Geography

Planning your

Undergraduate Thesis

Making contacts and networking

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Geography:Planning your Undergraduate

ThesisSkills, making contacts and networking

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Using SussexPlus:Planning, sharing, presenting thesis Piloting assets and webfolio for 09-10

Getting Started:Registration and Login

www.sussex.ac.uk/sussexplus

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Your Research projectWho could you contact?

Previous Theses included:

• Problems with locating a new public facility: a new stadium for Brighton & Hove Albion

- Brighton & Hove Council, South Downs Joint Committee, Brighton & Hove Albion

• Cliff retreat at Birling Gap- Wildlife trusts, South Downs Rangers, Local Councils

• Contradictions and dilemma of responding to Famine: The NGO perspective

- Aid Agencies and charities like Oxfam, IDS, Dfid

Skills- what will you develop?

• Interpersonal/ Communication Skills

• Research Skills

• Self promotion/ self marketing

• Resourcefulness/ ability to use initiative

• Creativity

• Organisational skills/ managing your time/ your workload

• An ability to plan

• Ability to work with people at all levels/ in many situations

• Networking

• Interviewing & presentation skills

How can you make use of these skills?

• In your career planning as you may have a clearer idea of what you enjoy doing

• During your job searching- you will have a better sense of your abilities and experience

• On your CV to market yourself and your abilities

• In job applications / competencies • During interviews

Why is networking important?

• Generate careers ideas

• Gain experience

• Find out about jobs you may not have ever considered

• Find out what a job is really like- insider information

• See how your skills and interests fit those of the job

• Try a career for size without commitment

• Explore the hidden job market- not all jobs are advertised

Where to look for contacts

• Family, friends, personal contacts

• Colleagues, tutors, supervisors (part- time work, University)

• Web pages - www.sussex.ac.uk/careers

• Sussex contacts network- Alumni

• Prospects – www.prospects.ac.uk

• Graduate Recruiters

• Local business directories/ councils/ newspapers

• People you meet at conferences/ seminars/ visiting organisations

• Voluntary work- www.ussu.info/getinvolved/volunteering/projectv

• Searching the web- www.yell.com

How to approach contacts

Speculative approaches are most common:

• Letter or email – www.sussex.ac.uk/cdec/apply- examples

• Phone call- its good to speak to someone! Employers may not

respond to a letter or email if they are busy so follow it up!

• Arrange a visit / meeting

•Do your preparation-

www.sussex.ac.uk/careers/make_contacts - examples of

questions you could ask

Networking and future career planning

• Finding out about upcoming vacancies

• Arrange work experience

• Internships/ work shadowing/ paid vacation work

• Attend conferences & meet people

• Find out about their contacts and networks

• Visit related organisations - make links

• Mentoring

• Thank them- Its good PR to keep the door open!

Careers & Employability Support

• Our information centre - Falmer House

• Short interviews with a form / letters (20 mins)

• Events- grad fair/ law fair/ employer presentations

• Sussex Plus Workshadowing Programme

• Web based information and resources – look in research section of our website for further information about making contacts

www.sussex.ac.uk/careers

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