internship?
1. It’s a chance for both you and the company to try each other out; you can see if the job fits you and if you fit the job. You will also get the chance to learn new things about the company/ profession that will give you an edge when you apply for a job. 2. A work placement can build skills that you might not necessarily learn at university such as negotiating and leadership. 3. You get a chance to meet people who can be useful in finding out how to develop your career further and also as possible references. 4. It shows dedication and passion, especially if your placement is unpaid – you are demonstrating that you are willing to give up your time for free to progress your career. 5. There could be a chance of a permanent job afterwards so the placement should be treated as an extended interview.
Source - http://www.careersavvy.co.uk/internship-work-experience/
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Career Advice
Career advice you should
Never follow BY NISHI GURBANI
For the sassy, ambitious and uniquely inspired individuals.
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DO WHAT YOU LOVE, AND SUCCESS WILL FOLLOW / FOLLOW THE MONEY: These are the two extreme ends of a spectrum. Pursuing a career that pays well, but makes you want to hit the snooze button 50 times every morning, and count down days until the weekend – is a surefire way to kill your happiness. Similarly, as much as we would all love to believe it, we sometimes may not be the best at something we enjoy doing. In addition to our skill level, the risk factor, opportunities available and the existing competition plays a significant role that could hinder our performance. There’s one mantra to get you out of this turmoil: Find the balance. Find the grey area that brings along with it job satisfaction, success and your happy ending. As Scott Belsky writes, “The magic happens when you find the sweet spot where your genuine interests, skills, and opportunity intersect”.
DON’T BE A JOB HOPPER: There are worse roles you could play. For one: the quiet, loyal employee working in the very neat cubicle, who wishes “a very good morning” every day, taken for granted by everyone, is super reliable; and who doesn’t quit or make the money they deserve. As cheerful and positively appealing this description might sound, this is an era where you not only step up the ladder but strive for lateral progress, as well. Every job has a lesson to teach, a memorable experience to be gained, and is another entry in the ‘references’ section on your resume.
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ALWAYS HAVE A PLAN: While having goals and objectives is motivational, awesome, and necessary to a certain extent; planning your life just isn’t. Sometimes, following down a particular road might avert your focus from other opportunities that take you to your destination in half the time and effort. As the saying goes, the best opportunities are those that you don’t see coming. You have to be dynamic in an environment that changes by the second, and adapt yourself to all the doorways that open for you – no one is going to roll out a red carpet to guide your way, you have to figure it out yourself and make a run for it.
DON’T BE LATE: If you’re on time, you’re late. With the increase in the level of qualifications, jobs available, and the potential candidates doing what is expected of you just isn’t enough. Keep yourself organized, flexible, work hard, and be ready to multitask. Volunteer for work that wasn’t assigned to you, make yourself the go-to person, and make sure your seniors know about it. Every task you perform in a workplace, however, big or small, makes a difference. Even if it is changing a fused light bulb – there’s only so much that a person CAN actually do. After all, the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.
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HARD WORK EQUALS SUCCESS. This statement isn’t entirely true, nor entirely false. Hard work is incredibly important – it is the dough of the cake. But there is an abundance of other factors that serve as the cream, icing and the cherry on the top. A little time spent on self-reflection and growth goes a long way. Identify your current skill set, and mainly your weak points that could possibly hold you back. Every day is an opportunity to learn. Focus on the areas you consider necessary for your work environment, but also, work on excelling the skills you possess.
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get it right: how to dr Current Trends
BY SYEDA HAIDER
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et’s just cut to the chase; men are equally as image conscious as women. And rightfully so, especially when you are about to present yourself somewhere that could make or break your career path. Appearance matters in the job sector as it shows how
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ress for an interview well put together and organised you are as person. So of course, in interviews you will be scrutinised for everything- that’s why we have selected a list of style ideas for our boys to look dapper in on the day of their interview!
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work it out: choose the Current Trends
BY SYEDA HAIDER
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hether you’re a student or a gal in her midtwenties ready to step foot into the job industry, interviews are always a nerve-wrecking part of the career-making process. If it isn’t already stressful enough to rehearse the little speech you’ve been preparing the night before the big
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e right work wardrobe day, worrying about putting an outfit together is a whole other headache! For saving you the trouble of furiously rummaging through your closet hours before the interview meeting, here is our selection of easy, student-budget friendly outfit ideas to help spark some styling inspiration.
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Current Trends
A switch in time:
changing job markets BY ARWA ABIZER
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ith the dawn of the Internet era and globalization, job markets around the world have seen rapid changes; from the rough labor economy to the sophisticated digital economy, job markets have come a long way. In the digital sphere, compared to the past there are now more degree holders with expertise in specialized fields of interest than any other time. Gaining high-quality education has become a must for anyone aspiring to enter the job market. In the wake of globalization and competition, merely having a college degree is not enough to guarantee employment. A survey by the Workforce Solutions Group at St. Louis Community College finds that more than 60% of employers say applicants lack “communication and interpersonal skills.” While the economy is flooded with people with expertise there is a deficit of soft skills. In thriving, multicultural economy like Dubai, soft skills such as cultural intelligence is highly valued by employers in the region. Since the 1980s, Dubai has opened its doors to global businesses, introducing free trading zones, real estate developments, and tourism. Today, around 15% of Dubai’s population is Emirati, the remaining 85% are expatriates; made up of approximately 180 different nationalities. The Internet has not only created many job opportunities, created new fields of career and facilitated globalization, but the rapid technological advancements are continuously changing the shape of the job market. In McKinsey Quarterly, W.B Arthur argues that the Internet and digitization are the biggest change in the job market since the Industrial Revolution. This has positively promoted entrepreneurship culture and greater autonomy of work and options such as work from home. At the same time traditional industries, such as workers who are unable to adapt to the various changes are seeing decline and loss of profits. In today’s vulnerable job market, it is not merely enough to just have technical job skills on which previous generations of workers have survived. Thus, the challenge today is the global skills race. Soft skills like cultural intelligence, adaptability, and technological efficiency are taking precedence. Job markets today have not become tougher, simply put the rules of the game have been changed by two key players: globalization and technology. The ability of workers and organizations to adapt themselves to these new changes will ensure their survival.
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MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY RECEIVES AWARD FOR AUSTISM AWARENESS BY ARWA ABIZER
Success Stories According to estimates from CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, about 1 in 68 children have been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The World Autism Awareness Day designated by the UN is marked on April 2 every year to raise awareness about autism. In light of these efforts taken by the World Health Organization, Middlesex University Dubai is the first higher education institute in the U.A.E, which has highly contributed towards raising awareness on this subject. It is a matter of pride for our community as Middlesex University has an open door policy in accepting staff and students with disability and actively supports an anti-discrimination policy. The initiative was lead by Ms. Alveena Javed from the Careers Department. Since 2011, she has actively participated in volunteering for the autism awareness campaigns, for children with disabilities and other promotional activities. In addition to working closely with the Early Childhood Intervention Center at Middlesex, she also works with Al Noor Autism Center and the Dubai Autism Center. According to Ms. Alveena, autism awareness is very close to her heart. She feels that it is imperative for the society to be open-minded and accepting of people with a disability and they should not be constricting them with labels or stereotypes. Being a part of the Careers Department, she firmly believes in empowering children by teaching those skills that enable them to lead a confident and independent life. In December 2015, Ms. Alveena received recognition for all her efforts and contribution for actively increasing awareness about autism. The Early Childhood Intervention Center awarded her with the “Beat Autism” award. Our heartiest congratulations to you, Ms. Alveena!
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ATE: THE GRADU MANUAL TION
Success Stories
AN INSTRUC
Q & A WITH A MIDDLESEX GRADUATE BY SYEDA HAIDER
We recently caught up with Sumeetha Lewis, a former student at Middlesex University with a Bachelors degree in PR and Advertising. Since she’s working at DABO & Co., we thought Sumeetha was the perfect person to share a few words of wisdom with on the topic of interviews and job scouting. Here is what she said: We understand that you sought help from the University’s Careers Department- how did that work out for you? I visited the annual Careers Fair during my final year at university – it was an ideal platform for me to meet potential employers, to find out what they were looking for and gear myself towards bagging an internship or job after completing my course. So, do you think the Careers Department is beneficial for students who need help with looking for jobs/internships via university connections? Definitely! I’m thankful to the Careers Department as they put me in touch with a fantastic PR agency that offered me an internship straight out of university, which then turned into a permanent position and I have been working for them ever since. What are the advantages of seeking assistance from the Careers Department at Middlsex? It gives you a chance to get some face time with employers, which gets you a lot closer to a job than the ‘send your CV to everyone and wait for a response” routine. What do you think is the most important thing to remember before an interview? Job hunt is a marathon, not a sprint. There are going to be interviews that work well and those that don’t, but you’ve just got to be yourself and let your own personality shine through during the interview. Are you a believer in fluking it or is being interviewed something you should really be wellprepared for? It always helps to be prepared; guesswork and charm can only take you so far! It helps to look at it as a three-step approach – knowledge of what the company does, an understanding of your own strengths and interests, and how you can be an asset to the company.
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What is your advice for someone doing an interview for the first time? Try to practice with a parent, sibling or friend- have them ask you questions that a potential employer would, and then try to answer them. After a few times, you’ll have answers that you are comfortable with while going into that first interview. What would you say to someone with no previous work experience applying for an internship during their university years? Well, I did two internships during university, which exposed me to a working environment, and helped me understand the PR and media industry a lot more. Also, the added work experience helps while applying for jobs or internships after university! How easy do you think it is to balance workload with university assignments? It works if you are committed to the experience… it does get complicated at times, especially with deadlines or group projects, but it always helps to challenge yourself with increased workload. On the other hand, if it does get too much to handle, recognise that and prioritise the assignments. There will always be other job opportunities! What is the one thing you have gained or learned about yourself since working in the professional field? I’m a lot surer of myself and my abilities now. While learning theory is good, practical experience really gives you direction about what you want to do (or not do) in life. What would you say to someone who is shy and afraid to take risks and lacks the confidence to apply for their dream job? That you’ll always regret the things you didn’t do more than the things you did! This a special one- any advice for third years writing their final dissertation? Get organised! Break down the big chunk of written work into tinier sections that you can power through easily. And do something every day… even if it is a tiny action like looking up an article online - leaving everything towards the last minute does not do you any favours. Good luck! Lastly, do you have any funny stories to share with us about your past interview experiences? Nothing at an interview, thankfully… but I absent-mindedly got off at the wrong metro station on my way to an interview once, and it took me about 10 minutes to realise my mistake. The mad chase I then went on to get to my interview on time must have been very amusing to everyone who saw me that day! You heard her folks! Start making your appointment with the Careers department, practice your interview skills and don’t get lazy with university workload or setting the alarm clock right the night before the big day!
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Success Stories
career scope - D H L’ s S U C C E S S S T O R Y BY REA DUJMUSIC
Which position(s) have your company/institution offered to Middlesex students/graduates so far? Internships and paralegal positions. It is often said that things don’t work the same in theory and practice. To what extent can student’s theoretical educational background be used once they find themselves in the work environment? University provides you the basic foundations to understand the legal concepts and principles to be applied to more specific and complex real-life situations, and that is the difference between theory and practice. In your opinion, how well are Middlesex students prepared for the work environment once they have graduated and how well are they able to fit in? They have a solid understanding of the legal principles yet would benefit from attending legal clinics and undertaking internships. What qualities are students demonstrating that are most valuable to you? They are eager to learn and willing to commit. What are the most important skills or abilities that a person should have to succeed in the job that you offer? Legal knowledge, language skills, communication skills and to be resilient. In your opinion, what is the most challenging aspect that students have to face once they start working at your company? The commercial awareness they have to develop as they are working in the legal department of a big company. What are your expectations from new employees? Eager to learn, ability to fit into company culture and resilience. In CVs of fresh graduates who don’t have much previous work experience (if any), what factors do you pay most attention to? Extracurricular activities and language skills. What would be your advice to our students who wish to work for your company in the near future? What should they aim to achieve in order to increase their chances to get hired? To go out and gain some valuable experience.
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LEGALLY SNAPPED l aw c a r e er day ‘16
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Winding Up
CAREER HOROSCOPE ARIES You should be more ambitious and should not be averse to taking risks to attain your targets. The horoscope predicts that creativity and social intelligence will be helpful. All this should be backed up by hard work to succeed in their career objectives.
TAURUS You should focus on improved communication techniques to improve your business prospects. Professionals in salaried jobs will find the work environment challenging and they should seek the support of their superiors to attain their targets. You can succeed in your career with help and coordination from other people.
GEMINI You should inject more finance into the projects and seek expert advice from colleagues and professionals. You will maintain and even improve your position in your business circles. People in jobs should focus more on networking. Delegating your work to your associates will help matters while you should concentrate on new methods and future planning.
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CANCER The horoscope predictions show that till October 2016 you have to depend on collaboration and cooperation from your co-workers in achieving your targets at the work place. Be precise while expressing your requirements from your colleagues.
LEO The horoscope predictions suggest that you should try to get the support of your superiors for your plans and ideas if you want to achieve your career goals. Try to be cordial with your colleagues at work, and do not hesitate to express your opinion frankly. Once you are clear about your ideas and plan of action, focus your attention on executing them.
VIRGO Professional Virgo people will have to seek the help of their social contacts to progress in their careers. Though planetary positions are favorable, you should develop cordial relationship with your colleagues. Do not try to be aggressive in your approach and be persuasive to carry out your ideas.
- FEBRUARY 2016 LIBRA You have to assert yourself and be more confident while executing your targets. You may find resistance from some of your colleagues, while others will extend their cooperation wholeheartedly. Do not make rash decisions and take your own time to come to a conclusion.
SCORPIO You should not try to impose your ideas over your associates. You should get things done with the cooperation of your employees during the year. Professional people should improve their skills by improving their knowledge by attending courses. Between April and September 2016, chances of promotion and business trips are predicted for this sign.
SAGITTARIUS Career will dominate over other aspects of a Sagittarian’s life during 2016. You should improve your professional skills and finish pending projects promptly. Cooperation of your colleagues is important in attaining your objectives. It is time to introspect and make necessary modifications if required in your business.
CAPRICORN You need to concentrate on emotional stability and harmonious relationship with your colleagues and superiors in your profession this year. You can stake your claim for a senior position or for getting a challenging job in the office. Be confident and be aware of your responsibilities.
AQUARIUS This year is ideal for starting new ventures. You will get the necessary cooperation and help from others. You will be more confident and diplomatic in your career and professional dealings. Do not ignore the legal aspects while executing your projects. Previous social connections will help you complete pending projects.
PISCES This year is auspicious for starting new ventures and expanding existing businesses. Decisions should be taken promptly and all doubts should be kept aside. People involved with creative arts will do extremely well and become famous in their circles. Success in your ventures will happen in the last quarter of the year.
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Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time. - th o ma s a e d i s on