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EDITOR’S LETTER

RW

CONTENTS JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008

ON THE COVER



SPOTLIGHT ON 06 Buying power Fancy a job where you hold the pursestrings and buy things? Then welcome to the fast-moving and well-paid Purchasing and Supply sector. 

New Horizons

N

ew Year’s resolutions are strange things -- we make them with the best intentions in the world at two minutes past midnight on the first of January, and by the third

we’ve either forgotten them or broken them. But if one of your New Year’s resolutions for 2008 was to concentrate on your studies and your future career, then

UP FRONT

you’ve already made a great start by picking up this issue of Real World magazine.

12 Reality Bytes All the news, views, and advice you need

For those of you contemplating undertaking further study in order to maximise your earning potential, there’s information on postgraduate degrees. It’s a hard decision to

to build a great career and life.

make when all your peers will be heading off to start their working lives, but in the long

15 Real World Online Find out all about the real world of work by registering online.

16 The Real World Awards You

term it can pay real dividends, as our case studies prove. However, if you believe your career lies within academia as a teacher rather than as a student, then our section on teaching, complete with case studies, will give you an insight into how to enter the profession and what you could gain personally from working in this sector.

could win up to £5,000 with our best ever Real World Awards,

If you are familiar with Real World you may notice a few changes. For a start, we’ve got some great advice on how to spruce up your life in our New Year, New You article.

where we reward the students who have made a real contribution to uni life. 

Reality Bytes features stories and snippets that affect every student. Up front we have Spotlight On featuring a career or job sector that’s either slightly out of the ordinary or does not get the attention it deserves. On pages 16 and 17 you can read about our

18 New Year, New You Learn how to detox your desk and your life with advice from Professor Cary Cooper, the man who’s written a book on the subject. 

RW FEATURES 22 Life Lessons Not everyone has what it takes to be a teacher, but if inspiring the next generation of students appeals to you, our comprehensive guide and case studies will give you the inside line.  32 Well Studied The key to your career advancement could be postgraduate study. Discover what it takes and where it could lead with our indepth feature. 

IN THE NEXT ISSUE >> Coming up in our March issue: we turn the Spotlight On Publishing, explore the benefits of taking a Gap Year, and sum up the Accountancy sector.

expanded Real World Awards recognising how talented our readers are. Finally, if you check out our website at www.realworldmagazine.com you’ll find we’ve improved it with new videos and blogs giving the inside line on the world of work. We hope you like it and would love to hear what you think, so drop us a line.

Dee Pilgrim, Editor dee@realworldmagazine.com

P06 P22 Editor Dee Pilgrim • Designer Yang Ou • Sub-Editor Hannah Davies • Sales Paul Wade, Harmesh Sansoa, Terry McNally, Mitul Patel • Marketing/Distribution Manager Poonam Sharma PR Coordinator Madhvi Pankhania • Client Services Manager Marie Tasle • Managing Director Darius Norell • Real World is a publication of Cherry Publishing: 22-26 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TJ • Tel: 020 7735 4900, Editorial – 020 7735 2111• Fax: 020 7840 0443 E-mail: info@realworldmagazine.com •Website: www.realworldmagazine.com – for job vacancies, career advice and case studies • Copyright © 2008 Cherry Publishing No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher.

We cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs or for material lost or damaged in the post.

The views in this publication or on our website are not necessarily those held by the publisher.

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PURCHASING AND SUPPLY WELCOME TO SPOTLIGHT ON..., A NEW SERIES THAT PUTS DIFFERENT CAREERS UNDER THE REAL WORLD MICROSCOPE. THIS ISSUE: PURCHASING AND SUPPLY.

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SPOTLIGHT ON | CIPS

hen it comes

to choosing a career, Purchasing (or Procurement) and Supply may not be the first thing that comes to mind.

However, this fast-growing and well-paid sector has got a lot going for it as Liz Lees, PR manager for the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), is keen to explain. ‘It opens the door to so many different careers because you can basically buy so many different things. People always think, “Procurement, oh, office supplies such as stationary and paper clips,” but it’s not like that at all. We’ve got people all over the world buying advertising, giving variation and excitement.’

Procurement and Supply (or P & S) is, on a basic level, the acquisition of goods and/or services at the best possible cost, and of the right quantity and quality, at the right time. The reason for people’s misconceptions about this sector is that it has traditionally been lumped together with Transport and Logistics. Although there is some overlap, they are very different and distinct careers. ‘Students don’t necessarily think of us first because we are not high profile,’ says Lees. ‘Many people will tell you they fell into it, or when they started a graduate scheme P & S was one of the modules and they liked it so much they stayed in it.’

Now CIPS is actively promoting careers in P & S and more and more universities, such as Glamorgan, are offering specific P & S degrees.

Apparently, there is a move on at present to get more graduates to enter P & S in the creative industries, such as marketing and PR, and also in HR and IT. Also hot are the charity sector and, more importantly, the public sector. Lees explains: ‘People want public money to be spent well, they hate seeing it wasted. There’s been a recent government efficiency drive, and procurement has played a huge part in it because they’ve realised if they are to

hit their savings target of £25.1 billion, they have to involve P & S.’ What the sector needs is good talent coming in and rejuvenating P & S departments by streamlining systems and making it slicker. You need good technical skills such as buying, negotiating, and understanding legalities and sustainability considerations, but just as important are your soft skills. ‘Communication, integrity and presentation are all key,’ says Lees.

‘Also, as new markets in India, China, and South America emerge, you’ll need an understanding of different cultures because you’ll have to work within their boundaries.’ Having a second or a third language will give you even more opportunities to work abroad.

If you think you’ve got what it takes, now is a great time to enter this sector as it is growing massively. According to the latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (third quarter 2007) there are 39,577 Purchasing Managers, and 64,443 Buyers and Purchasing Officers in the UK. As companies as varied as Sainsbury’s, GlaxoSmithKline, Cadbury and RollsRoyce all now offer specific P & S training courses, these figures are set to increase.

You can progress up the career ladder rapidly, with new graduates earning between £18,000 and £22,000; these figures rise to £80,000 or even £90,000 at the top end, although Lees says many positions command six figure salaries.

Going on to postgraduate study in P & S (such as CIPS qualifications) is hard work, but more and more companies are asking for it as it shows a commitment to the job. In the meantime, if you feel this could be the career for you, the best piece of advice Liz Lees gives is to get some work experience – it really is invaluable.  For more information about CIPS go to www.cips.org Read the following case studies to see what working in this sector is really like.

»

Photograph: iStockphoto

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case studies | CIPS

and has exposed me to a number of exciting projects and roles. Since joining the Rolls-Royce Graduate Scheme I have worked in Derby, Liverpool and Indianapolis. My time spent working in the USA for Rolls-Royce Corporation was a truly wonderful experience.

It allowed me to work in a different culture and understand some of the aspects associated with working as a global organisation, giving me an appreciation for the bigger picture. The work I have been involved with since joining Rolls-Royce has always been interesting and challenging. I have been given a relatively high degree of responsibility at an early point in my career and have also worked in a number of high profile/exposure roles.

Stephen Hemmingsley Age: 25 Degree and university: BSc Business Computing & IT, 1st Class Hons, Aston Business School, Aston University Job Title: Technical Assistant to Chief Procurement Officer, the Purchasing Leadership Development Graduate Programme at Rolls-Royce.

Were you always interested in Purchase and Supply as a career? I was always interested in working within a business environment. I decided to pursue a career in Purchasing due to its increasing strategic importance within organisations, and the wide and varied spectrum of roles available. There is opportunity to work in positions such as Strategic Buying right through to Supplier Development & Quality, or even International Business. As part of my degree I completed my placement year/internship with RollsRoyce working in Purchasing/Supply Chain for the first time. My university placement office was very helpful in supporting me with applying for the initial internship. Additionally, the Rolls-Royce website contains a lot of useful information about the various programmes on offer, and allows you to apply online very easily. I was offered a place on the Purchasing Graduate Programme on completion of my degree.

What do you do in your job? My current role is working as a Technical Assistant to the Chief Procurement Officer (CPO). This is a really unique and valuable opportunity to gain a significant amount of experience early on in my career. It involves supporting in aspects of the Global Purchasing Strategy and Business planning process, along with involvement in activities, projects and pieces of work that are submitted and reviewed at the highest level of the company.

What do you like most about what you do?

The aspect I enjoy most is the ability to work across different sectors of the business in different geographical locations. This structure has provided me with really broad experience, allowing me to develop a large network of colleagues across the business,

Are you considering further study in order to gain promotion? Yes. I have recently completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Supply Chain Management making me eligible to become a Member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply (CIPS). I have further aspirations to complete an MSc in Supply Chain Management or an MBA, which would be sponsored by Rolls-Royce.

What qualities do you need to succeed in this sector? The most valuable lesson I have learned since joining Rolls-Royce is the importance of being accountable for delivering what you have promised. Senior Management really values individuals who can take personal responsibility for getting things done. There is a lot of opportunity in the business to get involved and make a real difference by implementing something new or adding value by introducing an improvement to an existing process or system.

‘

GOOD communication skills are essential

’

because I wasn’t too sure what a Geography graduate could go into. Purchasing appealed to me as a career choice because of the blend of people and commercial skills that you need to use.

What do you do in your job? I work for BP’s Indirect Procurement organisation, IP6S, based at Sunbury. Currently, I’m a PSCM (Procurement and Supply Chain Management) graduate working in Indirect Procurement on a 12 month placement. My role as Knowledge Sharing Advisor involves working on a project team to develop an Indirect Procurement web portal for BP. I’m responsible for getting the right content into the web portal so that it directs users to the appropriate route-to-market for indirect goods and services. The portal is designed to make it easier for BP’s 100,000 employees worldwide to take advantage of BP preferred suppliers and negotiated rates.

What do you most like about what you do?

One of the best things about my job is working with lots of different people from across BP on my project team because I get to travel for work and meet lots of great colleagues. Also, being on the BP graduate scheme gives me good exposure to different areas of the business, and it’s a great way to network with others at the start of their BP careers.

What qualities do you need to succeed in this sector? Good people skills are essential, both for dealing with suppliers and internal customers. A lot of my job involves engaging and enthusing stakeholders, so I think interpersonal and communication skills are vital.

Age: 24 Degree and university: BA Geography, University of Cambridge. Last year I began studying towards MCIPS (Membership of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply) with sponsorship from BP. Job title: Knowledge Sharing Advisor.

Would you ever do more qualifications to further your career? Yes, definitely. BP is sponsoring me through levels 4-6 of CIPS training as part of my professional development on the graduate scheme. The BP graduate scheme is 3 years long, so I’ll have a chance to experience a range of different purchasing roles before I decide which direction to take my career in next.

Were you always interested in Purchase and Supply as a career? When I left university I spent some time researching career options

What would be your best piece of advice for people wanting to come into this sector?

Research the profession.

Helen King

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CIPS_Corp_RealWorld_Adv

Vision…

...can take you places you’ve never dreamed of, make a career choice second to none.

Opportunities…

...to become a leading professional in one of today’s fastest growing professions.

Support…

...at the moment you need it most, we’ll give you the confidence to keep moving forward, taking your career to new heights.

CIPS – one organisation, 44,000 members, infinite benefits CIPS runs a graduate level qualification for its members which is recognised worldwide demonstrating that the holder has achieved a sound technical knowledge and understanding of the subject.

For more information on a career in purchasing visit: www.cips.org • email: info@cips.org • Tel: 01780 756777

It’s innovative It’s commercial It’s ethical It’s me Business Management or Finance Graduate Programme As the world’s largest consumer co-operative we can offer you a graduate experience that is altogether different. Choosing from a wide-range of business critical projects, you’ll ensure that the entire experience meets your career ambitions. Joining a business that’s as ethically minded as it is commercially focused, you’ll achieve your goals without compromising your values.

Discover our graduates’ altogether different experiences at www.altogetherdifferent.com

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RW

case studies | CIPS

‘

YOU LEARN SO MUCH ABOUT OTHER CULTURES

’

Maeve Corbett Age: 22 Degree and university: Masters in Chemical Engineering, University College, Dublin Job title: Supply Chain Graduate, Procurement department, ABF (Twinings).

Were you always interested in Purchase and Supply as a career? I’d never considered it until my last few months of university because I knew nothing about it! I was very aware having completed a technical degree I did not want to fall into a narrow role where I was confined to repeating the same task day in and day out. I saw Supply Chain as a way to use the problem solving and organisational skills I had learned from my degree and apply them in a dynamic and interesting role.

What do you do in your job?

My responsibilities are many and varied. I’ve had exposure to almost every role within our department and also been given projects of my own to manage and run. I’ve sourced and developed packaging from China and Sri Lanka and am working on a project to source a new contractor for one of the major services within our business. I recently spent a week in Shanghai visiting some international suppliers.

What do you like most about what you do?

The variety and the challenge. No two days are the same and my time in the office just seems to fly by because I’m always busy.

Purchasing is now an international function and most modern businesses source from all over the world. This makes you learn so much more about other nationalities and cultures.

What qualities do you need to succeed in this sector? You have to be motivated and focused. The modern purchasing career presents many challenges and you have to have the energy and the drive to find solutions. It’s also important you can communicate well and build relationships with those around you. It’s called a supply ‘chain’ because no function can act without affecting another, and this is especially true in Purchasing where the decisions that are made have a direct affect on the logistics and manufacturing functions. Mostly, you have to enjoy what you do; you have to have a passion for it.

What would be your best piece of advice for people considering joining this sector?

Keep an open mind. Don’t worry about the degree you have achieved or what subjects you studied, Purchasing and Supply employs people from all different backgrounds. Bear in mind, during the recruitment process, companies are not looking for the smartest or loudest person in the room, but for those who make the best fit for their company. So, when you go for interviews, find out what kind of working culture there is within the company and whether it’s the best fit for you.

Andrew Cubitt Age: 28 Degree and university: Undergraduate degree in Product Design and Engineering, Brunel University, Postgraduate Degree in Law, City University, London.

Job title: Contracts and Procurement Graduate, Transport for London.

Were you always interested in Purchase and Supply as a career? No, in fact, I have worked as a trainee civil engineer and solicitor. As part of my work experience many years ago, I worked in Sales and closely alongside a Purchasing department. I always enjoyed the client contact of Sales and with my contract law and engineering experience, it seemed a sensible career move to work for TfL. Can you describe exactly what it is you do?

At the moment, I am working on a specific contract we are looking to renegotiate. It involves analysing pages of figures and then making recommendations on where I believe a possible saving might be made by renegotiation. I am also involved with some strategic procurement initiatives which are both challenging and rewarding.

Would you ever do more qualifications to further your career? Absolutely. Part of my decision to take a graduate position with TfL was because I was keen to get training that would provide the foundations for me to build a successful career. TfL has a very active training programme which includes job specific skills, as well as company knowledge and interpersonal skills, all of which are very important.

What do you most like about what you do and are there any downsides to the job? I’ve been in meetings with suppliers already and been to meet-the-buyer events which I like being involved in. It is good to meet with suppliers, get new ideas on existing issues, and understand the market. The split between this interactive activity and the analysis of data makes the job very interesting and rewarding.

I find I am always busy which makes the weeks fly by! However, you do have to be prepared to work hard and to deadlines. If you are entering the profession, it is worth remembering that you will have exams and qualifications to take, which I find OK, but I guess is not for everyone.

Where do you ultimately see yourself going in this career? I intend to stay in the Contracts in Procurement department and qualify with CIPS and CILT (Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport) professional qualifications. I have an interest in Sustainable Procurement and the policies and issues surrounding this so my career may follow this path.

What qualities do you think you need as a person to make a success in this business?

I think it is necessary to be quite an outgoing person who likes interacting with people as developing good relationships with suppliers can work to your advantage. Other important qualities include being determined and motivated to negotiate the best deal, and having the analytical capability to understand complex commercial deals quickly. It is quite common to be given an alternate proposal in a negotiation and you need to be able to respond quickly, decisively, and with conviction in your belief that you are making the correct decision.

What would be your best piece of advice for people wanting to come into this sector?

If you are a graduate, it’s useful to try and get work experience in Procurement or Sales before you apply for a graduate position. I mention Sales as I think Sales training can toughen you and make you savvier to the techniques and tools sales people have in their armoury. A Sales position can also give you an insight into Supply Chains which can be invaluable for some types of Procurement.

I think the other aspect to remember is that

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case studies | CIPS

Procurement can be the purchasing of any service or device the company requires. This means an individual can follow their interests and become involved with procuring everything from the latest technology to the most organically farmed cider. This means that you should choose your company carefully and make sure your interests align with their procurement processes.

Sevan Brown Age: 27 Degree and university: Medical Biochemistry and Masters in Marketing, Birmingham Job title: Procurement Manager, Group Strategic Sourcing, Consumer Virgin Media.

Were you always interested in Purchase and Supply as a career? No, as a wise boss once told me: ‘You don’t choose Procurement, Procurement chooses you’. After my science degree I wanted something a little more creative, and after my Masters I got a job in Purchasing to pay the bills and really enjoyed it. I applied for a place on the BT graduate scheme and was successful. I like technology and fast-paced change and so it sat really well with my preferences and strengths.

What do you do in your job? I personally manage a spend of approximately £50 million per annum. I buy a wide range of things from logistics to warehousing, to delivery and to repair of all our Set Top Boxes, modems, and mobile phones. I work with business managers to identify what it is they need, then find the best people who can do the job, and negotiate a contract including price. After that I manage the contracts and attend regular meetings with contractors and Virgin stakeholders to make sure they are doing what they are supposed to.

I also champion Corporate Responsibility for the team and initiated an Eco-Design forum for all our consumer products looking at alternative manufacturing substances to plastics, more ethically sourced products and cheaper, lower energy use.

What do you like most about what you do?

I am never bored because one day I can be in the office answering emails or working on contract documents, while the next I may be at a conference, and the day after that travelling nationally or internationally as suppliers can be based all over the world.

Because you get the opportunity to work with so many different people from across the business it gives you a real understanding of the value of what you do and watching cheesy sales people clamber over each other to be your best friend can be quite fun too! That said, it can be stressful and negotiations can get quite heated so you need to be thick-skinned.

What qualities do you need to succeed in this sector? You need to be confident and aware.

Suppliers are always trying to get the best deal and have been known to use a lot of tactics in negotiations to achieve results. You need good relationship skills as the best deals are put in place when you have built up a good rapport with stakeholders and suppliers.

What would be your best piece of advice for people considering this sector?

Stay positive. The Procurement industry is going through a massive change from a tactical back-office operation to a forefront strategic function and sometimes there can be resistance to change. But don’t be afraid to shout about ideas you think can make things better because it is your ideas that are going to make real improvements.

Believe in yourself!

Christopher Morgan

‘

THE OPPORTUNITIES TO SUCCEED AND EXCEL ARE DEFINITELY OUT THERE

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Age: 21 Degree and university: Geography and Geology Bsc, 2:1, Birmingham Job title: Commercial Contract Specialist, Sellafield Ltd. Were you always interested in Purchase and Supply as a career? I hadn’t really thought about it until I met people within the business; they attracted me to it, making me

aware of the numerous and diverse opportunities available.

What do you do in your job? Currently I have two roles. Within the Commercial Sales Contract Management I interact with a range of individuals through a vertical supply chain – upwardly interfacing between Sellafield and the customer, and downwardly interfacing between Sellafield and the client. My second role is within Acquisition Management, focusing on Procurement where we look to obtain the best value for money via open, transparent and fair methods of tendering contracts.

What do you like most about what you do?

I personally want to absorb as much as possible as quickly as possible and Sellafield Ltd provides an extremely rewarding level of opportunity. I’m enjoying the current challenge but want to study for an MBA and my CIPS accreditation in order to expand my knowledge further.

What qualities do you need to succeed in this sector? You need to be highly motivated with an ambition to succeed. An understanding of all the different facets of the company is vital, with strong emphasis on Purchasing and Supply. It is also important to embrace change while interpersonal skills are key, allowing the creation of value added relationships up and down the supply chain.

What would be your best piece of advice for people considering this sector? This is a great sector to join because the opportunities to succeed and excel are definitely out there, but you must have the need to continually self improve. Come into this business with an open mind because you never know what you will achieve. n

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realitybytes news* views*advice*strategies

Future Perfect

Great news for graduates – 2008 looks set to be an excellent year for job hunting.

Over a third of UK businesses say they intend to increase their workforce this year, according to the 17th annual UPS Europe Business Monitor. This is the highest figure since the first report in 1993. A further 46% of UK companies intend to maintain their current employment level, with no plans for job cuts.

Despite recent economic instability, graduate job prospects have never looked brighter.

So what are you waiting for? Visit www.realworldmagazine.com and start your job search today.

RECRUITMENT FAIR NIGHTMARE! Recruitment fairs, Chinese style.

The next time you attend a wellorganised and civilised British recruitment fair spare a thought for your Chinese peers, as pictured here. There’s no standing patiently in queues for them, waiting to speak to prospective employers, for in a country with a population of 1.3 billion and rising, jobs are at a premium. China has the world’s fastest growing economy and Western companies such as General Electric, Ernst & Young, Microsoft, and Hewlett-Packard are making moves into this lucrative market. They’re crying out for Chinese graduates with engineering, IT, and financial degrees who can speak good English, and because they pay ‘top dollar’ everyone wants to work for them.

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ALL WORK, NO PLAY How your hobbies could land you a dream job.

They say all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, and new research suggests it could also harm Jack’s career prospects. According to Yell.com, the UK’s local search engine, 59 per cent of British employers believe a life outside the work arena gives them a better idea of whether or not a person will fit in with a company’s culture. Apparently, listing outside interests on your CV is as important as having a good interview technique. ‘Employers want to know if a candidate is going to fit in with the team,’ says Alan Sugar’s troubleshooter Claude Littner. ‘It’s not just about qualifications and experience, but also

THE MOST SEARCHED HOBBIES www.yell.com/hobbyfinder Cinema (1); Photography (2); Music (6) Health Clubs (8); Dancing Schools (10) Up and coming: Parachuting, Paint balling, Kite Surfing, DJ-ing.

personality. Whether you dabble in photography….or throw yourself out of aeroplanes at the weekend, it all helps a potential employer see the real you and makes your CV stand out.’

Apparently, many people never bother to update the Outside Interests section of their CV once they’ve written it, not realising how it could boost their career chances. So, if you’ve decided to take up Salsa dancing, are already a member of a sports club, or did a PADI accredited diving course on your year out, make sure you add it to your CV – it could make all the difference between you and Jack!

DON’T CRAM -- SLEEP ON IT

Photograph & Illustration: iStockphoto, Letizia Petrucci

New research is showing how sleep patterns can affect exam performance.

It’s not always easy getting a good, full night’s sleep before an exam day.

However, new research is showing it is the kind of sleep you get, and not the amount, that is most important to how

your brain functions during examinations and tests.

A night of normal sleep consists of cycles of REM (Rapid Eye Movement, where the brain is really active)) sleep and Non-REM sleep ranging from light sleep to deep sleep. Usually, deep sleep occurs early in the night and appears to help with the memorization of fact-based

information. Periods of REM happen later in the night and are when the brain sorts through memories looking for pattern recognition, such as learning grammar, and improving motor tasks.

According to studies carried out by Harvard and by Trent University in Canada, this means if you need to memorise facts, there’s no point cramming until 2am in the morning, much better to go to bed early and set your alarm for an early wake up call because you’ll remember more.

However, if you are studying foreign grammar or learning a piece for a music recital it is better to stay up late rather than get up really early.

And for those who believe, like Winston Churchill, a cat nap is just as good as a proper night’s rest, the research suggests you may be right – as long as your nap contains both REM and deep sleep.

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BOOK GIV AWAEY!

MONEY MATTERS

£2,750 for a period of up to four years.

How to get the most out of your High Street bank.

Most other banks only offer up to £1,000 in the first year increasing to £1,800 or

You may be tempted to open an

£2,000 by the fourth year, so think how

account with one of the high street

much interest you could save yourself. In

banks because of a special offer or freebie, but there is a better way of

the unlikely event you don’t need to use the overdraft, you could always take the

getting the best deal. According to

money and move it into an ISA or

independent financial research company Defaqto, what you should

tax-free saving account.

‘Students should definitely look past

really be looking at is the size of the

the gimmicks and select an account

interest-free overdraft they are prepared to offer you. The difference in the

based on the terms and conditions of the free overdraft, as this is what will be

amounts can be really substantial and

of most use to the majority of students,’

you can now check which banks are the most benevolent (and who the old

says Kate Marsden, Defaqto’s Marketing Director. But you’d better do it quickly

misers are) at Defaqto’s new Compare!

because these deals won’t last forever.

Student Accounts site.

At present Halifax is on top with a zero

http://www.find.co.uk/banking/ current_accounts_centre/compare-

per cent authorised overdraft of up to

student-accounts

BOOK OF THE MONTH Learn all about business with a conscience.

When social entrepreneur, Andrew Mawson, arrived in Bromley-by-Bow in London’s East End in the 1980s, he found a socially deprived and demoralised community. However, by using his business skills to found the Bromley-byBow Centre, he helped encourage its people to press for and get better

COMPUTER SAYS YES! Choosing a career in IT just got easier with three new guides available for graduates.

The recent huge surge in positions within the IT sector is great news for graduates, but it’s also made selecting the right job even more confusing.

Which are the best companies to work for, and where are the hot areas? These new guides should make your choices easier, giving advice and tips on top trends in IT, what you need to succeed, and how to pick the best employer to suit your talents. The three guides have been developed by www.theitjobboard. com and can be downloaded free from www.itjobsforgraduates.com.

1. TOP TEN SUCCESS CHARACTERISTICS Gives pointers on how to stay ahead of the crowd by being a fast learner, a team player and technologically confident.

2. TOP TEN MAJOR WAVES TO SURF IN IT Lists what’s currently hot (or not) in the industry, including systems integration, web services and enterprise applications.

3. THE PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER – WHAT TO LOOK FOR Gives an overview of what specific employers are looking for from applicants and advice on how to choose the best employers for mentoring and staff development.

Photograph & Illustration: iStockphoto, Letizia Petrucci

housing, healthcare, and literacy levels.

Now you can read how he did it and how you, too, could put into practice the twelve steps to an entrepreneurial future in his book The Social Entrepreneur: Making Communities Work (Atlantic Books, £9.99).Written in the first person it’s an entertaining and informative read and we have five copies of the book to give away to the first people to email their name and address to editor@ realworldmagazine.com. Please title the email as January Book Giveaway.

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Photograph & Illustration: iStockphoto, Letizia Petrucci

Real wORld OnLINE

RB

How Do You Get Your Dream Job?

Getting a great graduate job needn’t be purgatory. Just follow these five simple steps to career heaven.

1

LOG ON AND REGISTER

Register your details at www. realworldmagazine. com. You’re only a few clicks away from tailored job alerts direct to your inbox, a fortnightly round-up of the latest news that affects your job hunt, and a personalised university page.

2

THE KNOWLEDGE Careers question?

We’ve got it covered. You’ll find expert advice on the Real World website,

with everything from sector guides and top interview tips, to exclusive features on work experience, CV writing and much, much more.

3

GET THE INSIDE TRACK

We’ve interviewed hundreds of graduates in every industry imaginable to give you a real insight into the world of work. Find out what they’ve got to say on www. realworldmagazine.com. You can also check out our entertaining and informative new blogs from both graduates and recruiters.

4

WATCH AND LEARN

To enjoy exclusive videos from employees and case studies from leading employers log on to www.realworldmagazine.com

REAL WORLD AWARDS The Real World Awards 2008 celebrate and reward the achievements of students outside their academic work .

Visit our site realworldawards. com today. n

5

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It’s your time to shine. Enter at w

W

e believe in you. And we’re putting our money where our mouth is.

The Real World Awards celebrate students with the ability to look beyond the confines of their degree. It doesn’t matter what you do so long as you do it with energy, passion and commitment.

We’re offering prizes of up to £5,000 in four categories. But it’s not just about the cash. You’ll get to make a real difference to a project that you’re passionate about. You’ll also get the kind of press coverage that only comes with winning one of the UK’s most prestigious student awards. It’s your chance to get acknowledged for the work you’ve done and inspire others to do the same. Find out more at www.realworldawards.com

Darius Norell, Founder, Real World

ROUND 1

University Heats

At this stage you vote to decide which entries from your university will make it through to the National Heats.

HOW IT WORKS Log on to www.realworldawards.com where you can enter, view and vote on the latest entries from your university or nominate someone.

Do you know someone who should represent your university?

Nominate them and if they go on to win the top prize we’ll give you £50. There’s also a prize for the most nominations.

Your future starts here. Enter the Real World 16 RW WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

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REAL WORLD AWARDS

RW

at www.realworldawards.com ROUND 2

National Heats

You can now vote for entries from any university. This is your chance to decide who should come before the panel of judges and win the top prize.

HOW IT WORKS Link your entry to your Facebook profile and start campaigning. Your last chance to make it through to the final.

ROUND 3

The Final Countdown

Voting is over. The finalists will be invited to make their case in person to our panel of judges.

HOW IT WORKS The top entries will be invited to present for the judges and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London.

The Categories Socially Responsible Student of the Year, £5,000 prize for a related project or society, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Overall Contribution to a University, £1,000 prize

Sponsored By

Year, Entrepreneur of the Year £5,000 prize for a related project or society, sponsored

by Enterprise Most Improved Club or Society, £5,000 prize for a related project or society.

Technical Partner

orld Awards at www.realworldawards.com WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM RW 17

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Photograph: iStockphoto

new year, new you: how to detox your life 18 RW WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM

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Photograph: iStockphoto

book | detox your life

However, there are easy steps you can

Fed up with living in a constant state of chaos? Want to wrestle some order back into your messy existence? Then read on to discover how to declutter your life and mind.

G

oing to university

used to be all about having the time and space to expand your mind, steadily mature as a person, and lazily forge friendships.

These days it’s more like a frenetic race to fit in as much academic work, extra reading, socialising and real work experience as possible. No wonder students feel frazzled and under pressure, unable to sort out their schedules as their lives drown under a pile of unread emails, unopened course books and invites that got lost in the mess.

can take up too much of your time when

take to sort your way through as the book Detox Your Desk (Capstone, £9.99)

you should be out there eyeball-toeyeball socialising. The problem with the

explains. Written by Theo Theobald and

web is it’s a double-edged sword: yes it’s

Cary Cooper, Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health at Lancaster

full of information but sometimes you get information overload. The best advice is to

University Management School, it acts as

keep the computer turned off until you

a lifeline for all those time-starved

really have time to do what you need to

individuals who feel they have lost control.

Says Professor Cooper: ‘Detoxing your

do. Only take information off the web if it comes from a reliable source because

desk is really a metaphor for organising

there’s a lot of rubbish out there. Finally,

your work and your life. It’s about prioritising what you have to do and in

print off the work/study information or emails that are important to you and put

what sequence and timeframe. It’s really

them into piles sorted by how urgent they

fundamental because if you prioritise your work it will give you a better work/life

are. All irrelevant emails dump.’

balance. For students, it is really important

Wasting Your Time

they do that right at the beginning of their time at university. At the moment it is

‘Students end up looking for things for far too long. They have to give themselves a

taking them until their third year to steer a

timeframe on looking. They need to think

course through all this clutter and they should know how to do it by the end of year one. If they don’t sort it out from the start their lives will just get more and more

“I’ve got an essay to do so I’ll go on the web for one hour from 4pm to 5pm and I’ll print off all the relevant information and then that’s it! No more.” Don’t get

chaotic, which just adds more stress.’

The problem seems to be many

bogged down in hours of research because then you won’t leave yourself

students come from the highly structured environment of school without knowing how to prioritise their time into attending

enough time to do the actual essay.’

lectures and taking notes, and joining social clubs and making friends. If you feel you’re running around like a headless

how to to detox your life Real World has five copies of Detox Your Desk by Theo Theobald and Cary Cooper to give

chicken it’s time to pause and take stock, because the more organised you become the more time you’ll actually have. Here are some of Professor Cooper’s Top Tips:

away. Just email ‘Detox Your Desk’ with your name and address to editor@realworldmagazine.com n

Work/Life Balance ‘University is all about making friendships and sustaining them and having a social life, but where does all that fit into the timetable? Basically, what students should do is sort out their work schedule and the organisation of it (everything you have to do such as course work, attending lectures, exams) and then fit their social life around that. Unfortunately with students it tends to be the other way round. But if you get your work organised you create more space for your social life.’

Technology ‘Technology is hindering students in lots of ways because there’s just too much of it.

Students get deluged with emails they have to sort through and prioritise. Also, social networks are very addictive and

RW

If you’d like more candid advice on

DETOX YOUR DESK’S PERTINENT POST-ITS

• Short, sharp, shock! Work in 20-minute bursts, stay focused then take a short break • The power hour is a great way of concentrating all your efforts on a specific task • Don’t clutter your mind with lots of tasks: keep to a maximum of three • Stop doing what you don’t have to!

• Be decisive and deliberate: if you pick something up, action it!

• Take frequent breaks; trivia is okay as long as you manage it

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Wolves.pdf

16/1/08

14:34:52

Enhance your future in education ITE and CPD programmes for education professionals The School of Education is one of Britain’s largest and most established education providers: OfSTED ranking of top four out of 76 UK universities for Initial Teacher Education (ITE) overall CEER ranking of second out of 76 UK universities for teacher trainee employment success The region’s only provider of Mathematics Enhancement for aspiring mathematics teachers Innovative and varied profile CPD programmes and short-courses of education professionals, offered at bespoke locations throughout the UK Dedicated to the concepts of Lifelong Learning and widening participation, and encourage recruitment from under-represented groups in higher education Postgraduate teacher training programmes: Available to anyone with an appropriate undergraduate degree and GCSEs grade C or above (or equivalent) in English, Maths (and Science for Primary Education), our postgraduate courses are ideal for ambitious individuals with the desire to teach and make a difference.

PGCE Primary Education

PGCE Secondary School Teaching

This one-year course provides the student with QTS and develops the broad subject knowledge required for teaching ages 5-11. It is required that applicants have work experience within this age range of children prior to their application.

Delivered in a variety of subject areas, these full-time courses specialise in the Secondary teaching of: Business Education; Design and Technology; English; ICT; Mathematics; Modern Foreign Languages; Physical Education; Science. Work placements within Secondary Schools are part of the course, so prior work experience is not essential. If you do have experience however, it may help you to qualify more quickly.

Flexible PGCE Secondary School Teaching These flexible part-time courses are designed for people who, for whatever reason, cannot commit to full-time study. There are three possible start dates – October, January and April – and an individual training programme is developed for every student on the programme, tailoring the length and structure of training to individual needs. Subjects offered are Business Education, Design and Technology, ICT, Mathematics, Modern Foreign Languages and Science.

PGCE Post-Compulsory Education This full-time course takes one year to complete and qualifies trainees to teach in further education (FE) – working with learners aged 16 and above. This nationally recognised FENTO endorsed award is offered in a variety of subject areas, and is suitable for those with a degree (in the subject you want to teach) and a desire to teach adults. Prior work experience in a FE environment is beneficial.

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Education Professionals: Visit www.wlv.ac.uk/sed/cpd for a current list of training opportunities.

Tel: 01902 322821. E-Mail: sed@wlv.ac.uk

FULL_ads.indd 2

Website: www.wlv.ac.uk/sed

18/1/08 11:34:14

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.”

Henry Brooks Adams

PGCE. Your future.

Bring your dreams

Fusehill Street Carlisle CA1 2HH 0845 6061144 www.cumbria.ac.uk

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LIFE LESSONS ONCE SEEN AS THE CAREER TO CHOOSE IF YOU COULDN’T THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE, TEACHING IS NOW A HIGHLY ESTEEMED PROFESSION. BUT NOT EVERYONE IS UP TO THE CHALLENGES IT PRESENTS. IF YOU THINK YOU’VE GOT WHAT IT TAKES, READ ON TO DISCOVER WHAT BEING A TEACHER IS ALL ABOUT.

I

magine the scenario: you’re about to teach your Year 11 class of pupils. You open the classroom door to be confronted by 29 pumped up students, all banging on their desks and belting out the chorus of ‘I Predict A Riot’ by the Kaiser Chiefs. You may feel like running away, but you can’t: you’re the teacher and it’s your job to restore order and settle them into their studies. This is exactly what happened to Gail Jones, head of department and teacher of ICT skills at an inner city school in Liverpool. Gail dealt with the situation with a mixture of humour and authority, and says anyone who wants to become a teacher has to have that mix of firmness and softness in order to succeed.

Maintaining discipline isn’t the only demanding side to teaching. Arthur Jarman, head of Membership and Communication at the National Union of Teachers (NUT), says: ‘Teachers are underpaid and overworked. Their work is more publicly accountable than most occupations. They face problems concerning pupils’ behaviour, stress and work life balance. Yet teaching is a most rewarding experience, changing the lives of children, and shaping their futures.’ Gail Jones agrees with him, explaining that it is a very worthwhile career. ‘Working with the children is wonderful, especially seeing them come on around exam time, and the rest of the staff are a great source of support and camaraderie,’ she says.

As the government aims to raise the school leaving age to18

»

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FEATURE | CAREER IN TEACHING

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FEATURE & case study | CAREER IN TEACHING

TEACHING: THE NUMBERS

• T here are 434,900 teachers

currently employed in the state sector in England; most of these are full-time (369,900) •N umber of students accepted onto PGCE courses (autumn 07 start date): 27,063 (18,951 women, 8,112 men) -- total for UK (excl.

Northern Ireland) • T he highest number of vacancies are for maths and sciences; the lowest number of vacancies are for careers and social sciences •M ost vacancies are in London & the South East; the fewest vacancies are in the South West and North East Source: DFES, January 2007/ Graduate Teacher Training Registry

and delivered by groups of neighbouring

RESOURCES

schools and colleges, so you can gain real experience by watching teachers in

The Training and Development Agency for Schools has information on QTS, PGCE,

the classroom, while completing your

SCITT, and GTP on its website:

studies. All SCITT courses lead to QTS. Many, though not all, will also award you

www.tda.gov.uk Teach First: www.teachfirst.org.uk

the PGCE.

Fast Track:

Another way to train is via the

www.ncsl.org.uk/programme/fasttrack

Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP). This consists of on-the-job training. It tends to

TEFL: www.tefl.com For more teaching case studies go to the

suit more mature individuals who are

Real World website:

employed as unqualified teachers while they undertake a training period of

www.realworldmagazine.com n

usually one school year (it can be less, dependent on your teaching experience). Although the pay is modest (starting at around £14,751), competition for places on the GTP is strong.

For those who really like a challenge, there is the Teach First scheme. This is for

by 2015, many more teachers will need to go through training in order to keep up with demand. All school teachers in state-maintained schools need to hold

high-flying graduates only (you must have a 2:1 and 300 UCAS tariff points to be eligible) and takes two years to complete. You do an initial six week

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and most do this by completing an Initial Teacher

training course at Canterbury Christ Church University (with your food and

Training (ITT) programme.

WAYS OF TRAINING

accommodation costs reimbursed) before going to teach in a challenging school in London, Manchester or the

If you’ve already decided teaching is for you then you’re probably taking a bachelor of education course (BEd),

Midlands (for which you are paid a training salary). You learn not only teaching skills but also leadership skills

which means you do your ITT at the same time. It usually takes three or four years to complete and it’s an established choice for those who want to teach at primary school level.

However, the most popular way to train is to take a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE). Courses usually take

and gain QTS on completion. This really is tough and only 50 per cent of Teach First graduates decide to continue with their teaching careers.

What do you actually do?

My job title is Teacher of Information Communication Technology. I teach ICT up to GCSE level and I also help run the Under 15s’ football team.

FURTHER OPTIONS After gaining QTS, there is a further option for those who are particularly career-

one year full-time to complete, or can be taken part-time over two years. Trainees are entitled to receive a tax-free training bursary of £6,000 to £9,000 (£4,200 to £7,200 in Wales dependent on the chosen subject, plus £1,800 tuition fee grant). However, due to a shortage of teachers in the fields of mathematics and the sciences, there are more substantial bursaries for trainees who take an extended PGCE with additional training in these subjects. They receive a supplementary bursary of £7,000, taking their total bursary to £16,000.

If you’d like to complete your training in a more hands-on fashion, you can opt for school-centred initial teacher training (SCITT). SCITT programmes are designed

driven. The Fast Track Teaching programme aims to take young teachers and get them to assistant or deputy head status within five years via mentoring, coaching and career development.

You could do a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course, such as Trinity’s TESOL qualification or Cambridge’s CELTA, which will enable you to teach the English language to foreign students either in this country or abroad. TEFL is becoming a very competitive and commercially driven sector of the market.

Once seen as a soft option, teaching is now gaining the recognition and respect it deserves. Read the following case studies to see if it could be for you.

Were you always interested in teaching as a career? Even during my last year at secondary school I had a vision of becoming a school teacher! Prior to teaching, I worked my way up in retail management before deciding it was time for a rewarding career change.

Waqas Arbi Age: 28 Degree and university: BSc in Business Studies with Computer Studies, Brunel University.

How did you find out about the teaching sector? I did some initial research, and spoke to a friend of a friend who worked as a Learning Support Assistant (LSA). It was only when she told me how rewarding and enjoyable her job was that I began to take a serious interest in the profession. I then applied for a position as an LSA in a local secondary school. After 6 months’ experience as an LSA, I was fortunate enough to be offered a place on the Graduate Training Programme (GTP) within my local Designated Recommending Body (DRB). I then spent one year in a near-perfect middle school, before moving to my current place of work.

What do you most like about what you do?

I really, really love the reward factor. I enjoy

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case studies | career in teaching

RW

‘

EVERY CHILD MATTERS AND EVERY ONE OF MY PUPILS BRINGS SOMETHING SPECIAL INTO SCHOOL

’

going home and reminiscing about the day’s teaching. Of course, you are going to get good days and bad days, but I always reflect on the good parts of the school day. For example, I enjoy a good relationship with all my pupils and we can laugh and joke together as well as getting the work done. For me, every child matters and every one of my pupils brings something special into school.

Within my teaching experience, the most important thing is that you have made a difference to a child’s life. This involves just being there for them, not only in my capacity as a teacher, but also relating to pastoral care. It is important to share the good things in their lives and to provide advice as well as maintaining a high quality of teaching – all these things help to make that crucial difference to a child’s journey through school.

Are there any downsides to what you do?

There will be days where you will feel down for a number of reasons. You may come across a particular group or child that you find challenging to teach. My approach is quite simple: I never let them get to me, simply because I maintain my positive energy for challenging groups or pupils. This is a method I will continue to exploit as it is currently working well.

What are the most important skills you need to make a success of teaching? Firstly, you have to have a passion for teaching and the required knowledge to teach expertly in your field. You certainly need to enjoy being around people and therefore excellent people skills are certainly a must! You should have the ability to maintain a smile and a light sense of humour in class, even during the tough times. Another key element of successful teaching is the ability to be organised. You must ensure that your lesson plans are prepared in advance and maybe practise delivering a particular lesson in front of the mirror (as I do). Ensure that you are assertive yet fair to every single child so you are treating them all equally and with a confident, direct approach. Above all, enjoy what you teach and ensure you provide feedback to any questions that may be asked during a lesson.

What advice would you give to graduates coming into this sector? Ensure you network with other teachers to share best practice, as every teacher has a different pedagogy.

Kari Anson

Katie Elliot

Age: 27 Degree and university: Psychology and then Graduate Teaching Programme (GTP) at Wolverhampton.

Age: 25.

Degree and university: Goldsmiths College, University of London, BA Education in Early Childhood 3-7 with QTS.

What do you do in your job? I’m a primary school teacher, currently teaching Years 5 and 6. I teach a class of 30 and cover all National Curriculum subjects. In the latter part of my NQT (Newly Qualified Teacher) year I also took on the role of PSHE (General Personal, Social and Health Education) Coordinator and Healthy School Coordinator.

What do you actually do? I am a class teacher and teach in a Reception class with children aged 4 -5 years old.

Did you always want to be a teacher?

Certainly not, I wanted to be a high court judge! In fact, I did start training as a midwife before swapping to education. I had a fantastic experience during my own education with lots of support and encouragement from my teachers. They made a real difference to my life and so I have always been aware of the importance and impact of this profession.

Are you considering further study in order to gain promotion? I’ve already started! I’m only in my second year of teaching but I already have 30 credits towards a Masters and am currently undertaking a further 30, which will mean I’m halfway there. For me, it’s not about promotion but professional development.

What do you like and dislike about the job?

I love the fact I can come into work every day and it is always totally different. The downside is the starting pay which, when compared with other professions, is not fantastic. There’s also a lot of planning and marking to do which is overlooked by people who think teachers only work 9am to 3pm (I wish!)

What skills do you think you need to succeed in this sector? Confidence, honesty, determination and a caring nature.

What would be your best piece of advice for graduates wanting to enter this sector?

Go into all phases of education, gaining experience with all age groups, so you can make an informed decision about the age group you’d really like to teach.

Were you always interested in teaching as a career? I have always enjoyed working with young adults and children. Before I studied at university I worked as a nursery nurse for several years. In doing this job, and having had the opportunity to work with other professionals in this field, I became increasingly interested in developing my career in education.

How did you find out about this particular job? I found out how to get into the profession by speaking to people who were already teachers and looking at university prospectuses. I decided that I wanted to teach young children rather than Primary or Secondary because this is where most of my experience was and I also felt more comfortable with this age group.

Would you undertake further study to gain promotion? I definitely would like to study further, but purely because I love learning new things and I miss the university lifestyle.

I’d study further in order to take my career in another direction and to focus on an area I was interested in.

What do you like most and least about your job? I know it sounds cheesy, but the best thing about the job is the children. You can learn so much from them, they can be a real inspiration sometimes. Teaching offers job security and it can take you all over the world. However, teaching is a really hard profession and you should never think it is going to be an easy job because it isn’t! The job is challenging. There is an endless amount of work to do, but you have to think about the difference you can make to someone else’s life.

»

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Kent offers teachers a wide range of experiences and an opportunity to work in a varied and exciting environment.To learn more about teaching careers in Kent, visit www.kent-teach.com

www.kent-teach.com

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Would you like to become a teacher?

We still have places available on *PG

Cert Flexible courses with QTS for a April 2008 start in the following

subjects: • Secondary Biology, Chemistry, or Physics • Secondary English • Secondary Mathematics • These courses are part-time in the main but they include a maximum of three full-time school placements, each lasting eight weeks.

• April entries for 2008 the course fees will be paid by the Teaching Development Agency (TDA) after this entry point the TDA will no longer pay the fees for this course, for any new entries from September 2008 onwards.

• Entry points are September, January and April each year.

We also offer one-year, full-time PG Cert courses with QTS in Primary Education and Secondary Education.

Our Secondary specialist subjects are: • English • Information & Communications Technology • Mathematics • Modern Foreign Languages • Physical Education • Science For further information, please consult our website: www.brunel.ac.uk/sse or telephone 01895 266948 Information about fees and training salaries can be found at: www.tda.gov.uk The School of Sport and Education is currently planning an event on the 1st March 2008 and the 27th March 2008 focused on Teacher Training.

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18/1/08 12:18:11

case studies | career in teaching

What skills do you need to succeed at what you do? I think one of the most important skills is to enjoy learning yourself, and also to be willing to adapt and change to improve your teaching. Being able to reflect on what went well and have a positive outlook is definitely an advantage in this profession. Sharing your motivation and enthusiasm with the children you teach is an important skill. I think the most successful teachers are the ones that are confident about what they teach, genuinely enjoy it and care about the children.

What is your best piece of advice for graduates wanting to come into this sector?

Think very carefully about whether teaching is what you really want to do. I would advise people first to gain experience of working in schools, because there are many different age groups and specialist schools that you can teach in, and to be sure of which area they want to teach.

Is there anything you would like to add?

I have only been teaching since September and I’ve heard the first year is the hardest - I have to agree, the past three to four months have been very hard and tiring! They keep telling me it gets easier!

Mathematics. Now I find it even more interesting and exciting.

Are you considering further study in order to gain promotion? I am currently studying further for a Master of Teaching at the Institute of Education, University of London, and MA Ed: Professional Enquiry at The University of Winchester.

What do you like and dislike about your job?

Teaching is as inspiring and challenging as each child I teach. I never get bored as I see different faces and interact with different knowledge seekers every hour. The only downside is I end up feeling shattered at the end of the day.

What skills do you think you need to succeed in this sector? You need a calm, but motivating and encouraging, personality.

However, the real keys to successful relationships with young people are a lot of tolerance and plenty of patience!

What would be your best piece of advice for graduates wanting to come into teaching?

Don’t expect too much! You don’t become a good teacher overnight.

RW

‘

Teaching is as inspiring as each child i teach. I NEVER GET BORED AS I SEE DIFFERENT FACES AND INTERACT WITH DIFFERENT KNOWLEDGE SEEKERS EVERY HOUR

’

develop the pastoral side of teaching as well as the academic and to pass on advice to them about higher education.

Were you always interested in teaching as a career? While in the final year of university I had a couple of really inspiring lecturers and they thought teaching would be a good profession for me to go into. After university I began working in the marketing department of a ferry company. I wasn’t really challenged and found the job quite boring. I realised that teaching was still the profession I wanted to pursue.

How did you find out about this particular job? I sent a speculative letter to my old secondary school. Three months later I started my teacher training with them and have stayed at the school ever since. It takes one school year (3 terms) to become a qualified teacher through the GTP route.

Hafiz Qarni

Kelly Daci

Age: 25 Degree and university: Combined (4-year) Honours Degree in Computer Science & Mathematics from University of Central Punjab, Lahore (Pakistan). PGCE (full-time) at London Metropolitan University, studying Mathematics and Education.

Age: 25 Degree and University: Anglia Ruskin University, BA (Hons) Business Studies (4 yr Sandwich) Year of graduation: 2005 Occupation: Business Teacher.

What do you do in your job? This is my second year of teaching. I teach Mathematics to Key Stage 3/4 students. I also organise end of term/year and mock tests/exams, and maintain the students’ database for their results and sets in the department.

What do you actually do? I teach in a secondary school. My main subject is Business Studies. I also teach GCSE Business and Communication Systems, A Level Business Studies and the BTEC Diploma in Business. In addition, I am part of the Early Careers Teacher Forum within the school assisting GTP, PGCE and NQT teachers as a critical friend while they finish undertaking their teaching training. This allows them to come and speak to Early Careers teachers about any concerns they are having.

I am a year 13 tutor, which allows me to

Did you always want to be a teacher? Yes, I still remember I was in year 10 when I first decided to become a Maths teacher. Since then I have never changed my mind.

Initially, my teachers at college/university inspired me to pursue a career in teaching

What do you most like about what you do?

I enjoy the variety of the job, in terms of teaching different subjects throughout the day. There is no time to feel complacent or bored. The students are real characters, and it’s great to have a new class every September and to build up a rapport with them to get the best out of them. We have a good support system in the school and I feel that that has helped to build my confidence in becoming a good teacher.

Are there any downsides to what you do?

Work doesn’t stop once the school day is over! There is a lot of paperwork to do while you are training, and it can be quite time consuming and considerably cuts into your social life.

What are the most important skills you need to make a success out of teaching?

Planning and patience.

Do you have any advice for graduates wanting to come into this sector?

You need to have a lot of patience and learn not to take things too personally, as fourteenyear-olds can be brutally honest at times! n

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Passionate about changing the lives Passionate about changing the lives of children and young people? of children and youngabout people?

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We:  are dedicated to raising aspirations and achievements of children  and are young dedicated to raising aspirations and achievements of children We: people andcommitted young people  are to the Every Child Matters agenda  are dedicated to raising aspirations and achievements of children are committed to theteaching Every Matters agenda  support high quality and learning to raise the attainment and young peopleChild  of supporthigh teaching and learning raise the attainment arequality committed to the Every ChildtoMatters agenda of  Stoke-on-Trent’s peopleteaching and prepare for to theraise future  supportyoung high quality and them learning the attainment Stoke-on-Trent’s people and prepare them for the future  believe strongly inyoung our continuing professional development for of  all believe strongly in our continuing professional development for staff  Stoke-on-Trent’s young people and prepare them for the future all staff  have been commended by in Ofsted for our NQT support development for  believe strongly our continuing professional  programme have beenall commended

by Ofsted for our NQT support staff programme  annually recruit across primary secondary education have NQTs been commended by and Ofsted for our NQT support  operate annuallyan recruit across primary and secondary education OpenNQTs NQT Pool programme operate an Open NQT Pool  are rebuilding or refurbishing our across High Schools, oursecondary education  annually recruit NQTs primaryinand  ‘Building are rebuilding or refurbishing ourinitiative High Schools, in our Schools for Future’ operate anthe Open NQT Pool ‘Building forwith the or Future’ initiativeour  are centrally good transport linksHigh Schools, in our  Schools arelocated rebuilding refurbishing  are centrally locatedSchools with good links ‘Building for transport the Future’ initiative  are centrally located with good transport links BE PART OF OUR SUCCESS: Apply to the BE PART OF OUR SUCCESS: Apply to the Teacher Recruitment Team on (01782) 235017 Teacher Recruitment Team onSUCCESS: (01782) 235017 (Minicom (01782) 236919) BE PART OF OUR Apply to the (Minicom (01782) or email: stokenqt@stoke.gov.uk Teacher236919) Recruitment Team on (01782) 235017 or email: stokenqt@stoke.gov.uk Visit our web sites: (01782) 236919) (Minicom Visit our web sites: stokenqt@stoke.gov.uk www.sgfl.org.uk/teachinginstoke or email: www.sgfl.org.uk/teachinginstoke or www.stoke.gov.uk/education Visit our web sites: or visit the links or www.stoke.gov.uk/education visit theforlinks for teachingwww.sgfl.org.uk/teachinginstoke vacancies or click onorthe link SCORE for teaching or click on the link for SCORE or vacancies www.stoke.gov.uk/education or visit the links for teaching vacancies or click on the link for SCORE

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Take a close look at your future

EXPLORE YOUR OPTIONS If you’re trying to decide what to do after university, why not consider training for a career as a teacher at the Institute of Education, London’s leading place to train to teach.

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Postgraduate Qualifications from DIT

The Institute offers full-time Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) courses in primary education (including language options), secondary education (14 subject areas) and post-compulsory education for those who want to teach in further education. Some courses are also available part-time. Alternatively, you can choose employment-based routes such as the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP).

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The Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland offers a variety of exciting and diverse postgraduate opportunities which include: • Taught Postgraduate Continuation Courses • A broad array of Competitively Funded Postgraduate Research Programmes Postgraduate opportunities are available across the Institute’s six faculties:

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well studied Continuing your education to postgraduate level isn’t for everyone. However, for those with the commitment and dedication to complete further studies, it can be the key to career advancement and a highly paid job.

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FEATURE | POSTGRADUATE STUDY

A

RW

fter finishing your degree you may want to rush into the world of work in order to get on the career ladder and start earning some money, but

there are good reasons for deciding to take a postgraduate course. Ellen Pearce, manager of the UK GRAD Programme, a support network for those undertaking postgraduate research degrees, says: ‘It can be a way of standing out from the crowd with potential employers who are increasingly valuing the high-level skills researchers develop. It can be an excellent way to pursue an interest in a specific area, and can also enable you to develop a range of skills and experiences that can stand you in good stead for future careers. Employers value maturity, independence and self-management, the ability to project management skills and to communicate complex issues to a range of audiences.’

Whether you want to take a postgraduate qualification in order to specialise, convert to a new career area that requires further study (such as teaching or Law), or because it is the only way to reach management level in your sector (such as business), this is not a decision to take lightly. Ellen says: ‘As with any career decision, it’s important to think about your own reasons for undertaking further study. Does it inspire you? Is it a route to a particular career path? Have you talked to other postgraduates to really understand what the experience can provide? Finally, how will it fit with the other things that are important in your life?’

The recent Postgraduate Research Experience Survey (carried out by the Higher Education Academy) found 81 per cent of the 10,000 students questioned were positive about their overall postgraduate experience, and if you’ve decided the postgraduate route is also for you, the next step is to pick a course to suit your skills. There are two main types of postgraduate study: taught programmes and research programmes.

Photograph: iStockphoto

»

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case studies | postgraduate study

POSTGRADUATES: THE NUMBERS

• T otal number of postgraduates: TAUGHT PROGRAMMES Taught programmes involve classes and seminars and last between one and three years. There are postgraduate diplomas and certificates (such as the Postgraduate Certificate in Education – PGCE) and also the Masters, for which you will have to prepare a dissertation.

At present the most popular Masters is in Business Administration (MBA). Other popular subjects include education and engineering. Masters are the most expensive postgraduate courses to take

538,400 • P ostgraduates on part-time courses (Masters & PhD): 311,500 • P ostgraduates on full-time courses (Masters & PhD): 226,900 • M ost popular subject areas: education, business & administrative studies, social sciences (including Law) and engineering & technology • L east popular subject areas: veterinary science & agriculture, architecture and mass communication & planning Source: Office of National Statistics 2004/5

but they significantly increase your earnings. According to the Association of MBAs in the UK (AMBA), the average salary for an individual with a Masters is now over £65,000.

RESEARCH PROGRAMMES These normally last between two and three years and lead to a Masters or to a doctorate. As the name implies they involve in-depth study and research into your chosen subject. Once again, you must prepare a dissertation or a thesis at the end of your course.

Undertaking a research programme requires a high level of independent study, and also involves working alongside experienced researchers who can provide supervision. Some courses now include a taught element.

FUNDING Funding is one of the key issues when considering postgraduate study as fees, along with living expenses, can run into thousands of pounds. However, the good news is there are more sources of funding available than you may realise. The various Research Councils across the UK (such as the Medical Research Council) offer grants and scholarships; various institutions (such as the Royal Society) and charities provide bursaries, scholarships and other awards; you may be able to find an employer who will sponsor you through your postgraduate course; or you could finance yourself by applying for a Career Development Loan. The thing to remember is that competition for funding is extremely fierce and there are strict eligibility rules, so the key is to apply as early as possible.

‘

RW

The (postgraduate) students take their study a lot more seriously

’

from my first degree was the level of diversity.

In a class of around 70 full-time students 26 countries were represented and we had just four Brits.

What would you advice be to those taking a postgrad course? My top tip for potential MBA students is to do it full-time if you can and to self-fund. This is because it is easier to focus on the MBA if you are not working and you can get it done a lot quicker (normally within a year in Europe). You will have only the pressure of your own self-motivation and no other sponsor can put pressure on you and there will be no obligation to stay with your sponsor on completion. This lack of outside pressure is better for your work/life balance and you can get more involved with extra-curricular activities, which are not only great fun but also great for your CV. Finally, full-timers tend to be better looked after by the school and get to know each other better during the course, which is vital for building networks.

Will Perrin

Age: 28 Degree and university: MBA, Aston Business School.

Why did you decide to do postgraduate study? After having six years experience in IT at various investment banks I felt unable to see a clear career path, so I decided the time was right to get the MBA and start afresh with a new firm. I wanted to find a way to move from project management to line management and thought it would give me the academic knowledge to see me into my first line management role.

How did you fund your postgraduate study?

Through my savings and equity release.

How was it different to undergraduate study?

The students take their study a lot more seriously and the staff is the cream of the business school – after all, it is its most expensive course! The other major difference

Clare Herrick Age: 27 Degree and University: BA Jesus College, Cambridge (Geography), MA University of California, Los Angeles (Geography), PhD University College London (Geography) Year of graduation: 2002, 2004, 2007 Occupation: Lecturer, Department of Geography, King’s College London.

What do you do in your job? A wide variety of things – far more than I ever realised academics actually do when I was an undergraduate! I split my time between teaching commitments (for undergraduates and Masters students), administration duties and my own research. Teaching at university is pretty time-intensive; it requires a lot of

»

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Postgraduate Options Opportunities for Postgraduate Study in Science, Engineering, Medicine and Business Imperial College London is a world leading science-based university whose reputation for excellence in teaching and research attracts students and staff of the highest international quality. Imperial is spread over several different campuses and organised on a faculty structure which promotes interdisciplinary study and research.

We offer an extensive programme of taught courses - leading to Master of Science (MSc) and Master of Research (MRes), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master in Public Health (MPH) and Master of Education (Surgical Education) qualifications, as well as Certificates of Advanced Study - and there are wide ranging opportunities for MPhil/PhD and MD(Res) research studies, including four-year (1+3) programmes in which students gain a masters qualification at the end of the first year and then go on to study for a PhD. To find out more about our postgraduate taught courses and research opportunities, please visit our website at http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/pgprospectus Once you are ready to apply, you should make your application online. If you have difficulty in submitting the online application, please contact us on +44 (0)20 7594 8031, during office hours (09:30 to 17:00 UK time).

For general enquiries, please visit http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/registry/enquiries/applicantenquiries Valuing diversity and committed to equality of opportunity

The Durham Masters With a Durham Masters you can do anything and go anywhere. You see, this is no ordinary qualification. It comes from one of the world’s most established and pioneering business schools, EQUIS accredited and recognised for consistently producing world class business leaders. For more information call +44 (0) 191 334 5533, email pg.bus@durham.ac.uk or visit www.durham.ac.uk/dbs.

MA courses: Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Management, Distance Learning Management, Marketing, Distance Learning Marketing.

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case studies | postgraduate study

‘

do be prepared to make financial sacrifices for a number of years. this can be hard as your contemporaries go into jobs and you hear about their rising salaries

’

preparation time to give a two hour lecture. It also means you have to be a confident public speaker as it can be very daunting standing in front of 80 students all expecting you to say something intelligent, witty, and interesting!

Aside from the lecturing, I also act as tutor to both undergraduate students and Masters students, which involves sorting out any problems and questions they may have relating to their courses. I am also in charge of organising all the UCAS open days for the geography department here at KCL, which offers a great opportunity for prospective students to come, meet us and understand a little more about what our degree programme is like.

My own research has to fit into this somewhere. As an academic, there is significant pressure to conduct original research, supported by outside grant money (from one of the many funding councils), and publish findings in peer-reviewed journals or, even better, as a book. That is really the main focus of the job and the aspect for which you become known within the wider discipline.

What was your motivation in applying?

I always knew that I wanted to follow this path. It wasn’t just that I enjoyed the topic I chose to study at university; this career path has allowed me to spend my time doing two great things: teaching (and satisfying my own curiosity about new topics and places) and writing. So, when the position came up at KCL, in Central London where I was already based, at a vibrant, renowned, and dynamic department, I could not pass the opportunity by.

What do you enjoy about your job? While I am a self-motivated person, I am totally unable and unwilling to be tied to a desk from 9am – 6pm, five days a week, just for the sake of it.

Being an academic allows you complete flexibility to work where you want, when you want, on the sole condition that you get everything done and are a valuable presence in the department. Since my work also revolves around my own research, I have complete control to pursue whatever avenues

and topics I find compelling, worthy, and prescient, in whatever region of the world I choose. This presents an amazing opportunity to design some truly innovative research and get the findings out into the public realm.

projections for theatre shows, and providing visual material for clubs and working as a VJ. While working commercially, I continued experimenting with the medium, which led me to this course.

Any advice to readers considering a career in your field? A PhD in a related field is the primary prerequisite for this career. In reality, many academics in geography departments come from other backgrounds such as sociology, urban planning, architecture, earth sciences, economics, and anthropology. The list is potentially endless. A PhD takes a minimum of three years in the UK and often closer to four. In the US, it usually takes five or more, as your teaching commitments are much greater. In both the UK and US, there are numerous competitive scholarships available that can fund your studies and provide (just) enough money to live off. Do be prepared, however, to make financial sacrifices for a number of years. This can be particularly hard as your contemporaries go into jobs and you hear about their rising salaries! In many cases, it is necessary to get a part-time or freelance job to support your PhD studies, although many newer grant schemes involve working in industry and are better paid.

One piece of advice would be to gain as much experience as possible during your PhD. Attend and present your work at international conferences, network, and publish as much as possible in peerreviewed journals. This may seem impossible when you are trying to complete a gargantuan PhD, but believe me, it will be worth it when you enter the job market.

Why did you decide to continue your studies?

I did not have a formal arts education, but had an interest in experimental video, so I thought this course would help me progress as an artist. I decided to study in the UK as I thought it would open up opportunities for me, and allow me to work in London following my degree. I have found London a difficult place to network and make connections, but plan to stay and make a career if possible.

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How did you find your postgraduate study?

I was awarded a BDMTI (Business and Digital Media Training Initiative) bursary from UCCA. This paid for my tuition fees. However, all other costs I have had to self-fund. I am currently a Graduate Teaching Assistant on the BA (Hons) Video Arts Production course at Maidstone. This has offered me the chance to get teaching experience as well as earning some money.

How was it different to undergraduate study? Studying at this level requires independence and self-motivation. You have to write your own project and set out your own research methodologies.

Do you have any advice for those undertaking postgraduate study? I would recommend that any student wanting to study on this course to take a one or two year break after their BA studies, and gain some ‘life experience’, i.e. work or travel. If a student decides to move straight into MA study, then they should move to another university for a fresh experience. Taking time out helped me to understand what I wanted and what sort of course was right for me.

Boldizsar Csernak Age: 31 Degree and university: MA Artists’ Film, Video and Photography, University College for the Creative Arts, Maidstone.

Did you come into postgraduate study straight from being an undergraduate? No. After graduating with a degree in sociology, I changed my career direction and began working in the media industry, creating video work. My experience in this area involved supporting graphic designers with moving image related work, creating background

Charlotte Dodd Age: 24 Degree and university: Chemistry BSc, Newcastle, MPhil, Heidelberg, and PhD, University of Leeds.

Did you come into postgraduate study straight from being an undergraduate? No, I spent 2

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case studies | postgraduate study

years in Germany, first working as a research assistant, and then studying for a researchbased MPhil.

Why did you decide to continue your studies?

I had decided that I wanted to continue as an academic doing scientific research.

How did you fund your postgrad study?

I hold an EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council), departmentally funded position.

How is it different to undergraduate study?

It’s very different. As an undergraduate I was mainly taught through lectures, with a few practical classes. Now I spend about 60% of my time doing experiments in the laboratory.

I have to think about which experiments I need to do, why I am doing them, how to perform them, and what they will tell me there is a lot more responsibility and it’s a lot less structured than an undergraduate course. You plan your own schedule at postgraduate level, so you have to be well motivated. The hours I work are pretty flexible, but very plentiful!

Do you have any advice for students considering postgraduate study? Make sure that you are doing a PhD for the right reasons; don’t just cruise into it from your undergrad because you can’t be bothered getting a job! Most people don’t realise how much work a postgraduate qualification involves or how stressful it can be. We may be officially postgraduate students, but we certainly don’t get the stereotypical student lifestyle.

Why did you decide to continue your studies?

I worked as a physiotherapist and wanted to become more specialised. I saw the Masters in Critical Care as the most effective way of doing this. At the time, I was very interested in academic medicine so the research component of the MSc was also very appealing. When I decided I wanted to move from a clinician’s role into healthcare management, I realised that the MBA was the way to achieve a career change.

How did you find your postgraduate study?

The MSc was funded by the University where I held a lecturer/practitioner post during the 4 year degree. I self-funded my MBA - a big investment, but one that has certainly yielded considerable returns.

Do you think your postgrad study has helped your career? It certainly has. Without the MSc I would not have generated the research credibility I attained in the Intensive Care world (both in South Africa and in the UK) and without the MBA I would have started much lower down on the corporate ladder - I knew it would fast track me and it has!

Do you have any advice for those considering postgrad study? If you decide that it is for you, and you make it through your course successfully, don’t think the work stops there.

Taking on an academic degree is the easy part - it is the lifelong commitment to learning and the ‘professional socialisation’ that means postgraduate study can really benefit your career.

Daniel Lund Michael Barker Age: 39 Degree and university: BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy, University of the Witwatersrand JHB, SA MSc (Critical Care) University of the Witwatersrand JHB, SA, MBA, Imperial College, Tanaka.

Did you come into postgraduate study straight from being an undergraduate? I started my first postgraduate degree a year after graduating. After the Masters I was working for about a decade before I began the MBA.

Age: 27 Degree and univeristy: MSci, Imperial College London, MSc Leeds, PhD Leeds.

Did you come into postgraduate study straight from being an undergraduate? I did a postgraduate MSc in medical physics, which normally forms part of the official training scheme for the NHS. Then I decided to do a research degree, which seemed much more challenging and interesting.

Why did you decide to continue your studies?

I’ve always had an interest in science in

RW

‘

without the mba i would have started much lower down on the corporate ladder

’

general. Doing a PhD was a good opportunity to broaden my outlook and do something I’d not done before. It’s quite surprising really, as normally PhDs are very focused and have a narrow remit. Arguably that’s still the case for me, but since my work is highly interdisciplinary, covering physics, chemistry and biochemistry, I get to play with a range of new toys and solve problems in a way I wouldn’t have thought of before.

How did you fund your postgrad study?

One of the government sponsored bodies pays me, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPRSC).

How is it different from undergraduate study?

It’s a completely different beast entirely.

Undergraduate degrees are highly directed – you are told what you need to know, and you just have to go away, learn it, understand it, and be able to reproduce it in an exam.

Postgraduate study relies entirely on the student. The supervisor’s role is to simply give an initial push towards a distant goal. How the student goes about solving the many problems on the way is entirely up to them.

More often than not, the supervisor doesn’t know the answers anyway! So if you wake up in the morning and don’t fancy going in, it’s entirely up to you, but you can’t simply photocopy the work from a friend…

How do you think your postgrad study will help your career? In the long run, I hope it will give me an edge over the other people in the workplace. It’s difficult in the short term because all the people who got a job straight after their first degree have been employed for 3, 4 or even 5 years and are earning a handsome sum. Whereas after spending further time studying, it often seems to be the case that employers do not recognise postgraduate qualifications, and you start on the same rung of the ladder as everybody else.

Do you have any advice for students considering postgrad study? Think long and hard about what you want to do. The worst thing you can do is to drift into postgraduate study because it does require a lot of motivation, work, and stress. The hours you have to work are long and with seemingly little reward at the time – it’s more like a real job than a chance to have 3 or 4 more years messing about as a student! n

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