1. Career Planning and Effective CVs

2. Career Planning Aims äBe aware of the career planning process äUnderstand how to apply the process to start and/or continue your own career planning äTo acquire information on possible options after your postgraduate study

3. Successful people rarely get where they are by following a pre-planned career – they position themselves to seize opportunities The Art of Building Windmills – Career Tactics for the 21 st Century Dr Peter Hawkins

4. SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW WHAT PhDs DO? äLess than 50% of the whole cohort stay in academia äOther career areas - 16% manufacturing, 16% health & social work organisations, 9% public administration, 9% business, IT etc ä73% in full time employment – 12% more than first degree graduates

5. WHAT ABOUT ENGINEERS? äPhysical Science & Engineering ä24% scientific research occupations ä15% engineering professions ä7% information & communication technology professionals ä6% higher education and university lecturers ä2% in other HE roles or schoolteachers

6. Decision Making Taking Action BEING IN A POSITION TO SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY Opportunity Awareness Self- Awareness

7. WHAT DO YOU OFFER? äMust be self-aware – research yourself – have more information than you need äWhat skills, qualities and experiences have you acquired? äProcess and outcomes äCompetence and capability

8. OPPORTUNITY AWARENESS äWhats out there? äSectors, organisations, specific roles, business functions äRequirements to get into areas that interest you? äProspects Occupational Profiles äUse a creative job search approach

9. JOB SEARCH ATTITUDES Be curious and investigative Look when you are not under pressure Dont be put off by job titles and salaries – read the details

10. NETWORKING äAbout increasing your awareness/knowledge not getting a job offer äWho could you include in your list of contacts? äDo you proactively use your contacts now? äRecruitment Fairs, Employer Events, Research Partners?

11. WHERE DOES THE TIME GO TO? äAny project takes time – most of us spend longer planning our holidays than our career

12. CV Learning Outcomes äUnderstand the thinking and writing processes for effective CVs äBe aware of different CV types äBe able to use the information employers provide to target and focus your CV äMake an assessment of your and other CV examples äIdentify specific actions you need to take to improve your CV

13. THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS äJob becomes available äJob Description is written äPerson Specification is written äJob is advertised äCV THINKING äApplications are returned äShortlist is drawn up äTests might be carried out äInterviews are carried out äSelection/Appointment is made

14. ANALYSING AND USING EMPLOYER INFORMATION äJob advert, job descriptions and person specifications äAnswer the question(s) posed by the employer äUse critical thinking skills äUse appropriate language for the area you want to move into

15. WHAT DO YOU OFFER? äMust be self-aware – research yourself – have more information than you need äWhat skills, qualities and experiences have you acquired? äProcess and outcomes äCompetence and capability äHow will they be useful in the job? äWhich of them will you stress in the applications you make?

16. CV TYPES äChronological, Functional, Targeted äThink about which style is going to work best for the application? äYou can adapt and develop your own style/format äExperiment with one or two styles – which works best? äMake sure your covering letter/email is consistent in content, style and presentation

17. WRITING SKILLS – MAIN TIPS äMarketing Yourself äActive verbs – passivity is the enemy äUse a few words but say a lot äExamples and evidence for your claims äUse words from the employers vocabulary äNarrative v succinct writing styles

18. ART OF A GOOD APPLICATION äUnderstand you are marketing yourself äIts sole purpose is to get you an interview äUse the information the employer has provided äConvince them you have what they want äMust do your personal background research – self awareness!!!!!