Careers Handbook 2020 by Jackie Thompson

Careers and Employability Service

Careers Handbook 2020

Contents 01

Getting to grips

02 Getting started

03 Getting involved

04 Getting the job

Seven ways to use this handbook

Four steps to career success

Your Careers team, here for you

Boost your CV and your wallet

10 ways to get work experience while studying

Stand out from the crowd with international experiences

A distinct Advantage

Kick-start your career with sport

Start your future with the SU

Connect to a world of expertise

Taking your studies to the next level

What exactly is a graduate job?

Six inspiring ways to spend time out

Got a bright idea? Make it happen with The Ingenuity Lab

Six reasons to connect with employers to boost your career

Where in the world will your degree take you?

Get employers to take notice of your CV

How to write the perfect covering letter

Succeed at social media in five easy steps

It's all in the application

Sussing out psychometric tests

New to the game

Your three-step guide to interview success

Invited to an assessment centre?

Notes

Getting to grips

Whether you’re short on time or someone who reads the last chapter of a book first, there are plenty of ways to make the most of the Careers Handbook. It’s been designed to take you from the start of your studies to the end – and beyond. So, if you’ve only got 10 minutes to spare, dive in.

Seven ways

to use this handbook

Clueless about your career? Head to four steps to career success to take the first step towards your career. Follow this with connect to a world of expertise and 10 ways to get work experience while studying and you’ll have a clearer idea in no time.

CV a bit bare? Struggling to get past the A-level section? Head to 10 ways to get work experience while studying. You’ll also find CV-boosting advice in start your future with the SU, a distinct Advantage and stand out from the crowd with international experiences.

Got a great idea? Head to got a bright idea? Make it happen with the Ingenuity Lab to find out how to bring that idea to life.

Itchy feet?

Tired of being asked “what’s next?”

Head to stand out from the crowd with international experiences. And check out six inspiring ways to spend time out and where in the world will your degree take you?

Head to your Careers team, here for you and get acquainted with all the lovely people who can help you answer this question. You'll find four steps to career success, what exactly is a graduate job? and taking your studies to the next level useful too.

Strapped for cash? How much do you want it? Head to section four if you've found a great job and want to get ahead in the application process. Extra skills can help you stand out, so find out how to get a distinct Advantage.

Head to boost your CV and your wallet if you're struggling to pay for your weekly food shop. Explore get employers to take notice of your CV and six reasons to connect with employers to boost your career.

Find all your careers fairs on MyNottingham Check out the careers fairs tile, and explore which fairs are happening this term. ■■Find all your careers fairs in one place ■■Discover which employers will be there ■■Explore employer profiles to get fair-ready Download from your app store

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Living here

Careers Fairs

Get ready for your future nottingham.ac.uk/careers

Getting around

Wellbeing

Timetable

Student essent ials

Careers

Careers Fairs

Getting to grips

Four steps

to career success

Your degree will open up a world of career opportunities. Many professions are open to graduates of any discipline, which is fantastic, but can also be a little daunting. Even careers that require a specific degree usually have various specialisms, so you will still be faced with choices to make about your future.

We want to shed some light on what you’ll need to consider when deciding what to do after your studies. We’ve identified four steps you can take, but there’s no set order in which you should do them. Read on for more information or visit our website: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/ideas

Getting to grips

Get involved: explore what's on offer at Nottingham

All about you: what makes you tick? ■■

What's important to you in a job?

Discover new interests

■■

How do others see you?

■■

Meet more people

■■

Develop your skill set

■■

Gain work experience

■■

Action you can take 1. Join a Students’ Union society or sports club 2. Search for part-time jobs through Unitemps 3. Explore modules on the Nottingham Advantage Award 4. Ask about Study Abroad 5. Find out about summer internships 6. Speak to the Students' Union's Volunteering Team

■■

How can you build on your strengths? What skills do you need to develop?

Action you can take 1. Talk to a careers adviser 2. Search our website for ‘Profiling for Success’ questionnaires 3. Use Prospects Planner, the career matching quiz 4. Chat to family and friends 5. Build your CV by recording what you’ve been involved in

Broaden your horizons: find out what's out there ■■

■■

Explore the career options for your degree Find out what different jobs and sectors involve Discover how further study could enhance your job prospects

Achieve your goal: secure a job, PhD, or masters Make a successful application

■■

Create a professional LinkedIn profile

■■

Navigate psychometric tests

■■

Ace assessment centres and interviews

■■

Set up your own business

Action you can take

1. Chat to recruiters about their vacancies at our fairs

2. Find out more about a sector at Spotlight On events

2. Ask us to review your CV or LinkedIn profile

3. Visit our website to find out about further study

3. Book a place on our interview and assessment centre workshops

4. Get career insights from a mentor 5. Search for internship and job vacancies on MyCareer 6. Contact the Ingenuity Lab about setting up your own business

Get advice on your applications from our team

4. Get job-hunting tips from a career mentor 5. Talk to recruiters at fairs about what they look for in applicants 6. Use Graduates First to practise psychometric tests 7

Getting to grips

Your Careers team, here for you Whether you know where your future lies or are undecided, our team is committed to helping you on your way to a career you love, and making the most of your time at Nottingham.

Talk to us It’s your future – talk to us about your ideas and we’ll support you to make decisions about the next step.

■■ Our staff are based on Jubilee,

Sutton Bonington and University Park campuses, and at Queen’s Medical Centre

■■ We offer regular advice sessions in

your school and faculty. Just turn up to one of our drop-in sessions for a chat or book an appointment: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/ appointments

■■ If you’ve got a quick question,

tweet us or send a private Facebook message: @UoNCareers or CareersUoN

"I would advise anyone unsure about jobs, looking to apply or already in the process of applying to utilise the services made available by the Careers and Employability Service. They are very helpful and friendly, and make the process more manageable." Paige Linden MEng Mechanical Engineering

Explore your options

Find graduate roles and internships

Find your passion – explore jobs and sectors in person and online.

Discover internships and graduate jobs – talk to companies targeting Nottingham students.

■■ Talk to people in the know at

■■ More than 300 employers visit

our Spotlight On events. Hear from professionals about their jobs: what they do on a daily basis, the highs and the lows: nottingham. ac.uk/careers/spotlighton

■■ Take your research online –

watch videos and get advice on our website: nottingham. ac.uk/careers/typesofjobs

our campuses each year, so that means plenty of occasions for you to talk to recruiters about their opportunities: nottingham.ac.uk/ careers/events

■■ On MyCareer, you’ll find hundreds of graduate jobs and internships in the UK and overseas. nottingham.ac.uk/careers/login

Sharpen your skills Make a successful application – hone your skills and get the course or job offer you want.

■■ We can help your application

stand out during the recruitment process for jobs, internships and postgraduate study. Attend our workshops on application forms, interviews and psychometric tests.

■■ Get a head start by going

online for top tips from our staff on acing the recruitment process: nottingham.ac.uk/ careers/furtherstudy or nottingham.ac.uk/careers/ applications 9

Getting started

Boost your CV and your wallet Does your bank balance look depleted after the first two weeks of term? Getting a part-time job can do wonders for your CV; and it could even turn your humble Pot Noodle into a Wagamama’s. Unitemps is the University’s recruitment service for part-time, casual and temporary jobs on campus and with local businesses. A service created just for you, it’s the ideal place to find work that will fit around your studies and other commitments.

What can you do? Unitemps advertises vacancies throughout the year, giving you complete flexibility over when you work and what you do. Some roles, such as open day helper, don’t need any previous experience.

Spruce up your CV first We offer weekly CV reviews in the Unitemps office during term time. Contact the team to find out when: nottingham. ac.uk/unitemps

You could get experience in: ■■ Administration, for example, data entry, reception, and admin support ■■ Events and hospitality, including working as waiting staff, bar staff and house-keepers ■■ Ambassador roles at on-campus events, such as open days

“I worked as an event steward. This type of role is perfect for students on courses with high workloads, or with busy schedules that can't commit to set weekly hours. The assignments through Unitemps are always interesting and fun. I wish I'd taken advantage of the service earlier.” Beverly Okeke MEng Chemical Engineering with Environmental Engineering Unitemps roles: catering assistant, retail assistant and event steward at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground

■■ Specialist roles such as marketing, design, IT, engineering and web design ■■ Translation and other roles requiring foreign language skills ■■ Student helper roles for focus groups, photo and video shoots, promotional work, market research... ■■ ... and many more!

Your next steps 1. Register at unitemps.com 2. Upload your CV 3. Apply for vacancies that suit your skills, availability, and interests

Are you an international student? Students from outside the European Union are usually permitted to work a maximum of 20 hours a week during term-time and full-time outside term-time. For further questions about eligibility to work in the UK, please contact the Visa and Immigration Team: nottingham.ac.uk/internationalstudents/advisers 10

4. I f you get through the initial application stage, the team will contact you to find out more about you and tell you about the position 5. A fter further shortlisting, the team will contact you about next steps

“I believe the combination of education with work experience gives students the ability to tackle problems more effectively and have the edge in the eye of employers. On my assignment I came up with several ideas to help the company save time and money.” Ali Jourabchi MSc Mechanical Engineering Unitemps roles: 3D test printing operator

“I would encourage students to sign up for temporary jobs with Unitemps not just to support their finances, but it’s also an opportunity to meet and interact with new people and gain experience.” Julius Dongdem PhD Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unitemps roles: exam invigilator and open day ambassador

“I've always loved writing and I want to pursue a career as a screenwriter. I applied, and was successful, in getting a job as a copywriting assistant. It appealed to me because I could gain valuable experience, work from home alongside my studies and get paid to do what I love!” Eleanor O’Brien

BA Film and Television Studies

Unitemps roles: copywriting assistant, student helper and student ambassador

You can use your experience through Unitemps to complete the part-time jobs module on the Advantage Award. See page 20.

10 Getting started

ways

to get work experience while studying

The graduate dilemma: You need experience to get a job, but you need a job to get experience. Fantastic. Here at Nottingham you’re in a great position – there are so many ways to build your CV and stand out from the crowd. What can you do?

Every sector is different

Work experience comes in all shapes and sizes, from a 10-week summer internship to a four-week project solving a problem for a local business. Each one will give you something different: insights into jobs that appeal, the chance to develop your passion and explore what companies have to offer. One thing is certain, you’ll have a CV to be proud of and plenty to talk about at interviews.

Some sectors, such as accountancy and finance, law or business may have structured internships and placements, and will be advertised on a company’s website, or student and graduate job boards. While these might be easier to find, and be in greater number, you may find there is a lot of competition.

Read our student stories on page 14 12

To get work experience with charities and community organisations, or in marketing and PR roles, you might have to be a little more proactive. Approaching organisations yourself or sending speculative applications are good ways to make your interest known. The same is often true with smaller companies, who aren’t actively looking for someone, but might offer you an opportunity if you can impress them.

How to find internships and placements ■■ Look for vacancies on MyCareer, our online job board ■■ Speak to employers about their opportunities at our recruitment fairs and employer presentations ■■ Search top student and graduate job boards listed on our website ■■ Identify companies that interest you and check the jobs sections of their websites ■■ Send your CV and covering letter to companies to ask about a work placement or work shadowing ■■ Ask your contacts – including family and friends – about opportunities

Gain a position with the Students’ Union

Summer internships or year-long placement

Apply for the Nottingham Consultancy Challenge

With around 200 societies and 70 sports clubs, there are plenty of positions to fill

Investigate structured opportunities with small and large companies

A four-week group project helping a local company solve a real business problem

Undertake an internship abroad Get ready for the globalised workplace with an international placement

Undertake an internship abroad

Apply for Postgraduate Placements Nottingham

Get ready for the globalised workplace with an international placement

Get a paid, flexible-hours placement with employers, from local businesses to multinationals

Organise an optional Placement Year

Talk to the Volunteering Team at the Students’ Union

Explore a career of interest to you, build professional skills and ease the transition into working life

Discover how to get involved depending on how much time you can offer

Ask about work shadowing Get a flavour of someone’s responsibilities and job activities by spending a few days with them

Get a part-time job with Unitemps Take on paid work on campus or in the area to fit around your studies

Your next steps Explore these opportunities and more on our work experience pages.

Apply to the Nottingham Internship Scheme Apply for summer and spring internships with local small to medium-sized companies

nottingham.ac.uk/careers/workexperience

"I chose to take a year-long placement as opposed to a summer internship because you are given much more responsibility. I’m currently managing a team of 50 aircraft engineers and I’ll also leave with an industry recognised qualification in process improvement. This will be a great selling point when it comes to finding a graduate job. The highlight of my placement so far has been involvement in the implementation of a repair to CFM56 aircraft engines. This contributes to large cost savings for General Electric Aviation, and to our customers. Flying on aircraft that use these engines knowing that I’ve contributed to their performance is extremely satisfying." Dominic Rose BSc Industrial Economics with Placement Year Commercial Operations Intern at General Electric Aviation

"I chose to take a placement year because I wanted to find out how ready I am for the real world and explore my likes and dislikes. I felt that a placement year would help me make a more informed career choice after graduation. I work for Pfizer Innovative Health within Regulatory Strategy and my department is responsible for licensing drugs as well as licence maintenance. My first big project was a submission to the European Medicines Agency, where I got the opportunity to host a global teleconference to explain my strategy and answer questions from some very experienced colleagues." Cecilia Silva MSci Biochemistry and Genetics with Placement Year Regulatory Intern at Pfizer

Careers and Employability Service

Nottingham Internship Scheme Amplify your potential Gain hands-on experience working for local and national businesses Find out more nottingham.ac.uk/careers/uoninternships

Getting started

Stand out from the crowd with

international experiences

Do you aspire to be a global graduate? Do you want to enhance your employability while travelling the world? Do you dream of having an international career? If yes, then studying or working abroad during your degree can help you on your way. Studying or working abroad can make you more employable and give you a competitive advantage when entering the globalised workplace. You will develop increased confidence as you settle into a new culture and make friends, while facing the challenges of studying within a new academic setting and potentially in another language. Read on for six ways that past students have boosted their employability while abroad.

Communicate across cultures "I chose to study in Australia because I wanted to experience its unique culture and see all of the country’s natural wonders. Being alone in a country so far away from home meant that I had to go out of my comfort zone to meet people.  Studying abroad allowed me to develop the ability to interact with a diverse group of people which is a skill that I will always be able to use in future education and careers. The people I have met and the beautiful places I have visited made this experience the best year of my life." Jenika Patel  MSci Natural Sciences  University of Western Australia

"The people I have met and the beautiful places I have visited made this experience the best year of my life."

Connect and collaborate “The first semester of my second year was spent studying at McGill University; discovering all the wonders Canada has to offer. I have now completed a research placement over the last year in Brisbane, Australia.   My time abroad helped me discover, collaborate and work with people from all over the world and learn about their culture. It has also provided me with experiences that have helped shape my future life and career plans. I am a more creative, adaptable and confident person as a result.”

Ann-Elin Myhre  MSci Neuroscience  McGill University   University of Queensland

Showcase your resilience “I enrolled in the UZH International Summer School programme, in Switzerland, because I wanted to study something completely left-field from my degree. The summer school allowed me to explore subjects such as sociology, history and economics – normally beyond my reach due to my life sciences background. Studying abroad has demonstrated to employers that I am willing and able to cope with change as well as giving me the opportunity to discover new interests.   I immersed myself in the Swiss way of life: including the many languages and gastronomy. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to share these exciting moments with students from across the globe.”

Cecilia Silva  MSci Biochemistry and Genetics University of Zurich

Discover your inner-confidence “I chose to study at the University of Hong Kong and was faced with a complete sense of the unknown. The culture was a shock, the language barrier quite apparent and the academics incredibly challenging. Previously, I may have shied away from such challenges but when you’re abroad it requires you to find inner-confidence.   I fully immersed myself; joining both the Dragon Boat University team and the local expat rugby team. I learnt that although you may live in entirely different cultures you can work together and accomplish your goals as a team. Utilising all the opportunities of being abroad comes down to managing your time well. I learnt to use the students as my inspiration, changing my previous work methods and incorporating some of theirs. This time efficiency enabled me to use Hong Kong’s central locality to see the world.”

Benjamin Dack MSci Chemistry University of Hong Kong

The Nottingham Advantage Award runs two modules for Study Abroad participants to help you reflect on your time away. Unsure how to sell your new skills on your CV? This is a must.

Step outside your comfort zone “I chose to study at HKU in Hong Kong to challenge myself and experience life outside the western world.

Maximise your opportunities “Due to my love of travel I always knew I wanted to study abroad and so applied for a degree with a mandatory year abroad. While overseas all of my travel took place during the academic year, developing my time management skills considerably. I had to plan around weekends, national holidays, vacation periods and lectures to efficiently optimise my time and visit the maximum number of countries. These skills have proved essential for my third year as I have managed to balance two jobs, society commitments, volunteering and my studies. This may not have been possible without the experience of juggling my obligations and passions during my year abroad.  My decision to study abroad was without a doubt one of the best decisions I have ever made, and I am confident the skills, experiences and friendships I obtained in Malaysia will last a lifetime.”

Emily Doyle

BSc International Management University of Nottingham, Malaysia Campus

The idea of studying abroad wasn’t something I had previously thought of, but I quickly saw it as an opportunity to broaden my horizons and grow as a person. I think being out of your comfort zone is an excellent way to build independence, social skills and is just an all-round character building experience. The study abroad programme requires a lot of planning before embarking on your journey. The experience is all about doing new things and learning along the way.”

Matthew Healey  BSc Zoology   University of Hong Kong

Your next steps Find out more about Study Abroad: nottingham.ac.uk/studyabroad 19

Getting started

A distinct

Advantage Gaining the skills employers want has been made simple with the Nottingham Advantage Award. The scheme fits around your course, can connect you with employers, and is a great opportunity to meet new friends.

The Award recognises and rewards your extracurricular activities, and with more than 130 modules to choose from, you are sure to find something that suits your interests. To name just a few opportunities, you could develop leadership skills, learn a language, practise mentoring or volunteer in the local community. It’s also accredited by the University, which means your achievements will be printed on your transcript when you graduate. To achieve the full Award, you need to complete 30 credits, and to ensure your studies come first, you can take only a maximum of 20 credits a year. This means the earlier you register, the better.

#get30

Your next steps View the full range of modules online and find out how to apply: nottingham.ac.uk/ careers/advantage 20

“

The Award has allowed me to explore different career paths, helped me narrow down my options and focus in on my goals, to find the career path I want to follow in the future.

If you're already taking part in extracurricular activities, it could count towards your Award. Talk to one of our team about how.

“

Your Advantage, your choice

Why should you #gettheAdvantage? Social icon

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Matt Bird

@MattAB20

#gettheAdvantage @AdvantageAward The NAA is a great way to gain employability skills that your course might not otherwise teach Social icon

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Sophie Jacobson @SophieJacobso18

I chose to #gettheAdvantage through the UoN @AdvantageAward to help me learn how to connect with employers Social icon

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Laura Jones @imlaurajones

The @AdvantageAward has helped me improve my interview skills and job applications, securing me my dream grad job! #gettheAdvantage Social icon

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Adam Street @Mrfraggle1

My @AdvantageAward has enabled me to gain confidence, leadership and communication skills â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you can #gettheadvantage itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s #amazing!

Gaining experience of industry I got involved in the Nottingham Advantage Award as I wanted to improve key employability skills that would complement the skills gained throughout my studies. Taking a module linked to industry was very important to me as I had less experience in this area. I wanted to gain more commercial awareness as well as a flavour for what a career in the industry would entail. This is why I chose the Capital One: Business Decision Making module. Presenting is a key skill that I have improved throughout the Award in particular. In this module, I had to do a presentation in front of Capital One leaders as part of the assessments.

Using different approaches The Nottingham Advantage Award modules also gave me opportunities to work with groups of people that had a range of differing skills and experiences to me. I found it really interesting to see how different people approach challenges in a

variety of ways. We would often find that the best approach would be a combination of ideas.

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@Martinadc_95

#gettheAdvantage @AdvantageAward gave me the skills to secure internships with global firms PaperMate and Rolls-Royce. Invest in yourself!

Reflecting on my experience The modules have also helped me reflect better on my experiences, particularly the Part-Time Jobs, Vacation Jobs and Volunteering module. I had the opportunity to analyse my part-time work which helped highlight areas of selfimprovement, and identified my skills and experiences.

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Katie Severn BSc Mathematics

Lee Hong Teo @leehongteo

@AdvantageAward makes me more competitive in getting a job globally. Come, meet more people! #globalmind #globalgraduate #gettheAdvantage

Looking ahead In every module I gravitated to parts involving data analysis; I found the data analysis mentioned in The Politics of Economics and the Economics of Politicians module very interesting. This reaffirmed that I want to stay within a career involving statistics.

Martina di Costanzo

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Adnaan Shakur @Ladbaab69

@AdvantageAward Not only did I travel to Malaysia summer school, I made my best friend through this Award #gettheAdvantage 21

Getting started

Kick-start your career with sport People often talk about their career as a marathon rather than a sprint; and participating in sport along the way might help to give you a boost. Sport, like many other extracurricular activities, can give you an opportunity to gain career-relevant skills and experience, help you to make contacts and grow your network while maintaining a sense of wellbeing and positive focus. A few quick wins and exercises Need to get off the starting blocks with your career thinking? ■■ Approach a Nottingham alum who played for your team to gain insight into an area of work that you're interested in. Find alumni using Career Mentoring and LinkedIn (see pages 26-27) ■■ Worried you’ll face a curveball question at interview? Use a sporting example to illustrate your strengths ■■ Starting to feel like you’ve dived in at the deep end at a networking event? Use your passion for sport as an easy conversation starter

But don't just take our word for it, read these case studies to get the inside track on the benefits of sport-related activities from a student, an alum, an employer and a careers professional perspective.

Enjoy developing new skills “Being involved in the Leadership Academy has been an exciting and unexpected part of my overall university experience. I’ve had opportunities to grow skills for personal development while also volunteering for a cause that I am passionate about. I’ve gained a range of alternative skills such as presenting to a variety of audiences, logistical management and creative thinking. Alongside this, involvement with the Leadership Academy has presented the opportunity to make important links with industry partners at alumni events. Overall it has been a fun addition to my time at university.”

Emily Richardson BSc Geography

Getting involved in sport, via the Leadership Academy, joining a club or enjoying casual competition with friends can help you when it comes to thinking about your future.

An employer’s point of view

Test your time management “As a primary school teacher, the skills I developed I now use every day. I often interact with pupils, parents, staff and other teachers, local authority figures and agencies. Working with this diverse group of individuals means you must be able to adapt; change your body language, the way you speak and what you are delivering; skills I learnt through the Leadership Academy. Conducting this work alongside an undergraduate degree is a test of resilience and time management. Flexibility, being able to alter your mindset, and prioritise workloads are all valuable skills in any line of work.”

Matthew Wildman

BA Classical Civilisation

“Getting involved in extracurricular sports activities while at university is really valuable. As an employer and a recruiter, it shows that you’re doing something extra outside the curriculum which gives you added value in your leadership and teamwork skills. Students can showcase the skills they learn through sports in a few ways during the recruitment process. Firstly, on your CV or application form you’ll have sections for your hobbies and extracurricular activities, it’s a good idea to list them there. At interview you might be asked behavioural or traditional questions, using a sporting example shows a competitive edge and outside the box thinking showcasing the skills learnt through sport.”

Rebecca Wheeldon

Talent Acquisition Specialist Enterprise Rent-A-Car

As a careers adviser I encourage students to reflect on their sporting experiences. By asking searching questions you can discover valuable lessons which may influence your future career.

■■ What did you find energising?

Perhaps you really enjoyed the sense of camaraderie and team focus. Would working in a similar environment prove rewarding?

■■ What was less stimulating? Maybe

you found the level of detailed planning required when organising fixtures and team events a drag. Perhaps a job that required a similar approach might feel draining.

■■ Did you develop any particular

skills? Possibly as a member of the committee you gained confidence in uniting people. A role that demands these skills may be the perfect choice.

While you muse on your everyday experience and discover your career clues you might find it helpful to record these thoughts. Eventually, you might be able to use this approach to evaluate jobs, sectors, and employers to find your perfect role. So, the ball is in your court, how will you use sport to slam dunk your first graduate job and build a winning career?!

Hannah Woolley

Employability Education Manager

Getting started

Start your future with the SU

Your Students’ Union (SU) is here throughout your degree and beyond, with opportunities to discover your passion, excel at it, and make your CV outstanding. Whether you’re part of the 200+ societies, 70+ sports clubs and annual Varsity event, or trying your hand at volunteering with one of the many local and national opportunities on offer, your SU has something for you.

Getting involved in your SU can help you: ■■ work as part of a team ■■ develop your leadership skills ■■ organise events of all shapes and sizes ■■ manage budgets and test your financial skills ■■ make a positive impact on people and their communities ■■ discover your hidden talents

Your next steps Find out more about the SU:

su.nottingham.ac.uk UofNSU @UoNSU Looking for a society? Try the Activity Matchmaker: uonsu-activities.co.uk 24

Officer

Societies “Engaging with the SU has given me many skills, from public speaking to project management. But above all it’s given me so much confidence in myself and has enabled me to achieve things and run large projects that I would never have thought possible. It’s also helped me to become much better at organising my time, as well as giving me the opportunity to work with a wide and diverse range of people. I hope to become a clinical scientist in the NHS, and I'll use these skills on a day-to-day basis.” Rosy Crawford, alumna First aid society president

“I really enjoyed being Vice-President for the netball club in my final year, I loved being able to change something for the better and to implement my ideas and see them having an effect on our members. The role of Sports Officer seemed like a massive opportunity to do the same again, but on a much bigger scale. I’ve gained more experience than I could ever have hoped for. I’ve contributed to and even chaired meetings with senior university staff, I’ve made speeches at national events, I’ve seen one of the biggest Varsity Series in the country through from initial scoping meetings and event delivery to feedback, review and recommendations for next year. I have become better at thinking creatively but also remaining realistic and ensuring my approach leads to tangible outcomes. As I have become more analytical and critical in my approach, I have also developed my skills to work collaboratively with others to achieve things as a collective.”

Student staff “I work as a student administration assistant as part of the Societies and Sports team. The people are so lovely and always understanding of my schedule as a student. It’s always great to come in to smiling faces and to people who answer my many questions on a daily basis. I’ve improved my multi-tasking skills as there are always so many things happening and I’ve been lucky to get involved in a few different projects. These projects have also developed my communication skills as I’ve worked with people from several departments.” Yashoda Gopu Student administration assistant

Emma Hodge Sports Officer 25

Getting involved

Connect to

a world of expertise Career Mentoring offers you the opportunity to be mentored by a member of our alumni community for six months. Mentors can share their experiences of life after university, provide professional and personal insights, as well as practical employability advice. Our career mentors can help you feel confident and prepared to embark on graduate life.

Inspiration and encouragement to help you reach your full potential

Mentor

Insight into what life is like in different roles and sectors

Practical support with job hunting and applications 26

Mentee

Joanna, mentee

Aditya, mentee

“After being put in contact with my mentor, we started calling every month through WhatsApp. We chatted through questions I had about the industry before going on to discuss my mentor’s job as a translation manager. I didn’t know much about the role beforehand and so not only was this interesting, but it helped me to consider other job opportunities.

“My relationship with my mentor was fairly informal, allowing me to ask even the silliest of questions. We mainly communicated through video calls on Google Hangout and this worked out well, for example when sharing my CV. My mentor shared his screen during the video call, allowing me to see what part of my CV he was discussing.

The advice given to me was genuine, sector specific and practical – from how I should prepare for an assessment centre, to how I could present myself on the day.

It was helpful speaking to someone who has experience of writing translation-based CVs, and using LinkedIn professionally, as I could see how best to use it.

My mentor motivated me to work strategically and consistently, resulting in a job offer with a large accountancy firm.”

Career Mentoring has enabled me to feel more confident applying for jobs as I have a better understanding of the industry and how best to present myself as a candidate.”

Aditya Saxena BSc Economics

Joanna Tyler MA Translation Studies with Interpreting

Izzy, mentee “My mentor helped me to identify what my goals are and how to work towards them. It was useful to hear about her career and how she achieved it, in order to broaden my knowledge of the sports sector and what jobs are out there. My mentor works at London Marathon Events and assisted me in securing volunteering at the London Marathon 2019. We got on really well which made the mentoring process a lot more successful, and our relationship wasn’t too formal but still career-orientated. I enjoyed Career Mentoring so much and I would recommend it to anyone.” Izzy Wellings MSci Natural Science

Your next steps Find out more about the benefits and how to apply: nottingham.ac.uk/ careers/mentoring 27

Getting involved

Taking your studies to the next level Whether you are passionate about your subject and want to delve deeper or have a career in mind where a higher level qualification is desired or required, you’ll need the lowdown on postgraduate study.

Your career ambitions

Potential financial rewards

For some career areas, further study is a minimum requirement for entry into a profession, such as teaching and law. A PhD is now essential if you want to pursue an academic career.

Postgraduate study can be an investment in your future. For example:

In other career areas, such as journalism, and marketing, a masters – although not essential – can be advantageous. The same is true if you’re looking to become a patent attorney: a PhD is not a requirement but it is desirable.

Developing your expertise You may be motivated to continue your studies because you have a passion for your subject or want to specialise in a particular area. Depending on your longer-term career direction, a higher level qualification may be attractive to a future employer – for example, within the scientific or engineering fields. A postgraduate diploma in brewing will lead to opportunities within the food and drink industry and a life science PhD will be attractive to employers in the pharmaceutical sector.

■■

the median salary of Nottingham students graduating with a PhD is £32,915

■■

the median average salary for PhD graduates is 38% higher than for firstdegree graduates

■■

the median salary among those graduating from taught masters courses is £24,289

* Known destinations of all full-time UK and EU leavers in full-time employment in 2016/17

Your next steps Check out our website for information about applying for a masters or PhD and funding options: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/ furtherstudy

“The Careers team has been invaluable to me when putting together job applications.

Fact file PhD

I chose to do a PhD because I enjoy doing research; I didn’t realise I'd develop other skills along the way.

Finding a PhD

Doing a PhD has helped me become a better public speaker, be more creative in my thinking and, most of all, be more confident about my research.

■■ Opportunities are advertised as Doctoral Training Programmes (DTP or DTC)

The University offers lots of opportunities to develop your skills outside of research. These opportunities can be really enjoyable and help you develop your CV. Demonstrating on undergraduate courses is a lot of fun; not only does it look good on your CV, but it also earns you some extra money.

Rowland Seymour PhD Mathematics

“On my masters I had the incredible opportunity to learn about different public health topics first-hand from some of the top people in the field. The weekly seminars delivered by professionals of different backgrounds on subjects including nutrition, suicide prevention and charity work overseas allowed me to make invaluable contacts and become further aware of the career paths on offe r. I also valued the frequent in-class debate and discussions. Hearing other students ’ opinions and experiences and being able to shar e my own created a much richer education and brou ght us all closer together as a cohort.” Julia Cox MPH Public Health (Global Health)

■■ Use websites such as FindAPhD.com

■■ Search university job websites Applying for a PhD ■■ There is no central admissions system ■■ Before making an application, discuss opportunities with a supervisor with experience in the area that interests you ■■ Complete an application form including an outline of your research proposal. If successful at this stage,

you're likely to be called for an interview. Any offer will be subject to securing funding Funding a PhD ■■ The main UK source is the Government through research councils, charities and industry ■■ There may be specific awards for international students offered by higher education institutions ■■ Departmental funding may be available ■■ Apply for £25,000 Postgraduate Doctoral Loans ■■ Charities: use the Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding on our website

Fact Postgraduate file taught courses Finding a course

Funding a course

■■ Use websites such as FindAMasters.com

■■ Up to £10,906 postgraduate masters loan available

■■ Browse university online prospectuses

■■ Professional training bursaries

Applying for a course ■■ For most courses, there are no central admissions. Apply directly to individual universities. For popular courses, apply before December but for other courses, applications close when the places are filled

■■ Employer-funded scholarships and grants from universities or charities ■■ Professional and Career Development Loans ■■ Charities – use the Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding on our website

■■ Courses with central admissions systems include graduate entry into medicine, law and teaching. There will be a specific deadline for applications 29

Getting involved

What exactly is a

graduate job? “The best advice I received and can give you is to network. It can sound dreary and a bit like a broken record, but it’s so important in today’s age. And with social media it’s so easy. I found the marketing assistant vacancy at Penguin Random House through networking with people at the company and signing up for the latest jobs from their website. The recruitment process was actually quite straightforward, I had two interviews, one more formal than the other. I currently assist my team on a vast array of book campaigns, ranging from fiction to non-fiction books, literary to commercial, re-issues, debut authors and brand authors. Creating social assets is a big part of the role and these will end up all over the Penguin channels and imprint social channels, as well as mocking up artwork such as posters, bookmarks and proof jackets which are sent out to booksellers across the country.” Lydia Weigel BA American Studies and English

You hear it a lot. But what does the phrase a ‘graduate job’ actually mean? A graduate job can be defined in several ways but here are just two: it can be a job for which a degree is the minimum entry requirement or a job that a graduate does.

Fact Graduate file training schemes What are they? ■■ A structured period of training lasting between one and three years ■■ There are general management schemes where you move around the business and then specialise ■■ There are functional schemes where you specialise from day one, for example HR, IT and supply-chain management

Who offers them? ■■ Companies across a range of sectors including the public sector, accountancy, engineering, IT and telecommunications, retail and pharmaceuticals

When and how to apply? ■■ Half of the UK's leading employers now recruit graduates all year round

■■ For employers with a single deadline, most are either November, December or January ■■ The recruitment process is likely to include an application form, psychometric tests, interviews and an assessment centre

Where to find vacancies? ■■ Attend our recruitment fairs and talk to recruiters directly: nottingham.ac.uk/ careers/events ■■ MyCareer, our vacancy job board: mycareer.nottingham.ac.uk ■■ Graduate directories such as The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers (available free from our offices) ■■ Use the vacancy sources listed under the direct entry route

Fact The direct file entry route What is direct entry? ■■ Often single vacancies with immediate start dates

Who offers them? ■■ Companies of any size and sector ■■ Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) recruit significant numbers of graduates. These firms make up 99% of all UK private-sector businesses ■■ In some sectors SMEs dominate and so direct entry is the route in. For example, within public relations, digital marketing and the environmental sector

When and how to apply? ■■ Apply after the spring vacation so you could start after your exams ■■ The recruitment process is likely to

involve a CV or application form and an interview

Where to find vacancies? ■■ Industry body's job boards, for example, Institute of Practitioners in Advertising: ipa.co.uk ■■ National and specialist press such as the New Scientist: jobs.newscientist.com ■■ National job sites, for example, Indeed: indeed.co.uk ■■ Recruitment agencies such as Gradcracker: gradcracker.com ■■ LinkedIn, the professional network: linkedin.com ■■ Book an appointment with a careers adviser to explore specialist vacancy sources: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/ appointments

“As a final year student everybody starts to ask what you are doing after university. I finished my degree and had been rejected for every job I had applied for. However, there are many different routes into graduate roles.  In the final year of my degree, I applied to the HMRC Tax Specialist Programme (TSP) because the scheme offered technical and managerial opportunities on a structured development programme (and the starting salary wasn’t bad either!).   I started the application process and was faced with a series of online tests. I passed the tests, however I didn’t meet the required standard to be invited to the video interview and my application ended there.   A few weeks later, I received an email explaining I scored highly in the online tests which had made me eligible to be offered an ‘officer’ position within HMRC. I accepted the position and started in September 2015 and found myself working in the fraud department. After three years investigating fraud, I decided to re-apply to the TSP. This time around I was successful and I started in September 2018.” Lewis Mills BSc Biology

For more information, visit our website at nottingham.ac.uk/ careers/graduatejobs 31

Getting involved

Six inspiring ways ... to spend time out

Taking time out can offer great personal and professional opportunities. You might take anything from a couple of months to over a year – how long isn’t important, it’s how you spend it.

The developer An internship could be the career stepping stone you’ve been looking for. Competitive industries like the media often view these short gigs as a rite of passage. Equally, if you keep hearing “great application, but not enough experience,” figure out what experience employers want. Whether it’s developing soft skills or learning something technical, this is a great way to focus your time. Try thinking differently. You could cultivate project management ability by planning a trip to Everest Base Camp or develop coding ability with a free Codeacademy course. 32

Decide what you want to accomplish. If you’ve just read Eat, Pray, Love and decided that you too need to ‘find yourself,’ this isn’t the article for you. These are practical ideas to help you make time away work for you, and for your career. You could shape up your skills, try on different professional hats, make the world a better place – and if you plan your time well, you might leap right into your future career.

The linguist

The adventurer

What better way to learn a language than to immerse yourself among native speakers? Travel is one of the most common reasons to take time out – for lots of obvious reasons – just don’t treat it as an extended holiday. Plan your time carefully. If you want to learn a language, why not teach yours while you’re out there too? Teaching English as a Foreign Language is a great way to get to know the locals, contribute to the community, and earn money.

If you’ve been bitten by the travel bug, backpacking is an exhilarating way to explore the world. You’ll get to put your planning and budgeting skills to work. Consider where you want to go and what you want to learn – think less aimless roamer, more intrepid explorer. Take time to immerse yourself in the local lifestyle and consider picking up some part-time work along the way. If a round-the-world trip isn’t the ticket for you, consider a seasonal job – summer and winter resorts are a way to get experience in a more structured environment.

The pick-and-mixer If your response to each suggestion has been yes, yes, and yes, the good news is that you don’t have to just pick one. In fact, by taking a pick and mix approach, you might get more out of your time out than by restricting yourself to just one thing. Think beyond what you want to do. What do you want to achieve? By setting some objectives it could help you decide which ideas to progress with, and in what combination.

The taster If you’re not sure what you want to do, work experience is a great way to investigate some options. Dip your toe in the office water cooler and find out if it quenches your thirst. If it doesn’t, at least you’ve ruled something out. Set up a series of short-term internships, try out different sectors, and decide what interests you.

Plan made and ready to go? Keep a time-out travelogue – record your experiences, the skills you’ve developed, and the lessons you’ve learned. This will help you reflect later, ensuring you can talk about it effectively with employers when the time comes.

The impact-maker Volunteering is a great way to give back and gain skills. There are lots of organisations that need your support and commitment, so take some time to think about what cause is close to your heart. Volunteering can be as challenging as it is rewarding, so think about what motivates you. Maybe you want to support your local community? Are you hoping to work in the charity sector? Has a news appeal for help piqued your interest?

Your next steps Find out more about taking time out and how to talk to employers about it: nottingham.ac.uk/ careers/yearout

Getting involved

Got a bright idea? Make it happen with The Ingenuity Lab

The Ingenuity Lab is an environment where young innovators from across the University of Nottingham can develop innovation solutions to problems worth solving. The Lab currently supports an extremely diverse and international community of more than 200 active businesses. The Lab offers a range of services to help you develop your idea. From monthly surgeries and mentoring to group seminars, workspace, and paid internships, the opportunities available provide you with the resources, inspiration and insight to progress your ideas further.

Membership

The Ingenuity Lab offers three types of membership:

1. Venture Membership is for students, staff and alumni who are interested in starting a business or already have business ideas.

2. Academic Membership is for those students enrolled on Hayden Green Institute postgraduate courses, who are not aiming to set up ventures but wish to apply knowledge to their employability skills or family businesses.

3. Witty Scholar Membership is

for undergraduate students in receipt of the Andrew Witty Entrepreneurial Scholarship, which offers financial support and mentoring to develop entrepreneurial skills for students from low income backgrounds.

Join the Ingenuity Lab We want Venture Members to join our growing network of Nottingham students, researchers and graduates with ideas for amazing businesses. Membership is free and gives you access to workspace, mentoring, workshops and opportunities that can help make entrepreneurship a viable career choice.

The businesses shaking things up… The Ingenuity Lab hosts a range of businesses and entrepreneurs, all seeking to make an impact in the world we live in and transform our future. Why not join them and see where your own entrepreneurial venture could take you? Will Rakotomalala Meralt MSc Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Management, 2017 Meralt is a Trade Initiative promoting the inclusive development of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) in Madagascar and connecting the local industry to the international market. Having grown up in Madagascar, Will is all too aware of the exploitative nature of the traditional mining industry. Through support at The Ingenuity Lab, Will is on track to promoting the inclusive development of small artisan communities, empowering local people and planning environmental rehabilitation programmes.

Michele Raicher Reichert Equinov MSc Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Management, 2018 Equinov’s goal is to bring modern solutions to the equine sector with technological products, combining practicality and efficiency while improving the safety and wellbeing for both horse and rider. Michele’s idea came about after her horse cut two thirds of his tendon after being affected by insects. There were no practical, efficient or long-term solutions to the issues insects cause horses, and their riders, so she decided to join the Ingenuity Lab and create her own.

Tabitha has been an Ingenuity Lab member since she completed her studies and has been involved in a range of opportunities to develop Sustainable Water further. These include attending the roundtables and surgeries on offer, joining the Women in Ingenuity network, and participating in Ingenuity19 where she won £18,500 of business funding! “I believe that we can end the water crisis in our lifetime if we do it sustainably. This is my why. The overarching goal is that more people get access to water. Being part of the Ingenuity Lab community has helped me to validate my idea. Besides networking with other members, collaborations have been born with other Ingenuity Lab members and they have become a sounding board for all the new ideas I have. What’s more, taking part in Ingenuity19 has increased our brand awareness and visibility. This has resulted in potential partnership propositions and opportunities that we did not have going in. In one minute, six people in the world have the same idea. One of them or none of them implement these ideas. If you have a business idea that you need validated, then this is the process to do so. Take the leap!” Tabitha Wacera Sustainable Water MSc Sustainable Energy and Engineering

Your next steps Get more information about the Ingenuity Lab and membership: nottingham.ac.uk/ingenuity-lab 35

Getting involved

Six reasons to connect with employers to

boost your career If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve started to consider what you will do after your studies, talking to employers and alumni can really help to crystallise your thoughts. Throughout your time at Nottingham, you will have the chance to meet a wide range of professionals through our events and activities.

Discover job vacancies Chat to recruiters about graduate and internship vacancies at our careers fairs and employer presentations. More than 300 employers visit our campuses at least once a year. nottingham.ac.uk/careers/recruitmentfairs

“I entered my first year of university much like everyone else, having no idea what I wanted to do when I eventually graduated. Over the course of the next two years I attended many of the University’s careers events, lunchtime talks and Spotlight On events. I started to gain an understanding of the opportunities available for my degree and could start to narrow down the industries I may be interested in, as well as gaining knowledge of different companies. In my second year, I successfully applied for a year-long internship at Abaco Systems, a defence and aerospace company - one of the industries that interested me. After a couple of months, I realised that although I enjoyed my work, it wasn’t what I wanted to do after university. When I returned for my third year, I used that knowledge to find and apply for more specific job roles and I secured a summer placement with Thales. I returned to university for my final year knowing I would like to return to Thales. I kept in contact with several colleagues and continued to ask them for advice and discussions about my future. This led to me being offered a direct entrant role with Thales, in the department and location I loved. I’ve now finished my degree knowing that all the hard work and effort I put into networking has paid off.” Louise Wheeler MEng Mechanical Engineering with an Industrial Year

Hear insights into jobs and sectors If you want to discover the realities of jobs and sectors that interest you, book a place on our Spotlight On events. We invite professionals from a wide range of careers onto campus to talk to you about their role and career journey. nottingham.ac.uk/careers/spotlighton

Get answers to your questions If you want to find out about a particular role, who better to ask than someone already doing it? Our Career Mentoring scheme allows you to do just that, by introducing you to a member of our alumni community who can share their insight. nottingham.ac.uk/careers/mentoring

Experience real-work situations There's nothing like getting an insight into the world of work and you can do this with the Nottingham Advantage Award. For example, Boots has been involved in the PR, branding and marketing module on which students pitch their ideas for new products to Boots’ buying team. nottingham.ac.uk/careers/advantageaward

Demonstrate the skills employers ask for Consider the scenario: in an interview, you're asked about a time when you have demonstrated project management, team working, and problem-solving skills. If you've taken part in the Nottingham Consultancy Challenge, you'll be able to answer with confidence. nottingham.ac.uk/careers/challenge

Gain experience in a variety of positions Is your CV looking a little bare in the work experience section? Registering with Unitemps, our recruitment service, could help you fill the gap. Unitemps offers part-time work opportunities in local businesses – big and small – as well as on campus. unitemps.com 37

Getting involved

Where

in the world

will your degree take you?

Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a UK student considering a career abroad, or an international student returning home or seeking a role in a different country, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll help you turn your jet-setting ideas into a reality.

Your next steps Passport Career and other resources can be found on our continent-specific webpages along with links to job sites, agencies and company listings. nottingham.ac.uk/careers/ workingabroad

Use your network

Take on the unknown

Gain some experience

Taking advantage of the network of friends and colleagues you make through university may hold the key to unlocking your overseas work opportunities. This personal approach to job hunting could help you beat the odds.

Sometimes a great career opportunity may require you to relocate to a new city or country. See this as an opportunity to push yourself.

So, you’d like to work in another country? It might be a wise idea to seek out opportunities for temporary work or travel to gain experience. Some knowledge of the area and job market will go a long way when you begin making applications to work in your chosen country.

“Ever since I could remember, I wanted to live and work in another country to gain as much experience of other people and places as I could. Being a research scientist makes this a very accessible option. My current position of research coordinator involves a lot of lab research but I also manage my own projects, lab equipment and have a role in some of the higher decision-making. My time at the University of Nottingham opened this career path for me. For students thinking of applying for jobs abroad, having a good network of contacts is invaluable. My advice would be to start early and make sure you do plenty of research. Applying for work permits and visas can sometimes be a slow process, so give yourself plenty of time to get the paperwork in order.”

“I currently work at a technology hedge fund, investing predominantly in blockchain/crypto assets, such as Bitcoin; one of the co-founders is Spanish; therefore, we have an office in Madrid, which is where I'm based. My best piece of advice would be to get involved in extracurricular opportunities. Whatever hobbies you decide to pursue, whether it be sports-related or otherwise, ideally aim for a leadership position, to show employers that you have many strings to your bow. I would encourage you to embrace the opportunity to get to know a new city or country; it'll be daunting at first, but you'll be better for it in the long run, having pushed yourself to take on the unknown.” Colin Go Investor Relations and Marketing Madrid, Spain BSc Physical Geography

Danielle Blackwell Research Coordinator Calgary, Canada BSc Animal Science

“I’ve always had the feeling of ‘wanderlust’, the need to explore new places, learn about different cultures and meet people from all over the world. I am currently corporate human resources (HR) assistant for Europe which means I support the HR teams in all the managed Hilton properties on the continent. To combine my passion for hospitality, languages and the soft skills I learnt at University made perfect sense. If you want to work in a global company and have opportunities to travel, then you need to be mobile and flexible. It is nice to go home in the summer but why not find a hostel in a small village in France and go there, improve your languages and make some new friends.” Jessica Piercy Corporate HR Assistant Frankfurt, Germany BA German with Dutch

How Passport Career can help We’ve subscribed to Passport Career, an online global job-seeking resource, so that you can access it for free. It can help with everything from exploring your options, researching employers, and finding opportunities, to relocating and navigating a new culture.

■■

Monthly webinars on a range of international job-seeking topics

■■

Over one million vacancies in 200 countries, updated daily

■■

80 country profiles including advice on where to find vacancies,

top employers, shortage skills, recruitment practices and business etiquette ■■

Relocation advice to ease your transition to a different country, from visa information to cultural norms

Getting the job

Get employers to take notice of your CV How long do you get to make a first impression? About 30 seconds. In a competitive job market a CV is your prime marketing tool, but busy employers may only scan it for a few seconds before deciding if they want to hear more from you – or not. Every time you apply for a job, it’s important to return to your CV. One size does not fit all. So, as your experience expands, think about what should make the cut.

Master your copy Keeping your CV up-to-date is a task ‘future-you’ will thank you for. Whether it’s a short assignment through Unitemps or a summer internship, write up your achievements while they are fresh. Use this document as your master copy CV, which you can expand on or retract from depending on what you are applying for.

Make an impact Consider how you might approach an essay or assignment. If you are purely descriptive, you are not going to bag the big marks, and the same goes for your CV. Avoid listing duties and responsibilities. Concentrate on highlighting the process and results of your actions. What did you bring to the role that someone else might not have?

Your CV Profile What are employers looking for?

Examples

A short statement of motivation which establishes a connection between you, the role and the organisation. If you keep writing clichés, leave it out.

A final-year modern languages student, keen to pursue a career in French-speaking human resources. My experience as a HR intern in Paris confirmed my interest in and familiarity with the industry, while developing key skills such as written and verbal communication (French and English), time management and attention to detail.

■■ Is it under 100 words?

My work experience and volunteering demonstrate my drive to work in the transportation sector, with a focus on upgrading and renewing infrastructure to achieve sustainability. I believe that planning and transport consultancy is a perfect fit for my practical experience, interests and academic skills, evidenced by my masters project on strengthening and refurbishing structures.

■■ Is it relevant to the job, the company and the industry? ■■ Have you highlighted relevant values?

Work experience What are employers looking for?

Examples

The skills and experience that make you a great choice for their job opportunity.

Collated data on fluid flow and bank erosion on the River Don to investigate a hypothesised change in seasonal streamflow. Demonstrated strong project management skills and techniques including Gantt charts to ensure work on the project was carried out to agreed timescales. Produced reports which were used by my manager to present to the project task groups.

■■ Have you used active verbs? ■■ Have you evidenced your skills? ■■ Have you included factual details to highlight outcomes or positive verbal feedback – maybe a testimonial from a customer?

Taught English to 30 primary school children in Romania for two months last summer. Demonstrated excellent organisational skills in preparing lessons and extracurricular activities. My manager complimented my ability to inspire confidence in the more reserved members of the class. Selected to work for the University's fundraising team. Developed my communication skills and sales technique for conversations with alumni. Subsequently I exceeded my targets by 10%.

Interests What are employers looking for?

Examples

To highlight any interests that relate to the job or hobbies that might offer talking points during an interview.

I have a keen interest in theatre, and in my final year co-ordinated promotion and marketing for the University's student-run theatre for a ■■ Can you make your answer relevant production of Othello, which led to a four-night sell-out run. to the opportunity? ■■ Is it succinct?

■■ Is it truthful? (You may be asked about it!)

Your next steps For more CV tips, head to: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/cv Book a CV review through MyCareer: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/login 41

Getting the job

How to write the perfect covering letter While your CV lists your achievements, skills and interests, your covering letter provides the opportunity to bring them to life and show how they fit the role you're applying to. If you're feeling daunted by the blank page, read our tips on what to cover.

Get off to the right start

When addressing your letter, use a named contact if you have one – but don’t go too familiar with just a first name. If you’re writing speculatively, research the most suitable person to contact in the organisation. If you can’t find a name, stick to ‘Dear Sir or Madam’.

Make your opening pitch

Include the job title or position you’re seeking (if you’re writing a speculative application) and where you found the opportunity. Briefly outline your credentials, and motivations for applying for the role. Make it powerful, punchy and concise. You can expand in more detail in following paragraphs.

Demonstrate that you understand the role

Explain how you meet (or exceed) the job criteria, and show that you possess relevant experience and skills based on past experience. Give concrete examples, which echo key words in the job description – the employer will be scanning for these.

Bring your CV to life

Refer to your CV or other application documents to provide backup evidence. You don’t need to say it all, or duplicate your CV, in your covering letter. Your covering letter should animate key points of your experience that are relevant to the job description.

State what the employer can offer you Covering letter checklist: Be word perfect – a covering letter showcases your writing style and attention to detail, so don’t fall down on spelling or grammar Keep it short and concise; make your case in three to four paragraphs; and don’t go over a side of A4 Show that you understand the company and role, and make a direct, persuasive case that you fit this Link your narrative to evidence provided in your CV and any other application documents 42

If the organisation’s culture and development opportunities attract you, then say so. This is also your opportunity to demonstrate that you have researched their activities and possess true motivation for the role. Be specific, and link their mission to your own interests.

Close on a positive

Make your closing line constructive, not rambling. If you used a named contact, end with ‘Yours sincerely’, otherwise use ‘Yours faithfully’.

Your next steps For more covering letter tips, head to: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/coveringletters

Example of a great covering letter

This gives you an idea of what to include in your covering letter, but don’t follow this word for word! Your covering letter has to reflect your skills and how they relate to the job or role you are applying for – so that means a tailored covering letter for every job you apply for.

9 Castle Road Nottingham NG2 1PP Jane Stanley HR Manager Freedom Now 44 Long Road Nottinghamshire NG22 8FP

Dear Jane Stanley I am writing in response to the role of Human Resources Officer at Freedom Now, as advertised on your website. I am a final-year history student committed to building a graduate career in the third sector, with work experience of human resources in a charity. Additionally, for the past year I have been a training officer for Night Owls, a student volunteering society for student safety and wellbeing on nights out. This role would build on my previous experience as a HR administrator at Barnardo’s, where I quickly learned new processes and procedures including adapting to a recently implemented payroll system. My verbal and written communication skills are excellent, from interpreting data for impact reports for the Board of Trustees to training student volunteers. I am confident in addressing large groups of people, for example when delivering safety awareness talks in lecture theatres during my University’s Welcome Week. Equally, I adapt my communication style to suit individuals, which has been important in my peer-to-peer mentoring for incoming society reps. As you will see from my CV, I work well within a team both in a professional setting and as a member of my university's medley swimming team. Equally my degree course also demands the ability to work on my own initiative and complete complex tasks independently, such as researching and writing a 10,000-word dissertation to a non-negotiable deadline. I understand that Freedom Now is committed to the safety of women in Nottinghamshire, which aligns with my experience around student welfare in the city. I am particularly interested in your current project to promote the safety of women refugees in the area. This opportunity to work at a diverse and progressive charity will build on the experience and skills I have already gained with a national charity and through volunteering. I hope to be able to demonstrate my suitability for this position further at interview. Yours sincerely Jasmine Langley

Getting the job

Succeed at social media in

easy steps Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve probably had a Facebook page for years, sharing photos on Instagram is second nature, and Snapchat is part of your daily routine. But have you thought about how these platforms could help you get ahead with your career or, in fact, leave you trailing behind? Businesses have been building social media presences for quite some time and employers are certainly looking at what potential employees are doing online. This means you need to do two important things: brush up your public presence and protect your privacy.

Perform a social media audit

Log out of all your social media accounts and then Google yourself. Use quotation marks to get more relevant search results and if you have a popular name add your location or date of birth. For example: “Joe Thompson” Nottingham. Identify which profiles are yours in the search results. What you see is what potential employers will see. Create a list of active profiles and decide whether you’d like to use them for professional or personal use. You may find some old accounts that need deleting.

Start with the professional social network

When it comes to your career, your social media presence isn’t complete without a LinkedIn profile. Very basically, it is your digital CV. Like Facebook, you can personalise your profile page, but on LinkedIn it’s all about your professional experience and achievements. Once you have optimised your profile, you can start to make connections. Search out other students, lecturers, graduate recruiters you’ve met at careers fairs, and work colleagues. This is a great way to develop your networking skills without the pressure of face-to-face interaction.

Uni of Nottingham @UniofNottingham

How can I find new opportunities online? Answers @UoNCareers

■■ Use LinkedIn Job Search to find vacancies in your desired sector ■■ Regularly check the LinkedIn page of employers you want to work for ■■ Search LinkedIn to find key contacts at companies of interest ■■ Use the Twitter hashtag feature to search for #jobvacancies ■■ Use advanced search on Twitter to combine location and sector keywords

Protect your privacy

You don’t have to use every social media platform professionally. If you want to keep some accounts for personal use, that’s completely fine. Just protect your privacy. If Instagram is your scrapbook of nights out, make your account private. Having a social life isn’t a crime, but you don’t need to expose it to potential employers. Same goes if you want to keep Facebook personal; check your privacy settings are set to ‘Friends only’.

Set some clear goals

The next thing to think about is what you want to achieve from social media. Do you want to use it to job hunt? Do you want employers to be able to seek you out? Do you want to build an online portfolio to display your photography. Set three goals and plan actions to achieve them.

Uni of Nottingham @UniofNottingham

Execute your goals

You’re set up on LinkedIn and you’ve set some goals – maybe, you’ve picked one listed below. Below are three of our most common questions, answered.

How can I research employers? Answers @UoNCareers

■■ Create a list of employers you

are interested in and check them out on LinkedIn and Twitter

■■ Track multiple employers at the same time by using Twitter's private list function

■■ Listen to what employers are

Your next steps Find more help on getting your social media up to scratch: nottingham.ac.uk/ careers/onlinenetworking

saying to get a feel for which topics are current in their business

■■ Get an insight into their

company culture on Facebook; find snaps of who’s who in the offices

Uni of Nottingham @UniofNottingham

How can I showcase my skills online? Answers @UoNCareers

Research which social media platforms are used by professionals in your chosen sector Dream of being a writer? Set up a WordPress blog Passion for photography? Show off your photos on Instagram Headed for a career in banking and finance? Get networking on LinkedIn

Getting the job

It’s all in the application You’ve read the job description; you have all of the relevant work experience and skills, great! All you have to do is click ‘Apply’ ... only to find out that you also need to complete a 10-page application form. No need to worry, follow our simple tips and we’ll help you perfect that job application.

Before you start typing… Do some reading about the company and job role you’re applying for so you can tailor your answers to meet their requirements Brainstorm the experiences you’ve had so you can give different examples to demonstrate the skills they are looking for. Use examples from your work experience, academic work, the clubs and societies you belong to, and any travelling you’ve done Look through the whole form to get a feel for it and to avoid putting things in the wrong place or repeating yourself

A good way to answer questions The employer will ask questions to help them assess whether you have the motivation, skills, competencies and experiences they are looking for. It’s the specific information that counts here so give the employer something to judge you on.

For questions that are focused on your skills and competencies, structure your answers using the STAR technique: Situation – outline the issue or problem you faced Task – explain your task Action – explain your actions sequentially. What did you do? Result – explain the outcome. Use examples of positive outcomes

Here’s an example of a motivational question and why it hits the mark: Why have you applied for this role? (100 words)

✓ 100 words – no spelling or grammatical errors

Taking part in the University of Nottingham's Consultancy Challenge ensured I developed key skills such as organisational, negotiation and time planning. Working as part of a team with a local third sector organisation, I took time to understand the challenges they faced as clients and how we could best deliver recommendations for their social media campaign.

✓ Shows understanding

I gained an internship through the University in a digital agency. Working with clients gave me further insight into the importance of collecting data and ensuring excellent communication throughout the project particularly around legal and contractual operations. This experience has reinforced my desire to work within this field.

✓ Highlights their interest in

As part of the intramural football team I regularly play matches and help to promote the league in collaboration with the MathSoc Society Sports Secretary. Working as part of a team has been a key element in my extracurricular and work experience.

✓ Uses a good range of

of skills and knowledge required for the role.

the sector.

examples from work, studies and hobbies that will be of interest to the employer.

Here’s an example of a competency-based question and why it hits the mark: Describe a time when you have demonstrated excellent presentation skills. (max 150 words)

✓ 123 words – no spelling or

As part of my module on cultural identity I had to research an individual project and present it to my seminar group during a student conference.

✓ Situation

I chose to discuss the power and control of the media and develop an interactive component alongside the presentation.

✓ Task

When devising the session, I was aware that I was presenting to a small group so incorporated an interactive element – a game about headline usage and news topics. I ensured that I used credible sources and citations to evidence points and strengthen discussions within the group. Additionally, I prepared handouts for the participants and assessors and used a clear structure for the presentation.

✓ Action

grammatical errors

I was awarded 72% for this module ✓ Result and was complimented on my ability to engage the audience and communicate a complex argument clearly.

Your next steps Find more top application tips: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/applicationforms Attend our application form workshops: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/skillsworkshops Book an appointment to review your form: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/appointments 47

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Getting the job

Sussing out psychometric tests Psychometric tests might sound scary, but knowing what to expect can be half of the battle and will help you to prepare in advance. It helps to see them as an opportunity to stand out from your fellow candidates. What are psychometric tests? Psychometric tests are another way for employers to assess candidates alongside the more traditional methods such as CVs, applications forms, and interviews.

In general, they can be split into four areas:

Getting the job

What will the questions be like? So, you now know the types of question you can expect to be asked during a psychometric test. To get a feel of the level of difficulty, try the examples questions below taken from Graduates First, an online psychometric testing system.

Example A: numerical reasoning Nutrition Information

Cheese and Onion

Prawn Cocktail

Salt and Vinegar

Pickled Onion

BBQ

RDA*

100

Energy (kcal)

521

627

485

621

493

2000

Protein (g)

6.4

6.1

5.8

4.9

5.9

Carbohydrate (g) (of which sugars)

84 (2.3)

102 (3.6)

65 (1.7)

103 (3.8)

72 (1.9)

235 (92)

Fat (g) (of which sugars)

32 3.0

41 3.9

30 2.8

38 3.2

33 2.9

75 25

Fibre (g)

5.3

4.7

4.9

5.1

6.1

Salt (g)

0.9

1.1

1.7

1.5

1.2

2.7

Bag size (grams) Nutrition information given per 100g

*RDA - Recommended daily allowance

1 Approximately, how much energy (kcal) would the consumption of 3 packets of ‘BBQ’ crisps and 2 packets of ‘Picked Onion’ crisps produce? A 754 B 1,153 C 1,683 D 2,135 E 2,721 2 Approximately, what percentage of the RDA for ‘salt’ will an individual fulfil if they consume three packets of ‘Pickled Onion’ crisps? A 166% B 100% C 72% D 58% E 42% 3 How much fat in grams, to the nearest whole number, would the consumption of a half packet of ‘Salt & Vinegar’ crisps provide? A 11 B 15 C 16 D 19 E 20

Example B: verbal reasoning For the following statement answer A: true, B: false or C: cannot say. 1 The constituent parts of fly ash include materials that emanate from coal.

Example B answer: A 50

Example A answers 1: A 2: E 3: A Example C answers: Best: 1 Worst: 3

A UK-based organisation is developing a process to use fly ash, a by-product from burning coal in power stations, to produce glass spheres that can be used as a filler in a range of structural parts. This has been heralded as the modern equivalent of the philosopher’s stone – a method of converting virtually valueless waste materials into eco-minerals that can be used in various modern industries. Fly ash mainly consists of oxides of silicon and aluminium derived from the materials found in coal. For every one tonne of coal used in power stations some 150kg of fly ash is created.

Example C: situational judgement You work as an IT specialist for a large electronic retailer. You have been made aware of certain glitches within the stock check system that manages and automatically requests deliveries to each store. Your management are concerned as this issue has never occurred before and may result in over-stocking or no stocking at all for approximately 74 stores. You do not have much clarity on the cause of this problem. What do you do?

Assess each statement to decide which is the best and worse course of action: 1

Identify the error logs and explore the information within. Consider the timings of the problems and when they were reported, the location of the stores, and whether these particular stores have specific exclusive products in their stock. Share the information with your team to get a quick resolution.

2 Contact the providers of the system and ask them to give guidance on what to do next. 3 Ring up each store that is affected and ask them for a detailed log of what they experienced, such that any consistent pattern may emerge.

Your next steps Find out more about psychometric tests and sign up for Graduates First for practice tests and expert feedback: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/ psychometrictests Attend a psychometric tests skills workshop: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/ skillsworkshops

4 N otify all stores via the central notification system that you plan to reboot the stock checking system, as this has previously worked with many machines that run similar software. 51

Getting the job

New to the game

Game-based assessment has been developed as a more fun and accessible way for employers to assess your aptitude and personality traits. Essentially, it’s an alternative to traditional psychometric tests. They assess your general mental ability, such as reasoning, problemsolving, verbal, and numerical ability. They are also trying to work out if you have key personality traits essential to the role and organisation. Six game-based assessment tips

Read the instructions carefully before you start

Make sure you're in a quiet place where you can focus on playing the game

The rules of the game

If you have a disability, make the recruiter aware as this can be accommodated through the system

The good news is that you don’t need any gaming experience for a game-based assessment.

If accessing the game via your mobile, remember to set your phone to ‘do not disturb’ to avoid getting a call at a crucial moment

Make sure your device screen is not cracked

Don’t try to second-guess what they are looking for; be yourself – it’s meant to be fun!

You'll be sent a link by an employer, giving you access to the game on your mobile or PC. Every game is slightly different, so it’s a case of following that particular game’s instructions. It's really difficult to prepare yourself for a game-based assessment as they are designed to assess your abilities in lots of different areas.

Your next steps Sign up for Graduates First and practise using three games-based assessments: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/psychometrictests 53

Getting the job

Your 3-step guide to

interview success

Most people dread job interviews. It’s the unknown – what will they ask me? Online you'll find hundreds of questions that an employer might potentially ask. Some will be generic and others will be role-specific. It can be overwhelming. To make it easier, we’ve summarised three key areas that employers assess during the interview process and examples of questions they may ask. You will need to show that you: WANT the job Employers will often open an interview with a question to explore your motivation for the job. Having a great answer prepared can be a brilliant way to get off to a good start, leaving your interview nerves behind. Read through the job description and your application form to remind yourself why this job appeals to you. There can be quite a gap between applying for a role and being invited for an interview, so a quick refresh is always advised. Are there two or three points that neatly outline why this is the job for you? Common questions include: ■■ Why have you applied for this role? ■■ Why do you think you’d be a good fit for

this position?

can DO the job Take time to consider your strengths and skills and how you can put them to good use in the role. Employers often ask questions to establish how well you understand your strengths and how they fit with the organisation's culture and the role. Check the job advert or person specification for the skills the employer is looking for. Have you got some examples of when you have demonstrated those skills? Typical questions might be: ■■ What are your three key strengths? ■■ Please give an example of when you

were a member of a team assigned to a project or task. What was your role? What was the outcome?

■■ Give an example of a problem you have

recently solved. What methods and information did you use?

■■ What energises you more, starting or

finishing a task?

will get ON Employers are looking for people who are keen to work for their company, have similar values and will get on well with colleagues. Find out as much as you can about the company; facts and figures, their customers and competitors and their values. Has the company been in the news recently and why? Example questions might include: ■■ Why do you want to work for our

organisation?

■■ What are the main challenges facing the

company in the next two to three years?

Your next steps Find out more about interviews, and use our simulated video interview resource, Sonru: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/interviews Attend an interview skills workshop: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/ skillsworkshops Book an appointment to discuss preparing for interviews: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/ appointments

Types of interview Face-to-face strengths-based

Face-to-face competency-based

■■ Aimed at finding out about the real you, what you’re good at and what energises you

■■ Structured to reflect your skills and experiences and how they fit with the employer’s needs

■■ You know yourself best, so think about how your experience relates to the job and use real-life examples

■■ Look at the job description and person specification and make notes on how your skills fit the role requirements

Video

Telephone

■■ Used by employers as a first sift of candidates

■■ Generally used as a first sift

■■ You will record an answer to a question presented on-screen and are usually given 60 seconds per answer

■■ Becoming less common since the introduction of video interviews, but are still a popular method

■■ It’s a good idea to write down some key points to refer to. They’ll help structure your answer

■■ Tactics such as smiling and not slouching can help inject expression in your voice and make you more confident and assertive

Getting the job

Invited to an assessment centre?

If you’re just starting to apply for graduate jobs, chances are you haven’t been to an assessment centre before. At first glance they can be quite daunting, but knowing what to expect is half the battle. Plus, you’ve got this far, you deserve to be there.

What happens at an assessment centre? The activities give candidates the opportunity to demonstrate the skills required to be successful in the workplace, for example, communication, teamwork, analytical and problem-solving. The structure of an assessment centre will vary but here are some of the activities that our students and graduates have encountered. Remember, you are not competing against other candidates, you are being assessed against the employer’s criteria.

Time and activity amendments can be arranged to ensure everyone has the same opportunity to show their potential.

Welcome and introductions

Group activity

Psychometric tests

Listen to the structure and activities for the skills and competencies to be assessed. Make sure to introduce yourself to the organisers and other candidates.

You will be assessed on your ability to work as part of a team. Effective communication, creative thinking and working towards achieving the task will be encouraged.

You’ll be asked to complete different types of tests: see pages 49-51

Tour of the offices

Case study

Pay attention throughout and show your interest by asking questions.

You will be required to process and analyse information relevant to the role and professionally present your findings and recommendations.

Lunch

Presentations

In-tray exercise

Your ability to interact with others might be assessed during lunchtime. Remember to speak to several people, smile and be positive.

You’ll be assessed on analysing the information, tailoring the content and delivering clearly and confidently.

Time-restricted simulated business tasks where you need to analyse, prioritise information and make decisions.

Interview You will be assessed on your suitability for the job role: see pages 54-55

You can let employers know about your additional needs.

My day at an assessment centre I was incredibly nervous before the assessment centre but it turned out I had no need to be. Everybody there was extremely welcoming and all the other candidates were very friendly! We were allocated three tasks to do throughout the day: a group activity, a written exercise and an individual presentation with questions and answers.

My two top tips for assessment centres: 1. Be yourself but be the version of yourself that your mother would be proud of! - The recruiters do genuinely want to see the real you, but still make sure you’ve made an effort with your appearance, are polite and friendly and don’t spend the day on your phone

2. Do your research - Learn all about the role and sector you’re applying for as this will always come in handy - The Careers and Employability Service are really helpful - you can have an appointment with an adviser or attend a mock assessment centre Katherine Rowe BA History

Your next steps Find out more about preparing for assessment centres: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/assessmentcentres Attend an assessment centre workshop: nottingham.ac.uk/careers/skillsworkshops

Notes

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A big thanks to …our team of Careers Handbook case studies. We loved reading your stories, and can't wait to share them with your fellow students. With your input we think this is our best Careers Handbook to date – hope you do too.

Danielle Blackwell

Lewis Mills

Katie Severn

Julia Cox

Ann-Elin Myhre

Rowland Seymour

Rosy Crawford

Eleanor O’Brien

Cecilia Silva

Benjamin Dack

Beverly Okeke

Joanne Tyler

Julius Dongdem

Jenika Patel

Tabitha Wacera

Emily Doyle

Jessica Piercy

Lydia Weigel

Colin Go

Michele Raicher Reichert

Izzy Wellings

Yashoda Gopu

Will Rakotomalala

Louise Wheeler

Matthew Healey

Katherine Rowe

Matthew Wildman

Emma Hodge

Emily Richardson

Ali Jourabchi

Dominic Rose

Paige Linden

Aditya Saxena

Careers and Employability Service

+44 (0)115 951 3680 nottingham.ac.uk/careers CareersUoN @UoNCareers blogs.nottingham.ac.uk/careers

nottingham.ac.uk

Teaching Excellence Framework

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