University of Greenwich: Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Humanities Employer-endorsed employability assessment Noel-Ann Bradshaw Senior Lead: Employability

University of Greenwich: Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Humanities

Employer-endorsed employability assessment

Noel-Ann BradshawSenior Lead: Employability


Employability at Greenwich

• Greenwich Maths Talent• IMA Business Game• Maths Grads: Where are they now?• HESTEM project with Adab Trust• HEA department project


Background

• Students not prepared to apply for graduate jobs at the start of 3rd year.

• Weak CVs.• Not good at answers to competency-based

questions.• Not sure what they want to do.• Poor ability to reflect.


HEA workshop – May 2012


Assignment in OR

• 10% coursework in 30 credit course• Several components• Spread throughout first term• Final deadline end of first term• Uploading the CV early means they can get

feedback before final submission.


Maths Careers


3 Questions

1. What have you found on the Maths Careers website that will help you to find a job?

2. Where can you go to find jobs and graduate schemes suitable for maths graduates?

3. Find a company that interests you and write a page about what they can offer you AND what you can offer them.


Employability skills test

• Rate (1-5) general skills and mindsets• Reflect on which ones they plan to work on

this year• List previous work experience


Lecture topics

• Importance of a good CV• Job application process• Competency-based interviews• LinkedIn• Role-play interview session• Visiting speakers– Placement student– What employers are looking for from CVs


CV blunders

• Say they are hard working yet list low marks and have not really engaged with course.

• Give little evidence of any skills but under interests say they have organised a cycle trip up the 3rd highest mountain.

• Opening paragraph mentions a dislike of programming.


Cover letter

• A large number of students do not seem to know how to write a formal letter.

• Some applications still require a formal letter rather than email.

• This, and reflection section, obtained the lowest average mark.


Mock Job Application

• Complete a job application for one of the jobs attached to this assignment specification. This must take the form of your CV, a covering letter and a completed application form.– Graduate Financial Analyst - Rothschild – Graduate Data Analyst - Experian pH Group – Operational Graduate Management Trainee

Scheme - GIST


Competency evidence in JA

• Planning, implementation and achieving results:– Describe a challenging project (objective, changes)

• Influencing, communication and teamwork:– Describe how you achieved a goal through

influencing the actions or opinions of others• Analysis, problem solving and creative thinking:– Describe a difficult problem you have solved

(process)


Competency-based evidence


LinkedIn profile

• Create a LinkedIn profile. Provide the link or screenshot for assessment purposes with your final upload. If you do not wish to create a profile for yourself you may create a fictitious profile but if you do this please do not link it to mine or anyone else’s in the class or University.


Reflection

• Please reflect on the job application process in relation to what you have learned this year. Create a plan of what you will do over the next year and a half in order to secure a graduate-level job by September 2015. Include your reflection and plan in your final submission.


Feedback from students

• The job application process was quite hard and stressful but very useful and helpful.

• It has taught me reread over and over again through the application, CV and cover letter, as it is always possible to make improvements.

• It has taught me that I should apply early for jobs as some close up even before the deadline as they receive a lot of applications and also a lot of applications deadlines are very early.

• I have also learnt to manage my time, as I had to fit this process in whilst doing my courseworks.


Feedback from employers

• ‘I think you have an excellent model….• This should, if well thought through by the

student, prepare them for almost any formal application.’

Anil Sharad - HR-Transformation, Marks and Spencer.


Conclusion

• Since doing this the number of 2nd year placement students has increased.

• Students are appreciative• Employers have endorsed it.• Time consuming for student• Takes a long time to mark and give

appropriate feedback


Points for discussion

• Marking and feedback• Mock interviews• Allow would-be

teachers to write a personal statement for a PGCE application

Documents

University of Greenwich: Faculty of Architecture, Computing and Humanities Employer-endorsed employability assessment Noel-Ann Bradshaw Senior Lead: Employability