Careers Service PresentationDr Lorraine Craig
Department Careers Adviser
Frances McEwen
Careers Adviser
Careers Advisory Service48 Prince’s Gardens
Aims Of The Session
• What opportunities are open to geologists and where do you find them ?
• Making applications – what are employers looking for and what makes a good CV
• What next - your plan of action
OPTIONS
• PhD research• MSc build on interests or new topic
• Employment relevant to your discipline
indirectly related to your discipline
• Year out, temporary work, travel
PG Study
• Discuss with your tutors• Think about why you want to continue to studyPersonal interest, develop research skills ?????• MSc or PhD ?
• Check www.findaphd.com • Use www.prospects.ac.uk/pgstudy• Funding see Prospects web site• Research Assistant work www.jobs.ac.uk
EMPLOYERS and VACANCIES
• www.imperial.ac.uk/careers• JobsLive - for vacancies, careers events • www.prospects.ac.uk/myprospects• www.targetedGrad.com• www.doctorjob.com• www.hobsons.com• www.topcareers.net• www.insidecareers.co.uk
Employers – who are they ?
• PRIVATE SECTORMultinationals :oil and gas, engineering/
environmental / geological consultancies , utilitiesmining and extractive industry companies
• PUBLIC SECTORGovernment, government agencies • NOT FOR PROFITUN, OECD, VSO, WaterAid
Where do your find them ?
• Geological Society website/ Yearbook
• www.acenet.org.uk www.cet500.com www.energyinst.org.uk www.iom3.org.uk
www.mininglife.com www.the1.co.ukwww.ends.co.ukwww.esa.org.uk
• Recruitment Consultancieswww.working-smart.co.ukwww.matchtech.com
What are Employers Looking for ?
• 38 companies in 7 geoscience sectors were surveyed• Drive/ motivation, willingness to learn• Oral, written communication• Team work• Initiative, creativity, problem solving, analytical skills• Industry related work• Intellectual skills• Time management, leadership• Cultural skills / international living/ languages
What are Employers Looking for ?
• Team players• Communication skills oral and written• Analytical thinking and problem solving skills• Interpersonal skills• Persuading and influencing skills• Assimilating and evaluating information• Drive and resilience• Pragmatic and committed• Want to make a difference• International outlook
AGR Survey 2006
CV WRITING
• Length 2 pages of A4• Paper use good quality• Font Arial, Times Roman black ink
largest size for your namenext size down for key headings
next size down for sub-headings/ content
• Words and phrases rather than sentences• Rectify to the left hand side• Avoid using “ I” “he”/”she” passive tense
Mind your Language!
• Use positive wordsenthusiastic enterprising responsible
• Use positive phrasesgood working knowledge ofset up new system
improved organisation of/publicity for
actively involved in• Use action words
analysed coordinated developeddiagnosed evaluated investigated
presented persuaded streamlined
Personal Details
• Centre your name at the top of your CV
• Address• Phone number Mobile• Email address• Date of Birth ?• Nationality
• Work Permits
• College Contact Ilya EigenbrotInternational Office, Room
212, Mech. Eng.• www.ukcosa.org.uk• www.workpermits.gov.uk• www.prospects.ac.uk/int
Education
• Imperial College London• BSc/MSci Geology/Geology with Geophysics
with a Year Abroad• Subjects covered• Fieldwork, Mapping • Projects• Include techniques • Give details of qualifications from school or
college in reverse chronological order
Education
• Dates Imperial College London
BSc/ MSci Geology/Environmental Geoscience
Studies include…………….
Fieldwork/ Mapping
Techniques: GIS
Projects:
Employment
• Use categories to describe experiences: Environmental, Geological, Energy, Industrial, Commercial, Scientific
• Start with the name of the employer and job title in bold
• Describe your work duties • Your responsibilities• Your achievements
Geological Experience
Dates Z&S GEOscience Geologist
Responsibilities: single and multi-well interpretation of petrophysical data specialising in sedimentological and structural analysis of borehole image and dipmeter data.
Dates Petroclays Technical Assistant
Responsible for preparation of samples and operation of XYZ equipment for petrochemical clients
Skills
• Technical Skills
GIS, mapping, fieldwork• Computer / IT
include examples of specialist and other software, systems, databases,
Internet, email• Languages
(bilingual: mother tongue Italian and English)• Driving licence
Awards Qualifications
• Include prizes and awards• Life saving• Duke of Edinburgh awards• PADI diving and diving instruction• St John’s Ambulance training• First Aid• Health and Safety / Laboratory Safety
INTERESTSRESPONSIBILITIES and
ACHIEVEMENTS• Emphasise team/ group activities, your contribution
and successful outcomes• Avoid one word interests e.g. reading, music• Refer to De La Beche activities, Reapp
responsibilities• Travel – give information on continents/ countries/
cities visited or lived in – and the benefits • Photography
References
• Can be supplied on request• Two referees• Personal Tutor or academic who knows you• Employer• Someone who knows you through activities
outside College
Application Forms
• Print off online forms and draft your answers• Keep to the word/ character count by careful editing,
using phrases, listing skills/activities • Time limited forms - print off first, then complete• Use the information from your CV to illustrate your
answers• Investigate the organisation you are applying to on
their web site, in the professional journals, in the business pages of national newspapers/ FT
Application FormsCompetency Questions
• Please describe your most outstanding non-academic achievement highlighting your approach to any significant difficulties faced in meeting your objective.
• Question is testing • how much effort, energy, thought you put into
something that is significant to you• What is important to you and why• What to you are the difficulties and what qualities do
you demonstrate in tackling them
Competency Questions
• Describe the activity you want to use/ give an overview
• What resources did you have; how many people involved; what tasks/ responsibilities did people have and how allocated
• What happened - problems overcome• What was your contribution• What was the outcome/ result
WHAT NEXT?
• Explore the options open to you• Decide which areas of work you want to apply to• Plan which presentations to attend• Find out about employers relevant to your
choices from directories, web sites, tutors and others
• Make your applications carefully• Prepare for interviews