Job Talk Designing a module to help international students respond effectively to the demands of current recruitment methods Adam Wattam & Hansa Bissoondeeal

The Talent Development Centre

Why Job Talk? Raises awareness of current recruitment practices Enhances employment chances by improving applications, CVs and interview skills Helps to identify skills and achievements and to consider them as ‘transferable’ Gives lots of opportunity for ‘low-stress’ practice

http://webarchive. nationalarchives. gov. uk/+/http:/www. ukces. org http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.ukces.org.uk/upload/pdf/EmployabilityChallengeFullReport.pdf

“Universities provide an environment for deeper and wider learning, allowing for the development of analytical and creative thinking, objective inquiry and primary research. But evidence suggests that for most students, the most important outcome of higher education is finding employment.” https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/higher-education-teaching-excellence-social-mobility-and-student-choice

Essex Employability Sub-Strategy “…we see our students as researchers in their own careers... This research is driven by discovery through experiences (e.g. volunteering, internships, placements and overseas study/work) … and opportunities for reflection on their degree studies and extra- curricular experiences.” https://www.essex.ac.uk/about/strategy/restricted/documents/employability_sub_strategy.pdf

What lies behind our approach? Students often lack employment experience and they think that this means they have yet to develop the skills that would interest an employer. The classic ‘Catch-22’ problem. My involvement in BC Competency project

In fact… The competency/skills-based approach allows for: a wide range of skills and experience to be drawn upon and presented as relevant in a job application apparently ‘non-job-related’ skills and experience to be used as evidence of suitability

British Council competencies: Achievement Analytical Thinking Customer Service Orientation Entrepreneurship Flexibility Holding People Accountable Intercultural Competence Leading and Developing Others Professional Confidence Relationship Building for Influence Self Awareness Team Working Working Strategically https://www.scribd.com/doc/20216731/Behavioural-Competencies-Dictionary-British-Council

Which competency? ‘I had a holiday job working in a shop. My boss would sometimes change my working hours, often at short notice, but I was able to work when he asked me to.’ WORKING STRATEGICALLY FLEXIBILITY ACHIEVEMENT ‘With some other students I set up a revision group. We shared revision materials and plans and took on particular roles according to our interests.’ ANALYTICAL THINKING SELF AWARENESS TEAM WORKING

1. Applications and interviews (Adam) 3. Numeracy Tests (Hansa & Adam) 2. Personal branding and CV clinic (Employability team)

1. Applications and interviews Students relate their experience and skills to a set of behavioural competencies Students practise giving evidence-based interview answers Students develop their interview technique Students practise giving written evidence against competencies in an application form

Good and bad questions: the interviewee

Good and bad questions: the interviewer

2. Personal branding and CV clinic (Employability) cover letters personal statements networking writing effective CVs

http://www2.cipd.co.uk/pm/peoplemanagement/b/weblog/archive/2013/01/29/ftsefirmsturntopsychometrics-2005-08.aspx

3. Numeracy Tests Two components: The language of numeracy tests Tips for tackling maths problems

Common language

Common language generated His business has ________________ a considerable profit. B. 2/6 is __________________ 1/3. C. Water ___________________ two molecules of hydrogen and one of oxygen. equivalent to consists of

Quiz in pairs www.assessmentday.co.uk

www.mathcentre.ac.uk

Additional Resources

References BBC New website. ‘Graduates aren’t skilled enough, say employers’ [Accessed 6/4/17]: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/39268144/graduates-arent-skilled-enough-say-employers British Council competency dictionary: https://www.scribd.com/doc/20216731/Behavioural-Competencies-Dictionary-British- Council Department for Business, Education and Skills (2016). ‘Success as a Knowledge Economy’ https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/higher-education-teaching-excellence-social-mobility-and-student-choice Durrani N and Tariq, V (2012) The role of numeracy skills in graduate employability. Education + Training, Vol. 54 Issue: 5, pp.419-434, doi: 10.1108/00400911211244704 Essex Employability Sub-Strategy: https://www.essex.ac.uk/about/strategy/restricted/documents/employability_sub_strategy.pdf Guardian article: https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2014/may/22/universities-must-produce-graduates-who- are-ready-for-workplace Lynda.com video (interview technique): http://www.lynda.com/Business-Skills-tutorials/Writing-effective-behavioral-interview- questions/109366/138336-4.html UK Commission for Employment and Skills (2009). ‘The Employability Challenge’ :http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.ukces.org.uk/upload/pdf/EmployabilityChallengeFullReport.pdf

Talent Development Centre Visit us at the Silberrad Student Centre tdc-helpdesk@essex.ac.uk 01206 874834