UEA CareerCentral – Work Experience, 2014 by PAUL VATER

Finding Jobs and Work Experience www.uea.ac.uk/CareerCentral

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Contents Work experience – why it matters 4 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Internships 6 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

Work experience

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Work shadowing

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Finding part-time work

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Volunteering 16 -------------------------------------------------------------------------

International and European Resources

Authors: Careers Service Staff © University of East Anglia, 2014 Visit www.uea.ac.uk/CareerCentral UEACareerCentral @UEACareers Version 1.0

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All experience matters

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Work experience – why it matters

* Businessweek. The Graduate Market in 2014, produced by High Fliers Research

Anything that offers you experience of the workplace is valuable, whether it’s local part-time work, internships, work shadowing, vacation placements, volunteering or course placements.

Builds a network of contacts to find hidden or advertised graduate-level jobs

Increases the likelihood of achieving a graduate-level job

of jobs are advertised – it’s a myth that ‘hidden jobs’ account for 80% out there *

of employers provide paid vacation internships

www.uea.ac.uk/CareerCentral For help and advice on anything related to jobs and careers.

www.uea.ac.uk/internships For more information on a range of internship and mentoring opportunities.

65%

66%

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Be prepared to phone an employer, send a CV or complete an online application straight away. Part-time vacancies are filled quickly.

Boosts skills, making you more employable

Increases your confidence and communication skills

84%

85%

www.uea.ac.uk/volunteers For help and advice on anything related to volunteer work.

www.employability.uea.ac.uk For listings of local and oncampus jobs, internships and graduate vacancies.

of recruiters agree that volunteering helps people find work

of industries this year are taking on more new graduates than last year

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Internships Internships give you hands-on experience and allow you to see what goes on inside an organisation.

Why take an internship? Gain real experience in the workplace -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Discover career options -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Benefit from a business reference on your CV -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Develop networks and contacts

When to start applying Start thinking about your summer work placements early in the New Year, to give you time to research employer schemes. Organisations with structured internship programmes usually open for applications in the autumn or spring. UEA Springboard Internship Programme Gives students with little or no workplace experience the opportunity to learn new skills, improve their CV and build workplace confidence. The internships are based on campus, and the intern receives a bursary. Opportunities are advertised all year. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.uea.ac.uk/internships/springboard ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UEA Summer Internship Programme If you are a 2nd Year undergraduate student, this programme offers you the opportunity to expand your relevant work experience, develop vital new skills and demonstrate your ambition. These are paid opportunities, advertised between mid-February and early March. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.uea.ac.uk/internships/summer ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Give yourself time to think about what you want to achieve from an internship, and plan ahead to avoid missing deadlines.

UEA Graduate Internship Programme Kick-start your career with graduatelevel paid work experience. The internships provide recent graduates (graduated within three years of the application date) the opportunity to tackle strategic projects. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.uea.ac.uk/internships/graduateinternships

Rate My Placement – a national source of high-quality placements as well as advice on securing an internship. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.ratemyplacement.co.uk ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Graduate Talent Pool – the Government’s internship website. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.graduatetalentpool.direct.gov.uk

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Other places to find internships Approach companies yourself to suggest an internship opportunity. Do your research and be clear about what skills you can bring to their organisation. The CIPD guide is a good place to start.

Are all opportunities paid? Not all opportunities are paid. Some placements are voluntary. All non-voluntary placements should comply with National Minimum Wage regulations. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage

www.cipd.co.uk.

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‘No UK university would deny that unpaid internships are on the increase. In occupations such as journalism or PR, they have been commonplace for many years, but this doesn’t make them right. Before you decide to go ahead, consider the National Council for Work Experience guidelines.’ Janka Rodziewicz, Internship Officer

National Council for Work Experience guidelines: – Discuss the purpose of the internship and clarify expectations from the start. -----------------------------------------------------------------

– Ensure the placement is valuable. Does it give insight into a particular industry? Will it improve certain skills or clarify career aspirations? -----------------------------------------------------------------

– Re-consider the value of the internship if it ceases to supply useful contacts and training opportunities. -----------------------------------------------------------------

– Everyone has a choice and if the balance between valuable work experience tips into exploitation then it is up to you to decide whether to continue or not.

– Discuss the possibilities of any future paid work with the employer, pointing out the skills that you have gained during the internship.

TALK TO US Drop in at CareerCentral

MATCH SKILLS

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Work Experience Aside from advertised opportunities, it’s also possible to arrange your own work experience. It’s an excellent way to add value to your CV and helps you test out a career idea.

What is it? – High profile internships can be very competitive and may expect you to have already acquired work experience. Equally, they may not be widely available in the industries that interest you. – You can address this by approaching organisations directly and expressing your willingness to work for them. – Based on the employer’s requirements you will often have flexibility to negotiate time commitments and responsibilities.

rnship Find the right inte u need to boost the skills yo

GET HANDS-ON INSIGHT

‘Many UEA graduates have found paid graduate jobs after one or two periods of informal work experience.’ Careers Adviser, CareerCentral

How to select an organisation or job area –T hink about what interests you and the areas linked to your course. –T hink about the types of activities you enjoy, your particular strengths and the skills you like using best. –T hink about organisations or products and services that particularly appeal to you. –R esearch your ideas further using our online resources

WORTHWHILE EXPERIENCE

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Showing initiative by contacting employers directly can really make you stand out amongst the competition.

Start with who you know and who they know Think about how friends and relatives could help. Then consider friends of friends, tutors, academics, alumni, community contacts or local employers. Ask if they know of any possible opportunities. Insider Insights and Information Interviews – Talk to UEA and other graduates at careers events, and ask them about their role.

Chloe Seager (2013 graduate) landed her Publicity Assistant job at an independent publishing house after approaching a UEA graduate at a careers event and asking for work experience.

– Sign up to the Mentoring Programme and arrange an ‘Insider Insight’ with a Career Mentor. If there isn’t someone in your field of interest, approach people independently but take care when meeting people you don’t know. Always meet at their place of work. Ask for advice from CareerCentral. Researching other possibilities: – Use careers resources and jobsites, industry bodies and professional associations as well as employer directories to find prospective employers. – An organisation may be advertising and you can gather useful information. Are they starting a new project, or launching a new product? Could you assist in some way? – Use LinkedIn to find the right people within an organisation. CareerCentral runs workshops to advise you on social media etiquette and professional profile building. – Be open-minded. You may want to work for the best name in the business/sector straight away, but

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Nina Zamo (2011 graduate) wanted to work for an NGO as a Policy Officer. Her first work experience was in the public affairs team of a utility company. This helped secure her next experience in the policy team of a disability charity where she is now employed.

competition is tough for someone without existing experience. Try those organisations but also think laterally and have a plan B and C. Making contact Jyoti Patel (2014 graduate) organised work experience by approaching a local marketing and PR agency in Norwich. This helped her secure a six month paid internship in marketing.

– Wherever you apply, whether through a contact or entirely through your own initiative, you need to write a well-targeted covering letter and CV. – Don’t be tempted to send generic messages or letters, tweaking just a few words. This is their first impression and evidence of your motivation. It takes staff time and resource to host someone

for work experience and they will only consider those who have demonstrated they’ll make the most of the experience and add value. –T ell the employer why you’re applying to them specifically and what your strengths are. –S how you have researched beyond the obvious to find more information about the organisation. –B e flexible on dates and provide as much choice as possible. –R efer to our booklets and online resources and get feedback from a careers adviser before you send your application. –F ollow up by email or phone after a week or two and ask politely if they received your application. If they have no opportunities or don’t get back to you, don’t take it personally. Keep pursuing other opportunities and approach them again in future.

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How to make a good impression when doing work experience Keep persisting, tailor your approach and eventually you will be successful.

– Ask questions, take projects on willingly and work hard. -------------------------------------------------------------------

– Ask if you’re unsure about a task -------------------------------------------------------------------

Success – what to do next if you get an offer – The best kinds of work experience give you a reasonable level of responsibility, challenge you and provide real insight into the staff and workings of the organisation. Be clear on what kinds of tasks you will be expected to perform and ensure there is a developmental aspect.

– Check your work carefully for accuracy and to ensure your work is high quality -------------------------------------------------------------------

– Do take up opportunities to attend meetings, events and lunch -------------------------------------------------------------------

– Don’t be afraid to make suggestions, although back these up by showing your rationale -------------------------------------------------------------------

– Volunteer to take on a project, particularly if you hear that someone is very busy. Offer to make a presentation or write a report on your findings -------------------------------------------------------------------

– Make yourself indispensable for the time that you’re there -------------------------------------------------------------------

– Ask about future opportunities and stay in touch. Connect on LinkedIn, for example

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Work shadowing Work shadowing is a useful way of exploring careers and roles. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a period of one day to one week in an organisation, where you spend time with one or more members of staff observing and learning what their role involves.

Will graduate employers value shadowing on my CV? Yes, which is why many employers are keen to take part. It shows that you have the energy and commitment to research and approach employers. Finding work shadowing placements Think in advance about what you want to learn from the experience, jot some questions down, and put time into research beforehand and reflection afterwards.

Approach employers direct. Think about what kind of role or organisation youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to explore, and research companies that fit the bill. To find useful work shadowing opportunities use local business networks (Chamber of Commerce, Norfolk Network etc) and your own family and friends for good contacts. When you write to employers, be clear about your request to shadow and when you are hoping to do it. Tell them why their business or role interests you.

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Finding part-time work Jobs on campus Find vacancies in the window at CareerCentral. ----------------------------------------------------------------

Set up tailored email alerts for the latest vacancies by visiting the Vacancies Section at employability.uea.ac.uk, and clicking on Campus Opportunities.

Check your UEA email account regularly as schools sometimes email their students offering work at events. ----------------------------------------------------------------

Find UEA staff roles advertised at uea.ac.uk/hr/jobs.

‘Let friends and people you meet know that you’re available for work. Many employers ask their current staff to recommend someone, so that they can avoid the expense of advertising.’ Alice Burnett, Vacancy Administrator

In Norwich Apply for the latest part-time vacancies we receive directly from local employers. Find these in the window at CareerCentral, or online at employability.uea.ac.uk.

Applying for vacancies When you find a suitable vacancy on our website, you need to make an application directly to the employer as shown in the ‘how to apply’ section of the vacancy.

Related to my course Your course tutor is a good starting point, or research local employers in the sector that interests you. Volunteering for an organisation with a diverse range of opportunities is also a good route.

Why do some vacancies require a Disclosure and Barring Service? The DBS completes criminal history checks on anyone who works with children or vulnerable adults.

Can CareerCentral find a job for me? We have links with employers who advertise vacancies on our website, which is a useful starting point for your search. We love helping you, but we don’t find jobs for individual students.

They issue their findings in a Disclosure Certificate - a confidential form which states any criminal history. The organisation you work with usually arranges and pays for this check.

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Volunteering The UEA Volunteering Service at CareerCentral sources and advertises opportunities to volunteer locally, and offers advice about getting the most out of volunteering. For the latest opportunities in the local area, and on campus, sign up for email alerts at www.employability.uea.ac.uk and follow the link to Voluntary Work. You can also look at the opportunities window at CareerCentral, or visit the Volunteer Fair every February.

Ten reasons to volunteer Employability 1. Gain practical experience 2. Learn new skills 3. Present yourself in a professional environment 4. Build your networks Work/Life balance 5. Socialise and make friends 6. Experiment with potential career choices 7. Be part of a community

Altruistic 8. Promote a message or a cause 9. Give something back to society 10. Share your knowledge and expertise

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International and European Resources Web research is often the quickest and easiest way of finding host organisations, but be aware that a number of internship agencies charge administration and visa fees. So do your research well.

Rate My Placement is an excellent site for getting the student perspective on such companies. EURES (The European Job Mobility Portal). A network of Government employment services in Europe with jobs advertised in 31 countries plus lots of advice on what you need for living and working abroad. They will conduct job searches for long and short-term vacancies but not course-related and supervised work placements. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.ec.europa.eu/eures ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Foreign Office Undergraduate Attachments to British Embassies These placements are for 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8 weeks, during the summer, and are reserved for penultimate year undergraduates. No pay, but may get help with travel and accommodation costs. Could be in any one of 200+ embassies â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they try to cater for preferences for location and type of work. Apply from October to mid December. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.fco.gov.uk/en ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Placements at the European Commission in Brussels ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AIESEC can arrange paid placements with well planned induction and support once abroad. The aim is to give participants a broadening cultural experience. AIESEC cannot promise any specific country, or even continent. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.aiesec.co.uk ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prospects: Guide to Work and Study Abroad has links to 50 individual countries, with work experience information detailed. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.prospects.ac.uk/country_ profiles. htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GoingGlobal is an excellent resource with info on internships and placements worldwide. A certain amount of information is free, and then you need to pay. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.goinglobal.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Contact CareerCentral for an on-the-day quick query appointment to get feedback on your CV.

AGCAS Country Guides for International Students includes key facts about current trends and jobs, advice about seeking employment, hints and tips for making a successful application, and helpful information sources. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.agcas.org.uk/agcas_resources/132Starting-Your-Career-In-Country- Guidesfor-International-Students ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eurograduate This website includes opportunities by sector, occupation and country.

International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE) is a student exchange programme with over 80 member countries worldwide, IAESTE provides international work placements for students of engineering, science, architecture and IT. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.iaeste.org.uk ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Internships in the USA are often advertised on the US web, so try a general search and take a look at: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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www.InternshipPrograms.com

www.eurograduate.com

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www.internjobs.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Careers Europe Outlines study, work and training opportunities. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.careerseurope.co.uk ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mountbatten Institute Recruits actively in British universities and UEA usually provides several internship graduates. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.mountbatten.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.internships-usa.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.goabroad.com/internabroad ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.ciee.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The United Nations University Office at the United Nations in New York also offers internships.

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Fulbright Commission The US-UK Educational Commission (Fulbright Commission) has been fostering mutual cultural understanding through educational exchange since 1948, and is now offering an internship programme. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.fulbright.org.uk/study-in-the-usa/ short-term-work-opportunities/internprogramme ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

China Internship Solutions Corp (CISC) is a leading provider of internship and job placement opportunities in China (this is a fee paying service). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.ciscglobal.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IST plus is an International work and travel programmes (this is a fee paying service). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.istplus.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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How to find us Ground Level, The Street

@UEACareers

Upper Level Walkway

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Useful websites www.uea.ac.uk/CareerCentral For help and advice on anything related to jobs and careers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.employability.uea.ac.uk View listings of local and on-campus student jobs, internships and graduate vacancies with local, national and international employers ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.uea.ac.uk/volunteers For help and advice on anything related to volunteer work ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.uea.ac.uk/internships For more information on a range of internship and mentoring opportunities ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.gradseast.org.uk Graduate vacancies and work experience across the East of England ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.prospects.ac.uk The national website for graduate level vacancies and online career services ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CareerCentral University of East Anglia Norwich Research Park Norwich NR4 7TJ 01603 593452 www.uea.ac.uk/CareerCentral career.central@uea.ac.uk UEACareerCentral @UEACareers