UCL CAREERS INTERNATIONAL
CREATIVE
JOB HUNTING
Andy Walsh and Toni Liu
UCL CAREERS INTERNATIONAL
YOUR EXPERIENCES
In groups, take turns to talk about your job hunt
How much time do you spend job hunting?
What is / has been your job hunting strategy?
What success have you had?
Is there a reason you have delayed starting?
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IS THIS YOU?
Fed up with filling in forms only to hear you’ve been
rejected
or worse: not hearing anything back?
Guilty about not spending enough/ too much time on your
job hunt?
Becoming demotivated, lethargic and losing your
confidence?
Just want a job …
THIS IS NORMAL!
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AGENDA
•
What’s the current reality for your job hunt?
•
Alternative to ‘graduate schemes’ and different
approaches to job hunting
•
Regain some enthusiasm by boosting
confidence
•
Get you to think creatively, build resilience and
provide alternative approaches
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FACT OR FICTION?
Discuss the following statements:
1. ‘graduate scheme vacancies are now
effectively closed for this year’
2. ‘most graduate-level vacancies are found
on large graduate scheme programmes’
3. ‘jobs are generally filled by people applying
for advertised vacancies’
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JOB HUNTING MYTH 1
Graduate scheme vacancies are now effectively
closed for this year - FALSE
Many still open – www.savethestudent.org
www.milkround.com
Rolling recruitment and start dates – Capco, Bloomberg, Sapient and so
many more ….!
Graduate schemes re-open with unfilled places - Spring and summer
2016
UCL Careers’ Jobs Market – June 2016, Spring Grad fair 16th March
Some internship schemes still open - high conversion rate to graduate
schemes
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JOB HUNTING MYTH 2
Most graduate-level vacancies are found on
large graduate scheme programmes - FALSE
Only 7-10% of graduates who enter the workplace do so through a formal
graduate scheme
Vast majority of graduates will take first steps in working world on a graduate
level job/ entry level job. Might have word assistant/ officer/ trainee in title
More flexible recruitment and career path / training
Consider SMEs, lesser know companies, your Plan Bs
Think more widely than big well-publicised, competitive graduate schemes
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JOB HUNTING MYTH 3
Jobs are generally filled by people applying for
advertised vacancies - FALSE
Only a relatively small percentage of jobs typically sourced through this channel
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DIFFERENT APPROACHES
CONVERTED
INTERNSHIP
NETWORKING
SPECULATIVE
PLAN B
RECRUITMENT
AGENCY
Image thanks to UCL Media
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USING RECRUITMENT AGENCIES
• Free service for candidates – recruiting employer pays
• Generalist and specialist agencies http://www.agencycentral.co.uk/
• Freshminds, Graduate Recruitment Bureau, Sanctuary
Search
• Be pro-active - keep in regular contact … and be
cautious!
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SPECULATIVE APPLICATIONS
Proactively approach employers to seek out opportunities that
have not advertised
Sending CV and cover letter/ introductory email via LinkedIn
To have chance of success need to be well researched &
targeted to job type within organisation
Try to send to named person in relevant department (carry out
research/ contact switchboard).
Don’t be afraid of rejections or ignorance-keep going!
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NETWORKING?
Meeting and connecting with other people on and offline
Calling a hiring contact and discuss hiring opportunity
LinkedIn with line manager whose company is your target employer
Building your circle of connections / social capital-talk to someone
who sits next to you at the cafe
Prepare your pitch and research
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INFORMATION INTERVIEWING
What is information interviewing?
Who should we contact and how?
Keep it brief (15mins), find out about role, ask for advice, follow
up
Don’t ask for ‘a job’ in first meeting
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EXAMPLE OF ASKING FOR AN INFORMAL INTERVIEW
Prepare and prioritise relevant questions
Practice questioning technique with ‘warm’ contacts first
Introduce yourself and then…
Open questions
‘I’m exploring my options after I leave UCL and want to learn more
about XX industry/sector. Will you help me to obtain advice? Could
you please introduce me to anyone doing this type of work?’
‘I would like to explore opportunities in one of your regional offices. I
speak fluent… Can you tell me about how others have …’’
‘What you said in your presentation about xx was remarkable. What
do you think about …?’
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NETWORKING ON LINKEDIN
1. By way of introduction, I am a master student studying Finance at
UCL. I was referred to you by xx from Goldman Sachs. She
recommended you as an excellent source of information on the Equity
Research industry.
2. My goal is to secure a Fashion buyer position during the summer. I
would appreciate hearing your thoughts on career opportunities with
Prada and how to prepare myself to gain career experience in a
luxury goods company like yours
3. Your expertise (experience) in the Financial Risk sector with E&Y
has inspired me to write to ask for fifteen minutes of your time….
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DO
DON’T
BE AUTHENTIC

DO YOUR HOMEWORK AND BE
PREPARED

SEEK RECOMMENDATION IF POSSIBLE

THINK ABOUT HOW THEY CAN HELP
BUT BE REALISTIC
THINK ABOUT HOW YOU CAN

BE PERSISTENT BUT RESPECTFUL
SEND AN E-MAIL REQUESTING A

MEETING/CALL FOR 15-30MINS
ASK HOW TO STAY CONNECTED

ASK FOR COACHING/ADVICE
ASK FOR HOW YOU CAN HELP
BE THANKFUL AND FOLLOW UP
Have self doubt
Reach out without research
Contact when you will be too
busy to follow up with a meeting
Talk too much about you rather
ASK QUESTIONS and LISTEN
Leave without thank them and
asking for staying in touch
Give up on rejections
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UCL ALUMNI NETWORK
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/alumni/groups
Alumni Web Community
Alumni Mentoring
Studied elsewhere before? Likely same support.
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ACTION PLANNING
Write down 3 next steps for your job hunt
Examples
List 20 companies you want to work for
Connect with 3 contacts on LinkedIn who work for your target
firms
Write to these 3 contacts to ASK for a phone call or coffee chat
What are you going to do?
When are you going to do it?
Who will help?
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Work placement +Careers coaching + visa guidance
Job Search
Application form
Interview & Assessment Centre
Networking / Cultural Integration
Develop communication skills and increase confidence
Toni’s wechat ID: tonilaugh
Email: consultcareerflyers@gmail.com
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QUESTIONS