Finding work or further study WHERE ARE THE GRADUATE JOBS?

Finding work or further study WHERE ARE THE GRADUATE JOBS?

What are graduate jobs? Graduate jobs can be termed as immediate ie immediately available and future vacancies, advertised at a particular time or all year round with the expected start date to be the summer you graduate. The latter tend to be graduate training schemes, which have early closing dates and are aimed in the main at top honours graduates. Either way, it is best to start looking for your graduate job as early as possible in your final or postgraduate year. What do I need to know? Graduate vacancies can be found in a wide variety of places including online, newspapers, recruitment agencies, and don t forgot speculative applications targeting specific companies of interest directly. Perhaps you are considering setting up your own business venture or pursuing further study to progress in an existing or entirely different direction? Alternatively, you might not be ready to get into the workplace and may wish to consider taking some time out or undertaking voluntary work?

What do I do next? Resources GRADUATE LABOUR MARKET RGU GRADUATE DESTINATION INFORMATION A survey of graduate destinations is undertaken annually by the Careers Centre which can be made available via Careers Consultants. LABOUR MARKET: ABERDEEN www.agcc.co.uk Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce www.neser.org.uk North East Scotland Economic Forum www.northeastworking.com www.scottish-enterprise.com/grampian LABOUR MARKET: SCOTLAND www.futureskillsscotland.org.uk www.agcasscotland.org.uk/sorted Finding Your First Graduate Job in Scotland. www.scottish-enterprise.com www.thescotsman.scotsman.com www.scotland.gov.uk/stats www.careers-scotland.org.uk LABOUR MARKET: UK www.prospects.ac.uk Labour Market Trends, Occupational Profiles and Sector Briefings www.agr.org.uk Association of Graduate Recruiters www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk www.statistics.gov.uk

JOB VACANCIES RGU: JOBSHOP Search our database for vacancies notified to RGU from employers in the UK and overseas (part-time, placement, graduate training schemes, immediate vacancies, vacation work). Updated daily on the Careers website (www.rgu.ac.uk/careers). EMPLOYER PRESENTATIONS Every year employers come to RGU to give presentations about graduate opportunities within their organisation mainly in the first and the beginning of the second semester. RECRUITMENT FAIRS These give you a great opportunity to meet and talk with employers. At RGU we host a Careers Fair in Autumn and Graduate Recruitment Fair in May. OTHER UNIVERSITY VACANCY BULLETINS See Your uni careers service on www.prospects.ac.uk to link to individual UK university career service websites to check online vacancies if available on open access. KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PARTNERSHIPS (KTP) www.ktp-link.co.uk KTP offers business based training and personal and professional development, whilst managing a project within a company in collaboration with a higher education institution. EMPLOYER DIRECTORIES/JOURNALS www.prospects.ac.uk www.hobsons.com www.doctorjob.com www.top100graduateemployers.com www.insidecareers.co.uk www.bestcompaniesguide.co.uk

NEWSPAPERS www.thisisnorthscotland.co.uk (Press and Journal, Aberdeen) www.jobs.telegraph.co.uk (The Daily Telegraph - UK) www.guardian.co.uk/jobs (The Guardian - UK) www.theherald.co.uk (The Herald mainly Scotland) www.independent.co.uk (The Independent - UK) www.scottishjobstoday.co.uk (The Scotsman) www.scotcareers.co.uk (Scottish Recruitment) www.timesonline.co.uk (The Times - UK) www.thesjobs.co.uk (Times Higher Education Supplement - UK) JOB CENTRE PLUS Check out vacancies available online at www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk or visit your local Job Centre Plus. PROFESSIONAL JOURNALS/PROFESSIONAL BODY WEBSITES FOR VACANCIES Professional bodies which advertise vacancies target new and experienced graduates and keeping abreast of vacancies and new developments in your field is beneficial at whatever stage. RECRUITMENT AGENCIES Recruitment Agencies act as intermediaries between employers and suitable candidates. The role of the agency is to match suitable applicants with companies that are actively recruiting to fill vacancies. (There is no charge to the applicant only to employers). Recruitment Agencies offer a wide range of full-time or part-time, permanent or temporary positions in a variety of fields. Vacancies can be for non-graduate positions as well as professional roles that require a degree. Certain agencies specialise in particular areas eg engineering, finance, IT, sales and marketing etc. Remember Recruitment Consultants are not Careers Advisers therefore will not provide careers advice. You need to be clear about the skills, knowledge and experience you have to offer and the type of work you are looking to secure. Recruitment Agencies are therefore a useful resource if you are looking for graduate employment, part-time work or seeking work experience to add to your CV. Additionally such opportunities can allow students and graduates to make new contacts or identify other permanent employment. Recruitment Agencies often have to respond quickly to fill posts and may have many applicants to place. Therefore it is advisable to make frequent contact.

HIDDEN JOB MARKET A recent survey suggests that around 70% of positions are never advertised but are filled by speculative applications, word of mouth or internal transfers! Statistics like this do need to be applied with caution, however it is true that the benefits of tapping into the hidden job market can be underestimated by many students and graduates when looking for employment. Networking is a way of building a list of suitable employers and contacts who may be able to help you with your job search. There is no guarantee that you will receive a positive response, some students get no response after sending out 100 speculative applications, another student will send one and it lands on the right desk, right time and they are successful. Begin with a maximum of 5-10 applications, any more than this and they will lose their individuality and read like a blanket letter. Talk to people, make direct contact with employers and tell everyone you know (friends, family, neighbour, colleagues on sports teams etc) that you are looking for job opportunities. Someone always knows where a job might be coming up so seize the opportunity. Attend professional events in your chosen job area if you can and also bear in mind asking academic staff for contacts. If you lack experience in the area of work you are trying to get into, voluntary work/shadowing is a good option to build your knowledge and skills, enhances your CV and will help to convince an employer of your genuine interest in the job. Various voluntary work opportunities are advertised via the Careers Centre and locally via Voluntary Services Aberdeen. Again speculative applications are a good route to voluntary work so target your CV carefully to companies/organisations of interest. USEFUL WEBSITES/RESOURCES TO TARGET SPECIFIC COMPANIES/ORGANISATIONS: www.aberdeencitydirectory.com www.aberdeenshirebusiness.net www.agcasscotland.org.uk/scotbase www.pegasusoil-gasdirectory.co.uk/html/frame.html www.yell.com www.rgu.ac.uk/library Business and Technical Department, Aberdeen City Libraries SELF EMPLOYMENT The idea of self-employment appeals to many students and graduates who are keen to establish their own business, to be their own boss, to work in the area of their choice and often to fulfil a lifelong ambition. Self-employment can be very hard work involving long hours and a lot of commitment but the benefits often outweigh these. Simon Fraser, Regional Manager SIE is the contact within the university who would be happy to discuss your business ideas. Contact him via e-mail ext.fraser1@rgu.ac.uk or telephone 262690.

USEFUL WEBSITES: British Franchise Association www.thebfa.org Business Gateway www.bgateway.com Business Link www.businesslink.gov.uk Embreonix www.embreonix.com Enterprise North East Trust www.enetrust.com Prince s Scottish Youth Business Trust www.psybt.org.uk Shell Livewire www.shell-livewire.org Technology Ventures Scotland www.technologyventures.org UK Patent Office www.patent.gov.uk USE RGU: CAREERS CENTRE AND INFOZONE+ RESOURCES Log onto www.rgu.ac.uk/careers to access a wide range of information including the online Careers Information Gateway (CIG)* 1 and use the resources in the Careers Library. We hold a range of information on job hunting and applications. Come along to a Drop-in session or book an individual career consultation with a Careers Consultant to discuss your action plan for identifying suitable graduate vacancies.* 2 Attend a Where are the graduate jobs? Essential Skills Session* 2 Pick up other appropriate leaflets e.g. Making applications from the Getting Started series. Watch Can I have a few minutes of your time? DVD (to assist you with networking activities) available to view without appointment. AGCAS (the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services) Produce an extensive range of career information, available online via the Prospects website www.prospects.ac.uk Most online publications are available for reference or collection from the Careers Centre and InfoZone + See the Job Seeking Strategies booklet available online at www.prospects.ac.uk/links/appsinterviews See the Self Employment booklet available online at www.prospects.ac.uk/links/selfemp * 1 Development project 2007-08 * 2 Bookings for appointments and Essential Skills Sessions can be made online by logging into the Services to Students or Services to graduates area of the Careers Centre website www.rgu.ac.uk/careers. Students please use your University (Novell) username and password, graduates follow on-screen instructions. Please see careers website for Drop-in session times.