Wednesday 5th June
Thursday 6th June
Friday 7th June

The Careers and Employability Service will be offering workshops as follows:

On Commercial Awareness / Clueless! / Managing your e-Presence / CV Workshops / Job Applications & Interviews / How to Stand Out from the Crowd:  An Employer’s Perspective / How to Impress an Employer / Personal Branding / Understanding Commercial Awareness.

Further information coming very soon.

Target Audience:  Final Year Students, but also open to all who are interested.

Penna, a global Human Resources services group, carried out a survey of 96 employers between July and October 2012 which you can download here.  It focuses on how recruiters use Social Media both personally and professionally, looking to gauge their success with regard to monitoring and managing their reputation, as well as covering more controversial issues such as using Social Media for recruitment and selection.  It also addresses the question of how applicants’ online presence may affect their employment prospects.

“The majority of companies have no policy in place for how Social Media should be used as part of the recruitment process; all the same, social content is still widely used to evaluate candidates. The message here is probably primarily for candidates – manage your accounts carefully and be clear in the segregation of your profiles between personal and professional. For recruiters there is clearly a need to think carefully about whether social information can be used to inform recruitment – as people share more, Social Media could well provide valuable insights as long as the information gained can be used objectively.”

As recently as 2010, Human Resources management generally felt uncomfortable about using Social Media for recruitment, but two years on the majority of graduate recruiters actively use it and support its use.  They recognise the importance of monitoring their own online presence across blogs, chatrooms, online news stories, Twitter, Facebook etc, and managing their branding in order to be the employer of choice and attract the best applicants.

The Writer are a UK business language consultancy who have worked with careers advisers in UK Universities over the past two years to offer undergraduates (2nd years) the chance to take part in their two day word experience.  It’s like work experience, but wordy.  A group of 20 students came and spent time with The Writer in a work-shop-type way where they covered practical things like how to improve their CV and cover letter writing.  But the bigger point of the two days though was to get the English Literature students thinking in a wider way about the possibilities of a career in writing.  There isn’t only the option of being a novelist or a journalist – there is so much more.

Applications are now open for the 2013 Word Experience…experience which is taking place on the 11th and 12th of April.

Click here for information on The Writer’s website.

The Blind in Business charitable trust helps blind and partially sighted people into work.  This open day will take place between 11.00 and 14.00 on 30th January at:

Blind in Business Office
1 London Wall Buildings
London Wall
London
EC2M 5PG

Refreshments will be provided.

This event will provide:

• Opportunities  for consultations with staff
• CV workshops
• A great opportunity to network
• Career guidance

For more information call 0207 588 1885

OR email:  media@blindinbusiness.org.uk

Monday, 18 February 2013 from 10:00 to 19:00 (GMT)

This event is for undergraduates and recent graduates interested in ecological careers.  Visit http://youngecobes.eventbrite.co.uk/ for more information.  Tickets cost £10 and can be bought online.

There will be a series of inspiring talks on a wide range of ecological career paths, followed by useful career management workshops discussing your CV and online presence.

Discover your next steps during the Q&A session, before networking with the experts who can make it happen!

Just a quick reminder about our Careers Fair on Thursday:-

Time:  10.00 am – 3.00 pm, 4th October 2012
Venue:  Marquee in front of Fulton House

• This is your chance to meet recruiters from a wide range of employment sectors.
• Our Careers Advisers will also be running a CV clinic if you would like some advice on this.
• If you complete one of our student surveys at the Fair, you will have the option to be entered in a prize draw to win a Uni bus term ticket worth £156.  This has been kindly donated by First Cymru Buses Ltd.

Click here for more information.

This autumn & winter, the IOP has an excellent line up of companies wanting to invite you to their careers evenings, including:  Seagate Technology, IBM, Atkins, Bank of England, TTP, Lockheed Martin and Corporate Risk Associates.  The host companies are interested in recruiting physics graduates on completion of their studies.  Attending these events is an excellent way of finding out what graduate careers are available in these organisations, and how you could boost your chances of securing an interview.

Dates:

• Seagate Technology, 26 September, 2pm – 4pm, Belfast
• IBM, 17 October, 6.30pm – 8.30pm, London
• Atkins, 24 October, 6.30pm – 8.30pm , London
• Bank of England, 7 November, 6.30pm – 8.30pm, London
• TTP, 14 November, 6.30pm – 8.30pm, London
• Lockheed Martin, 5 December 6.30pm – 8.30pm, London
• Corporate Risk Associates, 23 January 2013, 6.30pm – 8.30pm, London

All events will be held on a Wednesday afternoon or evening.

If you wish to attend these events, please click here to book:  http://www.iop.org/events/careers/index.html

If you have any questions, please contact:

Vishanti Fox
Careers Manager
The Institute of Physics
76 Portland Place
London W1B 1NT
E-mail: vishanti.fox@iop.org
Direct Tel: +44 (0)20 7470 4906
Fax: +44 (0)20 7470 4900

Time:  10.00 am – 3.00 pm, 4th October 2012
Venue:  Marquee in front of Fulton House

• This is your chance to meet recruiters from a wide range of employment sectors.
• Our Careers Advisers will also be running a CV clinic if you would like some advice on this.
• If you complete one of our student surveys at the Fair, you will have the option to be entered in a prize draw to win a Uni bus term ticket worth £156.  This has been kindly donated by First Cymru Buses Ltd.

Click here for more information on our website.

Final year students – get ready for work!

Tuesday 12th – Friday 15th June 2012

Swansea Employability Academy and the Careers & Employability Service are hosting a series of workshops for final year students. These workshops are designed to improve your knowledge and skills in the job application and interview process and to help to prepare yourself ready for the employment sector.

Click here to view the full programme.

Two of our students reached the final of the recent national TARGETjobs Undergraduate of the Year Awards.

Ollie Brooks, a second year Civil Engineering student, won the Construction Engineering and Design of the Year Award, and Alexei Nicholas, a second year Mechanical Engineering student, was shortlisted for the Engineering Undergraduate of the Year Award.

Read the full story here.

The Society of Biology and several of their Member Organisations have recently produced a careers resource for undergraduate bioscience students:- ‘Next Steps:  Options after a Bioscience Degree‘.

The guide includes information about:

• Postgraduate study and funding
• Job hunting
• Advice on applications and interviews.

The EU Civil Service needs intelligent, bright, motivated British graduates to apply for a truly international career.

Careers in the EU are packed from the outset with interesting, challenging and responsible work that really makes a difference. You will have the opportunity to work and travel all over Europe and the world – shaping policies and creating legislation that impacts the lives of over 500 million people in 27 different countries.

The Foreign Office is leading a campaign to raise awareness of careers in the EU by launching ‘EU Careers Month’ on 1^st March. You can visit the ‘EU Careers’ website at http://careers.guardian.co.uk/eucareers which contains all the information you will need to discover what the EU has to offer, alongside: videos, case studies, presentations and helpful advice.

• Take part in a live online Q+A on Wednesday 21^st March where a panel of EU career experts will answer any questions you have.
• Watch this video to hear what Julien – European Parliament, has to say about the application process, moving to Brussels and his job so far.
  

Visit http://www.fco.gov.uk for British foreign policy news and travel advice and http://blogs.fco.gov.uk to read Foreign and Commonwealth Office blogs.

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU WILL NEED TO BOOK YOUR PLACE TO ATTEND ANY OF THE TALKS BELOW.
please go to the Careers Helpdesk or go to
http://www.swan.ac.uk/careers/careerstalksevents/
Register here to view details and book online to attend talks and presentations.
Once you have registered and logged in, click on:

• What’s On
• View Careers Calendar

Monday 27^th February
12:30 – 13:30
CV Workshop  GOWALES
“Linking on a daily basis with students and graduates undertaking work placements, the GO Wales PDA team are able to offer practical advice on how to enhance your current CV to meet the needs of potential employers and Industry Sectors.

Tuesday 28^th February
12:30 – 13:30
CV Workshop GOWALES
“Linking on a daily basis with students and graduates undertaking work placements, the GO Wales PDA team are able to offer practical advice on how to enhance your current CV to meet the needs of potential employers and Industry Sectors.

Tuesday 28^th February (Rescheduled Talk)
17:00 – 18:00
AWF
The talk will go over a number of marine based projects offering low cost research and conservation opportunities with cetaceans, shark, turtles, coral reef etc in the Canaries, Caribbean, Sri Lanka and West Africa.  see www.awf-volunteeringabroad.org for blogs and details

Thursday 8^th March
16:30 – 18:00
Enterprise Rent a Car

What Graduate Recruiters look For & Surviving Assessment Centres:  The session will be an interactive workshop where I will take students through the job application process, interviews and to Assessment centers. Students will find out how to best succeed in these using their skills and experience and I will talk about what graduate recruiters are looking for in today’s competitive market. They will also have a chance to think about behavioral interviewing and take part in some real assessment center activities.

Tuesday 13^th March
12:30 – 13:30
CV Workshop GOWALES
“Linking on a daily basis with students and graduates undertaking work placements, the GO Wales PDA team are able to offer practical advice on how to enhance your current CV to meet the needs of potential employers and Industry Sectors.

Tuesday 20^th March
17:00 – 18:00
US-UK Fulbright Commission
Interested in studying in the US?  The US-UK Fulbright Commission offers prestigious scholarship awards (in any field at any US university) for postgraduate study and research in the US, as well as a free advisory service for interested students. Join Fulbright advisors for a session on ‘Postgraduate Study in the US’ aimed at students applying for entry in 2013-14 and beyond. This session will give an overview of the US application process, including information on how to choose a degree programme, complete your applications and funding options including the Fulbright awards.

Thursday 22^nd March
17:00 – 18:00
HSBC
Further information to follow.

We are also awaiting confirmation about talks by Leadbitter and Logica.

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PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU WILL NEED TO BOOK YOUR PLACE TO ATTEND ANY OF THE ABOVE TALKS
please go to the Careers Helpdesk or go to
http://www.swan.ac.uk/careers/careerstalksevents/
Register here to view details and book online to attend talks and presentations.
Once you have registered and logged in, click on:

• What’s On
• View Careers calendar

RNIB Cymru is inviting blind and visually impaired students to a FREE five day residential course in Cardiff in July 2012.

The programme will guide you through the process of looking for employment, from job searching to interview techniques including:

• CV Workshops
• Filling in applications
• Applying for funding through Access to Work
• How to prepare for an interview, including advice from an image consultant
• Disclosure of visual impairment to a potential employer
• Mock interviews by HR departments from leading companies
• Empowerment and motivational exercises delivered by the Kaisen Partnership

This course is open to all blind and visually impaired students and ex-students who wish to gain employment.  The course is limited to 16 students so book early!

Last year’s course participants said:

“I strongly believe that his course should be run as much as possible as the confidence, emotional security and practical skills it has given participants can not be underestimated.”

Who Can Apply
The course has been designed for blind and partially sighted students, or those who have recently left education, who either studied in or are resident in Wales and are interested in developing their employability skills and in looking for work.

When and where
16th to 20th July at the Holiday Inn Hotel in the centre of Cardiff.

Staffing
All the support staff and volunteers have undergone visual awareness training by RNIB Cymru. There will be staff resident for the whole week.

Cost: Free of charge
This includes:

• Accommodation in a single occupancy room and all meals
• Trained support staff
• Travel costs from the centre of Cardiff (if your travel costs to Cardiff are prohibitive please contact us).

Book your place today!
The deadline for the return of completed application forms is Friday 1st June 2012 (late applications will only be considered if places are still available)
When allocating places we depend on the information given on the application form to ensure that we have good staffing levels and safety arrangements in place therefore please give us as much information as possible.

For an application form or to discuss the course further please contact:

Doug Churchley Employment Advisor
Telephone: 07918072346
Email:  doug.churchley@rnib.org.uk
Or
Helen Gummett-Preece, Employment Advisor
Telephone: 07833441305
Email:  Helen.gummett-preece@rnib.org.uk

Here is some food for thought from Ron McGowan, author of  “How to Find WORK in the 21st Century”:

“Clean up your online presence.
The first thing employers will do is to see what they can find out about you on the Internet. Are you ready for that? They may look at your Facebook page during the interview. Are you ready for that?

“Look for WORK, not a JOB.
Don’t scare off employers by communicating that you’re looking for a job and all the traditional benefits that go with it. Make it easy for them to hire you by making it clear that you are happy to accept part-time, temporary, or contract work. If you are equipped to work from home, tell them that too. It may appeal to them.

“Ditch the resume.
EVERYBODY is using a resume. In your initial contact with employers, make yourself stand out in a positive way with more creative tools that are marketing oriented and focused on the employer’s needs. It’s OK to have a resume to take to the interview. But first you have to get there.

“Think.
Put yourself in the shoes of any employer you plan to contact. Why would they be interested in you? What exactly do you have to offer them? Show them in your first contact with them that you know about them, the type of work they do and the industry they’re in. NEVER send out lots of resumes in a shotgun fashion.

“Why should we hire you?
Assume you’ll be asked this question during the interview and be ready to answer it. Focus on the key points you made in the material you sent to them. Those are what got you the interview.

“Bite your tongue.
Talking too much in the interview is among the biggest mistakes graduates make according to employers and recruiters. The more prepared you are for the interview, the less inclined you’ll be to ramble on.

“Do your homework.
There’s a wealth of information available on the employer’s web site. Amazingly, many graduates never take the time to thoroughly analyze this information and be ready to answer questions about it in the interview. It will also help if you can talk about some of the key issues going on in their industry.

“Create your own job.
Instead of waiting for someone to offer you a job, consider what millions of graduates around the world have been doing for years; i.e. operate as a freelancer. The following will give you an overview of the world of freelancing:

• http://www.elance.com
• http://www.odesk.com
• http://www.vworker.com

“Finally, you may get some business ideas at:   www.springwise.com.”

The  next Society of Biology Life Sciences Careers Conference will be held at the University of Westminster on Thursday 1st March 2012.

The Life Sciences Careers Conferences are aimed at undergraduates and recent graduates.  They include presentations on a wide range of science-related careers, a CV workshop with tips on how to secure an interview for your perfect job, a chance to meet employers and find out about their organisations  and the opportunity to mingle with the experts and ask questions over lunch and afternoon refreshments.

For more details about the event, please see the Life Sciences Careers Conference webpages.  Registration for the conference is £10 per person; however members of the Society of Biology will receive a £10 refund for their ticket price at the end of the event.

Your Careers and Employability Service will be holding the following events during Employability Week:

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Event:        Exhibition Stand and Display
Day:        Everyday during Employability Week
Time:        9am – 5pm
Venue:        Library and Information Centre, Central Hall

Visit the exhibition stand where you will find various information and leaflets and find out how the Careers and Go Wales Team can advise you further.

_____________________________________________________

To  book your place on any of the workshops/talks outlined below,  please go to the Events Page of the Careers and Employability Website at:    http://www.swansea.ac.uk/careers/careerstalksevents/.  If you have any difficulties with the online booking system please telephone 01792 513266 or call in at the Careers Helpdesk on Level 3 of the Library.
PLEASE NOTE:  venues will be confirmed when you book.

CV workshops will be held each day from 1.00 – 2.00 pm in the Library and Information Centre.

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CV Workshop 1     Monday 23rd January

Facilitator:      Jean Brokenshire, Careers Advisor
Time:         1pm – 2pm
Venue:         Library and Information Centre

A lunchtime practical workshop covering the key points on how to write your CV.  This workshop is useful if you have not yet written your CV or if you need further help and advice.  Please note we cannot give one to one help at this workshop as time does not allow.  However,  you can bring your own CV with you to the session if you wish.

Target Group – Level 1 students but also open to all levels

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CV Workshop 2     Tuesday  24th January
Facilitator:    Paula Williams, Guidance and Placement Adviser, GO Wales
Time:         1pm – 2pm
Venue:         Library and Information Centre

GO Wales (Graduate Opportunity Wales) is a work experience scheme which offers a range of work experience and training opportunities in Wales, jobs and other resources to help you develop your career.

Work Placements are periods of project-based work experience with a company in Wales. They last from 6 to 12 weeks and are mainly in the field of marketing, IT, engineering, social/welfare, environmental, and business. You are paid at a minimum rate of £250 per week.

Work Tasters are unpaid work experience designed to help you make informed career choices. Tasters last from a three days up to two weeks, are flexible and enable you to gain experience of working in a particular career, industry or business sector such as publishing, journalism, TV, accountancy, environmental, hospitality and translation work.

GO Wales Academies: The Freelancer Academy is for graduates wishing to explore working on a freelance basis and the Graduate Academy is for graduates seeking additional support following graduation in order to maximise their career potential. Both Academies are free of charge.
We also advertise jobs and have a variety of other information on jobs and careers on our website www.gowales.co.uk

Target Group:  Final year home, EU or EEA students and graduates only.

_____________________________________________________

CV Workshop 3      Wednesday 25th January
Facilitator:     Zdravka Kamenova, Placement and Guidance Advisor, GO Wales
Time:         1pm – 2pm
Venue:         Library and Information Centre

A lunchtime practical workshop covering the key points on how to write your CV.  This workshop is useful if you have not yet written your CV or if you need further help and advice.  Please note we cannot give one to one help at this workshop as time does not allow.  However,  you can bring your own CV with you to the session if you wish.

Target Group – Level 1 students but also open to all levels

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CV Workshop 4     Thursday 26th January
Facilitator:      Chris Cardew, Swansea Employability Award
Time:         1pm – 2pm
Venue:         Library and Information Centre
A lunchtime practical workshop covering the key points on how to write your CV.  This workshop is useful if you have not yet written your CV or if you need further help and advice.  Please note we cannot give one to one help at this workshop as time does not allow.  However,  you can bring your own CV with you to the session if you wish.

Target Group – Level 1 students but also open to all levels

_____________________________________________________

Event:  Talk:  NHS Graduate Management Training – Advanced Development Programme 2012
Date:  Thursday 26th January 2012
Time:  1.00 – 2.00 pm
Venue:  Fulton House

The Advanced Development Programme (Graduate) aims to provide a first step into NHS management for graduates – external or inservice – who have a passion for making a difference.

A Graduate Level Training Programme to develop emerging leaders for NHS Wales. In-service and external graduates are encouraged to apply through a challenging selection process, resulting in successful applicants being appointed to a real job role and innovative fast-track training programme with integrated postgraduate academic learning.

Applications open January 2012.

Appointments will commence in September 2012.

NB: The target audience are students in their final year graduating this summer or studying a post graduate course.

_____________________________________________________

CV Workshop 5    Friday 27th January
Facilitator:     Janet George , Training Officer, Graduate Opportunities Wales  www.gowales.co.uk
Time:         1pm – 2pm
Venue:         Library and Information Centre

“Linking on a daily basis with students and graduates undertaking work placements, the GO Wales PDA team are able to offer practical advice on how to enhance your current CV to meet the needs of potential employers and Industry Sectors.

During this session we will discuss the basics of effective CV writing, how to ‘sell’ yourself to potential employers, while also proving some practical tips on how to make the most of your educational talents and previous work experience.  To get the most from this session, please bring along your current CV.” .

Target Group – 2nd year and final year students

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Event:        Talk:  Taking your first steps into the media

Facilitator:    Ben Donovan, Programme Editor, Swansea City Football Club

Day:        Friday 27th January

Time:        1pm – 2pm

Venue:        Fulton House

Ben will talk about what it takes to get into journalism and some of the hurdles you may come across.
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To  book your place on any of the workshops/talks outlined above,  please go to the Events Page of the Careers and Employability Website at:    http://www.swansea.ac.uk/careers/careerstalksevents/.  If you have any difficulties with the online booking system please telephone 01792 513266 or call in at the Careers Helpdesk on Level 3 of the Library.
PLEASE NOTE:  venues will be confirmed when you book.
_____________________________________________________

Event:        Exhibition Stand and Display
Day:        Everyday during Employability Week
Time:        9am – 5pm
Venue:        Library and Information Centre, Central Hall

Visit the exhibition stand where you will find various information and leaflets and find out how the Careers and Go Wales Team can advise you further.

_____________________________________________________

EmployAbility is a not-for-profit organisation providing a free service to students and graduates with all disabilities, including dyslexia, long term illnesses or mental health conditions, to ease the transition from education to employment.  They offer support, guidance and advice throughout the recruitment process and beyond from CV and application form writing, disability disclosure and reasonable adjustments to supporting them during their internship or graduate programme.

Legal career opportunities:

EmployAbility are currently recruiting disabled students/graduates for summer vacation work and training contracts with Herbert Smigh LLP, an international legal practice with over 1,400 lawyers across Asia, Europe and the Middle East.  Click the following links for details:

• Spring and Summer Vacation Scheme 2012
• Training Contrac t 2012 (intake 2014)

Click here to register/login and then click on “careers calendar” so that you can see information about talks coming up and book your place online.  New talks are added all the time, so it’s a good idea to visit this web page regularly and check what’s happening. 

If you have any difficulties booking online please call in at the Careers and Employability Reception Desk on Level 3 of the Library; it’s open Monday to Friday from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm (except Tuesdays when it opens at 10.00 am.)

Talks coming soon:

Tuesday 22nd November
Organisation: PricewaterhouseCoopers
Who are PwC and what do they actually do in their Swansea office?
Overview: Professional services is a term that is used to describe many organisations but what exactly does it mean?  

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Date: Thursday 24th November
Speakers:  Two Swansea University Alumni 
Ben Donovan, Swansea City Football Club and James Snaith, The Wave
Title:  ‘Taking your first steps into the media’

• What it takes to get into journalism
• The many different forms of media that you can get into

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Date:   Tuesday 29th November
Organisation:    Matchtech Group PLC
Title:    How to effectively use a recruitment agency
Overview:   Matchtech Group will be coming in to speak you about how you can effectively use a recruitment agency to look for your first Graduate position.

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Date:   Thursday 1st December
Organisation:   Teach First
Title:   All aspects of the Teach First programme
Overview:  The first part that will be covered is the problem that currently faces the UK – Educational Disadvantage. The presentation will cover Teach First’s solution to this problem, the 2012 Leadership Development Programme, and finally the application process.

Wednesday 26 October 2011
The Law Society, London
10.00 am – 5.00 pm, plus reception

Click here for more information and to book online.

The Lawyers with Disabilities Division (LDD) of  the Law Society has developed this one day mini-conference aimed at law students and trainees with disabilities who are considering a career as a solicitor.

The programme will be opened by the deputy vice president, Nick Fluck. During the day you will hear from Access to Work, explaining the help that is available to individuals and firms.  LawWorks will talk about pro bono work and there will be a session on CV writing, the job application process and how to prepare for an interview.  A panel will talk about their various careers and how they got to where they are now.  Discussions will also look at the employers’ perspective of employing people with disabilities.  Finally you will be given guidance on whether to declare a disability.

This FREE event is aimed at students undertaking a law degree and those who are about to start or are doing an LPC.

Venue

The Law Society’s Hall, 113 Chancery Lane, London

The Speakers

Nick Fluck, deputy vice president, The Law Society
Basil Rodrigues, Access to Work
Alison Ingram, LawWorks
Mark Hynes, director of governance & democracy,
       London Borough of Lambeth
Dawn Dixon, founding partner, Webster Dixon LLP
Sarah Austin, Austins Solicitors
Alison Parkinson, Network Rail
Danusia Bzreznia, Children’s Legal Centre
Charles Clement, Employers’ Forum on Disability
Kieran Dunphy, Dale & Dunphy Solicitors
Zoe Wakeman, Eversheds
Peter Jones, Rawlison Butler Solicitors