level 6 ba history...writing interview skills professional online presence industry insight...
TRANSCRIPT
Building employability skills and career prep in the lockdown
Joanna Pattison and Oby OputaCareers Consultants
St Mary’s Employability Services
This session will enable you to:Explore the elements of employability that you can work on now (and how).
Understand how to research and reflect on what types of roles and careers you’re interested in – so you can make informed decisions and have better career satisfaction.
Identify resources for building your careers toolkit including your CV, online presence, network and commercial awareness.
Describe some approaches for upskilling yourself, as well as creating your own opportunities.
Recipe for Employability
Dacre Pool and Sewell (2007)
Reflection and EvaluationKey questions to ask yourself:• What parts of my degree do I enjoy the most, and why?• Are there specific things I have learned that I would like to explore further in my career?
• Are there specific skills that I want to use in my career?• What elements of my past work experience and part‐time jobs have I enjoyed/am good at, and which parts which would I like to take into my career?
• What am I good at?• What skills do I need to develop?• What are my career values? (E.g. Money, status, challenge, flexibility, helping society)
Career development learning
Self‐awareness for career aims
Knowledge of how to find jobs
Network of contacts
Tailored CV(s) and effective application writing
Interview skills
Professional online presence
Industry insight (commercial awareness)
Key Resources
•Visit our websites:› Careers module on Moodle: https://mymodules.stmarys.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=23921
› Graduate Club website: https://mymodules.stmarys.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=24752
Useful websites:CareerConnect
Student Ladder
TargetJobs
RateMyPlacement
Step
Useful job hunting websites and Live vacancies list on Moodle
Social media / LinkedIn
Making informed career decisions
Self‐awareness & career decision making
Skills Interests Values
Know your options• Take the prospects career planner quiz.
• Get matched to job profiles.• Evaluate the profiles according to your preference and suitability.
www.prospects.ac.uk
Match yourself to roles• Look at job adverts and descriptions for your preferred roles.
• Identify where you have evidence for their requirements.
• Tailor a CV for the role.
• Tailor your LinkedIn profile.
• Follow industry experts on social media, engage online and share content.
• Expand your network.
• Find out where you have gaps in experience and skills.
plan how you will fill those gaps.
Essential to a good CVTailor it!
• Start with a job description and person specification
• Identify all the skills/attributes/experience required for the role
• Think about your best examples of when and how you’ve applied the skills they’re looking for (Evidence)
• Address as many requirements as you can, mirroring the language used in the job description
• If you are interested in more than one kind of role, you should have more than one CV prepared.
Think of it like a dating agency! You won’t get a ‘match’ if what can be seen on your CV doesn’t correspond with what they say they are looking for.
Virtual Work Experience ‐ www.insidesherpa.com
• Range of FREE virtual work experience offers from top graduate employers:
› Develop your skills
› Get an insight into what it’s like to work in your chosen sector
› Prepare yourself for the world of professional work
› Connect to top employers
Commercial Awareness is…
Entrepreneurial awareness (optional)Can you see any opportunities for them to grow their business?
Business basics awarenessWhat is their mission, product/service. Where does the money come from and to?
Current affairs awarenessEvents in the world that might affect business and how?
Customer awarenessWho are their customers? How do they keep them happy/loyal?
Organisational awarenessBeyond the role you’re applying to, how does the organisation work? How would your role work with others in the organisation?
Showing an employer you understand them and you understand the role you’re applying to. So they can trust yourmotivation and ability to work for them.
Sector awarenessWhat’s going on in the sector? Who are the competitors? Are there other organisations that work with them? What sector trends do you know of?
How to develop your awareness1. Research online2. Industry body/employer websites3. Social media and news4. Societies5. Work experience of all kinds6. Case studies7. Company Annual Reports8. Part‐time job9. Alumni......your ideas!
Build your commercial awarenessChoose a sector and see if you can answer these questions:• Describe a company you think is doing well/badly and explain why you think this is so.
• What significant factors have affected this industry in recent years? • What do you think will be the key developments in this sector over the next few years?
• What do you understand of the role this firm plays in this industry?• What other departments in this organisation do you envisage working closely with?
• Describe a recent news story and explain its implications for our organisation.
Get creative!
• What else could you do?
• Is there anything you’re already doing (or thinking about doing)?
Some ideas…
Set up a blog or write for others?Reviews, blog posts, social media, etc (e.g. for organisations/causes you're interested in)
Start your own project? Enter competitions? Build your portfolio
Reconnect with and grow your online network
Volunteer your services to a charity or a a freelancer? (e.g. www.do‐it.org)
Learn a new skill? Via a YouTube tutorial, manual, practise, or online short course (e.g. on FutureLearn or Coursera)
Reach out through your part‐time job? Can you talk to colleagues in head office help them out?
Set up your own (virtual) event?
Freelance? Promote your services for a fee (e.g. on sites like UpWork, Freelancer, Fiverrand PeoplePerHour)
Support from your Careers Service
• Book a confidential 1‐2‐1 appointment:› Email [email protected] with details of your
availability
• Visit our websites:› Careers module on Moodle:
https://mymodules.stmarys.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=23921
› Graduate Club website: https://mymodules.stmarys.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=24752
Time for questions
Type in the chat box• Write one thing you’re going to do as a result of this webinar.