Careers Advisory Service

1. Careers Advisory Service David Henderson Careers Adviser d.m.henderson@durham.ac.uk

2. Contents • Options with degree • Generating career ideas • Internships and work experience • Timetable for action • Effective applications • Support through Careers Advisory Service

3. Using your degree…options • Graduate schemes • Accelerated professional scheme with strong management and leadership focus (18 -24 months) • Opportunities in public and private sectors across a broad range of career areas • Often linked to professional qualification (e.g. Human Resource Mangement, Accountancy, Marketing, IT) • Careers linked to Geography • Graduate opportunities with SMEs (Small & Medium Sized Enterprises) • Postgraduate Study • Year Out

4. Careers linked to Geography… • Development & Regeneration • Property (Quantity Surveying, Estate Agency, Property Management, Building Surveying, Urban Surveyor) www.rics.org / www.jobsinsurveying.co.uk / www.targetjobs.co.uk. Opportunities with commercial property companies (e.g. Savills, Drivers Jonas), Retailers (Tescos, Sainsburys), Banks (Barclays), Local Authorities, Govt Departments, Valuation Office Agency • RICS recognised qualification or non-cognate graduate scheme • Regeneration & Development (Transport Planner e.g. Highways Agency & Transport for London, Town Planner e.g. Local Authorities, Consultancies – DLP, BBP Regeneration) Housing Manager e.g. English Partnerships, Regional Development Agencies, Housing Associations, Universities, Charities) • RITP recognised postgraduate qualification (www.rtpi.org.uk) / small number of courses in transport planning (Transport Planning Society - www.tps.org.uk) • International Development (NGOs, DfID, FCO, UN) – Sheffield Uni has recently introduced a course in International Development & Planning (www.experiencedevelopment.org)

5. Careers linked to Geography… • Environment & Conservation • Environmental Protection (Waste Management, Environmental Management, Energy Conservation, Ecology, Sustainabiltiy). Opportunities in public sector but also in regulatory and advisory roles with commercial organisations • Conservation (domestic and international NGOs e.g. Frontier, WWF, English Heritage, Wildlife Trust; Environment Agency; Local Authorities; Forestry Commission) • Research Organisations e.g. Natural Environment Research Council • Environmental Consultancies (Environmental Impact Assessment) www.environmentjobs.co.uk (jobs and work experience) / www.endsdirectory.com (directory of consultancies) / www.iema.net/jobs (Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment • Environmental policy, education and communication • Postgraduate study often required; some consultancies that recruit graduates directly (e.g. WSP, Faber Maunsell, Atkins) • Travel & Tourism • Event Management/Hospitality Management (Hilton graduate scheme) • Journalism/Publishing • Sales/Marketing/Communications e.g. Visit England • Opportunities linked to regeneration e.g. Regional Development Agencies Retail & Manufacturing • Logistics & Supply Chain Management (Rolls Royce, DHL) • Procurement (Office of Government Commerce, Waitrose)

6. Careers linked to Geography… Land & Water Surveying – Management of Natural Resources • Hydrogeologist, Geologist, Hydrologist, Soil Scientist, Minerals Surveyor, Land/Geomatic Surveyor • Employment opportunities with Engineering, Mining, Petrochemical and Construction companies • Utilities, Water and Waste Management organisations • Public Sector (Environment Agency, DEFRA, Local Authorities) • Consultancies e.g. WRc (www.wrcplc.co.uk) • Specialist Surveying & Geomatics Companies (Geomatics World – www.pvpubs.com) • Postgraduate qualification & work experience (Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management – www.ciwem.org / Geological Society www.geolsoc.org.uk). Birmingham, Leeds & Cardiff offer courses in Hydrogeology • Refer to Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors website for relevant lists of surveying companies (www.ricsfirms.com)

7. Careers linked to Geography… • Cartography and GIS • Commercial Mapping Companies & Consultancies e.g. GIS Dynamics • Public Sector (Ordnance Survey, Department for Transport, Met Office, HM Land Registry) • Defence Geographic and Imagery Intelligence Agency Headquarters (DGIA) / United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (naval charts) • Emergency Services (Crime Mapping Office)/Utilities/Retail/Market Research • GIS Consultancies (www.gisjobs.com – list of consultancies offering GIS/remote sensing services) • Geological Mapping (e.g. British Geological Survey) – postgraduate study desirable • Research Organisations e.g. The Macaulay Institute (rural land uses) • Postgraduate courses in GIS, Cartography, Surveying. • Work experience (e.g. Association for Geographic Information – www.agi.org.uk) • Vacancies (www.gisjobs.com / www.geoconnexion.com/recruitment / www.earthworks-jobs.com ) British Cartographic Society (www.cartography.org.uk) – useful jobs page British Geological Survey (www.bgs.ac.uk) Royal Geographical Society (www.rgs.org)

8. Careers linked to Geography… Weather & Climate (Change) • Meteorologist, Oceanographer, Renewable Energy Engineer, Water Engineer, Flood Protection Officer, Water Conservation Officer • Employment opportunities with the Met Office, Environment Agency, Local Authorities, Environmental Consultancies (specialising in field of renewable energy), NGOs (climate change/renewable energy) • Research bodies e.g. British Antarctic Survey, International Landslide Centre, National Oceanography Centre, Fisheries Research Services, UK Climate Impacts Programme • Opportunities in flood defence often require a postgraduate qualification in environmental engineering (see CIWEM for list of accredited courses linked to this and Hydrology) • Reading offers postgraduate course in Meteorology www.metoffice.com (Meteorology careers) www.environment-agency.gov.uk (Flood defence & river management)

9. Graduate schemes linked to Geography • Highways Agency (General Mgt scheme) • Savills (Planning, Commercial and Residential property surveying) • Transport for London (Transport Planning, Surveying) • Network Rail (Project Mgt, Transport Mgt, Operational Mgt) • Crown Agents (Graduate Scheme linked to International Development Consultancy) • Faber Maunsell (Environment/Transport) • AEA (Environment/Transport consultancy & policy support) • Wincanton (Logistics & Supply Chain Management) • Forestry Commission (Graduate Scheme plus specific opps e.g. Land Agent, Wildlife Ranger) But… • Many companies e.g. DLP (planning and sustainable development consultancy) recruit graduates into trainee/assistant positions

10. Employers always look for graduates from specific degree subjects Over two third of all vacancies advertised are open to graduates from ANY degree subject

11. Even More Possibilities…Careers linked to interests and strengths? • Retail Management • Sales • Community & Youth Services • Management Consultancy • PR, Marketing & Advertising • Administration • HR & Recruitment • Finance/Accountancy • Law • Property • NGOs/Voluntary Sector • Teaching • Logistics • IT/Telecommunications • Prospects Website – excellent career resources • (www.prospects.ac.uk) • Career & Employer folders, recruitment/sector directories, alumni & employer contacts

12. Where can I find out more about career options and graduate schemes? • Careers Service resources including excellent employer directories (Target, Hobson, Inside Careers, Times Top 100) that are free to collect. • Career Fairs and employer presentations (refer to Careers Service website for more details) • Useful websites: • www.topemployers.co.uk • www.graduateElite.com • www.prospects.ac.uk • www.get.hobsons.co.uk • www.bestcompaniesguide.co.uk • http://targetjobs.co.uk/graduate-jobs/ • www.insidecareers.co.uk

13. Postgraduate Study • Opportunity to advance subject knowledge in specialist area – PhD, Masters (taught or research) • Opportunity to study something unrelated to degree subject – conversion course, vocational graduate degree • Apply to more than one institution. No central application system with a few exceptions (law conversion, accelerated medicine, teaching) • Apply in final year (some courses have set closing dates) • Funding major issue: research councils main source but funding occasionally available through departments and institutions e.g. Durham Fellowship • KTP (www.dur.ac.uk/ktp/graduates/)

14. Postgraduate Study... • Academic study: • If you are considering a research based career… • Glaciation, Fluvial Systems, Remote Sensing, Environmental Processes, Coastal Evolution, Social & Cultural Geography, Urban Geography • Relevant vocational study: • Transport, Town Planning, Environmental Management, Waste Management, Surveying, Contaminated Land, Renewable Energy, Water Management, GIS, Conservation etc • Unrelated vocational study: • Law, Human Resource Management, Journalism, Marketing, Publishing, Business & Finance, IT

15. Generating Ideas! • My Potential • Windmills Virtual Career Coach • Prospects Planner • Careers Advisory Service website • Career Choice & Self-Awareness • Employment, work experience, volunteering and internships: excellent means of researching careers and improving self awareness!

16. Generating Ideas • Academic interests - relating modules to career ideas • Personal qualities/skills – leadership, communication, organisation, languages • Personal values and motivation – salary, work life balance, making a difference, travel • Working environment – size of organisation, remit, location, employers values (CSR) • Employment sector – environment, property, public, voluntary etc • Professional development – quality of training, rotational scheme, professional qualifications • First career choice not your last!! • Not necessarily just one ‘perfect’ job; career choice also concerns other factors!

17. Generating Ideas • Durham destination data • Collected 6 months after graduation • Useful way to research careers and employers • Even distribution between geography graduates entering degree related and non-related careers • Prospects ‘What can I do with…’

18. What is an Internship? • a structured programme of work experience • often salaried but not always! • normally lasting between four and twelve weeks • usually offered by companies which take on large numbers of graduates (e.g. retailers, investment banks, accountants, professional services, IT firms…)

19. What is an Internship? • employers offer internships as part of their overall graduate recruitment strategy. • primarily for penultimate year students • the application process is normally the same as for a graduate position and they are highly competitive. • generally advertised from November until March although some have closing dates as early as November/December.

20. Why Should I consider an Internship? • A degree is not enough • Overcrowded graduate job market – need to stand out • Evidence of transferable skills • Specific career experience • Commercial experience • Insight/Career research • Opportunity to do something different • References • Networking/Contacts • Confidence – Personal Development & Self Awareness • Route to a graduate job • Necessary…Banking?

21. Alternatives to Internships • Shell STEP programme (http://www.step.org.uk/) • 8 week project based employment with a small or medium sized company. Training salary in region of £200 per week • Informal work experience • Speculatively approach organisations – identify appropriate person (e.g. Faber Maunsell) • Networking • Speaking to professionals about their job role • Volunteering • Doesn’t have to be career relevant to be useful – evidence of transferable skills. In some career areas (e.g. health & social care professions, third sector, teaching, conservation, broadcast media) volunteering essential. • Part-time employment • www.durham.ac.uk/careers-advice/vacancies

22. Useful Websites – Work Experience • www.work-experience.org • http://www.e4s.co.uk/ • www.talentladder.com • www.internjobs.com • www.step.org.uk • www.get.hobsons.co.uk/advice/work-experience • http://targetjobs.co.uk/graduate-jobs/ • www.insidecareers.co.uk • www.gradjobs.co.uk • Please also refer to the excellent opportunities posted on the CAS website • www.dur.ac.uk/careers-advice/vacancies • Don’t forget the speculative approach – not all job sectors will offer structured work experience!

23. Timetable for action • Penultimate Year • Michaelmas • Career research • Self-awareness (personality type, strengths, qualities, interests) • Attending career events (fairs, employer presentations, skills events) • http://www.dur.ac.uk/careers-advice/forthcomingcareerevents/ • Work experience fair (Tuesday 4th Nov) • Applying for internships • Researching work experience opportunities • Epiphany • Applying for internships • Discovery fair

24. Timetable for action • Final Year • Michaelmas • Applying for graduate schemes (some closing dates as early as October/November!) • Employer Information Fair • Researching postgraduate courses • Epiphany • Continued application to graduate schemes • Interviews and assessment centres • Applying for postgraduate study • Easter • Graduate jobs with SMEs • Non-graduate jobs/speculative job applications/recruitment agencies

25. Application Process • CV plus covering letter/Electronic Application Form/Standard Application Form • Telephone Interview • Aptitude Tests (Verbal & Numerical Reasoning) • Face To Face Interview (Competency & Technical) • Assessment Centre (Case Studies, Group Activities, Presentations, E-tray)

26. How to Succeed - CVs • Tailor your CV for each individual vacancy and organisation • If you have relevant experience highlight it explicitly! • Highlight transferable value of work experience, volunteering, positions of responsibility: document key achievements • Don’t be too modest – vital to market yourself effectively • Write a positive upbeat covering letter: demonstrate knowledge of both opportunity and employer. • Get draft checked

27. How to Succeed – Application Form • Research the company and job profile thoroughly – does it match your skills, interests and personality? • Check basic entry requirements e.g. 2(i)/UCAS pts • Do not fill in the form until totally happy with drafts • Do not cut and paste answer from one form to another. • For competency based questions give specific examples – use the S.T.A.R. acronym as a basis for a focused, analytical answer (Situation, Task, Action, Result) • Why do you want the role – important section: need to demonstrate your appreciation of both role and employer • Relate your skills, abilities and experiences to the company specification!

28. Skills Related to Geography Technical Skills: • fieldwork, research and report writing • preparing maps and diagrams • using social survey and interpretative methods • collecting and analysing information using various technical and laboratory-based methods for the collection and analysis of spatial and environmental information General Skills: • Clear and succinct self-expression • Comprehend complex ideas and theories • Use reasoned argument to support opinion • Logical approach to problem solving • Effective use of evidence and information • Intellectual Flexibility/Adaptability/time management • Leading & participating in discussions • Strong presentation skills • Support your academic based transferable skills with that which you have gained from employment, internships, voluntary work, societal opportunities, interests and travel.

29. A degree guarantees a good job • “A degree alone is not enough. Employers are looking for more than just technical skills and knowledge of a degree subject. They particularly value skills such as communication, teamworking and problem solving. Job applicants who can demonstrate they have developed these skills will have a real advantage” • Digby Jones – Director General, Confederation of British Industry

30. How Can CAS Help • Individual appointments with a Careers • Adviser can be booked online: • Quick Queries – 20 mins • Applications, CVs, Interviews – 30 mins • Guidance Appointments – 45 mins (referral required)

31. How Can CAS Help • Resources - Information Room (Careers, further study, employers, vol work, vacancies, opps abroad) • Employer and graduate contacts • GATs (Graduate Aptitude Tests) • Practice Assessment Centre • Presentations – CVs, Application Form, Interview Techniques etc – www.durham.ac.uk/careers-advice • Employer led presentations • Employment Fair/Work Experience Fair/Law Fair • Skills workshops

32. Careers Service Website

33. Careers Advisory Service • 49 New Elvet • Open 10am – 5pm • Tel 0191 334 1424/1437 • www.durham.ac.uk/careers-advice

34. Your turn...Questions? • ? Thank you!