A little book to get you started...

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/students

Contents
4 Your Careers account CareersLink 16 CVs and applications 17 Interviews 18 Psychometric tests and assessment centres 19 Graduate jobs 20 Graduate internships 21 Further study 22 Self-employment 23 Postgraduate students 24 International students 25 Careers as diverse as you are 26 To-do list 5 Get started

Follow us
Facebook:
Join school or topic-specific careers Facebook groups to get instant access to advice, events and the latest job opportunities, ask questions and share your thoughts.

6 Information and advice services 7 8 9 Research career options Stand out from the crowd Meet an employer

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/facebook

Twitter:
Youre only a tweet away from the latest careers news, including industry updates and opportunities you wont see anywhere else.

10 Get connected 11 Work experience 12 Mentoring 13 Develop your skills 14 Volunteer 15 Manchester Leadership Programme (MLP)

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/twitter

Blog:
Advice and news for - undergraduates, postgraduates, graduates and international students.

http://manunicareersblog.com
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Get started Your Careers account CareersLink

CareersLink is a free and easy to use database to help you manage all your careers activities. If you dont know what you want to do after graduation, get suggestions to help you investigate your options and reflect on your skills, abilities and interests.

Give your career a KickStart

Try our Career KickStart interactive tool; it only takes three minutes and youll receive a report with advice on planning your next steps.

Look for job vacancies. Search and register for careers fairs and events. Set-up personalised email alerts for new opportunities
and events.

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/careerkickstart
Use the Getting Started section of our website, which will assist you in analysing your strengths, skills and values through simple tests and activities, helping you develop plans for the future.

Access the organisation directory. View your event and appointment bookings. Make bookings for Applications Advice. Take part in Manchester Gold mentoring.
Log into CareersLink using your university username and password.

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/gettingstarted

www.manchester.ac.uk/careerslink
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Research career options

How do I find out about career options in marketing? Which accountancy exams do I need to take? What are the routes into teaching?

Information and advice services

Ask questions, explore options, research employers and courses. Ask the Information Team: Tips and advice to get you started. No appointment necessary. Careers Library: Books, journals, takeaway guides and directories to help you research employment and study options both in the UK and overseas. Applications Advice: Feedback on your draft CV or application. Guidance appointment: Discuss your career plans or job hunting strategies. Explore your options or how to improve your employability. A practice interview: to give you feedback on your technique.

Start with our online Sector pages - introductions to graduate entry for a wide range of careers. Includes information on training, getting experience and finding opportunities. Visit the Careers Service to pick up guides and use our library or browse our reference books and journals.

Talk to us
Ring or pop in to ask our Information staff about where to start. We may suggest an appointment with a Careers Consultant for advice on the most appropriate route into your chosen career.

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/sectors

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/services
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Meet an employer Stand out from the crowd

A good degree is not enough to land a job, its a competitive market out there! Our research shows that five simple actions are key to success in your job-search and career. Explore and research options and opportunities using our events, careers library and website. Connect with employers through mentoring, events and LinkedIn. Communicate with different audiences through academic studies, volunteering, society work and work experience. Reflect on your progress so far and on feedback you have received, and take action. Persevere, when things get tough keep going. There are lots of opportunities to network with potential employers, ask questions and practise your skills. You can meet large graduate recruiters, small and medium sized businesses and voluntary organisations at careers fairs, recruitment events, information sessions and skills workshops, all here in Manchester. Ask about what its like to work in their organisation. Get advice on how to make an effective application. Find out what skills they are looking for. Learn about key issues and developments in their sector. Practise your networking skills.

Search for all our events and sign up for personalised alerts via CareersLink.

www.manchester.ac.uk/careerslink

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/employable
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Work experience Get connected Follow Its not alwaysus what you know, but who you know.
Many jobs are never advertised. The more connected you are, the Facebook: more opportunities youll hear about and the greater the chance that Join School or topic-specific careers Facebook groups to you will be in the right place at the right time. Grow your network by: get instant access to advice, events and the latest job Talking about your career with and family. opportunities, ask questions and friends share your thoughts. Most graduate employers look for evidence of previous work experience, and many use internships to talent spot for their graduate training schemes.

So what are the options?

Placements: Part of your academic programme ask in your School if you can do a placement as part of your course or by interrupting your degree. Part-time jobs: Usually up to 15 hours a week, great for gaining skills for your CV. Student internships: Most commonly in summer 8-10 weeks long. Graduate internships: 4-12 months long (see MGIP page 20).

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/facebook Creating a LinkedIn profile.

Getting a mentor through Manchester Gold career mentoring Twitter: programme (page 12).from the latest careers news, including Youre only a tweet away industry updates and opportunities you wont see anywhere else. Attending workshops and events with employers and industry www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/twitter professionals. Through Blog: our online guides you can learn how to use social media sites such as LinkedIn part of your job Postgraduates, hunting, and be confident in Advice and news for -as Undergraduates, Graduates, making new contacts. International Students & Media Club.

Join the Facebook group to get alerts and tips on finding work experience:

www.facebook.com/groups/manchestercareersinternships
Visit our website and CareersLink to find out about opportunities and workshops designed to help you stand out from the competition.

http://manunicareersblog.com www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/networking
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www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/workexperience
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Develop your skills

Employers are looking for evidence in your CV or application of skills that match their requirements. It is important to build up your employability skills through a variety of experiences. There are lots of opportunities available for you: Career Management Skills courses can build on your skills by taking part in group projects and case studies. Look in your School handbook to find out if there is one you can take part in. Get involved in a club or society, and make a difference. Volunteer for a charity or community group, or perhaps become a peer mentor at the University (page 14). Get an internship or a placement to experience different careers and gain real workplace skills (page 11).

Mentoring
Mentoring is a great way of researching your options through speaking to someone who is doing a job you may want to do in the future. Manchester Gold Mentoring: Matches you on a one-to-one basis with a career mentor who will support you through face-to-face meetings, telephone, Skype conversations and email. We have mentors in a wide range of sectors including the media, finance, education, marketing, retail, engineering and science. We also run separate specialist streams for diverse student groups who may have particular issues surrounding employability.

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/skills

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/manchestergold
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Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way of meeting new people, trying different things, being part of your local community, making a difference and, of course, gaining essential experience to improve your job prospects. For some careers, like teaching and the charity sector, voluntary experience is vital. For others it gives you the chance to develop and demonstrate the transferable skills that all employers look for. You can access hundreds of local volunteering opportunities via CareersLink as well as information on other national and international opportunities. Our team are here to help you find volunteering that suits you. So whether youre interested in helping young people, older people, the environment, the arts or healthcare, or want a business role such as fundraising, events management, marketing or IT, we have something for you. Why not complete your volunteering as part of the Manchester Leadership Programme (page 15)?

Manchester Leadership Programme (MLP)

The MLP has two parts:
A Leadership in Action unit, either 10 or 20 credits, lecture-based or online (depending on your programme). Lectures are delivered by todays leaders from business, the community and academia. The module explores the key challenges facing 21st century leaders such as poverty, energy and the environment, social inequality, health and education. 20 to 60 hours of approved volunteering in the community. It will give you an insight into issues facing society, the chance to make a difference in your local community and develop a wide range of skills.

When you complete both parts of the programme, you will earn the prestigious Manchester Leadership Award which looks great on your CV. The MLP is a level 2 undergraduate option, and does not require any prior knowledge of the subject areas covered.

www.manchester.ac.uk/volunteers
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www.manchester.ac.uk/mlp
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Interviews
So, why should we hire you?

CVs and applications

A good CV or application: should reflect your skills, experiences and strengths. be tailored specifically for the job or course you are applying for. be free of spelling and grammar errors.

A successful interview requires preparation. Research the employer and the role to understand which skills, experiences, motivations and personal qualities are being sought. Reflect on the evidence you have to demonstrate your skills and personal qualities. Research the sector or industry to gain commercial awareness. Read our interview guides and watch the videos on our website to get tips for structuring your answers. Attend interview skills sessions check CareersLink for details. Practise your interview technique, feedback will help you improve.

Use the guides and examples on our website to create a draft. Guides are also available to collect from the Careers Service. Applications Advice sessions offer constructive feedback on your draft book online via CareersLink, in person or by phone.

Dont leave it until the closing date!

Some recruiters fill their vacancies as early as October, apply sooner rather than later.

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/interviews

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/applicationsadvice
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Psychometric tests and assessment centres

You may be invited to an assessment centre as part of the interview process. Typical exercises include psychometric tests (verbal, numerical and analytical), personality questionnaires, in-tray/e-tray exercises, group work, role plays, case studies, presentations and business games.

Looking for a graduate job?

Graduate schemes Often last 2-3 years and are common for management, finance, accountancy and engineering. Highly publicised on campus and usually offered by large, well-known companies recruiting many graduates. Graduate level jobs Opportunities where a degree-level qualification is required or desirable. Most graduates start their careers by working for a small-to-medium sized enterprise. Graduate internships Usually short-term placements up to one year in length. An excellent way to gain experience and skills to prepare you for your next step. Find out about our Manchester Graduate Internship Programme (page 20). All these plus volunteering and other short term work options suitable for students and graduates are advertised on CareersLink. Dont forget not all jobs are advertised, consider approaching organisations directly, or using recruitment agencies and networking (page 10).

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/assessmentcentres
The key for success is preparation. We provide: Practice tests, case studies and practice assessment days to help you develop your technique. Books and online tests to help you get up to speed. One-to-one advice on the best ways to prepare. With good preparation therell be no nasty surprises and youll feel less anxious about impressing at the assessment centre. Be warned: even if the job you are applying for is not directly related to numbers you may still be required to complete a numerical test. Many of you may not have done maths since your GCSEs so you will need time to practise!

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/ findingworkaftergraduation
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www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/psychometric
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Considering further study? Manchester Graduate Internship Programme (MGIP)

MGIP provides an exciting opportunity for new graduates to gain short-term, paid, graduate-level work experience in the Greater Manchester region. Internships last 4 to 12 months and are available across a range of sectors and types of organisations, including not-for-profits and small to medium-sized enterprises. Equipped with new knowledge and experience, interns have a great opportunity to progress quickly from new graduate to successful professional. Postgraduate study can have many benefits, including boosting your employability as you may need to do a professional qualification to help you onto a specific career path, or improving your knowledge as you may really enjoy your degree and want to study the subject further. Whatever your reasons, we can help you with: Choosing the right course and institution for you either in the UK or overseas. Finding information on funding. Making your application. Preparing for an interview. We hold a Postgraduate Study Fair in the autumn which gives you the opportunity to talk to lots of different UK and overseas universities all in one place.

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/mgip
Find out more about working in Manchester and the North West region.

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/furtherstudy

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/northwest
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Just for postgrads

Need help with forging a career in academia, industry or the public sector, or continuing with further study? Try our specialist postgraduate careers information and advice, tailored to the specific needs of our postgraduates: Specialist postgraduate web pages, including 18 How to ... career guides, a year-by-year career planning guide for doctoral researchers and online postgraduate career talks, available whenever you need them. Our Postgraduate Blog for news, comment, events and information to help your career http://manunicareersblog.com/category/ postgraduate Twitter, for up to the minute news and vacancy alerts: www.twitter.com/ManPGCareers Our award-winning website for aspiring academics An Academic Career: www.manchester.ac.uk/academiccareer Individual advice from careers specialists trained to work with postgraduates Did you know? A quarter of all our careers appointments are with postgrads.

Self-employment
Thinking of becoming your own boss? Spotted a gap in the market for a product or business you have developed? Got a great business idea but not sure what to do next? Its OK to feel a bit unsure about where to start when going it alone. We can help you become an entrepreneur of the future. Increasingly, some graduates are starting their own business, seeing self-employment as a more flexible way to live and earn. We can help you on your way with access to resources and information on activities such as producing a business plan, getting financial support or building up your networks and contacts. Look out for events that we run to help you with setting up or your own business or make an appointment with a Careers Consultant.

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/selfemployment
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www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/pg
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Careers as diverse as you are Are you an international student?

We can help you to boost your job prospects with global employers and explore how to make the most of your UK study experience. Services for international students: Dedicated blog, Facebook group and careers webpages. Specialist workshops and events. Online networks connecting you to international alumni. International mentors to provide support. International jobs on CareersLink. Find out more at: We appreciate that everyone is different; we treat you fairly and as individuals. Our services are available to all regardless of age, ethnicity, gender, disability, sexuality and socio-economic background. Our staff are trained to help you with employability issues concerned with equality and diversity. Our tailored events and services include the Ethnic Diversity Fair and Manchester Gold. We also run an annual workshop delivered by EmployAbility, a not-for-profit organisation which supports disabled students and graduates into the workplace. If you are a disabled student and would like to receive information about our targeted events and/or vacancies you can also register your interest by emailing: [email protected] If you need further information or advice ondiversity and careers, your rights and help with job search strategies, please visit our website or book an appointment.

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/international/ whatsonoffer
Look out for International Students Careers Week in November for a range of events and information sessions.

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/diversity

www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/international
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Your to-do list

Youve read the book, now what are you going to do? Use the following to tick off your next steps. Not sure about career plans? Have a look at our Getting Started web pages. Talk to our professionally trained staff to explore your next steps. Do something (work experience, student societies, and sports) to build up your CV. Set up alerts in CareersLink to find out about fairs, events and the latest job vacancies. Check application opening dates for graduate schemes so you can get your application in early. Get your CV or application reviewed via the Applications Advice service. Explore your networks and set up a LinkedIn account. Get practical advice on interviews and assessment centres from experienced staff and recruiters. Celebrate landing a job!
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Miss it, miss out

Within the last year... 11,320 followers on Twitter. 15,332 Facebook group members. 35,026 visits to the Careers Service. 35,072 users of CareersLink. 82,396 hits on our blog. (Correct at the time of going to print)

Join us and open the door to a world of opportunities. www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/students

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University Place Kilburn Building

RNCM The Manchester Museum

Contact us
www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/aboutus/contact e: [email protected] t: 0161 275 2829 Careers Service, The Atrium, 1st floor, University Place, Oxford Road Open all year round www.manchester.ac.uk/careers/students
Printed on recycled paper