CELEBRITY SUMMER JOBS – BEFORE THEY GOT FAMOUS
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THE BIG STORY
SUMMER JOBS – BEFORE THEY GOT FAMOUS
Everybody’s gotta start somewhere
ANDREW GARFIELD (actor) News just in! Peter Parker used to be a Starbucks barista slinging super hot spidey-lattes. Would you like some extra webbing with that?
ALEXANDER SKARSGÅRD (actor)
Before he became our favourite vampire, Alexander started his career collecting dishes in a Stockholm restaurant.
HOT TIP Swapping steaks for stakes isn’t always gonna work out. Ever thought about a catering and hospitality career?
RACHEL MCADAMS (actress) Rachel spent three summers working at McDonald’s before growing up into a mean girl.
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KANYE WEST (rapper,
songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur and fashion designer) It’s no wonder that rapper and entrepreneur Kanye is always dressed so well after starting his career at the Gap.
MATTHEW MORRISON (actor, dancer, and singer-songwriter) Before he was bustin’ moves with the Glee team, Mr Schue was also selling sweaters at the Gap.
HOT TIP Be in the know, fashion fans: Retail summer jobs are a hot look this year (okay, every year).
BRAD PITT (actor and producer) Heard of this guy called Brad Pitt? Of course you have, he’s pretty big news but his first acting gig was being a chicken. Hey, every actor has to start somewhere.
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CHACE CRAWFORD (actor) It’s not been champagne and strawberries for this Gossip Girl rich boy who started his career as a valet (a posh way of saying car park attendant) in LA.
JAKE JOHNSON (actor) Before making his name as New Girl’s Nick Miller, our Jakey used to sell burritos out of a van in his hometown of Chicago. He also delivered furniture, worked in construction, worked in a casino, catered weddings, and worked in a bar.
HOT TIP Read ‘5 surprising facts about jobs in construction’ (surprise no.6: You might get to work with the next Jake Johnson)
MICHELLE KEEGAN (actress and model) Long before she moved onto Coronation Street, young Michelle was a check-in agent (but we like to call it a ‘concierge’).
HOT TIP You can’t stay on one street forever. If you’ve got itchy feet, working in tourism and leisure could be perfect for you.
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AGYNESS DEYN (model, actress and singer)
She’s worked her way up to become one of the UK’s top models but she worked in a fish-and-chip shop before things got batter… sorry, better.
CHERYL FERNANDEZVERSINI (recording artist,
dancer and television personality) Right before she became a pop star on PopStars, young Cheryl was a waitress serving up a side-order of sass.
Keen to see what summer opportunities are out there? The Plotr jobs finder and Employer Zone might have the perfect opportunities for you.
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CAREER SPARKS
THE SKY’S THE LIMIT WITH A NETWORK RAIL ENGINEERING APPRENTICESHIP Network Rail Engineering Apprenticeship graduate Emma Taylor aimed high. Now it’s her job to ride in helicopters, photograph the world below and help the police fight crime!
Since launching in 2005, more than 2,000 people have been on the Network Rail Engineering Apprenticeship Scheme. This September, the next 200 places will be filled by people aged 17 and over. Emma Taylor is a 2009 graduate of the scheme who now works as a national aerial survey specialist.
Photography She says: My role involves working with all the advanced camera systems on our surveillance helicopter. We use them to carry out aerial surveys of our infrastructure. It’s a brilliant job! We cover up to 200 miles a day, inspecting equipment. Doing this saves money and also improves equipment safety. The equipment we use is high-tech, like the high definition thermal imaging camera which helps us find any ‘hot spots’ on the equipment and also tells
us exactly what the camera turret is looking at. We can then get the ground teams any info they need about faulty equipment quickly and in real time. As well as surveying infrastructure, we also work closely with the British Transport Police by carrying out crime prevention patrols in vulnerable areas.
Flying high with engineering I’ve always been interested in both engineering and aviation. Having the opportunity to combine my two main interests has been very rewarding. The Network Rail Advanced Apprenticeship Programme suited me well and I was able to learn a vast amount of knowledge on a varied syllabus, putting me in a good position to pursue an engineering career in Network Rail. It was a really well constructed course in terms of learning. Perhaps just as importantly, it also taught us a lot about life skills and independence.
Opportunities As my current role shows, there are so many different opportunities within the company and plenty of roles that suit all temperaments and appetites.
More about the scheme At Network Rail we’re building the railway of the future, and we’ll be at the heart of a thriving, low carbon economy where people, places and businesses are better connected than ever before. In the last five years we’ve recruited and developed over 1,000 apprentices and 500 graduates. Whichever career path you choose at Network Rail, you can be assured of a fascinating, surprising, epic career journey. Network Rail Employer Profile
The three-year course begins with nine months at the Royal Navy’s HMS Sultan in Hampshire. It’s Europe’s largest engineering training facility! During their second and third years, apprentices will get experience working on the rail network’s front line, gaining skills as they train to become maintenance technicians (just like Emma did). Their on-the-job training is completed by extra off-railway learning at the training centres. Emma says: By the time you’ve completed the programme and started the role full-time, you are fully prepared for the challenges ahead.
Life is what you make it! Visit the Your Life world on Plotr. See why engineering and science can lead to a world of possibilities!
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CAREER SPARKS
HOW TO WRITE YOUR FIRST CV Why do you need a CV? What goes in it? Take your first-ever CV from zero to hero with these simple steps, even if you’re still at school!
About to write your first CV? Don’t worry! Even if you’re still at school you’ve done plenty to create a CV that shines…
What is a CV?
HOT TIP
A CV is your first step to getting a dream job. It means ‘curriculum vitae’ or ‘the path of my life’ in Latin, and that’s exactly what a CV is – a document you can give to employers showing the path of your life. Think of it as an introduction to the most interesting person in the world… you! It tells employers what you’re good at, what you like and what you’ve achieved in life so far. You hand it out when job hunting and if an employer likes your CV they might ask you to come to a job interview.
Why do you need a CV? They should just hire you, right? Your CV is your chance to PROVE to employers you’re a great match for the job. If you say in your cover letter how you’ve taught Justin Timberlake his biggest moves, it might be a plan to back it up on your CV by showing all that amazing choreography experience you’ve done...!
What to put in your first CV: • Full name • Contact details: Address, telephone, email • Personal statement: See how to write a good CV personal statement on Plotr • Key skills: If you’ve never had a job before, this is where you can list your skills and strengths! Find out more with Plotr’s easy guide: how to write about your skills and strengths in a CV.
Not sure what skills and strengths are? Well, SKILLS are usually things you’ve learnt through being shown how to do them, like handling money in a shop job. STRENGTHS (also knowns as soft skills) are what you’re naturally great at or have picked up over time, like being organised or friendly. • Education: Where you’ve studied, for how long, and what grades you got. If you haven’t got any results yet, you can put what grades you’re predicted. • Work experience: Work shadowing or work placements, volunteering or charity work, Saturday or summer jobs are all great to put here. Work experience can take all kinds of forms. Have you ever been in a band or play, or sold stuff you’ve made online? For each bit of work experience, include the name of the place you worked, how long you worked there and what your main tasks were.
Things you don’t need to put on your CV: Leave out your age, date of birth, gender and nationality. Employers will request some of this stuff if they absolutely need to know it (e.g. your age or nationality to check you can work for their company legally). But they can usually see from your CV’s education/work experience details if you’re old enough to work for them. Check out this infographic of things you don’t need to put in your CV and you’ll be fine.
Ready to take your next big (or small) step to nabbing some work experience or your first job? Plotr has loads of advice and tips to help you on your way!
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CAREER SPARKS
9 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT SUMMER INTERNSHIPS Summer internships help you gain precious job experience, meet college/uni requirements, and learn about yourself. Here are nine things to think about when weighing up your options this summer!
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Well, it’s a great way to learn the ropes in a career. It’s a temporary working experience with a focus on training, not just employment. You get a taste of the working world and the chance to build useful skills and impress potential employers with your experience, too. Basically it’s good for you and your CV. That’s a win-win.
You can still explore summer internships if you’re not taking the uni route, but do double-check what the employer is looking for. They might need you to be studying for a degree or to have recently graduated from one.
What is a summer internship?
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What’s in a name? The difference between an internship and a placement Not all employers label their opportunities the same way. For example, employers might offer a placement, work placement, insight scheme, insight programme or industrial placement, to name a few... and some of these might be very similar. If you’re a student looking for summer work experience to turbocharge your CV, keep your eyes peeled for all of these and double-check what’s involved! There are still some common differences between internships and placements, though. For example, an internship might be anything up to a month, while a placement is often for a longer period. A placement might suit students doing a four year degree course with a vocational element that allows for a “year in industry”. It’s also more likely to be full-time, and it’s more likely to occur at any point in the year (i.e. not necessarily in summer, winter or Easter holidays).
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To UNI... An internship is normally offered to students, undergraduates and recent graduates. Fun fact from High Fliers (2014): 37% of graduate job vacancies in the UK are expected to be filled by students who have previously worked for the organisation. So it makes sense to show your face and get your foot in the door…
Or not to UNI...
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How long does an internship last? An internship often takes place in the summer to fit around uni or college term time. It usually lasts between one and four months (though sometimes you’ll get mini-internships of a week upwards). You can think of a longer internship as doing a real job but on a junior level. That’s how future employers are likely to see it.
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Working 9 to 5? An internship might be part-time (e.g. if taking place during uni term-time) or full-time (e.g. if it’s in the summer, winter or Easter holidays).
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CV gold – owning your own project You might well be given your very own special project or task to handle on an internship (or you might be asked to help own it as part of a small team). Doing a good job will give you a very special achievement on your CV. Something like this is tasty nectar to those busy employer bees.
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Applying to super-big companies means fighting off the competition Places for internships can get competitive, so keep that in mind when applying. Many of the really big companies expect you to apply well in advance (even a year in advance). If you’ve got your eye on a particular company, do check their careers website for application dates good and early..
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9 The money side of things Not all internships and placements are paid, and the money involved can vary. The best thing to do is ask yourself what you really want out of the experience, then weigh up the pros and cons to see if an opportunity’s right for you. Weighing up the pros and cons: • Are travel and/or food expenses covered? • Is there a salary-style payment? • If unpaid: Is the internship offering me enough value to make it still worth applying for? • If unpaid: Is the internship for a length of time that I could realistically budget my living expenses for? For example, a shorter internship (e.g. two weeks) might very probably be unpaid, and might be easier to budget for than a longer internship spanning several months.
TAKING THAT NEXT STEP: 1. If you have a favourite employer, explore their careers website. 2. Search online for summer internships in your area. 3. You can talk to employers face-to-face at careers fairs (armed with our Plotr careers fair tips, of course). 4. You can research all kinds of youth-friendly employers on Plotr. Quite a few have internships and work experience opportunities they’d love for you to explore, you talented and enthusiastic person, you!
Did you know: The Plotr jobs finder is a great way to explore summer internships and work experience opportunities. See all our employers, too!
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GET UP STAND UP
5 BRILLIANT WAYS TO BAG LAST-MINUTE WORK EXPERIENCE THIS SUMMER! Have all your mates bagged (and bragged about) brilliant work experience? Here’s how to catch up and nab your own ace placement at the last minute!
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Keep your options open Summer jobs which give you a chance to show the world what you can do can crop up in all sorts of areas, from sports and music events to office work, shop work, ‘chugging’ (charity fundraising) and more. Check out 7 summer jobs that will boost your CV on Plotr for inspiration and keep your eyes peeled! Speaking of which…
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Ask around You think you’ve asked everyone you know, but have you really? What about your parents’ car mechanic, your local supermarket, or even your auntie’s office? Keep an open mind and expect the unexpected, because you never know what roles might turn up - your mechanic might need help with the accounts or your supermarket might want help with social media or marketing! If it’s all gone a bit lastminute.com, it’s fine not to be too picky. Even if you find something that isn’t your dream work experience role, you can turn it around by being really proactive when you’re there, picking up useful skills and glowing work references on the way!
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Approach each employer like they’re ‘the one’ Doing the same cover letter over and over with the employer’s name changed isn’t going to work (sorry!). Employers can sniff out a copy-and-paste job from a mile off. You’re doing this last-minute, so your applications need to have the ‘wow’ factor! Write a cover letter from scratch that makes employers feel special, and shows them why you’d bring extra value to the company this summer. Explain why you’re interested in working at their company (not anyone else’s). Be positive and say nice things about the company (everyone loves a compliment!). Get someone who’s good with spelling and grammar to give your letter a quick once-over before you press ‘send’.
HOT TIP Congrats on your custom-built cover letter! Now get your CV summer-fresh with these 22 top CV tips from top employers.
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Make the most of your social network
Take a look at the volunteering charity vInspired. They’ve got hundreds of volunteering opportunities all over the UK, and volunteering can be a great way to get some brilliant work experience. We’re not just talking helping out down your local Oxfam either (though that would be great). You could find yourself doing a placement that involves working in music, business, film or photography. To find volunteering opportunities in your area, just type your postcode into the Plotr job search.
• Employers will see you take your future career journey seriously if you have a LinkedIn profile on your CV! You can also use LinkedIn’s advanced search to look for “summer jobs”, “work experience” and “volunteering” in your area…
Volunteer
Social media can be your friend if you’re trying to bag work experience at short notice:
• As well as following the recruitment accounts of your dream employers, follow @Plotr_UK on Twitter (ahem). We’ll keep your spirits up and tweet all kinds of advice plus we love to chat, so say hi. Ask us anything*! *To do with the world of work, obviously, although we do like funny cat pics… • Keep an eye on Twitter hashtags and accounts for local communities, news or events. If your personal Twitter feed hasn’t got anything embarrassing on it, you can include the relevant @ or # in tweets saying you’re looking for summer work experience. Some kind person might RT your request or even get in touch! Hey, if you saw our
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Plotr article on the 20 most creative ways people have landed a job, you’ll see that sometimes social media CAN make career dreams come true.
HOT TIP #1: Add anyone you follow on Twitter for work reasons to a private “list” that only you can see. Now you can check job hunting tweets every day, all in one feed!
HOT TIP #2: Use Twitter’s advanced search to choose a location followed by some keywords (e.g. search for “Bristol” with hashtags like #jobs and #workexperience). You’ll get the latest tweets with work opportunities in your area, plus cool new accounts you can add to your Twitter work “list”. You can save this search and check it every day!
Final thoughts APPLYING EARLY: Remember, if you’re applying for work experience early, focus on getting something to do with the job, industry or employer you’re most interested in. APPLYING LAST-MINUTE: Remember, feel proud of yourself even if you pick up a placement that wasn’t your first choice! For one thing, it might just open your eyes to a career you hadn’t thought about before. And if it’s not for you? Turn it into something positive. Focus on how you made the best of the situation and what it taught you about yourself – like what you’re good at and what you need to work on. Using the S.T.A.R.R.S. method to talk about your past work experience in an interview or in a covering letter is GOLD to employers who might hire you in the future. Good luck – you can do it!
Check out the Plotr job search for work experience, summer job and volunteering opportunities in your area. You’ll find heaps more careers advice on Plotr, too!
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THE BIG STORY
BACK TO NATURE CAREERS THAT LET YOU WORK OUTDOORS Thinking about careers outside the office? We’ve found careers that will make you smile come rain or shine, working in the great outdoors – including some you might not expect!
Science
Energy
Science isn’t all lab coats and number-crunching. There’s a lot of well-paid outdoor work too, if you know where to look!
Energy’s one of the hottest industries in the UK because ensuring energy for our future is seriously important. Where does energy come from, though? The sun, the sea, the wind, the ground… yep, outdoors. So you could work outdoors and protect the UK’s energy future at the same time, which is a neat way of mixing business and pleasure.
Geologist (also known as Geoscientist): You’re the go-to person when it comes to the Earth, especially rocks and minerals, and you won’t need a degree to know these tend to be found outdoors. As a geologist on an average salary of around £37,000 a year, you could end up doing anything from collecting fossil samples (Jurassic Park, anyone?) to exploring how water flows underground. Because you help harvest important resources, you’re seen as very important to UK industry. You’re kind of a… rock star! (er, sorry).
Biomass Plant Technician: For this job, you get to combine operating impressively heavy machinery with helping to create clean sources of energy to power millions of homes and businesses. For your average salary you’d be looking at a cool £30,000 or so. How do you like them apples? (P.S. you don’t need a degree, either.)
Other cool roles: Soil Scientist, Marine Biologist, Archaeologist
Other cool roles: Oil Rigger, Environmental Engineer
Environment
Construction
If you want to help make the world a better place, environmental work means combining positivity, scientific know-how and a “let’s make it happen” approach.
If you’ve read Plotr’s 5 surprising facts about jobs in construction, you’ll already know that construction jobs let you travel the world, tackle climate change… and you don’t just have to be a builder! The pay can be great, too. An average salary of £42,000 for being a Pipelayer? We’re not just talking pocket money, here.
Environmental Restoration Planner: Your planetsaving mission is to find ways to turn polluted and damaged places into land that people can build and grow on again. Amazing! The average salary for this job is £36,000 a year – that’s pretty amazing, too. Other cool roles: Conservation Officer, Environmental Engineer
Construction Site Manager: For an average salary of around £48,000, you get to help your team power through and make a project happen from start to finish. Construction sites can be quite dangerous places, so you need to make sure the site is safe. You’ll probably travel quite a lot, too, and visit sites all over the UK! Other cool roles: Surveyor, Civil Engineer, Builder
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Fish Farmer: Did you know that even fish get farmed in the UK? We love our fish and chips, and you’ll help breed fish in a sustainable way that helps ensure a chip supper doesn’t become a thing of the past. Other cool roles: Farm Manager, Organic Farmer, Vet
Trees, parks and gardens From tending forests to making public parks pretty, there are all kinds of ways to get paid for keeping Britain looking green and beautiful. Landscape Architect: If a Bond villain wants to hide their secret lair on a tropical island, they need to get a landscape architect in, obviously. Who else could disguise all those laser superweapons as a BBQ patio? Your design skills will see you drawing up plans and presenting ideas to clients, but you’ll also be out and about in all kinds of sites, from public parks to royal gardens. If you’ve got an eye for art as well as nature, this could be the perfect job – and the average salary of £45,000 is blooming (see what we did there?) brilliant. Other cool roles: Forester, Grounds Maintenance Manager
On the go If you love the idea of enjoying the open air and the open road at the same time, a job in transport and travel could be your ticket to a dream career! Train Driver: If you want to go around the UK and see the beautiful countryside, this is a great job for you. You’ll get lots of opportunities for promotion, too – later you could become a driver instructor or go into general management with a rail company! Other cool roles: Co-pilot, Ship Captain (see more Transport and Travel careers)
Down on the farm The best accessory to a pair of wellies is a good head for business! Farmers own or manage the whole farm, overseeing every detail from keeping produce healthy to finding the right suppliers. Farming can be big business, and if you think about it those farmers who grow the lettuce for your takeaway burgers or the cereals for your morning breakfast can end up pretty rich.
Need some more inspiration? Check out the Sport and Fitness and Tourism & Leisure Career Worlds on Plotr!
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CAREER SPARKS
HOW TO TALK ABOUT YOUR INTERESTS ON A CV: YOUTUBING How do you talk about YouTubing in a CV, personal statement or job interview in a way that could turn employers into your biggest fans? Try this how-to on for size!
Ever given YouTubing a go? OK, so we can’t all be Marcus Butler or Zoella, but you can still get fans, freebies and fun times – AND it can make you stand out from the job hunting crowd! Here’s how to talk about the professional benefits of being a YouTuber in your CV, personal statement or job interview in a way that will make employers your biggest fans…
SALES AND MARKETING The YouTube bit: YouTubers get freebies to enjoy and review. They can make money from Google ad clicks as their audience grows, and some of the biggest YouTube superstars get so many commercial opportunities they work with professional agencies to handle the money side. Nice work if you can get it. The career bit: Tell employers that YouTubing business success depends on building a relevant audience to attract advertisers, hot brands and lots of Google ad clicks. Then show them how you’ve been working towards this goal yourself! Show employers that your honesty with fans when you’ve been paid to promote stuff shows how ethical and sensible you are (and an asset to any company). Hey, with big perks come big responsibility…
BRAND BUILDING The YouTube bit: What’s your YouTube channel about? What are your special interests and personal passions? Do you cover fashion and beauty, or gaming, or music, or maybe a bit of everything but in your own special unique way? Did you maybe discover a niche for content, like when Jamal Edwards started his media empire by filming his friends rapping on the street? It doesn’t matter how many subscribers you’ve got, what matters is you’re building the Brand of You – from scratch!
HOT TIP Don’t just make it all about you – turn any talk of brand-building around and put the focus on the employer in interviews. Show you’ve researched their company’s brand strengths and be ready to have some ideas on how the company could improve what they do (this is a fairly common job interview question, actually).
The career bit: Talking about building your personal brand can feel cringe-making in a job interview, but brand building is a MAJOR part of business success. Employers will get why it’s a big deal that you had the self-awareness and motivation to turn your personal strengths into a real-life brand. They’ll be hoping you can make some of that magic rub off on their company, too…
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DIGITAL SKILLS The YouTube bit: You don’t need to be super-geeky for YouTubing, but you’ll still have learnt how to set up social media accounts, use your mobile device’s video capabilities, edit video and loads more, keeping up with the latest software, social and YouTubing trends… The career bit: Most jobs nowadays involve I.T. skills. Thanks to YouTubing you can prove to employers you’re a quick learner who’ll easily pick up any new technology or software. Plus you never know… your online skills could make you a shoe-in for a role like social media exec…
SOFT SKILLS ‘Soft skills’ are personal qualities that help you win at both work and life (that’s a win-win situation right there). Here are the top three YouTuber soft skills you can brag about to employers (never be shy of pointing out your best bits – after all, you can back them up!):
So there you have it. YouTubing can help you build your confidence and life skills, and it looks great on a CV. If you’re thinking about summer work experience ideas, maybe it’s time to put your smartphone/internet connection to the test and give YouTubing a try?
• Self-motivation and confidence (It takes a big helping of sass to put your face and opinions out there for the world to see. You’re a solid gold self-starter, baby…) • Communication skills (YouTubing shows off your front-of-camera presentation skills, your fantastic customer service in the way you chat with fans, your networking skills in collaborating with other YouTubers both online and even in real life, your marketing skills in building your audience and spreading the word… the list goes on!) • Responsibility and time-keeping (Popular YouTubers have a schedule and stick to it. You’ll be vlogging as promised come rain or shine, even on days when the last thing you want to do is show your face to the world. Employers will be getting this amazing work ethic when you work for them, too.)
Check out our YouTuber guide on Plotr and play the Game to find a whole range of other exciting careers!
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CAREER SPARKS
6 SUPER-HAPPY JOBS TO MAKE YOU SMILE If you’re wondering what career path you should take, how about starting your search with the careers that science says have the happiest workers? Here are six of the cheeriest roles in town….
GARDENER
ENGINEER
What’s that? Gardeners grow and cultivate plants – usually in public parks, garden centres and nurseries.
What’s that? Engineers usually work everywhere – power plants, laboratories, factories, forests, construction sites... you name it. You’ll find them anywhere things are being made on a large scale, whether it’s city traffic systems or the power to heat homes. They come in many different types – from civil engineer to flight engineers – but they all use science to create things.
This job will make you happy if… you love working outdoors. Being outside and working with nature feels very free, and watching the seasons change can be really beautiful. Not to mention the joy of creating a beautiful garden, planning every little detail and then watching it blossom in the sun – especially if you’re being paid to do so. What next? Check out the gardener role on Plotr for more
This job will make you happy if… you like coming up with ideas and seeing them come to life in reality. Clients and colleagues come to engineers with problems and they turn them into solutions. Engineers also get to work with cutting edge technology and constantly learn new skills. What next? Check out the mechanical engineer and civil engineer role on Plotr for more
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT What’s that? An executive assistant manages the diary and daily activities of an executive (an important person in an organisation, often a managing director or CEO – the kind of person who’s so busy they’d need someone else to manage their time). An executive assistant will be booking meetings, arranging travel and responding to emails. This job will make you happy if… you want to see everything that a business is up to. Executive assistants for senior people in an organisation have an insight into every aspect of an organisation. This is also the kind of role where every day is different and challenging. What next? Check out the executive assistant role on Plotr for more
TEACHER What’s that? You should know what they are. Teachers educate young people and inspire them about all kinds of things. This job will make you happy if… you enjoy working with young people. You’ll get to see the light bulb moments when they learn something for the first time and your day will be filled with laughter and yelling as well as the moments that will help shape their lives forever. What next? Check out the teacher role on Plotr for more
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CONSTRUCTION WORKER
NURSE
What’s that? Construction workers can be found on – you guessed it – construction sites. They prepare those sites for work, making them safe. Then they help with the building, too – they can do anything from putting up scaffolding to operating digging machines.
What’s that? Nurses care for patients by preparing them for procedures and by giving medication.
This job will make you happy if… you like building things from scratch. Construction workers get to work outdoors in the fresh air with a team of talented people. When you’ve put in all the blood, sweat and tears into creating a home or a building from the ground up, you get to hand it over knowing that it will mean a lot to the owner.
This job will make you happy if… you want to spend your days helping people get better. As a nurse you have the chance to make a positive impact in people’s lives. You’ll also get to meet lots of interesting people. What next? Check out the nurse role on Plotr for more
What next? Check out the construction worker role on Plotr for more
Every job is happy if it’s the right one for you. Explore hundreds of careers on Plotr and play the Game to help find the right one for you.
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CAREER SPARKS
LAUNCHING YOUR FUTURE ON THE EE TECHNOLOGY GRADUATE SCHEME EE Technology Graduate Alice Lamb reveals why EE’s graduate scheme is a great opportunity for fresh young minds.
If you’re full of fresh ideas, the EE Technology Graduate scheme might be a great way to let your star shine. You’d have a chance to share your insight and really get to grips with what it’s like to work for the UK’s no.1 network. From interview to induction, training to presentations, Alice Lamb – one of EE’s current graduates – tells you all about it.
Name: Alice Lamb Job title: Technology Graduate After university, I knew I wanted to make the most of my technology degree by joining a great graduate scheme. And EE really stood out to me. I loved that EE was known for doing their own thing and not following the crowd. Like rolling out a 4G network before anyone else – it showed that they were determined to be the best in the industry, and I wanted to be part of that. I sent off my application, and was then invited to an online interview. With a minute to prepare for each question and two minutes to answer on camera, it was pretty fast-paced. But it went well and I was invited to an assessment centre. The assessment involved giving a presentation, having a one-toone interview and taking part in a group activity. It was quite relaxed. And an ideal opportunity to meet people from EE and ask questions about the company. I got a place on the scheme, and then started a month long induction. The induction was intense at times, but also one of the most worthwhile experiences I’ve ever had. I got to see every part of the frontline; I explored a contact centre, saw a retail store in action and learned what goes on in head office. I was continually surprised at how welcoming people were, in every part of the business. And there was a real team-like atmosphere which I thought was very impressive for such a large company.
“People were happy to take time out of their schedules to help me and make sure I got the most out of my placement.”
“It was great to think I could help to make the customer experience better from day one.” Once the induction had finished, I was introduced to my first team – Consumer Service Management – and given the lowdown on the different projects I’d be working on. I got to grips with loads of different work processes; things like improving the allocation of resources as a result of customer feedback. It was great to think I could help to make the customer experience better from day one. The training was quite a challenge. One of the tasks my team were set was to present our ideas about improving the business. To the chiefs of the company no less. Although a scary concept, the process of working as a team and bringing all of our ideas together was really interesting. Plus it gave us a chance to form strong relationships with people from all parts of the business.
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That’s really important in a new job. Building relationships. My team has been super welcoming, and I immediately felt part of the gang. I obviously had a lot of questions when I first started, and they never turned me away when I was looking for answers. People were happy to take time out of their schedules to help me and make sure I got the most out of my placement. Every day brings new and exciting things to work on. Although, tomorrow is not a normal day for me. I’m spending it at Bristol Zoo with some of the other graduates. We’ve joined a volunteering project through EE, which is a great way to stay in touch and keep that sense of team. When it comes to new talent, EE have got a lot to offer. With Graduate schemes and Apprenticeships that stretch across the business, there’s plenty to choose from. So what are you waiting for? Launch your career with the UK’s no.1 network today.
So what’s next? Honestly, I have no idea what the future holds. But that’s what’s so exciting. With technology evolving at the rate it is, and EE as determined and innovative as they are, it’s almost impossible to predict what will come next. One thing’s for certain though – I want to be part of it.
Visit the EE Employer Profile Find out more at EE: Graduates and Apprentices
See what more apprentices and graduates are saying about what it’s like to work with EE!
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GET UP STAND UP
7 WAYS TO SHINE WHEN DOING OFFICE WORK EXPERIENCE THIS SUMMER Work experience tips: How to make a good impression in your work experience, internship or placement this summer.
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It’s OK awesome to ask If you’re not quite sure about something, ask. It helps you learn the system faster and shows you’re keen to improve, which any boss will love! Note down any answers, and check in with your manager once you’ve made a start to see if you’re heading in the right direction.
HOT TIP If you’re nervous about asking in front of everyone you can always email your manager or catch them away from their desk and ask for more information.
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Time-keeping is a big deal Being on time for work and meeting your deadlines shows you’re a dedicated person who can be relied on. If you’re late for any reason, let people know straight away. Tell them why you’re late and how late you’ll be. This shows you’re aware of the issue and a team player who’ll keep their team-mates and manager informed.
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Fitting in with the work culture? Take it slow To make a great impression – especially if it’s your first taste of the world of work –focus on doing your job as well as you can. You’re new to the workplace, so you don’t really know what lines to cross. Everyone will understand that, as a newbie, you need a little time to find your feet! Keep things a bit formal and toned down in how you dress and behave at first – then you can see what the workplace is really like and fit in at your own pace. After all, even if there’s banter going round, you don’t want to be making inappropriate jokes from the get-go!
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Be proactive: Keep busy, play to your strengths and ask for more Don’t be afraid to ask for work or offer to help others if you’ve run out of things to do. It shows off your work ethic and ability to take the initiative. If you want to get noticed, suggest a new idea or way of doing things. Employers want to see you can bring something extra to the business. They’ll remember you for all the right reasons, plus being able to say in your CV that your amazing ideas were used by your employer is a huge plus!
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Listen, watch, learn (and take notes) There’s a lot to learn in a new workplace, so it’s useful to have a notebook to hand. You can make notes in meetings and jot down key points whenever you’re shown something new. If you’re faced with a sea of faces on your first day, it’s fine to make a note of people’s names and roles, too!
HOT TIP Keep a note of what you’ve learnt and any cool things you did and praise you got, too! This will help you update your CV and remember all your achievements for future job interviews.
HOT TIP Sometimes you can learn a lot about your employer just by observing how things work. What’s considered good behaviour in the workplace? Who is admired, and why? By observing how things work in the workplace, you’re learning and growing as a professional!
HOT TIP Think about how you’re using social media and your phone, too! If you’ve had a bad day at work, be careful about what you post socially. If this is your first taste of work you might be used to being on Twitter or snapchatting your friends when you feel like it, but this is a fast way to give a wrong impression. Your friends can wait.
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They always say it’s who you know, not what you know. It’s kinda both…
Ask yourself what you want out of this work experience.
Work experience gives you a chance to network with senior colleagues who have been there and done it all. They can give you awesome career tips and might be your key to more work experience opportunities in the future, so make time to talk to them!
Do you want to work with this employer? Then do your best, create a good impression, let it be known that you’ve really valued your experience here and would love to return if there was an opportunity.
Network, network, network
Talking to senior colleagues might seem daunting, but don’t let the opportunity slip through your fingers. Pick a moment when they’re not too busy and introduce yourself. If you want to keep it light, you could strike up a conversation in the kitchen area with ice-breakers like ‘how was your weekend?’ Build your confidence to ask at a later point if they have time to offer advice before your work experience ends.
Know what you want and go for it
Do you want to build up more work skills? Learn everything you can, ask for more work when you’ve run out, and step up to ask if you can help out in any way. Is there a specific skill you want to improve on? Consider if there’s a way to do that in your situation, and do let it be known that it’s a skill you’d love to build on. Whatever you want, go for it. You’re a star in the making, and this is your chance to shine!
Need more advice on the world of work? Plotr’s advice archive is full of useful tips on everything from impressing your boss to nailing your interviews.
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(YOU)TH VOICE
STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD THIS SUMMER Keshav Bhatt, YEUK Ambassador
Swapping summer chilling for volunteering a few hours a week could really help you stand out from the crowd!
I was talking to my friend recently about our plans for the summer holidays and I realised something… yes, you have six weeks and more off this summer but treating it like a complete doss and holiday is a huge mistake. Everyone knows youth unemployment is a big issue for many young people and one of the biggest challenges we face isn’t just getting grades – it’s standing out from the crowd. You need to speak an extra language, or be head boy/girl, or have extracurricular activities on your CV. But you know what’s more important than all of these? EXPERIENCE. Having work experience is vital for a simple reason – it gives you a track record.
YOUTH EMPLOYMENT UK YEUK (Youth Employment UK) is the leading campaigning and membership organisation dedicated to tackling youth unemployment in the UK. YEUK website
There are loads of options available to you! I’m not saying don’t go on holiday and chill with your mates and have a laugh/tan/adventure. I’m just saying DO SOMETHING. For a few hours or so a week, go and volunteer in an area similar to your interests. Pick something you enjoy, because if you don’t enjoy it you will probably do the bare minimum. If you’re interested, you’re more likely to put more effort in and get better results, which will be shown on your CV. I’m 24 years old and by following this simple principle, I have over 11 years of experience in my sector, have worked with over 10,000 young people, at 10 different UK universities, in 7 different countries and still find time to get hench in the gym! If you want to take action, I recommend you take a look at the volunteering opportunities Youth Employment UK has to offer and step up to the plate. Get some experience, accumulate things on your CV and who knows, you might even find a job! This feature was originally published on YEUK.
The YEUK Ambassadors are young volunteers working together all around the country to secure a better careers future for UK youth. They network together, support each other and do it for the sheer love of it. They’re working with MPs and local businesses to improve employment prospects for young people in the UK. YOU CAN JOIN THEM. Find out how to become a YEUK Youth Ambassador
I run my own business (yes, that makes me an entrepreneur!) and as I begin to think about hiring more people (whether interns, volunteers or paid employees) I am looking for a few key things. One of these is – does this person have a proven track record over time of delivering results and being committed?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Keshav Bhatt is the founder of Revolution Hive, which helps raise educational performance and aspirations in both young people and those who work for them. He coaches at the Hive as a qualified NLP practitioner, and he’s passionate about a number of causes including human rights and education. Check out his free motivational YouTube videos whenever you need a pep talk…
Wanna shine bright this summer? With one click you can find all kinds of volunteering opportunities on Plotr. Just follow the link and type in your postcode to see what’s happening in your area! You can also check out vInspired, a volunteering charity helping 14-25 year olds get involved in their communities and earn awards for their work.
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TACTICAL INFO
ASK A CAREERS ADVISER ANYTHING Get your careers advice questions answered every month by a friendly careers adviser. See this month’s crop of answers below!
MEET SUSAN BURKE, THIS MONTH’S ADVISER! Susan, an ambassador for National Careers Week, says: “I love helping people. I am a qualified careers adviser, featured in the Telegraph and The Guardian. Think of me as a best friend but with a bit of tough love thrown in, helping you get to where you want to be by giving you frank, honest and uncomplicated advice.” www.susanburkecareers.co.uk
FURTHER EDUCATION Can you still do A-levels after you’ve left school? I left after GCSEs and spent a few years in retail but I really want to do my A-levels after all. I’m 19 now. Yes, you can do A-levels but you can also do other qualifications as well. For example, if you have a burning desire to go to university at some point, an Access course could be a quicker route for you than spending two years studying A-levels. My honest advice would be to speak to a careers adviser or contact the National Careers Service so you can make an informed decision based on your personal circumstances and your possible goals you may have for your future. Basically I’m saying you have more choices and opportunities than you think!
WORK EXPERIENCE Have you got any tips on finding work experience this summer? (I’m 17 and live in a small town) A small town is no reason why you can’t get work experience. However, you’ll need to be proactive! Get your CV up to speed and work out a list of companies you are willing to work for. The mistake most people make is they are just not realistic enough. You need to apply to a number of companies, not just one or two, and don’t expect to get replies back – see it as a bonus if they do. Be willing to make an extra effort and use the good old phone to ask people direct if they’d be willing to offer you work experience. While on the phone you can offer to send your CV, so they can see you are prepared! You could maybe even set yourself a goal like contacting 10 companies per day over seven days. This way, you will definitely improve your chances of landing that work placement.
EXAM RESULTS I am really anxious about my A-level results, what if I didn’t do well? What will happen with college places? If you don’t do well please don’t panic. There are plenty of opportunities; you just need to know where to get the advice you need. For example it can still be possible to go to university or college but you may need to choose a more appropriate course. It’s all down to personal circumstances, how competitive the course is and what grades you got… so you never know! However, you do need to act fast: Get to your school early on results day. Most schools open at 8am (if not earlier) so you can get your results and if they’re not what you expected then I promise your teachers can help you. If you get there earlier, teachers will have more time to assist you as most students will get there later on! Your school or college will have gone through this many times before and can suggest alternatives, whether it’s helping you contact universities or even suggesting options for courses if you don’t make the grades required to complete a level 3 courses such as your A Levels. The worst you can do is put your head in the sand. Action is key here! You can also contact the National Careers Service, who can assist you with your choices. What’s more, you can contact the National Exam Results Helpline, which opens across the exam results period in August.
Got a question for us? It’s really easy – just email info@plotr.co.uk in complete confidence with your question (please put CAREERS ADVICE in the subject header). No question is too big or small. What’s more, you will be really helping out other readers who are dying to know the same thing!
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