19/04/23www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers

Finding career and course-related work

experienceWhat BMS students need to know

Alison Clay, Careers AdviserDr Louise Robson, Dept of BMS

“Over half of recruiters warn that graduates who have had no previous work experience at all are unlikely to be successful during the selection process and have little or no chance of receiving a job offer for their organisations’ graduate programmes.”“..over a third of this year’s entry-level positions will be filled by graduates who have already worked for their organisation”High Fliers, January 2013 (survey of The Times Top 100 employers)

• ‘Expectation’• Gives you an edge -

degree alone is not enough

• Develop technical & transferable skills

• Commercial / organisational awareness

• Make valuable contacts• Find out what you do /

don’t want to do• Putting learning into

practice• Earn ££ (hopefully)• Enjoyable

EG application / interview questions• Of the work experience (you have already

gained) which did you enjoy the most and why? What did you learn from it?

• Please describe key situations where you have worked as part of a team, your contribution and the difference you personally made.

• Highlight your contribution to an event or project, detailing how you resolved problems encountered and ensured a successful completion.

Employers wish-list

• Technical, workplace or discipline-specific skills

• Transferable skills / attributes: common sense; curiosity; communication; commercial awareness; initiative; creativity; interpersonal; teamwork; negotiation; networking; self-management; self-motivation; problem-solving; confidence & assertiveness; flexibility; willingness to learn

EG: What do AstraZeneca

want?

Innovation (produce novel ideas, generate

options and alternatives)

Commitment to core values

Analytical thinking diagnosis & developing solutions

Skill development (personal effectiveness, IT, business driven skills

Business awareness

Team Players (who can

make a difference)

Enthusiasm & Drive (good ideas depend on good people)

Technical skills

Some options ....

Summer 2014 apply at start of L2!•1-year placement in industry (DEE, Helen Thorpe)•Summer internships (lab or otherwise)•Lab based work experience ( Dr Louise Robson)•Organise own ‘placement’

This summer / other time - boost your CV•Work shadowing and insight days•Volunteering•Part time / temp. work •Clubs & societies / other extra curricular •Organise your own ‘placement’

Which should I choose?

What career? – Course-related? Other?– Test various options?– Careers with my degree:

www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers/students/degree/bms– Talk to your tutor– Talk to a Careers Adviser

Practicalities– Duration, location, finance…

Enjoyment

Explore a combination of:• Advertised opportunities• Speculative approaches• Using your network of contacts• Schemes for BMS students:

−DEE−Summer Studentships

Finding work experience

Advertised opportunities• My Vacancies: www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/jobs

– Searchable job site

– The Sheffield Internship Scheme

– OnCampus Placements

• Links to other useful websites: www.careers.dept.shef.ac.uk/infotree/EmployersandVacancies.php

• Your academic department• Trade directories, magazines, journals eg: New Scientist• Professional associations and learned societies• www.bioscience.heacademy.ac.uk/ftp/events/dlforum07/students

hips.pdf

• Company/organisations websites• Internet search• Ask at the Careers Service….

Create your own opportunity

• Identify: Type, where, when and for how long? Sector? Role? Paid? Other criteria?

• Identify: appropriate organisations and named contact

• Target CVs and covering letters to named contact

• Follow-up named contact after 3-4 weeks

Identifying organisations to approach• Occupational profiles:

www.prospects.ac.uk/types_of_jobs.htm (‘Employers & vacancy sources’) and at

targetjobs.co.uk/career-sectors/• Directory of British Associations eg, ABPI• Careers Service information resources:

www.careers.dept.shef.ac.uk/infotree/CareersIn.php• Yellow Pages – www.yell.com• Google• Your networks……

Networking for success

Do some research & get talking: • Tutors and lecturers • Neighbours, friends, acquaintances – join

University and/or other clubs and societies• Careers Service events eg, fairs, panels,

networking• Join ‘professional’ societies (eg, Society of Biology;

Students In Free Enterprise - SIFE)• Attend conferences / open days / networking

events• Go to trade fairs• Work shadowing• Social media

Social media - LinkedIn

• Set up your online profile (like a CV)

• Search for people you know (family, friends, colleagues)

• Join relevant groups (professional contacts / group discussion)

• Search for companies (vital stats / employee profiles / employees’ group membership)

• Search for work experience

www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers/students/gettingajob/media

Other social media

Twitter• Follow professionals / organisations of interest (gather

useful information)• Look for job ads and work experience• Re-tweet and comment on hot topics (develop a

professional reputation)

Facebook• Search for pages and groups by specific graduate

recruiters, career sectors, careers services and jobs • ‘like’ employers you are interested in and take an active

involvement in their Facebook page

What’s your digital footprint like?

• 1 year placement as part of your degree, making it a 4 year degree• Placement taken after year 2• Placement must contribute to learning outcome of your degree and be approved• You are responsible for finding placement ( with support from the Careers Service)• 2.1 or above• Many don’t accept applications after end November 2013

Degree with Employment Experience

www.shef.ac.uk/placements/students

Qs? Drop-in with Helen Thorpe (Careers Service) Tues & Thurs 1-2pm

Organisations targeting University of Sheffield students

Work experience abroad?

www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/inter

myInternational career

Applying for work experience

• Make it professional and effective!

• PUT YOURSELF IN THE EMPLOYER’S SHOES:

show you are a good match by demonstrating your skills, interests, qualifications – research employer / industry, and what you have to offer

• General tips: www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/gettingajob

• Application reviews available Careers Service

Make the most of work experience

Skills for Work Certificate:www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers/students/advice/sfwc

The Sheffield Graduate Award:www.shef.ac.uk/thesheffieldgraduateaward

Other activities to develop your skills• Skills for Success:

www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/advice/sfs

• USE: enterprise.shef.ac.uk/

• Experience Sheffield: www.shef.ac.uk/experience

• Taste of Work: www.shef.ac.uk/careers/students/tasteofwork

• Ask in your Department

Handout:

Finding work experience –Information for BMS students

19/04/23www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers

Careers Service - 388 Glossop Road (behind SU building)Open 9am - 5pm Mon to Fri (11am – 5pm Tues)

Student Jobshop – 285 Glossop Rd (temp. move)Open 10am – 3pm Mon to Fri (11am – 3pm Tues)

www.shef.ac.uk/careers

Where to find us…..