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WoW STAR

Sticking your neck out above the increasingly competitive crowd

Be a giraffe

LJMU is taking your employability seriously. Your degree, work related learning, graduate skills and the WoW Skills Certificate will make you a much stronger applicant for graduate jobs – but you must be proactive. No university has stronger links with employers than LJMU and competition in the graduate jobs market is fierce. The Graduate Development Centre Team understand what employers want and how you can stand out from the crowd. Start planning early! Come to the GDC to ask about our programmes and the WoW Skills Certificate. We’ll support you all the way

Get support all the way!

WoW stands for the ‘World of Work’ and is a programme unique to LJMU. WoW includes work related learning, recording key graduate skills and providing evidence of WoW skills by obtaining the WoW Skills Certificate. It aims to ensure you are equipped with the employability skills you need to stand out from the crowd and fully engage in the world of work

What is WoW?

see page 11

A word with the new Students’ Union President is on page 2

Make the WoW Skills Certificate

a priority

Fancy a career at ? The engineering giant are just one of many large organisations backing WoW - see page 6

One LJMU student travels 1000s of miles for an experience of a lifetime

Out to Africa

see back page

WOW CAREERS REVIEW produced by the Graduate Development Centre and LJMU Journalism Graduates 2011/12

The football coach trip to a dream job

When car giant and WoW national Advisory Board member Ford Motor Company started recruiting graduates for the first time in four years in 2010, MBA and WoW Skills Certificate graduate Tharun Thirunagari felt his luck had changed.

Tharun graduated in 2010 with a Masters in Business Administration but

found graduate opportunities limited as companies stopped recruiting during the economic downturn.

“I felt very unlucky due to the recession starting almost at the time we were

graduating,” he told the WoW Star. “So I

was constantly searching for additional courses to

help me get a job. That was when I was introduced to the WoW Skills Certificate and I wanted to make use of it.”

Tharun’s CV already boasted an undergraduate degree in Computer Science engineering and three years work experience in hyderabad in his native India, but knew he wanted to enhance his CV even further and came to the Graduate Development Centre for assistance.

“I realised this certification would

not only help me secure a job but also give me skills for life. The course helped me with networking, interview skills and a different approach to finding and applying for jobs. With the help of GDC staff, I created a new CV and improved my interview skills.

“The employer interview helped me a lot as I was given a DVD to look back at my performance, which I used to improve myself,” he added.

WoW know how driving force to get career out of first gear

continued on page 3Tharun Thirunagari

An LJMU WoW Skills Certificate graduate has scored a job with one of the world’s biggest

football organisations and tackled the challenge of a male-dominated working culture.

Rebecca Garlick, 22, is a Skills Coach for the Football Association (FA) based in Cheshire, a job she has dreamed of doing since beginning football coaching at 16.

“I never thought that dream would come true for me at such a young age,” she said. “Sometimes when I really think about it, I still can’t believe how I managed it!”

It was a familar story for Rebecca when her time at LJMU ended, jobs were hard to find and applications and cover letters became tedious and repetitive. her hard-work helping out at Liverpool County FA while at university made Rebecca an ideal candidate when the nationwide FA Tesco Skills programme began looking for talented and dedicated coaches.

And, in August 2010, just a few months after leaving LJMU, Rebecca

by Chris Bradley

continued on page 3

Read student feedback from Graduate Development Centre WoW Skills and Ready for Work workshops in 2010/11

96% would refer friends to the GDC

see page 6

Get involved in some fantastic work placement opportunities

Join the Unit

see page 6

Rebecca Garlick

The WoW Star is written and designed by Journalism graduates from Liverpool JMU

Design and Subeditor Michael McGuinness

Writers Claire Bennett Chris BradleyAngela Brooks Rachel Sanders

Editorial Directors - LJMU Journalism LecturersSteve Harrison Kate Heathmanjournalismproduction@ljmu.ac.ukwww.jmu-journalism.org.uk

Content copyright Liverpool John Moores University 2011. All rights reserved.

The WoW Star is published and edited by the Graduate Development Centre, Kingsway House, Hatton Garden, Liverpool, L3 2AJ. Tel: 0151 231 8099 www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow

For latest WoW updates see: twitter.com/ljmugdcOr join our Facebook group: LJMU WoW

To view WoW videos see: youtube.com/ljmugdc

Download the WoW Star at: http://www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow

Please send any comments and your ideas for the next WoW Star to GDC@ljmu.ac.uk

Alternative formats of the The WoW Star are available from the GDC, please contact us. WoW® is a registered trademark

THE WoW STAR 2011/12 www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow2

The WoW Skills Certificate process, managed by the Graduate Development Centre, mirrors a conventional recruitment process, developing your ability to articulate and provide evidence for your WoW skills, on paper and at interview.

You produce a detailed personal statement which gives evidence of your WoW skills in three areas: Bronze (on Self Awareness), Silver (on Organisational Awareness) and

Gold (on Making Things happen). Once all three have been completed, you can then proceed to the final stage – a 1:1 employer interview with a graduate recruiter from the sector you wish to go into, whenever possible.

You can start at any level and at any time of the year (including holiday periods) and progress at your own pace. But engaging in the WoW Skills Certificate process is rather

like joining a gym – you only get out of it what you put in! And it’s never too early to start thinking about your employability, so the sooner you start the better.

So start now! Visit the WoW website www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow and click the ‘Sign up for WoW’ link. This gets you registered on the WoW Skills Certificate Process Blackboard module, where you’ll find all the information and resources you need.

How do I get a WoW Skills Certificate?

The new Liverpool Students’ Union President has stated that students should make completing the WoW Skills Certificate a priority during their time at LJMU.

employment figures have fallen dramatically since the recession and graduates face more competition than ever before competing for jobs.

Darren McCabe believes that completing the WoW Skills Certificate will help to give LJMU students the extra edge when applying for jobs.

he said: “employers are looking for someone who stands out and who is different from other candidates. The WoW Skills Certificate helps to create that different application form or CV.

“The number of students currently graduating every year from university makes the current job market even

harder to get a job. The WoW programme makes LJMU different from other universities in the UK as this is the only unique programme supported by a number of large organisations which range from local to national and international companies. It makes the university and its degrees unique.”

And he adds that it isn’t just the recognition from employers that makes WoW Skills Certificate worthwhile, it is also the improvements to a student’s overall marketability.

he said: “Taking part in the certificate will help to build up skills and abilities to make you feel prepared for the job interviews and be confident within yourself as a person.

“It takes you on a journey as if you were actually applying for a job and shows the different processes that you would go through. So students will feel prepared and positive about applying for a real job in the current climate.”

LSU President: ‘make unique WoW a priority’

IT’S a scary time to be graduating; everyday new statistics charting the economic downturn and the lack of available jobs for graduates appear.

Competition for graduate positions has never been fiercer. employers are now using a battery of processes including psychometric tests and initial telephone interviews to filter out weaker applicants from the stronger. Many also will not consider those who have not undertaken relevant placements and internships during their course.

Terry Dray, Director of Graduate Advancement and employer engagement said: “It’s crucial to be organised and dynamic. The recent Working Towards Your Future CBI/national Union of Students Report (2011) showed that the 81% of students go to university to improve their career prospects and 66% wanted more support from their university to develop employability skills.

“LJMU is providing what students want. The World of Work Skills Certificate is a must and can help graduates to avoid the pit falls that leave so many unemployed.

“The WoW Programme which has three inter-related elements - Graduate skills development, work related learning and the WoW Skills

Certificate - is a unique approach to help our students be the most employable.

“We know that the economic situation has created an incredibly competitive market and the evidence is compelling. Students who are serious about their future and want to compete and stand out from the competition should see the obvious benefit of registering and completing the Certificate preferably before the end of their penultimate year.”

The WoW Skills Certificate focuses on developing self-awareness, organisational awareness and project management skills and entrepreneurialism. It can be completed in as little time as a week via a Boot Camp or over a longer

development period and once students have completed three WoW skills statements, they are given the opportunity to attend a one to one interview with an employer to provide evidence of their employability. The GDC has trained over 150 employer ‘Verifiers’, so students can now be interviewed by a relevant graduate recruiter.

The WoW Skills Certificate reflects the skills and attributes employers want as it is co-designed and co-delivered with them. Many universities have visited LJMU to find out more about the WoW Programme and we are the envy of many.

Day-to-day the GDC works closely with organisations keen to recruit LJMU’s talented graduates including

Marks & Spencer, The Co-operative Group, Local education Authorities, enterprise Rent-a-Car, The NhS, Kelloggs, Lovell Partnership, The Post Office, DWF LLP, The Army, Aldi, BT and Network Rail. The GDC also works closely with employers including representative organisations such as the Liverpool Chamber of Commerce.

Terry added: “One of the most valuable aspects of the WoW Skills Certificate process is that it brings students into contact with many employers, most of whom are looking out for talented future employees. A number of students have managed to land work experience opportunities and job offers as a result.

“The recruitment and selection goal posts are moving all the time. Don’t put things off. I speak to many unemployed graduates and they openly regret not completing the Certificate.

“Register and complete the WoW Skills Certificate to help you get the job you want and a good return on your investment and hard work at LJMU.

“Take advantage of it and give yourself the best chance of impressing employers. The GDC team will help you all the way”.

expert information and guidance about the WoW Skills Certificate is available from the GDC’s employability and careers advisors at both the GDC and at the student hubs in the libraries.

WoW can give you the edgeA word with GDC Director of Graduate Advancement and Employer Engagement Terry Dray

Terry Dray

Darren McCabe

3 www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow 2011/12 THE WoW STAR

In 2010/11 over 1600 WoW Skills Certificate statements were submitted to the GDC and over 6000 students were signed up for the WoW process

WoW Fact

Aldi backing super jobs market sweep

A LOT of people studying at university have a dream job in mind for after they graduate.

Maybe their dream choice of career was known from a young age or became more apparent towards the end of their degree. For me personally, I was studying journalism and my dream was to work in public relations.

When I entered university the recession had really just hit but the job situation has worsened over those three years and I am sure none of you are strangers to watching the news reports about the dire job situation faced by graduates.

My most valuable tip which I have learned from experience is one that should help you go far. I accidently fell in to PR volunteering work, it happened without me seeking it.

now I am the Assistant PR Manager for a museum which is dedicated to the war poet Wilfred Owen and I love it. Okay it isn’t paid but I am making great contacts with journalists, gaining first-hand experience of what it is really like working in PR and it is really banishing those boring days associated with being unemployed.

Volunteering for a company in your

chosen sector shows you’re keen and it can provide a foot in the door in that company. It also gives you an opportunity to prove yourself.

Most of it looks fantastic on your CV and you will stand a much better chance of achieving that dream job I was talking about.

employers are going to be more impressed if you have relevant work experience and gaining experience in your chosen field before entering a real paid job will give you more confidence for when you land a paid placement and you will know how to do things better than you would without any prior experience.

My only regret is not doing it sooner, it isn’t really something I had given that much thought to until I was offered to help out with PR work by a contact I met whilst covering a story.

I was lucky but if I had my three years again I would have looked myself for voluntary work.

In this climate you need as many things behind you as possible and

you need to do as much as you can think of to stand out, simply having a degree does not help you stand out and that is why gaining valuable work experience is important and doing the WoW Skills Certificate also helps you shine.

My advice is to do as much as possible which you think will help you be different from other graduates. Be imaginative and ask yourself the question how can I make myself stand out?

I hope to land my dream job soon but I have loved having a PR job since I finished my degree. You can never have enough experience so get involved with everything available to you.

Whatever your dream job is - nursing, journalism, drama, teaching - experience and the WoW Skills Certificate will definitely help you get there.

Helen Dodd

Volunteer your way to a dream career

SUPeRMARKeT chain Aldi has joined the ever growing list of companies backing LJMU’s

WoW Programme.Aldi Logistics Director Darren

Binns has joined the WoW Local employers Group and the company are advertising their graduate job opportunities on LJMU’s Vacancy Website.

Graduate Development Centre (GDC) Careers Advisers have visited Aldi’s Neston Distribution Centre on the Wirral and are ready and able to give expert advice to LJMU students applying for positions on Aldi’s Management Programme.

Darren, along with a number of current Aldi Area Managers, will visit the University to conduct presentations to final year students, outlining what a career with Aldi can offer. After the presentations, the team from Aldi will be on hand to answer any questions students may have about working for Aldi and the application process.

Aldi will also be accepting CVs from interested parties at these events or students can apply online at www.aldirecruitment.co.uk.

Darren will be presenting at the

University on the October 12 and november 2 in the John Foster Building and Byrom Street respectively – contact the GDC for more details.

Darren commented: “It’s great to be involved with the GDC at LJMU. We have already had outstanding results within a short period of time; both of our 2011-12 Industrial Placement positions in the north West Region have been filled by LJMU students.

“I am really excited about developing our relationship with the University and Aldi is a committed supporter of the WoW Programme,”

he continued. “Looking to the future, I am really eager to meet with final year students from LJMU in the coming months as we search for exceptional candidates to join the Aldi Management Programme. LJMU Graduates will play a critical role in Aldi’s future success in Liverpool and the north West.”

The Aldi scheme has a rolling application process that is

open to applicants all year round. Aldi will be looking to recruit 15 to 20 graduates in Liverpool and the surrounding areas in 2012.

“Aldi is a committed supporter of the WoW Programme”

Out of first gear

After making his way through an extremely robust screening and application process that included two online exams and two telephone interviews, Tharun was invited to an assessment centre.

“I spoke about my previous work experience, education with LJMU and also about the WoW Skills Certificate,” he said. “When I explained the WoW Skills Certificate process to him he seemed very impressed and I noticed he made a special note in his pad.

“In total 50 IT graduates got through to the assessment centre and only seven were selected for 2011. I met the others and it feels like a privilege to be chosen. Throughout the recruitment process I used all the skills taught in the WoW Skills Certificate and it made me feel good about this initiative LJMU is taking to help its students”.

continued from front page

landed a job with the world renowned FA. The WoW Skills Certificate helped her to prepare for an interview; to be more self aware and understand the organisation she wanted to work in.

Perhaps the most important aspect of her role is the final stage, making things happen, which the former student continues to do.“I finally realised how all of these skills I had been piecing together during the WoW Skills Certificate process now came into play,” she said.

“It made me realise that it was important for me to gain experience within the appropriate fields right up until I got the job. By giving up my time to gain this experience, it helped me gain further knowledge, but also to network and work with people who would later support me, even now I’m working in the job.”

As part of the skills programme, Rebecca works in three key areas including training in schools, after school skills centres and local clubs across Cheshire.

her job is part of a national revolutionary programme from the FA which is funded and supported by Tesco, for five to 11-year-olds to develop them physically, socially,

psychologically and technically, meaning her job is not just about football.

“The skills revolution is all about providing a positive environment for children to develop within,” said Rebecca. “We also want to help develop teachers and local club coaches to understand not just how to coach football but also how to

coach children.“We not only provide sessions for children, we also put on in-service events for people who work with children to try and pass

on our philosophy so that the future of the game will be a positive one.”

The game as it is watched from the sidelines or on TV is often played by men and the Premier League

or World Cup is often given more air-time than

women’s football. But Rebecca has found that the

FA and a career in football “creates an environment where everyone is valued regardless of gender, age or race”.

Rebecca said: “So far I haven’t experienced any issues to do with gender in my job. Before I worked for the FA, people would say to me: ‘You’ll never be a professional coach because it’s a man’s job.’ Now I’m working within the biggest football organisation in the country, those people have had to eat their words”.

continued from front page

Darren Binns

Helen Dodd

Coach trip to a job at the FA

Rebecca Garlick

THE WoW STAR 2011/12 www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow4

WITh a first class honours degree to his name, Business Studies graduate Joel Stevenson thought he would have no trouble in securing a graduate job.

But, like so many in today’s deflated graduate jobs market, Joel has found opportunities limited and competition extremely intense when he has managed to negotiate the initial application stage.

“I thought if I got a first class degree I would be swept off my feet into a job,” Joel told the WoW Star.

“I’ve been to lots of assessment centres which have gone from 2000 people down to 20 people for four jobs. It is ridiculously competitive.”

Joel went all out in his studies in search of top marks, for which he obviously has no regrets, but feels he could have struck a better balance between his studies and his

employability by engaging with the Graduate Development Centre and the WoW Skills Certificate.

he said: “Graduate recruiters will test you there and then on the competencies that you declare you have and ask for examples.

“I didn’t get the WoW Skills Certificate which I do think is important. I see the certificate as beneficial preparation to make you aware of the competencies you have. especially for those people who don’t do a work placement.”

Joel did complete a placement

year but in a role that had no longer term possibilities. And with recruiters confirming that a third of 2011’s entry-level positions are expected to be filled by graduates who have already worked for their organisations – either through industrial placements, vacation work or sponsorships – Joel feels like he missed out.

“I did a year’s placement at Liverpool Student’s Union as the Representation and Democracy Co-ordinator rather than pursuing a year in industry,” he said.

“The problem with that was that it has a year turnover so it is passed on to another student.

“Obviously it gave me a lot of the skills necessary for taking on the work and labour market, but I didn’t have relevant work experience behind me”.

Masters graduate makes a mock-ery of PhD Interview pressure scenarioLJMU graduate nick Wong has succeeded in gaining a funded PhD Studentship at the University of Liverpool, something he feels would not have been possible without the robust and realistic mock interviews he undertook at the Graduate Development Centre (GDC) prior to his interview.

nick, who completed an MReS in Modern history, a research-based Masters Degree at LJMU, credits the preparation he received from GDC staff in helping him secure the Rushworth PhD studentship.

“The help and advice received from the Graduate Development Centre has, in my opinion, played an instrumental role in my successful

application,” nick told the WoW Star.“After being invited for an interview,

the fantastic work of the GDC really began to shine. Although I was only given 10 days to prepare for the interview the GDC were quick to arrange appointments for a mock interview session and also a one-to-one meeting with Careers Adviser Janet Logan to discuss my strategy and preparation.”

nick feels that the mock interviews he received were of vital importance in preparing him for the interview he was about to face, especially allowing him to analyse his performance by watching a recording of the interview back on DVD.

“Within a few days I was sitting with GDC Careers Adviser Gary Douglas having a challenging, realistic and useful mock interview,” he explained.

“This included a question and answer session whilst being filmed and recorded, with subsequent in depth feedback and analysis.

“Watching the DVD back was really useful as it made me aware of how much I fidget, move around, swing my legs, how fast I talk and I was

conscious of fixing this before I went to the real thing.

“The process of having a mock interview was useful from many perspectives, but most of all, it provides a realistic environment whereby I was asked difficult questions, by a complete stranger, to which I had to think on the spot and get used to the pressure of having to think up clever answers there and then. It also provided a clear indication of whether I was fully prepared and what areas I needed to develop.

“I had a further mock interview with another GDC Careers Adviser, Andy Byrne, on the eve of my interview. This was set up under the same

circumstances as the first mock interview and was just as challenging.

“It was clear that both Gary and Andy had spent time behind the scenes conducting research on my area of study and coming up with the most appropriate and challenging questions.

“The interaction with the GDC has been fantastic,” he added. “They provide a helpful, realistic and challenging environment, they work at speed and they go the extra mile in terms of their own preparation and getting the best out of the candidate.

“Without their help and supervision I doubt I would have been successful in securing such a coveted place. For their help I am eternally grateful”.

“The GDC were instrumental in my successful application”

Why a WoW Skills Certificate can aid even impressive first class honours

“WoW gives important, beneficial preparation”

Nick Wong

5 www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow 2011/12 THE WoW STAR

When LJMU graduate Iain Byrom decided to apply for medical school he enlisted the advice of GDC Careers Adviser Laura Aldridge to prepare for the interview process.

Iain had always dreamed of becoming a doctor but did not have the right combination of qualifications after leaving college and decided to pursue a degree in Quantity Surveying (QS) because of the strong graduate opportunities it offered.

At the end of his first year at LJMU he read about a graduate route into medicine and decided to apply while he completed his QS degree.

To help him prepare he booked an appointment with Laura to discuss interview technique and the type of questions he was likely to face.

“As well as giving me some valuable interview techniques and tips Laura made me think about the structure of the responses I offered and challenged me to consider how my answers would be received,” Ian told the WoW Star.

“This proved invaluable and definitely helped me during the interviews. Also the meeting confirmed a lot of the research I had done myself was

on the right track and in line with the information Laura had found.

Iain continued, “I accepted an offer to study on the four year accelerated graduate medicine course at nottingham University, which was my top ranked choice. There were around 3000 applications for 92 places, and I managed to get one.

“Being a Doctor has always been my dream job and I still find it hard to believe that in four short years it will be a reality.

“I am really excited to have a chance to study a degree at a top UK Medical school and I recognise the big help the GDC and the WoW team offered to me in gaining a place. I would definitely recommend the services of the GDC to anyone.”

Iain later returned the favour by making Laura aware of the specifics of his interview experiences which

she can now use to advise other students through the application

and interview process for medical courses.

Laura runs a workshop about applying for dentistry and medicine each semester. If you are interested in applying keep an eye on

the GDC events page at https://gdc.ljmu.ac.uk/events for details.

KeLLOGG’S have joined the growing list of big companies backing LJMU’s WoW

Programme.The food production giant, best

known for their cereal brands such as Cornflakes and Frosties, will be supporting the Graduate Development Centre in a number of ways.

Thiloni Fothergill, Talent Acquisition Business Partner, has joined the WoW Local employer Group and staff from Kellogg’s will be trained as WoW Skills Certificate ‘Verifiers’ and will be conducting employer interviews at the end of the process.

“Kellogg’s is always looking to attract bright, passionate individuals who strive for success”, Thiloni told the WoW Star.

“The WoW Skills Certificate is a fantastic opportunity for students to take ownership of shaping a successful future in the business world.

“The beauty of this programme is that students are accountable

for driving their success and employment readiness, at the same time as receiving continuous support and encouragement from the WoW facilitators - making a great partnership and a great programme.

“The students that successfully complete this programme will have

the opportunity to develop the core values integral to Kellogg’s including Passion, Accountability, Drive for success and Integrity. For this reason Kellogg’s is a big advocate of the WoW Programme.”

Kellogg’s will also be advertising their job vacancies on LJMU’s

Vacancy Website giving our students a heads up on opportunities at the company.

WoW has support of food giant Kellogg’s

“WoW is a fantastic opportunity to shape a successful future”

The Graduate Development Centre in Kingsway house is a state-of-the-art career development and training facility open to all LJMU students, and is The place to develop your career.

Located on hatton Garden near to Avril Robarts and Byrom Street, it’s the envy of other universities. WoW® sessions such as self-awareness, project management and business ethics, and Ready for Work sessions focussing on CV writing, application form filling, interview and selection centre techniques etc. are run regularly here.

The GDC is the place to meet employers during presentations or networking meetings. The WoW® Skills Certificate interview with an employer will take place here, and if you want to speak to our staff about a career-related matter simply drop-in. If you want a recorded practice interview the GDC is here for you. Come and have a look at this great facility – you’ll receive a warm welcome!

The Graduate Development Centre

The Graduate Development Centre (GDC) has successfully achieved the Matrix standard, an important Department of Business, Innovation and Skills quality standard for information, advice and guidance on learning and work.

A Matrix Assessor spent three days at the GDC interviewing GDC staff, members of the employer community and LJMU senior management, academics and students.

The Assessor has recommended that the GDC now considers undergoing a further assessment for a MATRIX Excellence Award, something relatively few universities are recommended to pursue.

Terry Dray, GDC Director of Graduate Advancement and employer engagement, said: “I would like to thank all the people who contributed to the GDC receiving this important award, both from LJMU and those stakeholders outside of the university whose support is vital to the delivery of WoW Programme”.

GDC achieves national Matrix quality standard

THE GDC’s expert Employability Advisers are available in the Student Zones in the LRCs and at the GDC to support you with a wide range of career planning issues including understanding the job market, where to find key information, how to apply for jobs and courses, how to present your application positively including CV writing and how to arrange an interview with a Careers Adviser.

Individual sessions can be booked by calling 0151 231 8099. For more information go to: www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow

Need help starting your career? Doctor dream now a reality

Iain Byrom

Lisa O’Farrell of the GDC Brokerage Team, with Tim Ridding, Lee Crump and Dan Halsey. Inset Thiloni Fothergill

THE WoW STAR 2011/12 www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow6

BUSIneSS Management and Information graduate Andrew Prescott is not a man to rest on his laurels and do just the bare minimum; and it is this can-do attitude that helped him secure a place on a graduate scheme with Bentley Motors.

Andrew, from Liverpool, begins a two-year contract with the company in October; during which time he will work in various logistics departments.

he said: “It’s just to learn each function and then hopefully if you meet all of your objectives you can go into a manager’s role in the part you’re best at. I’ve just got to make sure I get my head down and make an impression.”

After spending his university work placement at General Motors’ manufacturing plant in Luton, he

was later presented with a Chartered Management Institute award for Outstanding Student Placement.

Andrew believes working at GM was a contributing factor to him gaining a job at Bentley.

Although he graduated with a first class honours degree, he stresses to new students that such experience is just as important as the academic side.

he said: “You want to make yourself stand out from the crowd so there’s no point in getting just a degree. It’s not enough.”

“I completed a City and Guilds when I was on placement, which is equivalent to an NVQ Level 4 or 5.

“In a way, it’s like having two degrees. I’d take everything they offer - you may as well do it.”

Although he got the job with Bentley before he completed his WoW

Skills Certificate, Andrew still highlights its importance in demonstrating active, engaged world of work experience.

he said: “I’m the type of person that grabs opportunities with both hands. If I hadn’t already secured the job, the WoW Skills Certificate would help me in the long-term getting a job.

“At the end of the day, we’re paying our fees - and they’re going to be even higher soon. It is an option that the university are providing for free so you may as well take advantage of it.”

WoW graduate in Bentley’s A-Class

Siemens ‘actively recruiting’

A PRODUCTION unit set up for Liverpool Screen School (LSS) students to gain real work experience is set to branch out to other disciplines.

In the past year alone, the LSS Production Unit, which was set up in January 2010, have completed up to 50 professional work projects.

Student Development Coordinator for LSS Paula Baines, who also manages the Unit, says it has “gone from strength to strength.”

With increased work experience opportunities, the Unit is now opening its doors to all LSS courses.

She added: “Although the production unit has only provided opportunities for some students so far, it is hoping to involve all Screen School students from 2011/12.

“We are considering running some sessions for students to get involved with the production unit for work experience to link up with the WoW Programme.

“Two students that got involved with the Unit have since carried out five projects including creating a promotional film for a local charity that was screened at the celebrity film premiere of Captain America in Liverpool One’s Odeon cinema.

“These relevant extra-curricular media opportunities have allowed them to develop great world of work skills and provide them with the confidence to now set up their own media production company.”

Although the projects can vary, there are some perks for students that decide to join up - the Unit

has recently secured eight media placements with LFCTV - the official TV channel of Liverpool Football Club.

“They are good work experience opportunities,” Paula added. “There are other exciting opportunities like MoFilm and going to Cannes Film Festival.

“I think it’s essential that students get involved and take up the opportunities available to them”.

enGIneeRInG giant and LJMU WoW national Advisory Board member Siemens has thrown its weight behind the WoW Programme and revealed the company is actively recruiting graduates.

Members of the Siemens team have visited the Graduate Development Centre and given presentations to engineering students about the importance and application of product development at Siemens.

Karl Prince, Manager of the Software Team with R&D at Siemens, backed the WoW Skills Certificate and the employability support that LJMU is providing for students.

“We can see how integrating WoW in the curriculum will give LJMU students a head start in the employment market,” he said.

And contrary to other parts of the employment market, Siemens is recruiting graduates and has more projects than the current workforce can handle.

he added: “Siemens have too many projects and not enough skilled people to work on them. So we are actively recruiting and expanding rapidly.”

A video featuring Karl Prince and other Siemens employees on how to be competitive when applying for graduate jobs is available on the videos page of the WoW website, along with videos from many other leading graduate recruiters.

LJMU Unit netting high-profile placements

STUDeNTS want universities to better explain employability skills and to provide more support to help them develop these important competencies, so says a CBI / national Union of Students survey.

The survey shows that 57% want universities to do more to help them understand employability skills, 66% would like more support in developing these skills, and 81% say that they decided to go to university to improve their job opportunities.

Student feedback from the GDC workshops in 2010/11 shows it is

making a difference to them:- 98% (924) strongly agreed or agreed that the session was well delivered- 96% (665) would recommend the session to a friend- 98% (924) strongly agreed or agreed that the content was useful- 86% (643) strongly agreed or agreed that they were more aware of their skills, strengths and weaknesses- 85% (475) strongly agreed or agreed that they had a better understanding of organisations

- 89% (464) strongly agreed or agreed that they understand how to make things happen in the workplace- 77% (445) strongly agreed or agreed that they had a better understanding of career opportunities available to them- 82% (621) strongly agreed or agreed that they felt better equipped to make a career decision- 89% (786) strongly agreed or agreed that they were more confident managing their future and moving their career forward

“It’s essential that students take up the opportunities available”

Students ask, LJMU and WoW provide

“It is an option that the university are providing for free so you may as well take advantage”

eACh faculty has dedicated skills support and development staff to help you reflect on and record key graduate skills such as verbal communication and team working etc.

employers want graduate employees who can clearly demonstrate these skills. Your faculty skills support staff are here to help you make the best transition you can into the world of work so make contact with them today. For information go to: www.ljmu.ac.uk/WoW/students/99436.htm

Graduate Skills Support

Andrew Prescott,

with his parents at

graduation (left)

7 www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow 2011/12 THE WoW STAR

Full Marks to WoW’s retail giant partner

The Graduate Development Centre collaborated with retail giant Marks and Spencer to

provide a number of LJMU students with ‘WoW Uncovered’ work shadowing opportunities during summer 2011.

As a member of the LJMU WoW national Advisory Board, Marks and Spencer support LJMU in numerous ways and offered students the chance to find out what goes on behind the scenes in the Liverpool store.

Store Manager Julie Ridley commented: “here at Liverpool Marks and Spencer we are always pleased to support LJMU’s World

of Work Programme as it is a fantastic way for students to have the edge in this competitive graduate marketplace.

“Work placements at Marks and Spencer give students the opportunity to see the world of work and give us the opportunity to see their potential as future managers.”

The work shadowing gave the students an insight into the retail environment including spending time with the general and commercial management team, attending meetings and team briefings and other areas including stock management, visual merchandising and administration.

Business Studies student Layla Alderton, who spent three days shadowing different managers, said: “My time at M&S has given me a great insight into working in a retail environment and has definitely strengthened my passion to choose a career in retail.

“I found everyone really friendly and welcoming and I have learnt a lot from my time shadowing them.”

“It was a pleasure to have such enthusiastic LJMU students carrying out placements in our store,” added Liz Knowles, Womenswear Commercial Manager.

“We gave the students the opportunity to work alongside various managers and sales advisors, both

on the sales floor and backstage, to ensure they went away with a thorough understanding of the reality of working in retail on a day to day basis.”

Are you interested in a work shadowing opportunity?

Contact the GDC’s Brokerage team at brokerage@ljmu.ac.uk

for more information.

The Royal College of nursing (RCn), the world’s largest professional nursing union, has thrown its support behind LJMU’s WoW Programme.

The RCN, which represents over 400,000 nurses, student nurses and healthcare assistants, has agreed to support the WoW Programme in a number of ways. It will provide WoW Skills Certificate ‘Interview Verifiers’, allow the GDC to run a WoW session on employability at the RCn Congress 2012 and assist with WoW promotional activities.

“The RCN values the focus on emotional skills developed on the WoW Programme,” said Dr. Peter Carter, Chief executive & General Secretary of the RCn.

“nursing is about caring for people when they are often at their most vulnerable and can often be a job that asks people to go above and beyond for those in need.

“The experience of nursing students can be enhanced by completing the WoW Skills Certificate and will really improve their chances of securing a job when they finish their course”.

A Royal approval

The Graduate Development Centre will be running a FRee two-day Postgraduate employability Programme aimed at preparing Post Graduate Researchers (PGRs) and early Career Researchers (eCRs) for the world of work. This highly focused programme will help you evaluate your career options and sell yourself effectively to employers.

Key workshops include; Career planning for Researchers, how to write an academic/non-academic CV, how to sell yourself at interview and Job Search and Networking. The next programme runs on 2nd and 3rd november 2011 with a further programme scheduled for spring 2012.

For more information or to register visit www.ljmu.ac.uk/pep or email pep@ljmu.ac.uk.

Get a WoW PEP talk

PART of the WoW Skills Certificate will be made compulsory to LJMU students from 2012. All programmes will give their students an explicit opportunity to engage in the WoW Programme, including engagement with the WoW Skills Certificate. Students will be required to complete the Bronze, self awareness statement of the WoW Skills Certificate and they will be given the opportunity to complete all statement stages and the final employer interview.

WoW to be embedded in all LJMU programmes

ThRee history of Art and Museum Studies (hAMS) students had a close call with Merseyside Police thanks to a unique project arranged by the Graduate Development Centre.

Merseyside Police approached The GDC to establish a project team to help trace the Force’s history back to 1836 in collaboration with its Records Management team.

hAMS students Anna-Louise newall, emma Marsh and Linda Jones helped to correlate the Force’s rich tapestry of history, including policing during the blitz and women in the Force.

The project formed part of the students’ coursework, and the findings were collated into social history boards now on display at Merseyside Police hQ.

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Jon Murphy said: “I joined Merseyside Police in 1975 and I find the history of the Force

fascinating. “My father was a

Liverpool City Police Officer having joined

in 1949. I have always felt that the Merseyside Police headquarters, unlike others

I have visited, lacked any sense of the Force’s rich history, an important place in the social fabric of Merseyside.

“I think these social history boards are a great way of sharing this history

and they certainly show how policing has progressed over the years.

“I’d like to thank the students and staff involved in the project, I’m sure their findings will be enjoyed by all.”

hAMS Programme Leader, emma Roberts said: “The work the students did with Merseyside Police taught them invaluable skills and enabled them to learn both about being a client and having clients.

“They polished their research

skills by working with archives, they learned about interviewing practices, designing, new IT programs and team work.

“The LJMU WoW philosophy ensures that experiencing the workplace is also embedded within modules, and the university is very much ahead of the game in formalising engagement with the world of work.

“The GDC Brokerage Team at LJMU do a great job in creating and maintaining valuable relationships with external organisations.”

Merseyside Police have been strong supporters of LJMU’s WoW Programme over the last two years, providing WoW Skills Certificate ‘Interview Verifiers’ and collaborating on a project called ‘Knife Crime Uncovered’ in 2010.

WoW partnership with the Force steeped in history

“The GDC do a great job in creating and maintaining valuable relationships”

Layla Alderton (centre and below) with Liz Knowles (left) and Marie Finnagan (right)

THE WoW STAR 2011/12 www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow8

A SPORTS mad student put the wheels in motion with the GDC to get the job of his dreams.

Daniel Coonan, 22, landed a job running several programmes on Merseyside for the charity Cycling Projects, helping nearly 150 people, including children, who have autism, partial sight or are in a wheelchair get involved in the sport.

But he was in the slow lane until he learned how to sharpen his CV and interview technique with WoW skills.

Daniel achieved a 2:1 Sports

Science undergraduate degree in 2009, but found the job market difficult to break into and decided to stay on at LJMU and complete a masters degree in Sports Psychology.

“I was applying for jobs but kept getting knocked back,” he said. “I started applying for more jobs when I started my dissertation for my masters. I went to the GDC after an interview and explained what I had done and they gave me great advice.”

That advice led to the job he wanted, but it meant he was juggling full-time work and his dissertation. While the dissertation is one of the most challenging aspects of a university degree, becoming part of a process that helps students find work in the profession they want by studying and working proved to be very rewarding.

As a manager, Daniel is also able to recruit students to help out with his programme and he has given two students from LJMU full-time jobs in his team after voluntary work.

WoW advice steers sports student into fast lane to his dream career

by Chris Bradley

“I went to the GDC after an interview and explained what I had done and they gave me great advice”

A LIVeRPOOL-BASeD law firm is offering the chance of an annual placement to LJMU Business School students after a successful trial.

hill Dickinson recruited Business Studies student hannah Williams on a placement within its business support areas during her sandwich year. This was the first time they had offered work experience in such a capacity and following its success, they have decided to offer LJMU students a place annually.

Andrew Rushworth, hill Dickinson’s

Director of human Resources, explained: “hannah spent twelve months with us in a range of departments - finance, marketing, hR, recruitment and business development.

“We regard it as an ongoing opportunity as we’ve attached it to the bursary they get in their final year.”

Andrew also highlighted the problems in the current graduate jobs market and praised the WoW Programme for giving students a better chance of success by helping

provide work related learning and placements.

he said: “The WoW Programme is appealing as LJMU is actively and innovatively supporting their students to be employable, in addition to them acquiring subject expertise.

“It is important because the competitiveness in the job market has increased. As a consequence, employers are looking for workplace skills over and above whatever the academic distinction that they have studied for”.

Trial earns annual business placement

When Pharmacy student Adedayo Adetunji decided to apply for a graduate trainee position at Lloyds Pharmacy she feared the worst after three previously unsuccessful attempts at securing a summer placement with the firm.

But on this occasion before she sent in her application she sought expert advice from the GDC.

“I had applied to Lloyds Pharmacy for three years consecutively without any luck. For that reason when a job opening came for graduate trainee positions I was not very encouraged but I applied anyway.

“Before I sent in my application I went to the GDC to have my application checked. I found this very helpful because I received more insight into how to be more specific when answering questions.

“I learnt that experiences are multifaceted and dynamic; one experience can answer many questions. I also received grammatical corrections which were very useful.

“When I got called for an interview, I also had to make a presentation. I was directed to Careers Adviser Laura Aldridge who stimulated my thinking to be more inclined to what

the interviewer was looking for and I was able to access ideas I never thought I could come up with. She also gave me written information on attending interviews.

“I had a mock presentation and mock interview with Laura, which gave me an insight into what sort of questions, would be asked. These sessions helped me to work on weak points such as the way I talked, keeping nerves under control and thinking on my feet. At the end of the sessions I was more confident.

“The interview went smoothly and thankfully I was offered the position. I’d advise other students to utilise the GDC’s services as they can really make the difference”.

Fourth time lucky following key GDC advice“The GDC’s services can really make the difference”

We like to know how our graduates are getting on. each year the GDC must send out a survey for the

Government to find out what our graduates are doing. This takes place six months after graduation. LJMU must achieve an 80% response rate and we really appreciate all the responses we get.

LJMU achieves one of the highest rates of any UK university so we hope that when you graduate you will help us to continuously improve our career development services by returning the destinations questionnaire.

What do LJMU graduates do?

Adedayo Adetunji

Daniel Coonan

by Angela Brooks

IF proof were needed that the WoW Skills Certificate process can be a differentiating factor in an interview

situation look no further than the case of LJMU home economics graduate Jackie Coughlan.

Jackie, 21, from Cork, had written her WoW statements and was awaiting her final WoW Skills Certificate interview when she attended both a PGCe interview and an interview for a place at Camp America.

In both cases Jackie took along her WoW statements and in both cases she believes the statements swung the interview in her favour because it made her stand out from other applicants.

“I was called for a PGCe home economics interview for the University of Strathclyde Glasgow,” Jackie explained. “The interview was at short notice so I took a photocopy of my WoW statement.

“They were interested in hearing about the background behind this and what it entailed. I told them it prepared students for the world of work and made students more aware of skills and qualities they obtained that would promote them in the working environment. They were intrigued with the statement and kept a copy for future reference.

“It was something extra I had, as we all had a home economics degree and were all in the same boat.

“everyone has the same qualifications, having the WoW Skills Certificate behind you is proof of what you can do and show everyone.”

The same pattern repeated itself at her Camp America interview and she

was again offered a place. After her double success Jackie encouraged other LJMU students to sign up for the WoW Skills Certificate.

She said: “I’ve said to all my friends that they should go for it. They don’t realise what you can learn from it. everything is free as well so it’s brilliant.

“I enjoyed every moment of the new learning curve and have gained some outstanding support and knowledge from the helpful GDC team.

“I would highly recommend students to get involved as it was a genuinely life changing experience for the better”.

“WoW is a genuinely a life changing experience for the better”

9 www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow 2011/12 THE WoW STAR

WoW statement helps graduate to placement double delight

The Graduate Recruitment Cycle

UnDERSTAnDInG the graduate recruitment cycle is vital if you are to beat the competition when applying for graduate level jobs.

Many firms open their graduate schemes just as students return for their final year, so if you overlook your employability until after graduation you may have already missed out.

You could apply the following year but competition will be significantly increased from the following year’s graduates.

You can look for work experience, internships and volunteering opportunities on the LJMU Vacancy Website.

Since many graduate recruiters take on students who have already worked for their organisation – on placement or work experience – it pays to have relevant work experience on your CV. Even if you don’t have experience relevant to the field you aspire to, work experience with transferable skills will still work in your favour.

With so many graduates for so few vacancies (estimates

suggest 85 graduates apply for every graduate position), work experience is a vital factor.

Another vital differentiating factor is the WoW Skills Certificate. It not only provides you with experience of the latter stages of the recruitment process but shows potential employers you have not just done the bare minimum and are a more rounded individual.

You can take the certificate at any time during your time at LJMU and it pays to get it early on as it will enhance your CV when applying for placements (sandwich year or otherwise) or internships and applying for graduate jobs at the start of your final year.

The end of May is the deadline for final years to complete statements in time for acknowledgement at graduation.

The GDC also run year round Ready For Work workshop which provide focussed sessions on subjects such as assessment centres, job hunting, interviews and many more.

Careers Advisers and employability Advisers provide one-to-one support sessions (Mon-Fri) throughout the year on issues such as CV writing, postgraduate study applications and guidance on degree related careers.

5th Oct - Ethnic Diversity Fair, Manchester

12 Oct - Graduate Recruitment Festival at St George’s Hall, Liverpool

19 Oct - Engineering, Science & Tech Fair, Manchester

20 Oct - Finance, Business & Management Fair, Manchester

10 Nov - Liverpool Science & Technology Fair, Liverpool Science Park, Liverpool

22 Oct - Law Fair, Manchester23 nov - Postgraduate Study Fair, Manchester

June - Graduate Recruitment Festival at St George’s Hall, Liverpool

Jackie Coughlan

Careers & Recruitment events not to be missed

THE WoW STAR 2011/12 www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow10

WITh unprecedented changes sweeping the nhS and fewer jobs as a result of budget cuts the traditionally high rate of LJMU nursing students who secure jobs is likely to change in the coming years.

But Dr. Trish Livsey, Director of Academic Delivery at the Faculty of health and Social Sciences, believes LJMU students can overcome the challenging conditions by engaging with the WoW Skills Certificate.

Dr. Livsey said: “Most of our student nurses and midwives got jobs on qualifying, about 98% in total.

“now, chances are that is not going

to happen again because of the reduced amount of jobs out there.

“The WoW Skills Certificate will give them that competitive edge when they go for an interview in terms of how to present themselves.”

Dr. Livsey, who has been working at LJMU for two years, recognised immediately that WoW had to

become one of her main objectives as changes seemed inevitable in the sector, so she joined forces with GDC Director of Graduate Advancement and employer engagement Terry Dray to ensure students remained competitive for roles.

She said: “LJMU went about it in a couple of ways. One of these was getting people involved externally that had an impact on our students.

“I talked to all of the directors of nursing and the key people in social services, told them about WoW and they were really impressed with it.

“Then Terry Dray got them to give

quotes to endorse WoW. And we’ve got the Royal College of nursing to endorse it also.”

The WoW Skills Certificate is seen as so important by the faculty that they have now embedded the bronze self awareness statements in the BSc. nursing and Midwifery degrees for first year students starting in 2011, a year ahead of the majority of courses at LJMU. WoW will also be embedded within the Social Work and Paramedic programmes.

Dr. Livsey added: “The WoW Skills Certificate will put our nursing students ahead of the game”.

WoW proves its worth becoming part of nursing degrees

“WoW will give students that competitive edge”

An LJMU Fine Art graduate recently won a Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) photography competition.

Dave Sutton won the ‘People’s Choice’ category and was invited to the finalist dinner in London, where he was presented with his prize by naturalist, TV presenter and author Chris Packham.

Dave, whose winning photograph was taken at Slimbridge Wetland Centre, is part of an on-going conservation and reintroduction programme at the centre.

“It’s been a wonderful project and it’s not over yet!” he said.

“But the first cranes in the amazing Great Crane Project have been taken to their new home in Somerset”.

Art graduate wins coveted photography competition

LJMU’s WoW Programme is attracting international attention and is becoming increasingly recognised in countries worldwide.

While the national press often run stories pronouncing that universities do not do enough to prepare students with the basic skills that they need for the work place, LJMU’s WoW Programme goes from strength to strength at home and abroad.

GDC Director of Graduate Advancement and employer engagement Terry Dray said: “The GDC has now discussed LJMU’s unique and pioneering approach to employability with representatives from Malaysia, Kenya, Spain and the USA and the interest from around the world shows the strength of the model and vindicates the university’s decision to put a student’s employability right at the top of its agenda.”

GDC staff have already delivered a successful WoW Skills Certificate pilot to 100 students at Malaysia’s largest public university, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), an initiative funded by the Malaysian Ministry of higher education.

Ministry Director Industry Relations Division, Dr norsaadah Ismail, commented: “We hope that through working as partners, the level of graduate employment will be enhanced”.

Global acclaim for WoW Programme

THE GDC’s professional Careers Advisers are here to provide expert, confidential one-to-one discussions to help you decide your next steps. Careers Advisers are attached to each Faculty so have course specific expertise. Book individual sessions by calling 0151 231 8099. More details are at www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow

Want a career guidance interview?

• none of the local police services are recruiting for police constables however Merseyside Police’s website is still advertising for volunteers to work as special constables. The closing date to apply is the end of March 2012.

• The Forensic Science Service is closing in March 2012. There will still be other opportunities for forensic science graduates to work for private forensic science companies. LGC Forensics in Runcorn is a local employer and advertises vacancies recently.

• The Civil Service are recruiting as normal for their Fast Stream.

• Details on how to apply for the government’s national Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) will be announced on their website from September.

Public Sector Recruitment

Dave Sutton (left) & Chris Packham

Dr. Trish Livsey

11 www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow 2011/12 THE WoW STAR

LJMU Law students have received invaluable world of work experience as they competed in a pressurised workplace setting in front of Supreme Court Judges.

The students achieved second place in the recent ‘UK Law Society National Mooting Competition’ after having to prepare for and argue a complex legal appeal case in front of a Judge.

The final, which took place at Gray’s Inn in London - one of the four professional associations for barristers in england and Wales - was held in front of a number of Supreme Court Judges, and gave the students involved the experience of a real-life working environment.

The LJMU Law Society is the largest society in the Liverpool Students’ Union and has won a number of national competitions, including the eSU/essex Court Chambers event for a number of years.

each ‘moot’ win was based on the best presentation of legal arguments and the team won four rounds before going on to achieve the highly commendable second place for the university.

emma Parkman, a member of the Law Society, said that the moot was a brilliant way to see how the legal system works.

She said: “We put a lot of work into organising cases and preparing arguments and I would seriously recommend this experience to anyone wanting to be a barrister or solicitor in addition to anyone studying Law, due to the organisation and referencing skills you use”.

LJMU, Liverpool University and Liverpool Science Park have joined forces to hold the first ever Science and Technology Fair.

The inaugural event, to be held at Liverpool Science Park on 10th november 2011, will give talented students the opportunity to meet prospective employers and therefore improve their chances of employment once they have graduated.

Both universities have identified key employers they will be inviting and the exhibitors will be named nearer to the event. As the bioscience and nuclear sectors are so strong in the north-West, the fair will give students further chances of getting a job in these fields.

events such as these mark the commitment LJMU has in linking students to the world of work before they complete their studies.

The fair also shows how LJMU, UoL and LSP are collaborating to address a major national policy objective to connect students to science and technology employers rather than lose them to other sectors.

LJMU students Alan Molloy and Christopher Williams made a real name for themselves on their sandwich year placement at Vauxhall Motors, drawing special praise for their efforts from the car giants’ Managing Director and the UK hR Director of parent company General Motors.

The Meng Mechanical engineering students, working as ‘Body Shop Undergraduate engineer’ and ‘Press Shop Undergraduate engineer’ respectively, gained invaluable world of work experience with real responsibilities in a real job role.

As part of their roles they were offered the chance to take part in the ‘Make it happen’ area at Skills northWest, the largest skills and careers exhibition in the region, which took place at the Bolton Arena.

‘Make it happen’, organised through the Manufacturing Institute, is aimed at 14 to 19-year-olds, to encourage and enthuse young people to pursue careers within UK manufacturing and highlight possible career options.

Of the event, Alan said, “The event took place over two days with Chris and I being the only two

undergraduates present on both days. There were many different companies in attendance in the manufacturing area; however the Vauxhall stand was the most visited stand in the whole exhibition due to what we had on offer.”

“It proved to be a very challenging as we only had roughly three weeks to do all the planning and preparation for the whole event - by the time we were given the green light to go ahead with the project,” added Chris.

“Once we were at the event it was very much a group effort between us all in manning the games and speaking to children, parents and teachers, handing out goodie bags etc. however it was a great experience to be involved so much with such a big event and we have taken a lot away from it, from both an engineering and project management perspective.

“We are very proud of our achievements and we received special praise from both the hR director of the UK for GM and also the Vauxhall Managing Director for the UK, who was equally pleased that we managed to stay under our budget for the project too”.

All’s fair in Science and Technology

If you want to beat the odds and secure your dream job in these testing economic times you have

to be a ‘giraffe’. So says Joanne McDonnell, head of

nursing for 5 Boroughs Partnership Foundation Trust in Warrington, who feels you have to stand out from the countless other applicants who share your dream.

“I’ve heard of colleagues who have had 400 applicants for one post,” Joanne told the WoW Star. “If you work that out statistically the chances of getting that post are quite low.”

One way to achieve this is to do your homework about the organisation; better still would be to make contact with the employer before the interview as it will ensure you will be remembered.

She said: “I’m really appreciative of the people who make the effort to phone you or come to see you before an interview, they are being a giraffe, and they are standing out from the crowd. They are showing that they have a real commitment to the job and that they haven’t just filled in ten application forms online and that any of them will do.” Joanne believes that LJMU is ahead

of the game with the WoW Skills Certificate and questions why LJMU students would not take advantage of the opportunity.

She said: “I can’t understand why people would not do the Certificate, because if you don’t then a potential employer would know that you have come from LJMU and they will

question how serious you are about your role, your work and future.”

With employers now presented with so many candidates to choose from, and not just new or recent graduates but people with years of experience on their CVs, the leap from university to the world of work is getting more and more difficult to negotiate, making the WoW Skills Certificate

and what it represents even more important.

She said: “If you can show a potential manager or employer that you will really embrace the role and you are prepared to show evidence that you are going to succeed in it, and you can demonstrate an awareness of project management, then it is absolutely essential”.

Engineering students make it happen at Vauxhall Motors

by Angela Brooks

Be a giraffe - stand out from the crowd

“I can’t understand why people would not do the Certificate”

Where better to Judge your career path

Alan Molloy (above left) & Christopher Williams

THE WoW STAR 2011/12 www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow

STUDeNTS and graduates at LJMU have access to a wide range of career-related resources not only via www.ljmu.ac.uk/wow but also at the Graduate Development Centre on hatton Garden, within the LRCs and in WoW rooms around the university. Careers books providing advice on certain career paths and valuable resources from organisations such as Graduate Prospects (www.prospects.ac.uk) are available to support you in planning your career and applying for jobs. Where can I find these resources?

From your local LRC:• The GDC has provided access to a variety of useful careers books, which are searchable through the library catalogue and can be loaned through the three LRCs at LJMU

• The WoW Employability Resource at Aldham Robarts LRC and Avril Robarts LRC - To support your careers and employability appointments within the LRCs, an additional resource of

careers reference books is available. Books in this collection are searchable through the library catalogue but cannot be loaned by students. They are kept in the meeting rooms with the Careers Advisers and employability Adviser to be used with students during the day but can be accessed by students within the short loan area at other times

• Free take-out information resources are available from the employability Advisers and Careers Advisers during appointments within the LRCs

The Graduate Development Centre:• A selection of careers reference books and FREE take away resources are available at the GDC for students attending workshops or just dropping in

Around the university• A selection of free employability resources can also be found in WoW rooms and in “essential Career Resources” dump bins located around the university.

Find out about careers

Placement ‘the best experience of my life’AOIFe BYRNe, a Sport

Development with Physical education student, has always

been willing to go the extra mile to achieve her ambition of becoming a Pe teacher. And not just the extra mile, thousands of them in fact.

each year LJMU works in partnership with UK Sport on the IDeALS programme, which offers six students the opportunity to volunteer overseas and enhance their leadership skills.

Aoife was one of the students selected and travelled to namibia

in 2010 to volunteer with three organisations; Special Olympics namibia (SOn), Physically Active Youth (PAY) and SCORe.

“This was the best experience of my life. I completely fell in love with namibia, its people and their culture,” Aoife told the WoW Star.

“I gained huge self confidence and developed many skills, in particular my leadership and communication. I also developed my initiative and my ability to think on the spot and overcome challenges.

“I made many great, lasting friendships for which I am truly grateful. The main thing this

experience has taught me is that I can make a difference and I now strive to do this in everything I do.”

Aoife is quick to point out the value of a placement for a student attempting to enhance their CVs, regardless of the distance travelled to fulfil it.

“It is easy to learn about these areas in lectures but placements offer a practical, more realistic experience of our studies,” she said.

“Placements can help confirm or change students’ choice of career, they can help students to gain contacts for future experiences or employment and can provide that additional knowledge that cannot be provided through assignments or presentations.”

Aofie has not looked back since travelling to Africa; she has gained a place on a PGCe for Pe teaching at LJMU and gained the WoW Skills Certificate to enhance her already burgeoning CV even further.

“I signed up for the WoW Skills Certificate because I thought it was a good opportunity to enhance my skills and prepare me for job applications and interviews.

“I felt that it would help me stand out from the crowd and demonstrate to potential employers a willingness to go the extra mile in terms of personal and professional development.

“I had a successful interview for the PGCe for Pe teaching at LJMU and recently participated in an interview for summer work. I felt very confident in these interviews and could easily highlight my strengths and experiences.

“Completing the Certificate helped me to prepare for these situations and I am very happy to have took advantage of this great opportunity”.

by Rachel Sanders “I gained huge self confidence and developed many skills”

Aiofe Byrne