Employability Adviser: Nicola Urquhart
School of Arts (Post Graduate)
Introduction
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What is employability?
Skills developed through
postgraduate study
Deciding what you want to do
Where you can look for jobs
Tips on CVs and applications
Careers and Employability
Service
Questions
What is Employability?
‘A set of attributes, skills and
knowledge that all labour
market participants should
possess to ensure they have the
capability of being effective in the
workplace – to the benefit of
themselves, their employer and
the wider economy.’ (CBI, March
2009)
Why are employability skills so important?
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Increased competition –
over 400,000 graduates
leaving university each year.
‘Our latest UK recruitment
campaign closed having
attracted 24500. The bank will
offer 475 places in 2012.’
HSBC newsletter April 2012
What employers say…
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"Few students are able to
articulate what they have
gained from their experience
in higher education."
(Association of Graduate
Recruiters, 1995)
Skills developed through postgraduate study
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Written communication
Verbal communication
Analytical ability
Critical thinking
Planning and organising
Research/investigative
skills
Problem solving
Maturity and confidence
Self motivation
What do postgraduates do?
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“The vast majority of
postgraduates enter employment
at the end of their studies.”
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“Both doctoral and Masters
degree graduates have a lower
level of unemployment than
Bachelors degree graduates and
are more likely to be employed in
a professional role”
What do you need to do.
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Decide on the job/sector you want to work in
Research the sector and employers
Apply
Change your job-hunting methods if they are not
working
Choosing a Career
Prospects Planner
Prospects planner www.prospects.ac.uk
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Identify what you want out of a job; generate new job
ideas and check out your existing ones.
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Find out what motivates you in a job; identify your skills
and what you can offer to the job/employer.
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See how these match the jobs you are considering.
Research your chosen jobs in more detail, compare
your options and decide on the right choices for you
Research options
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What can I do with my degree in Film Studies?
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/Film.htm
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What can I do with my degree in Drama?
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/drama.htm
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I want to work in the media
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/sitesmedia.htm
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I want to work in human rights
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/humanrights.htm
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www.prospects.ac.uk
Where to look for jobs
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Directories
Careers Fairs
Job Centres
Internet
Newspapers
Social media
Online sources
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Institute of Practitioners in Advertising www.ipa.co.uk/
Arts Administration - The Stage, Arts Management
Weekly, Guardian (Mon & Sat)
Times Higher Educational Supplement
www.thes.co.uk - good source of jobs in universities.
Jobs in Higher Education www.jobs.ac.uk
Monster Jobs www.monster.co.uk
www.creativeskillset.org
www.grapevinejobs.com
www.creative-choices.co.uk
Guardian vacancies www.jobs.guardian.co.uk/
Recruitment Agencies
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/recruit.htm
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FASHION - George Ellis Recruitment
MUSIC - Handle Recruitment
ACCOUNTANCY - Hays Accountancy Personnel
SECRETARIAL - Nice People Employment Bureau
STOCKBROKING - Citifocus Ltd
MEDIA – Jumpforward
Networking
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Use your contacts from your work
experience/course/friends
Use social networking sites such as LinkedIn
Attend events, keep business cards and keep
in contact
What else can you do?
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Ask your friends
Ask your relatives
Ask your “network”
How can social media help with job search?
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Social Media: “an umbrella term
that defines the various
activities that integrate
technology, social interaction,
and the construction of words,
pictures, videos, and audio.”
www.wikipedia.org
Enabling conversations
Facilitating discussions
Why use LinkedIn?
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Exploring career ideas
Finding out about an employer and their competition
Professional networking
Opportunity to join groups
For self marketing and increasing your visibility
Asking for advice
Staying in touch/reconnecting
Getting started - Networking
•You start by adding people you know in the “real world”
• Connect with others with similar interests or goals
•Explore 1 and 2 degree connections
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Useful information
Training Videos:
 www.learn.linkedin.com
 www.learn.linkedin.com/students - 6 step video to
success
New Users Starter Guide
 http://learn.linkedin.com/new-users/
Webinars:
 http://learn.linkedin.com/training/
What is
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Twitter is a form of micro-blogging
Twitter gives you 140 characters per ‘tweet’ to
say what’s on your mind
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You can follow people/companies/ recruiters
who interest you.
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Gather an audience
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Ideas on who to follow:
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Companies/employers you are interested in working for
Industry experts/bloggers
Professional networks and industry/professional
publications
Job sites and job boards
Recruiters / head-hunters / HR personnel who are hiring
for the roles you're targeting
Your Schools e.g. @CreateNoLimits
@unikentemploy
Some platforms to consider
Linkedin
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Increase your awareness of the
sector, link with potential recruiters
Twitter
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Follow recruiters, twitjobsearch
Blogging
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Demonstrate your commitment ,
business knowledge and passion.
What is the purpose of a CV?
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To inform the employer about
your education, work experience,
skills and interests
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To show how you meet the
criteria so the employer can not
deselect you
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To ‘sell’ your qualities and to
persuade the employer to invite
you to interview
Where can it go wrong…
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Too long
Untargeted
Confusing layout
Process focused resulting in
a ‘passive’ CV
Incorrect grammar
Incorrect spelling
Where can it go wrong …
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Out of date contact details
Wrong application method
No covering letter
Application never reaches
intended destination
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Application arrives late
Why you need to use a spell checker
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I am a prefectionist and rarely if
if ever forget details.
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Proven ability to track down
and correct erors.
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I have good writen
comunication skills.
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Develop an annual operating
expense fudget…
And why you must read it carefully as well
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Extra Circular Activities
At secondary school I was a
prefix
Over summer I worked for an
examinations bored. (Kent BA
English graduate!)
I hope to hear from you shorty
I am a conscious individual.
I have a desire to work with
commuters
Dear Madman (instead of
Madam)
My hobbits include - instead of
'hobbies'
What makes an effective CV and covering letter
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Right format
Well presented
Proof read/consistent tenses
You have included all the
necessary information
Your skills and abilities are clearly
evidenced
Conveyed your understanding and
enthusiasm for the job
Targeted it to the job
Matching up your CV with the position/company
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It is not ‘one size fits all’, you
need to tailor your CV to each
position you apply for.
Research the organisation. Do they have a mission
statement or core values? What will they be looking
for in you? Who works there at the moment? What
are they passionate about?
What does your CV need to contain?
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Personal details
Education and qualifications
Work experience
Skills
Interests and additional information
References
However don’t be constrained by headings.
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Scholarships/Awards
Voluntary work
Relevant experience
Positions of responsibility
Publication/Presentations
Conferences attended
Research skills
Additional skills
Languages
PRESENTATION OF YOUR CV (p.10)
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The first visual impression your CV
makes is important
Formatting – make sure it’s consistent
Size 10-12 font (depending on font
style)
Clear font e.g. Arial, Calibri
Use plain white or pale A4 size paper
Check spelling.
Use bold type and bullet points, but in
moderation
Do not double side.
Hints on wording
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Avoid personal pronouns No “I’s”
Avoid producing a passive
CV
Start with verbs wherever
possible
Use short sentences &
concise phrases
Focus on accomplishments
Refer to specific projects
with quantifiable results
Make use of Action Verbs
created instructed analysed produced
negotiated designed calculated maintained
administered controlled reviewed observed
consolidated delivered founded increased
studied invented supplied detected
programmed recommended distributed
developed solved prepared installed selected
arranged formulated solved started
Covering letters
• Never send a ‘naked’ CV
• There are two types of
covering letters:
1. Speculative
2. Letter of application
What about the covering letter?
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(P.24)
One side of good quality A4 paper
Formal/conventional layout
Addressed to a named person
State position applied for & where advertised
Explain why applying
Convince the reader of your interest & suitability
Give dates when available/can start
Sign off “Yours sincerely” (if sent to named person)
Research by forum3 found:
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Average graduate will send out 70
CVs when looking for their first
graduate job.
Average number of responses is 7
including 4 rejections and the
remainder inviting the graduate to
interview or further contact.
The more CVs you send out the more
interviews you will get but avoid a
scattergun approach.
Maintaining your morale
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Job hunting is like a full time job
Set yourself goals
Develop new skills
Follow your enthusiasms
Consider doing some voluntary work
Try a more creative approach
www.kent.ac.uk/ces Telephone: 01227 823299 Email: careerhelp@kent.ac.uk
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm including vacations
Drop-in times (no appointment needed): 10.30 to 12.30 & 2 to 5 pm
Speak to an Adviser:
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Quick query, drop in and speak
to an Adviser 10.30am -12.30pm
and 2pm-5pm Monday to Friday.
E mail @careerhelp and an
Adviser will respond to your
query.
You can also book a longer
career guidance appointment
over the phone or pop in.
Action Points
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Look for jobs through a variety of sources
Don’t just apply to advertised positions
Tell your network of contacts you are looking
for a job
If you are using LinkedIn don’t leave your
profile half finished
Do make sure applications are of a high
quality
Avoid a scattergun approach
Stay positive and open to new options
Make use of the Careers and Employability
Service
Questions?
The University of Kent
Careers and Employability Service
You can download a copy of this presentation
at www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm