Finding work in Malaysia: a guide for Malaysian students
www.careers.qmul.ac.uk
Queen Mary is one of the UK’s leading research institutions with an equally enviable reputation for teaching excellence
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CONTENTS
Introduction
4
How can you market your Queen Mary degree in to emplyers?
5
Preparing for your job search
8
Advice from a Queen Mary graduate
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Your application: cover letter
10
Your application: CV guide
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Your application: interview tips
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Living and working in Malaysia
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Finding vacancies: networking
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Finding vacancies: online
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How can Careers & Enterprise help you?
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INTRODUCTION
Since 2011, the Malaysian government has been trying to counteract the ‘brain drain’ occurring in Malaysia. Government policy has been directed towards trying to make returning home attractive to Malaysian students that have been educated overseas. Policies such as the Returning Expert Programme and scholarships encourage Malaysian students to study overseas and then return to Malaysia after they have graduated. Considering this, opportunities have never been better for overseas Malaysian graduates who wish to return home. However, searching for a job back home whilst you’re studying in London can seem complicated and difficult. Careers & Enterprise has produced this guide in order to help you with your job search. Including everything from what employers are looking for to where to start your job search, we hope that this guide will make the process of job hunting in Malaysia clearer and easier for you.
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HOW CAN YOU MARKET YOUR QUEEN MARY DEGREE TO EMPLOYERS?
Having a UK degree is looked on favourably by Malaysian employers. Overseas graduates are considered to have a better grasp of skills such as communication and also a greater understanding of international cultures, something that is of particular importance to globally expanding companies. However, as not all employers will have heard of Queen Mary University of London, how can you make your degree stand out from that of other returning graduates?
QMUL has given you exposure to a variety of cultures
QMUL is a world-class university
QMUL has enabled you to improve your language skills
The prestige of your academic institution is important to employers. Mentioning Queen Mary’s rankings and achievements can help attract an employer’s attention to your application. Here are some facts that you can add to your CV. • We’re part of the Russell Group. In 2012, Queen Mary joined the internationally renowned Russell Group, which represents 24 leading UK universities. • We’re in the top 100 universities in the world. According to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2015, Queen Mary is currently the 98th best university in the world. Read more here: https://www.timeshighereducation.com/ world-university-rankings • Many of our subjects rank highly in the UK league tables. According to The Guardian University League Tables 2016, Queen Mary ranks 3rd for Law, 4th for Medicine, 5th for Dentistry, 6th for Drama, 7th for History and 8th for Material Sciences. If your subject ranks highly, you may want to include this in your CV or job applications. Read more here: http://www.theguardian.com/education/universityguide
There are approximately 17,800 students throughout Queen Mary and around 8,000 are EU or international students. If you interact with people from lots of different cultures, you can state on your CV and at interview that you have gained intercultural awareness and the ability to communicate with a variety of international cultures. This is valuable to any international or globally expanding companies.
This isn’t strictly exclusive to Queen Mary students, but since you have studied in the UK, employers would expect you to have a good level of fluency in English. It’s only natural for you to find it easier to socialise with people from your own country when you are at Queen Mary, but it is worth interacting with non-Malaysian students to improve your English. Try to speak and write in English as much as possible - the more you use English, the better you’ll be! The School of Languages, Linguistics and Film put on in-sessional language courses that are both credited and non-credited which you can sign up to whilst you’re studying. Have a look at what’s available at http://language-centre.sllf.qmul.ac.uk/ You can also take full advantage of courses such as Business English, which will help you to prepare for your entrance into the corporate world. Find a list of English Language schools in London here: http://goo.gl/PY17Qn
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HOW CAN YOU MARKET YOUR QUEEN MARY DEGREE TO EMPLOYERS?
QMUL has given you the chance the develop an attractive skillset Malaysian employers are looking for candidates that are both technically able for the job and also have soft skills that make them stand out from the competition. Through the group work, presentations, tutorials, coursework, extra-curricular activities and also living in a foreign country you will have gained soft skills such as:
Motivation and determination Enthusiasm for the role, company and industry is important. Employers look to hire people who have the motivation and determination to succeed.
Ability and desire to keep learning Communication Employers relate good communication skills to the ability to work effectively with both colleagues and clients. Good communicators can adapt their style of communication to suit the task in hand.
Jobs constantly change due to technological, political and economic factors, so you need to be willing to keep learning in order to adapt to new contexts.
Problem solving Interpersonal Skills These skills enable you to build trust and rapport with other people and manage conflict if necessary. They are a valuable asset in the work place. Ability to work independently Being able to work with minimum supervision is important as companies do not have the resources to continuously oversee you. Ability to work as part of a team A team player understands clearly the goals of the team and works to achieve them. They are able to offer ideas, listen to other people and take feedback from other team members.
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Employers value the ability to apply both logic and creativity to solve problems. Time management ood time management is about being able to prioritise G your tasks and being able to work on several different projects at once through planning the use of your time. You may also have gained technical skills from your degree, if you use technology and equipment on your course that your peers at home don’t have. You can state these skills in the Education section of your CV.
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PREPARING FOR YOUR JOB SEARCH
What can you do whilst you are still in the UK to prepare for your job search?
1/ Ensure you develop your soft skills Malaysian employers consider those who have studied in the UK to be more likely to have soft skills. However, you need to be able to prove that you have them throughout the stages of the job application process. How can you make sure you develop and practice using them whilst you’re at Queen Mary? Be active in your course Some of your modules will include a variety of learning and assessment methods such as presentations, blogging, report writing and group work. These are designed to help you improve your communication skills in a more professional setting. Try to immerse yourself in to these tasks so that you can make the most of this experience. Get involved in the Students’ Union QMSU have a large variety of activities that you can be a part of, including Societies, Club Sport, RAG, Student Media or Volunteering. Participating in these will this help you improve your English and develop the communication, time management and other soft skills that employers are looking for. Use societies to try to interact as much as possible with non-Malaysian students as this will help to develop your language skills and also improve your understanding of the UK culture. If you’re concerned about straying too far away from your studies, most departments have a student-led academic society that you can be a part of. Take a look at what QMSU has to offer: www.qmsu.org/ getinvolved
2/ Research which industry you would like to work in Take some time to research and look into the different industries that you find interesting and would consider working in. If you’re unsure, book an appointment with Careers & Enterprise and they’ll help you to get a better understanding of what jobs may suit you. Make sure you attend any careers events for your School, as these give you an insight into the variety of industries that people with your degree have entered.
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Top 10 industries for QMUL Malaysian graduates 17
Entrepreneurship
16 Finance
15 14
Operations
12 12
Legal
10 10
Program and Project Management
7
66
6
Data source: LinkedIn, Jan 2016
3/ Consider what type of company would value a QMUL degree Most companies in Malaysia like hiring overseas educated graduates. You could work for start-ups, expanding companies, multinational corporations and everything in between. Each of these types of companies have their own advantages for their employees. It can help to research into the different types of companies and consider what appeals most to you.
4/ Think about the location in which you would like to live With Malaysia still undergoing the process of urbanisation, the best opportunities for graduates are in the cities. However, you may have to undergo different training processes to be qualified for some areas of work in certain regions. For instance, in order to practice law in Peninsular Malaysia, you have to complete a compulsory nine month term of pupillage, whereas in Sabah and Sarawak, you have to complete a 12-month term, including a 3-6 month period in either Sabah or Sarawak and have a connection to either region. For those intending to practice law in Sabah, a 6 month pupillage there is mandatory. Research into your industry and if the training requirements vary between the regions.
Jamie XN Chen, works in finance at Bayer Schering Pharmaceuticals in Kuala Lumpur. School of Economics and Finance graduate, 2014. Why did you choose to return home after you graduated? ‘Personally, I have a family business to look after that is why I chose to return home to fulfil my responsibilities. But generally speaking the majority of graduates would not have a choice but to return home as it is highly competitive in the UK & it’s difficult to land a job especially with international students being at a disadvantage because we require employers to sponsor a valid working visa for us to remain in the country.’ What skills do you feel you acquired from studying in the UK? ‘1. C onfidence - in terms of being more articulate as UK education highly encourages participation and involvement in seminars. 2. E xposure - in terms of cooperating & working alongside with diverse pool of culture
What was the most challenging aspect of your job search? ‘Finding out if the employer is willing to provide internationals a valid work visa (as it is not always clearly stated in the FAQ section) before deciding to proceed with the application otherwise it would defeat the whole purpose.’ Are there any networks that you would recommend returning students from QM to connect with? ‘- Talent Corp (www.talentcorp.com.my) - Gen corporate (www.gencorporate.com) - UK & Eire Council of Malaysian Students (www.ukeconline.com) - Young Corporate Malaysians (www.ycm.org.my)’ Do you think it’s valuable for a Malaysian student to get an internship in the UK? ‘Definitely. Local enterprises values overseas internship highly, as the experience is perceived to be more prestigious and ‘of a higher standard’ as compared to domestic work. Students who gain experience in foreign countries definitely have an edge on the others.’
3. I ndependent – not being reliant on any family member’s help, from preparing meals to sorting out laundry 4. T ime management – juggling between university work & extra-curricular activities 5. B eing more sociable – experiencing UK life & immersing myself in British culture’ How did you go about searching for a job? ‘Mostly search engines or job search sites such as - Target Jobs - Milkround - Job Street (Malaysian) - QM career webpage
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YOUR APPLICATION: COVER LETTER- WHAT TO INCLUDE
More and more employers are requesting a short cover letter alongside your CV for job applications. Here are some tips for how to write a successful cover letter: - Maximum 1 side of A4 - Make sure your cover letter is targeted to the potential employer. Always address the hiring manager by name. If you don’t know what their name is, research it by checking the company website or contacting the department - State the position that you are applying for and where you found out about the job vacancy - Express your interest in the position, company and industry - Specifically relate your skills to the available position and the person specification they have provided in the advertisement. Briefly explain how your education, work experience or extra-curricular activities make you suitable for the role. Use specific examples
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- State that your CV is attached and that you would be happy to discuss this further in an interview - The tone of the letter should be polite and formal, yet personable - End the letter with your name printed at the bottom and a signature if you are preparing a hard copy - Proof read the letter! It’s a good idea to get a family member, friend or Careers Consultant to read through your cover letter to ensure that there are no spelling or grammatical errors. If you’re applying via email, your covering letter should make up the body of the email and your CV should be sent as an attachment. Make sure that it is in a common format, such as Microsoft Word or a PDF document and give it your name as the document title to avoid CV mix-ups!
YOUR APPLICATION: CV GUIDE
Whilst you’re applying for jobs, it will be worthwhile researching into whether any of the companies that you are applying to have a preferred application format. If not, here are some general tips on writing your CV: • Be as succinct as possible. Your CV should not exceed two A4 pages • Although Malay is the national language, English is the language of business and job application documents • Ensure that your contact details and personal information is accurate and up to date. Employers tend to call rather than email to arrange an interview, so make sure you are easy to reach • It is common to include a passport-style photograph in the top right hand corner of your CV
• Tailor the information to the position you are applying for by including any modules you may have studied or provide examples of any specific skills you may have gained that are related to the vacancy. You may also include any scholarships or awards you have been given, as this highlights academic proficiency • As a graduate, it is acceptable to outline any unrelated work experience, volunteering or part-time work, as long as you highlight any relevant skills for the job you are applying to. This becomes unnecessary once you have gained experience in your industry. Ensure your wording is positive and active. Instead of stating your difficulties, use language such as ‘overcame’, ‘accomplished’ and ‘achieved’. Provide any statistics if possible • Include one academic and one professional reference • Proofread your CV to make sure there are no spelling mistakes or grammatical errors. It can often be worthwhile to get someone else to look through it for you as well.
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YOUR APPLICATION: CV GUIDE
Faridah Ahmad Personal Information: Address: 5B, Pooley House, London, E1 4PG Contact number: +447717051562 Email: f.ahmad@gmail.com Date of birth: 26/02/1992 Objective: Seeking a challenging position that will allow me to continue my learning development within the Banking and Finance industry. Give your degree level, subject, university and years of study. Include any relevant modules, research or project work.
Education MSc Banking and Finance, Queen Mary, University of London [September 2015- September 2016] • Passed with 66% (Merit) • Modules included: Corporate Finance, International Finance and Risk Management for Banking • Dissertation written on the potential role of Game Theory in International Risk Management BSc (Hons) Economics and Finance, University Malaya [March 2011- November 2014] • Passed with 60%
Write your education and employment history in reverse chronological order
• Modules included: Foreign Trade, International Finance and Marketing and Industry studies.
Employment History Graduate Intern, Commercial Banking Sector, HSBC [December 2014- August 2015] • Worked directly with customers to understand customer satisfaction • Provided administrative support to my team and my managers by modelling, accounting, credit analysis, conducting market research and created pitch books • Researched prospective clients • Developing cash flow models Financial Management Intern, Bank Negara Malaysia [November 2013- January 2014) • Managed financial databases • Gained experience in accounting, taxation, invoicing and payment tracking.
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Other Experiences and Qualifications Fundraising Officer, Economics Society, Queen Mary University of London [October 2015- June 2016] • Increased grant funding • Increasing sponsorship funding by 82% by contacting local businesses • Wrote funding proposals to the School of Economics and Finance
Include your former position, the company and the dates you worked. Outline your roles and responsibilities whilst there, again including any relevant project work and skills acquired.
• Organised fundraising events • Helped in organising and running other academic and social events Other Achievements • Came 2nd in Under 16s Regional Debating Competition • Received the John Maynard Keynes Award for Outstanding MSc Thesis Languages Malay: Native, English: Fluent.
References Academic Reference: Richard Brendan, Professor of Economics, Queen Mary, University of London r.brendan@qmul.ac.uk Professional Reference: Umar Tengku, Intern Co-ordinator, HSBC Malaysia u.tengku@hsbc.com.my
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YOUR APPLICATION: INTERVIEW TIPS
Interviews are used by the majority of companies in Malaysia as a way to select the best candidate. In order to present yourself in the best way, here are some interview tips that will help you to make the best impression possible: • Punctuality is very important Try to arrive approximately 20 minutes early. This way you will have time to compose yourself and fill in any extra paperwork that may need completing. Double check exactly where your interview is being held and if necessary do a practice journey. Make sure you’ve allowed time for traffic! • You must be well presented Employers will see the way that you present yourself, whether in terms of dress and physical appearance to body language, as a reflection of yourself. Your clothes should be business formal and conservative. Your phone must be switched off. Ensure your posture is good and that you maintain eye contact with your interviewer: you don’t want to be considered as disrespectful or lazy!
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• Be professional at all times Regardless how well or badly you think your interview may have gone, you will be expected to remain professional until the end. If you are shown around the office or introduced to other members of the team, their feedback may count towards the company’s overall evaluation of you, so don’t say or do anything that you wouldn’t in a formal interview. • Research the company and the industry Employers are looking for people who have a good understanding of their company, the industry and how the Malaysian economy affects both of these. Stay up to date with current events concerning the industry and company, research their competitors and be ready to talk around these topics.
• Be prepared to back up your story It is important to remain humble and not to brag about your achievements. Instead, share your experiences and how they gave you particular skills: this will show the interviewer that there is something behind your claims. Use positive words such as ‘learned’ and ‘achieved’ and never discredit a former employer. • Asking questions demonstrates your interest in the role Prepare at least 3 questions that you can ask your interviewer about the role, the company, the industry and even its future. This is a great way to gain respect and credibility. • Show your gratitude that they have taken time to meet with you Shake their hand and thank them for their time once the interview is over. You could send a thank-you note or email to reiterate your interest in the job. You can also follow up
with a phone call a week later if you have not heard from them. However, refrain from contacting them again after this, as looking too persistent will not go in your favour. • Learn from the experience If you didn’t get the job offer, don’t worry! Spend some time after your interview to reflect on the experience. Ask for feedback and take time to consider how you could improve before moving on to the next one. Interview Kit: • Copies of your CV • Copies of your degree/ diplomas and any other documents supporting your qualifications • Passport-sized photos for application forms • Pen and notebook to fill out forms or take notes
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LIVING AND WORKING IN MALAYSIA
Tax rates: Income tax is progressive, starting with 1% for earnings over 5,000 MYR, reaching 25% for income exceeding 400,000 MYR. Average salary: Average monthly salary in Malaysia is 7,384 MYR. This equates to approximately 1,160 GBP. Find more information on average salaries across different job sectors in Malaysia here: http://goo.gl/HrpqNE
Average working hours: The working week is 48 hours, with a maximum of 8 working hours per day and 6 working days per week.
Living and Working in Malaysia
Holidays: Standard holiday entitlement is 10 days paid leave. In addition to this there are public holidays. These vary throughout different states. Read more here: http:// publicholidays.com.my/
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Living costs: Malaysia is considered to have very low living costs. Read more about the cost of living at www.numbeo. com/cost-of-living
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FINDING VACANCIES: NETWORKING
Although there is much less emphasis on networking in Malaysia than in other countries when it comes to filling graduate job vacancies, it is still an important process for career development. In order to ensure that you develop your own networks there are a few things that you can do.
Maintain connections with your friends and family Make sure your social media platforms are up to date with your education and any work experience. Keep your friends and family updated with what you’re currently doing whilst you’re in the UK and what you may be looking for when you return home. Similarly, when you return to Malaysia, maintain your relationships with your Queen Mary friends, along with any academics or work experience colleagues. This is a great starting point for your own network - you never know when this might come in useful!
Join the Queen Mary Alumni Network By signing up to the Alumni Portal you can subscribe to the alumni mailing list, search for fellow alumni and buy tickets for upcoming events in the UK or Malaysia. Most importantly, you can join the overseas group for Malaysia, which organises regular events and projects for alumni in Malaysia. You can also join the Queen Mary Alumni Group on LinkedIn - just search ‘Queen Mary Alumni Network’. Visit the Queen Mary Alumni pages at www.qmul.ac.uk/ alumni
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Sign up to professional associations and online forums Research the professional associations that you are interested in and see if you can sign up to their online newsletters. These will offer information on networking and other professional events. You can also participate in online forums for international students in UK universities. For instance, you can ‘like’ the British Council UK Alumni Relations Network Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/BritishCouncil. UK.AlumniRelationsNetwork Keep up to date with any events that may be good networking opportunities with the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry: www.micci.com/ Other networking organisations for you to consider are: • Business Networking Club, Malaysia www.bnc.org.my/dt5.aspx Founded in 1989, the BNC is now housed in Petaling Jaya and regularly holds social and recreational activities. Members gather once a month for a networking dinner. • Malaysian Business Network http://malaysianbiznetwork.com/ ‘Like’ their Facebook page and sign up to their various industry-specific networks.
LinkedIn is one of the most common ways people expand their professional network. Here, you can join the Queen Mary Alumni Network group and even some School specific groups. Furthermore, you can search and follow Queen Mary University of London and explore the careers of over 54,000 alumni. Keep your profile information up to date, as recruiters use LinkedIn to locate potential candidates. If possible, contact your former employers, professors and lecturers and peers you worked on group projects with, and ask if they can give you a recommendations on LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is a great way of searching for jobs as many recruiters advertise their vacancies on it. ‘Follow’ companies that you are interested in and search in the ‘Jobs’ section of LinkedIn. Make your search country specific by changing your location preferences. Read about how to apply for jobs using LinkedIn here: https://goo.gl/aexKR0 For videos on how to build your profile and use LinkedIn functions go to https://students.linkedin.com/uk You can also read our guide to using LinkedIn here: http://goo.gl/YH3RQY
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FINDING VACANCIES: RECRUITMENT AGENCIES
The use of recruitment agencies by companies in Malaysia is a common process. Legitimate recruitment firms are registered under the Ministry of Human Resources and work exclusively for the employer, meaning that it is the employer (their client) that pays the costs rather than the candidates that are applying. Although sending your CV/ application to a recruitment firm does not guarantee you a job, it does help to broaden your search, gain access to exclusive positions and discover suitable career options that may have not crossed your mind. For a full list on Recruitment Agencies in Malaysia, search for them using the Malaysian Yellow Pages www.yellowpages.my/
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FINDING VACANCIES: ONLINE
Online job advertisements means that it is now much easier for you to apply whilst you’re still in the UK. Here are some of the ways you can look for job vacancies.
Online resources available through Careers & Enterprise Careers Tagged is an online library of websites about everything concerning job searches. Enter ‘international students’ or ‘Malaysia’ into the search box for relevant resources. www.careerstagged.co.uk/ JobOnline is Queen Mary’s job board. You can search vacancies by country and industry. www.careers.qmul.ac.uk/jobs
Online recruitment websites Recruitment websites tend to come in two forms: generalised and industry specific. Employers can use these platforms to advertise their vacancies and candidates can apply online. It is becoming increasingly common for candidates to be able to upload their CV onto a recruitment websites, highlighting their areas of interest, and companies can then search through relevant CVs. Recruitment websites include: • Jobstreet.com www.jobstreet.com.my/ • Monster www.monster.com.my/ • Jobs Central http://jobscentral.com.my/ • Indeed www.indeed.com.my/
Gradlink ASEAN is an online resource that offers industry advice and advertises job vacancies. Have a look here: www.gradlinkuk.com/asean.php
• Recruit.net http://malaysia.recruit.net/
Similarly, GradMalaysia offers country specific information and job advertisements. See more here: http://gradmalaysia.com/online/index.aspx
• The Malaysian Bar http://jobs.malaysianbar.org.my/
Vacancies advertised on company’s website Most companies’ websites will have a ‘jobs’ or ‘careers’ section. Multinational corporations will advertise jobs throughout the countries that they operate in. Normally if a vacancy is advertised online, it will be alongside a job specification and details on how to apply for the position.
• GradMalaysia http://gradmalaysia.com/ • eLawyer www.elawyer.com.my/ • Legal Labs http://legallabs.com/ • eFinancial Careers www.efinancialcareers.my/ • The Accountancy Job http://my.theaccountancyjob.com/ • Oil and Gas Job Search https://my.oilandgasjobsearch.com/
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HOW CAN CAREERS & ENTERPRISE HELP YOU?
Careers & Enterprise supports Queen Mary University of London students across all aspects of their career development.
Careers Consultants Every School has their own dedicated Careers Consultant. Your Careers Consultant will run a programme of career workshops and events for your School that can you attend, featuring employers and alumni. Find these here: www.careers.qmul.ac.uk/events
Book an appointment We offer daily 20 minute appointments, where you can discuss any of the following: • CV and job application feedback • Finding and applying for work experience, part-time work or graduate jobs in the UK and overseas • Deciding what to do after graduation • Starting your own business We also run practice interviews before a Skype/phone or face to face interview. To book an appointment or practice interview call 020 7882 8533 or book in person in WG3, Queens Building, Mile End campus. We are open Monday-Friday 9.30am-5pm. All appointments are held on the Mile End campus apart from postgraduate law appointments, which are held in CCLS at Lincoln’s Inn Fields.
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Find us online… Website: www.careers.qmul.ac.uk QMPlus International Students Careers Webpage: http://goo.gl/S9tXgQ Facebook: www.facebook.com/qmcareers Twitter: https://twitter.com/qmcareers Blog: https://qmjobsblog.wordpress.com/
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For further information contact: Careers & Enterprise Queen Mary University of London Mile End Road London E1 4NS Telephone: 020 7882 8533 email: careers@qmul.ac.uk www.careers.qmul.ac.uk
Any section of this publication is available in large print upon request. If you require this publication in a different accessible format we will endeavour to provide this where possible. For further information and assistance, please contact: hr-equality@qmul.ac.uk; Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 5585. The information given in this publication is correct at the time of going to press. We reserve the right to modify or cancel any statement in it and accept no responsibility for the consequences of any such changes. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the website qmul.ac.uk This publication has been printed on environmentally friendly material from well-managed sources.
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