Looking to the Future
School of Informatics - Postgraduates
2012 - 13
Carol Macdonald
Careers Adviser
Main Objectives:
 Introduce the Careers Service
 Outline recruitment time-lines for
employers
 Highlight careers events /
programmes this semester
Additionally…
 Address career planning
 Overview of destinations
 A brief look at self-marketing
“Begin with the end in mind”
Steven Covey, management guru & author of
‘Seven Habits of highly effective people’
Your Career Strategy!
 Set goals - short, medium & long term
 What do you want to achieve during your MSc/PhD?
 How can you make the most of your time at Edinburgh?
 What do you want to achieve immediately after?...and longer term?
 Identify what will help you to achieve your goals
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Find out what’s going on
Research career options and potential employers
Clarify requirements – skills, experience required or beneficial
Identify any gaps & how you can plug them
Check entry routes – recruitment methods used
 Network! Network! Network!
- talk to people
 Market yourself – Applications, Interviews & other situations
 Prepare a ‘Career Action Plan’ - set SMART objectives
- keep it alive!
Destinations – School of Informatics
PGT - MSc Graduates
2010-11
Total known – 51
Employment
Further study
Voluntary work
Seeking
Not available
(6 months after graduation)
58%
24%
6%
8%
4%
(30)
(12)
(3)
(4)
(2)
Destinations – PGT - MSc Grads 2010-11
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Development Engineer - SeeByte - Edinburgh, Scotland
Artificial Intelligence Analyst - Self Employed - Edinburgh, Scotland
Software Developer - Exigen Services - Riga, Latvia
Scientific Engineer - Struq – London
Dot Net Software Developer - Priory Solutions – London
Software Developer - Ocado – Hatfield
Cloud Infrastructure Manager - Morilitas Solutions, Germany
IT Consultant - Maquarie - London
Software Developer - Adobe – Edinburgh
Software Developer - Craneware – Edinburgh
Software Developer - Mippin – London
Web Developer - Binamic – Slough
Programmer - A power company – Cyprus
Destinations – PGT - MSc Grads 2010-11
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Software Developer - Envoy Services - London, England
Customer Service Associate - Amazon - Edinburgh, Scotland
Software Developer - Codeplay - Edinburgh
Software Developer - Metaswitch Networks – Edinburgh
Software Developer - Openmarket – London
Software Engineer - Freescale Semiconductor - Bucharest, Romania
Programmer - Morley Financial Services - Dublin, Ireland
Software Analyst - Relational - Athens, Greece
Systems Analyst - KPMG - Malta
Researcher - Malta University - Malta
Consultant - PA Consulting - London, England
Teacher/Tutor - Xini - Athens, Greece
Computer Programmer - Accenture - Milan, Italy
Further Study – PGT - MSc Graduates 2010-11
 PhD Artificial Intelligence (3) - Edinburgh University – Edinburgh
 PhD Informatics (2) - Edinburgh University – Edinburgh
 PhD Computer Vision and Machine Learning - Istituto Italiano di
Technologia (joint with Universita di Genova) - Genoa, Italy
 PhD Informatics - Pamplona University - Pamplona, Colombia
 PhD Medical Imaging - Imperial College – London
 PhD Informatics (2) - Edinburgh University - Edinburgh,
 PhD Molecular Biology - University of Cyprus, Cyprus
 PhD Computer Science - Edinburgh University - Edinburgh, Scotland
PGR Destinations – Research Masters 2010-11
PhD Computational Neuroscience (3)
PhD Neuroinformatics (3)
PhD Informatics PhD Neuroinformatics
Microchip Designer
Software Engineer
Edinburgh University
Edinburgh University
Edinburgh University
Unknown location
Synopsys - California, United States
Cisco Systems - Berkshire, England
PGR Destinations - PhD Graduates
2010-11
Software Developer
Software Engineer
Business Analyst
Software Engineer
Nucleus Financial – Edinburgh
A software company - Edinburgh
Tesco Bank – Edinburgh
Google – London
Research Fellow
Post-doctoral Researcher
Research Associate
Research Group Leader
University of Edinburgh
University College Dublin, Ireland
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
Saarland University, Germany
Recruitment Timelines for 2013
 Advertising already underway
 Employers’ presentations start early October
 Application deadlines from October
 First interviews begin this semester
 PhD applications
 UK deadlines from December
Application Closing Dates
for 2013 vacancies … a few examples
Babcock
BP
Coca-Cola Enterprises
Unilever
GE General Electric
Standard Life
Barclays
Delcam
Jack Wills
BT
Deloitte
Shell
IT
28 October 2012
IT Future leaders
31 October 2012
Business Technolgy IT
31 October 2012
IT
23 November 2012
IT
1 December 2012
IT grad programme
7 December 2012
IT
30 November 2012
Software engineer
31 December 2012
IT
14 January 2013
IT
ongoing but ASAP
IT & Consulting
ongoing but ASAP
IT
ongoing but ASAP
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General Guidelines
Blue chip/ International Orgs
Management consultancies
Investment banks
Applications Close
October/November
Finding out more…
Careers Fairs www.ed.ac.uk/careers/fairs
Recruitment presentations www.ed.ac.uk/careers/talks-events
&
www.ed.ac.uk/informatics
Graduate Vacancies - www.ed.ac.uk/careers/sage
 www.prospects.ac.uk
 www.targetjobs.co.uk
 www.insidecareers.co.uk
Placements
www.ed.ac.uk/careers/sage
www.e-placementscotland.com
+ others above for vacation placements/internships
Publications – CS Guide, Prospects, Get, Times Top 100, Guardian 200
Industry info links – www.ed.ac.uk/careers/occupations
 www.scotlandis.com
Further Study - www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/careers/explore/further-study/overview
Be pro-active, creative & network!
Self Employment
 Careers Service –starting point & signposting
www.ed.ac.uk/schoolsdepartments/careers/explore/starting-business/planning
 Launch.Ed - business advice & support for Edinburgh
student entrepreneurs - www.launch.ed.ac.uk
 Informatics Ventures - nurturing an entrepreneurial
ecosystem - www.informatics-ventures.co
What are employers looking for?
 Good academic background
 Technical skills
and more……….
Competency Framework
One example – IBM
 Adaptability
 Teamwork and
collaboration
 Communication
 Drive to achieve
 Creative problem
solving
 Client focus
 Passion for business
 Taking ownership
What makes a good CV?
• Careful targeting (job and employer)
• Highlights relevant experience, skills and achievements
• Gives space and importance to the most relevant material
• Makes an impact
• Visually appealing
clear layout, avoiding lengthy text
• Appropriate headings & order reverse chronological or themed
• Appropriate length – (UK industry norm 2 pages)
• Accompanied by a strong covering letter
Covering letters
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Keep to one page
Introduce yourself positively
Clarify what you are applying for
Show your motivation for role/organisation/sector
Highlight your suitability & what you can offer
Demonstrate how you meet their requirements
Keep a positive & professional approach
Observe business protocols
inc. use of Yours faithfully / Yours sincerely
Application forms
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Plan answers carefully following guidelines
Frame answers (eg ‘CAR’ Context, Actions, Result)
Give sufficient detail …but remain concise
Give thought to vocabulary used
Triple check spelling & grammar
Ensure form is easy to read
Allow sufficient time to complete
Careers Service – What we offer!
 Information Centres - staff available to help at all times
 Adviser appointments bookable via Reception Desk
 Informatics ‘drop-in’ times - Wednesdays 9.30 - 11.30
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 Website: www.ed.ac.uk/careers
 Events: www.ed.ac.uk/careers/talks-events
 Vacancies: www.ed.ac.uk/careers/sage
www.facebook.com/EdinburghCareersService
http://twitter.com/uofedcareers
Careers Service - Where to find us?
3rd Floor, University Library, George Square
Tel: 0131 650 4670
Weir Building, KB
Tel: 0131 650 5773
Email: careers@ed.ac.uk
www.ed.ac.uk/careers
www.facebook.com/EdinburghCareersService
http://twitter.com/uofedcareers
ANY QUESTIONS?
Technology Insights 2012 - e-skills
uk
Horizon Issues
www.e-skills.com/research/research-publications/insightsreports-and-videos/technology-insights-2012/
Technology Insights 2012 - e-skills
uk
Scotland- employer survey 2011
Technical Skills
 Most commonly requested (in order):
SQL, .NET, Java, C#, SQL Server,
Oracle, ASP, JavaScript, Unix & Linux.
 Hardest to find: Microsoft related
.NET/ASP.NET, Dynamics,
SharePoint, Visual Basic/Visual Studio,
C#, PHP and VMWare.
 Technical skills gaps, where found, often
ASP.NET, C and .NET, PHP & Linux.
Non-technical skills
Gaps, where found,
related to:
 Sales/related skills
 Interpersonal skills
 Business/related
skills
Skills Framework for the Information Age
SFIA categories
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Strategy and architecture
Business change
Solution development and
implementation
Service management
Procurement & management
support
Client interface
SFIA levels
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7 Set strategy/inspire
6 Initiate/influence
5 Ensure/advise
4 Enable
3 Apply
2 Assist
1 Follow
International & European Students
Working while studying - NI Numbers
National Insurance number required
Jobcentre Plus Processing numbers at Careers Service:
When:
19th, 20th & 25th September & 3rd October 2012
9.30am - 3.15pm
Where:
3rd Floor, Main Library follow signs to Seminar Room
What you need: Passport or identity card
Student card, or letter confirming you are a student
Visa Information and Advice
International Office
57 George Square
immigration@ed.ac.uk
The Advice Place (EUSA)
Bristo Square
advice@eusa.ed.ac.uk
 UK Council for International Student Affairs
www.ukcisa.org.uk
 UK Borders Agency www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk
(UKBA site - Lists of employers who are Tier 2 licensed sponsors)