My Career Handbook by DELTA @ Robert Gordon University

Careers & Employability Centre

My Career

Handbook HELP TO BUILD YOUR CV GRADUATE JOBS PART-TIME AND VACATION WORK ADVICE ON POSTGRADUATE STUDY PERFECT YOUR INTERVIEW TECHNIQUE HOW TO SUCCEED AT ASSESSMENT CENTRES

kindly sponsored by

STARTING YOUR GRADUATE JOB SEARCH contents FAQs

Application Forms

Part Time Work

Personal Statement

Work Experience and Volunteering

Interviews

Enterprise and Employability

Assessment Centres

Choosing a Career that suits you

Social Media

International Careers

Postgraduate and Further Study

Starting your Graduate Job Search

Changing your Course

Selling Yourself

Student and Graduate Feedback

CVs

Careers Centre Resources

Cover Letters

Where are we?

A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR – BP BP is again pleased to sponsor this careers booklet which is packed full of great tips about how to identify the best career for you. It also helps develop the skills you will need to ensure that you are ‘work ready’ by the time you begin your search for a job. As a major employer and a significant recruiter in the North East of Scotland, we know how competitive the job market can be and we have worked closely with the University Careers Centre to develop an understanding of what employers are looking for when recruiting graduates. We would strongly encourage you to make use of the Careers Centre from an early time at University. It can help you with guidance as you progress through your course, advice on how to produce CVs and also help you think about your approach with interviews and assessment centres in whatever your chosen field may be. We hope that you find this booklet useful and wish you every success in your chosen career.

Amanda Chilcott HR Director, BP North Sea

For information on careers with BP please visit: www.bp.com/careers 2

What do RGU Graduates do? ‘I am lucky to have secured a graduate position with an oil & gas company in Aberdeen and can’t wait to get started. To get to that point I had to fill in an online application, attend an interview and participate in a 2-day assessment centre. If you gain a placement or part-time work in your chosen study it provides valuable experience which you can use to your benefit in an interviews as it allows you to give relevant examples which others may not have. When you are at an assessment centre always speak up as it is the only way that they can assess you. Making reference to the time that there is left for a certain task (time management) and asking other members their opinion and involving them if they are quiet (team work) are aspects which they look for as well.’

‘On completion of my MSc in Purchasing & Supply Chain Management i took up a position with Baker Hughes on their 3 year supply chain rotational program based in Aberdeen with an additional six month period overseas. Throughout the role i move through various parts of the business, including such areas as; purchasing, quality, production management and finance in the first two years. The final year of the program will see myself take up a leadership role and take on responsibility for a project directly related to current supply chain business challenges. Without doubt this opportunity would not have come about without undertaking my masters at RGU.’

Mikaela Newman

Purchasing & Supply Chain Management

Simon Mathers

Quantity Surveying Graduate

‘As a Commercial Analyst within the Finance Function, I am involved in Economic Analysis, Risk Management, Business & Strategic Planning for our North Sea business. No day is ever the same which makes it an exciting environment to work in, plus you are given the opportunity to express your opinion, ideas and feel valued as a team member.’ Andrew Cowan Accounting and Finance

‘I feel that I made the right decision in studying Computer Science at The Robert Gordon University. The course is comprehensive and has left me well prepared me for the current IT job market. The yearlong placement and impressive careers service proved invaluable in finding employment that met my expectations. I am happily now part of the HP Graduate Scheme, my roles include webapplication development, support and database management.’

‘After completing my degree at RGU, I gained a place on Technip Graduate Programme where I was placed within a Project Engineering role working on a major engineering, procurement, installation and commissioning project in the North Sea. Since joining the company my work has been highly varied, as is the nature of project engineering. I have completed analysis and designed rigging equipment for installing subsea structures up to 300Te in weight as well as completing the procedures for the operations. Throughout my job I work with many individuals including my team but also suppliers, subcontractors and clients.’

Andrew Brown

Ross Mason

Computer Science

Mechanical & Offshore Engineering 3

FAQs How can I make an appointment with a Careers Consultant? Book a 30 minute appointment online at www.rgu.ac.uk/mycareer. Log in using your university username and password, select ‘book an appointment’ and choose a date, time and location convenient to you. Alternatively, you can attend a 10 minute drop in service – times are advertised at www.rgu.ac.uk/careers I am looking for a part time job – can you help me? Yes. Look at Page 5 of this Handbook for more information, but don’t forget that the Careers Centre hosts an annual Part Time Jobs Fair in September, as well as collating local vacancies through www.netvibes.com/rgucareers How do I look for a graduate job? Look at page 10 of this Handbook for more information, but don’t forget to sign up for personalised emails through www.rgu.ac.uk/mycareer What can I do with my degree? To explore your options, explore ‘Starting your Graduate Job Search’ on page 10 of this handbook, using the resources mentioned then make an appointment with a Careers Consultant to discuss further. Can you help me to prepare a CV/Complete an application form? Make sure you have read the appropriate section of this handbook and visit www.rgu.ac.uk/careersonmoodle – there are links to our employability modules on CVs and application forms. Once you have reviewed your CV/Application form against our advice, you can then seek feedback from one of our Careers Consultants. Make sure you bring your CV/ Application form in hard copy. I have a job interview arranged, can you help me to prepare? Yes, we have a range of resources to help you including interview DVDs and links to other resources, available online via our moodle page. We can also arrange a mock interview so you can practise and get feedback on how to improve your performance at interview. There is also a DVD of an Assessment Centre and access to books on psychometric tests. I cannot come into the Careers Centre, can I access support on line? We can arrange an interview for you with one of our Careers Consultants via telephone or Skype. We also offer advice by email and our ‘My Career Toolkit’ employability modules are available on Moodle on a range of topics. Can you help me to connect with employers? Yes, we arrange a number of Careers Fairs each year and in addition also host employer on campus events. See our website and events calendar for forthcoming events. You may also look at the Employer Directory available at www.rgu.ac.uk/mycareer which lists all employers who have sought to recruit an RGU student. Can I use the Careers Centre after I graduate? Yes, we encourage graduates to use our services for as long as they need to post graduation and to access ‘My Career’ for ongoing vacancy information. Employers look for evidence of extra curricular activities – why? It is an extremely competitive job market so employers don’t just consider your qualifications and work experience they want to see you are an enthusiastic, motivated individual who uses their spare time to gain new experiences and skills, or just to have a good work/life balance. 4

Part Time Work Many students get a part time job for the extra income to support them whilst they are at university. But don’t underestimate the benefits of having part time work experience on your CV. As well as boosting your bank balance, part time work allows you to develop many of the transferable skills that graduate employers are looking for, such as: teamwork, communication, interpersonal, problem solving, initiative, leadership and many more. Think carefully about how you will balance part time work with your studies, particularly if you are in your final year or a postgraduate student. We recommend that you don’t work more than 15 hours per week and this is supported by the National Association of Student Employment Services (NASES). As well as looking on www.rgu.ac.uk/mycareer for part time opportunities, you can also access www.netvibes.com/rgucareers for links to a wide range of part time opportunities in Aberdeen and surrounding area and don’t forgot to attend our annual Part Time Jobs Fair held in September on the Garthdee Campus. You can also apply for part time work by handing in your CV to employers, or looking at shop windows for adverts. When applying for part time work, employers don’t need the same in-depth information as you will put in a CV for graduate/placement positions – look at the Part Time Work Presentation in the My Career Toolkit within www.rgu.ac.uk/careersonmoodle for advice. Don’t forget that a National Insurance Number is required for working in the UK. If you do not have one, you will need to contact Job Centre Plus on 0845 6000 643 to make an appointment for an ‘evidence of identity interview’. If you are an International Student your student visa will indicate how many hours you are allowed to work. Typically this is 20 hours per week during term time, but remember to balance this with your studies – we would recommend no more than 15 hours. It is your responsibility to ensure that you adhere to the conditions of your visa. For more information please contact isa@rgu.ac.uk

Part Time Jobs Fair 2012

Work Experience and Volunteering A degree alone is not enough. Many employers are looking for applicants to have the ‘added extra’. Work experience and voluntary work whilst at university are great ways to get this. Work experience whether through an internship or formal placement as part of your course is a great way of discovering more about employers and gaining an insight into what you like and don’t like in a working environment. Employers will want to know about your work experience, whether on your CV, application form or in an interview. It is beneficial to have experiences you can draw upon, more so if it is directly related to the job applied for – but if not don’t worry, as all work experience is good work experience. Placements are typically organised through your schools Placement Office and you should contact them for more information. Internships are mostly career related placements with graduate employers, designed to provide a taste of the organisation, job role and encourage students to apply to that employer in their final year. In addition to internships offered by individual companies organisations such as Talent Scotland, Third Sector Internship and Saltire Foundation also offer diverse internship opportunities on behalf of a range of SME’s (Small to Medium Sized Enterprise) and international organisations. Voluntary work allows you to build your knowledge and skills and enhance your CV. Whilst you may not be able to get work experience within larger organisations, there are smaller organisations within the voluntary sector who appreciate assistance with their marketing, public relations or finances. At university, you can volunteer through the Student Union and work towards your MV Award, go to www.rguunion.co.uk/volunteering The Careers Centre runs the BP Student Tutoring Scheme which asks students to volunteer for half a day per week over eight weeks in a local primary or secondary school. For more information go to the events section at www.rgu.ac.uk/mycareer

‘Coming from a very practical family and knowing that it is getting tougher to get into industry I was keen to gain as much practical experience as possible during my time at university. The careers centre were there at every step of the way as I followed a bit of an unorthodox route; don’t think that just because your course doesn’t have a placement at that time you can’t do one! The careers team offer such a huge range of support, if you’re not sure who to go to just ask! My advice would be to try and get out there, gain as much experience as you can and the biggest thing I have learnt is not to be disappointed if a job or placement is not what you expected. I can honestly say I learnt more from the ones which were not as expected! ’

Amanda Biscombe Fashion Management

Enterprise and Employability Being enterprising can take many forms from doing freelancing whilst you’re at university, to becoming self employed, to developing a brand new product or service, to setting up a business with potential for growth and employment for others. There are elective modules in enterprise available at the University and advice from the Careers Centre too. In addition, the Scottish Institute for Enterprise (SIE) works with all of Scotland’s universities, providing a free service to students and new graduates who want to explore the world of enterprise. RGU has two SIE Student Interns who organise enterprise events on campus and a dedicated Business Adviser who can meet with you. Following the enterprise path can provide you with the opportunity to develop your career in ways in which would not otherwise be possible through employment. The transferable skills you will learn along the way will be extremely valuable to you when you go to look for work and will help you stand out from the crowd, not to mention the excellent networking opportunities you will have developed.

‘While studying my professional practice module I started to think about potential career opportunities after university. I know that I will never walk into my dream job and that my best option was to create that job, a role where I can be creative, entrepreneurial, yet something that will provide me with an income so support my love of travelling, art and my basic living costs. After contemplating my ideas about the mural arts and facilitation I then responded to an email that circulated the university about free business advice. I met Dawn Shand from SIE. I had a casual chat about the possibilities of a future business and she suggested entering the SIE New Ideas Competition. She helped me look at options where the business could be developed into a social enterprise, how it could improve easier and become bigger and more meaningful as an enterprise. I came first in the RGU selections and got through the national finals in Edinburgh in March, making the final 3 in my category of arts and culture. Although I did not win the experience was a vital point in the development of my business and presentation skills. My business, Urban Vizuals Mural Arts Company, has gone from strength to strength. In the next 4 months we have over 20 workshops and youth art festivals booked in along with several public and private commissions, a gross revenue totaling over £20,000. We have a launch party coinciding with an international graffiti/ mural art event in July where we have over 25 artists from around the globe coming to Derry, the UK City of Culture 2013 to complete a large scale collaborative mural.’

Karl Porter 3D Design

Choosing a Career that suits you Not sure what to do when you leave university? Don’t worry! It is never too late or too early to start planning your career, whether you are in your first year or your last, using 4 simple steps: SELF AWARENESS 

OPPORTUNITIES



DECISION MAKING



TAKING ACTION

Self Awareness: The most important and hardest part of career planning. Before you can start thinking about the types of jobs that are out there, you need to know about you. What skills do you have, what do you like, and as importantly what you dislike? Think about your interests and hobbies, are there aspects of these you would like to take forward into a career? Make an appointment to speak to a Careers Consultants or look at online tools such as Target Jobs Careers Report or Windmills Online Careers Consultant. Opportunities: Most people are only aware of the careers that they are exposed to. But what else is there? By researching companies and jobs you may uncover a position that you may not have realised existed. Look further than the job title, read the job description – just because you think you know what a job involves doesn’t mean you do! Decision Making: Once you know what you like and are interested in, it is important to compare this with what the career offers to allow you to make a well informed decision. You should consider the industry sector, and what future prospects exist for positions in this area, and where your skills and interests fit in. Taking Action: Once you have made your decision, you need to develop your own action plan for taking the next steps towards achieving your career goals. Further sections within this handbook will support you in your career planning, employability and job seeking.

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International Careers Graduates from Robert Gordon University work in graduate-level positions for a variety of organisations across the globe. Every year the Careers Centre supports students on their employment options when considering international opportunities. We offer you a wide range of quality assured careers resources and advice to enable you to realise your international ambitions Key resources available via our dedicated International Careers page acccessible via www.rgu.ac.uk/careersonmoodle Going Global gives you access to International Country Careers Guides (covering visa and immigration information, country specific labour market and applications/CV advice, culture and salary information and job search resources), an International Employer Directory and searchable database of more than 600,000 job listings around the world (updated twice a day). International Country Career Guides can be downloaded from moodle. These guides are of use, not only to international students looking to return to their home countries after completing their studies, but to any student with the ambition to build a career in some of the worlds most dynamic economies. International Job Search Websites and Job Directories connect with a wide range of international job opportunities from a variety of online jobsites. If you are an International Student considering working in the UK on completion of your course you must start your job search early – we recommend you start your career planning and job search when you begin your studies. Working in the UK (visa and immigration information) information for international students about the changes to the UK’s visa and immigration rules (April 2012) and how they impact on you is also available to download from this page, including a informative presentation by our colleagues in the International Student Advice / Visa and Immigration Service. Please note the Careers Centre does not provide advice on any individual international students visa issues – all concerns you have regarding your student visa should be forwarded to isa@rgu.ac.uk

More information, advice and resources to support you to compete effectively for graduate/ professional level jobs in the UK is available via the Preparing to Succeed modules, the Careers Information Gateway, your courses specific careers Moodle page and by speaking to the Careers Consultants in the Careers Centre.

‘On completion of my studies, I returned to Algeria to apply for jobs. I was successful and accepted a position with Henkel on their Graduate Development Programme in Marketing. I am the Junior Brand Manager and work on ‘Le Chat’ (Persil in the UK) washing powder and liquids. There are 4 rotations within the 2-year programme and on completion, if I am successful, I will be the Senior Marketing Manager. ’ Anis Bensadi MSc International Business

Starting your Graduate Job Search Don’t leave it until your final stage of your degree to start looking for graduate jobs, many companies have early closing dates and it is important that you don’t miss out. Graduate Vacancies can be found in a variety of places: My Career is the Careers Centre database that allows you to search for all types of opportunities from employers specifically recruiting Robert Gordon University students. Make sure you sign up for targeted emails through www.rgu.ac.uk/mycareer to be notified of relevant opportunities, or use the Employer Directory a searchable resource which allows you to identify potential employers from organisations that have engaged with the University. Employer Directories advertise graduate vacancies and are published annually. Whilst some are available to pick up free of charge from the Careers Centre, all of them are available online. As well as useful articles on industry information they highlight details of employers who recruit students for work placements/internships and graduate jobs. Key directories include: TARGETjobs, Inside Careers, The Times Top 100 Employers, Milkround.com and the Prospects Directory. Newspapers, both local and national are a key source of graduate jobs as well as part time and non graduate roles. Make sure you find out what day the Jobs Section is included with your paper. Professional Journals are an excellent source of vacancies as well as current labour market information. Don’t forget to check your course specific careers moodle page which has links to various professional bodies. Recruitment Agencies are there to find suitable applicants for organisations that are actively recruiting to fill vacancies. There is no charge to the applicant only to the employer. You can be registered to more than one agency, and use them to find part time, full time and temporary positions that are related to your degree and non-graduate positions.

www.rgu.ac.uk/graduatejobsearch Remember that Recruitment Consultants are not Careers Advisers and therefore, will not provide careers advice so you need to be clear about the skills, knowledge and experience you have to offer and the type of work you are looking for before you register with them. Online, you can find many different vacancy websites. Some are linked to recruitment agencies; others pull vacancies from a range of other job search websites. It is often possible to set up structured feeds from these types of websites to your email account alerting you to new opportunities that match your job search requirements. The Hidden Job Market. Up to 70% of all jobs are never advertised on the open market and are filled through internal advertising, speculative applications, word of mouth or through contacts (source TargetJobs). Speculative Applications involves sending your CV and a cover letter to organisations that you are interested in working for. Remember to ensure these are targeted to the organisation and position you are trying to attain. Careers Fairs are a good way for you to meet and talk to employers in an informal environment about their organisation. There are two fairs held every year, the RGU Autumn Careers Fair held at the Garthdee Campus and the North of Scotland Graduate Recruitment Fair is held in April at a central venue in Aberdeen. Check our website for details of which employers will be present and how you can make the most of the fair.

Images from RGU Careers Fair 2011 11

Selling Yourself With the current economic situation, the labour market has never been so competitive. In January 2013, the Telegraph reported that ‘employers are receiving 56 applications per graduate vacancy, a 7% rise on the previous year’. Whether it’s on a daily, monthly or yearly basis, all of us at some point in our lives have to try and sell ourselves to somebody else. The question you need to ask yourself is ‘am I any good at it?’ Whether you are completing an application or attending a job interview the key is to know your worth. For example, before you buy a mobile phone you will look into what features the phone has and the cost of the contract and what is included. The same applies when applying for a job – you need to consider what skills and experience you have to offer and their relationship to the job and communicate this to the employer. To start the process of getting to know your worth write down a list of strengths and weaknesses. These can be anything which you consider relevant to the job such as your technical skills, qualifications and employability skills such as communication, teamwork, organisation etc. Once you have finished your list look at the strengths and reflect on why they are such an asset and why any company would be happy to employ you. The next step is to take a look at your weaknesses and come up with a plan to overcome them. By doing this before completing an application or attending an interview you will be allowing yourself to focus on the attributes you have to offer and they will be at the forefront of your mind during all stages of the application process.

Next you need to think about how you communicate your strengths. To help you evidence your skills we recommend you use the STAR approach. For each skill or strength, identify that you have experienced success by using this skill. Use examples from your studies, work or extracurricular activities. The STAR approach is a bit like writing a mini essay:

10%

Situation: How, when, where and with whom?

10%

Task: Describe the task you were faced with.

10%

Whilst employed at Aberdeen Technologies Ltd last summer, I was asked to review the current inventory system.

Action: What action did YOU take?

The Action you took should form the main body of your answer. This part is about YOUR role in the action, even if you worked as part of the team the employer wants to know the part that you played. Ensure that your description clearly identifies the skill you are discussing.

To do this, I had to look at how often stock was ordered, how often it stayed in the warehouse and identify any areas of over ordering. I worked out a method of tracking the products in the warehouse, ensuring there was minimal stock whilst meeting demand. I then submitted my proposal to my manager.

Result: What result/conclusion did you achieve? What did you learn from the experience?

The result is your conclusion – try and be specific in what you achieved e.g. membership of the society increased by 35%

My manager approved my ideas, and after implementation cut stock levels by 30% and reduced costs by 15%.

70%

The Situation and Task are usually combined and form the introduction.

‘The RGU career service helped me realize what I had to offer and ensured that my CV was a strong fit for my new employer. Having now seen a variety of CV’s from ‘the other side’ of recruitment I am confident that the help and expert advice I received regarding my CV ensured I got past the first phase of the recruitment process. My experience with the careers advisor not only left me with a re jigged CV which better showcased my skills, education and achievements, but perhaps most importantly left me with a renewed confidence and understanding of what I had to offer. I can confidently say that as a direct result of this help I secured a great job before I had even left RGU.’ Louise Thom HRM Graduate

CVs Your CV is normally your first point of contact with an employer, yet many people don’t put in the effort a CV deserves – instead thinking they will sell themselves when they get to interview. But, unless you get this element of your application right you won’t be invited to the interview. You need to ensure that you amend and update your CV every time you use it to match your skills and experience to the job you are applying for. Ensure that you are being descriptive in the information you have written – look at ‘Selling Yourself’ on page 12 for more information. Potential employers may take just 20 seconds to make a judgement on your CV. Ensure that it is a positive one, by making it easier for employers to see the key information: • Does the format of your CV have clear headers, and make use of bold and italics to highlight key information so that employers can pick out relevant information whilst scanning your CV. • Do not write ‘Curriculum Vitae’ at top, nor include personal details such as date of birth, nationality or gender, just contact details are sufficient (include a professional email address e.g. not: lusciouslucy@email.com or desperatedan@email.com). A photograph is NOT required. • Keep your CV to 2 pages – any more and employers are not interested, any less you are not using all the space to sell yourself. • Consider the order of your CV. In April 2011, the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR) stated that employers only absorb 60% of information from the first page and 40% of information from the second. • Your CV should be legible so choose a font such as Arial or Verdana in a point no less than size 11. • Check, re-check and check again your spelling and grammar. If an employer spots a mistake, it may lead to them questioning the quality of your work – after all, in their eyes you have had time to ensure your CV is perfect. • Use bullet points with short, punchy sentences to make sure that all your information is accessible. • Don’t undersell your work experience. Any placement, part-time, vacation or voluntary work is valuable in highlighting transferable skills. Ensure you consider your achievements and extracurricular activities to give an insight into your motivation and personality.

www.rgu.ac.uk/careersonmoodle

‘Here at The Miller Group we see a lot of graduate applications and you need to ensure that your application stands out for the right reasons. Make your CV easy to read, avoid tables and pictures and keep it to two pages. Clearly state when and where you achieved your degree, ensure there is a brief overview of your dissertation topic and include any work experience to good effect including charity work. Remember not to leave any time gaps and start with a noticeable and relevant statement about yourself’ Laura Lavin Employee Development Adviser, The Miller Group Ltd

There are two common types of CV to be found in the UK – Skills-Based and Chronological. If you are applying for a position outside the UK, look at the section on International Careers for more guidance on other CV formats. If you are studying a creative course, you may wish to apply for positions using a creative CV. More information can be found within My Career Toolkit at www.rgu.ac.uk/careersonmoodle A Skills-Based CV is very popular with employers. It allows you to showcase your education, relevant work experience as well as demonstrating that you have what the employer is looking for by evidencing your potential through a skills profile. This is the CV format you should choose (template of which can be found on following pages) unless you have in-depth related work experience at the level you are applying. In which case, you should consider a Reverse Chronological CV (template of which can be found on following pages).

Skills-based CV Template The Career Objective or Personal Profile Section allows you to introduce the reader to your CV, and to you. It needs to say “this is who I am, what I have to offer and what I want to look for”.

You do not need to write Curriculum Vitae at the start of your CV - instead use your name as the header. Ensure that you use up-to-date contact details, and if you are moving accommodation over the summer take this into account. Your email address should be professional: no lusciouslucy or desperatedan @email.com

The first section within your CV should reflect your current full time activity. As a student, this will be your studies. You should start with your most recent first and work backwards - however, there is no need to include your primary education.

You should ensure that it is no more than 3 or 4 lines, and is tailored towards the job you are applying.

The key modules section of your CV allows you to demonstrate to an employer that you have the theoretical knowledge required to do the job. You do not need to list every module you have studied, or the grade. Instead focus on five or six that are relevant to the job.

Whilst there is nothing better than relevant work experience, if you have not got any or your experience is limited you may wish to consider including a Projects section.

This section allows you to evidence any experience you have that is relevant to the job you are applying. This may be part time work, work experience, placement or volunteering. Make sure that you refer to the job description, and ensure you mention all the activities that you were involved in.

This would allow you to highlight projects that you have worked on that have required you to apply the theoretical knowledge into practical settings. In constructing the information, you may wish to consider the STAR approach that can be found on page 13 of the Careers Handbook.

If you have not got a lot of experience in the area you are applying this section allows you to show an employer that you are competent at the skills needed to do the job.

It is important that you don’t leave gaps on your CV, and also allow an employer to understand your full work history. This section allows you to list other jobs or voluntary positions that you may have held. You do not need to go into detail with your duties, as it is not relevant the employer may not be interested but you can use this information within the Skills and Achievement section to allow you to evidence you skills.

You should ensure that as well as evidencing your ability with the skill through education, work and social activities you should also highlight particular achievements.

Telling statements are factually correct, Selling statements are also factually correct but are achievement orientated and make the statement sound much more impressive. Example of Telling Statement • Worked as a Surveyor’s Assistant during my work placement with a Construction Agency in Aberdeen.

Re-read the job description to identify skills that are important to the position, select the ones that you perceive to be the most important, but also are able to sell yourself positively.

If your course is affiliated to a Professional Body, or there is one that you can join - then do! They are a great source for labour market information, professional development as well as vacancies. It also shows an employer that you take a genuine interest in the profession you want to join.

• Responsible for producing and proof reading proposals and issuing these to relevant departments. • Responsible for tracking and monitoring project costs Example of Selling Statement

Unless an employer specifies that you list the names and contact details of your referees, it is suffice to write “references available on request”. Before you use a referee, ensure you have their permission to pass on their details and they are aware of the position you are applying to by sending them a copy of the job description allowing them to tailor your reference.

Review your CV against the Job Description/Person Specification and if there is anything additional you wish to add then this is the space to do so. You may wish to highlight that you are able to travel independently, or that you are an active member in the local branch of your Professional Body as this person has done.

• Selected from over 80 applicants for a 12 month work placement as a Surveyor’s Assistant within the Aberdeen branch of a national, multi-award winning Construction Agency. • After 2 months, was allocated full responsibility for producing proposals for local, national and international projects, including the new Dam at New World Location. • Was fully accountable for managing a project budget of over £250,000.

Reverse Chronological CV Template The key modules section of your CV allows you to demonstrate to an employer that you have the theoretical knowledge required to do the job.

The Career Objective or Personal Profile Section allows you to introduce the reader to your CV, and to you. It needs to say “this is who I am, what I have to offer and what I want to look for. You should ensure that it is no more than 3 or 4 lines long, and is tailored towards the job you are applying.

You do not need to list every module you have studied, or the grade. Instead focus on five or six that are relevant to the job. You should also include, concisely, any directly related ‘projects / course work’ you have undertaken that directly connects you to the type of work you are applying for. You should also note any accredited placements undertaken as part of your course - however they should be detailed in the Work History area of Your CV

Anita McBruce

1A The Courtyard, Invernowhere, Aberdeenshire, AB99 9XY (t) 01234 567890 (m) 07654 321098 (e) a.mcb@normal.co.uk Career Objective Final year BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance student with the Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, with one year accredited placement experience with a mid tier chartered accountancy firm seeking a graduate CA traineeship to further expand professional knowledge, skills and qualifications. Offering a strong work ethic, history of high achievement in study and work, and proven client facing skills. Education BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen

Sept. 2009 - June 2013

Key Modules: Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Personal and Business Accounting, Money and Financial Markets, Corporate Ethics, Financial Accounting for Groups and Companies Projects: ʻPublic body accounting in the age of austerityʼ – a 15,000 word research report on salient issues for the accountancy profession with respect to public body finance in the current environment of fiscal austerity rd Placement: 40 week assessed placement (3 year) with Anderson, Anderson and Brown LLP (Aberdeen) – assigned to support the audit team and actively participated in audits of 3 SME clients Aberdeenshire Royal Acadmey, Auchenshoogle, AberdeenshireSept. 2003 – May 2009 Advanced Highers: English (B), Modern Studies (B), Highers: English (A), Maths (B), Accounts and Finance (A), Modern Studies (A), Physics (A), Chemistry (B) 8 Standard Grades at Credit level. Related Professional Experience Audit Trainee (student placement – 40 weeks) Sept. 2010 – July 2011 Anderson, Anderson and Brown LLP, Queenʼs Road, Aberdeen, AB15 4LY

This section allows you to go into detail on the jobs (and placements) that you have had that are directly relevant to the position you are applying for. This will allow you to demonstrate a clear commitment to an area of work, the achievements you have secured through it and the progress you have made in your career to date. You should be concise and explicit in describing how your duties and achievements link you to the job description / person specification for the job including the ‘essential’ and ‘preferred’ skills, e.g. communication, team player etc

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Placed within one of the Audit teams – tasked with providing audit support to senior members of the team – working under the direction of a Partner and the Training and Development Manager. Successful supported the delivery of three large scale corporate audits in addition to several small scale company and private client audits. Liaised with clients to provide advice and support on all areas of financial concerns referring to senior colleagues where appropriate. Constructed reports and communicated key issues from my work with clients into the wider final audit report to agreed deadlines. Actively participated in daily progress/business meetings – providing update on my work and receiving the support of colleagues to progress issues encountered. Occasionally able to offer advice and opinion to senior colleagues based on my studies from University. Was given responsibility (under the direction of the local HR team) to review, research and develop the companyʼs profile as a ʻrecruiter of choiceʼ for accountancy students in the North East of Scotland. Final report was presented to senior partners and has subsequently been adopted and implemented by the company Leading from the above I recruited a volunteer campus brand manager (for RGU) and designed the engagement strategy to be used to allow the company to communicate its graduate offer to students Achieved an A grade in my placement report; jointly assessed by University tutors and the company (Training and Development Manager)

This section allows you to showcase jobs that you have had, that are not immediately relevant to the position you are applying but allow the employer to see how you can demonstrate your ownership of the skill set they are looking for. Review the job description / person specification – have you been able to demonstrate, through the details you have provided, clear evidence in your Education and Career History sections, all the ‘essential’ and ‘desired’ elements the employer is looking for? This section will allow you to address any skills which are asked for but are not yet covered, for example, IT Skill, languages, familiarisation with various technical procedures etc.

Other Work Experience Summer Intern Alpha Beta Consultancy, High Street, Invernowhere, Aberdeenshire • • • •

Relief Barperson/Waitress (casual – mainly weekends) Cliff Edge Hotel, Auchenshoogle, Aberdeenshire • • •

June 2010 – Sept 2010

16 week. self sourced, summer internship with a small business consultancy offering bespoke business solution services to SME organisation Shadowed senior consultant in client meetings and assisted with the preparation and delivery of consultancy reports. Supported the senior consultant in collecting evidence from desk audits communicating directly with company employees and working to tight deadlines in relation to analysis and reporting of audits in to they main consultancy report. Additionally responsible for routine office administration tasks (including diary management), utilising my meticulous nature and developing my organisation skills Dec. 2009 – Sept 2011

Meeting and greet hotel guest and offering exceptional customer service while providing food and beverage services in the lounge bar and award winning restaurant. Responsible for collating table orders and processing final bill payments. Worked effectively as a team with the other front of house staff and hotel kitchen to routinely facilitate the service of over 150 covers on a busy weekend evening service

Additional Skills IT

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Competent user of all Microsoft Office products including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Project and Outlook Familiar with SAGE and ORACLE Social media savvy – constructed and maintained Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter presence for Alpha Beat Consultancy

Languages • German (fluent – bilingual – mother of German descent) • French & Italian (conversational level and Standard Grade Credit passes in both)

You can use this section to help reinforce your skills set which has been discussed above. It can also allow you to highlight some more personal information about yourself and your interests/personality and showcase some achievements you have acquired which do not fit easily in to the structure above. Other items you may wish to consider highlighting here include membership of any related professional body. Significant or related volunteering experience may be better positioned in the ‘Other Work Experience’ section where you can provide more detail on how it connects you to the job description

Social Care • SVQ level 2 qualified in Social Care – work place based qualification achieved whilst engaged as a volunteer befriended with Care Scotland – for 2 years I befriended a preteen with Asperserʼs Syndrome – supporting him develop and practice strategies for engaging more effective with the world around him. Additional Achievements • • • •

Section Leader, 1st Auchenshoogle, Girls Brigade (2010 – present) Volunteer Befriended (with disadvantaged young people), Care Scotland (2009 – 2011) Driving Licence (include if you have access or own a car) Finance Secretary for the Business Society – RGUnion (Sept 2012 – June 2013)

References available on Request

Unless an employer specifies that you list the names and contact details of your referees, it is suffice to write “references available on request. Before you use a referee, ensure you have their permission to pass on their details and they are aware of the position you are applying to by sending them a copy of the job description allowing them to tailor your reference.

Cover Letters When applying for a position with a CV, it is essential to attach an accompanying cover letter, outlining the role you are applying for and why you feel you are suitable. Although less common, employers may also request a cover letter to accompany an application form. Don’t make an employer work to read your cover letter, keep it succinct and no more than one page of A4. The cover letter highlights to employers that you have the necessary skills and experience needed for the jobs you are applying for. It should give the personal touch that your CV may lack. Not all vacancies are advertised and so sometimes it is worthwhile submitting a speculative application. In this instance, the content and quality of the cover letter is key as it is the first impression you make with an employer. Consider what your unique selling points are in relation to the company and what roles you can undertake for the company and highlight this within the letter. Ensure your CV and cover letter are in the same format. If you are posting your application, then they should be printed on the same paper. If you are emailing your CV and cover letter, ensure your CV is attached as a PDF so that the format you intend the reader to view your CV in is the same and put your cover letter into the body of the email – this will ensure that your email is not marked as spam – and clearly write in the subject line the post you are applying for. Personalise your application by getting the name of the person responsible for recruitment and address your email/letter to them. Applications that are addressed ‘Dear Sir/Madam’ may not make it onto the recruiters address.

‘A cover letter is an important accompaniment to a CV. Use the cover letter to highlight your key skills and explain why you are the best candidate for the job. With a high level of applications for each position if your cover letter doesn’t catch the interest of the person reading it there is a high chance they won’t read your CV.’ Graeme Humphrey Managing Director at Codify

Cover Letter Template

Your Address Date Name Position Company Address Dear Title and Surname or Sir/Madam Introductory line stating purpose of letter Paragraph One: State why you are writing, (e.g. for a vacancy that has been advertised or a speculative approach) and what you are currently doing (e.g. course and level of study and when you graduate(d)). Paragraph Two: Match your relevant skills and knowledge including any experience to the job. You may wish to refer to sections on your CV here, and draw attention to other parts of your CV that make you specially suited to and support your application. Paragraph Three: Explain why you are interested in that company in particular and what appeals to you about that vacancy. Demonstrate that you have researched the company and are aware of the services or products that they deliver and the market in which they operate. End your letter positively, detailing when you are available for an interview and, importantly any dates you are not. Yours sincerely (if you have addressed the letter to a named person) Yours faithfully (if letter is addressed Sir/Madam)

Sign your name here Print Name

Application Forms When completing an application form whether online or paper, preparation is important. You should print or download the application form. Use this as a first draft to ensure you can fit everything in you want to and also to make sure you answer the questions positively. Employers use application forms to judge each candidate using the same information which makes the process more systematic and ultimately fairer. Application forms also allow employers to restrict the information they receive to the areas they are particularly interested in, tailored to the role they are recruiting for. Ensure that you read the form thoroughly and follow all instructions. Make certain that you adhere to the word/ character count. DO keep your own copy, this means that when you come to the interview stage you can remember what you told the employer, many employers will take their lead at interview from information on your application form. Be informative, detailed but concise in your answers. Give employers the essential detail but leave them wanting to meet you to find out more. Use the job description and person specification as a guide, bearing in mind the competencies and qualities that the employer is looking for, and answer the questions with evidence of these skills.

‘Read the questions carefully and answer with clarity and demonstrate what you did in relation to the question or how you would approach it. Big companies screen these forms and the vast majority are rejected at this stage. Poor form filling means no interview’

‘As a dyslexic, application forms are exceptionally challenging as I have difficulty in expressing thoughts and opinions through words. However the careers adviser was fantastic, recommending I use a Dictaphone to verbally answer the application form questions. This innovative suggestion was priceless in articulating my answers and allowed me to be invited by two global oil and gas based companies to their assessment centres.’ Duncan Macpherson MSc Purchasing and Supply Chain

BP Recruiter

Don’t dismiss anything as irrelevant without careful thought – students often think that their vacation work as a waiter, shop assistant or security guard is not relevant, and of no interest to a graduate employer. This is not the case. Employers can learn a great deal about your motivation and skills from jobs such as these, so include them! Don’t make lists on your application form, detail the relevance and the extent of your interest. 22

www.rgu.ac.uk/graduatejobsearch

‘I approached the careers centre for some feedback on an online application form which I had completed but not yet sent. Although I had felt fairly happy with the answers I had provided, the Careers Consultant was able to give real insight into the questions which were more difficult to interpret. While making suggestions as to ways in which i could expand on my answers, she gave me a great deal of confidence in my skills and abilities and how to communicate these to companies. I have since secured a graduate scheme position and am very grateful to the careers centre for all of their help.’

‘Make sure that you know what the company actually does and what the actual job entails that you are applying for. I have seen some very poor attempts in this area’ BP Recruiter

Caroline Bruce BA(Hons) Management with Finance

Most applications either have a section for competency-based questions or a personal statement. This can often be the hardest section of the form for most applicants. For more information on personal statements go to page 24 of this handbook. Competency-based questions begin with ‘give an example of’ or ‘describe a time when you’ and ask for examples of specific skills such as problem solving, leadership, communication or teamwork, e.g. • Give me an example of where you have demonstrated your ability to work effectively as part of a team? • Describe a time where you needed help to complete a job, project or task. How did you go about asking? These skills are normally the ones that are essential for success with that employer. You need to construct a paragraph for each situation, ensuring that the focus is on you – even if the situation involved a group. One way of answering these questions is via the STAR approach that can be found in the ‘Selling Yourself section’ on page 12. References: Generally in application forms employers expect one academic and one personal or employer reference. Ensure that you have asked your referees permission to give their names and provide them with details of the position you have applied for so they can relate the reference to the job.

Personal Statement You may be asked to complete a personal statement as part of an application process. It is important to get this right and it provides you with an opportunity to promote yourself successfully to an employer. It is important that you don’t repeat information that you have already provided elsewhere, but see this section as an opportunity to present new information. Before you start it is a good idea to draw up a profile of your skills. This will ensure that you have noted everything down and you do not forget to include something important when it comes to writing the statement. More information can be found in the ‘Selling yourself section’ on page 12. You can usually identify what the employer is looking for, in an applicant, by reading the job description and person specification for the position where both the essential and desirable criteria will be listed. If there is no person specification available you should try and work out what is required by referring to the organisations website, or by going to careers resources available on line such as Target Jobs and Prospects. Re-read your application and compare it with the job description/person specification to ensure that all points have been evidenced. Think about the structure and style. It is better not to present your statement as a solid block of text; this makes it difficult for the reader to pick out important points and is daunting to read. Using headings and paragraphs to address each of the points in the person specification may help you to prepare an appropriate and professional statement. Positive language throughout will impress much more than sentences which begin with ‘I think I am a....’ or ‘I developed….’ It is better to say ‘I am confident I….’ or ‘I developed excellent..…’ You may prefer to write in more of an essay format. The style is up to you but make sure it is concise and easy to read. Usually a page to a page and a half of text is sufficient for most employers. Type your statement rather than hand write it and use a UK spell checker.

A positive opening statement indicating that you are confident that you have the skills and qualities required to successfully undertake the position is a good way to grab the reader’s attention and encourage them to read on. Why should they employ you? In this part of the statement demonstrate why you are a suitable applicant. Try to convey how you can contribute to the work of the organisation and, using your skills profile, give evidence as to how you match each point of the person specification. Highlight any relevant work experience you have undertaken or related modules you have studied. You can give examples from your studies, placements, voluntary experience, interests and part time jobs. Remember to use STAR (see page12) For example, During my recent successful placement in the sales and marketing team at Aberdeen Tools Ltd I liaised with customers, listening carefully to identify their requirements before discussing and suggesting a number of potential products. This allowed me to demonstrate my excellent communication, organisational and record keeping skills on a daily basis whilst contributing to the team’s sales targets.

Explain why you want to work for them. Why are you interested in a career in XXXX? What specific aspects of the job particularly appeal to you and why do you want to work for this particular organisation? The more you have researched the organisation the better you will be able to demonstrate your interest and motivation to do the job. Finally, provide a few words summing up why they ought to employ you. Emphasise your commitment and enthusiasm for a career in XXXX. Before you submit your application, check you have addressed each essential criteria and some of the desirable ones too if you can. A good tip is to read your statement out loud or better still get someone else check it over for you. Always keep a copy to refer to before you go for an interview.

‘Staff at the Careers Service were very supportive in helping me write my personal statement for a job application. They reviewed what I had written and provided constructive and insightful advice that not only allowed me to understand how to sell myself more effectively but also ensure that I was answering the questions. It made me aware that it was important to include a range of examples, from different aspects such as education, work, volunteering and sports activities.’ Caroline Scott BSc(Hons) Physiotherapy

Interviews An employer will invite you for an interview because they think that you may be the candidate that they are looking for. It is up to you to sell yourself and confirm that they are right. Remember, the recruitment process is a competition. Therefore, it is important that you have thoroughly researched the company, their competitors and industry sector that they operate in. The interview is an opportunity to present your skills, experience, personality and suitability, whilst giving you the chance to evaluate the company and the job. The interview process may be challenging but employers donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect perfection so try to relax, be you and enjoy the experience. Interview types vary between organisations. Some graduate recruiters initially have telephone interviews to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;screenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; a high number of candidates. Smaller companies may have a one-off one-to-one interview; however more likely in larger organisations is a Panel Interview. The final stage may be an Assessment Centre so employers can assess your skills directly. Preparation is key! When invited to interview ensure you have all appropriate details such as location and timing. Refresh yourself on the position and the organisation and the application you submitted. Consider questions you may be asked and think of questions you may wish to ask. Make sure that you prepare your answers and refer to the job description and your application to support you. Look at the video examples of graduate interviews and the presentation on Interviews which you can find at www.rgu.ac.uk/careersonmoodle. Once you have prepared, and should you wish further support you can book a Mock Interview at the Careers Centre to practice and get feedback. Typical structure of an interview starts with a short introduction by those interviewing, stating who they are and the format the interview will take place. The middle part of the interview typically lasts around 30-45 mins and consists of: Structure of an Interview Can you do the job?

The interviewer will assess skills, achievements, experience and learning potential by asking questions on your work experiences, and studies.

Will you do the job?

Here, the interviewer is interested in finding out more about your motivation to do the job, interest in the position, company and industry. They will want to find out more about your work ethic and outside influences by asking you questions on projects you have been involved in at university and extra curricular activities.

Will you Fit the organisation?

The interviewer is interested in learning more about your communication style, attitude and personality, values, work style and appearance to better understand how you will fit in with the organisation.

The interview will be rounded off with a conclusion lasting 5-10mins, allowing you to ask questions. You will usually be told when you should expect to hear from the employer and thanked for your time. If asked to deliver a presentation you will be notified in the interview invitation and advised what resources may or may not be available. Ensure you plan your topic with careful attention to timing, allowing for any questions to be asked. Consider the delivery method and your intended audience. It is also worthwhile preparing hand-outs. 26

www.rgu.ac.uk/graduatejobinterview TYPES OF QUESTIONS:

COMPETENCY Detail a time when you had to persuade someone to change his or her mind? Who is the most difficult person you have had to work with? What did you do? Tell me about a time when you were part of a successful team. What part did you play? What is your greatest achievement? What obstacles did you have to overcome? Tell me about an innovative idea that you have had. How did you implement it?

BEHAVIOURAL (Personality, Attitude, Motivation)... Why have you applied for this job? What do you know about this organisation? Use 3 adjectives to describe yourself. ADMINISTRATIVE (Salary, Terms and Conditions, Availability)... What are your salary expectations for this post? What type of environment do you work best in? Would you be willing to travel to other locations as part of this role? TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF ... How would your friends describe you? What are your strengths/weaknesses?

Behaviour during interview is crucial ensure you make a good first impression. Maintain positive body language throughout, any distracting mannerisms may detract from what you are trying to say. Speed, pitch, rhythm and tone of voice are equally important. It’s OK to be nervous, interviewers are human and should quickly put you at ease. They may push you to get the best out of you so be prepared to voice opinions and to analyse yourself. Listen and give relevant answers not necessarily those you have pre-prepared. Apply the STAR approach to your responses (page 12) and if you don’t understand a question or need time to think, say so, don’t launch in blindly or stare wildly into space! Finally thank interviewers for their time. What employers DON’T want you to do is to underestimate your skills and abilities, ramble or waffle, use jargon words, nor antagonise or argue with them. They don’t want to hear about your weaknesses without saying what you are doing about them. Asking questions at interview is an important part of the interview decision process so think ahead and prepare. Genuinely ask yourself ‘Do you have all the information you need to make a decision about whether this is the job for you?’ Ask questions which demonstrate that you are already thinking about your performance or development in the job should you be offered the position. After the interview and whatever the outcome, treat it as a learning experience and reflect on your performance. Were you uncomfortable with or unprepared for any questions? Note down any difficult questions you struggled with. It is worth aiming to get feedback from an employer, not all will supply this, but some are very happy to do so and whether positive or negative will hopefully be constructive for future interviews.

Assessment Centres An Assessment Centre is an extended selection procedure, usually lasting a day or two. It allows an employer to test candidates skills further than they can at a traditional interview. The benefit to applicants is that a number of different selectors get to see you over a longer period of time and have the chance to see what you can do in relation to the required job competencies, rather than what you say you can do, in a variety of situations. The Careers Centre can support you in understanding a typical assessment day and preparing you with practice exercises and informative discussions. There is also an Assessment Centre DVD that is available to view at Preparing to Succeed – www.rgu.ac.uk/careersonmoodle During an Assessment Centre selectors assess your performance against pre determined criteria necessary for you to do the job well and fit in with the organisation. Typically, a variety of the following activities may shape the Assessment Centre: • • • • •

Information sessions Social/informal events One-to-one or panel interview Psychometric and Aptitude tests Case studies

• • • • •

In-tray exercises Presentations Group activities Practical tasks Discussions and role plays

‘Having got to the stage of being invited to a day’s assessment centre with an oil & gas company, with assistance from the careers centre guiding me through the stages previously, I found the resources available online detailed of what to expect in some form or the other. I also had an informal chat with one of the advisors which further dispelled the mystique & fear from these infamously stressful days. I was filled with a confidence that I would be able to go to the event as fully prepared as I could be & fortunately I was one of the few to be selected on the day.’ Marcus Brown MSc Project Management

www.rgu.ac.uk/assessmentcentre Find out the format of the assessment centre. How long will it last? What sort of exercises will be carried out? What support is available for transport and expenses? Make sure you are dressed appropriately; some companies have a much more relaxed approach to dress than others but, if in doubt, wear a suit. You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be criticised for being too smart but employers will notice if you walk in wearing a pair of jeans and a t-shirt! Ensure you know yourself, why you are the best person for the job. Be prepared to demonstrate these skills and strengths through the activities you are asked to undertake. Keeping abreast of current affairs and having a commercial awareness can be useful too. Throughout the Assessment Centre stay enthusiastic and motivated, no matter how tired you may get. Maintain positive body language, excellent communication skills, good eye contact and it can be very important to have a good sense of humour! During the social or informal part including meal times of the event remember to behave in a way that shows you in a positive light as you are being assessed throughout. Talking to other candidates as well as the company employees will help you prepare for the group activities. You are competing against the competencies. There may be a position available for every assessment centre candidate, therefore donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t compete aggressively against other candidates, be yourself, show your strengths and support others in participating fully. Ask for feedback: Hopefully you will be offered a position but if this is not the case you can ask the employer for feedback on your performance. This information will help you to prepare effectively for the next assessment centre.

You can watch a video of real students and graduates being assessed by actual recruiters in activities which commonly feature at assessment centres by going to: www.rgu.ac.uk/assessmentcentre

Social Media Many graduate employers like us are now using social media to grow talent communities and recruit graduates. Building your online brand is a great way to connect and network with potential employers. It will also give you an insight into the culture and values of the company you are researching (as well as hints and tips on their application process). Social media has become one of our best sources for attracting candidates to our graduate opportunities. Mark Darley Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Talent Acquisition Manager

The 2012 JobVite Social Recruiting Survey found that 92% of respondents will recruit from social networks, with 73% saying that they have successfully hired a candidate through social networks. In March 2013, Personnel Today noted that ‘78% of employers who recruit using social media used LinkedIn, with 48% saying that it allowed them to fill vacancies with suitable people. ACAS noted in May 2013 that ‘employees are often unaware that their social networking pages are being used by employers as part of a screening process before offering an interview’. JobVite reported that 80% of their respondents like to see membership ad affinities with professional organisations. Why should you be using Social Media? It enables you to build links and to learn about an industry and potential employers as well as connecting to networks and explore possibilities. It can provide you with an excellent platform to showcase your knowledge and interest in a career area. It also allows you to make an impression – but as well as being positive, it can also be negative. Target Jobs (2013) noted that half of the recruiters in one study said that the information they had found about a candidate online had positively influenced their decision making. It went on further to comment that some of the big graduate recruiters have started posting groups on social networks to make it easier for graduates to get in touch and find out about their organisations. LinkedIn has over 200million members from over 200 countries. You need to set up a profile to use the site, but it allows you to explore career ideas, gather more information on employers and their competition, network professionally and provide you with an opportunity to join groups that may be of interest to your chosen career area. With your own profile LinkedIn also allows you to market yourself and increase your visibility, or stay in touch with individuals who you have met in employer presentations or met through work placements.

I consider LinkedIn to be a very useful medium, where companies and individuals can communicate. Bibby Offshore have recently started to post about some of the different activities happening within this business. By sharing this information we anticipate this will help more people to better understand what it is like to work here. On a personal note, my details being on LinkedIn facilitated my move to Bibby Offshore. Neil Leonard HR Director, Bibby Offshore

Employers also use Facebook as a way to communicate with potential applicants, and advertise their vacancies. By liking their page, you can keep up-to-date on the latest news, which will prove useful in applications and interviews. In addition many organisations such as ‘Civil Service Fast Stream’ offer Q and A sessions.

When setting up a LinkedIn Profile, ensure that you include: photo, profile summary, education details as well as details of current and past job roles/ volunteering/internships. Jobvite (2013) reported that 93% of employers use LinkedIn for recruiting, compared with 66% for Facebook and 54% Twitter. They went onto observe that 89% of employers hired through LinkedIn, with only 26% hiring through Facebook and 15% for Twitter.

Employees are often unaware that their social networking pages are being used by employers as part of a screening process before offering interviews reported ‘ACAS’ in May 2013. They went on to further explain that employers may be looking for evidence of what they consider ‘inappropriate’ behavior or language.

69% of recruiters have rejected a candidate based on content found on social networking profiles ‘Workplace Privacy Counsel’ reported in March 2013. This may be because candidates had: boasted about drinks and drugs; lied about their qualifications; made racist comments; and inappropriate photographs. Make sure that you have updated the privacy settings on your Facebook profile!

Twitter is a form of micro-blogging and gives you 140 characters to ‘tweet’ to say what’s on your mind. You can elect to ‘follow’ companies, who use twitter to notify individuals of vacancies, upcoming open days or online Q&A sessions. TweetDelete and TweetEraser allow you to manage your Tweets and ensure that only those from a set time period are displaying.

Think: ‘Who can access your data?’ If your profile is public, your future employer could have an insight into more than just your qualification and work experience. Target Jobs 2013

LinkedIn is a priceless tool to use when job hunting. Employers love it, recruiters love it and you should too. It is easy to use and a fantastic source of knowledge to understand the job market. LinkedIn got me my most recent job. I found the role I liked, I submitted my CV, a recruiter got in touch and they arranged an interview for me to meet with my prospective employer. Then I used LinkedIn to ‘stalk’ my interviewers, learn about their job roles and work out how I could add value to their team. I didn’t get the first job I interviewed for but I had made great connections with the recruiters I met through LinkedIn who, turned out, recruit for a number of different organisations. They got me an interview with a second company the following week and I got the job. Paul Sutherland MBA

Postgraduate and Further Study Postgraduate study may interest you for a number of reasons; it may be a necessity for you to enter a particular profession such as Teaching, Social Work or Physiotherapy, it may be a desire to specialise in a particular field such as Communications or Management or to continue your research interests to MSc or PhD level. Having a postgraduate qualification may give you an edge over other applicants and potentially attract a higher salary, but remember it is the whole package that is important so work experience and strong transferable skills can be just as valuable. Make sure you undertake thorough research into the types of postgraduate courses available, where they are offered, what funding is available and where graduates from the courses are now. Early application is advisable, for example primary teaching closes early December the year before the course starts, other courses may not have closing dates but depending how competitive entry is places may be filled quickly. Use the information in this handbook on CVs, cover letters, personal statements and interviews as this is directly applicable for postgraduate study. In an application consider the following: • • • • • • • •

Why do you want to do the course/research? Why this subject? Why this university? What academic skills have you got to offer? What transferable skills can you offer? What are your strengths? What is the relevance of your first degree to this study? What are your careers aims?

Changing Your course If you have decided that the course you are studying is not for you then you should take some time to consider your options and seek help and advice. Don’t ignore your feelings, it may just be that you don’t like your course as you are unsure what career path it opens up for you, and having a clearer direction will allow you to be more focused in your studies. Speak to your Course Leader or Tutor as soon as possible to see if any issues can be resolved. Try to identify what it is about the course that you do not like, perhaps a change of module or having some additional support will help? Discuss your future options with a Careers Consultant. We can support you with identifying your skills and considering how they match in with different careers. We will be able to work with you to develop a career action plan to move you and your ideas forward. Consider the impact of leaving your course halfway through the year as each full year of study is accredited. Speak to your Course Leader about the qualification you may be eligible for if you successfully pass all your modules. Look at Page 8 of this Handbook for more information on how to choose a career. Don’t rush from one course to another without thinking about what your decision process was for your original course, are you in danger of making the same mistake again? You may decide to change course, either within Robert Gordon University or by moving to another institution, take time out of education, or seek employment with training. Make sure that you research your ideas. Find out about jobs available in different industries and learn what options are open to you with your subject. Finally you should think about the funding implications if you leave your course now. Contact your funding body e.g. SAAS, to find out how your decision might affect the funding you receive in the future.

Student and Graduate Feedback I feel the careers centre was invaluable to my career situation. I felt I needed help to update my CV and discuss career routes, without the Careers Centre I would have felt very isolated and unsure about how to successfully deal with all these issues alone.

I am extremely grateful for the help and advice the Careers Centre has given me and I feel much more confident about going through the selection process.

4th year Sculpture

“I was very satisfied with the advice I was given during the ‘drop in session’ and careers advice appointment. The staff were very knowledgeable and also very encouraging.

I received deep insight, after this very informative and motivating session with the Careers Consultant. She gave me suggestions which will be useful for my career for my haphazard career so far. I should have taken this consultation way before, I would have been in better position. Master of Public Administration

Helped me to identify what my potentials are; found it really amazing how a few minutes of conversation with someone can give one a deeper insight of who they are, and what they are capable of achieving.” MSc Oil and Gas Law

I have gained greater clarity and confidence in my decision to take a gap year before continuing my education at postgraduate level. 4th year Fashion Management

The service I received has allowed me to think more confidently about my situation. I also feel better equipped in gaining a job when my degree finishes. The advice I received was great and really helpful.

MSc Oil and Gas

4th year Management with Marketing

Mock interview is an absolute hit - it made me get my first proper job after graduation! Advice I am getting on my current applications is very useful and comprehensive. Thank you very much for everything you do! MSc Information and Library Studies

It made me realise that I should not have a generic CV. It should be constructed and reconstructed to suit the job being applied for. MBA

I am so pleased I decided to make an appointment with the careers service. I was given so much help and advice regarding my situation. I went away and wrote up my personal statement with the helpful tools I was given. I received feedback much quicker than I imagined as I’m aware how busy you all must be. I would definitely recommend this service.

It has really helped me prepare for interviews. I got some great advice and managed to ace the telephone interview. I also had a mock interview and the interviewer took a great deal of time to prepare for the interview. The questions asked were very useful and the feedback was detailed and helpful.

3rd year Forensic and Analytical Science

The continuous input from the careers centre giving advice on CV’s, application forms and interview skills has been greatly appreciated and I am consequently much better prepared for the recruitment process, thank you.

With no doubt Careers Service is the best service that RGU offers! Staff are extremely helpful, supportive, enthusiastic and passionate about their work. They are real experts willing to help students and graduates. MSc Information and Library Studies

4th year Accounts and Finance

MSc Information Management

4th year Physiotherapy

careersonmoodle

WWW.RGU.AC.UK/CAREERSONMOODLE: the careers section of Moodle links you to a wide range of resources and materials including:

MY CAREER: Log on using your university username and password and you can access database of local, national and international employers where graduate, part time and work experience opportunities are advertised. Make sure you complete your profile to receive automatic mailings of opportunities you have indicated an interest in. You can also book an appointment to meet with a Careers Consultant to discuss your options, ideas and to receive advice on application processes. MY CAREER TOOLKIT: This online area provides you with in-depth online presentations, links to support materials on all areas of the career planning, job search and application process. You can follow the whole programme, or select the areas which are most relevant to your particular need. CAREERS INFORMATION GATEWAY: a collection of links separated into headings based on this Handbook to enable you to progress further your own research and development. INTERNATIONAL CAREERS: this section pulls together country specific information,vacancy sources and labour market information allowing you to realised your global ambitions. COURSE SPECIFIC INFORMATION: Where you will find additional links and guidance related to your degree.

As a graduate you can still access employability support from the Careers & Employability Centre by going to www.rgu.ac.uk/mycareertoolkit

Where Are we? Careers & Employability Centre

Level 3

Opening Times:

Level 3

MONDAY

9am–5pm

TUESDAY

9am–5pm

WEDNESDAY

11am–5pm

THURSDAY

9am–5pm

FRIDAY

9am–5pm

Check our website for our drop in times. www.rgu.ac.uk/careers T: 01224 262110 E: careers@rgu.ac.uk

www.facebook.com/rgucareers

www.twitter.com/rgucareers

www.rgu.ac.uk/careersonmoodle Robert Gordon University, a Scottish charity registered under charity number SC013781 Produced by The Gatehouse: Design & Print Consultancy at Robert Gordon University • 0613/39789/CAREERS/SB