Thinking of Going Global?

Thinking of heading home or anywhere else in the world to get some work experience?  It doesn’t matter if its internships, part time work or full time graduate roles, the UCL Careers Service can help you access one the best job databases around. 

Going Global is a service specifically designed to pull jobs and placement opportunities from an amazing range of listings and display them for you to search by country.  It’s the only site like this on the internet and you’ll need to log in here:  http://www.ucl.ac.uk/careers/students/jobs using your UCL ID.  The job search function has over 16 million (yes, 16 million!!) jobs and is updated daily so choose your country and go for it.

Going Global has over 40 different country profiles so if you’re interested in working anywhere in the world, you can use these to discover the top job websites, visa information and how to format your CV for a specific country.  Don’t miss their blog as well, where often other students will be sharing their experiences of being global citizens.  There is also an employers directory which allows you to search either by country (so you find out who are biggest and best in new countries), by industry or by name – could be very useful if you see a job advert and want to know more about the company.

And finally, for those of you who are keen to get into the Not for Profit or NGO sector, Going Global offers access to both idealist.org and the devex.com NGO listings.  You can find these in the job search section and use them to search for both voluntary and paid work within not for profit organisations by country.

Going Global is a great resource both for research into different countries and for finding work – have a look and see for yourself!

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International Students : October 2012 Events

UCL Careers Service aims to support international students throughout the entire career management process, from understanding the UK graduate labour market to writing CV’s, interviewing and beyond. 

With the Autumn term having started, we offer a series of careers events specifically designed to address the needs of international students considering work or post-graduate study in the UK and overseas.

To book onto any of these sessions, please log in to your My Careers Service account.

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Monday 1^st October 2012, 1-2pm

De-mystifying the UK Job Market

An introduction to finding a job in the UK through a variety of different routes.  We will look at how to find job openings including graduate training schemes, examine other strategic approaches to job-hunting and look at cultural differences in the recruitment process.  We will also provide a term-by-term ‘job-success’ planner so you won’t miss important application deadlines.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the UK job market including the different ways for graduates to access it.
• Provide information on current market using data from previous UCL graduates and an employer’s perspective.
• Form a strategic approach to job hunting in the UK using different approaches such as networking, online tools and speculative applications
• Understand the recruitment cycle in the UK.

 —–

Monday 8^th October 2012, 1-2pm

Working while you study and CV’s for part-time work

This one hour talk offers advice on how to combine earning money with effective studying, the legal requirements for working in the UK, information about the range of jobs that you might be able to do and where to look for part-time jobs.  We’ll then look at how a CV for part-time work should be structured.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the importance of having UK work experience on a CV for finding post study work in a global job market.
• Outline and signpost legal requirements for working part time while studying, including visa and tax issues.
• Explore different types of part-time work in the UK and sources to find jobs.
• Develop an awareness of the structure and content of typical UK CV’s, for part-time work and how to translate previous experiences to a style that future employers will understand.

 —–

Monday 8^th October 2012, 5-6pm

Effective Job Applications

This seminar gives advice on how to effectively communicate your relevant skills to employers and provides key strategies to better stand out through the entire UK application process.  Discover how to build a sound argument that you have what the employer is looking for and learn how best to communicate that argument in your job applications

Learning Outcomes:

• Gain insight into UK employers or educational institution’s perspective and an overview of the application process.
• Understand how best to structure a UK CV and covering letter, and its key components
• Consider how best to explain your experiences in a way UK employers will understand their value and see how they match their job descriptions.
• Understand how best to answer competency (or other) questions on an application form and complete a personal statement.

 —–

Tuesday 9^th October 2012, 1-2pm

Employer presentation – working in China for Mars

This session is presented by Mars representatives to help Chinese students understand the opportunities open to them within the large international organisation of Mars.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the graduate programmes available from Mars
• Gain insights into working for a large multi-national company in China both as a graduate and beyond
• Learn how the Mars recruitment programme works, including tips on completing the application forms and the assessment centre
• Hear real life accounts of working for Mars from a recent graduate

 —–

Monday 15^th October 2012 1-2pm

Writing a UK CV

How can you make sure that your CV impresses an employer?  If you’re applying for jobs in the UK, an excellent CV is critical to your success.  This seminar gives advice on putting together an effective CV and formatting a powerful cover letter for the competitive UK market.  We will give you an insight into what UK employers are looking for, and point out common CV-writing mistakes.

Learning outcomes:

• Develop an awareness of the structure and content of typical UK CV’s, cover / motivation letters and application forms.
• Understand how to translate skills, experience and personal qualities gained through academic and other experiences to a recruiter.
• Explore techniques used in UK application processes, including reading job advertisements, analysing CV’s and tailor CV’s to specific recruiters.
• Articulate positively and convincingly your reasons for applying for specific jobs based in the UK.

 ——

Monday 22^nd October 2012 5-6pm

De-mystifying the UK Job Market

An introduction to finding a job in the UK through a variety of different routes.  We will look at how to find job openings including graduate training schemes, examine other strategic approaches to job-hunting and look at cultural differences in the recruitment process.  We will also provide a term-by-term ‘job-success’ planner so you won’t miss important application deadlines.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the UK job market including the different ways for graduates to access it.
• Provide information on current market using data from previous UCL graduates and an employer’s perspective.
• Form a strategic approach to job hunting in the UK using different approaches such as networking, online tools and speculative applications
• Understand the recruitment cycle in the UK.

 —–

Monday 29^th October 2012 1-2pm

Effective Job Applications

This seminar gives advice on how to effectively communicate your relevant skills to employers and provides key strategies to better stand out through the entire UK application process.  Discover how to build a sound argument that you have what the employer is looking for and learn how best to communicate that argument in your job applications

Learning Outcomes:

• Gain insight into UK employers or educational institution’s perspective and an overview of the application process.
• Understand how best to structure a UK CV and covering letter, and its key components
• Consider how best to explain your experiences in a way UK employers will understand their value and see how they match their job descriptions.
• Understand how best to answer competency (or other) questions on an application form and complete a personal statement.

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For further information please visit: http://bit.ly/SrBODx

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Summer is on the way!

Summer 2012 is going to see a huge influx of tourists both for the Olympics, Paralympics and the Queen’s 60^th Jubilee so not only will be really exciting to be in London, it will give you a good chance to add to your CV and your bank balance!.  Here are some ideas of how to get started:

• While jobs at the Olympic park are no longer an option (all employees needed to be UK Boarder Agency approved by April), extra help within pubs, cafes, restaurants and retail will needed to handle the crowds.  Keep an eye on the Careers Services Jobonline website or visit the jobs section of the UCL Careers Service website so you don’t miss out.
• Often smaller business advertise their roles by posting notices in their window so keep your eyes peeled as you’re walking around your local neighbourhood.  Getting a local part-time job keeps your travel costs down, and also gets you really involved in your local community.
• The most common type of summer work is within the hospitality industry.  Agency’s such as Hospitalitystaff.co.uk or fest staff recruit for a whole range of roles from checking tickets to serving food and security across loads of different festivals and events.
• Individual venues also take on extra staff over the busy summer period.  A good example is the Royal Albert Hall which hosts the Proms between July and September and who is currently looking for stewards to help out.
• If you’re more interested in an experience and less worried about the money, why not try volunteering.  UCL Volunteering is right here on campus to help out and organisations like the Volunteer England have special sections on volunteering for Olympics.  Also many of the museums, galleries and concert halls will be looking for volunteers over summer.  An example is the Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank who are looking for extra volunteers for their Festival of the World.

To help you out with other ideas, doing up your CV or preparing for interviews, the UCL Careers Service will be open throughout the whole of summer (apart from the official UCL closure days) offering application checking and short guidance sessions.  To check times and see how to book, visit the Careers Service website.

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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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Love London this summer by getting involved in Volunteering

The Volunteering Services Unit or VSU helps students and staff make the most of volunteering opportunities within the local community.

There’s a world of possibilities out there, right on your doorstep. London is the most diverse city in the world, and the best way to discover it is by getting involved in volunteering. UCL’s Volunteering Services Unit have 250 different projects to choose from, so there’s something for everyone, and you’ll make new friends and improve your chances of getting decent paid work too. But most of all, you’ll be making a difference right here in this exciting city!

You’ll get loads of support and advice from both the Volunteering Services Unit and the student-run Volunteering Society.

For more details and to check out the projects you could get involved with, follow the link

http://uclu.org/volunteers/

or visit the VSU at:
1st Floor
Lewis Building
Corner of Gower Street and Gower Place
WC1E 6BP

020 7679 2512

volunteering@ucl.ac.uk

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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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Master class in securing a graduate job – with Tim Webster from FreshMinds.

If there’s a question I get asked time and time again it’s the one that goes something like, ‘Do you have any extra special advice that would make the employer love me and give me the job.’ So today I’ve got a man who maybe able to answer that question and also shed some light on the world of being a graduate recruiter.

Tim got involved with grad recruitment at FreshMinds after working in a business start up for 3 years. He moved across to further his ambition to have a career with a strong people focus. Tim works with some for the biggest players in graduate recruitment and specialises in the consultancy sector.

I asked Tim his killer tips for the must hire candidate:

Number 1 – Passion and knowledge

The golden rule is always; always demonstrate a passion and knowledge for the company that’s interviewing you. Rocking up having just skimmed the website is a big mistake as it shows you have no real interest in the company. Good things to do are meet the employer at an open day, read the companies news section and annual report, do an information interview with someone from the business, possibly an alum of UCL.

Number 2 – Know the differences

When applying for several companies in the same sector in is crucial to know how they differ. Tim says the candidate that tells the interviewer all consultancies are the same, is the candidate that’s going home. Really do your home work in this area and understand the different values and cultures at each firm.

Number 3 – Experience

Employers are looking for people that will quickly integrate into their business and start giving them a return on their investment. The best way to demonstrate your desire to perform in a role is having evidence you’ve done it before. Work experience placements or part time work are a tried and tested way of letting an employer know you’re a safe bet and have the relevant skills.

Number 4 – Perseverance

If you don’t get the degree result you expected and the sky seems to be falling down. Tim suggests taking a few days out to reflect on your change in circumstance. This should give you some perspective; as the great qualities you had before the result was announced are still yours today and with hard work you can still make your career a success.

Number 5 – Securing jobs as an international student

Tim said that the market has become tougher in recent months due to changes in Visa regulations but maintained that Top employers were still hungry to employ star talent. There seems a consistent message; that for great candidates there is still plenty of opportunity.

I also asked Tim what it was like to work in the graduate recruitment industry. He said it was fast paced with lots of client interaction and expectation. The role was based around building strong rapport quickly to gain buy in from candidates and employers. Tim said to expect the unexpected as working with people can throw up interesting challenges. He’s seen people drop job offers because they’ve just split with their girlfriend or suddenly decided to go travelling. It does keep it interesting.

His final tip was that if you’re a technical student particularly with a degree in computing there lots of operations roles within finance and banking that companies are having trouble filling. So if you have a Computer science degree and some first class communication and teamwork skills the market is looking for you!

For other insights see Nomura, JP Morgan

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