Your Guide to Job Search

University of Glamorgan

Careers Service

YOUR GUIDE TO JOB SEARCH By the end of the session you should be able to: Find information on the job market Know where to look to find advertised vacancies Understand creative job search, the benefits and

how to do it Recognise potential barriers to employment and

how to overcome them Know about Careers Service support and

resources

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?(task1)

1. What % of graduate jobs are open to all degree subjects?

a. 20% b. 40% c. 60% Answer c. Some graduate jobs require a specific degree background

(especially within science, technology and engineering roles) However, 60% of graduate vacancies advertised will accept

all degree disciplines

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?(task1)

2. ‘The majority of graduates tend to work for large employers’.

True or False False – Between 15-20% of graduates progress onto

graduate programmes with national or multinational organisations directly after their degree. Increasingly, graduates work for small or medium sized organisations (250 employees or less). Two million new jobs are predicted in the small business sector in the next 10 years. (source ‘What do graduates do?’ 2002)

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?(task1)

3. What percentage of employees work in the public sector?

a. 20% b. 33% c. 66% Answer c. Two thirds of employers work in the public sector 1 in 4 graduates aged 21-25 are employed in this sector. The public sector is the largest employer in Wales. Key public sector websites include: www.getalife.org (public sector jobs

throughout the UK) www.lgjobs.com (local government) www.civil-service.gov.uk/jobs www.careers.civil-service.gov.uk www.faststream.gov.uk and www.ukonline.gov.uk (civil service links)

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?(task1)

4. ‘Large employers tend to use different recruitment methods from small, medium sized organisations’

True or False True

Many of the larger employers who offer graduate programmes recruit every year and start their recruitment process as early as Autumn. Check closing dates as these will vary. Other graduate recruiters will recruit throughout the year. Large companies are increasingly using on-line applications.

SMEs tend to recruit as and when they need staff and may be more

receptive to speculative applications.

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?(task1)

5.What % of companies fall within the small medium employer category? (i.e. 250 or less employees)

a. 33% b. 66% c. 99% Answer c.

Over 99% of companies fall within the SME sector (3.75 million businesses) and accounts for 55% of all UK employment.

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW?(task1)

6.An effective job search approach is to send out as many CVs as possible to employers

True or False

False Whilst it is a good idea to send speculative CVs to

employers a blanket approach is counterproductive.

Effective job search needs to be focussed and targeted.

This will enable you to customise your CV and promote

relevant skills, experience and qualifications.

Why is LMI important?

Gives an insight into the progression routes of past graduates.

Raises awareness of current or future growth areas and employment trends.

Provides an insight into where opportunities exist – in specific job sectors or regionally.

Raises awareness of recruitment trends and the skills, qualities and selection criteria graduate recruiters look for.

Where to find LMI?National LMI www.prospects.ac.uk/links/WDGD - ‘What do graduates do?’ – national survey of graduates and graduate job market.

Regional LMI (Wales)Go Wales www.gowales.co.uk/e/lmi/index.phpFuture skills survey www.futureskillswales.com/Top 300 Companies in Wales www.icwales.co.uk/0300business/top300

Occupationally specific LMI Prospects www.prospects.ac.uk – Jobs and Work sectionSector Skills Development Agency www.ssda.org.uk

Where would you look to find out about jobs?(task2)

Think of the different sources of information you could use to help you find out about job vacancies.

List them.

Feedback in 5 minutes

Sources of advertised jobs Career/graduate related websites – www.prospects.ac.uk

www.get.hobsons.co.uk www.doctorjob.com

University of Glamorgan Careers Service website www.glam.ac.uk/careers Includes ‘Openings’ vacancy database and job search websites.

Other university careers service websites – www.prospects.ac.uk/links/careersservices

Job hunting websites (general and career specific) use search engines to find general job websites use www.prospects.ac.uk/links/occupations - job specific websites

Company/organisational websites Graduate recruiters access www.prospects.ac.uk/links/coprofiles & www.get.hobsons.co.uk

Also use search engines to help you find organisational websites and online business directories

Sources of advertised jobs

National and regional newspapers – http://www.wrx.zen.co.uk/britnews/htm

Professional publications – eg Marketing Weekly

www.prospects.ac.uk/links/occupations search A-Z of career profiles - ‘typical employers and vacancy sources’

Recruitment agencies – www.jobseekers-uk.com and www.yell.com

Recruitment fairs – www.prospects.ac.uk/links/careerfairs

JobCentre Plus – www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

Creative job search

Not all jobs are advertised (estimated that 70% of jobs are not advertised in the open job market).

Creative job search involves targeting

employers directly to find out about jobs and work experience opportunities

What are the benefits of this approach?

enables you to find out about jobs which may not be advertised

gives you access to information about how the organisation recruits

gives you a more focussed & proactive approach to your job search in competitive career sectors this approach is normal practice eg

media related jobs

this approach is essential if you are restricted to looking for jobs in the local area or you are interested in a specific career or job sector

How to do it?

1. Know what type of career/job you want

2. Find out as much as you can about the job/career sector or organisation.

3. Make a list of key employers/organisations to target – look on their website as many will include a vacancy or recruitment section.

Be Prepared Build up a network of useful contacts - be prepared to

talk to them about your goals Get relevant work experience – strengthens speculative

applications and gives you the chance to develop contacts

Have a CV that is tailored to the job and reflects the personal attributes the organisation is looking for

Find out who you should direct your enquiries to - make contact with that named person enquiring about job/work experience, asking them for their advice about getting into that career and whether they would consider your CV.

What are the potential barriers to graduate level employment? (task3)

Think of 3 potential barriers that new graduates face in the job market.

Pick one and consider how you would resolve that potential barrier.

Feedback in 10 minutes.

Potential barriers & solutions Lack of work experience GO Wales work placement/taster or voluntary experience

Lack of a key skill eg IT skills Contact your university careers service for information on relevant courses and training

available. Also access www.learndirect.co.uk

Family commitments/restricted to local areaResearch regional job market - find out about vacancy sources and employers located in your area. Use your university careers service

Degree Subject or ClassificationConsider post graduate study to boost your academic qualifications or consider work related/conversion courses. Access www.prospects.ac.uk – Postgrad study

DiscriminationLearn how to promote yourself positively in the job market and handle discriminatory practices www.prospects.ac.uk/links/discrimination

Competitive job sectors

Be proactive, flexible and committed. Research the job sector inside out, get work experience and go where opportunities exist.

Careers Service - support and resources

Practical support with all aspects of job search

‘Openings’ – online vacancy and employer database

Vacancy information and job search resources

Information on employers and the job market

Access to work experience initiatives eg GO Wales

University of Glamorgan Careers Service www.glam.ac.uk/careers