Careers Workshop for Sociology and Criminology:What career optionsdo you have?
John McMenaminCareers ConsultantCareer Development Centre
Objectives
This session will help you to:– Expand your horizons and explore a wide range
of potential roles– Explore other ways of engaging with the job
market
Getting started
– What job do I want?– What have I got to offer?– What jobs are out there?
The majority of graduate schemes do not require a specific degree subject
– Before you dismiss a potential graduate scheme, check out their entry requirements. You may be surprised.
“Everyone else is talking about going into teaching, maybe I’ll try that”
– Teaching isn’t for everyone so if you aren’t sure about it, do get a bit of experience before committing yourself to it.
– The UWAS scheme will give you 15 days of experience in a school so you can see if it’s right for you.
– Find out more here: westminster.ac.uk/uwas
“Maybe I’ll do a Masters, that’ll look good on my CV and I won’t need to look for a job for another year”
– The only reason to do a masters is this:
Love of the subject and a desire to learn more about it
– There really shouldn’t be any other justification.
“Someone said I should work for MI5 but I don’t think I’d make a good James Bond”
– If you have language skills, analytical skills and an insight into how people/criminals think, these are, broadly, the skills that MI5 are looking for in their intelligence officers
– Mythbusting: – Intelligence officers spend most of their time in the office– Intelligence officers do not have firearms training and nobody
in MI5 carries a weapon– Intelligence officers CAN tell their immediate loved ones what
they do for a living but for their own protection, they are given a cover story
– Visit www.mi5.gov.uk/careers to see if you are eligible to apply
“I don’t want to do volunteering, rattling a tin in the high street or working in a musty charity shop is not appealing to me”– The range of voluntary roles is HUGE. It isn’t just
fundraising or selling second-hand clothing.– Volunteering gives you exposure to activities which you
would not be able to get experience of in a traditional paid role.
– It is an opportunity for you to develop skills and gain experience while contributing to the ongoing activity of an organisation that is seeking to improve the lives of others.
– Visit do-it.org.uk to see the broad range of opportunities available, often less than 2 miles from your home.
How employers like to engage with the job market is not how you prefer to engage with the job market…
The value of networking
Advertisements/websites
Recruitment agencies
Professional organisations
Networking/Word of mouth
Contacts from existing staff
Internal promotion or lateral moveEmployersrecruit this way
Most people lookfor jobs this way
Targeting companies
– Business activity– Size– Training – Prospects– Culture
– Travel– Location– Salary– Benefits– Security
75%
Iceberg principle
The open job market
Advertisedposts
The hiddenJob market
Direct approachesNetworking
25%
Open job market
– Internet– Engage– Company websites– Job sites – Social media – LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter
– Recruitment agencies – Recruitment fairs– Local and national press– Job centre Plus
Finding the hidden jobs
– Networking – conventional & social media– Informational interviewing– Work (experience), temping and volunteering– Speculative applications - in writing– Cold calling - in person, by phone
Networking
– Family, friends, fellow students– Clubs and associations– Tutors and careers consultants– Previous employers– Professional associations– Alumni Association
Social networking
Linkedin, facebook, twitter:
– Establish contact with professionals you have recently met
– Research or follow specific companies/people– Identify industry trends
But take care over your online profile. http://www.careerplayer.com/tips-and-advice/general-advice/social-media-and-job-hunting/
Informational interviewing
– When you find someone who knows about a field or occupation
– Ask for a short interview / chat – 10 minutes– This is not JOB SEARCH – it is RESEARCH
Making the most ofinformational interviews– Imagine the conversation is with your hero and you want
their opinion on something. Offer an open question (who, what, why, how) but don’t interrogate them.
– Some questions you might ask– How did you get started in your business?– What’s the best thing about your job?– What’s the worst thing about your job?– What advice would you give to someone just starting out
in the industry?– What do you see as the coming trends in your business?– Listen to what they are saying and ask follow-up
questions that occur to you. “Interesting… so why…?”
Benefits of networking / interviewing
– What employers are looking for?– Information about specific companies– Industry trends, challenges and opportunities– Job hunting advice– Expand your network – add them on LinkedIn!– Possible experience / work opportunities – if the
interaction goes well, try your luck by asking if there is a possibility of work shadowing
Networking/informational interviewing exercise
– On the back of your action plan – write “ME” in the middle of the page
– Pick one of the jobs that you’d like. Who do you know who might be able to help you with finding information about the job and potential vacancies?
Networking exercise
– I want to become a writer
Self-published his own book whichdid quite well Tony
(Uncle)
Theresa(Neighbour) Works for a local
publisher
Jenny (Zumba)
Part of a local writer’s group
Matthew(Brother)
Julie(Friend)
Published author
Sumi(Colleague)
Nigel(ex colleague)
Now works for aliterary agent
Mark(Her husband)
Plays squash with anAccount manager atHodder & Stoughton
As you start chasing leads, you can add to it. Note: The above is just an exploration of an immediate network of friends and family and does not include contact through groups (alumni association, professional bodies), social media (linkedin) or ‘warm’ leads to working as a writer at work / at university.
ME
Speculative approaches
– Identify possible companies via:- word of mouth / networking - newspapers / online business news- online communities- professional bodies
– Identify relevant contact via:- cold calling (phone or in person)
- linkedin/twitter
Speculative applications
– Research the company / roles– Target named person, with a relevant role
in the organisation– Develop a persuasive, targeted CV and
covering letter– Follow up with a phone call– Ask for further contacts– Keep a record of all activity - follow-up
Your action plan
– What are you aiming for?(Your career goals)
– What is your current situation? (Job hunting activities underway) – What actions will you take? (Specific action steps with target dates)
Access services and resources book appointments book yourself in for events find and view vacancies find work placements view employers view careers information download resources complete online forms ask a question
engage.westminster.ac.uk
Career Development Centre Services
1-to-1Guidance
E-Advice
Vacancies& Events
InformationResources
Volunteering
Talent Bank
Mentoring
Career Development Centre Services
Engage – engage.westminster.ac.uk Online appointments, vacancies and events system Includes an enormous range of additional resources
on Engage Plus including job search Information and advice on CVs, Covering letters and application forms
Resources Guides, general and sector specific publicationsFace-to-face advice and guidance – bookable via Engage 20 minute quick query session 45 minute in-depth individual guidance or mock interview session
In summary
– Know what you have to offer and what you want– Know what’s out there– Explore your options thoroughly– Develop your network– Plan your campaign– Review it regularly
....and, if you need help, seek advice and guidance
Download these slides from slideshare
– slideshare.net/cdcwestminster/bitesized-career-talks-job-seeking-strategies-2017
– Visit slideshare.net/cdcwestminster to see slides on all of our other sessions too
Contact us
Cavendish House1st Floor101 New Cavendish Street100 metres from Cavendish Campus
T: 020 7911 5184E: [email protected]
engage.westminster.ac.uk