sheffield.ac.uk/careers
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Finding career and course-related work experience. What BMS students need to know. Alison Clay, Careers Adviser Dr Louise Robson, Dept of BMS. www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
20/04/23www.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
20/04/23www.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…..