Graduating this year?

What skills do employers want? Take a look at this article on the Inside Careers website.

Think about talking to the Careers team about you job search/career – even if it’s just for a CV check!  Book an appointment.

Gap in your CV?

An article on the eFinancialCareers site may help you to address this – be honest, don’t be negative, and explain the gap.  Although targeted towards those who work in the finance sector it should give you some tips to help you explain at interview.

Not getting interviews?

One reason for this might be your CV!  Take a look at this post on the Inside Careers blog (May 2016).

Book an appointment for a CV review, or come in talk about other possible causes.  We’re here to help you.

How to write an effective international CV

Take a look at this article on the Transitions Abroad website if you’re applying to work globally.  Have it reviewed once you’re happy with your draft CV…

3 minutes 14 seconds

Recent research suggests that employers spend just that amount of time looking at CVs before making a decision (research by New College of Humanities, 2015).

Scary thought?  Get your CV checked before you apply:

• by a Careers Consultant during a Quick Query session – if you’re applying for part-time, internship, voluntary or graduate vacancies
• by your Placement Internship Adviser – if you’re applying for a structured placement as part of your course

Book an appointment

Something wrong?

Are you getting no response from recruiters when you send in your CV?  Maybe it needs a fresh look?  Your CV acts as your introduction, and recruiters will decide whether or not they should call you for interview from the information that you include.

Our team of Careers Consultants can help you to reflect on your skills and experiences to make your CV relevant to the job(s) for which you are applying.

‘Six scientifically validated tricks to make recruiters love your CV’ article on efinancialcareers may prove interesting reading.

Do you have it?

It’s a skill that employers want…  commercial awareness.

Do you understand the role that money plays in business success?  Join a free online course delivered through videos, animations, interviews, hints and tips, quizzes and discussions with other learners around the world – just four hours per week over four weeks – starting on 28 September 2015!

The course will enable you to map your skills and gain evidence of your experience, to create a comprehensive record of learning and develop your CV.

We’re open

during the summer!  You may just be relaxing and enjoying the break from uni….

or…

you may decide you would like some help from the PCC.  So, get in touch.

How do you find our contact details?  Look at www.brunel.ac.uk/services/pcc/contact-us/people or call the Careers Team on 01895 266840 or the Placement Team on 01895 266841.

2:2 or mitigating circumstances job hunt

Don’t know which companies will consider your application?  Take a look at these articles on the TARGETjobs website:

• How to job hunt if you get a 2.2 when you graduate
• Targeting the finance sector?  Find out which companies may employ you and how to explain in your applications mitigating circumstances such as illness

Careers consultants can check your applications, CV or cover letters.  Quick Query sessions are ideal for this.  No worries if you’re not able to come back to Uni as you can also get help by email, ‘phone and Skype – just let us know when you contact us!

Wherever you are…

Interact.. Get information.. Ask questions!  Just by joining a webinar.  Take a look at the programme.

Any problems registering?  Just email careers-events@brunel.ac.uk for help.

Take a test

to evaluate your potential for a business or finance career that will also market you (anonymously!) to recruiters!

Recruiters identify and contact best fit candidates for their roles by searching on the sections of the test that are relevant to their vacancy.  Get an insight from students who have sat the Test and, as a result, found a job.

Why should you take the Bloomberg Assessment Test?

• It could lead to a job or internship in the finance industry
• It will help you to evaluate your skills
• It’s a great addition to your CV
• It’s open to all student and recent graduates – all levels and disciplines
• It’s free!

Not sure that it’s right for you?  Try some sample questions.

Graduate recruiters: What do they look for?

They look for the skills and competencies that you will need to work in their organisation and do the job that you’re applying for.  Read this article (TARGETjobs) to find out more about some of the skills you’re going to need to be successful in your job search.

Get started in law

Simon Wilson, Senior Solicitor at Neil Hudgell Solicitors, talks about how he got started in law and how young hopefuls can start their professional careers in the field of law. 

1  What led to you become a Solicitor?
Following my degree (LLB Hons Law) I was lucky enough to get a place at the College of Law at York to do my LPC which I did the following academic year.  I had by then secured a Training contract which I went into straight away.  I qualified in 1996.

I have never practiced criminal law – I started doing clinical negligence on qualifying and it fascinated me. I wouldn’t suggest that students specialise too much at university though.  I would suggest trying to get different work placements as this will give a student more of a feel for the type of law they wish to specialise in.

 2  Do you think there’s a type of person suited to becoming a solicitor?  What key skills do they need?
You need common sense as well as intelligence – they are really not the same thing. In my field of clinical negligence you need analytical skills and a dogged determination to get the best outcome for your client.  Litigation lawyers are usually argumentative by nature.

3  What’s the most interesting part of your job?
Piecing together a case from client’s recollection, review of records and medical reports. Clients can have many volumes of records and a full review can take hours.  You need to be able to spot the needle in the haystack.  One page out of thousands may be the key, so you need to be analytical and have powers of concentration!

4  How can applicants stand out from the crowd?
Do something different. Interests such as reading or going to the cinema are ten a penny.  Do some community work, get some sports coaching badges, and something that makes you interesting to someone who sees 20 CVs a week. Work experience helps.  It shows you are committed.

There are many applicants for every job so you need to show commitment and enthusiasm for the law.  When interviewing though the main thing is personality.  Yes I need to know people have the knowledge but I also need to know they will fit in with my team.  Work on interviewing skills and technique is never wasted.

5  What is the most important piece of advice you can give a law student/graduate?
Be certain it’s what you want to do then be determined to get to where you want.  It is hard work and you need drive to succeed.  Do work experience.  Offer to do holiday work at no cost.  It shows commitment.  But the main thing is never give up. You will get knockbacks and it is how you recover from those that matters.

Go local

Looking for part-time or vacation work?

Check out these resources:

• Jobs Board
• Looking for local employment
• Working in UK regions
• Finding work experience
• Festival/Events work
• Working internationally: Voluntary work
• Using recruitment agencies

You’ll need an up-to-date CV if you’re applying for jobs and you can find examples on our website.  Once you’re happy with it you can get it reviewed during a Quick Query session.

Are you CV ready?

Whether you’re applying for jobs, courses, research opportunities you’re going to need an up-to-date CV that sells your skills, has an instant impact, and gets you that interview!  Check out these examples and visit the PCC for a CV review.

Tips to help you secure a postdoc post

Take a look a this article (February 2015) in The Guardian giving tips from academics to help you improve your chances.

Take two

Creative CVs in pictures

Eight CV tips

CV power words

Take a look at this eFinancialCareers article giving power words that will invigorate a CV for an investment banking role.  The suggestions could be useful for applications for other sectors too!  Just think laterally to find suitable words for the role(s) for which you are applying.

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Come up and see us sometime

So, who are we?  We’re the Placement and Careers Centre – known for short as the PCC – part of the School of Professional Development.

How can we help you?  We can:

• Give you CV examples and review your CV once you’ve written it
• Check your cover letter/email
• Help you with your job search – whether it’s work experience, or a part-time, placement, internship, or graduate opportunity
• Talk through your career options – whether you’ve already decided what you want to do or have no idea
• Help with your questions about postgraduate study
• Help you to prepare for interviews, psychometric tests and assessment centres
• and ???

Just come in and ask…  You can find us on the 1st Floor in the Bannerman Centre – come in the main Library entrance and up the stairs in front of the Student Centre.

Successful job search: statistical predictors

Check out the ‘Statistical predictors that your search for a new job will be successful’ article on the eFinancialCareers website.