Careers Newsletter – Spring Weeks 7 and 8: Interview masterclass, entrepreneur visit, get a career mentor, graduate recruitment events and more

/ Hilary Neary

Careers Newsletter – Spring 2014, Weeks 7 and 8

In this issue:

  1. Interview Masterclass – the impact of body language!
  2. Professional Connect – linking you with the experts!
  3. Employability Tutorial (ET) – making the most of you!
  4. Workshops to Winners
  5. YSIS Plus workshops: Effective Teaching Skills and Working with pupils with English as a second language
  6. YSIS Student Management Group – deadline extended!
  7. Your feedback on the Assessment Centre Activity Day
  8. Don’t miss your opportunity to get a career mentor!
  9. ‘Dirty’ entrepreneur to visit the University
  10. Graduate recruitment events in weeks 7 and 8
  11. Careers briefings in weeks 7 and 8
  12. Meet the Team

… and more

1. Interview Masterclass – the impact of body language!

On Wednesday 19 February (week 7) we welcome Business Actor David Kershaw who will lead an interactive session in which he and a fellow actor will portray different interview scenarios. Using a powerful theatrical technique called Forum Theatre you will take the director’s chair and have the opportunity to improve the interviewee’s behaviour and body language, to create a more positive impact on the interviewer.  This Masterclass will give you the competitive edge over candidates who are unaware of the importance of body language. To book your place on this essential workshop please visit Careers Gateway and learn more about David Kershaw’s work.

2. Professional Connect – linking you with the experts!

Tuesday 25 February (week 8) is your opportunity to put questions to a panel of professionals from

  • Retail & Sales
  • Public & Third Sector
  • PR, Marketing & Advertising.

Offering insight into career paths and roles available in their field. Panellists will share their own professional journey and offer tips on how to stand out from the crowd. A drinks reception will follow so you can network with the professionals across all strands, many of whom are York alumni, to chat informally, explore options and get advice. Visit Professional Connect online for more information.

If the idea of striking up conversation and presenting yourself positively to the professionals is daunting, you will benefit from our Networking Masterclass. Deliberately scheduled on the same day as Professional Connect (25 February), this masterclass session will give you the skills and confidence you need to make the most of the networking opportunity. Sign up now via Careers Gateway

3. Employability Tutorial (ET) – Making the most of you!

Have you heard of the Employability Tutorial but not done anything about it? Do you understand what it actually offers? The Careers team is on a mission to ensure that you know how to use and make the most out of this amazing career planning tool. Keep an eye out for our @UoYCareers twitter tips each week  #ETWednesday or speak to the Careers Brand Managers when they are out and about on campus for a system demo.

4. Free workshops for students and post-graduates interested in winning £2000 for ‘the next big idea’. 

Workshops on how to come up with business ideas, financial planning for start-ups, finding out about and reaching your market, will be held on Thursday 13th (week 6) and 27th February (week 8) and the 6th March at 5.00pm (week 9).

Although designed to help students and post-graduates interested in entering the Plan ENVY competition (first prize of £2000 and category prizes of £500), you do not have to enter the competition in order to attend and benefit from these workshops.

For more details about the workshops and to download the business plan entry template, visit the Plan ENVY page of the Careers Enterprise website.  Deadline for entries is Friday 9th May 2014.

5. YSIS Plus workshops Weeks 7&8: Effective Teaching Skills and Working with pupils with English as a second language

Do you want to gain more knowledge about the educational system? Are you interested in working in the education sector or becoming a teacher? Learn about Effective Teaching Skills on Wednesday week 7 (4 pm, C/A/102) and Working with pupils with English as a second languages on Wednesday week 6 (4 pm, C/A/102). Download the programme for the rest of the term.

YSIS Plus workshops are run by education experts from the Local Authority and Teach First throughout the Spring term. Find out about current practice and learn useful techniques and methods to take away with you. You can attend any workshop of choice, and you don’t need to have been previously involved with YSIS.

6. YSIS Student Management Group – deadline extended!

Could you support the daily running of YSIS and support other students as they complete placements? Are you interested in project management and finding out how volunteering schemes work? Keen to develop your team work skills, communication and presentation skills? Join the YSIS Student Management Group! Email ysis@york.ac.uk to express an interest in joining this fun and dynamic group by Wednesday week 7.

7. Your feedback on the Assessment Centre Activity Day

We had a great turn out at the Assessment Centre Activity Day in week 4. Students joined a panel of graduate recruitment specialists from PwC, Coca-Cola Enterprises, BT and Asda to discuss what is expected of you at an Assessment Centre Day. Following a Q&A session students divided into groups for two taster sessions led by the experts to practice actual Assessment Centre activities. In feedback from the session 100% of students who attended said they would recommend this to a friend and that the day was “Insightful” and “Informative“. Look out for forthcoming Careers events and get involved.

8. Don’t miss your opportunity to get a career mentor!

Don’t miss your chance to apply for the summer term Alumni Mentoring Scheme (AMS)! This is a fantastic opportunity for you to develop your career planning with the help of an experienced mentor drawn from the University’s extensive alumni network.

Go to the AMS webpage for more information about the scheme and details of how to apply. Interested? If you want to apply, please ensure you are available to attend the AMS information session 13.00 – 14.00 Tuesday 18th February in V/123 (Vanbrugh).

Please contact careers@york.ac.uk if you have any questions.

9. ‘Dirty’ Entrepreneur to visit the University

Leading international arts entrepreneur Michael Jacobsen is visiting the University on Thursday 20 February (week 7) to give a talk on Entrepreneurship and the Arts.  Michael was a co-founding producer of the stage show ‘Dirty Dancing’ which, in terms of international revenue, is recognised as one of the most successful theatrical shows ever produced.

Michael will also be judging the York final of the ‘Trial of Two Cities’ – York-London Team Challenge. The student challenge will be announced at a briefing session on Monday 17th February, 5.30pm. Winning teams will visit London to take part in a final challenge. The day will also include a drinks reception and networking evening at PriceWaterhouse Coopers (PwC).  Information about these events can be found on the Enterprise pages of the Careers website.

10. Graduate recruitment events in weeks 7 and 8

For full details of venues and booking please log into Careers Gateway

  • 17 February 12.30pm: Postgraduate study in the USA with Fulbright
  • 17 February 2.00pm:  Experiences and reflection on a career in banking with Emma Darley from Barclays
  • 18 February 1.30pm: Let’s get Britain selling! A session on learning sales skills. Open to all regardless of whether you want a career in Sales or just want to learn this useful skill.
  • 19 February 10.00am: Deloitte Coffee and Careers

11. Careers briefings in weeks 7 and 8

For full details of venues and booking please log into Careers Gateway

  • 18 February 1.00pm: Get a career mentor – The Alumni Mentoring Scheme
  • 18 February 4.30pm: Court in the Act. This two session course explores some of the issues faced by local Magistrates and provides an opportunity to practise negotiation skills.
  • 19 February 2.15pm: Interview Masterclass – the impact of body language
  • 19 February 4.00pm: Effective Teaching Skills
  • 25 February  3.00pm: Networking Masterclass
  • 25 February  5.30pm: The Total Team presentation by Ralph Peters, Emotional Intelligence Assessor and Coach
  • 25 February 6.15pm: Professional Connect  – explore careers in Retail, Public and Third sectors and PR, Marketing & Advertising
  • 26 February 2.00pm; This two session course aims to develop your understanding of the voluntary and not-for-profit sectors
  • 26 February 4.00pm: Working with pupils with English as a second language.
  • 27 February  11.00am: Disclosing your disability
  • 27 February 12.30pm: CV Basics
  • 27 February  5.00pm: Enterprise – The financial fundamentals of starting up

12. Meet the Team

This new feature provides a glimpse into the day to day work and the personalities within the Careers team. Each fortnight we will focus on a different member of Careers staff. This week, our Information Resources Manager, Irena, is answering the questions. Read the full interview on our Careers blog.

13. Information about Careers: