Finding out about jobs

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Finding out about jobs careersJanet Willis
The Networking Game..
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DID YOU KNOW?

• Only 9 of people get their jobs through
  responding to adverts

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Who is in the know ? a look at the job market
Adverts
Agencies / Headhunters
Contacts
Internal moves promotions
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Creative Job Research

• What is Networking?
• A way of asking for help
• Information advice
• A key way to find jobs or leads for jobs
• You do it all the time
• Getting a decent plumber / builder
• Getting help with an IT problem

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Reactive Job Search Strategies

• Know where to look
• Newspapers local national
• Specialist scientific journals
• Professional body trade journals directories
• Vacancy bulletins (e.g. from us)
• Internet

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Reactive Job Search Strategies

• Using specialist agencies
• N.B. Many require relevant experience

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Proactive Job Search Strategies

• Speculative approaches
• Use contacts / networks / fairs
• Use industry directories
• Use articles as market intelligence(who might
  be in a position to recruit?)
• Use course projects/placements to make contacts
• WORK EXPERIENCE/SHADOWING while on the course
  it all counts

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Networking

• A way of asking for help
• Information advice
• You do it all the time
• Getting the car fixed
• Getting help with an IT problem
• Its not the old boys network

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Creative Information Hunting

• Networking leads to success....
• Its all about being proactive Contact
  organisations you are interested in and arrange
  to speak to them or meet with employers who visit
  campus and pick their brains
• Try it. It works.
• It takes time to succeed.....but once set up this
  skill can be developed and serve you well for
  years

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Networking Good things to ask

• How did you get into this occupation?
• What attracted you to this occupation?
• What is the progression of jobs from entry level
  to more senior positions?
• What is a typical day like for you?
• What skills, abilities and attitude do you need
  to be successful in this occupation?
• What changes do you see in this field in the next
  few years?
• How does your organisation tend to recruit?
• Do they ever take people for voluntary projects?

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Everyone has Contacts
But I dont know anyone ...

• Friends / relatives / neighbours
• Other students
• Tutors
• Work colleagues
• Employers - recruitment events, presentations,
  insight courses, mentoring programmes, careers
  consultants!

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Bear in mind

• Most people want to help
• Most people like to be asked for their advice
• One good turn deserves another...you may be in a
  position to help them one day!
• Everyone has contacts

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Barriers to Networking

• I have no contacts
• I know they would say no
• I want to get a job on my own merits
• Employers hate being approached
• Im too shy

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STEP 1 Identifying contacts

• Friends/relatives
• Other students
• Tutors
• Work Colleagues
• Target those in the area you want to get into
  find someone senior, not always personnel dept

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STEP 2 Getting in touch

• Do your research first
• Phone, e-mail or post?
• Mention the name of your referral
• Spell out what you want clearly and concisely
• Acknowledge their experience/expertise but dont
  be sycophantic
• Stress that you want to arrange a meeting and not
  an interview
• Include a CV

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STEP 2 (cont)

• What to say
• Im thinking of a career in
• Id really appreciate your advice
• No, Im not expecting you to find me a job, I
  just want to pick your brains!
• I just want 20 minutes of your time
• Youre busy? Well how about early/late/Friday...

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STEP 3 The meeting

• Why meet?
• To Get Information
• The career
• Job market
• Sources of vacancies
• To Get Advice
• Your chances
• Your CV
• To Get Contacts

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STEP 4 After the meeting

• Always write a short thank you note
• Always follow up any leads they give you
• Stay in touch you never know when you might need
  their help again - or when they might need yours!

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Networking at employer events

• Research the employers that interest you IN
  ADVANCE
• Think of how you will approach them what will
  you say?
• Work on your 2 minute CV

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Career Fairs

• Science, Engineering Technology 22nd October
  2008
• Finance, Business Management 23rd October
  2008
• Postgraduate Study Fair 19th November 2008
• Law Fair 20th November 2008
• Media Careers Spring Semester 2009
• Kaleidoscope Spring Semester 2009
• Graduate Recruitment Fairs June 2009

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Talks, Workshops and Employer Presentations
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Talks, Workshops and Employer Presentations
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Key Points from Todays Session

• Your options are very varied
• Many options require early action - often before
  Christmas (Final Year)
• Use the facilities available via the Careers
  Service
• Only you can decide what is right for you and it
  is up to you to take action!

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Your Timescale for Action

• Sep 08 Self awareness, research options
• Sep/Oct 08/09 Book a careers appointment
• Nov/Dec 09 Start applying for jobs/courses,
  attend Graduate Fairs but Watch out for
  deadlines!!
• Jan/Feb 2010 Completing application forms
• Attending interviews and Assessment
  Centres
• Mar 2010 Other options

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Networking Bingo Game

• Record the name of someone here who knows someone
  who can
• Same person can not be used for more than one
  answer
• When all boxes are complete shout bingo
• If time runs out the winner will be whoever has
  filled in the most boxes

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Find someone in the room who knows someone who
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NETWORKING WORKS!

• ALEX JAMES
• VIKKI DALE