Introduction to the Careers and Employability Service Nicola Urquhart Employability Adviser

What we will cover: What is employability? What employability skills are graduate recruiters looking for? How the Careers and Employability Service can help you. How to stay informed Action points 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)

What employability skills are graduate recruiters looking for? Page 4 Communication Report writing Team working Leadership Planning and organisation Project management Enterprise Problem Solving Reflection Adaptability Energy Drive and resilience Integrity Reliability Enthusiasm/passion Self awareness Confidence Contextual/cultural awareness Capacity to develop Numeracy Positive attitude Business and customer awareness IT skills

Why are employability skills so important? Increased competition – over 400,000 graduates leaving university each year. ‘Our latest UK recruitment campaign closed having attracted c The bank will offer c.475 places in 2012.’ HSBC newsletter April 2012 Page 5

Why are employability skills so important now? Changing world of work: Global economy More career changes New technology Roles change Page 6

What employers say… "Few students are able to articulate what they have gained from their experience in higher education." (Association of Graduate Recruiters, 1995)

Telephone: Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9 to 5 including vacations Drop-in times (no appointment needed): to & 2 to 5 pm

Careers and Employability Service Drop In - Quick Query Careers Guidance Interviews Careers Talks and Workshops Careers Library: Employer Directories, Occupational Profiles, Books etc Comprehensive Web Pages Careers Employability Award (CEM) on Moodle Vacancy Database Alumni Careers Network Annual Careers and Recruitment Fair

Speak to an Adviser: Quick query, drop in and speak to an Adviser 10.30am pm and 2pm-5pm Monday to Friday. E and an Adviser will respond to your query. You can also book a longer career guidance appointment over the phone or pop in.

Attend Careers Talks and Workshops. Examples this term include: Using Social Media to enhance your employability How to prepare a CV Applying for a solicitor’s training contract Using Personal Development Planning to enhance employability. More information available at

Use the Careers Library and Publications Graduate Directories Postgraduate Prospectuses Various books and publications Career Planning Guide for Undergraduates The Creative Career Search Booklet

Careers and Employability Service Web Pages I want to work in Creative Careers careers.htm careers.htm What can I do with my degree in Film Studies. Applications and Interviews (includes assessment centres and psychometric tests etc.) Example CVs & Covering Letters Interview Reports htm htm

Careers Employability Award Indentifying and learning how to develop your employability skills and how to sell them to employers. Identifying your interests, values and personal styles and finding out which careers these relate to. Finding out about a particular career or industry. Preparing a quality CV and learning how to perform well at interview.

Moodle Careers Employability Award Assessed by a range of quizzes and assignments Will greatly improve your career planning and job hunting skills, giving you strategies to make career choices and will increase your chances of getting a graduate level job. Takes about 12 hours to complete On completion you will get a University of Kent Careers Employability Award to add to your CV Get 40 Kent Employability points for successful completion of the module.Kent Employability points

“I liked the fact that the assignments relate to how you would fill in answers on a graduate job application step by step and provides examples of how to fill it in.” “I really enjoyed the quizzes. They effectively highlighted the gaps in my knowledge, as many of the answers surprised me. I also found the module on creating my own CV very useful, these skills will be invaluable for tailoring my CV to particular jobs.” “There is a wealth of information about everything; I especially liked the individual information about specific job types and the advice given about interview skills.” Comments from students who have completed the award.

On successful completion you receive a University of Kent Careers Employability Award. You can then add the following to your CV to show to employers. "On my own initiative I enrolled for and successfully completed the University of Kent Careers Employability Award which covered identification and development of employability skills, self-awareness, identification of relevant career options, researching opportunities, CV preparation and interview skills." The Careers Employability Award

Vacancy Database All vacancies sent to the Careers and Employability Service by employers, whether for graduate jobs, sandwich placements or vacation work/internships are entered on this database which offers: A personalised search facility alerts of new vacancies which may interest you Employers notifying vacancies are often specifically targeting Kent graduates, so competition for jobs is lower than on other vacancy sites

KSCV Bronze 25 hours of volunteering

KSCV Silver 50 hours of volunteering 15 minute review with a member of staff

KSCV Gold 100 volunteering hours Review 2 training sessions 750 words

Careers Network Helps current students gain an insight into careers through contact with alumni. Information and advice by letter/phone/ , work-shadowing. Visit the Careers Centre and ask to use the Careers Network.

Kent Grads KentGrads - database of companies in Kent who employ graduates, and who may, from time to time, have vacancies. It is not a list of current vacancies, but a resource to help you find possible employers. The site can list all the companies in the database grouped in one of a number of ways: by location in Kent, by the criteria you specify or by keywords. For example: if you can remember the surname of a particular contact at a company, but are unsure of the company name.

Employer events and information Employer talks on campus e.g. IBM, Coca Cola, Bloomberg, European Commission. Careers and Recruitment Fair 1 st November Eliot Great Hall Working in Kent Pages s/kentopps.htm s/kentopps.htm Page 24

How to use CES Begin by doing some research  Perhaps into yourself (ideas, interests, preferences)  Then into your opportunities (use vacancy database, Directories)  Use IT: CES website  Attend talks/workshops/presentations etc  Quick Query at CES  1:1 careers interview

Employability Web Pages Volunteering (Kent Union) Student Ambassadors Scheme Employability Points Opportunities to learn a language Information on working/studying abroad

Stay up-to-date with what is happening Employability Newsletter Follow us on Facebook at University of Kent Student Employability Follow us on Twitter Check out your School website.

Action Points Take advantage of all the initiatives the university has to offer. Register on the vacancy database – become aware of deadlines Make use of the Careers and Employability Service. start NOW!

The University of Kent Careers and Employability Service You can download a copy of this presentation at