athens graduate workshop preparing to succeed!

www.exeter.ac.uk/careers

Athens Graduate Workshop

Preparing to Succeed!

David Pritchard – Careers Consultant



Aim of today?To analyse some of the obstacles

that hamper career progress,

Identify tactics to engineer change

and share good practice in the ‘art’

of career management


HOW?

• Together and interactively• Agree whether there is a process for effective

career management• Job hunting techniques – what works?• Personal branding – are we any good at it?• One to one (optional) discussions during/after

lunch• From a distance – email and skype?


Aspirations?

http://ri.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A2KLktkQGfJTJlQAL4lWBQx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBpcGszamw0BHNlYwNmcC1pbWcEc2xrA2ltZw--/RV=2/RE=1408403857/RO=11/RU=http:/halftraining.com/run-faster-by-gliding/RK=0/RS=BYhw3Dm.ipWOnVdRONOGiuU_1x4-


What’s Stopping Progress?


Is there a secret to effective career management?


Good Qualification from Exeter University +

A clear understanding of personal skills, interests, values, strengths, aptitudes+

Perpetual Skills Development+

Motivation and In depth, up-to-date understanding of career opportunities and sectors+

Work experience (quality and quantity!) +

Commercial Awareness, Business Skills and Emotional Intelligence+

Confident and Dynamic Job application strategies = The Perfect Formula for Success and Happiness??????


ME PLCmy strengths

my criteria

what I have to offer

my values

my interests

Researching What's Out There

Exploring types of work

different employers

further study

gaining work experience

what's available

Making Choicesdecisions

priorities

contingency plans

job hunting

Making Applications

CVs

covering letters

application forms

interviews

assessment centres

Taking Stock reflect and review CAREER

PLANNING


Am I in control?


• No ‘job for life’• Ongoing - not about one key decision• Self assessment a key element• Portfolio of skills and experience required• Intrapreneurial attitude to work


Some Resources for self assessment;

Prospects plannerPathfinderBehavioural ProfilingThe Big Five Personality TestHolland Code TestProfiling for SuccessMyers BriggsTarget Jobs Career ReportPen and paper!


• Learn about day to day activities• Review salary and work environment• Understand entry requirements needed

(including Post Graduate Study)• Look at employers• Explore related jobs


Researching Sectors and LMIwww.prospects.ac.uk

http://www.prospect.ac.uk/


• “We are looking for drive and determination, self motivation and perseverance” Sally Taylor, Grad Recruitment, Bank of England

• “We look for strong team players…” Christina Kerr, PWC

• “You need to be able to work on your own initiative – to do the research, find interesting ideas and work on them yourself.” Alexandra Howard, JPMorgan

• “…we have a diverse workforce of over 4,500 people in our offices around the world. The variety of backgrounds, attitudes and ideas makes Fidelity a vibrant business.”


Why is it important?

“Too many candidates are applying to jobs but clearly have no knowledge of how the industry or company works”

Brian Hood, Head of Recruitment at Citigroup Corporate and Investment Bank


How the ‘business’ operates (SWOT analysis):

• Staffing structure – nature of job roles within it and the professional development / training opportunities available

• Processes: financial management / accounting, human resources, IT systems in use, production / service delivery processes, legislation it has to comply with etc


How the business operates:

• Mission statement – purpose of the organisation, what it aims to achieve in the future

• Values – its ethos and culture, management style, diversity policies, its impact on the community and its approach to Corporate Social Responsibility


How the business operates:

• How it markets itself – it’s customers and how it retains them, its competitors and other key players in the industry?

• Who are its suppliers?• Types of products / services it provides?• Its growth rate, profitability?


Context:

• Issues facing the industry • Political – e.g. import / export agreements• Economic – state of the economy, competition• Social – impact on the environment / local community


Context:

• Issues connected with an organisation’s impact on the environment and sustainable development

• Technological advances• Media coverage – recent deals or mergers within

that business sector generally


• Book: All you need to know about Commercial Awareness, Christopher Stoakes www.targetjobs.co.uk

• www.insidecareers.co.uk • Reuters and Bloomberg provide business and

financial news www.reuters.com & www.bloomberg.com

http://www.targetjobs.co.uk/

http://www.insidecareers.co.uk/

http://www.reuters.com/

http://www.bloomberg.com/


The Only Constant is Change!

SHIFT HAPPENS...keeping up to speed!

Shift Happens 2014

http://uk.video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A7x9UnvnoARUNFwAlCN3Bwx.;_ylu=X3oDMTBsYWhiN2NvBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2lyMgR2dGlkAw--?p=youtube+shift+happens+2014&tnr


Passive Job Hunting!


Where to look for vacancies• Hidden job market• Local press/national press/international press• Specialist websites for job sectors• MyCareerzone• Careers Fairs and Exhibitions and Professional Conferences• Internships• Recruitment Agencies• Overseas opportunities – Going Global • Overseas gap year or casual employment opportunities


CPD?

‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit’(Some guy called Aristotle!!!!)


The Hidden Job Market


Activities to support job search• Work experience• Networking• Information interviewing• Social media - LinkedIn• Careers fairs – regional, national, virtual• Recruitment agencies• Work shadowing• Volunteering

www.exeter.ac.uk/careerswww.exeter.ac.uk/careerswww.exeter.ac.uk/careers

Networking fact ...

16% of Exeter students who left in 2012 to enter graduate level

employment found their job through personal contacts

(Data source: 2013 Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education

Survey)

www.exeter.ac.uk/careerswww.exeter.ac.uk/careers

Exepert - the ad-hoc Alumni advice scheme

• Networking opportunity with those who have left the

University and go on to have successful careers.

• Helps give an insight into a profession

• Open to all students and graduates

• Many sectors / professions available

• Alumni working around the world

For full details and to take part, visit the website:

www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/research/exepert

Researching Job Roles


Personal Branding and Customising our Profiles

CVs, Applications, Interviews and Assessment Centres


Action Planning

• Set yourself some SMART objectives– Specific– Measurable– Achievable– Realistic– Time limit

athens graduate workshop preparing to succeed!

Documents