Career Choices for Economics Students Jenny Keaveney Careers Advisory Service February 2009.
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Transcript of Career Choices for Economics Students Jenny Keaveney Careers Advisory Service February 2009.
Career Choices for Economics Students
Jenny Keaveney
Careers Advisory Service
February 2009
What this session will cover: Where to start What are your career options? What do you want from your career? Using your degree? Relating your skills, interests and values
to careers and jobs How can the Careers Service help?
Where do I start?
You could: start from yourself and work out start from your opportunities
– for Economics graduates specifically or– for graduates in general
and work back
Or, combine the two!
Starting with yourself ….
Your interests Your skills Your values Your personal circumstances Any other factors
Starting with your degree What do Economics graduates do? What careers will use your subject knowledge?
BUT ….
There is more to you than your degree!
Starting with your opportunities ..
One-third of advertised graduate jobs open to graduates in any subject
For example: advertising, accountancy, banking, marketing, personnel, public sector management,
Plus all the unadvertised graduate jobs! Even more opportunities after
experience and training
STARTING
WITH
YOURSELF
Your interests
“I want something interesting” What sort of things interest you?
– your degree subject?– your leisure interests?– working in a particular way?
How important are these interests when other factors are taken into account?
Your skills
Motivation & enthusiasm Team working Communication skills Flexibility & adaptability Initiative & self-reliance
Some of the skills which employers look for in graduates
Your values
“Values are what gives purpose to a job in the eyes of the person who does it”
“I want to do something worthwhile .. “ “I want to earn a good salary” “I want to be my own boss eventually”
What motivates you?
STARTING
WITH
YOUR
DEGREE
What do Economics graduates do? (National statistics for 2007 graduates) Employed 55% Further study 13% Working and studying 15% Not available 6% Seeking employment 6%
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/WDGD
What do Economics graduates work as?
Business & Financial 47%– Accountants; financial and business analysts;
brokers; economists; finance and investment advisers
Commercial, industrial and public sector managers 14%
Marketing, sales and advertising 5% Others 34%
– inc. teaching; surveying; police; marketing; IT; sports
National statistics for 2007 graduates: www.prospects.ac.uk/links/WDGD
Some of the jobs obtained by 2007 Economics graduates from Kent University
Stock Market Trader Associate – Merrill Lynch Auditor – Audit Commission Trainee CFA/Investment Coordinator –
National Bank of Dubai Trainee Chartered Accountant Client Adviser – UBS Charity Fundraiser Cost Management Administrator – supply
chain co. Assistant Economist – HM Treasury
Opportunities to work as an economist
Government Economic Service Bank of England Other public sector bodies Consultancies Banks NGOs
NB - all but the first two will usually require or prefer a Masters degree
Postgraduate study in Economics
Important if you hope to work as an economist, especially in consultancy or research
Offers advanced training in core theory, quantitative/econometric methods and research methods, plus opportunities to specialise
Available through taught courses or research
Postgraduate study in other areas
A wide range of courses available in related areas, e.g. finance
Study for professional qualifications – often while working. Available in many career areas
Study a new subject – e.g. social work, IT, property, politics, law
See www.kent.ac.uk/careers/postgradmenu.htm or come to the talk on 18th February
There is more to you than your degree!
Many employers will recruit graduates from any degree background
Even where they do specify a particular degree subject or class, this is just the start!
It is the skills you can offer that will be the deciding factor for employers
and your own values and interests that will affect your decision
STARTING
WITH
YOUR
OPPORTUNITIES
Some of the options availableAdvertisingArmed ForcesArts adminBroadcastingCentral & Local Gov’tComputing/ITFinanceGuidance/CounsellingJournalismLawLibrary/Information workMarket researchMarketing/Sales
Management ConsultancyNHS ManagementPersonnelPolicePublic RelationsPublishingPurchasingRetailSelf-employmentSocial WorkTEFLTeachingTourismTransport
Who do graduates want to work for?
Which of the following came top in the Times Top 100 survey last year?
Accenture? (management consultants)PWC? (chartered accountants)The BBC?Goldman Sachs? (investment bank)The NHS?The Civil Service?Aldi (retail)?
4 1 7 10 5 6 8
www.top100graduateemployers.com/top100.html
Who DO graduates work for?
Roughly what percentage of graduate jobs are formal “graduate training programmes” with big recruiters?
20%?
40%?
30%?
50%?
20%
Most graduates go into: Jobs where they will be filling a specific
vacancy Jobs with small/medium sized
employers Jobs in the public sector Short-term/temporary jobs
Graduate jobs are changing …
“Traditional graduate jobs” include large company training schemes, the professions (law, accountancy, teaching etc)
“Newer graduate jobs” have emerged in the last 20 years. Many are administrative or specialist posts
Moving between employers to develop your career is now the norm
Putting the two together .. Relate your skills, interests and values
to careers and jobs Use computer guidance systems e.g.
Prospects Planner Look at job ads and job descriptions Talk to people about their work and how they
got their jobs Use careers websites and the Careers
Information Room Get first-hand insight into careers of potential
interest to you
Getting an Insight
Summer Internships– IFS (Closing date 13th February)– Accountants – Banks
Other Work Experience Volunteering Networking
Further Information – in print and in person Careers Advisory Service booklet –
“Choosing a Career” AGCAS Booklet “Your Degree… What
Next?” - sections on Choosing your Career and Graduate Careers
CAS Reference Files Careers Advisers – for careers guidance
interviews or “quick queries” Alumni Careers Network and Careers Fair
Further Information – on the web
Careers Advisory Service web pages “What Can I Do With an Economics Degree?” www.kent.ac.uk/careers/economics.htm
Prospects website – Options With Economics
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/economdeg
– “Where Do I Start?” www.prospects.ac.uk/links/wherestart
Some final tips on choosing a career
Take time over your choice Be realistic Do the research Make your own decision Use the Careers Advisory Service Start now!
Choosing a Career
Careers Advisory Service
Opening hours: 9am - 5pmMonday - Friday