Job Hunting for International Students. Pamela Andrew and Shona Mach Careers Centre.

English is the Key! “International students get through the CV and application form but the majority fail in group work where they do not have a good enough command of the English Language” Hong Le, Graduate Recruiter “International students get through the CV and application form but the majority fail in group work where they do not have a good enough command of the English Language” Hong Le, Graduate Recruiter Written – CV, covering letter, application form, assessment centre – report Written – CV, covering letter, application form, assessment centre – report Spoken – interview, group work, presentation Spoken – interview, group work, presentation

Taking Part. I would strongly recommend all students try to be involved in opportunities where they can practise their spoken English” I would strongly recommend all students try to be involved in opportunities where they can practise their spoken English” Olivia Morley, Goldman Sachs International Olivia Morley, Goldman Sachs International Take part in hall activities. Take part in hall activities. Join a university society or group. Join a university society or group. Employer Events – Presentation Skills 02/12 – Ernst & Young - andrews.ac.uk/careers/students/event s/standrews/ Employer Events – Presentation Skills 02/12 – Ernst & Young - andrews.ac.uk/careers/students/event s/standrews/ andrews.ac.uk/careers/students/event s/standrews/ andrews.ac.uk/careers/students/event s/standrews/ Volunteer, Volunteer, Part-time job. Part-time job. Internship, work shadowing, conversation Internship, work shadowing, conversation Talk by Jing

Job Search in the UK Graduate Entry to the Labour Market. Graduate Entry to the Labour Market. How can I identify graduate job opportunities How can I identify graduate job opportunities Job search back home Job search back home Networking – how to go about it Networking – how to go about it What do employers look for What do employers look for

Graduate Entry to UK Labour Market Graduate Training Programmes (only 5%) Graduate Training Programmes (only 5%) Approx. 70% of jobs are open to graduates of any degree discipline Approx. 70% of jobs are open to graduates of any degree discipline Employers provide initial training of 1-2 years Employers provide initial training of 1-2 years May study for a professional qualification May study for a professional qualification Masters often enter at same point as undergraduates. Masters often enter at same point as undergraduates. Small-Medium Enterprises (often not advertised) Small-Medium Enterprises (often not advertised) recruit an increasing proportion of graduates recruit an increasing proportion of graduates operate less formal systems of training operate less formal systems of training Direct Entry Direct Entry with specific experience or specialist qualification with specific experience or specialist qualification

How do you identify opportunities?

Identifying Job Opportunities - Advertised? Websites – organisations Websites – organisations Careers Centre – “Search jobs and internships” Careers Centre – “Search jobs and internships” Employer Directories e.g. Prospects. Employer Directories e.g. Prospects. Recruitment Agencies – e.g. Recruitment Agencies – e.g. Print media – newspapers and on-line. Print media – newspapers and on-line. Recruitment fairs and campus-based employer events – fair programmes - andrews.ac.uk/careers/students/events/fair s/. Recruitment fairs and campus-based employer events – fair programmes - andrews.ac.uk/careers/students/events/fair s/. andrews.ac.uk/careers/students/events/fair s/ andrews.ac.uk/careers/students/events/fair s/

Identifying Job Opportunities - Hidden job Market? Identify the type of job you are looking for. Identify the type of job you are looking for. Identify the type of organisation you would like to work for. Identify the type of organisation you would like to work for. Networking – creating your own, Networking – creating your own, Research the organisation you would like to work for. Research the organisation you would like to work for. Make contact with the organisation. Make contact with the organisation. Make a speculative application (CV and covering letter). Make a speculative application (CV and covering letter). Over 70% of jobs are not advertised.

Job Search back Home Key issues English language still key. English language still key. Networking. Networking. Transferable skills, eg teamwork, interpersonal. Transferable skills, eg teamwork, interpersonal. Work experience. Work experience. Research employers – domestic versus multinationals – know recruitment process. Research employers – domestic versus multinationals – know recruitment process. Flexibility in your attitude to employment Flexibility in your attitude to employment

Job hunting resources China (free registration) (free registration) Going Global Going Global

Networking Academics from University. Academics from University. Friends and Family. Friends and Family. Past and Present Colleagues. Past and Present Colleagues. Past and Present Employers. Past and Present Employers. University Alumni University Alumni People doing the job you would like to be doing. People doing the job you would like to be doing. Careers Alumni Network Careers Alumni Network andrews.ac.uk/careers/students/getti ngstarted/contactalumni/ andrews.ac.uk/careers/students/getti ngstarted/contactalumni/ andrews.ac.uk/careers/students/getti ngstarted/contactalumni/ andrews.ac.uk/careers/students/getti ngstarted/contactalumni/

What do employers of graduates look for? Degree + Work experience + Extra curricular activities = highly employable Degree + Work experience + Extra curricular activities = highly employable Communication: e.g. speaking effectively, writing concisely Communication: e.g. speaking effectively, writing concisely Research and Planning: e.g. problem solving, goal setting Research and Planning: e.g. problem solving, goal setting Interpersonal: e.g. listening, delegating effectively Interpersonal: e.g. listening, delegating effectively Management and Leadership: e.g. coordinating tasks, supervision Management and Leadership: e.g. coordinating tasks, supervision Work Success: e.g. decision making and implementation, time management Work Success: e.g. decision making and implementation, time management

Employers’ Top 25 Attributes 1. Willingness to Learn 2. Commitment 3. Dependability 4. Self Motivation 5. Teamwork 6. Communications Skills (Oral) 7. Co-operation 8. Communications Skills (Written) 9. Drive/Energy 10. Self-Management 11. Desire to Achieve 12. Problem-Solving 13. Analytical Ability 14. Flexibility 15. Initiative 16. Can Summarise Key Issues 17. Logical Argument 18. Adaptability (Intellectual) 19. Numeracy 20. Adaptability (Organisational) 21. Commercial Awareness 22. Time Management 23. Self Confidence 24. Able to Influence Others 25. Creative Thinking

Other Points. Timescales - Many organisations start the recruitment process in Sept – November 2008 for jobs starting in Sept/Oct Timescales - Many organisations start the recruitment process in Sept – November 2008 for jobs starting in Sept/Oct Prospective Employer – Recruitment policy e.g. Some organisations ask for a visa before application. Prospective Employer – Recruitment policy e.g. Some organisations ask for a visa before application. UK Border Agency – Post Study Worker – (Wendy Houldsworth Student Support.) uk/tier1/poststudy UK Border Agency – Post Study Worker – (Wendy Houldsworth Student Support.) uk/tier1/poststudy uk/tier1/poststudy uk/tier1/poststudy Masters students often start at the same level as undergraduates, may start on a higher salary level. Masters students often start at the same level as undergraduates, may start on a higher salary level.

Careers Centre Website - International Student section. Website - International Student section. Occupation Information – Tactics sheets, books, directories. Occupation Information – Tactics sheets, books, directories. Careers Wiki – information, case studies Careers Wiki – information, case studies Vacancies, Job Shop – local vacancies Vacancies, Job Shop – local vacancies CV, application forms & covering letters CV, application forms & covering letters Employer contacts: fairs, career insights, skills development, presentations Employer contacts: fairs, career insights, skills development, presentations Going Global – resource for finding international employment and internships. Going Global – resource for finding international employment and internships. Psychometric testing Psychometric testing Interview coaching Interview coaching Information on employers, further study & work experience Information on employers, further study & work experience Adviser drop-in sessions. Adviser drop-in sessions.

Any questions?