HOW TO GET A JOB
HOW TO DECIDE WHAT JOB
HOW TO LOOK FOR JOBS
HOW THE JOB SELECTION PROCESS WORKS
HOW TO WRITE A GOOD APPLICATION
A GUIDE TO THE BASICS
How To Decide What To Do With The
Rest Of Your Life
• Probably is not the rest of your life, people
change track and jobs many times
• However, it is something you have to think about
• Make a list of your skills and things you would like
to do in a job, eg interacting with people, data
analysis, making money,.....
• Do not embark on further study just to
postpone your decision
• Think about what jobs would involve your
skills and wish list
• List of job types and skills at (I recommend
this)
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin.htm
HOW TO LOOK FOR JOBS
• Internet makes this easy, eg Google graduate finance
jobs London
• Need to think about where you want to live
• Look for firms at
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/economics.htm
• Use the Job Vacancies database at
http://kent.prospects.ac.uk
•
Use online job boards. They vary in what they are
offering, eg graduate-jobs.com
•
They are good for finding jobs with smaller firms
•
Use company websites, have to know them first
•
Fewer jobs in print now days, eg magazines and
papers
•
Look at Economics Job Market Forum
https://www.kent.ac.uk/economics/index.html
See tab on right hand side of School home page
The enrolment key is Networking
• However, be realistic. No point in wasting effort
• Firms are not just interested in your degree
results. Interested in your experience. Firms
look at A levels. Without As you are not going to
hit a top financial firm
• They often have minimum scores in GCSEs, eg
Maths and English
USEFUL JOB WEBSITES
• Prospects website www.prospects.ac.uk
Including
– Options with an Economics degree
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/EconomDeg
– Occupational profiles for 600 career areas
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Occupations
MORE USEFUL JOB WEBSITES
• www.top100graduateemployers.com
• www.thejobcrowd.com
• www.gradjobs.co.uk
• www.graduate-jobs.com
• www.milkround.com
• www.efinancialcareers.co.uk
This last one is particular useful for financial careers
CAREERS & EMPLOYABILITY FAIR
• Thursday 1st November 2.00 – 5.00 pm in Eliot Great
Hall
• Lots of different employers including
–
–
–
–
–
Bank of England
PWC
Capita
Reeves
Accenture
• If you attend, do your homework about these
companies
THE PROCESS OF APPLYING
• It varies a lot between jobs
• Hard work and takes time (from now to September 2013).
More continuous than before
• Some mix of
– online/paper application
– CV + cover letter
– online tasks
– Competency questions
– Interview
– Group tasks (where a watch!)
– It is hard work making applications and going through the
application process
SOME DOs & DON’Ts
• Quality of application is important. This takes hours and days
of time. Take it seriously
• Research your application
• Clamp down on the security of Facebook and other social
network stuff
• In some job applications, experience is vital
• You may have to think of getting relevant experience if you
have known at the moment, eg internship after you graduate
CURRICULUM VITAE
• Even if the application is online, the following rules still apply
• List of education, work and other experiences related to
getting you a job or placement
• You are trying to match your skill set and experience to those
that are required for the job
• Make a list of the job requirements and make sure your CV
match these. Use your brain, job description or look at
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin.htm
or www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Occupations
• So have to alter CV to fit the job
• Have a basic CV but make it fit the skills etc. required
for the different jobs you apply for
• CVs are just the beginning of the application process
• CVs are often used as a filter to get the number of
applicants down to a reasonable number
• CVs have to be easy to read
• They are an advert for you. They are often read in
less than 30 seconds
• Design and think clearly about the design and order
of presentation
• No more than two sides (backed or unbacked?)
• Some like one side. But a CV must be clear and bring
out the message. You have the skills they want
• Personal Profile - You can put a short personal statement at the
beginning summarising the type of person you are and matching
the requirements of the job
• Do not have complicated boxes or tables, do not repeat yourself a
lot, eg putting your school next to each educational qualification
• Position the really good things so they catch the eye. Not every
word of your CV will be read closely. So good things go first or last
in a clearly labelled section.
• You have to put exam results down. If they are not good, think
about whether a job is for you.
EXAMPLE CV
• Easy to read
• Personal profile – does the CV justify this profile? This
person has good personal skills and gets on with well
with people
• Everything bullet pointed no long paragraphs
• Has a wide range of skills (numeracy, analytical,
literacy and personal skills), does this come across?
• Experience a bit confusingly organised
• Second year marks?
• Third year modules?
• Computing skills a bit hidden
• Would put maths grade A much more visibly
• Put average mark of 64% in first bullet point.
Depending on results, might give individual marks.
• Overall could do with a little more punch
• Other comments?
COVER LETTER
• A covering letter is a short introduction of yourself
• Written in clear English – no mistakes
• Make sure that it matches the requirements of the job
• You can make no more than 3 short points
• Try to have a name you are writing to
• Show you know the firm
• Do not go over the top
EXAMPLE COVER LETTER
• Which University and what am I studying?
• Could show more knowledge of XXX
• Has “economics given an extensive knowledge of
business and customers.......?
• Paragraph beginning “Overall ...” is a bit over the top?
• C.V is an error
• Other errors or suggestions?
CAN YOU IMPROVE YOUR PROFILE?
• Difficult as pressure of work
• May need to apply for internships and work experience.
Especially in the financial sector. Be realistic.
• Apply to smaller firms for experience
• Will you be paid?
• Now much more common
• Look at http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/vacwork.htm
http://www.kent.ac.uk/ces/work-experience.html
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sk/skillsmenu.htm
WHAT WE WILL DO TO HELP YOU
• Help you with CV and covering letter workshops on
one to one basis
• Come with your printed CV and example cover
letter (not all at the same time!)
• Next week talk on “Further Academic Study”
• In week 6, we will have some numeracy and other
competency tests
• Interview advice and mock interviews in week 7
• Weeks 8-12, drop in advice sessions
• Email me to arrange a meeting
• Anything else?
CONCLUSION AND WHAT TO DO NOW
• Decide what you are going to do. Nothing or a big
effort
• Sort out you CV and start applying. Be prepared
for the effort involved and the different types of
assessment involved
• If in doubt ask for help
• Do not postpone this