International student briefing- express yourself !

Welcome to theCareers andEmployability Centre

Information about……

• Application form questions

• Working in the UK during and after your studies

• Answering questions in interviews

• CEC briefings (i.e. CV design) and Events

• Resources available from CEC

• Your questions and queries

Application form - questions

• Describe an occasion when you have had to persuade and

influence someone to accept your point of view? Why was it

important and what did you do?

• Explain why you chose to study your current programme of

study?

• Apart from your family, who or what has been the greatest

influence on your life to date?

Application form – STAR formula

S situation or scenario

T task or challenge

A action, what did you do?

R result, positive outcomes

Application form - tips

• Consider why you are being asked the question• Work in draft first• Follow guidelines for on-line applications• Check for spelling and grammar• Complete all the sections • Check you have answered the questions

Application form - answers

Review answers to practice questions………..

Application form - example

Eg. Organisation skills

I worked as an activity leader on a children's summer camp in

America. There were ten leaders and due to bad weather we had

to come up with a plan to keep the children busy indoors. I

suggested we brainstorm some ideas and then get into groups of

three to spend an hour developing one idea each. I then drew up a

rota so that we all knew what we were doing and when. The extra

activities were popular and the other leaders were happy to have

shared the workload and limited the amount of additional work.

Part time working in the UK -Working in term time

• Visa conditions usually allow non EEA students to work a

maximum of 20 hours work per work during term

• Non EEA students cannot be self employed or provide services

as a professional Sportsperson or entertainer

• There are no restrictions for EEA students

• BUT this University recommends that you only work 15

hours per week max if you are an undergraduate, and 20

hours per week if you are a postgraduate

Part time working in the UK –Campus jobs database

• Jobs advertised our website

www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs/search

• Other places to look

- The Argus newspaper

- Jobcentreplus

- Websites

- Employment agencies

- On the street!

Part time working in the UK –The things you need to know

• Minimum wage (£6.08)

• Income Tax ( < £7475)

• National Insurance (< £139) - but you must have an NI number!

• Health & Safety

Working in the UK after graduation

• Currently Post Study Work Visa• When PSW closes in April 2012, there will be a new

scheme under Tier 2. • Students will need to find graduate level employment

with a sponsor in the UK, earning £20,000 or more.• This must be before their student visa expires.

Working in the UK after graduation

• New scheme will be similar to the Tier 2 (General) but

the employer will not have to pass the resident labour

market test, which may make it easier for recent

graduates to secure employment. No cap on number

of certificates given to graduates still in the UK• UKCISA http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/ • UKBA for a list of current tier 2 sponsors

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/

Interviews…. Are good news!

• So why do we hate them?

• Practise asking and answering a question

Interview - preparation

• Make sure you prepare

• Remember it’s a two way process

• Know your CV inside out

• Revise the job specification

• Plan what to wear

Interview – during the interview

• Make a good impression• Walk tall and be grounded before you speak • Make eye contact and smile (even on the phone!)• Shake hands • When the interview is underway• Sit reasonably upright • Maintain good eye contact • Keep an open posture • Speak clearly • Remember to breathe!

Showcase your skills and achievements in a Sussex Plus webfolio.

www.sussex.ac.uk/sussexplus

sussexplus@sussex.ac.uk

So, how can you get to see us?

• Briefings and workshops – Sussex Plus, Finding part time

work, CVs and Applications • Careers Advisers available daily. • Call in or phone 01273 678429 for CVs, personal

statements, cover letters and application form feedback.• Attend Events – listed on news & events page• Follow us on Twitter & Facebook