Careers Newsletter

Autumn term, weeks 8-10

1. Life after University – it’s not all about the grad schemes!
including… 6 things you need to know about graduate recruitment

2. Enterprise
including… Freelance Challenge competition and Careers’ Christmas market

3. Careers events – reviews and ratings
including… student reviews of events run by Careers

4. Dates and events for your diary
including… graduate recruitment presentations, Assessment Centre activity day & Applying for the York Award

5. Alumni Mentoring Scheme – be mentored by York graduates!
including… plan for your future career with an experienced mentor

6. Caught our eye this week
including… win cash prizes for your student society and postgraduate virtual open days

To make it easier to see which news items are relevant to you, we have developed some icons.

This icon indicates the news is relevant to undergraduates

1. LIFE AFTER UNIVERSITY – IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE GRAD SCHEMES!

You would be forgiven for thinking that the only graduate opportunities out there are on graduate training schemes with large multi-national companies. It can feel as if you are being left behind if friends and housemates are applying for schemes and getting interviews.  Graduate schemes have a high profile on campus and the employers who offer them are the ones most likely to come onto campus for recruitment fairs and presentations. They are a great choice for some – but not for all!

Top 6 things you need to know about graduate recruitment

1. Grad schemes generally offer great training and will give you a lot of valuable experience – however did you know only around 10 % of graduates will end up working in a grad scheme.
2. Most UK graduates will work for small to medium size companies (SMEs) or larger companies and organisations via direct entry to particular roles.
3. In Spring 2014 a survey carried out by the Association of Graduate Recruiters (AGR) found that over 80% of employers who responded had unfilled vacancies – with 67% reporting poor quality applications as a key factor.
4. It is possible to get on a grad scheme with a 2.2 degree and it is possible to find a direct entry graduate job with a 2.2. Find out more about graduating with a 2.2, 3^rd or Pass degree .
5. If you feel you don’t know what you want to do, or don’t understand the choices you have once you graduate don’t worry, you are not alone! Come and talk to us.
6. Not all jobs are advertised – many direct entry jobs are found through contacts, networking or through having worked somewhere previously (part time work/internship/vacation work).

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 Our Advice:

• Research your options carefully
• Check out job search websites and see what type of jobs they advertise – especially if you want work in a particular sector
• Don’t panic !
• Don’t start firing off lots of applications without doing your research – fewer, well thought through and researched applications are more likely to be successful
• Poor applications are your worst enemy – get your applications/CV reviewed in Careers
• Don’t feel as if you are alone – we are here to help for as long as you need us after graduation. If you move away from York you can still use our services.
• Your first step to success is understanding how the graduate job market works – download and read Finding Graduate vacancies
• Attend events to listen to graduate employers talking about what they offer and what they look for in new graduates
• Talk to York graduates already working – they are a great source of insight and advice. Use our Graduate Profiles database to find graduates doing the type of work you are interested in or who are working for a company you would like to work for – they can tell you what it’s really like!

2. ENTERPRISE

Enterprise isn’t just about starting a business – it’s also about learning and developing skills that you can use in the workplace and will help you to stand out from the crowd when you’re starting out in the world of work. Some examples of skills you could acquire through enterprise activities are:

• Thinking creatively
• Self-motivation
• Initiative
• Flexibility and time management
• Communication, negotiation and team work

There are lots of enterprise activities on offer in Careers. Develop your entrepreneurial spirit by getting involved in some of these Enterprise competitions and projects:

£1000 Freelance Challenge: How to Get Started
Tuesday 18th November, 18:00 – 19:00 (ATB/056)

Ever wondered how you can make money whilst you’re a student, or on graduation doing the job you love? If you’d like something flexible, freelancing could be for you.

This introductory session is the opportunity for you to learn more about what freelancing is, whether it’s right for you and if so, the things you need to know to get started.  What’s more, this year is the perfect time to try it out as Careers are launching a £1000 freelancing challenge competition!  All of the details will be announced during the session.

Goldman Sachs Student Challenge

Enter the Goldman Sachs Student Challenge to demonstrate how you can think like an entrepreneur and impact the success of a real business.

Three challenges have been set by companies that have participated in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme. If you’re a York student and are due to graduate in 2017, you are invited to submit innovative solutions to one of these challenges.

– Overall winner will receive ONE YEAR of tuition fees to a university in England (up to a maximum of £9000)
– The winner of each of the three business challenges will receive an offer to join the 2015 Goldman Sachs Spring Internship
Enter the Goldman Sachs Student Challenge

Holidays are coming with Careers’ Christmas Market!
Wednesday 26th November 11:00 – 15:00 (James Dining Hall)

Come along and support enterprising student stall holders with an event to get you into the holiday spirit – the annual Careers‘ Christmas Market! With 26 stalls, there’ll be a range of gifts and treats for the festive season. Get ahead of the rush and do some Christmas shopping, or simply fill up on festive confectionery!

3. CAREERS EVENTS – REVIEWS & RATINGS

With so many events on offer each term, it can seem like a bit of a minefield to know what events, courses and sessions you should try. There’s so much you can get involved with and although that’s no bad thing, you might be struggling to decide where to start, or how to work out what you might enjoy.

Whether you know which employers you want to meet on campus, or you’re just looking to make new friends, our events programme offers something for everyone. You can find out more about what it’s like to work in Journalism or Technology for example; learn British Sign Language; discover endless opportunities abroad or figure out how to ace that presentation!

To try and make it a bit easier, we’ve pulled out some student reviews to give you an idea of what other students thought about a whole range of things, from employer events, to skills courses, to departmental events. Most of the reviewed events will be taking place in the coming weeks or during Spring Term, so you can dip your toes into whatever takes your fancy.

“Worth staying after lectures for!” Global Opportunities Fair – every Autumn Term

“I learnt everything I needed to know!” Networking for Beginners – next course starts Spring Term

“I’ve developed a new awareness about the things I take for granted about myself, which actually are skills” Realise your Strengths with EY – next event in Week 9

“A fun, interactive session” British Sign Language – next course starts Spring Term

“The course was really useful and did a really good job of helping everyone’s confidence – I’ve really benefited from the programme” Perfect Presentations – next course starts Spring Term

“Really useful to be able to put things into practice” Assessment Centre Activity Afternoon – next session Week 8

These events are open to all years and all degree disciplines, so if you’ve not got involved before, now is the perfect opportunity to try something new. The termly events programme can be found on our website or on Careers Gateway, as well as Facebook and Twitter for regular event updates and announcements.

 4. DATES AND EVENTS FOR  YOUR DIARY

There are always a great number of events taking place on campus to support the development of your employability. Make sure you keep an eye on Careers Events and benefit from all that is on offer!

WEEK 8

Tuesday 18 November (Week 8)
L’Oreal’s Brandstorm business competition launch
Put yourself in the shoes of a L’Oréal International Marketing Director for a six-month long marketing journey, coached by top L’Oréal executives. Analyse current market trends and performance and consider retail design, animation and education in order to propose innovative services and attract new customers to the brand in the travel distribution channel (airports, airlines, ferries, cruises, duty-free shops, etc.).

Wednesday 19 November, 13:00-16:00, RCH/037, Ron Cooke Hub
Assessment Centre Activity Day
Are you preparing for an assessment centre, or planning on applying for a graduate job or internship scheme? This is your chance to put questions to a panel of top graduate recruiters then try your hand in some tasks through our assessment centre simulation afternoon.

Wednesday 26 November, 14:00-17:00, C/B/101, Chemistry
Realise Your Strengths
Do you really know what your strengths are and what they can do for you? This session, run jointly by EY and Careers, will help you identify the strengths that are most important to you and understand how to use this self-awareness when researching and making career choices. You will also find out how to maximise your strengths in preparation for recruitment and selection activities

Thursday 20 November (Week 8), 12:00-13:00, PT/005, Physics
Thursday 27 November (Week 9), 13:00-14:00, PT/006, Physics
Applying for the York Award: the University’s employability certificate (final year/PGR)
Our ground breaking York Award provides official accreditation from the University of your proactive approach to personal development – highly valued by employers. This short workshop will explore the application process for 2014/15, including explanation of the application form, the assessment criteria and the interview process.

Recruiters on campus Weeks 8-10 – looking to share information around their area of expertise and provide valuable insight for you to access graduate jobs, vacation internships and training opportunities (keen to talk to all year groups!) –
• Consultancy
1. Thomson Reuters – Tuesday 25 November, 17.30 – 18.30pm, P/T/006
Information session highlighting the Thomson Reuters Journalism Training Programme and recruitment process. A go-to event for all aspiring journalists!
2. EY and LinkedIn – Tuesday 18 November, 13.30 – 16:00, P/T/005
EY and LinkedIn have teamed up to deliver a session on how to get ahead in the jobs market through LinkedIn. Learn how to create a great profile that is sure to impress employers.

• Technology
 Aardvark Swift – Tuesday 18 November, 18:30 – 20:30, The Lakehouse, Ron Cooke Hub
Looking to break into the Computer Games industry? Look no further than Aardvark Swift’s ‘Get in the Game Career Talk’

• Legal
Baker & McKenzie – Thursday 20th November, from 18.30, Hotel du Vin, York
Join Baker & McKenzie at Hotel du Vin for an opportunity to find out more about working for a leading global law firm and to meet their Associates, Trainees and Graduate Recruitment team

Search for the company name in Careers Gateway for more information and to book a place.

5. ALUMNI MENTORING SCHEME – BE MENTORED BY YORK GRADUATES

Plan for your future career with an experienced mentor!

Applications for the Spring 2015 Alumni Mentoring Scheme (AMS) are now open! AMS 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.

More information about the scheme can be found on our Alumni Mentoring Scheme webpage.

Students from any field of study are encouraged to apply! We have mentors working in a wide range of careers including many with positions at PwC, Boots, Rolex, CNN, Royal Air Force, IBM and more!

Interested? The online application form is available for Spring Term scheme here. The deadline to apply is Friday December 5th.

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

6. CAUGHT OUR EYE THIS WEEK

PwC Opportunity Challenge – win prizes for your student society

Information about Careers:

• Lots more information available 24 hours a day on our website
• Search for jobs online via Careers Gateway
• Find out about different types of appointments we offer
• Read the latest Careers news online – updated daily
• Opening hours: Monday – Friday 10.00am – 5.00pm (undergraduate term time)
• Details of our full event programme for Autumn 2014
• Follow us on social media for daily updates of careers news