YOUR GRADUATE GUIDE

Congratulations on completing your studies and welcome to De Montfort University’s (DMU’s) alumni network. You are now part of a very special alumni community made up of more than 100,000 graduates across the world.From BBC radio presenters to acclaimed choreographers and multi-million pound business entrepreneurs, you are joining a host of creative, innovative and highly skilled professionals who have gone on to enjoy exciting and rewarding careers.

No matter where life may take you, you will always be part of DMU, and we hope that this is just the beginning of your lifelong relationship with us.

As a valued member of our alumni network, you can access a wide range of benefits and services, including volunteering opportunities, lifelong careers support, exclusive discounts and event invitations.

Whether you are interested in further study, developing your career, opening up new opportunities with like-minded professionals or building invaluable social networks, we’re here to help you take your next step.

This guide gives you all the information you need about life after graduation. You’ll also be able to share the experiences of other alumni and read their top tips and advice as you embark on your next adventure.

“Success is about encouraging and enabling a sustainable impact. Follow your passion with persistence and don’t be afraid to try something new. When someone else recognises capability and talent in you, it immediately becomes your responsibility to accept, respect and rise to it!”

BIJNA K. DASANI, FRSA (BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, 2005) VICE-PRESIDENT, DEUTSCHE BANK

Careers support for lifeOur Careers and Employability team provides free support, advice and guidance for as long as you need it. You can book a consultation with the Careers and Employability team, attend events and use our online portal for as long as you wish.

Our dedicated, professionally qualified careers team can help you decide on which career path may suit you. You can access one-to-one or group coaching sessions, use our state-of-the-art online guidance service and find out more about careers fairs, internships, CV preparation, psychometric tests and effective interview techniques.

T: +44 (0)116 257 7595E: careers@dmu.ac.ukW: dmu.ac.uk/employability

Job hunting online with MyGatewayMake sure you register with our online jobs board, MyGateway, where thousands of employers advertise placements, internships, graduate vacancies and graduate training schemes. By simply identifying the types of job roles you are looking for and the skills you have to offer, you can create your own personalised job search to help find your ideal graduate role, as well as tracking the progress of your applications.

Simply visit mygateway.dmu.ac.uk and log in using your student username and password to start using MyGateway and discover the huge range of employment options on offer.

“My advice to anyone starting out as a graduate would be to create your own personal identity or brand – individuality enables you to stand out from the crowd. Stay connected with people you’ve crossed paths with; you never know when they may be able to help you cross the bridge to the right opportunity.

From what I’ve learnt, it’s your passion and drive for the career that’s important to an employer, make sure that shines through. Working at LinkedIn has made me really grateful for so many things, not only do I love what I do but being rewarded for it is just as important.”

KRISHNA PATEL (MEDIA PRODUCTION, 2012) CAMPAIGN MANAGER AT LINKEDIN

Careers successFinding a job requires time and effort, particularly in a competitive jobs market. To be successful, you will need to develop a number of job hunting skills, such as researching careers information, job hunting creatively and presenting yourself effectively in writing and in person.

Stand out from the crowdRemember to think of your CV as a marketing document. Sell your skills and experience to a prospective employer by customising it to the job you are applying for. Confidence is vital to do this successfully. You need to be convinced that what you say on the CV highlights your strengths or you will not be able to persuade an employer. The type of CV, content, language you use, the visual presentation and the formatting of the sections will all contribute to the effectiveness of your message.

Make a great first impressionWhatever the type of interview you encounter, you need to make sure your preparation covers three main areas: yourself, the job role and the company/industry. Before your interview, review your CV or the application form you submitted to remind yourself of what competencies are required and what examples you gave to demonstrate them. Practising how you deliver your answers will help combat your nerves and make you aware of your body language.

“Try to personalise your CV as much as possible to reflect the job you’re applying for. If it’s managing a group of people, mention your experience of taking charge and directing people to achieve a goal. The example doesn’t always have to be work related; it could be helping out in a bar, a sports example or volunteering work.

When it comes to interviews, try to hold on to your nerves and not let it affect your answers to the questions. The employer needs to be confident in you, so you need to be confident in yourself.”

VISHAL THANKI (SPORTS STUDIES, 2006) GLOBAL TALENT MANAGER AT TESCO PLC

Graduate internships A graduate internship is a great way to gain experience, get paid and often secure a permanent job.

As a leading internship provider, we match more than 400 graduates with employers every year through our Graduate Champions programme. Work experience is highly valued by employers, so an internship is a great way to put your knowledge into practice.

You can register at dmu.ac.uk/champions

“I was told so many times by companies I applied to work for that they were impressed I had taken up an internship. I got a call from an agency and told them I would not be able to start work straight away because I was taking part in Graduate Champions. They told me a potential employer was really impressed that I was getting experience with Leicester City Football Club and would like to interview me. So I had the interview and got the job with Styles and Wood.”

PRIYANKA BALCRISNA (COMPUTER SCIENCE, 2013) JUNIOR DEVELOPER AT STYLES AND WOOD

Recent DMU graduates now work for some of the world’s biggest companies:

Careers fairs DMU’s Careers and Employability team host a wide range of careers fairs and networking events each year so that our graduates can talk to recruiters face-to-face. Events are varied and cover graduate schemes as well as enterprise and entrepreneurship initiatives. We work with employers from all industries and sectors to enable our graduates to access excellent employment opportunities.

“I went along to a careers fair, to hand my CV out and think nothing of it. Little did I know that I would be contacted and chosen out of hundreds of applicants for a great internship in a fun and exciting company where the experience turned out to be my gateway to a whole world of opportunities.”

KRISHNA PATEL (MEDIA PRODUCTION, 2012)

VolunteeringVolunteering is an excellent way to develop your skills, build professional networks and gain experience in a range of roles and sectors.

We offer a wide range of opportunities that are available to you, during and after, your studies at DMU. To find out more about the types of opportunities on offer, please visit dmu.ac.uk/alumni

Start up for success If you are thinking of starting your own business, we can provide you with all the help and advice you need to get your idea off the ground. De Montfort University’s Enterprise Team provides support and access to a range of workshops, advice sessions and start-up funding, which more than 100 entrepreneurial graduates take advantage of every year. The Enterprise Team’s activities help to increase your knowledge and provide valuable inspiration to develop your idea, whatever type of business you may be looking to start.

If you would like help to get started, or just want to find out more, get in touch:

T: +44 (0)116 207 8914 E: enterprise@dmu.ac.uk W: dmu.ac.uk/enterpriseTwitter: @dmuenterprise

Alumni eventsWe offer a calendar of annual events, held in the UK and overseas. You can remain in touch with the university, maintain relationships with former classmates and stay connected to your DMU family for years to come. Events include:

• Reunions• Career development • Networking events• Employability events• Subject-specific events

Visit our regularly updated events calendar at dmu.ac.uk/alumni/events

Postgraduate studyDMU offers a range of taught and research-based postgraduate courses that are designed to meet the needs of modern employers. Studying for a postgraduate degree at DMU will further enhance your skills, experience and employability and allows you to explore your area of interest in more depth.

We are fully committed to helping our graduates enhance their career and personal development through further study and that is why we offer a variety of scholarships to DMU graduates.

Visit dmu.ac.uk/pgscholarships for further details.

“My experience at DMU has been fantastic and I knew I wanted to do further study. With an MSc you specialise, and that is going to make you so much more employable.”

JOSH MARVIN (PSYCHOLOGY, 2014) PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING MSC STUDENT

Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Diamond Jubilee Leisure CentreDMU’s QEII Diamond Jubilee Leisure Centre has it all:

• A 25-metre, six-lane swimming pool• Poolside sauna• Climbing wall• Eight-court sports hall• Fitness suite• Free weights area• Dance studio

As alumni, you are entitled to an exclusive discount at the QEII Diamond Jubilee Leisure Centre. With a range of membership options to suit your needs, you can take advantage of all the exciting benefits the QEII Leisure Centre has to offer.

T: +44 (0)116 250 6400E: leisure@dmu.ac.ukW: dmu.ac.uk/leisureTwitter: @DMUleisure

Discounted library membershipAs a member of our alumni community, you can take advantage of an exclusive 50 per cent discount on a one-year library borrowing membership. For just £30 a year, you can access the library and borrow up to four books at a time.

To take advantage of this exclusive discount, simply visit dmu.ac.uk/alumni and fill in our online form.

Please note this membership is at the discretion of the Director of Library and Learning Services.

Stay connectedOur social media channels enable you to join and expand your network of professional contacts while staying up-to-date with the latest university news.

Our alumni Twitter feed has followers from all over the world. Follow us @DMUAlumni to hear the latest announcements for alumni as they happen, tweet us your news and let us keep you involved with university life.

Update us so we can update youAs a member of our alumni network, you have plenty of opportunities to continue receiving support from DMU. Make sure your details are up to date so we can inform you of new and exciting developments.

T: +44 (0)116 207 8736E: alumni@dmu.ac.ukW: dmu.ac.uk/alumni

The Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey The Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey captures information on student activity six months after graduation. Everyone who completes a qualification at a UK university is asked to take part in this national survey.

In six months’ time, we will contact you to find out how you are doing after completing your course. We’ll want to know about your employment, if you have gone on to further study, or a mixture of both. The confidential information you provide will enable us to see how you are getting on, identify where we can offer further careers support and helps to inform prospective students.

We will contact you using the last email address or telephone number that you provided to us, so don’t forget to update your details with us at dmu.ac.uk/alumni

For more information about the DLHE survey, visit dmu.ac.uk/dlhe

DMU Alumni Relations TeamAdvancement OfficeDe Montfort UniversityThe GatewayLeicesterLE1 9BH

T: +44 (0)116 207 8736E: alumni@dmu.ac.ukW: dmu.ac.uk/alumni