On the lines of new in-service training programmes for graduates wishing to become teachers, there is now a similar on-the-job route open to would-be Social Workers.
Step Up to Social Work is a 14-month tailored programme for high-achieving graduates or career changers with experience of working with children and young people to train as social workers. The great news for those that fit this description is that they will have their tuition fees paid for and receive a bursary of over £19,000.
Students are work-based throughout their training and delivery arrangements vary according to agreements between the universities and regional partnerships running the Step Up to Social Work programme. They may include formal lectures and e-learning, as well as internal local authority training provision and one-to-one support.
For more information
Contact: susw@penna.com Step Up To Social Work Programme, Penna Plc (Tel. 0845 366 5557)
Meanwhile for qualified Social Workers, we are hearing the Cumbria Children's Services have started recruiting again following a long period of austerity and that Randstad Newcastle are providing them with contract staff.
Showing posts with label cumbria. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cumbria. Show all posts
Friday, 9 August 2013
Thursday, 23 May 2013
Application Howlers
The last few posts on graduate prospects, etc. seem so serious, perhaps it's time for something a little more light-hearted!
This was taken from a circulation that went round UK careers advisers a few years ago, but is still worth its weight in gold. It's a series of 'howlers' that candidates have, so we are led to believe, put on their job application forms:
"I am someone who knows my own destiny, but I have no definite long term plans."
"I was closely involved in every aspect of my former company, right up to its bankruptcy." (would-be Trainee Accountant)
"Excellent memory skills, good analytical skills, memory skills..."
On an application for a position requiring considerable people skills - "My hobbies include watching television, computer chess, philately (especially first day covers) and walking my 2 spaniels."
"I have a criminal record but I am not in jail at the moment."
"I have a desire to work with commuters."
"At secondary school I was a prefix."
"Hi, I want 2 get a job with U."
"I have a 100% attendance at work, except for the seven days I have taken off sick."
"Size of employer: about 5’ 10” "
"Here are my qualifications for you to overlook."
"Suspected to graduate early next year..."
"My health good, that of my parents not so good."
"Like one of your coffees, I am designed to be opened, savoured and enjoyed."
"Finished eighth in my class of ten."
"I enclose a tea-bag so you can enjoy a cuppa while perusing my form."
"I loathe filling in application forms so much that I'll give you details at the interview."
"If called to interview I would like to discuss the salary, pensions and sickness benefits."
"Place of birth - A London hospital."
"Being a Virgoan, my sense of assertiveness and resilience has prompted me to continue with my ambitions to be a solicitor in a major city law firm…I am also a seventh generation descendant of a Chinese princess and a Sulawesian warrior, which makes me…both an amiable and energetic person."
"I do not have any major achievements that I would consider to be of interest to this application."
"...dealing with fear and being able to follow orders under terrifying conditions." (from a student member of a sky diving club)
"I believe in helping other people and so I am a blood and organ donor."
"Up until a little while ago I used to compete in British-Eventing competitions on my horse, from which I got a real kick."
"Working on a farm has...improved my communication skills which are especially important when working with large livestock."
"My life-long love of chocolate biscuits, is the main reason for his interest in the company." (United Biscuits)
And the morale of this cautionary tale is of course: proof read your application carefully before you send it off!
If you have any other application howlers you would like to tell us about, please send them in to careers@cumbria.ac.uk (ref: UOC Careers Blog). All submissions that are decent and legal WILL be published. Look forward to hearing from you shorty...
Monday, 4 March 2013
Teacher Training - Latest Lessons
Here are the latest grains of wisdom from the quickly shifting sands of teacher training provision, as provided by University careers colleagues who are members of the Teaching and Related Professions Task Group.
Teach First
Recruitment to the programme has been brisk for 2013 entry and over 1000 applicants have already been accepted. There are still 250 vacancies, but these are mainly for Maths and English.
The scheme now has its own dedicated website www.teachfirst.org.uk including vacancy details and a central application process.
To anticipate a couple of likely faqs:
School Direct
Teach First
Recruitment to the programme has been brisk for 2013 entry and over 1000 applicants have already been accepted. There are still 250 vacancies, but these are mainly for Maths and English.
The scheme now has its own dedicated website www.teachfirst.org.uk including vacancy details and a central application process.
To anticipate a couple of likely faqs:
- About 17.5 % of the 2012 intake ( a total of 997) are teaching in primary schools.
- 36% of 2012 entrants are male - well above the 25% in the profession overall.
- Teach First will accept Psychology graduates to teach Science - but only if they achieve a B.Sc. and have grade B in a science at A Level.
School Direct
News has also reached us that it will be possible to apply for School Direct vacancies through the Graduate Teacher Training Registry when the latest wave of applications for 2014 entry opens on 1st November this year. Application deadlines will for the first time be scrapped.
Note: School Direct is already making its mark in Cumbria and North Lancashire, and we can expect Teach First to follow suit.
Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Graduate Jobs Market On The Turn?
According to the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services website a recent survey of Heads of University Careers Services showed some optimistic results on graduate job prospects. The vast majority (90%) of careers bosses surveyed in the last quarter of 2012 felt that the graduate labour market was either becoming more buoyant or at least getting no worse. 80% felt that the position was better or about the same as in the same quarter of 2011.
Finance, construction and engineering were all quoted as areas that were recruiting graduates heavily. Notably some IT and engineering firms starting to have difficulty filling vacancies, and smaller businesses were finding it hard to compete with the salaries and prospects offered by larger companies.
While this all fits in with the overall reduction in unemployment reported in the papers, less good news is that opportunities for graduates in the public sector, on which many University of Cumbria students are largely dependent, have continued to decline, while full-time vacancies are being replaced by part-time jobs and internships.
Any improvement in the graduate labour market must of course be good news but the sad truth is that it probably doesn't make a great deal of difference to many graduates from Cumbria, who are basically faced with the "Shall I stay or shall I go?" question. Either they pursue attractive job adverts elsewhere, or put up with the more limited prospects available in their home area.
Finance, construction and engineering were all quoted as areas that were recruiting graduates heavily. Notably some IT and engineering firms starting to have difficulty filling vacancies, and smaller businesses were finding it hard to compete with the salaries and prospects offered by larger companies.
While this all fits in with the overall reduction in unemployment reported in the papers, less good news is that opportunities for graduates in the public sector, on which many University of Cumbria students are largely dependent, have continued to decline, while full-time vacancies are being replaced by part-time jobs and internships.
Any improvement in the graduate labour market must of course be good news but the sad truth is that it probably doesn't make a great deal of difference to many graduates from Cumbria, who are basically faced with the "Shall I stay or shall I go?" question. Either they pursue attractive job adverts elsewhere, or put up with the more limited prospects available in their home area.
Wednesday, 20 February 2013
Why You Should Link Up with Linked In
Last week's post on networking made a passing mention of the importance of using social media for networking purposes, in particular Linked In. Since then I have happened on some useful slides about using Linked In (and Twitter) to develop professional contacts by a colleague at the University of Manchester, Helen Buzdugan Duly inspired, what follows is an attempt to pass on some thoughts about the ways you can use Linked In to develop your own career network. You may find it useful to open a Linked In account to follow some of the references, if you have not already done so.
While many careers advisers advocate the use of Linked In to students, repeated surveys show that student use and awareness of Linked In is at quite a low level. This is a shame as Linked In - sometimes alluded to as "Facebook for suits" - is one of the key arenas that budding professionals can use to build up influential contacts. The difference is that it lacks the frivolity and some of the less desirable aspects of Facebook as it centres on professional life. It's all about the work you, not you the party animal.
Linked In does include job adverts which are filtered to match your Linked In profile, but much more subtle is the way that you can use it to find unadvertised opportunities and befriend new contacts in particular companies or industry sectors.
Finding People
Using the Linked In advanced search facility, you can look for people who are already in careers that interest you and approach them for advice, company or sector information or to request information interviews. The Linked In Career Explorer facility allows you to check out profiles of other people who have been involved with the same colleges or companies as yourself so you have something in common straight away.
A bit more subtly still, you can look at people's past career profiles to see what route they took to get to where they are now, which can shed some useful light on the steps you could consider to get to a similar position yourself.
As per good networking practice, Linked In helps you tap in not just to your contacts but their contacts and their contacts' contacts, any of whom you can readily message on the system. An extra dimension is that people will look at your profile too, opening up at least the possibility of getting headhunted.
Searching For Companies
It's dead easy to find companies in a particular geographical area or of a particular kind. Not all companies have a Linked In page of course and a tool like the Direct Marketing tool of Keynote is a more comprehensive way of producing company listings. But where Linked In scores is on the sheer amount of information you can access by viewing companies who have built a significant profile.
For example, looking at the BBC page straight away gives you details of their current vacancies, and the Insights section tells you of people who have made recent career moves into and out of the company. What astounded me was the fact that, even though I have made no great effort at extending my use of Linked In and have no special interest in broadcasting, their Careers section showed that I have 27 first or second level contacts within the Beeb, only two of whom I have ever met!
Joining Groups
For the would-be job applicant, there are two kinds of groups that can be worth investigating - regional and professional. A very good example of the former is the Cumbrian link group, a meeting place for a large number of professionals and employers who engage in frequent discussions on local themes - a great way of finding out the key influencers and topical themes in the county.
If you are interested in finding teaching jobs in the UK, there is a Linked In professional group on exactly that theme. Observing and contributing to group discussions can be a great way of making contacts and getting yourself known.
Last of all...
Linked In isn't the only social network that is useful for developing your career. Following the 'horses for courses motto', there may be others that will be more useful for specific career directions or companies. But Linked In has a very strong presence in the Business, Finance, Commerce and Law sectors to name just a few and as the lead professional network available online, is always worth checking before you look elsewhere.
University of Cumbria students who want to know more about Linked In will find information on the Blackboard Jobs&Careers tab.
While many careers advisers advocate the use of Linked In to students, repeated surveys show that student use and awareness of Linked In is at quite a low level. This is a shame as Linked In - sometimes alluded to as "Facebook for suits" - is one of the key arenas that budding professionals can use to build up influential contacts. The difference is that it lacks the frivolity and some of the less desirable aspects of Facebook as it centres on professional life. It's all about the work you, not you the party animal.
Linked In does include job adverts which are filtered to match your Linked In profile, but much more subtle is the way that you can use it to find unadvertised opportunities and befriend new contacts in particular companies or industry sectors.
Finding People
Using the Linked In advanced search facility, you can look for people who are already in careers that interest you and approach them for advice, company or sector information or to request information interviews. The Linked In Career Explorer facility allows you to check out profiles of other people who have been involved with the same colleges or companies as yourself so you have something in common straight away.
A bit more subtly still, you can look at people's past career profiles to see what route they took to get to where they are now, which can shed some useful light on the steps you could consider to get to a similar position yourself.
As per good networking practice, Linked In helps you tap in not just to your contacts but their contacts and their contacts' contacts, any of whom you can readily message on the system. An extra dimension is that people will look at your profile too, opening up at least the possibility of getting headhunted.
Searching For Companies
It's dead easy to find companies in a particular geographical area or of a particular kind. Not all companies have a Linked In page of course and a tool like the Direct Marketing tool of Keynote is a more comprehensive way of producing company listings. But where Linked In scores is on the sheer amount of information you can access by viewing companies who have built a significant profile.
For example, looking at the BBC page straight away gives you details of their current vacancies, and the Insights section tells you of people who have made recent career moves into and out of the company. What astounded me was the fact that, even though I have made no great effort at extending my use of Linked In and have no special interest in broadcasting, their Careers section showed that I have 27 first or second level contacts within the Beeb, only two of whom I have ever met!
Joining Groups
For the would-be job applicant, there are two kinds of groups that can be worth investigating - regional and professional. A very good example of the former is the Cumbrian link group, a meeting place for a large number of professionals and employers who engage in frequent discussions on local themes - a great way of finding out the key influencers and topical themes in the county.
If you are interested in finding teaching jobs in the UK, there is a Linked In professional group on exactly that theme. Observing and contributing to group discussions can be a great way of making contacts and getting yourself known.
Last of all...
Linked In isn't the only social network that is useful for developing your career. Following the 'horses for courses motto', there may be others that will be more useful for specific career directions or companies. But Linked In has a very strong presence in the Business, Finance, Commerce and Law sectors to name just a few and as the lead professional network available online, is always worth checking before you look elsewhere.
University of Cumbria students who want to know more about Linked In will find information on the Blackboard Jobs&Careers tab.
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
Careers Fair Coming Soon
It is just two weeks to the University of Cumbria 2013 Career Ahead Two Day Careers Fair at the Learning Gateway, Fusehill Street Campus.
Day 1
Join the UoC Careers Team on Tuesday 29th January for free workshops on Successful CVs and the Art of Networking. Sign up in advance at www.cumbria.ac.uk/careersfair - first come first served!
Day 2
On Wednesday 30th January between 10.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m., browse 30 stands in the Learning Gateway offering a mixture of job, paid placement and volunteering opportunities as well as advice on getting ahead in your career, setting up a business and how to impress employers.
Employers represented will include: BBC, Carlisle Youth Zone, Lake District National Park, Cumberland Building Society, Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, Eden Carers, Sainsbury's, Smith's Hotel, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Enitiative Media, Good Companions, Teach English in China, Burnetts Solicitors, Unite with Business...
All UoC students (all year groups and courses) and graduates welsome!
Day 1
Join the UoC Careers Team on Tuesday 29th January for free workshops on Successful CVs and the Art of Networking. Sign up in advance at www.cumbria.ac.uk/careersfair - first come first served!
Day 2
On Wednesday 30th January between 10.00 a.m. and 3.00 p.m., browse 30 stands in the Learning Gateway offering a mixture of job, paid placement and volunteering opportunities as well as advice on getting ahead in your career, setting up a business and how to impress employers.
Employers represented will include: BBC, Carlisle Youth Zone, Lake District National Park, Cumberland Building Society, Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, Eden Carers, Sainsbury's, Smith's Hotel, Enterprise Rent-a-Car, Enitiative Media, Good Companions, Teach English in China, Burnetts Solicitors, Unite with Business...
All UoC students (all year groups and courses) and graduates welsome!
Friday, 7 September 2012
Forthcoming Shortage of Primary Teachers?
 |
| Student Teachers at University of Cumbria |
Researchers also found that 55% of Primary Headteachers reported a decline in staff morale and had found it more difficult to recruit teachers than last year. Suggestions of a recruitment crisis have however been stringently denied by the Department of Education.
Comment: Some of our recent Primary graduates may be surprised to learn that it is becoming easier to find teaching jobs. Any easing of the currently highly competitive recruitment situation at Primary level will of course be good news - but one wonders whether any benefits will be equally spread across the country. What happens in Stratford may not come about so readily in Cumbria.
Sunday, 13 May 2012
Mini Careers Fair At Fusehill Street Campus
Here is some slightly delayed news from employers who attended this event, which took place in the Gateway on 2nd May:
Hays Recruitment
Full and part time work opportunities for students and graduates including reception, administration, project support and project management. Employers include NHS, schools and colleges, Riverside Housing, Cumbria County Council and manufacturing companies such as James Walker and Northern Food.
Event Guides
Have short term summer work on sales support on event publications and three permanent graduate vacancies.
Inspira
Recruiting summer volunteers for National Citizenship Service, working with 13-19 year olds.
Carlisle Youth Zone
Have volunteer and part-time roles working with children and young people.
Nestle, Dalston
Graduate scheme and quality assurance roles on offer. Looking mainly for candidates from science/technology backgrounds.
Hays Recruitment
Full and part time work opportunities for students and graduates including reception, administration, project support and project management. Employers include NHS, schools and colleges, Riverside Housing, Cumbria County Council and manufacturing companies such as James Walker and Northern Food.
Event Guides
Have short term summer work on sales support on event publications and three permanent graduate vacancies.
Inspira
Recruiting summer volunteers for National Citizenship Service, working with 13-19 year olds.
Carlisle Youth Zone
Have volunteer and part-time roles working with children and young people.
Nestle, Dalston
Graduate scheme and quality assurance roles on offer. Looking mainly for candidates from science/technology backgrounds.
Tuesday, 21 February 2012
Should I Move to London?
Careers Advisers often advise clients to increase their chances of getting a job by being prepared to work away from home and since Dick Whittington, there has been a long tradition of hopefuls from the North treading the golden pavements of London to 'seek their fortune'.
But does it pay off?
Recent research by "Graduate Market Trends" (Winter 2011/12 edition) analyses regional trends in graduate employment since the recession to come up with some interesting contrasts between employment patterns in London and elswhere. What it broadly shows is the following:
* N.b. however this does not mean there are fewer health and education sector vacancies in London than Lancashire and Cumbria - the reverse is likely to be true! (Ed.)
But does it pay off?
Recent research by "Graduate Market Trends" (Winter 2011/12 edition) analyses regional trends in graduate employment since the recession to come up with some interesting contrasts between employment patterns in London and elswhere. What it broadly shows is the following:
- In certain key sectors, the London area dominates the UK employment scene so that over 50% of 2009 - 10 graduates working in some fields of work are based there. In broad terms, London is a mecca for media careers (including editing), fashion and clothing design, finance, management consultancy and politics.
- On the other hand there are some industries, notably Engineering, where opportunities are just as available elsewhere.
- Although London has the highest number of graduate employers in the country, the rate of unemployment for London HE institutions is actually HIGHER than in other parts of the country.
- The reverse of this paradox is shown in Scotland - although Scotland is the only part of the country to show a decrease in graduate employment since 2007, the unemployment rate for Scottish HE institutions in the lowest in the UK.
- At 74% levels of private sector employment are considerably higher in London. Elsewhere percentages of public sector employment levels are a good deal higher*. Additionally, only half of graduates in private sector employment outside London were considered to be in graduate level employment, whereas the figure for London was 67%.
- It is therefore interesting to reflect that ongoing public sector cutbacks are likely to have a more profound negative effect on unemployment in areas outwith London.
* N.b. however this does not mean there are fewer health and education sector vacancies in London than Lancashire and Cumbria - the reverse is likely to be true! (Ed.)
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Accountancy Training with Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
In a previous post on the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme it was noted that Cumbria Partnership NHSFT will also accept CV applications from qualified Accounting Technicians who wish to apply for Accountancy traineeships with them.
If you come into the above category or similar, you can submit your CV and covering letter to our University of Cumbria email address careers@cumbria.ac.uk and we will forward your details to the Trust. Just remember to say that you read about this opportunity on "Col's Blog".
We would also be keen to hear from any local students or graduates who would be interested in applying for the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme next year i.e. for entry in 2013. Just use the same email address and we will endeavour to keep you informed of any local events to promote this scheme when they arise.
If you come into the above category or similar, you can submit your CV and covering letter to our University of Cumbria email address careers@cumbria.ac.uk and we will forward your details to the Trust. Just remember to say that you read about this opportunity on "Col's Blog".
We would also be keen to hear from any local students or graduates who would be interested in applying for the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme next year i.e. for entry in 2013. Just use the same email address and we will endeavour to keep you informed of any local events to promote this scheme when they arise.
Friday, 16 December 2011
NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme in Cumbria
The deadline for this year's applications closed last Friday but, for future applicants, some useful information was provided by reps from Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust at last week's Mini Careers Convention.
The Trust is keen to support future Management Trainee placements for all four streams of the programme - General Management, Financial Management, Health Informatics (ICT) and HR.
Management Accountant Simon Norbury tells me that Financial Trainees can chose to qualify with the following Accountancy professional bodies: CIMA, CIPFA or ACCA. I also gather that, separate from the Graduate Scheme, Simon is willing to receive CVs from applicants who hold the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification and wish to become fully qualified accountants.
The Trust is keen to support future Management Trainee placements for all four streams of the programme - General Management, Financial Management, Health Informatics (ICT) and HR.
Management Accountant Simon Norbury tells me that Financial Trainees can chose to qualify with the following Accountancy professional bodies: CIMA, CIPFA or ACCA. I also gather that, separate from the Graduate Scheme, Simon is willing to receive CVs from applicants who hold the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) qualification and wish to become fully qualified accountants.
Thursday, 8 December 2011
Chartered Institute of Marketing...Local Meetings
I have learned that the Chartered Institute of Marketing have a local group that meets in the Cumbria area. Students interested in a career in marketing would be welcome to attend.
More details are available from University of Cumbria Business Studies Lecturer Linda Danielis who is a member of their local committee.
More details are available from University of Cumbria Business Studies Lecturer Linda Danielis who is a member of their local committee.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Registered Teacher Programme in Cumbria
Careers information can change incredibly fast!
The Registered Teacher Programme (RTP) enables Teaching and Learning Assistants to be come qualified teachers through on-the-job based learning.
When I recently told some students that they could apply for RTP via the Lancashire GRTP Consortium I was upset to find that I was giving duff information. The consortium now only deals with the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) - the job-based route for graduates. I can now find no trace of an RTP provider for Cumbria.
Incidentally the closing date for GTP applications is 16th January for entry in September 2012.
The Registered Teacher Programme (RTP) enables Teaching and Learning Assistants to be come qualified teachers through on-the-job based learning.
When I recently told some students that they could apply for RTP via the Lancashire GRTP Consortium I was upset to find that I was giving duff information. The consortium now only deals with the Graduate Teacher Programme (GTP) - the job-based route for graduates. I can now find no trace of an RTP provider for Cumbria.
Incidentally the closing date for GTP applications is 16th January for entry in September 2012.
Thursday, 6 October 2011
Are you thinking about a career in teaching?
We are running two sessions for University of Cumbria undergraduates, principally those in their second and third years.
Applying for a PGCE seminar
Wednesday 19th October 12.30-1.30 pm
Lecture Theatre 1
GTTR applications workshop
Wednesday 2nd November 1-3 pm
Room 102, Learning Gateway
Fusehill Street campus , Carlisle
For information on the sessions or for advice on planning your next steps after graduation, email: careers@cumbria.ac.uk
Source: Joanne Watson
Thursday, 15 September 2011
CV Tips for Vocational Students
Here at the University of Cumbria, we have a large numbers of students on vocational courses – teachers, nurses, allied health professionals and the like, who often ask for help in compiling their CV as they apply for their first professional post.
Over time it has struck me that CVs for all the vocational students I encounter have several features in common. I would like to share them with you now, working through each of the key CV headings:
Personal Details
A key point for new entrants to a profession is, if possible to include your professional registration details with your basic contact information. This will be in the form of a registration or pin number supplied by the professional body you need to register with, such as the UK General Teaching Councils, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, etc. If you do not yet have the number at the time of application, you should say “Registration Number Awaited” or similar.
Incidentally, if you are not yet applying for professional posts but are trying to find placements half way through your course, it is a good idea to quote your CRB registration details here if you are looking for placements that involve contact with young people or vulnerable adults.
Summary Statements
A snappy summary, often written in brief phrases (rather than full sentences) below your contact details is worth considering for almost any CV but of particular value for vocational students. Include two or three adjectives that sum up your key skills as a practitioner and say something about what sort of post you are looking for. If you feel you can, you might wish to mention aspects of the career that particularly interest you, or in which you might want to specialise later.
Education
A common mistake here is simply to put the details of your vocational degree and possibly a grade forecast and leave it at that.
It is important with a vocational degree to add a bit of commentary about your degree as employers may well want to ask you about it at interview.
Angles you could consider here are:
* Listing key module titles (but keep it short!)
* Parts of the course that fascinated you or represented major leaps forward in your learning
* Aspects of the course that you know to be excellent in comparison to those offered elsewhere
You might want to have an extra entry or section to cover any additional in-service training or certificates you took as a result of doing the course.
Employment
It is vital to include some detail here on any course placements or periods of work experience you have undertaken, and some comment showing the activities you undertook and/or skills you acquired on each. If you have undertaken a large number of placements, you may want to consider a separate heading for them (e.g. “Placement Experience” as distinct from “Other Work Experience”).
If you have done a large number of short or variable duration placements with the same employer, don’t feel obliged to list them all individually. It’s OK to put the name of the organisation, the period during which you undertook placements there and the total time you were on placement there altogether (e.g. October 2008 – April 2011 : Total 14 weeks).
Interests and Achievements
There is a little ambiguity here as some employers (notably schools) want to hear details of outside interests that might have relevance in the workplace, whereas others merely want to see some evidence that you are a ‘rounded person’ who has interests outside the work arena. The only real way forward is to try and suss out what the expectations are likely to be, if possible.
This is also the ideal place to put your driving licence details, essential if the job you are applying for requires the use of a car.
References
For completing students generally and fledgling professionals in particular, the golden rule is to give one reference from the academic sphere (e.g. personal tutor or course leader) and one from the world of work. Most normally the world of work reference will come from a recent placement, but the key thing is that you pick the referee who will give you the most glowing endorsement.
Last of All
CVs are typical of virtually everything to do with careers. Advisers try to make things as ‘scientific’ as possible by formulating a set of rules for you to follow. Unfortunately the science can all break down when your CV is read by a human being rather than a robot, as there is no accounting for the unpredictability of human behaviour or the capacity of individuals to behave in an unscientific manner.
However, if you follow the tips above, you will be on the right lines – more or less.
For a series of websites on CVs bookmarked by University of Cumbria Careers Advisers, see http://delicious.com/skillzone/cv
Over time it has struck me that CVs for all the vocational students I encounter have several features in common. I would like to share them with you now, working through each of the key CV headings:
Personal Details
A key point for new entrants to a profession is, if possible to include your professional registration details with your basic contact information. This will be in the form of a registration or pin number supplied by the professional body you need to register with, such as the UK General Teaching Councils, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, etc. If you do not yet have the number at the time of application, you should say “Registration Number Awaited” or similar.
Incidentally, if you are not yet applying for professional posts but are trying to find placements half way through your course, it is a good idea to quote your CRB registration details here if you are looking for placements that involve contact with young people or vulnerable adults.
Summary Statements
A snappy summary, often written in brief phrases (rather than full sentences) below your contact details is worth considering for almost any CV but of particular value for vocational students. Include two or three adjectives that sum up your key skills as a practitioner and say something about what sort of post you are looking for. If you feel you can, you might wish to mention aspects of the career that particularly interest you, or in which you might want to specialise later.
Education
A common mistake here is simply to put the details of your vocational degree and possibly a grade forecast and leave it at that.
It is important with a vocational degree to add a bit of commentary about your degree as employers may well want to ask you about it at interview.
Angles you could consider here are:
* Listing key module titles (but keep it short!)
* Parts of the course that fascinated you or represented major leaps forward in your learning
* Aspects of the course that you know to be excellent in comparison to those offered elsewhere
You might want to have an extra entry or section to cover any additional in-service training or certificates you took as a result of doing the course.
Employment
It is vital to include some detail here on any course placements or periods of work experience you have undertaken, and some comment showing the activities you undertook and/or skills you acquired on each. If you have undertaken a large number of placements, you may want to consider a separate heading for them (e.g. “Placement Experience” as distinct from “Other Work Experience”).
If you have done a large number of short or variable duration placements with the same employer, don’t feel obliged to list them all individually. It’s OK to put the name of the organisation, the period during which you undertook placements there and the total time you were on placement there altogether (e.g. October 2008 – April 2011 : Total 14 weeks).
Interests and Achievements
There is a little ambiguity here as some employers (notably schools) want to hear details of outside interests that might have relevance in the workplace, whereas others merely want to see some evidence that you are a ‘rounded person’ who has interests outside the work arena. The only real way forward is to try and suss out what the expectations are likely to be, if possible.
This is also the ideal place to put your driving licence details, essential if the job you are applying for requires the use of a car.
References
For completing students generally and fledgling professionals in particular, the golden rule is to give one reference from the academic sphere (e.g. personal tutor or course leader) and one from the world of work. Most normally the world of work reference will come from a recent placement, but the key thing is that you pick the referee who will give you the most glowing endorsement.
Last of All
CVs are typical of virtually everything to do with careers. Advisers try to make things as ‘scientific’ as possible by formulating a set of rules for you to follow. Unfortunately the science can all break down when your CV is read by a human being rather than a robot, as there is no accounting for the unpredictability of human behaviour or the capacity of individuals to behave in an unscientific manner.
However, if you follow the tips above, you will be on the right lines – more or less.
For a series of websites on CVs bookmarked by University of Cumbria Careers Advisers, see http://delicious.com/skillzone/cv
Thursday, 25 August 2011
Enterprise Support Agencies in Cumbria
In addition to Business Link, there are a number of agencies in Cumbria that can offer advice, training and support on becoming self-employed depending where you live:
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce covers Copeland District and Carlisle area (n.b the web reference only mentions Copeland).
Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency covers Eden District and South Lakes.
Furness Enterprise covers Barrow area.
West Cumbria Development Agency covers Allerdale District.
Follow the links to see exactly what is available in each case.
Cumbria Chamber of Commerce covers Copeland District and Carlisle area (n.b the web reference only mentions Copeland).
Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency covers Eden District and South Lakes.
Furness Enterprise covers Barrow area.
West Cumbria Development Agency covers Allerdale District.
Follow the links to see exactly what is available in each case.
Sunday, 31 July 2011
Opportunities for Unemployed Graduates in West Cumbria
If you are still looking to connect with a job opportunity in Cumbria, here are details of two current opportunities that may be of interest to you:
Routes2Work offer a Graduate Employment Programme to unemployed graduates living in specific areas of Allerdale and Copeland Districts, West Cumbria. Introductions to employers and wage subsidies are available.
To find out more and for a no obligation chat please telephone Julie Wedgwood - Routes2Work Manager on 01900 873371.
Young Million courses are open to all unemployed 18 - 25 year olds. The three day course is scheduled to take place on 10th, 11th and 17th August at Energus, West Cumbria. It offers the opportunity to experience real workplace environments and develop the skills and self confidence that employers are looking for.
To apply, visit the Young Million website at youngmillion.commonpurpose.org.uk and download the application form for your nearest location.
Routes2Work offer a Graduate Employment Programme to unemployed graduates living in specific areas of Allerdale and Copeland Districts, West Cumbria. Introductions to employers and wage subsidies are available.
To find out more and for a no obligation chat please telephone Julie Wedgwood - Routes2Work Manager on 01900 873371.
Young Million courses are open to all unemployed 18 - 25 year olds. The three day course is scheduled to take place on 10th, 11th and 17th August at Energus, West Cumbria. It offers the opportunity to experience real workplace environments and develop the skills and self confidence that employers are looking for.
To apply, visit the Young Million website at youngmillion.commonpurpose.org.uk and download the application form for your nearest location.
Friday, 8 April 2011
Job Prospects for Social Work Graduates 2011
Having heard suggestions that job prospects for newly-qualified social workers from the University of Cumbria are likely to be tougher this year, I have produced a brief information sheet giving a bit of detail on the likely situation in our own catchment area.
If you are qualifying in Social Work shortly and want to work in the area, please feel to request one from careers@cumbria.ac.uk marking your request f.a.o. Joanne Watson or Colin Taylor.
If you are qualifying in Social Work shortly and want to work in the area, please feel to request one from careers@cumbria.ac.uk marking your request f.a.o. Joanne Watson or Colin Taylor.
Wednesday, 16 March 2011
Mini Convention At University of Cumbria, Fusehill Street Campus
There will be a Mini Careers Convention (Placements Special) at Fusehill St Campus on Thursday 24th March 12 noon - 2.00 pm, Ground Floor,
Key Exhibitors will be
Placement experience has been shown to be a key factor in gaining graduate employment and those offered through the University are paid.
A display of current careers information will also be available.
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
Time to Apply Yourself?
New Year is a signal to forthcoming graduates to start applying for vacancies as deadline dates are notified with increasing regularity.
University of Cumbria students and graduates and others looking for work in the area can register to search for vacancies and prospective employers across the North West at www.prospects.ac.uk/pnet/cumbria In spite of the doom and gloom on the vacancy front, the site regularly features over 100 jobs from employers recruiting in the North West. IT vacancies are particularly frequent with common vacancies for Trainee Recruitment Consultants (how many people think of this as a career?), Teachers of English as a Foreign Language, and Trainee Sales Managers as well as more niche opportunities in marketing, the creative sector, sports coaching and subject tuition.
We also have a large number of business placement opportunities for students and graduates at www.cumbria.ac.uk/grab At the moment there are surprisingly few applicants for these opportunities, which pay at least £6.00 per hour, often with expenses. Currently, almost all placements involve marketing in some form but this can vary from week to week.
University of Cumbria students and graduates and others looking for work in the area can register to search for vacancies and prospective employers across the North West at www.prospects.ac.uk/pnet/cumbria In spite of the doom and gloom on the vacancy front, the site regularly features over 100 jobs from employers recruiting in the North West. IT vacancies are particularly frequent with common vacancies for Trainee Recruitment Consultants (how many people think of this as a career?), Teachers of English as a Foreign Language, and Trainee Sales Managers as well as more niche opportunities in marketing, the creative sector, sports coaching and subject tuition.
We also have a large number of business placement opportunities for students and graduates at www.cumbria.ac.uk/grab At the moment there are surprisingly few applicants for these opportunities, which pay at least £6.00 per hour, often with expenses. Currently, almost all placements involve marketing in some form but this can vary from week to week.
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