Employability for Economics Students

A simple guide to what we will be doing in the School of Economics

to help you find the right future employment for you.

Dr John PeirsonEmployability Officer, School of Economics

Employability and Economics – Stage 1

Starting in the Spring term – a short series of talks and workshops covering:

• What can you do with an economics degree?

• What do you want to do? Employment or further study?

• How you can improve your profile to get the right job, eg work experience,

internships, University initiatives

• Advice on how to write a good application/CV

• How does the job application process work and how can you win this game?

• Come and see me – John Peirson, Keynes Cg.07, jdp1@kent.ac.uk,

Consultation hours: Tues 1–2pm & Thu 3–4pm or try other times.

What happens in Stages 2 & 3?

• More talks and practical workshops

• Greater focus on job applications and the selection process

• Give practice at competency tests, interviews and other parts of

the selection process

• Separate programme of talks and practical workshops for

students intending to spend a year in industry. Placements run by

Sylvain Barde, Keynes B1.12, email S.Barde@kent.ac.uk,

Consultation Hours Mon 2–3pm & Thu 2–3pm. Getting a good

placement is tough and requires hard work and time.

What you can do now

• Think about what you want to do after your degree. The

next three years rush past and the serious employee has

to think about the future NOW

• Consider internships and work experience in the field you

wish to work in

• There are a number of University run initiatives

Job Market Forum

• This is a School of Economics run Moodle module which you

can register for, see the right-hand button on the School of

Economics home page

https://www.kent.ac.uk/economics/index.html

• The Job market forum is for past and present Economics

students who are in the job market. It is a forum for student

discussion about jobs in general and employment advice

• If wish to receive a reference from a member of the School,

we require you to upload your CV onto this site.

MyFolio

• MyFolio is the University of Kent’s student-owned

e-portfolio and Personal Development

• It is a personal development planning (PDP) tool

• It is designed to help you set and achieve personal

and employment related goals

• Most usefully, it records your achievements

• It is at https://myfolio.kent.ac.uk/myfolio/

Employability Points Scheme

• This University of Kent scheme provides students with the

means to demonstrate activity across a range of activities.

• The scheme has links with a number of external firms and

organisations. Students can get work experience with a

number of participating companies.

• More details at http://www.kent.ac.uk/employabilitypoints/

or contact: Christopher Broad, Employability Points

Co-ordinator, email: c.m.broad@kent.ac.uk

University of Kent Careers Employability Award

The University of Kent Careers Employability Award helps students

to identify and plan

• Possible future careers

• Potential employers

• The student’s employment skills

• Present these skills in CVs and job applications

The award takes about 12 hours, is free, undertaken online using

Moodle and further details can be found at

http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm

Other sources of information

• The University’s Careers and Employability Service

has a large website, friendly staff and a building just by

the entrance to Keynes. See

http://www.kent.ac.uk/ces/

• Kent Union run a volunteering scheme that allows

students to record and attain awards for a large

number of volunteering activities. See

http://www.kentunion.co.uk/volunteering/

School of Economics and Employability

• The School sees its major objective as to develop your economic knowledge,

skills and employability in a very demanding future job market

• We will help you, but most of the effort will come from you.

• After Christmas there will be a series of talks and activities to develop your

employability and this carries on through Stages 2 and 3

• If you have any questions or want some advice, get in contact with me John

Peirson, email J.D.Peirson@kent.ac.uk

• Talk to your Academic Adviser. More specific advice from me or the Careers and

Employability Service

• If you have any year in industry questions please see our Placement Officer,

Sylvain Barde, email S.Barde@kent.ac.uk