Catch me if you can

Allie Lawson, Student Marketing Ambassador shares her experience of the recruitment process and some handy tips that could help you …

 

My life last term was chaotic, to say the least. Alongside finishing my degree, running a business, and working part time, I managed to beat the odds and get a place on a graduate scheme.  

Graduated and Living in Wales – Thinking about a career in teaching but no class room experience?

Melanie Wortham – Graduate Careers Adviser at Cardiff University talks about how you can get this once you have graduated.

If you have thought about teaching, but have no real experience in the classroom, then this FREE course below which is being delivered by the OU and funded by the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales could be just the ticket to help you make a choice on whether teaching is really for you!

The course is offered on a very flexible basis and includes six days school experience in a secondary school local to each student. A personal tutor is allocated to all students plus a school facilitator. At the end of the programme students will know whether they are temperamentally suited to train to be a teacher and whether there are any gaps to be filled in their subject knowledge.

Looking to get on the career ladder? Work experience is key!

Hannah Richards

A recent graduate of Cardiff University, Hannah Richards explains how a portfolio of work experience was instrumental in gaining her first job within her preferred field.

Hi, my name is Hannah and I’m an English Literature graduate of Cardiff University. I got my first job through GO Wales and I’d like to tell you how work experience was a major part of this achievement.

I always felt that work experience was important: to discover what type of career I would like, to practice my skills and to develop new ones. I knew I wanted to work in the area of media, marketing and PR and so I went on a mission to get work experience and test out the industries. My placements included a week at the South Wales Argus, a fortnight at Working Word PR and a week at Buzz Magazine – a Taster I applied for through GO Wales. As well as these placements, I volunteered as a marketing and publicity assistant at a local charity. For me, these experiences confirmed that I loved writing and that these were my preferred career areas. I could leave university with a clear focus and with evidence of my interest and abilities in these industries on my CV.

Undertaking work experience also gave me the opportunity to build up a portfolio that would demonstrate my creativity, writing, media and marketing skills. I collated samples of the work I had completed throughout my voluntary experience and took the portfolio to my job interview. My employer later told me that the portfolio was a nice surprise as it showed how much I wanted to work and also that it was the ‘icing on the cake’ –  the part of my interview that fully confirmed his decision to pick me.

Due to my efforts with work experience, I am now the Marketing Assistant at Pinnacle Internet Marketing. My duties include copywriting, search engine marketing, paid search advertising, email marketing, content marketing, work with website design, work with clients and exhibitions and various other areas. Within the four months I have been at the agency, I have already developed a whole new set of skills that will be of great use for me going into the future, and I’m still learning something new every day.

Even though I have a full time job, I want to keep my career options open. So, in my spare time I contribute to Buzz magazine, both because I enjoy writing and because I want to build upon my journalism experience. My GO Wales Taster with the magazine is what introduced me to this opportunity and my previous work with Buzz was a great help when I applied to become a contributor.

In light of my experience, if I could give one piece of advice to all prospective students, current students and graduates, it would be that work experience is the key to getting on the career ladder!

Make the best start to your career with GO Wales – paid work placements, work experience, jobs and training.  http://www.gowales.co.uk

Get further help and support from the Careers & Employability Work Experience Team.

A job well done and a great experience – insights from our Student Marketing Ambassadors

You did well girls – thankyou!
We recruit annually at Careers & Employability and we are pleased these new projects have worked well for us, in the Marketing Team and for Allie, Mia and Lowri.  

These opportunities have allowed Allie, Mia and Lowri to develop their skills, gain exposure to employers and gain some valuable work experience, which will help them with their career planning and provide good examples of the key skills employers look for: digital lieracy, communication, interpersonal, team work and more. 

If you haven’t started your career planning or undertaken any work experience I hope this blog will inspire you to do so. 

Career insight from Natasha Caplan, GO Wales Taster Manager

Natasha Caplan graduated from Huddersfield University in 2004 after studying Hospitality and Events Management, and now works for GO Wales within the Careers & Employability department of Cardiff University.

I am originally from Warrington in the North West and moved to Cardiff 9 years ago for a graduate role as an Events Assistant.  After 4 months I realised that the industry simply wasn’t for me. As well as the unsocial hours and the lack of training/development, I found myself feeling stressed and out of my depth. 

I went, I met, I chatted, but what do I do after a Careers Fair?

So you attended a Careers Fair this autumn – we had lots to choose from Autumn, Business, Engineering & Technology, Law and Science.

Now here are some tips on what you could do next …
1. Keep the brochures from the recruiters you spoke to and make a quick note of their contact details and your conversations. This will help you to refresh your memory should you choose to apply to the organisation.

2. Check Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin for social media accounts for the organisations you are intrested in. Follow, like or join these to keep up-to-date with what’s happening with the organisation and their recruitment teams.  This will give you greater knowledge of the organisation that you can use throughout the recruitment process.

Science Students – It’s Over to You

 

Mary Smith from Cardiff School of Bioscience offers some guidance for Wednesday’s Fair …

So we’ve done our bit and lined up 20 potential employers for you to speak to at the Science Fair on 6 November 10.30 – 2.30pm in the VJ Gallery, Main Building. So. it’s over to you …

… What we now need is for you is to come along!  Now that may sound rather obvious but it’s amazing how many students simply don’t bother and waste this fantastic opportunity to find employers who you might not otherwise be able to get access too.  All years are welcome.

To get over that awkwardness of introducing yourself and to get the best out of the Fair here are some *top tips for you* 

Ever considered converting to law?

 Cardiff student Lowri tells you more about converting to Law at Cardiff University …

The GDL (Graduate Diploma in Law) is a conversion course which enables graduates of other disciplines to train for a career in the law. It is much sought after by employers, who value the breadth of experience and insights which its students bring to their firms. The qualification is now so popular that GDL graduates make up a large proportion of new lawyers.

Over 80 recruiters targeting Physical, Biomedical and Life Sciences, Engineering and Business students

This Monday (28 October) sees the start of the Engineering and Technology Fair which runs for 3 days with different employers on each day. This is closely followed by the Science Fair, a one-day event on Weds 6 November.

There are over 80 recruiters targeting Physical, Biomedical and Life Sciences, Engineering and Business students over the 4 days – listed below.

These events offer an amazing opportunity for you to meet and impress employers. The recruitment staff attending want to meet you and want to recruit from Cardiff University.

Engin and Tech Fair – Exhibitors on Monday 28 October	Schools Exhibitors are Targeting
Babcock International	Engineering – ACE/EEE/MMM, Computer Science, Business
BAE Systems	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Business
Bouygues	Engineering – ACE
CB & I	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM
CGG	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM, Earth Sciences, Maths, Physics
CGI	Engineering – EEE, Computer Science, Maths, Physics
Delphi Diesel Systems	Engineering – MMM, Computer Science
Dyson Technology Ltd	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry
Fidessa PLC	Engineering – EEE, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Business
Gradcracker	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Architecture, Chemistry, Earth Sciences
HMGCC	Engineering – EEE, Computer Science
Jaguar Land Rover	Engineering – EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Business, Any Discipline
L’Oreal	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Any Discipline
The Magstim Company Ltd	Engineering – EEE, MMM, Physics
Milkround	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Any Discipline
Mott MacDonald	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM
Nuclear Graduates	Any Discipline
Renishaw PLC	Engineering – EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Business
Royal Navy	Any Discipline
Target Jobs	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Any Discipline
Thales UK	Engineering – EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Business
Engin and Tech Fair – Exhibitors on Tuesday 29 October	Schools Exhibitors are Targeting
AECOM	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM, Maths, Architecture, Business, Chemistry, Earth Sciences
Assystem UK Ltd	Engineering – EEE, MMM
Bam Nuttall	Engineering – ACE
BMT Defence Services Ltd	Engineering – EEE, MMM, Computer Science
BT	Engineering – EEE, Computer Science, Any Discipline
Cambridge Network Ltd	Engineering – ACE, EEE,MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Business
Dwr Cymru	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM, Business, Chemistry
Energy Inst	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM, Physics, Architecture, Chemistry, City & Regional Planning, Earth Science
FDM Group	Any Discipline
Hoare Lea	Engineering – EEE, MMM, Architecture
IBM	Engineering – ACE, EE, MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Business, Any Discipline
IPL	Engineering – EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics
Lloyds Register	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM
Matchtech	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Chemistry, City & Regional Planning
Morgan Advanced Materials	Engineering – EEE, MMM, Physics
National Instruments	Engineering – EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics
Network Rail	Engineering – EEE, MMM
Royal Mail	Any Discipline
Schlumberger	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics
Spirax Sarco Ltd	Engineering – EEE, MMM
Tata Steel	Any Discipline
Engin and Tech Fair – Exhibitors on Wednesday 30 October	Schools Exhibitors are Targeting
Amazon	Engineering – EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Business
Atkins	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Business, Chemistry
Costain	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM
Cummins	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Business, Chemistry
Dawnus Construction Ltd	Engineering – ACE
Dialog Semiconductor Ltd	Engineering – EEE
ERA Technology	Engineering – EEE, MMM, Maths, Physics
GE Aviation	Engineering – EEE, Computer Science, Business
Graham Construction	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Earth Sciences
Institute of Physics	Maths, Physics, Chemistry
Intellectual Property Office	Engineering – EEE, MMM, Computer Science
JCB	Engineering – EEE, MMM
Kautex Textron CVS Ltd	Engineering – MMM, Maths, Physics, Business
Mondelez International	Any Discipline, Business, Chemistry, Earth Sciences
Balfour Beatty (Parsons Brinckerhoff)	Engineering – ACE, MMM, Earth Sciences
Pall Corporation	Engineering – EEE, MMM, Maths, Physics, Chemistry
Qinetiq	Engineering – EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Business
Skanska UK Ltd	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM
SPTS Technologies	Engineering – EEE, Computer Science, Physics, Chemistry
Teach First	Engineering – ACE, EEE, MMM, Computer Science, Maths, Physics, Any Discipline
Triumph Motorcycles Ltd	Engineering – EEE, MMM
Vodafone	Engineering – EEE, Computer Science, Maths, Business
Science Fair – Exhibitors Weds 6 November	Schools Exhibitors are Targeting
Akzo Nobel	Chemistry, Business, Engineering, Maths
Dr Knoell Consultants Ltd	Chemistry, Biosciences, Pharmacy
Careers in Academic Research	All Disciplines
CU Careers & Employability	All Disciplines
CU Work Experience Helpzone	All Disciplines
Dŵr Cymru	Chemistry, Business, Engineering
Fugro EMU Limited	Biosciences, Earth Sciences
Fugro Survey Limited	Earth Sciences, Engineering
GE Healthcare	Biosciences, Chemistry, Engineering
AESTE – British Council	Biosciences, Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Maths, Pharmacy, Physics
Johnson Matthey	Chemistry, Engineering
Pall Corporation	Biosciences, Chemistry, Engineering, Physics
Reed Scientific	Biosciences, Chemistry
RSPB Cymru	Biosciences, Earth Sciences
Surcotech International Ltd (Torrecid Group)	Chemistry, Business
Target jobs	Any Discipline
Tata Steel	Chemistry, Engineering, Maths, Physics

For further information about Careers Fairs, Employers and What’s on,  or any other aspect of Careers and Employability visit our website.

Good luck with your career research and planning.

Katrina, Marketing Manager

Opportunities in Law for all degree disciplines

My name is Lowri Morgan, I am currently in my second year studying Law LLB in Cardiff University. I intend to be a commercial lawyer in the future, and have been told the best lawyers are the best business people; and so I have developed an interest in marketing. I am this years student ambassador for the Cardiff Law Fair.

The Cardiff Law Fair is taking place on 5th November in City Hall. This is a great opportunity to meet and talk face to face to over 40 law firms, and attend employer talks on getting a job.