CAREERS SERVICE The Careers Service 10262021 Finding career

CAREERS SERVICE The Careers Service. 10/26/2021 Finding career and courserelated work experience What BMS students need to know Alison Clay, Careers Adviser www. sheffield. ac. uk/careers Dr Louise Robson, Dept of BMS

The Careers Service. “Nearly two-thirds of recruiters warn that graduates who have had no previous work experience at all are unlikely to be successful during the selection process and have little or no chance of receiving a job offer for their organisations’ graduate programmes. ” High Fliers, January 2011 (survey of The Times Top 100 employers) • ‘Expectation’ • Make valuable contacts • Gives you an edge - degree alone is not enough • Find out what you do / don’t want to do • Develop technical & transferable skills • Putting learning into practice • Commercial / organisational awareness • Enjoyable • Earn ££ (hopefully)

The Careers Service. EG application / interview questions • Of the work experience (you have already gained) which did you enjoy the most and why? What did you learn from it? • Please describe key situations where you have worked as part of a team, your contribution and the difference you personally made. • Highlight your contribution to an event or project, detailing how you resolved problems encountered and ensured a successful completion.

The Careers Service. Employers wish-list • Technical, workplace or discipline-specific skills • Transferable skills / attributes: common sense; curiosity; communication; commercial awareness; initiative; creativity; interpersonal; teamwork; negotiation; networking; self-management; selfmotivation; problem-solving; confidence & assertiveness; flexibility; willingness to learn

The Careers Service. Skill development Commitment to (personal effectiveness, core values IT, business driven skills Business awareness Team Players (who can make a difference) EG: What do Astra. Zeneca want? Enthusiasm & Drive (good ideas depend on good people) Innovation (produce novel ideas, generate options and alternatives) Technical skills Analytical thinking diagnosis & developing solutions

The Careers Service. Some options. . This summer / other time Summer 2012 - boost your CV - apply at start of L 2! • Work shadowing and insight days • Year long placement in industry (Claire Brooke) • Volunteering • Part time / temp. work • Summer internships (lab or otherwise) • Clubs & societies / other extra curricular • Lab based work experience ( Dr Louise Robson) • Organise your own ‘placement’ • Organise own ‘placement’

The Careers Service. Which should I choose? What career? • Course-related? Other? • Test various options? • Careers with my degree: www. shef. ac. uk/careers/students/worktypes/bms • Talk to your tutor • Exploring careers: www. shef. ac. uk/careers/students/worktypes/options. html Practicalities • Duration, location, finance… Enjoyment

The Careers Service. Advertised opportunities • My Vacancies – ‘Careers’ tab in MUSE or www. shef. ac. uk/careers/students/jobs • Links to other useful websites: www. shef. ac. uk/careers/students/jobs/tips. html • ‘Where to look’ series – from Careers Service • Devoted publications: Prospects Work Experience, Target Work Experience – from Careers Service • Your academic department • Trade directories, magazines, journals • Professional Associations • Internet search • Company/organisations websites • Ask at the Careers Service….

The Careers Service. Create your own opportunity • Identify: Type, where, when and for how long? Sector? Role? Paid? Other criteria? • Identify: appropriate organisations and named contact • Target CVs and covering letters to named contact • Follow-up named contact after 3 -4 weeks www. shef. ac. uk/careers/students/jobs/tips. html

The Careers Service. Identifying organisations to approach • Occupational profiles: www. prospects. ac. uk/types_of_jobs. htm • Directory of British Associations eg, ABPI • Careers Service information resources: www. shef. ac. uk/careers/students/worktypes/options. html • SYBEN (inc. SMEs): www. syben. org. uk/usefullinks. htm • Sheffield Technology Parks: www. shefftechparks. com • Key British Enterprises • Business search engine - www. kompass. com • Yellow Pages – www. yell. com • Your networks • Universities • Hospitals

The Careers Service. Degree with Employment Experience Include a 1 year placement as part of your degree, making it a 4 year degree Placement taken after year 2 Placement must contribute to learning outcome of your degree and be approved You are responsible for finding placement ( with support from the Careers Service) 2. 1 or above Most don’t accept applications after end November www. shef. ac. uk/placements/students

The Careers Service. Organisations targeting University of Sheffield students

The Careers Service. Opportunities for placements • Talk: Thurs 31 st March at 11 am in Biology LT 1 • Visit www. shef. ac. uk/bms/undergrad/placements/ and www. sheffield. ac. uk/placements/students for more general information • Inform Dr Susan Smith in BMS if considering DEE (Sue. Smith@sheffield. ac. uk) • Contact your personal tutor – you may need an academic reference for some placements • Attend drop in session in Careers Service Tuesday & Thursdays 1 -2 pm (Claire Brooke)

The Careers Service. Applying for work experience • Make it professional and effective! • PUT YOURSELF IN THE EMPLOYER’S SHOES: show you are a good match by demonstrating your skills, interests, qualifications – research employer / industry, and what you have to offer • General tips: www. shef. ac. uk/careers/students/gettingajob • Applications reviews available Careers Service

The Careers Service. Worried about your lack of skills? No examples to give to employers? Skills for Work Certificate • • Recognition for your work experience (paid or unpaid) Reflection on the skills you have developed Endorsed by major graduate employers Can count towards The Sheffield Graduate Award NOW taking registrations for briefing sessions in Semester Two Find out more and register for the programme at: www. shef. ac. uk/careers/students/advice/sfwc. html

The Careers Service. The Sheffield Graduate Award Recognise skills and experience from: Student jobs and work experience Volunteering Enterprise Activities supporting the institution Social and cultural awareness Extending international horizons www. shef. ac. uk/thesheffieldgraduateaward

The Careers Service. Handout: Finding work experience – Information for BMS students

The Careers Service. CAREERS SERVICE Where to find us…. . 10/26/2021 Careers Service - 388 Glossop Road (behind SU building) Open 9 am - 5 pm Mon to Fri (11 am – 5 pm Tues) Student Jobshop - Students’ Union Building Open 10 am – 3 pm Mon to Fri (11 am – 3 pm Tues) www. shef. ac. uk/careers www. sheffield. ac. uk/careers

The Careers Service. Dr Louise Robson Dept of Biomedical Science