Careers Network Guide by Careers Network, University of Birmingham

Connecting you to your future

WELCOME TO

CAREERS NETWORK

CONTENTS EMAIL US careersenquiries @contacts.bham.ac.uk

As a student or recent graduate of the University of Birmingham, you have access to our expert careers support and a wide range of services to help you take that next step towards employment.

YOUR COLLEGE TEAM www.intranet. birmingham.ac.uk /careers/college

CONNECTING WITH US

CAREERS CONNECT www.intranet. birmingham.ac.uk /careersconnect

SOCIAL MEDIA /careersbham @careersbham @careersbham /careersnetwork

WEBSITE www.birmingham.ac.uk /careers

RECENT UoB GRADUATES www.birmingham.ac.uk /graduatecareers

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

Which career planning phase are you in?

Ideas to get you started

Work experience

Your mentoring journey

Events and workshops

Skills programmes

B Start-Up and enterprise skills

Apply for jobs and further study

Appointments in your college

Support for postgraduates

International students

Equality and diversity

EXPLORE

PLAN

APPLY

We have broken up the career planning process into three phases; Explore, Plan and Apply. You’ll see these badges throughout this handbook, and you can find out more about them and see which one best describes you using the quiz on the next page. If you would like this guide in an alternative format, then please get in contact with us using the contact details above. 3

APPLY

CAREER PLANNING PHASE ARE YOU IN?

It looks like you are exploring your options. You probably don’t know what you want to do yet, or maybe you’ve recently changed your mind about a career you had been set on pursuing. Never fear – we have loads of ways we can help you. Read on for some ideas to get you started and look out for the ‘Explore’ symbol throughout this guide.

You don’t need to have a clear career goal before you seek advice from Careers Network. Many students feel unsure about their next steps after their degree. There are different phases in successful career planning and you can move through several during your time at university and the years afterwards. Knowing which phase you are in now can help you choose what support you need from Careers Network. Answer our quiz questions and find out which phase you are in!

It looks like you are planning your next steps. You probably know what you want to do and you’re hoping to work towards that goal through research, work experience and networking. The good news is you don’t have to go it alone – keep reading to find out about a few ways Careers Network can help you and look out for the ‘Plan’ symbol throughout this guide.

It looks like you are applying for opportunities. You’ve probably got a clear sense of your goals and how to get where you need to go, now all you need to do is nail the selection process. There is lots of support on offer – start by reading the ‘Apply’ section on the next page and look out for the ‘Apply’ symbol throughout this guide.

RESULTS

WHICH

PLAN

EXPLORE

START NO

Would you like to start exploring your career options?

Keep this guide to hand for when you are ready

Have you started thinking about life after university?

YES NO

EXPLORE

YES Do you have a specific career or sector in mind?

of heart? Don’t ChCh anan gege of heart?set in stone. wowo rryrry nothing is Don’t , no, th ing is se w steps and Let’Le nd a fet in stone s rt’s ewre inwi d a few optio .. ore newsteps ans explo exrpl nd e new o ptions.

YES

Do you have a plan for how you’re going to get there?

YES Have you started applying for jobs?

PLAN

YES NO

Have you managed to secure a job or place for further study?

YES APPLY 4

CONGRATS! If you’re having any doubts please contact us and remember: we provide support to alumni who have recently graduated too. 5

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IDEAS TO GET YOU

STARTED

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WORK EXPERIENCE

FIND OUT MORE

EXPLORE

www.intranet. birmingham.ac.uk/ careersmentoring

PLAN

Careers Network is here to help you find the right work experience and internship opportunities. We know that having a good degree is only part of the package that graduate employers are looking for. As a result, the University has a dedicated work experience team providing expert support with finding work experience as well as giving students financial support to make it happen. Our internship officers source high-quality work experience and internship opportunities with global companies, leading graduate recruiters and small and mediumsized enterprises.

WHY DO WORK EXPERIENCE? Build contacts in the industry Boost your CV Test out your career ideas Develop essential employability skills Build your confidence

WORK EXPERIENCE BURSARY SCHEMES These provide support to eligible undergraduate students at the University to undertake work experience over the summer vacation period for low/unpaid opportunities.

FIND OUT MORE

www.intranet. birmingham.ac.uk /internships

BESPOKE INTERNSHIPS We have a range of funded internships just for students at the University of Birmingham. Whether you want to stay local or travel the world, there is something for you with our exclusive schemes: Global Challenge Impact Internships Virtual Internships

WORKLINK Worklink is the University of Birmingham’s internal student work agency. They link students to diverse and relevant on-campus casual work opportunities. Worklink can provide you with essential work experience that is flexible and convenient, offering you the opportunity to earn while you study. @uobworklink /worklink worklink@contacts.bham.ac.uk

This internship has changed my perspective on my future plans for a career and given me useful contacts, experience and confidence, which will help me with achieving my goals after university. Former bursary recipient

30%

TOP EMPLOYERS

WON’T HIRE YOU WITHOUT WORK EXPERIENCE SO WE WORK HARD TO GET YOU EXPERIENCE!

Your

MENTORING JOURNEY A mentor can be a huge help during your time at university, explore below how mentoring could help you.

Mentoring is a great opportunity to receive one-to-one support from a professional in your chosen sector. We have a range of mentors in areas such as arts, banking, computing, finance, engineering, health care and many others who are located in the UK and across the globe. Benefits for you: Increase your confidence to find a career you enjoy Gain real insight into the working environment and culture Build your professional contacts

MENTORING SUPPORT FOR YOU We offer mentoring schemes that allow you to choose your preferences for a mentor. This can be related to: Support for LGBT students – explore coming out in the workplace Starting your own business – gain knowledge on setting up and expanding your business idea Being a future leader – expand your potential and meet leading alumni experts Support for after graduation and postgraduate taught students – gain support with transitioning into employment after you graduate

PLAN

APPLY

The scheme has greatly increased my own selfawareness, meaning that I will be able to apply for roles that truly match my skill set and values, and show this on my CV and in interviews. English and Creative Writing Mentee 9

EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS

EXPLORE

PLAN

APPLY

Whatever stage you are at in planning your next steps, Careers Network offers a variety of events and workshops to support you.

CAREERS

FAIRS

We host a range of Careers Fairs throughout the academic year which attract top employers from around the world who want to recruit University of Birmingham students and graduates. Whether you’re not sure what you want to do, are looking for tips about breaking into an industry, or just hoping to network, our Careers Fairs are well worth attending.

APPLY

YOURSELF

TOP

TIPS

If you’re looking for in-depth information about the application and recruitment process then look no further than this interactive workshop series.

Need to find out how to write a CV, ace an interview or draft an application fast? Top Tips are 30-minute sessions which will get you up to speed in no time at all.

CONSULTANCY

CHALLENGES

Consultancy challenges such as the Birmingham Project and the Impact Challenge give you the opportunity to meet employers and develop innovative business solutions to real-world problems. Fast-paced, exciting and definitely never boring, consultancy challenges are great CV boosters and give you amazing experience to talk about in interviews. UP NEXT Birmingham Project Session University of Birmingham 10.00am–5.00pm

RECENT UoB GRADUATES EMPLOYER EVENTS

FIND OUT MORE www.intranet. birmingham.ac.uk /careers/events

INTERNATIONAL A series of events aimed at international students designed to give you useful information about employment practices in the UK and the rest of the world.

Employers want to hire quality candidates, and that’s why they target Birmingham students. We offer a host of employer events such as sector-specific speaker panels, networking sessions and informal drop-ins around campus. Hear from industry experts, gain amazing insight and make connections that might land you your big break.

You are very welcome to attend our events, make sure you register on Careers Connect: www.birmingham.ac.uk/ careers/graduate

PLAN

SKILLS

PROGRAMMES

B START-UP AND

Recognising and articulating skills effectively is essential when entering the graduate job market. Careers Network offers bespoke programmes to get a head start in developing and identifying employability skills.

Stop dreaming, start doing

ENTERPRISE SKILLS University is a great place to try new things, meet interesting people and start something.

PERSONAL SKILLS AWARD The Personal Skills Award (PSA) is the University of Birmingham’s exclusive employer-supported employability programme for undergraduate students. PSA enables you to be recognised for the extracurricular activities that you may already be involved in, as well as a range of other on-campus activities and external work.

The B-Enterprising team can help you if you want to:

THE

BIRMINGHAM PROJECT The Birmingham Project is an optional two-week long event held at the end of the Semester 2.

When you join the PSA you gain access to online courses and workshops in professional skills and attributes, to help prepare you for work experience and graduate employment.

For first-year undergraduate students only, this unique opportunity allows students to work with employers on a collaborative group project to enhance their skills, discover their strengths and develop their confidence.

To complete the award, you will undertake an assessment designed to enhance your employability in preparation for real-world graduate recruitment processes.

Students attend various training sessions (including project management and digital media), in a fun and supportive environment, to help them create an innovative information resource in response to a realworld challenge.

www.birmingham.ac.uk/careers/psa

EXPLORE

PLAN

APPLY

The project concludes with group presentations and an awards afternoon where we recognise all the hard work of the students and announce our winners. www.birmingham.ac.uk/birmingham-project

EXPLORE

S tart a business Freelance or work for yourself Work for a start-up company V olunteer and help others in the community E xplore your future career options A ttend Boot Camps and hackathons Apply for a Start-Up Visa

FREELANCE SUPPORT Turn your passion into profit – we take away the legal and accounting jargon and support you on the way to finding clients to help you grow. START-UP YOUR SIDE HUSTLE Whether it’s your side hustle or the next big thing – your time at university is perfect for trying new ideas – we can help you learn how to start and grow any business.

START-UP, FREELANCE OR DEVELOP YOUR ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS TO ADVANCE YOUR FUTURE CAREER

EMPLOYER CHALLENGES AND EXPERIENCES Get behind the scenes; access a range of employers for exclusive internships, and employer-based challenges. TAKING SOCIAL ACTION AND VOLUNTEERING Giving back and helping others doesn’t just make you feel good, it can also boost your CV. Get involved with a social action project in Birmingham and make positive changes to people’s lives for the greater good.

Our £500 Start-Up F und is designed to help yo u start a business or freelanc e while you study*. *subject to

availability

FIND OUT MORE www.intranet. birmingham.ac.uk /benterprising 13

APPLY FOR JOBS AND

APPLY

FURTHER STUDY

APPLICATION SUPPORT

Careers Network has a range of services and resources including events, guides, online CV checking and practice interview software. We advise that you take the following steps to ensure you receive the support you need. Remember that you can still access this support for up to two years after you graduate.

CV SUPPORT

Applications can include answers to a series of questions, a covering letter, or a personal statement for further study. No matter what form it takes, your application should be well-written, informed and relevant to the opportunity you are applying to. 1 T ake a look at our online guidance to get started with writing your application www.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/ careers/quickguides 2 A ttend a Top Tips or Apply Yourself workshop to get advice on what to include www.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/ careers/workshops 3 T o ensure you have tailored your application to the job you are applying for, send in the job description with your application to careersenquiries@contacts.bham.ac.uk for feedback

INTERVIEW SUPPORT

Once you are shortlisted, employers can use a range of techniques, such as telephone interviews, video interviews, assessment centres and psychometric testing, alongside the more traditional face-to-face interview process. It is important that you feel prepared for all of these different approaches. 1 T ake a look at our online guidance to get started with preparing for your interview www.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/careers/quickguides 2 A ttend a Top Tips or Apply Yourself workshop to get advice on what to expect from interviews, assessment centres and psychometric testing www.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/careers/workshops 3 U se our video interview tool, to practise answering interview questions and to familiarise yourself with the video interview process

Whether you are applying for an internship, a part-time role during your studies or a graduate job, it is important to ensure your CV is well-structured, up-to-date and tailored to the particular position you are applying for. 1 T ake a look at our online guidance to get started with writing your CV w ww.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/ careers/quickguides 2 Attend a CV Top Tips workshop to get advice on CV structure and content w ww.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/ careers/workshops

3 U se CV Checker to get instant feedback on the first draft of your CV. Make some amendments based on the comments and re-upload it to get more tips: www.vmock.com/bham 4 W hen you are happy with your CV and need help with tailoring it to your ideal graduate job, send in the job description with your CV to careersenquiries@contacts.bham.ac.uk for feedback

www.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/careers/interviews

If you are away from campus or would prefer to find out more online, remember you can watch recordings of our workshops on our YouTube channel /careersnetwork

4 I f you have been offered an interview, consider booking a practice interview with a careers adviser to get feedback on your answers w ww.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/practiceinterview 5 I f your interview process also includes psychometric tests, practise these tests using our online psychometric testing tool w ww.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/careers/ psychometrictests

EXPLORE

PLAN

SUPPORT FOR

APPLY

POSTGRADUATES ADDITIONAL SUPPORT

APPOINTMENTS IN YOUR COLLEGE

In addition to the careers services available for all students, we understand that as a postgraduate you will have specific requirements in order to help you take the next step.

Our dedicated careers team is here to provide you with tailored advice choosing a career path, finding work experience, preparing for interviews and much more.

TAUGHT

We offer the following appointments: ADVICE AND GUIDANCE Talk to an adviser about your career plans and options and find out about further study. INTERNSHIP ADVICE Finding work experience and internship opportunities, funding and bursary schemes. BUSINESS START-UP ADVICE Discuss the benefits and challenges of pursuing a career in social enterprise or starting a business venture. PRACTICE INTERVIEWS When you have a confirmed interview or assessment centre, a practice interview with an adviser is a great way to prepare. If you wish to apply for a practice interview, please complete our practice interview request form at www.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/ practiceinterview

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND LAW @CALcareers /calcareers

@LEScareers

artsandlawcareers@contacts. bham.ac.uk

/lescareers

w ww.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/ careers/college/cal COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SERVICES

www.intranet. birmingham.ac.uk/ careersconnect

lescareers@contacts.bham.ac.uk w ww.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/ careers/college/les COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES @CoSS_careers

@EPScareers

/cosscareers

/epscareers

cosscareers@contacts.bham.ac.uk

epscareers@contacts.bham.ac.uk www.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/ careers/college/eps COLLEGE OF MEDICAL AND DENTAL SCIENCES @MDScareers /biomedicalcareers /mpharmcareers

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT

COLLEGE OF LIFE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES

/biomedicalmaterials mdscareers@contacts.bham.ac.uk w ww.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/ careers/college/mds

Specialist PGT Employer Liaison Officer Specialist PGT Careers Adviser

Mentoring GRADUATES w ww.birmingham.ac.uk/ graduatecareers w ww.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/ careers/contact

Postgraduate-level job opportunities on Careers Connect Workshops and training

Masters Consultancy Challenge

w ww.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/ careers/college/coss

RESEARCH

A APPLYING FOR URSE CO POSTGRADUATE

in continuing If you’re interested n find lots ca u yo s die your stu sources re d of information an section y ud St er on the Furth of our website!

Online careers resources Employer presentations and panels

Specialist PGR Careers Adviser Specialist Entrepreneurial Development Officer Enterprise Summer School Consultancy Challenges

FIND OUT MORE www.intranet.birmingham. ac.uk/careers/contact www.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/ careers/postgraduate @CareersPG

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

BOOK AN APPOINTMENT www.intranet. birmingham.ac.uk/ careersconnect

Careers Network is here to support every UoB student to enhance their employability skills and access the support they need to make career choices and transitions that are right for them.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Our International Careers Consultant and their team of International Student Ambassadors provide a wide range of services to international students, helping to build their employability skills while in Birmingham. FINDING JOBS IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY Careers Network can help you search for a job in your home country after your studies and offers labour market information, international employer events on campus and access to international websites. We host events specifically for Chinese students who plan to return to China after their studies, including skills sessions on the Chinese job market and careers fairs.

MEETING EMPLOYER EXPECTATIONS We offer a series of International Careers Management Skills workshops covering topics such as international networking, UK business etiquette, developing cultural competences and finding work experience during and after studies. GLOBAL CAREERS Register for our Global Careers tool for support with your global career exploration, worldwide job searches and internship planning. This tool provides extensive resources, guidance, strategies and tools for over 80 countries to help you make your international career move. www.intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/ careers/globalcareertool

Our dedicated support includes: personal advice on career options, job seeking, global labour market information and applications advice and interview preparation.

FIND OUT MORE www.intranet.birmingham. ac.uk/careers/international /groups/4515645 @globalUoB

We aim to do this by: Reducing barriers to accessing our services particularly for students with a disability, from disadvantaged backgrounds, and those who are underrepresented Facilitating higher levels of student engagement in employability activity that promotes widening access to opportunities, social mobility, inclusivity and diversity Seeking student feedback in order to better understand the needs of our diverse student population, and changing practices where possible Advocating for inclusivity, equality and diversity on behalf of our students and graduates with our employer and alumni partners, and other agencies we work with We work in partnership with the Guild of Students to: Ensure students have access to opportunities to gain skills outside of their degree through part-time work, work experience, and volunteering Collaborate on events that promote opportunities for under-represented groups of students

FIND OUT MORE

PATHWAYS TO CAREERS (P2C)

www.intranet. birmingham.ac.uk/ careers/p2c

The P2C Scheme complements wider Careers Network activities, providing exclusive guidance and opportunities designed to support students from less advantaged backgrounds. It will provide you with the opportunity to: Receive support in applying to the Gateway Bursary, which provides financial support for internships and work experience, and the PSA, which gives you recognition for your extra-curricular activity Solve real-life problems via the Impact Challenge and the Birmingham Project

Attend inspirational talks from successful graduates from diverse backgrounds and develop your skills and confidence through a range of professional development workshops Get support in your final year with individual career coaching and tailored support for when you start making applications

OU R CO MM IT ME NT The University holds a Bronze Athe na SWAN Charter award and is actively seeking to improve the number of women in STEM subjects and at senior levels throu ghout our institution. We are proud to be members of Stonewall’s Work place Equality Index and Global Champions. The University of Birmingham is signed up to the Advance HE's Race Equality Cha rter (REC) which aims to improve the representation, progression and success of minority ethnic staff and students within higher educa tion.

Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom

www.birmingham.ac.uk

Designed and printed by

21108 ÂŠ University of Birmingham 2020. Printed on FSC-Certified paper.

www.birmingham.ac.uk/careers

applications interviews work experience mentoring events and employers skills development postgraduate international enterprise further study advice and information