Careers Centre

Gill Barber, Sue Hawksworth (Careers Centre)

Angela Carpenter, Colin Pitts (School of Earth & Environment)

How can career development modules improve employability and inspire students to achieve their full potential?

Careers Centre

Destinations of Leavers in Higher Education

Snapshot 6 months from graduation Reliable when established in 1950’s No longer provide reliable information due to: Modularisation demands concentration on ALL

assessed work and applications for graduate jobs very time consuming

Student debt persuades some graduates to go home and back to “Mac” jobs whilst deciding what to do

Careers Centre

Longitudinal Study required 2009 application made to U of L Teaching Enhancement

Student Success (TESS) Fund, underwritten by HEFCE Bid to identify and evaluate which of the key themes of the

modules of most importance to past module participants in employment and

Identify how benefits might change over different timescales since graduating and

Use information to raise awareness amongst current students of career benefits gained from a career development module.

Careers Centre

The Research Carried out in summer 2010 Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences subject-

specific modules Banner and Alumni office used to obtain current e-mail

addresses of past module participants, and graduates of 2010 asked to provide personal e-mail addresses

On-line questionnaire devised to obtain opinion of perceived benefits (or not) of the modules

Substantial cash prize offered as an incentive to respond produced reasonably high return

Careers Centre

Four sub-sets of participant graduates identified across varying time spans. Further back in time required wider tranche of participants as e-mail contacts harder to establish.

July 2010 graduates July 2008 & 2009 graduates July 2005 – 2007 graduates July 2000 -2004 graduates

Careers Centre

Methodology

On line survey tool asked: How much they could remember of the module

content Agreed or disagreed that components of the module

had been useful to them in developing their career How/if they had made any use of the skills taught on

their subject specific module in obtaining employment

Careers Centre

Questionnaire sub-set variations EARS, ENVI and GEOG asked questions specific to their

modules 2008, 2009 and 2010 grads were asked specific questions

about module content, plus open question on whether the module had benefitted them since graduation

2008 and 2009 grads were asked how they had used any skills developed

2010 graduates were asked how they would be making use of skills developed in the future

Careers Centre

Further variants

Graduates prior to 2008 asked: Where they were based – UK or overseas? Sector: Private (Corporate 250+ employees) Private (SME 250- employees) Public Self employed/Other

Careers Centre

Additional questions

Identification of role and responsibilities Had the module helped them secure their

post? What they felt should be included in the

Module Would they recommend the Module to

students in each degree-specific area?

Careers Centre

Table 1: Breakdown of surveys by subject, year of graduation and proportion of respondents

Subject Student Cohort % Response rate

Earth Sciences

2010 27.0

2008/09 19.4

2006/07 20.0

Environment

2010 40.9

2008/09 37.2

2006/07 16.7

2003-05 17.0

Geography

2010 33.0

2008/09 13.7

2006/07 53.5

Careers Centre

Careers for Geographers started in 2002Objectives By the end of this course you will have: Increased your awareness of your skills, interests and personal

characteristics in relation to career choice. Considered how your Geography degree programme and life at University

helps in the development of key skills. Demonstrated awareness of graduate employment opportunities, both

generally and specifically for Geographers and an understanding of how to access them.

Experienced working in a team setting to develop your group work skills and give an insight into your personal team working style.

An increased understanding of the range of ways in which the Careers Centre can help you in your career planning and development at all stages in your degree programme.

 

Careers Centre

Assessment Criteria 10 credits

CV and covering letter 20 % Employment sector report 40% Group Skills Challenge Competition 20% Sponsored by Deloitte – cash prizes for first

and second teams.

Careers Centre

Careers Centre

What they found useful

Careers Centre

Questionnaire responses Geography Personally, how do you intend to use the aspects that you have learned from

this module over the next few months? I have found myself using these skills a lot – they helped me gain the job I have,

starting in September – my CV, covering letter, and the interview process. Personally, has this module benefitted you already in any way, shape or form? When applying for graduate, I feel this module has greatly benefited me. For

example, the organisation my group and I chose to work on was Shell, working in detail on what this organisation required greatly helped with completing applications.

(Graduated 2008)

 

Careers Centre

Geography destinations 2005/2006/2007 Web Designer Transport planner x 2 GIS data updates for 3 different digital atlases Town Planning Consultant Assistant Ecologist. Catastrophe Risk Analyst. Supply Chain & Logistics Analyst Head of Geography in a secondary school Site Research Analyst for Tesco Auditor at a Big Four firm Medical Sales. Field Sales Representative

Careers Centre

10 credit Environment Module started in 1996 Response to sharp downturn in UK economy: Colin Pitts original

module reliant on external speakers Careers Centre input 1997 proved popular with students 1999 introduced the Skills Challenge element 2000 “Romco” a fictional petrochemicals giant introduced to

allow students to practice application and interview skills. On-line became J2co accessed by the URL

http://careerweb.leeds.ac.uk/J2co

Careers Centre

Objectives

Clearly define and describe the attributes ( interests and values) with which a degree in Environmental Science equips a graduate

Offer evidence in support of this, based on a range of learning experiences drawn from the curriculum with illustrative examples

Focus on the requirements/expectations/needs of one particular company or organisation.

Extend team working skills and creativity

Careers Centre

Assessment Criteria

Submit J2Co Application and interview performance 10%

(peer assessed) Skills Challenge Team Assessment 20% Production of career development plan including a

reflective critique of the learning development and CV. 70%

(1200 words)

Careers Centre

What they found useful

Careers Centre

Careers Centre

Responses from Environmentalists Since leaving University, is there anything that you think it is vital to

include in the career development module that was not already included?

“I think it is important to develop and gain the confidence during an interview. I would suggest that more interviewing sessions should be carried out as they really help a student. Since leaving University, I now volunteer once a term at a high school to go through practice mock interviews with yr 10 and 11 pupils and I think this is very beneficial for them to have a 'real life' scenario’.”

 Transport Consultant in Greater Manchester area, Graduated 2005

Careers Centre

Responses…..

Have you used any aspects of the module whilst you have been employed?

“I have had two good jobs since leaving Uni and going back, and looking at applications and general careers advice helped me gain both positions”

  Studying for PhD at Leeds. Graduated 2005

Careers Centre

Environmental Destinations 2005/2006/2007 Environmental Officer an Eng D -Cranfield University and Anglian Water. PhD Department of Chemistry, Environmental Management Consultant Environmental Consultant Graduate Consultant in Intelligent Transport Systems. Business Unit Environmental and Facilities Manager. Transport Planner Assistant Wines and Spirits Buyer, Selfridges

Careers Centre

Earth Sciences Skills 2 module Research & Career Skills Introduction to CV and letter writing Geoscience research skills by computer Preparing for employment – application, interviews CV peer assessment and job interviews ArcGIS for top copy maps What role do you take in a team? Writing about popular science Structured abstracts On the spot – presentation skills

Careers Centre

Assessment

SOEE2095

CV and covering letter 20%

Popular science article 20%

ArcGIS Map 20%

Sem1 academic tutorials 20%

Sem 2 academic tutorials 20%

SOEE2094

CV and covering letter 15%

Popular science article 15%

ArcGIS Map 10%

Semester1 academic tutorials10%

Mapping practicals: 20%

Mapping exam: 30%

Careers Centre

2010 graduates how useful did you find…

Careers Centre

Quotes from 2010 completers

9. Personally, has this module benefitted you already in any way, shape or form?

“Having your CV marked gives an academic insight and further points for improvement that has benefitted me when having to pass over my CV in job applications. Also doing the peer interviews was although a more relaxed atmosphere than that of a more formal job interview it still gave some experience which can only help when job hunting.”

Careers Centre

2008/09 how useful did you find…

Careers Centre

“I have used an updated version of the CV I produced at University. The interview techniques I gained not only helped me get a job but also helped in promotion exercises.”

 

Graduated 2008

Careers Centre

2007graduates, Personally, has this module benefitted you already in any way, shape or form?

“Creating a good CV was really helpful and really noticeable to employers. It is unbelievable the amount of terribly put-together CV's there are out there from other graduates!”

 

Project Geologist, Mount Isa Region, Queensland, Australia. Graduated 2007

Careers Centre

2006 graduates, Would you recommend a career development module, such as the one you did, to current and future students?

“Yes, overall I think the module really helps vocationalise an earth sciences degree. It shows that the school was very focussed towards industry. I was happy with the teaching of the module. Concise and worked well”

 

Project Leader, Geophysical Depth Imaging etc with multinational service provider to oil industry. Graduated 2006

Careers Centre

7. Since leaving University, is there anything that you think it is vital to include in the career development module that was not already included?

“Interview techniques. More information on preparing for technical interviews. Overview of the types of jobs available for geologist and geophysicist. I don't remember there being many notes or handouts, it would be nice to have some formal documentation to hold onto for future reference.”

 

Seismic Interpreter/ Exploration Geologist at Shell, Malaysia. Graduated 2007

Careers Centre

Destinations 2006 2007 Hydrogeology, Geotechnics and Land Quality postgraduate research student Geotechnical Engineer Project Geologist Environmental Consultant for ARCADIS Petroleum Geologist Seismic Interpreter/Exploration Geologist at Shell Project Leader - Geophysical Depth Imaging, HM Inspector investigating fatalities on construction sites MSc student

Careers Centre

Conclusion

Career development modules clearly improve employability and inspire students to achieve their full potential when longitudinal destinations are taken into account, and these graduates recognise this offers them a key advantage.