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Higher Education Orientation

Elaine Cohen

Careers Adviser for LMBS

Career Development & Employment Service

Department of Student Services

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Lecture Plan

Graduate Labour Market

Transferable Skills

Ways to Develop Transferable Skills

Resources

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New World of Work

Gone is the job for life Gone are the clear functional identities of jobs

Instead: World of customers, clients and adding value Lifelong learning, flexibility, portfolio careers,

self development and staying employable

Skills for Graduates in the 21st Century: Association of Graduate Recruiters

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“having a degree opens up more doors than without one …. Graduates have significantly higher earnings than non-graduates and the financial benefits of a degree increase markedly with age.”

www.prospects.ac.uk, 2006

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Good News for Business Graduates

Graduate unemployment is low, 6.2% in 2005

Graduate unemployment amongst Business graduates is lower, at 6.0%

Source: Prospects website

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Outlook for 2007/08 Graduate vacancies expected to rise by 16.7% in

2007

83% of employers set to hire similar or more graduates than the previous year.

The average starting salary for graduates in 2006 was £23,136.

London remains the graduate recruitment hotspot for vacancies in the UK

Source: Prospects website

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However...

We are in an era of mass Higher Education

Every year: Over 5000 students graduate from London Met.

You are competing with a lot of equally qualified people.

A degree is an excellent start, but you need more!

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“21st century graduates need to demonstrate to employers that they can 'hit the ground running'. In addition to working hard to gain a good degree, students should engage in extra curricular activities and obtain work experience in order to develop skills that will make them better prepared for the world of work.”

Carl Gilleard – Chief Executive, Association of Graduate Recruiters

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Improve your career prospects

1st Year Find your feet, Have fun Explore your degree subject

Develop some transferable skills

2nd Year Gain work experience in chosen field of study

Final Year Consider your career after graduation Start applying for positions/training schemes

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SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES CHECKLISTCHECKLIST

1 Motivation and enthusiasm1 Motivation and enthusiasm

2 Team working2 Team working

3 Communication3 Communication

4 Flexibility4 Flexibility

5 Customer focus5 Customer focus

6 Problem solving6 Problem solving

7 Managing own learning7 Managing own learning

8 Commercial awareness8 Commercial awareness

9 Planning and organisation9 Planning and organisation

10 Desire to achieve10 Desire to achieve

1 Commercial awareness1 Commercial awareness

2 Leadership2 Leadership

3 Risk taking/enterprise3 Risk taking/enterprise

4 Project management4 Project management

5 Managing own learning5 Managing own learning

6 Second language6 Second language

7 Problem solving7 Problem solving

8 Customer focus8 Customer focus

9 Report writing9 Report writing

10 Cultural sensitivity10 Cultural sensitivity

THE TOP TEN IN 2006

Important SkillsImportant Skills Difficult to find skillsDifficult to find skills

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“Our employers look for individuals who have some knowledge of the world of work, have reflected on their experiences and can articulate in a job interview what they have learned.”

The Council for Industry and Higher Education

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Key to Success

Gaining the experience to help you develop transferable skills

Learning how to communicate the skills to employers via the application process: CV with covering letter Application form Interview process

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Developing Skills

Through school activities

Through your home life

Through your course

Through vacation and part-time work

Through a placement

Through extra curricular activities

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Work ExperienceHelps you find out:

Whether you are suited to working in a large or small company Whether you prefer to work in the commercial or not-for-profit

sector Reality of every day working eg. timekeeping Whether you want to work indoors, outdoors, at home or abroad What you like and don’t like doing What you are good at Whether you might want to start your own business

Liz Rhodes, National Council for Work Experiencehttp://nusonline.co.uk

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Employment Online

Part time work Vacation work Placements Internships Graduate jobs Jobs by emailRegister onlinewww.londonmet.ac.uk/careers/employment

Based in Student Services (North) between 10.30 and 3.30pm (Mon-Weds)

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Benefits of a Placement You often need experience in order to get a

graduate job!! Practice for the graduate recruitment process Get a thorough understanding of a sector,

organisation or job role Gain real evidence of achievement and the

skills employers look for “Test-drive” a specific job without long term

commitment Become aware of the culture and structure of a

working environment

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Business Relations Office Helps LMBS students into sandwich placements and work

experience

Advice and guidance on planning, making applications and interview techniques

Advertises hundreds of placement vacancies every year and liaises with employers on behalf of the Business School

Stapleton House, Room 213 Web:  www.londonmet.ac.uk/lmbs/careers-and-employability.cfm

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Employability Unit

Work Placement for Professional Experience

For students, who do not have a compulsory placement as part of their degree

A minimum of 5 weeks full time during the summer vacation after year 2 or a period which is equivalent to 5 weeks (25 days) during year 3

Placements should be related to your course and be professional level/near graduate level

email: t.platt@londonmet.ac.uk

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Volunteering

Almost 75% of top UK businesses prefer to recruit candidates with volunteering experience

on their CV (source: Timebank survey)

Volunteering enables individuals to demonstrate their skills in a wider context, and gives them greater worldliness and maturity“ Roger Hammett, Head of Recruitment Communications, BBC

 

 

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Volunteering

Drop in Sessions

North Campus – Student Services

Monday and Wednesdays 12-2 pm

Appointments can be made by prior arrangements, on Wednesday at the North campus.

Email: reach@londonmet.ac.uk

Tel: 020 7133 2994

Web: reach.londonmet.ac.uk

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What is ERASMUS?What is ERASMUS?

ERASMUS allows you to study or work for 3-12 months in one of 31 other European countries as part of your degree.

ERASMUS: Enhances your intercultural skillsEnhances your intercultural skills Helps you to gain self-relianceHelps you to gain self-reliance Looks good on your CV and can be Looks good on your CV and can be

emphasised in job interviewsemphasised in job interviews

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What does it cost?What does it cost?

You do not pay tuition fees at the partner You do not pay tuition fees at the partner universityuniversity

If you go for a whole academic year, you do not If you go for a whole academic year, you do not pay fees to London Met (unless you are an pay fees to London Met (unless you are an international student)international student)

You pay for accommodation and living costs but You pay for accommodation and living costs but generally costs will be lower than in Londongenerally costs will be lower than in London

You continue to receive all student loans and You continue to receive all student loans and grants you are normally entitled togrants you are normally entitled to

You will receive an additional grantYou will receive an additional grant

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How can I apply?How can I apply?

For further information:For further information: Visit Visit www.londonmet.ac.uk/erasmuswww.londonmet.ac.uk/erasmus Contact the Europe Office onContact the Europe Office on

erasmus@londonmet.ac.ukerasmus@londonmet.ac.uk

133 Whitechapel High Street133 Whitechapel High Street

33rdrd Floor, Room 3-02. Floor, Room 3-02.

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Career Development & Employment Service Resources

CVs, application forms, covering letters Quick careers queries and vocational guidance Workshops Information on jobs, careers and employers Job vacancies – Employment Service Visiting employers-presentations, stands, workshops Computer-aided guidance Psychometric test sessions Free take-away literature E-guidance

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How to get in touch

Student Services, 1st Floor, Tower Building

Open 9-6pm

Drop-in 12-3pm, Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri term-time

Wed. 12-3pm phone to book on the day

Tel: 020 7133 2094

careers.north@londonmet.ac.uk

www.londonmet.ac.uk/careers

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Prospectswww. prospects.ac.uk

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Conclusions

You will already have many skills and abilities that employers will value

You will further develop these and learn additional ones whilst at university

Work experience and/or volunteering are vital

Learning how to communicate your abilities to employers is essential

Use the resources that the university provides to get ahead in the job market