Working in Pakistan 1: The Corporate Initiative

If you are from Pakistan and thinking of returning to work there after finishing your degree in the UK there is good news. Pakistani employers are currently seeking to recruit new graduates and the demand is high for those with a good UK degree.

To build up links between employers and students the UKTI and the Education UK British Council recently launched a project called the ‘Corporate Initiative’ to spread the word about the opportunities available in Pakistan. Top employers teamed up with these organisations and visited universities where high numbers of students from Pakistan are enrolled. We met up with them at Brunel University to find that opportunities are available not only in multinational companies but in flourishing Pakistani organisations, NGOs and Government Organisations. Recruitment is particularly strong in the energy sector and also in telecommunications, FMCGs (fast moving consumer goods) and construction and development.

More details about the Corporate Initiative and the Partner Organisations for 2012 can be found in the ‘Business Recorder’ at: http://www.brecorder.com/home/events/ukit-career-fair-2012.html

For the other 2 posts in this series focusing on Pakistan, follow the link to our friends at International futures and look at their blog.

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Do you want access to 16 Million International Jobs?

Well if you’re a student at UCL it’s your lucky day. Here at UCL careers we have just arranged access to THE Amazing, THE Fantastic Going Global site.

If you haven’t been on Going Global before you’re in for a treat. The idea of the site is to give you expert knowledge of the global job market, by giving you a run down on the current economic out look, hot sectors and how to approach job hunting in the country of your choice.

Under the ‘Country Guides’ section you click on the name of the country you want to look at and then can view info on:

Industry and Employment Trends,

Top Companies,

Professional and Social Networking,

Embassy Listings,

Financial Considerations,

Work Permits and Visas,

Résumé/CV Guidelines,

Interviewing Advice and Cultural Advice

What’s more, by clicking on the Jobs and Internships button you can then have access to 16 million opportunities around the globe!

So what are you waiting for………Check it out here Going Global site.!

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Interested in International Development?

Getting into International Development -Thursday 15 March 2012

Our parent body, The Careers Group, is holding a one day introductory course that will set out clearly how the development sector is structured, the different entry roles available and the combination of qualifications, skills and experience needed to get into international development.

• Learn how the  sector is structured and find out about a wide variety of jobs, graduate schemes, internships and short courses.
• Participate in a lunch time careers fair and network with education providers and NGO’s.
• Choose optional workshops on effective applications, working in emergency relief, campaigning and fundraising.

Keynote Speaker: Stephen O’ Brien, Parliamentary Under-Secretary Of  State For International Development, DFID

Organisations involved include:

• Action Against Hunger
• The Book Bus
• Childreach
• Christian Aid
• The Daneford Trust
• Development in Action
• Doctors of the World
• Inspirational Volunteer Journeys
• Mad4Africa
• Medair UK
• Peru Support Group
• PKF
• Raleigh International
• Results
• Skillshare International – International Citizen Service
• SOAS
• The Social Investment Consultancy
• Teach a Man to Fish
• World Service Enquiry
• theIDLgroup
• GOAL UK
• Oxfam
• 2Way Development
• Restless Development
• War on Want
• VSO – newly confirmed!
• The University of East Anglia (UEA)- newly confirmed!
• The University of Manchester -  newly confirmed!
• International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) – newly confirmed!
• One Acre Fund – newly confirmed!
• Inter Cultural Youth Exchange (ICYE) UK – newly confirmed!

For the latest programme and to register , please visit this website

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Tips for new graduates: How to make yourselves more employable by Enterprise Rent-A-Car

 

Car hire giant Enterprise Rent-A-Car, one of the UK’s ten biggest graduate recruiters, has set out some hints and tips for graduates looking to make themselves more appealing to potential employers.

1. Experience matters

Work experience and internships will often make you stand out. Employers know that a taste of the commercial world will sharply reduce the learning curve when you join the workforce full-time.

2. Volunteering

Unpaid volunteering highlights graduates with a social conscience and proactive work ethic.

3. On-campus activities

Make the most of clubs, sports teams and social groups on your CV, particularly in positions of responsibility. Remember to show how they  helped build teamwork and leadership skills.

4. The academics isn’t everything!

Unless you’re going down a route where you need explicit technical skills, it’s often good to position yourself as a well-rounded individual. A good degree matters but so does everything else you did at university.

5. Confidence shows

Some people are great at writing CVs but lack interpersonal skills. How well do you communicate what’s on your CV? How well do you sell yourself? Do you say “I’m afraid I’ve only done this…” or “Actually, I’ve achieved this…”?

6. Have you done your research?

Ensure you know at least something about the business where you’re applying for a job. A question that begins “I was looking at your website and wondered…” is a good sign to employers. Also, it’s often worth calling the company up before the interview to ask for more details about the job on offer.

7. Professionalism

It’s amazing how many new graduates don’t turn up on time for their interview or dress appropriately. Not every company expects a suit, but you should at least make the effort to find out about its dress code.

8. Using your initiative

For employers, the most promising recruits are usually those who really made an effort. That can mean everything from entering undergraduate awards and competitions while at university, to making the best use of your contacts afterwards.

9. Networking skills

Business is a social environment, so you will often have to demonstrate your skills at listening, making small talk and putting other people at their ease.

10. Motivation

If you get asked “Why do you want to work here?” you should have a real answer and not just a pat response. You might not yet be thinking in terms of a lifelong career, but you should at least know why you’ve chosen that company.

 

With thanks to Enterprise Rent-a-car

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How to get an internship or graduate job! – UCL Careers Service Graduate Scheme Summer Schools 2011 now open!

Get the skills this summer to secure an intership

There are only 120 places for the 24,000 students currently at UCL on a first come first serve basis, so I’ve tried to pass this information on immediately so readers of this blog can benefit.

The Careers Summer School is a fantastic opportunity  to gain the tools and secrets of how to secure an internship or graduate job; so come autumn’s recruitment season you’ll be well ahead of the curve.

Details below

*
UCL Careers Service Graduate Scheme Summer Schools 2011*

*Week 1: Wednesday 14th to Friday 16th September OR*

*Week 2: Monday 19th to Wednesday 21st September*

Approximate Timings: 10.00am to 4.00pm each day

Graduate schemes and internships are offered by many larger employers looking to recruit future talent and are seen as a fast-track route to career progression. Competition for places can be intense and it is important to apply as early as possible as recruiters often start selecting candidates long before applications deadlines close.

The summer school is a bespoke programme of activities designed to give you a real head start for schemes opening for applications in the Autumn of 2011 or for remaining places that recruiters are looking to fill for immediate start.

Programme activities include:

· an introduction to the UK graduate labour market, graduate schemes and what employers are looking for;

· an opportunity to meet and hear from current graduate scheme employer staff

· an application ‘toolkit’ including workshops on CVs & applications, aptitude tests; interviews and other assessment centre techniques;

· an insight into how to make the most of the careers service support available to you

Priority will be given to those attending all 3 days. A returnable £25 deposit is required to confirm your place. To find out more and register for your place see: _http://www.ucl.ac.uk/careers/events/skills/summerschool_. Please note that the careers office is closed for its annual closure week re-opening on Monday 8th August. If you have problems registering, please contact the career service then.

UCL Careers Service

(Thanks to unknown for photo)

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