Beat the Rat Race: an
employability event for language
students
Nicholas Johnston
July 2011
Acknowledgments
The author would like to thank Ruth O’Rourke who, as Routes into Languages North
East Project Manager (2007-11) designed and implemented this event. Many of the
resources mentioned and provided in this document are her own and she was kind
enough to assist in the production of this document. She acknowledges colleagues at
Northumbria University for their advice in setting up the first cross-consortium Beat
the Rat Race.
The event relies heavily on input from other professionals, notably in this case,
Adrian Naylor (P&G) and Margaret Evans (Careers & Employment Service,
Northumbria University), many thanks to them for their support and the materials
used in this document.
Author
Nick worked as a student ambassador for languages and then as a Senior
Ambassador whilst completing his MA at Newcastle University. He returned to work
with the Routes and Links into Languages projects in the North East after two years
in the hospitality industry. Nick is now Project Manager for Routes into Languages
North East.
Published by
Published by UCML with funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for
England.
University Council of Modern Languages (UCML)
t: +44 (0)23 8059 4814
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e: ucml@soton.ac.uk
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Copyright
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non
Commercial-No Derivs 2.0 UK: England & Wales
(CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).
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Contents
Abstract
1
Introduction
2
Event description
2
Necessary resources
3
Managing Beat the Rat Race
4
Concluding remarks
5
Appendices
5
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1
Abstract
Beat the Rat Race was originally conceived as part of Student Ambassador
appraisal and exit training. It is an employability event focused on networking,
professional reflection, and skills development. This document will provide a toolkit
for the organisation of such an event in any HEI, either as part of the student
ambassador model or simply as an employability event for students approaching
graduation.
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2
Introduction
Following the student ambassador model set out in the document Extending the
Student Ambassador Role for Languages (O’Rourke, also available on the shaping
the future website) it is clear that one of the model’s successes has been the
students’ increased employability when they complete the programme. Every effort
has been made when employing student ambassadors to enhance this through indepth training and development reviews. Routes into Languages North East has also
held an event entitled Beat the Rat Race over the last two years which aims to
complete the student ambassador employability training and give them a head start
in the world of work.
This document provides a toolkit for the organisation of such an event in any HEI,
either as part of the student ambassador model or simply as an employability event
for students approaching graduation. It should be noted that in holding such an event
you should consult with your HEI careers service as they are a rich resource and
may be able to assist you during the organisation process, particularly with finding
contacts for the relevant sessions.
Event description
The Beat the Rat Race event described here follows a trialled and refined model that
is easily replicated. The event consists of two key sessions. The first is a plenary
session where the focus is on a panel of professional experts, all with language skills
and ideally from a wide range of sectors who can offer expert advice on making the
most of languages in securing and succeeding in a job. The second session sees a
number of workshops run in parallel for delegates to choose to attend depending on
their priorities.
Exposure to successful professional linguists at such an event not only increases the
students’ own confidence in their qualifications but lends conviction to the messages
they are expected to preach in their role as student ambassadors for languages. 70%
of students attending this event in the past have cited this networking opportunity as
the most important aspect of the day according to post event evaluations (Appendix
2).
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‘The best part of the day was talking to the panellists and being able to ask
questions about careers and employability’
Student, Newcastle University
The more structured advice students receive during the workshops builds on the
messages of the previous section. This provides them with the skills necessary to act
on what they have been told by the professional linguists.
Necessary resources
Although this is a very adaptable event and relatively cheap, there are a number of
crucial success factors. The most important of these is the panel of professionals. It
is integral to the success of the event that panellists are from a wide variety of
sectors, particularly the following:
Law, Finance, Arts, Manufacturing, Construction, Retail, Translating, Interpreting,
Teaching
In the North East these individuals were generally approached through a network of
contacts built up by Routes into Languages. However. there are other good starting
places:

University careers services

National networks for interpreting and translation (NNI, NNT,
www.routesintolanguages.ac.uk).

Online directories of local foreign business councils and their contacts e.g.
www.frenchbusinesscouncil.co.uk.

local foreign consulates e.g. www.alliancefrancaisemanchester.org.

Your HEI’s languages department may well have a range of local business
connections .

Student recruitment offices in HEIs.

Alumni associations will have details of previous students’ current vocations.
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
Partner universities will be able to provide all of the above.

Business ambassador profiles – Each regional Routes into Languages
office holds profiles of local professionals with language skills in your area.
These are available online at www.routesintolanguages.ac.uk or by request.
Once recruited, the panel forms the first part of the event. The second part is also
flexible and can consist of workshops which event organisers feel suit the event.
Managing Beat the Rat Race
This section refers to the example programme which can be found in appendix 1.
When taking bookings from students for any event it is important to give them an
incentive to attend. Requiring a £5 deposit upon registration is effective. This is
refunded when the student signs into the event. A post-event cancellation or nonattendance charge could also work.
Students should be informed in advance of the event programme and prompted to
prepare questions for the professional panel. This session depends on the students’
willingness to participate so briefing them in advance is a good way of ensuring this
runs smoothly.
Panellists begin by introducing themselves briefly to the gathered audience. Then, in
order to give the students the best possible opportunity to have their questions
answered, professional delegates can be divided into four ‘micro-panels’ which
receive students’ questions in parallel. This means students can approach the panels
most relevant to their interests and have the opportunity to speak to more than one.
These micro-panels function in carousel so that, after a specified amount of time (e.g.
20 minutes) students can approach a different panel.
The panel session requires a large room, preferably one which can be divided into
separate sections for the micro-panels as it is important that the panellists can make
themselves heard. Maximum room capacity should be considerably more than
numbers expected to allow enough space for this session.
A break between the two sessions should offer students the chance to network
informally with panellists. Refreshments can be provided at this point.
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Workshops can run in parallel meaning students have the choice of attending the
workshops most relevant to them. We have found that students appreciate this
flexibility and the opportunity this gives them to tailor the event to their individual
needs. Breakout rooms are therefore required, preferably within easy access of the
main room to facilitate smooth changeovers.
In the North East, senior student ambassadors (see chapter on the senior
ambassador in Extending the Student Ambassador role for Languages, O’Rourke,
also available on the shaping the future website) have been employed to help at the
event, registering attendees, chairing panels and even leading workshops.
It is advisable that time be left at the end for a short evaluation exercise to take place
providing feedback on the event.
Concluding Remarks
This is a simple and effective event which gives language students a real advantage
when entering the world of work. Providing an employability event like this not only
gives your students a head start but also motivates them in their studies giving them
renewed confidence in their subject and their own employability.
Appendices
1. Sample programme from Beat the Rat Race, November 2010
2. Event evaluations from Beat the Rat Race, November 2010
3. Sample slides from presentation Making the most of languages for your CV,
Ruth O’Rourke, November 2010
4. Sample panel of professional linguists from Beat the Rat Race, November
2010
Appendix 1 – Sample programme
Programme Rat Race
2010.pdf
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Appendix 2 – Event evaluations
Beat the Rat Race
Evaluations 2010.pdf
Appendix 3 – Making the most of languages for your CV
This document can be accessed at the following URL:
http://www.routesintolanguages.ac.uk/sites/default/files/BTRR%202010%20pres2.ppt
Appendix 4 – Sample panel of professional linguists
This document can be accessed at the following URL:
http://www.routesintolanguages.ac.uk/sites/default/files/Rat%20Race%20looper.ppt
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