How work experience can help your career

Transcription

1 How work experience can help your career Maddie Smith Careers Adviser Jenny Lowthrop Volunteer Co-ordinator

2 The next 50 minutes Employability what does it mean? What are employers looking for? What constitutes work experience? What are the benefits? Accessing opportunities Spotlight on Volunteering Questions/discussion

3 What do employers think of you?! 49% of employers think graduates are under-prepared for employment Even in a competitive graduate job market they experience skills shortages Employers want employability

4 Employability definitions Employability is about how individuals engage with opportunities, and reflect and articulate their skills and experiences A set of skills, knowledge and personal attributes that make an individual ready to contribute quickly and effectively in their organisation. Source: Universities UK

5 So what does employability mean for you? Making yourself more employable? Developing skills and abilities? Being able to promote your skills? Being able to develop and manage your career? Being able to find out about opportunities for work and study? Being able to reflect and articulate your skills and experiences?

6 Employers are looking for A range of skills and attributes Evidence and specific, detailed examples that demonstrate these competencies Passion, motivation and focus evidence for the WHY questions why do you want to work in xxx? Work experience shows you: are a contributor someone with an edge that well rounded, normal person

7 Specifically, employers want... Graduates with the potential to be adaptive, adaptable and transformative Adaptive Fit in, do job competently, avoid questioning established procedures. Be effective quickly Adaptable Willing to learn new skills. Interact effectively. Cope with change Transformative Ability to analyse, critique, lead, look ahead

8 So what counts as work experience? Part-time job Industrial placement Summer internship Graduate internship Specific project Voluntary work Work shadowing Academic project or dissertation Having a mentor Paid or unpaid? 12 months or 2 days?

9 To clarify then An internship is a work-related learning experience for individuals who wish to develop hands on work experience in a certain occupational field Employers value ANYTHING that demonstrates you have been pro-active in finding out about a career area and/or developing relevant skills

10 Internships some facts Many organisations, especially in finance and banking, take around 40%- 50% of their graduate intake from 2 nd year interns. Some financial services firms and banks offer short programmes for 1 st years

11 Different types of internship Structured, advertised programmes LSE schemes Bespoke Off cycle

12 How to apply Reactive strategies Respond to adverts Attend fairs Go to employer presentations Proactive strategies Many positions are not advertised Speculative applications Networking

13 Work experience what s in it for you? Develops the skills employers look for Adds value to any future application Obtain relevant / real life experience Potential job offer or sponsorship after a successful placement Provide career insight and help clarify your ideas Future contacts

14 How would you answer these questions? Outside your academic study can you give an example of where you have lead a team. What was your role? How did you make a difference? Can you tell us about a time when you made a suggestion resulting in an improvement to an existing business process? What steps have you taken to clarify your career interests?

15 Can t make up your mind about your career? Sometimes you need to do (rather than think!) Work experience can clarify your strengths (and weaknesses!) And your preferences eg what type of role and work environment you enjoy being a part of

16 Accessing the hidden job market Not all jobs are advertised Many are by word of mouth Work experience and volunteering will increase your circle of contacts

17 Making the most of your work experience Set yourself some learning objectives Identify key experiences and keep a skills log Observe others and learn Get involved! Seek feedback from colleagues Speak to others about what they do Ask about a future reference Network and keep in contact

18 Spotlight on Volunteering

19 73% of employers would employ candidates with volunteering experience over those without 94% of employers believe that volunteering can add skills 94% of employees who volunteered to learn new skills had benefited either by getting their first job, improving their salary, or being promoted

20 Why Volunteer? Be proactive in improving your CV develop your existing skills and gain new ones get hands-on experience Meet new people and get to know a different side of London Make a difference to the local community you live in. Contribute to a cause you care about Have fun!

21 What volunteering can I do? The list is endless Admin work for a charity Research work Supporting children in need, including lesson support, fun activities with disabled or ill children Working outside in the environment, including clearing parks, recycling, animals etc Pro-bono work Fundraising activities for charities, including sponsored events. Acting as school governors

22 When can I volunteer? You can volunteer anytime Evenings, weekends, 1 hour a week to 1 day a week to 1 one-off volunteering opportunity. You should not volunteer or work more than 15 hours per week so it does not disrupt your studies. Who can volunteer? Anyone can volunteer from any department, background or country. You do not need set experience for most volunteer roles, it could be your chance to try something new!

23 Volunteering Register as a volunteer Search for opportunities on our vacancy board Receive our e-newsletter Make an appointment to see Jen

24 Next steps

25 Where else can I look for work experience opportunities? Careers Fairs Employer presentations Careers Service advertise opportunities and also the LSE internship scheme Academic department Careers publications / guides Networking who do you know? Speculative application

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27 Internships LSE Internship scheme for opportunities with Parliament, public policy, media policy and corporate social responsibility organisations To apply for the LSE Internship scheme you must be a postgraduate student and you must be prepared to commit up to 15 hour per week until the end of Lent term. These internships are unpaid. Internship opportunities at Log in to My Careers Service where you can search for opportunities

28 Other useful resources co.uk

29 What do I do now? Don t wait and see, start thinking now! Do your research Plan what type of work experience you want to do, who you would like to work for Talk to a Careers Adviser Ensure you get the latest vacancies Don t put off applying till the closing date! Get your CV up to date, and bring it for feedback at Careers

30 Your Careers Service Where are you? Tower 3, 3rd Floor When are you open? 10am to 5pm (Mon to Thurs) 11am to 5pm (Friday) Do you offer advice or CV feedback appointments? Every Monday to Thursday (over 100 appointments each day) How do you make an appointment? Go online to book appointments and events and to register your occupational interests! Need to book on My Career Service at 9:30am

31 Good luck Remember we are here to help!