Job Hunting beyond the obvious graduate schemes

Sue BriaultCareers Adviser

University of Bath Careers Advisory ServiceNorwood House 2.7

http://www.slideshare.net/sabriault

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Understand the nature of a PRO-ACTIVE approach to job hunting

• Understand and select appropriate methods for the jobs you want

• Identify when to apply the selected strategy• Build confidence in using various strategies and

techniques

STARTING POINTS

Key Terms• OCCUPATION – work people are involved in• EMPLOYER – people who have jobs to offer• VACANCY – brings the two together

STARTING POINTS

Know yourself• Be aware of your skills, personal qualities and

motivations – what you are looking for in a job• Relate these to occupations which interest you• Prepare your CV based on this self knowledge

Where Are All The Jobs ?

Adverts

Agencies / Head hunters

Contacts

Internal moves & promotions

OPEN JOB MARKET FOR GRADUATES

Advertised vacancies and published sources• Graduate Careers Directories• Graduate magazines and annuals• MyFuture• Agencies for graduates• Newspapers?

• THESE USUALLY ADVERTISE GRADUATE SCHEMES

SMALLER COMPANIES

Potential employment but few graduate training schemes• Apply as vacancies arise i.e. not now if you are in final

year• Should still get induction and training• Real job from day one

Why might you try and seek them out?• Your expertise matches• Your interest is a niche area• You want to work in a particular locality

SOURCES FOR POTENTIAL EMPLOYERS

• Yellow pages• Business Directories• Specialist Yearbooks• On-line resources

– FAME contains ten years of detailed financials on 2.6 million companies in UK and Ireland

– OSIRIS is similar to FAME but has global scope– Nexis provides news and company information– Marketline gives detailed company profiles, SWOT analyses and

global M & A deals

• Professional Associations

Professional Bodies & Associations• There are many organisations with established

networks• They may offer careers information and advice• By becoming a member you could get access to conferences

& events• They may have directories of member organisations

• Get to know the organisations in YOUR field through• Recommendations and lists from tutor or careers adviser• Prospects occupational profiles – “Contacts & Resources”

sections http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/occupations• Careers web site - Catalogue – Occupational Research

CREATIVE JOB SEARCH

• Networking (making and maintaining contacts)• Using Graduate Contacts Scheme• Follow up on vacancies too senior for you• Newspaper/magazine/journal articles• Temporary/non-graduate employment• Voluntary work in related areas• Work shadowing

Family and friends

Academic Staff

Work Experience

Letting them know you exist

• Speculative application• Targeted speculative application• Tell people you’re looking• Seek out new contacts• Targeted application once they know

you

Cold

Hot

SPECULATIVE APPROACHESObjectives:• To introduce yourself• To gain contacts• To acquire information• To enquire about vacancies either now or in the future

MIGHT result in:• ‘work-shadowing’ a person in their workplace• work experience• undertaking short-term project work/temporary work

All of which may also lead to longer-term work opportunities.

NETWORKING SKILLS

STEP 1• Start with the person you know best• Target Contacts in:

– The occupation you want– The sector you want– Avoid personnel dept unless you are interested in

personnel– Try to target mid management staff

NETWORKING SKILLSSTEP 2 Setting up a meeting• Attend an event where they will be present ?• By Phone for a Close Contact• By Letter and CV for a ‘Cold’ Contact• Be clear about what you want• Mention the name of your referral• Do Your Research First – don’t waste their time• Identify who you want to speak to• Why you are approaching them• Ask for 20 mins• Negotiate: don’t take no for an answer

NETWORKING SKILLS

STEP 2

Setting up a meeting - what to write• Mention the name of your referral• Clarify what you want• Acknowledge their experience/expertise • Stress that you want to arrange a meeting and not an interview• Include a CV

NETWORKING SKILLS

STEP 2

Setting up the meeting...what to say• …mentioned that you would be a great person to speak to about…• I’m thinking of a career in…• I’d really appreciate your advice/expertise• I don’t expect you to find me a job, I just want to pick your brains!• I would really appreciate 20 minutes of your time…• You’re busy? Well how about early/late/Friday...

NETWORKING SKILLS

STEP 3 For/At the Meeting• Prepare and research thoroughly• Differentiate yourself• Build rapport• Get information and contacts• Take control and remember your objectives• Acknowledge their expertise & seek the advice/information you want• Always dress and act professionally - Sell yourself• Stick to time• Try to get referrals or another opportunity to meet• Never ask for a job – don’t put them under pressure

NETWORKING SKILLS

STEP 4

After the Meeting• Always write a short thank you note• Always follow up any leads they give you• Stay in touch; you never know when you might need their help again

- or when they might need yours!• Keep a log of your contacts when, what info you gained, other leads

NETWORKING SKILLS

Networking leads to jobs....• Try it. It works.• Yes, it’s hard at first

– There will be rejections so try not to take it personally– A success rate of 10% further contact from your networking is

good!• It’s excellent interview practice• It takes time to succeed.....but once set up can be developed and

serve you well throughout your career

RESOURCES

• University of Bath resource- http://www.bath.ac.uk/careers/springboard/creative.pdf

• University of Loughborough Resource http://www-staff.lboro.ac.uk/~adjjw/N1networking.doc

• http://www.careerplayer.com/tips-and-advice/general-advice/its-not-what-you-know.aspx

• http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/interview-techniques/how-to-perfect-your-personal-pitch

• I acknowledge the use of material from the following University Careers Services:

• Loughborough http://www.lboro.ac.uk/service/careers/section/events/pdf/Handouts/careernetworking.ppt

• Manchester • http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/media/

media,144851,en.ppt • Being in the same profession I don’t think they

will mind me using it! Thank you.