DISCOVER YOURSELFDr Mike Moss, Alumni Careers Adviser

Polly Metcalfe, Careers Adviser

Objectives?

How do you move forward?

Our alumni careers program is a four step process:

Self-awareness – discover your target jobs.Networking and research – uncover essential information.Action – create winning CVs, cover letters, applications and interviews.Partnership – offer mentoring and internships.

Self Awareness

• Matches personal goals and values.• Autonomy and guidance.• Leverages strengths• Risk/stability/security match• People• Practical

Resources:• Careers Workbook, Books e.g. How to get a Job You’ll Love,

MBTI, Careers Adviser

This self awareness feeds into your:

• Elevator Pitch• Unique Selling Proposition• Personal Brand Equity

When you search yourself what do you hope you’ll find?

When you search yourself what do you hope you’ll find?

Describe yourself in one sentence or six words.

Self-awareness Exercise

Networking & Occupational Research

• Where other graduates / colleagues have gone before (DHLE)• Google - Prospects, targetjobs, indeed, i-could• Job specifications (e.g. CareerConnect, icould, targetjobs) • Career Briefings - www.careers.ox.ac.uk/options-and-occupations/sectors-and-occupations/ • Sector specific publications & networks• Networking

Undergraduate destinations

Work Only 44%

Work and Study 8%

Study Only 36%

Unemployed 6%Unavailable 6%

The City; 20%

Academia and Education; 18%

Health & Social Care; 12%Culture, Sport and Leisure; 8%

Government, Order & Policy;

5%

Consumer Goods & Retail; 5%

Charity 5%

Media 4%

PG-R; 22%

PG-T; 37%

Prof. Qual.; 17%

PG Dip or Cert; 11%

Other; 11%

No qual 2%

DLHE data, 2009-2011Six months after leaving

Networking

•Alumni – Oxford Careers Network

• Contacts via friends, family etc

• LinkedIn.com

• Speculative approaches

Questions to ask

Outline your situation, and that you’re looking for advice• Who is the best person to speak to?

Once you’re in conversation with the right person:• How did you get started in your career?• Why did you choose to become a …….?• What are the best and worst things about your role?• When thinking of this job, I think it’s like … - am I right?

Afterwards:• Thank them and show how their information has helped• Suggest work experience / shadowing / job opportunities / contacts

Oxford Careers Network

Search by job function (or college, or degree subject….and more

University of Oxford LinkedIn

Job Search Strategies to Offers

Action

Active job searching: be proactive!

Re-active or passive job hunts can be • Limiting: Reveal only limited opportunities• Random: Only allows you to see jobs that happen to be

advertised at the time you are looking and in the places you look

• Competitive: many applicants for advertised posts

Using Vacancy Websites

• Ask in information interviews where they advertise• Seek out sector vacancy sites via Career Briefings• Sign up for tailored email alerts where available• Use CareerConnect…

• Relevant agencies are the key• Be aware of their focus• Be clear and precise in what

you’re looking for• Keep them informed as your

search progresses/changes

Using Agencies

Present the information you’d like an employer to find:- CV + Recommendations-Links to online evidenceResearch:- Employers and individuals- Join sector groups to learn moreConnect:- Maintain professional contacts

Using

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Speculative approaches

• Build their knowledge of you through information interviewing

• Use the opportunity to find out what you could offer• In a follow up, make your pitch:

Cover letter and CVClear identification of how you could be usefulFlexible opportunities to engage

Alternative Strategies

• Volunteering • Travelling• Postgraduate study• Self-employment• Constructive unemployment

Next Steps

Making Competitive applications

• www.careers.ox.ac.uk/our-services/our-publications/

• Book an appointment (alumni@careers.ox.ac.uk)

• Mentoring• Offer internships or jobs• Speaker or panelist• Profiles• Feedback• Volunteer• Venues• Get even more involved

Partnership

Thank you