The IT Job Market & Tactics for looking for work experience

Practical and Transferable Skills for Computer Scientists 2010

Careers Consultant from University’s Careers Service

Session Structure

• The IT job market

• Case studies: what would you do?

• How commercial aware are you?

• Tactics for looking for work experience

• Summary

The IT industry for Graduates – what does the future hold?

• 2009-2019• The government’s (2009) Technology Manifesto to

create a further 250,000 IT jobs in the 10 years by.

• ‘Right to government data’ policy following USA lead• Extending superfast broadband making UK hub for the

creative industries• Publication of government spending and salaries• Opening up government IT contracts to SMEs (small

and medium sized enterprises, employing 200 or less)

The IT industry for Graduates- the current labour market• Despite rising unemployment rate (17% for

2009 leavers), higher than average ‘into employment’ rate. 43.7% of IT graduates working as IT professionals.

• Despite highest unemployment rates for IT staff since 2004 the demand for IT professionals is set to grow – better news for IT graduates.

Constant IT innovations needed in all sectors – Ready for the challenge?

Oppor tunities

PROBLEMS• The Big Society• Energy crisis /

climate change• Ageing population• Security and Human

rights• Transportation• Communication

SOLUTIONS?• Maintaining services• Renewable energy/

carbon trading• Care in the community• Pen testing and identity

cards• Higher demand challenge• Wanting everything ‘NOW’

As it is…

• PA Consulting …

“We still struggle to attract technical IT graduates that can offer the right blend of technical know-how with interpersonal and transferable skills. We want computer science graduates who are technically good but can work well in teams and communicate effectively”

Key message for computer scientists…

It is not what you know but what you do

Who will you apply to?

• Companies who CREATE Technologyeg. IBM, Microsoft, HP Compaq, Intel, Cisco, Oracle

• Companies who HARNESS Technology eg. Accenture, Nortel Networks, PwC, Logica, Reuters, EDS, Cap Gemini

• Companies who USE the Technologyeg. BBC, NHS, Orange, Oxfam, Astra Zeneca, M&S

Some companies overlap or even operate in all 3 zones

• Small Businesses• Yourself - Start your own business!

SME and Me plc focus – where to look

• Growth of SMEs - Small and Medium Sized Enterprises requiring your skills and labour. Regional links;

www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students/jobsearch/regional/manchesternw/it/

• Promotion of Graduates as entrepreneurs www.ncge.org.uk Resources available in Careers Service

• University support at…www.umic.co.uk, www.umip.com • Manchester Enterprise Centre.

http://www.mbs.ac.uk/aboutus/enterprise/index.htm

See www.computerweekly.com “Best Places to work in IT “

Which employers recruit Manchester Computer Science graduates?

Graduate roles Try them out or observe them on placement!

Within IT;• Project Management• Consultancy• Design• Development• Engineering• Specialist• Technical Support & Training

Over to you…

- some case studies of typical student queries

- You will act as a careers adviser

- How will you advise them?

QUIZ TIME

Commercial Awareness Quiz1. Which institution sets the base rate in the U.K.?

2. What is the name of the Group that owns these retail brands? – Topshop, Burton, Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge

3. What does GDP stand for?

4. Which country’s currency is called the Dong?

5. Which UK based Building Society is the largest in the world?

6. Which British organisation is the world’s 4th largest employer?

7. What name is given to a depressed stock market?

Commercial Awareness Quiz

8. What is the name of the departing BP Chief Executive at the time of the recent oil spill?

9. Name the First Lord of the Treasury

10. Which of the following is not an oil company: B.P.; AstraZeneca; Total; Gazprom; ExxonMobil;

11. Which country currently has the world’s highest inflation rate?

12. Which Group owns these brands? Guinness, Baileys, Smirnoff.

13. In which country would you find Nokia’s head office?

Commercial Awareness Quiz

14. If you see the letters LLP after a firm’s name what does it mean?

15 What are FMCGs?

16. If you heard a businessman talking about M&As what would he mean?

17. What’s the current standard rate of VAT?

18. What is the name given to the financial district of New York?

19. In employment law what do the letters DDA stand for

20. What is the FTSE 100?

Work Experience: what counts?

• Industrial placement• Summer internship• Voluntary work• Mentoring• Work shadowing• Manchester Leadership programme

i.e. ANYTHING that demonstrates you have beenpro-active in finding out about a career area and/or developing relevant skills

“70% of work placements lead to a job offer”

Tactics - looking for work experience

• Know yourself

• Find out who’s recruiting

• Gather evidence of your commitment for this sector, organisation and role?

• Make an informed decision about applying

• Seek help for the recruitment and selection challenges

• Feedback your experiences next year!

Do you have any important personal factors?

• Career or professional development• Personal mission (Goals/passions/long-held ambitions)

• Philosophy (Ethical/environmental/profit/caring/£££/status)

• Constraints (Location/health/family/work permits)

• Skills gaps (Personal/technical/commercial)

• Experience gap (Necessary/advisable/sensible)

• Commitment evidence (networking/sector/organisation)

• Timing (Negotiate deferred start/developing skills or experience)

• Gender (glass ceilings/commitments/constraints)

Find out who’s recruiting

• School contacts and Moodle• Seek out finalist placement returners• Careers Service website for vacancies and much

much more www.manchester.ac.uk/careers

• Events (presentations and workshops)• 3 Fairs in October; • Thurs.14th 2-4 – School careers fair in Kilburn basement, Wednesday 20 th 10.30am-4pm

Science, Engineering and Technology at Manchester Central. Also Work Fair at University of Salford on Wednesday 6th 10.30-3 – details at http://www.careers.salford.ac.uk/page/workfair

• Directories and takeaways

Careers VIRTUAL Services

• LiveGuidance – for those cold winter nights

• Blogs- students, postgraduates, media international students and volunteering.

• Twitter - follow us on Manunicareers

• Careers Forums -ask questions to employers

• Webchats – being you own boss, pt. jobs….

• Delicious – information bookmarks www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/students/services/interactive/

Networking: Good things to ask

• How did you get into this occupation?• What attracted you to this occupation?• What is the progression of jobs from entry level

to more senior positions?• What is a typical day like for you?• What skills, abilities and attitude do you need to

be successful in this occupation?• What changes do you see in this field in the next

few years?

Time for action – apply from now onwards

• Deadlines for applications for placements and internships (turn of the year).

• You’ll need to tackle on-line competency-based application forms and take tests

• Assessment centres from early spring

• Final interviews and allocation late spring

Look for Work Experience in an SME next summerSTEP Classic Programme –

Nuturing Talent• Provides challenging, definable, structured projects

for prefinal year undergrads in SME’s E.g. - Design/implementation of a website– Setting up IT systems, Assessing carbon footprint,

• Excellent training in business and presentation skills• Last 8-12 weeks during summer vacation• Available across the UK• Paid weekly training allowance of c£210• Applications accepted from September. • http://www.step.org.uk/step_classic.aspx

Looking for Work Experience OVERSEAS• Check Careers website for links to over 90

organisations • CIEE – internships in USA (list some but impetus

on applicant to find a host company) www.ciee.org

• AIESEC – international traineeship exchange programme www.aiesec.org

• Leonardo Da Vinci scheme – European work placements 13-52 weeks www.leonardo.org.uk

• IAESTE – work experience exchange scheme for technical students www.iaeste.org

The IT Job Market & tactics for looking for work experience - SUMMARY

• IT Labour market – Open for business

• Case studies – challenges and motivations

• Commercial Awareness,Got it or getting it?”!

• Seeking and securing work experience- Choices, choices, choices (sectors, organisations;

large or small, home or abroad, roles, personal factors)

- Decisions to be made

- Challenges in selection to overcome

Career Service – Location

1. Crawford House - Booth Street East

Appointments Phone : 0161 275 2829

www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/careers