INSIDEWhat’s on at Exeter 2

Global Opportunities 3

My route into teaching 5

Exeter fairs 6

The Creative Futures Career Showcase 7

IN THE

ZONEYOUR CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY MAGAZINE

ISSUE 4 SPRING 2015

GRASP YOUR

LIGHT BULB

MOMENT

Welcome to your Spring term edition of ‘In the Zone’. This magazine is designed to provide you with some light reading to help inspire and inform your career planning.

CONTENTSWelcome 1

What’s on at Exeter 2

Global Opportunities 3

My route into teaching 5

Exeter fairs 6

The Creative Futures 7 Career Showcase

Follow us on Twitter

@UoECareers @uoecornwallcz

Find us on Facebook

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In the Zone archive: www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/itz

After the excitement of the Autumn term and Christmas period many of you will be starting to focus on your career plans and gaining valuable extra-curricular experience in preparation for your life beyond University.

If you are one of the thousands who attended our most successful portfolio of career fairs in the autumn, then you’ll be glad to hear that there are even more events and activities available during 2015. This edition will provide you with just a few examples so don’t forget to login to ‘My Career Zone’ and check our website and social media so that you don’t miss out.

Whether you are a finalist looking to hone your interview skills or just starting out thinking about your options, we have something for all students. Check out our website and make sure your preferences are up-to-date in ‘My Career Zone’ to ensure that you are making the most out of your university career and employability services.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Paul Blackmore, Head of Employability and Graduate Development

IN THE

ZONEWelcome

1 IN THE ZONE

If you are a 2nd year or penultimate

student you may have already

received an email asking you to fill

out a short survey.

The survey is designed to provide information

so that the University is able to create a more

personalised service to meet your specific

career aspirations. Whether you are looking

to go into a job or postgraduate study straight

after University we aim to provide support that

directly match your needs.

There are also Amazon vouchers up for

grabs as part of a prize draw.

So keep an eye out for the survey email and

help us to help you.

HELP US TO HELP YOU…

THE 2ND YEAR CAREER SURVEYTHINK

OUTSIDE THE

BOX

2IN THE ZONE

Streatham Campus Events – Spring TermFriday 30 January Hogan Lovells – Drop In

Monday 2 February Danone – Numerical and Verbal Reasoning Skills Session

Tuesday 3 February Casual Jobs and Internships Fair

Monday 9 February Meet an IBM Exec and “Being a Technical Woman in IBM” – Alumni Presentations

Thursday 12 February E3 Consulting – Teach First – STEM Presentation

Friday 13 February Lloyds Banking Group – Showcase

Monday 16 February Training and Practising at a Regional Law Firm with Thomson Snell and Passmore – Skills Session

Tuesday 17 February Chatteris Educational Foundation Presentation

Thursday 19 February News Associates – Journalism Workshop

Friday 20 February PwC – Interview Techniques

Monday 23 – Spring Enterprise Week Friday 27 February

Tuesday 3 March Bloomberg – Showcase

Tuesday 10 March EY – Mock Interviews

Monday 2 February Creative Futures Careers Showcase (see back page)

Penryn Campus Events – Spring TermWednesday 28 January Mini Teaching Fair

Wednesday 4 February Mini Charity and Public Sector Fair

Wednesday 11 February Mini Environment Fair

Wednesday 18 February Part Time Jobs and Internships Fair

Wednesday 25 February Mini PR/Journalism/Marketing Fair

Wednesday 4 March Spring into Business Fair

Every Monday and Thursday Internships/ Placements / Part time jobs drop in

WHAT’S ON AT EXETER

Don’t forget, this is just a small selection of events and activities open to you during the Spring term. To find out more and to sign up, visit our website www.exeter.ac.uk/careers

5 IN THE ZONE

GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES PUTTING EXETER ON THE MAP

3 IN THE ZONE

I now have experience of working in an international office with a diverse range of co-workers and have made friendships with colleagues which I’m sure will continue long after the placement, perhaps one day shaping into crucial contacts for future business ventures.

Lucy, Internship in Barcelona Spain

After the internship, I expect to be completely fluent in Spanish, an attribute to my CV that will help me in any career that I choose to follow. Secondly, I am developing professional skills such as translating a range of documents, teaching English, using photoshop and helping the social media department of the company (a Colombian record label) to produce nothing but quality publications.

Xavier, Internship in Columbia

Over 65% of graduate employers believe that candidates with international work experience are more employable, and some top graduate employers are now insisting on it. It is no surprise then that last year 300 Exeter students participated in work placements in 44 countries across the globe.

Student placements are hugely varied – from clinical psychology in Sri Lanka, arts and music management in France, wildlife rescue and rehab in Ecuador, social media marketing in Spain, eco-car leasing in Germany, to working for a top designer in Italy. One student placement even involved bungee jump blogging in Barcelona.

We have recently seen an increase in marketing placements involving social media and digital marketing skills, something which employers feel students can provide valuable insight on. Many companies are also keen to expand into Anglophone markets and our students are providing them with crucial language support and market knowledge as part of their placement.

The Global Opportunities Team is dedicated to supporting students find a rewarding and highly valued experience. Many opportunities come via the team’s growing network of international employers but there is also a lot of entrepreneurial spirit of students sourcing their own placements.

To be inspired by where in the world our students have been on placement please visit: www.ex.ac.uk/global

The feedback we have had from students who have taken international placements has been outstanding. Here’s what some of them have said about how their work abroad experience has helped them enhance their employability:

6IN THE ZONE

THE BENEFITS OF OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE...

4IN THE ZONE

If you’re still considering a placement, I’d say that it would no doubt significantly add to your employability and you’re bound to have an experience that you’ll never forget!

Michael, Teaching in Beijing China

Having worked abroad it shows that I can work with other people that have a different cultural background to me, and that I can adapt to this new country and new culture well.

Phoebe, Placement with Yongsei UniversitySouth Korea

I believe that working abroad will vastly improve my chances of getting a graduate job at the end of my course.

Claire, Placement in Italy

Working with people from all around the world was one experience I have never had before and I really enjoyed the diversity of people.

Joe, Placement in India

You get a first hand insight into not only a business but a foreign business, and it is a lesson you could not learn from a book.

Francesca, Teaching in Madrid Spain

It’s one thing learning how to keep up in a business environment but adding cultural differences, language barriers and a location far from home into the mix just makes it an even more exciting experience. I’ve learned so much about global perspectives and made some incredible friends in the process.

Monique, Internship in Singapore

SOURCE: THE ERASMUS IMPACT STUDY, 2014

MORE THAN

1 IN 3STUDENTS ARE OFFERED A PERMANENT JOB BY THEIR HOST COMPANY

STUDENTS ARE

50% LESS LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE LONG-TERM UNEMPLOYMENT COMPARED TO THOSE WITHOUT OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE

5 YEARS AFTER GRADUATION, THE

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF THESE STUDENTS ARE

23% LOWER THAN OTHER STUDENTS

64% OF EMPLOYERS REPORTED THAT GRADUATES WITH AN INTERNATIONAL BACKGROUND ARE GIVEN

GREATER PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY MORE FREQUENTLY

44% ARE MORE LIKELY TO HOLD MANAGERIAL POSITIONS 10 YEARS AFTER GRADUATION THAN THOSE WITHOUT OVERSEAS EXPERIENCE

5 IN THE ZONE

Why did you choose a PGCE route into teaching?Halfway through year one of my degree I volunteered to help in a local primary school. After spending a few terms regularly hearing children in a Reception (4–5yr olds) read I realised that I was fascinated by childhood development and began to consider how the Arts degree I had would feed into this.

What did you learn from your PGCE that has particularly helped you in your career so far?The PGCE taught me a great deal about the rigour of a teaching career. Learning so much in a ten month period is challenging and at times can seem impossible, but this is perfect preparation for the reality of teaching in a busy primary school.

Which subject(s) do you teach, and to which year groups?I am a Year 4 class teacher, teaching many subjects across the National Curriculum, with occasional specialist Music teaching thrown in for good measure!

Are there any broader benefits to studying a PGCE?Having a PGCE is a qualification that is more than a ‘ticket to teach’ in a UK school. It could enable you to travel, and see the world whilst earning a salary. There are many international teaching programmes and schemes that recruit young teachers to work abroad.

It could also be a building block to other education and young people related roles– I meet many Specialists such as Speech and Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, Counsellors, Behaviour Advisors, Social Workers (the list continues) that studied

a PGCE and gained some classroom experience before moving into their roles. The course itself teaches you a lot about yourself as a learner; how to study at postgraduate level – and whether this is something you would like to pursue in the future.

What are the most challenging and most rewarding aspects to your job? Any teacher will tell you that there are challenged and rewards in abundance if you choose to become an educator! The pace of teaching is often intense and has many highs and lows. There are times of enormous pressure with rapid deadlines and very little flexibility; but there are many more times where hard work is rewarded in great measures and makes the whole experience worthwhile! Even if you do not intend to teach in a traditional classroom environment, I would highly recommend considering a PGCE; it opens many doors personally and professionally.

My route into Teaching...an Exeter graduate provides her

insight to a career in teaching

GET ENTERPRISINGA week of talks, visits by entrepreneurs, competitions and activities to help inspire you in developing your enterprise skills. Career ideas and entrepreneurial aspirations!

ENTREPRENEUR’S MARKET

‘STUDENT TRADERS’ SHOWCASE

INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP

MARKETING AND BRANDING

WORKSHOPS

£ PRIZE DRAGON’S DEN COMPETITION

23–27 February

Kate HurleyAssistant Head, Junior School and Pre-Prep, St Peter’s Prep School, Lympstone.Exeter Graduate, Postgraduate Certificate (PGCE) in Education Primary 2002–2003

4IN THE ZONE

As more of our students and graduates become more successful in securing their ideal job, our career fairs are becoming more popular than ever for both students and employers.

We ran 3 main fairs attracting students from all disciplines and employers from all sectors (including postgraduate study providers). Our flagship Career and Placement Fair attracted nearly 2,400 students.

Exeter fairs the most successful yet! CAREERS

FAIRTuesday 4 November 2014

11am–3pmGreat Hall, Streatham Campus

SCIENCE

TECHNOLOGY

ENGINEERING

MATHS

Sponsored by:

www.exeter.ac.uk/stemfair2014 ASC 039 STEM Fair booklet.indd 1

27/10/2014 14:34

CAREERS AND PLACEMENT FAIR

TUESDAY 21 OCTOBER 2014, 11AM–3PM

GREAT HALL AND THE SANCTUARY,

STREATHAM CAMPUS

ALL SORTS OF COMPANIES,

ALL SORTS OF OPPORTUNITIES!

www.exeter.ac.uk/candpfair

Sponsored by

“…talking about careers is very daunting. I arrived at the fair with no idea of what I’d like to do next and now I feel motivated, inspired and much less afraid. Everyone was really helpful and friendly. Thank you!”

“One of the best organised fairs we’ve attended” – Majestic Wine

“As usual, (students were) well prepared and informed, it was a pleasure to talk to them.” – HW Fisher

YOU SAID… EMPLOYERS SAID…

98% SAID THEY WOULD RECOMMEND THE EVENT TO THEIR FRIENDS

All your global opportunities

in one dedicated online portal 24/7

INTERNATIONAL VIRTUAL CAREERS FAIR14th–24th October 2014

www.exeter.ac.uk/careers/global/ivcf

2014

ASC

032

www.exeter.ac.uk/lawfair

LAW CAREERS FAIRWEDNESDAY

19 NOVEMBER 2014

1PM – 4PMGREAT HALL

STREATHAM CAMPUS

OPEN TO

ALL STUDENTS

Sponsored by

Nowadays I’m working for British Airways on the IT graduate scheme where I get opportunities to work on and resolve issues of real significance.

The extra-curricular opportunities that are available to everyone at Exeter helped me to get to this stage and in my opinion the best way to make the most of those opportunities is to find the ones you enjoy.

In general, you are more likely to get involved in something and work hard on it if you enjoy what you’re doing. For example, I was a committee member for the Scout, Guide and DofE society where I gained valuable skills that employers are looking for when it comes to applying for jobs. The reason I put the effort in to gain those skills is because I was having fun making the society happen.

By focussing on the things you enjoy, whether it’s something completely new or something you’ve done for years, you show employers how good you can be when you’re passionate about what you’re doing.

For me, one of the great ways to find out and experience a whole range of different career

options whilst I was at university was through the industrial placement and Student Campus Partnership (SCP) scheme at Exeter. On my industrial placement I got to cover a whole range of engineering roles, and used that knowledge combined with a SCP role working in Exeter IT to help guide where to focus my energies for a graduate job.

As a word of caution, if in all of this you discover that you want to work in an area that isn’t related to your degree don’t despair. Employers are focused on finding the right person, not the qualification when interviewing.

For example, in the scheme I’m on at British Airways no specific degree is required, instead we are provided with specialist training throughout the scheme.

Whatever you do, my top tips for the assessment day are… don’t think that your interviewers are trying to trip you up. They aren’t. Use examples of your own experience when responding to questions. If you can’t think of one then come back to it later. And for the dreaded group exercise? Offering to keep time is a great way to get your voice heard, then make sure you listen to everyone in the room.

Where are they now? An Exeter graduate provides top tips on securing a job.

Allan Simpson

MPhys Physics with Professional Experience (2014)

Graduate Infrastructure Engineer British Airways

Check who is advertising student and graduate jobs by logging on to ‘My Career Zone’. Don’t miss out on the new ‘creative industries’ fair (see back page).

My route into Teaching...an Exeter graduate provides her

insight to a career in teaching

2014

ASC

075

The Creative Futures Career Showcase is an event that will be of interest to any students interested in working in the field of creative arts. It is a great opportunity for you to meet professionals from a wide variety of sectors and careers and will provide you with a unique opportunity to gain an insight into their career.

n Come along and meet employers, alumni and guests working in variety of jobs including TV, Radio, Film, Theatre, Advertising and Marketing, and Publishing. n The event will include workshops covering useful topics such as ‘tailoring your CV for the creative arts industry’ and ‘gaining essential work experience’.

n You will also have the opportunity to mingle and network with a range of guests who are keen to give you tips and advice for pursuing a career in the creative arts. n University staff from the Career Zone will also be on hand to talk to you about your career planning needs.

When: 10:00am – 3:30pm; Monday 2 February

Where: Northcott Theatre

fu uresthe

career showcase