1 Employability & your MScLyn Kane Careers Adviser
2 Today we will cover: Know where to look to for advertised vacanciesRecognise the differences between graduate jobs opportunities Understand the graduate recruitment timetable Be aware of the hidden graduate job market & how to access it Investigate C.V’s & how to get the best from yours Understand recruitment processes Job applications - learn how to write about your strengths Know where to go for further information and support
3 myNapier – Careers PageLook at the websites linked on the myNapier
4 Gradcracker
5
6 Types of options Graduate Programmes Graduate Internships KTPOnly about 8% of graduates find work in graduate programmes Graduate Programmes Short-term Usually paid Usually require subject knowledge Graduate Internships Partnership between a university and a business Work on a specific project Around 70% offered jobs KTP Smaller organisations Large organisations “Direct Hire” Often look for relevant experience + subject knowledge Graduate Jobs
7 Graduate Programmes/ SchemesA range of options Large organisations Annual recruitment cycle Well paid Competitive – some eligibility restrictions Many open to people of any degree disciplines Graduate Programmes/ Schemes Short-term Usually require relevant degree Some ask for experience Good route into permanent work Graduate Internships Partnership between a university and a business Work on a specific project Around 70% offered jobs KTP Majority of graduate labour market Smaller organisations Large organisations “Direct Hire” Often look for relevant experience Graduate Jobs
8 The recruitment timetableMany big companies recruit into their graduate schemes from their summer internships. Big Graduate programmes open Some big Graduate programmes close Time to start looking for jobs/ making speculative applications Most of these programmes open for recruitment around September and October. Technically, for many companies, the recruitment process opens even before this as many recruit into their graduate programmes from the students who have been with them for summer internships. Some say that as many as 60% of their graduate programmes places are filled in this way. So if you in your penultimate year now, it pays to apply for a summer internship. Many of the big programmes close around December/January, however some close even before this – October/November. Also, the earlier you apply the better your chances, as most companies start sifting through applications as soon as they get them and if places are filled before the closing date, they will close early. It is worth remembering however, that some companies run rolling recruitment programmes, so there will be some opportunities after January, but the overall message is, start early. Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
9 DLHE from School of Computing 2015/201689% in Work or Further Study compared to 91% 2014/2015 88% Professional/Managerial compared to 84% 2014/2015 Example Employers - Managerial / Professional Roles Black Rock Cloud Reach ECS FDM Group G2G3 Hewlett Packard Enterprise NCR Rockstar North Sky University of Edinburgh Royal Bank of Scotland Scottish Government Hutchinson Networks
10 This data is taken from Edinburgh Napier University Destinations of Leavers of Higher Education Survey 2013/2014 – 22% Personal Contacts/Speculative Application/Professional Networking.
11 The Hidden Job Market Consider the network you already haveWho could help you develop your career? Advice? Information? Further contacts? Personal recommendation? The first destinations survey demonstrates how useful personal contacts can be. It’s great if you can find someone within your immediate circle of friends and family who can offer you a job, but for most people that’s not a reality. Nonetheless, many are surprised to find how useful their extended network can be for advice, information and further contacts.
12 Grow your Network
13 School of Computing Careers
14 Social Platforms
15
16 Purpose of a CV Applicant EmployerOpportunity to demonstrate your written communication skills to: Market your qualifications, experience, personal qualities and transferable skills Convince employers that you are suited to the role Employer Can you do the job? Will you do the job? What will you bring to the team?
17 The Recruitment ProcessImagine you are the employer and are hiring for a job. There’s a pile of other work to get through and you need a quick way to identify suitable candidates. You are going to be this person for the next couple of activities. The Recruitment Process
18 10-20 seconds…GO! Employers say that they tend to spend somewhere around seconds doing an initial scan of a CV. Activity: Ask students to scan the 2 CVs in the handout (spend 20 second on each). Which one passes your scan test and why? Neither of these CVs are perfect
19 Activity 1 In pairs look at the 2 CVs provided in relation to the job description How could they be improved? Consider: content including headings use structure and presentation Is it tailored to the job?
20 2. Education & Qualifications1. Order There are no strict rules about the order in which to present the information. Order items in terms of relevance. The first page is the most important page. Use it wisely. 2. Education & Qualifications Explain what you’ve done Pick out what the reader will be most interested in Relevant modules / relevant topics Skills Projects
21 3. Experience Don’t just list duties and responsibilitiesFor any Relevant Experience Key achievements What you learned/gained from the experience For any Additional Experience – e.g they will know what a shop assistant does. Key achievements & soft skills: Sales Assistant: operating the till, helping customers, replenishing stock Sales Assistant: quickly promoted to team leader and given managerial responsibility during manager’s absence.
22 4. Technical Skills IT Skills: Java, MySQL, PHP, XHTML, XML, JavaScript, .NET MySQL, PHP & HTML Used to create a website with a backend database for a fictional online store as part of a university project... Projects Webstore Worked in a group of 3 to create a website with a backend database for a fictional online store using HTML, PHP and MySQL. Included functionality such as...
23 5. Non-technical Skills TeamworkAs a team leader in a recent University group project I was praised by my team members for my ability to provide direction, motivate the team, and keeping everyone on track. As a member of a team working in a busy restaurant I’ve proven my willingness to take direction, support others and be flexible in “pitching-in”.
24 6. Profiles, Personal StatementsOptional Generic statements aren’t that interesting to read News headlines: Attributes, Skills & Experience 7. Formatting Be careful of how you use bold, italics, underline Tables can be useful for formatting information Grid lines and borders can be distracting
25 How might you apply these principles?Order Education Experience Skills Profile Spend a couple of minutes thinking about your own CV and how you might apply these principles. Any questions?
26 2 main types: Standard application form Supporting statementGraduate application form Motivation question Series of competency questions You’ll probably have encountered Standard Application forms in the past. Has anyone encountered a Graduate application form?
27 Typical Selection Procedure- Graduate SchemeApplication form Online psychometric tests Telephone / video interview Assessment Centre
28 Typical Grad Scheme Selection ProcedureApplication form 33,114 Online psychometric tests 20,000 Telephone / Video interview 4,500 Assessment Centre 3,189 Final Interview 1,580 Start Grad Scheme Figures taken from FDM recruitment 2015/16 A few thousand applicants for a few hundred jobs
29 Why are so many rejected at this stage?Didn’t meet criteria Questions not answered properly / not enough evidence provided Similar answers to everyone else Poor spelling/grammar Form not completed Application forms are an incredibly important part of the application process. While many students express concern about psychometrics and interviews, it’s actually the application form where most people get rejected from the process. The form not being completed is a surprisingly big factor in why forms are rejected.
30 What are employers looking for?Evidence of: Motivation for the role Relevant skillset and competence for the position The ability to adapt to and share the organisation’s vision and ethos
31 Application Forms Increasingly companies are using online application forms….why? - Standardised format - Easier to track and store information - Easier to review Time consuming but worth the effort!
32
33
34 IBM Please provide examples when you have demonstrated this competency: Adaptability (150) Teamwork (150) Effective Communication (150) Self-motivation and drive to succeed (150) Initiative and creative problem solving (150) Client focus (150) Motivation to apply for this role (150) Additional information e.g. achievements, awards (150)
35 Motivation questions An awareness of their company / organisationAn understanding of their industry (where applicable) Evidence that you know what the opportunity entails Evidence of self-reflection – how your skills, experience, goals relate What do you think they are looking for in the answers to motivations questions?
36 Common mistakes Only describing how the job would benefit you.Telling them what they already know e.g. “I want to work with you because you are one of the most successful mobile apps start-ups in Scotland”. Not talking about how this relates to you. Excessive flattery e.g. “your esteemed company”
37 Competencies “Typically, competencies are general descriptions of the abilities needed to perform a role in the organization. Competencies are described in terms such that they can be measured”. * *http://managementhelp.org/staffing/specify/cmptncys.htm So, what are competencies?
38 Employers assess competencies by….First Stage CVs and covering letters Application forms with personal statements Application forms with competency questions Second Stage: Interviews Assessment Centres Aptitude tests
39 Sell your strengths effectivelyBe a STAR-L: Sell your strengths effectively S = outline the situation T = what is the task? A = what action did you take? R = what was the result /outcome? L = learning what would you do differently?
40 YOU Sources of evidence Paid work experienceExtra curricular activities YOU Part time work University work/projects Strengths
41 Activity 2 Competency questionsIn pairs - read the examples in the hand-out. Which would score higher and why? Read the examples in the handout. They were both written by the same person. Which one would score higher and why?
42 Activity 3: Individually either select a competency from the job description, OR IBM and write a STAR-L example: Adaptability (150) Teamwork (150) Effective Communication (150) Self-motivation and drive to succeed (150) Initiative and creative problem solving (150) Client focus (150)
43 Common mistakes Being generic. They’re looking for one example.Using a passive voice e.g. “meetings were held” Using “we” instead of “I” Too much detail about the situation. A vaguely described Task/Challenge.
44 Reminder: Application formsCopy or download the application form Read the application pack thoroughly Conduct your research on the company/job Identify what the employer is looking for Match your skills and experience Gather evidence to emphasise your suitability for the role Be aware of the closing date
45 Personal statements Make a photocopy for 1st draft. Begin with an introduction Short statements matching the requirements- give examples as evidence Treat each requirement as a paragraph if there is space Sum each paragraph up in a conclusion or reflection Spell and grammar check “Additional information in support of your application To include any responsibilities, skills, experience, personal attributes and training which you consider relevant to the role description of the post you are applying for. Please consider carefully the information you have been given about this post before completing this section:” 15 Mins Remind students if they are hand writing this application form, they must have neat writing, spelling and grammar In Groups of three: Share any extra-curricular activities that you may have taken part in – 1 Mins each (3 Mins) In Groups of three: Share any achievements you may have taken part in – 2 Mins each (6 Mins) Gather some examples and give some examples e.g. international travel, managing budget, dealing with different culture, voluntary work, sport
46 Questions? [email protected]