How to optimise and improve your job hunting.
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University of Winchester Careers • Graduate Job Search Guide
CONTENTS Introduction
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Support from the Careers Team
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How to find work at a glance
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What to search for and the words to use
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Types of jobs boards and recruitment agencies
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Occupational and specialist jobs boards
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Getting started
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Make yourself searchable
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Conclusion and checklist
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Contact the Careers Team Visit us in the Careers & Opportunities Hub in SAB303 Find jobs, advice and book appointments through CareerConnect Use the Careers Intranet pages @_UoWcareers @uowcareers @universityofwinchestercareers 01962 827310 careers@winchester.ac.uk
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INTRODUCTION There are many opportunities and graduate roles advertised on a range of sites and by using the right tools and techniques you will enhance your results! This guide lists places to find graduate work and highlights some top tips on ensuring your search activities locate the range of roles that you are looking for, including the power of using “search strings.” In addition, we have listed sites that are specific to a range of occupational or professional areas. We recommend you take the time to explore each site and get to know which works best for you!
SUPPORT FROM THE CAREERS TEAM As a student or graduate of the University of Winchester, there are many resources for you to use and the Careers Team will support you to explore your options, your job search and study ideas. When it comes to finding the specific job roles that you aspire to, you will have to put in the time and work to find them, as always. Employers’ recruitment plans change constantly to be flexible and responsive to economic drivers, and not all industries were badly affected by Brexit and the 2020/21 pandemic. Many businesses are expanding, and others will not be subdued for long. Of all the areas that were impacted, the graduate job market has remained most buoyant. Most employers understand that if you studied during Covid, you had less opportunity to gain experience through conventional means. However, the aptitudes, flexibility, resilience and experience you have gained while you were studying, are highly valuable and sought after by employers. Be prepared to explain this clearly on your application documents.
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You have access to CareerConnect, our Careers and Opportunities Platform where you can:
1. Search for opportunities and set choices to be alerted of graduate roles that suit you.
2. View and attend our workshops and events. 3. Access information and advice, like our range of support guides.
4. Book a Careers Guidance Discussion with one of our Faculty Employability Advisers.
Find CareerConnect at: winchester.jobteaser.com/en/users/sign_in
University of Winchester Careers • Graduate Job Search Guide
HOW TO FIND WORK AT A GLANCE Use this checklist to ensure you have an extensive approach to your job search. Graduate level roles are advertised widely, and we have listed many examples later in this booklet. F Use CareerConnect, winchester.jobteaser. com/en/users/sign_in. The University’s Careers and Opportunities platform is where you can set your preferences to receive email alerts. F Register to get notifications on specialist graduate jobs boards such as: www.prospects.ac.uk, www.targetjobs.co.uk, www.brightnetwork.co.uk. F Sign up for job alerts on a range of sites which may highlight opportunities you have not considered. Use filters to narrow results and search job titles, duties (e.g., ‘writing’) and/or the word “graduate” on sites such as www.reed.co.uk, www.indeed.co.uk, F Search the websites of companies you really want to work for. Most have a careers or jobs section, often right at the top of their website or in the information lists at the bottom of the page. e.g. www.sainsburys.jobs and www.hsbc.com/careers/find-a-job. F Use sector specific job sites for particular industries, like www.charityjob.co.uk, www.environmentjob.co.uk/jobs, www.designweek.co.uk, (more advertised in this guide).
F Use specific recruitment or employment agencies for the industry you want to work in. Agencies work on behalf of many employers to find suitable candidates. Signing up may give you access to jobs that aren’t advertised elsewhere. Search on www.agencycentral.co.uk for an industry related recruitment agency that interests you. F Update your profile on LinkedIn and connect with graduates working in companies you are interested in. Make connections with lecturers, relatives and contacts you have made through previous work experience/volunteering and let them know you are looking for work. Find graduates via the Alumni button on the University’s LinkedIn page: www.linkedin.com/ school/university-of-winchester F Use your contacts to find the jobs that are not publicly advertised. Be proactive and send employers a well written professional looking CV and a covering email explaining why you are interested in them and why you would be an asset to their team. F Do not forget to contact and apply to smaller companies. Ask your friends and contacts who they work for. There will be thousands of companies that you will not have heard of.
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WHAT TO SEARCH FOR – THE RIGHT WORDS TO USE: The job boards we have listed all use things called Boolean search strings which use simple rules to modify searches. These are always in capitals, usually “AND” or “OR”. F If you want to look for job adverts that contain either the word “History” OR the word “Graduate” you would use this search string: History OR graduate. This would give you a very broad search as lots of jobs would likely contain the word “Graduate”. F This may be what you want if you are looking for graduate roles but not necessarily anything to do with History. If this search came out big and you wanted to narrow it down, you could use this search string: History AND graduate. This would only give you job adverts with the word “History” as well as the word “Graduate” in which will be much fewer options.
F Or if you are looking for part-time jobs: (“Customer service” OR admin OR administration) AND (“part time” OR casual) Most job sites have an “advanced search” option which will allow you to select whether you want your search words to be only in the job title or anywhere in the body of the advert. Most websites will let you filter the search by “Job Type” as well which can include part-time. Trial and error will get you your perfect search string which narrows down your search enough but ensures you do not miss any opportunities.
F However, there could be jobs that do not mention the word “History” or “Graduate” but may still be relevant. Then you need to have a think about some key words that would likely be included. For example: “Customer service” OR “human resources” OR administration OR administration Note: if you are using a phrase with more than one word in it then you use speech marks. F If this search is coming up with too many roles you may want to adjust it to: (“HR” OR “human resources” OR administration OR admin) AND graduate. This will narrow down your search to job adverts that contain any of the words in the brackets as well as the word “Graduate”.
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University of Winchester Careers • Graduate Job Search Guide
TYPES OF JOB BOARD SITES: AGGREGATOR JOB BOARDS
LOCATION BASED JOB BOARDS
Aggregators scrape adverts from company websites and put them all in one place, in addition to jobs that companies have paid to advertise. Police, Civil Service and University jobs, for example, would be on Indeed because they have websites with careers pages. The biggest one now is www.indeed.co.uk.
Most jobs boards will have location as one of their search criteria, but Indeed does not pick up all jobs advertised by the council websites, so you need to check these separately. Do not forget local councils such as Fareham and Gosport as well as County ones like Hampshire. Sites like www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/jobs, www.hants.gov.uk/jobs and www.jobsinkent.com.
GENERAL JOB BOARDS There are a host of general job-hunting sites that will advertise roles for all levels of employment including graduate work. These also aggregate jobs from other sources.
GRADUATE JOB SITES There are many job boards created especially for students and graduates to advise and support their job hunting and career plans. In addition to information and guidance on a range of careers, they offer a wide pool of graduate level jobs, and those that are suitable for gaining experience, shorter internships or placements.
GRADUATE JOBS AROUND THE UK Target Jobs has created an excellent city and regional guide which describes each city/region and links to key employers or job sites in that area. www. targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/career-location
LINKEDIN FOR JOBS LinkedIn is a professional social network so treat all your activity on the site as if you were interacting with a potential employer. There is the “Jobs” section on LinkedIn where jobs are officially advertised that you can search as well as set up job alerts. Look out also for jobs that are promoted through posts and join groups and follow companies that are relevant to your aspirations. See LinkedIn.com.
RECRUITMENT AGENCIES Agencies work on behalf of organisations to find suitable candidates and act as the link between jobseekers and companies. They receive a fee from employers to find the “right” candidates who are often experienced professionals. They can place Graduates so there is no harm in registering with agencies as it costs you nothing and there is no effort involved from you. A few examples are Well Placed HR, Hays and Michael Page .
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OCCUPATIONAL, SPECIALIST OR SECTOR SPECIFIC JOB BOARDS: There are sector specific job boards, often linked to the regulatory or membership body of a profession. Use the best graduate jobs board and those from the fields you are interested in to create a thorough job search strategy: Other job boards and agencies are also listed in the Job Profiles on Prospects -www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles.
GENERAL GRADUATE JOBS BOARD F www.brightnetwork.co.uk
GENERIC JOB SITES AND PART-TIME JOBS
F www.targetjobs.co.uk
F www.cv-library.co.uk
F www.prospects.ac.uk
F www.indeed.co.uk
F www.milkround.com
F www.jobsite.co.uk
F www.graduate-jobs.com
F www.totaljobs.com
F jobs.theguardian.com
F www.linkedin.com/jobs
F www.gradcracker.com
F www.glassdoor.co.uk F www.e4s.co.uk
PLACEMENTS AND INTERNSHIPS
F www.reed.co.uk
F www.inspiringinterns.com
F www.monster.co.uk
F www.ratemyplacement.co.uk
F findajob.dwp.gov.uk
F www.gradcracker.com F www.step.org.uk F www.targetjobs.co.uk
CHARITIES, NOT-FOR-PROFIT, VOLUNTARY F www.charityjob.co.uk
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
F www.jobs.thirdsector.co.uk
F www.reliefweb.int
F charityjobfinder.co.uk
F www.charityjob.co.uk
F www.charity-works.co.uk
F www.bond.org.uk/jobs (International)
F www.tpp.co.uk
F www.idealist.org/en
F www.harrishill.co.uk
F www.eldis.org/jobs
F www.idealist.org F www.goodmoves.com
RESEARCH AND ACADEMIA
F www.Jobsgopublic.com
F www.jobs.ac.uk
F charitypeople.co.uk
F www.careersinhe.com F www.researchjobfinder.com
LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC SECTOR, POLITICS F www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk F www.jobsgopublic.com F www.jobtrain.co.uk/lga F www.lgjobs.com F www.w4mpjobs.org
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University of Winchester Careers • Graduate Job Search Guide
EDUCATION AND TEACHING F www.lgjobs.com F www.fejobs.com F www.eteach.com F www.tes.com/jobs F www.jobs.ac.uk F www.jobsgopublic.com
SOCIAL AND HEALTH CARE AND WORK WITH CHILDREN, SOCIAL WORK F www.cypnowjobs.co.uk F www.lgjobs.com F www.nurseryworldjobs.co.uk F www.eteach.com F www.jobs.nhs.uk F jobs.communitycare.co.uk F www.priorygroup.com F www.bupa.co.uk/careers
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM F www.policenow.org.uk F www.clinks.org F www.sanctuarycriminaljustice.com F www.traintobeaprobationofficer.com F www.communitycare.co.uk F unlockedgrads.org.uk F www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk F www.prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk
NB: The links in this Guide are provided for informational purposes only and do not imply any endorsement or guarantee of particulars. We make every effort to ensure these links are accurate, up to date and relevant, however the Careers team cannot take responsibility for pages maintained by external providers. University of Winchester Careers • Your future starts here
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SPORTS COACHING, TEACHING AND INSTRUCTING
SPORTS SCIENCE, HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE
F www.careers-in-sport.co.uk
F www.careers-in-sport.co.uk
F www.uksport.gov.uk
F www.uksport.gov.uk
F www.tes.co.uk
F www.sportengland.org
F www.ukcoaching.org/
F www.olympics.org.uk
F www.lgjobs.com
F www.bases.org.uk
F www.activityalliance.org.uk/get-involved/ jobs-in-sport
F www.eis2win.co.uk
F jobs.basi.org.uk
PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELLING F www.jobsinpsychology.co.uk
SPORT, LEISURE, TRAVEL, EVENTS, TOURISM F www.careers-in-sport.co.uk F www.leisureopportunities.co.uk F www.leisurejobs.com
F www.bacp.co.uk/search/Jobs F www.mendeley.com F www.pulsejobs.com F www.jobs.nhs.uk F jobs.communitycare.co.uk
F www.leisuremanagement.co.uk F jobs.travelweekly.co.uk F www.outdoor-learning.org F www.jobsgopublic.com F www.outdoorstaff.co.uk F www.bestadventurejobs.co.uk
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University of Winchester Careers • Graduate Job Search Guide
HUMAN RESOURCES AND RECRUITMENT F pmjobs.cipd.co.uk
SPORTS DEVELOPMENT, SPORTS JOURNALISM/JOURNALISM (SEE ALSO MEDIA/TV)
F www.personneltoday.com
F www.leisuremanagement.co.uk
F www.hrgrapevine.com
F www.jobsgopublic.com
F www.simplyhrjobs.co.uk
F www.bases.org.uk
F www.nhsgraduates.co.uk
F www.holdthefrontpage.co.uk/jobsboard
F www.michaelpage.co.uk
F www.journalism.co.uk/
F www.hays.co.uk F jobs.recruiter.co.uk
THEATRE, PERFORMING, ACTING F www.thestage.co.uk/jobs
DIGITAL/MARKETING, PR AND ADVERTISING/PUBLISHING F jobs.marketingweek.com/jobs F www.thedrum.com
F www.mandy.com F www.uktheatre.org/theatre-industry/jobvacancies F www.actorscentre.co.uk
F www.simplymarketingjobs.co.uk F www.prweekjobs.co.uk F www.campaignlive.co.uk/Jobs F www.jobsite.co.uk/jobs/marketing
F www.spotlight.com
F www.jobs.cim.co.uk
F www.equity.org.uk
F www.jobs.thebookseller.com/
F www.communitydance.org.uk
F www.creativeaccess.org.uk
F www.onedanceuk.org F www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts
F www.jobs.theguardian.com/
NB: The links in this Guide are provided for informational purposes only and do not imply any endorsement or guarantee of particulars. We make every effort to ensure these links are accurate, up to date and relevant, however the Careers team cannot take responsibility for pages maintained by external providers.
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ARTS, MEDIA, TV, FILM AND DIGITAL
MUSIC
F www.thestage.co.uk/jobs
F www.musicalchairs.info/jobs
F www.artsjobs.org.uk
F jobs.theguardian.com/jobs/music
F www.mandy.com
F www.thestage.co.uk
F www.bubble-jobs.co.uk
F www.artsjobs.org.uk/music
F careerssearch.bbc.co.uk
F www.music-jobs.com/uk/
F www.productionbase.co.uk/film-tv-jobs
F www.musicweek.com/jobs
F careers.channel4.com F the-dots.com/jobs/search
LAW
F www.uktheatre.org/theatre-industry/jobvacancies
(SEE ALSO LOCAL GOVERNMENT, PUBLIC SERVICES & GRADUATE CAREERS WEBSITES)
F www.creativeaccess.org.uk
F jobs.lawgazette.co.uk
F www.thedrum.com/jobs
F www.simplylawjobs.com
F mediabeans.io
F www.thelawyerportal.com
F www.digitalgrads.com
F www.gov.uk/guidance/government-legalservice-gls-legal-trainee-scheme-how-to-apply
ACCOUNTING AND FINANCE F www.insidecareers.co.uk/ F www.efinancialcareers.co.uk F www.topfinancialjobs.co.uk F www.accountancycareers.co.uk F www.santanderjobs.co.uk F www.lloydsbankinggrouptalent.com/graduates F www.nationwide-jobs.co.uk/early-careers/ graduates F www.gov.uk/guidance/tax-professionaldevelopment-programme F jobs.mazars.co.uk/jobs/early-careers
CONSERVATION/ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY
IT, COMPUTING AND DIGITAL F www.technojobs.co.uk F www.cwjobs.co.uk F www.gradcracker.com F www.jobtensor.com/uk F www.sanctuarygraduates.co.uk F devitjobs.uk
These lists are not exhaustive so do a Google search, For example, “Jobs in HR” to see what other sites come up and add them to your list! Use the best graduate jobs board and those from the fields you are interested in to create a thorough job search strategy.
F www.countryside-jobs.com/ F www.climatechangejobs.co.uk/ F www.environmentjob.co.uk F www.greenjobs.co.uk/ F www.charityjob.co.uk F www.jobs.thirdsector.co.uk F www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk F www.jobsgopublic.com
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NB: The links in this Guide are provided for informational purposes only and do not imply any endorsement or guarantee of particulars. We make every effort to ensure these links are accurate, up to date and relevant, however the Careers team cannot take responsibility for pages maintained by external providers.
University of Winchester Careers • Graduate Job Search Guide
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GETTING STARTED 1
Start your initial search and use search strings on your chosen sites. You will quickly see that some sites have more relevant jobs than others. The best way not to miss out on any opportunities is to regularly search them all.
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You may need to adapt the search string as you go. For example, on the website www.jobsinpsychology.co.uk you can just search for the word “Graduate” as all the jobs will be relevant to the area of Psychology.
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Search for all opportunities listed on the site initially and look through all the jobs. This will take a long time but once you have done it you can search new jobs daily, weekly or somewhere in between. You can search for jobs “within the last day/week/2 days”. Some sites such as Indeed will give you the option to search “new” jobs since your last visit if you register and were logged in when you searched.
MAKE YOURSELF SEARCHABLE Many job boards give you the option to register and upload a CV, you can then choose to make yourself searchable or “visible” to employers. Some employers will only use recruitment agencies and not publish their roles elsewhere online. Therefore, you will be available for them to find when they are conducting searches on the database of candidates. Make sure that you are adding your CV to a genuine jobs board and not a data collection site (check with your Faculty Employability Adviser if you are not sure). Settings on LinkedIn – make sure you are set to “open to Finding a New Job” which will make you more likely to turn up in searches and make sure your profile is complete and up to date with lots of relevant key words in.
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University of Winchester Careers • Graduate Job Search Guide
CONCLUSION AND CHECKLIST Please bear in mind that things change constantly, and job boards come and go as they fluctuate in popularity. If you find yourself searching for jobs again in a year or so, review this information carefully and check for new job boards / relevant social media or professional sites that are advertising. Whatever your circumstances, whether you are a student, a recent graduate or have several years’ experience, your unique experience and learning so far has equipped you to manage your job-hunting plans and your next steps. Here at Winchester, the Careers team aim to help you navigate your personal career path and we are proud to offer careers advice for life for all our graduates.
HERE’S A REMINDER OF WHAT WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO TO ENHANCE YOUR JOB SEARCH: F Give yourself time every 1-2 days to consider your options and look for work. F Use CareerConnect, winchester.jobteaser.com/en/users/sign_in and set your preferences to receive email alerts for the roles you are looking for. F Register to get notifications on a couple of specialist graduate job boards in this guide. F Sign up for job alerts on some general recruitment sites like Indeed. F Don’t forget to use filters and search strings to modify and optimise your searches. F Search and bookmark the websites of companies you really want to work for. F Make yourself searchable and upload your CV to several jobs board databases, making you visible to recruiters. F Find the sector specific job sites for industries that you are interested in. F Use the Jobs section on LinkedIn.
Many more tips on the UoW Careers intranet page and on CareerConnect! Visit the Careers and Opportunities Hub (SAB303) or get in touch with your Faculty Employability Adviser, for further support in job hunting or for support in completing applications. To make an appointment, visit CareerConnect or email us: careers@winchester.ac.uk.
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Contact the Careers Team Visit us in the Careers & Opportunities Hub in SAB303 Find jobs, advice and book appointments through CareerConnect Use the Careers Intranet pages @_UoWcareers @uowcareers @universityofwinchestercareers 01962 827310 careers@winchester.ac.uk
