The University of Kent
Careers & Employability Service
Careers with a School of English Postgraduate Degree
You can download a copy of this
presentation at
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm
Is postgraduate study worthwhile?
Sutton Trust Report
• The proportion of people of working age in Britain with a
postgraduate qualification has climbed rapidly:
from
4%
in 1996
to
11%
in 2012
• The study found that a postgraduate degree remained
linked to higher earnings: worth on average £5,500 per
year more than someone with only an undergraduate
degree.
Further Postgraduate Study
• 23% of English grads do PG study after graduation
• Research MA/MPhil 1 to 2 years – often part-time
• PhD – 3 years. Must do an MA first.
Arts and Humanities Research Council bursaries
• See www.kent.ac.uk/careers/postgradmenu.htm
Study Abroad
• Many postgraduate courses are now taught in
English, especially in the Netherlands and
Scandinavia
• No course fees in Sweden and about £1,000 in
Germany and Denmark
• See www.kent.ac.uk/careers/postgradmenu.htm#PGAbroad
Help for postgraduates
Career Planning Guide for postgraduates
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/PDWPgrad.htm
Work in Universities
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/workin/university.htm
Skills gained with an English Degree:
sell these in your applications!
•
•
•
•
•
ability to write well in a variety of styles.
to convey meaning precisely.
to summarise, argue and debate.
to plan, organise and meet tight deadlines.
to research, select, analyse, organise and present
information.
• to think clearly and logically and solve problems.
• To gather, assess, interpret and critically evaluate.
• EXCELLENCE IN COMMUNICATION!
“Would you say their are any skill shortages in the
UK for actuary's ie their enough out their, is their
a shortfall of any kind of actuary?”
In an email from an HR manager to me!
What do Employers look for in
Postgraduate applicants?
On appointment:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Honesty & integrity
Ability to listen to others
Can integrate quickly into team
Ability to present ideas clearly (verbally & in writing)
Good time management
After one year:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Ability to identify areas for change or improvement
Can be asked to undertake independent research
Negotiation skills
Capable of learning new IT systems quickly
Attention to detail & thoroughness
What skills do Postgraduates have?
Postgraduate
Skills
Destinations
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/fdrbases/destinations.htm
MA Creative Writing
PhD Poetry Text - University of Kent
Communications Intern - School
Creative Writer - Self employed
Teaching Assistant - High School
The Contemporary Novel - University of Kent
Univ. of Kent
Library Ass't
Run Wild Media
Editorial Ass't
UCL - Evening Courses Admin Ass't
Christ Church Univ. - PGCE 7-14 English
Univ. of Kent - Library Ass't
Grammar School - Teaching Ass't
Concord International - EFL Tutor
Univ. of Kent - Lecturer
MA English & American Literature
Teacher of English Literature - Self employed
PGCE/M.Ed English & Drama – Cambridge
PGCE - Christ Church University
English Literature Tutor - Open Book Project
PhD in English - University of Kent (2)
Sky - Ass't Producer
Time Products UK Ltd. - Field Sales Manager
BBC Etzella Ettelbruck - Basketball Player
Canterbury Christ Church Univ. - PGCE English
Canterbury Christ Church Univ. - PGCE Primary
Univ. College London - Admissions Ass't
Westcliff High School – Teacher
Zenjiang Univ., China - TEFL Teacher
PhD English
Assistant Lecturer - University of Kent
Lecturer in English – Mid-Kent College
Chief Program Officer - Champions for Kids
MA Dickens & Victorian Culture
School - English Teacher
College of Law - General Diploma in Law
Univ. of Kent - M.Phil. English
Institute of Education - PGCE English
What can I do with a degree in English?
• What graduates in English did after leaving Kent
• Jobs related to your subject
• Employers and vacancy sources
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/English.htm
Teacher Training
• PGCE (teacher training) 1 year: about 6% of
grads
• Schools Direct and Teach First routes as
well
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/siteach.htm
• Teaching in Colleges
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/teach-FE.htm
VACANCIES
University of Kent Vacancy Database
www.kent.ac.uk/ces/vacancies.html
Other talks
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/casevents.htm
Applications and Interviews
• English Postgrad CV must be targeted at the job!
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/postgradcvexample.htm
Media CV www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/mediacv.htm
• Covering Letters
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm
• Practice Interviews: journalism, teaching, marketing, HR,
postgrad study etc.
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/interviews/mockivs.htm
• Application, interview and selection centre videos
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/IntVid.htm
Location of the Careers Service
School of English
Careers Employability Award on Moodle
+ 40 employability points
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/Moodle/English.htm
Moodle Careers Employability Award
•
14 Quizzes: need 75% to pass but allowed
unlimited attempts
•Employability skills quiz
•Employability skills quiz: drag
& drop
•How to develop the skills
employers want?
•Test your spelling and
grammar!
•What makes you happy at
work?
•How commercially aware are
you?
Complete 3 of the
following seven
assignments
•Special interests topic •Analyse your skills and learn
lesson
how to make top quality
•Interview preparation applications
•Practice interview
•What are the most
•Do you want to live to work
common interview
or work to live?
questions?
•Aptitude tests and
•Researching careers
assessment centres
•CV quiz
•Choosing a career
•CVs and covering
letters: drag & drop
•Submit a CV
quiz
•Career planning drag •Social media
and drop quiz
•Action planning
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm#subject
I enjoyed the depth of the module. It went
The amount of time put into this
far beyond some general tips on how to
write a good CV and prepare for an
is astounding! I actually spoke to
The module
is very,
useful!
I
interview.
Rathervery
it went
in to detail
friends from other universities
really
lovethe
how
it makes
you
to
about
whole
process of
graduate
job
who said they wished they had
beginning to and
the end. It
think search
aboutfrom
yourthepersonality
It reallysomething
blew my mind
with
some
like this.
was very instructive .
Comments from students
who
haveyour
helps
you
to
identify
ideas I’ve never known before,
theand
award
It was
so easy, quick and I
strengths and
weaknesses.
such ascompleted
portfolio working
I found the module to be highly
working
from home.
thought-provoking
as itI never
really
thoughtme
about
obtaining
encouraged
to consider
how my
You will
getfrom
a really
nice
happiness
mymy
work
before.
degree
benefit
future
and
what I can
be doing now to improve
certificate!
my graduate employment prospects.
It would be mad to apply
for a job or attend an
interview without doing it!
I recently had a very
successful interview largely
because I put the advice on
the module into practice.
learned a lot.
Without realising, you have
finished the course and
have already put together
It has made me feel a lot more
a very
good
CV and
confident
when
it comes
to
covering
letter.and
applications
and interviews
has also made me think about
skills that I didn't think I had
before.
Before the course
I had only a vague idea
of my career path and opportunities.
Now I am applying for summer
internships and know how to effectively
sell my skills to a prospective employer
and have a much more focused plan for
my future.
BRUCE WOODCOCK
• A Duty Careers Adviser is available for
short (15 minute) consultations:
MORNINGS (10.30 am - 12.30 pm) and
AFTERNOONS (2 to 4 pm). Don’t need to book
an appointment just ask at reception in the
Careers Service (Keynes College Driveway)
• If you need longer ring our reception on
01227 823299 to make an appointment for
interview with me.
• Email: bw@kent.ac.uk
Other Points
• Check you campus emails regularly as I will
send you emails most Mondays!
• We are open in the vacations
• We will support you for 3 years after graduation
The University of Kent
Careers & Employability
Service
You can download a copy of this
presentation at
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm
Get actively involved in university
life …
Graduate Application Form Questions
• Describe a challenging situation which required
your persuasive skills and your ability to
organise other people in order to reach a
successful resolution.
• Describe how your personal planning and
organisation resulted in a successful
achievement of a personal or group task.
• Describe a situation where you had to work
effectively as a member of a team. What were
the team’s aims? How was the team selected?
What was your role?