Job Hunting for Job Hunting for International Students.International Students.

Pamela Andrew and Shona MachPamela Andrew and Shona Mach

Careers Centre.Careers Centre.

English is the Key!English is the Key!

““International students get through the CV International students get through the CV and application form but the majority fail in and application form but the majority fail in group work where they do not have a group work where they do not have a good enough command of the English good enough command of the English LanguageLanguage” ” Hong Le , Graduate Hong Le , Graduate RecruiterRecruiter

Written – CV, covering letter, Written – CV, covering letter, application form, assessment centre – application form, assessment centre – reportreport

Spoken – interview, group work, Spoken – interview, group work, presentationpresentation

Taking Part.Taking Part. I would strongly recommend all I would strongly recommend all

students try to be involved in students try to be involved in opportunities where they can practise opportunities where they can practise their spoken Englishtheir spoken English””

Olivia MorleyOlivia Morley, , Goldman Sachs Goldman Sachs InternationalInternational

Take part in hall activities.Take part in hall activities. Join a university society or group.Join a university society or group. Employer Events – Employer Events – Presentation Skills Presentation Skills

02/12 – Ernst & Young - http://www.st-02/12 – Ernst & Young - http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/careers/students/eventandrews.ac.uk/careers/students/events/standrews/s/standrews/

Volunteer, Volunteer, svs@st-andrews.ac.uksvs@st-andrews.ac.uk Part-time job.Part-time job. Internship, work shadowing, Internship, work shadowing,

conversationconversation Talk by Jing

Job Search in the UKJob Search in the UK Graduate Entry to the Labour Graduate Entry to the Labour

Market.Market. How can I identify graduate job How can I identify graduate job

opportunities opportunities Job search back homeJob search back home Networking – how to go about it Networking – how to go about it What do employers look forWhat do employers look for

Graduate Entry to UK Labour Graduate Entry to UK Labour MarketMarket Graduate Training Programmes (only 5%)Graduate Training Programmes (only 5%)

Approx. 70% of jobs are open to graduates of Approx. 70% of jobs are open to graduates of any degree disciplineany degree discipline

Employers provide initial training of 1-2 yearsEmployers provide initial training of 1-2 years May study for a professional qualificationMay study for a professional qualification Masters often enter at same point as Masters often enter at same point as

undergraduates.undergraduates. Small-Medium Enterprises (often not advertised)Small-Medium Enterprises (often not advertised)

recruit an increasing proportion of graduatesrecruit an increasing proportion of graduates operate less formal systems of trainingoperate less formal systems of training

Direct EntryDirect Entry with specific experience or specialist with specific experience or specialist

qualificationqualification

How do you identify How do you identify opportunities?opportunities?

Identifying Job Opportunities - Advertised?Identifying Job Opportunities - Advertised?

Websites – organisationsWebsites – organisations Careers Centre – “Search jobs and Careers Centre – “Search jobs and

internships”internships” Employer Directories e.g. Prospects.Employer Directories e.g. Prospects. Recruitment Agencies – Recruitment Agencies –

e.g.http://www.chinesegraduate.com/e.g.http://www.chinesegraduate.com/ Print media – newspapers and on-line.Print media – newspapers and on-line. Recruitment fairs and campus-based Recruitment fairs and campus-based

employer events – fair programmes - employer events – fair programmes - http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/careers/studehttp://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/careers/students/events/fairs/nts/events/fairs/. .

www.st-andrews.ac.uk/careers

Identifying Job Opportunities - Hidden job Identifying Job Opportunities - Hidden job Market?Market?

Identify the type of job you are looking for. Identify the type of job you are looking for. Identify the type of organisation you would Identify the type of organisation you would

like to work for.like to work for. Networking – creating your own,Networking – creating your own, Research the organisation you would like Research the organisation you would like

to work for.to work for. Make contact with the organisation.Make contact with the organisation. Make a speculative application (Make a speculative application (CV and CV and

covering lettercovering letter). ).

Over 70% of jobs are not advertised.

Job Search back Home Job Search back Home Key issuesKey issues English language still key.English language still key. Networking. Networking. Transferable skills, eg teamwork, Transferable skills, eg teamwork,

interpersonal.interpersonal. Work experience.Work experience. Research employers – domestic Research employers – domestic

versus multinationals – know versus multinationals – know recruitment process.recruitment process.

Flexibility in your attitude to Flexibility in your attitude to employmentemployment

Job hunting resourcesJob hunting resources

ChinaChina www.educationuk.cn/alumniuk (free www.educationuk.cn/alumniuk (free

registration)registration) www.zhaopin.comwww.zhaopin.com www.chinahr.comwww.chinahr.com www.51job.comwww.51job.com www.gradchina.comwww.gradchina.com

ElsewhereElsewhere www.prospects.ac.ukwww.prospects.ac.uk www.gradasia.comwww.gradasia.com Going Global Going Global

http://online.goinglobal.com/default.aspxhttp://online.goinglobal.com/default.aspx

NetworkingNetworking

Academics from University.Academics from University. Friends and Family.Friends and Family. Past and Present Colleagues.Past and Present Colleagues. Past and Present Employers.Past and Present Employers. University AlumniUniversity Alumni People doing the job you would like People doing the job you would like

to be doing.to be doing. Careers Alumni NetworkCareers Alumni Network https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/

careers/students/gettingstarted/careers/students/gettingstarted/contactalumni/contactalumni/

What do employers of graduates What do employers of graduates look for?look for?

Degree + Work experience + Extra curricular activities Degree + Work experience + Extra curricular activities = highly employable= highly employable

Communication: Communication: e.g.e.g. speaking effectively, speaking effectively, writing concisely writing concisely

Research and Planning: Research and Planning: e.g.e.g. problem problem solving, goal settingsolving, goal setting

Interpersonal: Interpersonal: e.g.e.g. l listening, delegating istening, delegating effectivelyeffectively

Management and Leadership: Management and Leadership: e.g. e.g. coordinating tasks, supervisioncoordinating tasks, supervision

Work Success: Work Success: e.g. decision making and e.g. decision making and implementation, time managementimplementation, time management

Employers’ Top 25 AttributesEmployers’ Top 25 Attributes

1. Willingness to Learn1. Willingness to Learn2. Commitment2. Commitment3. Dependability3. Dependability4. Self Motivation4. Self Motivation5. Teamwork5. Teamwork6. Communications Skills 6. Communications Skills (Oral)(Oral)7. Co-operation 7. Co-operation 8. Communications Skills 8. Communications Skills (Written)(Written)9. Drive/Energy9. Drive/Energy10. Self-Management10. Self-Management11. Desire to Achieve11. Desire to Achieve12. Problem-Solving12. Problem-Solving13. Analytical Ability13. Analytical Ability

14. Flexibility14. Flexibility

15. Initiative15. Initiative

16. Can Summarise Key Issues16. Can Summarise Key Issues

17. Logical Argument17. Logical Argument

18. Adaptability (Intellectual)18. Adaptability (Intellectual)

19. Numeracy19. Numeracy

20. Adaptability (Organisational)20. Adaptability (Organisational)

21. Commercial Awareness21. Commercial Awareness

22. Time Management22. Time Management

23. Self Confidence23. Self Confidence

24. Able to Influence Others24. Able to Influence Others

25. Creative Thinking25. Creative Thinking

http://www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/key-competencies

Other Points.Other Points. Timescales - Many organisations start the Timescales - Many organisations start the

recruitment process in Sept – November recruitment process in Sept – November 2008 for jobs starting in Sept/Oct 2009.2008 for jobs starting in Sept/Oct 2009.

Prospective Employer – Recruitment policy Prospective Employer – Recruitment policy e.g. Some organisations ask for a visa e.g. Some organisations ask for a visa before application. before application.

UK Border Agency – Post Study Worker – UK Border Agency – Post Study Worker – ((Wendy Houldsworth Student Support.)Wendy Houldsworth Student Support.) www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workinginthewww.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/workingintheuk/tier1/poststudyuk/tier1/poststudy

Masters students often start at the same Masters students often start at the same level as undergraduates, may start on a level as undergraduates, may start on a higher salary level.higher salary level.

Careers CentreCareers Centre

Website - International Student section.Website - International Student section. Occupation Information – Tactics sheets, books, Occupation Information – Tactics sheets, books,

directories. directories. Careers Wiki – information, case studiesCareers Wiki – information, case studies Vacancies, Job Shop – local vacanciesVacancies, Job Shop – local vacancies CV, application forms & covering lettersCV, application forms & covering letters Employer contacts: fairs, career insights, skills Employer contacts: fairs, career insights, skills

development, presentationsdevelopment, presentations Going Global – resource for finding international Going Global – resource for finding international

employment and internships.employment and internships. Psychometric testingPsychometric testing Interview coachingInterview coaching Information on employers, further study & work Information on employers, further study & work

experienceexperience Adviser drop-in sessionsAdviser drop-in sessions..

Any Any questions?questions?