Career Launch: Job-Hunting, CV and Applications Advice for Budding Space Engineers

Bite-sized CV and Space Careers

Workshop 2012/13

www.careersinaerospace.com

Rosalind Azouzi

Careers and Education Manager [email protected]

RAeS CAREERS WORKSHOP 2012/13

Who we are

CV group exercise and conclusions

Job hunting and applications

Supporting your professional development

TODAY’S WORKSHOP STRUCTURE


RAeS is the world’s only professional body dedicated to the aerospace community

Promote high professional standards

Play a leading role in influencing opinion on aerospace matters

Support career development and youth initiatives including dedicated Careers department

Accredit professional development schemes and university courses

Registered Charity

THE HOME FOR AEROSPACE PROFESSIONALS

WHO WE ARE, AND WHAT WE DO

RAeS CAREERS WORKSHOP 2012/13 www.careersinaerospace.com

CVS – GROUP EXERCISE

You are the HR Team for a large aerospace manufacturer, looking to recruit an graduate engineer. Look at the four CVs. Which one would you shortlist for the last available interview slot which would you reject, and why? You can only select one of the candidates! Consider: • Structure, length, layout, • Information given, language, grammar etc. • Relevance to job • Selling points – does the student attempt to put a good case

forward? You have just five minutes!



CVs – CONCLUSIONS



TWO pages;

Clear, logical structure:

1. Name (heading)

2. Contact details incl. mobile and sensible e-mail

3. Objective/Personal Profile – tailored to needs of the employer!

4. Education – reverse chronological order

5. 5. Work Experience/

Employment History

6. - could break down if you have

different types of experience

7. 6. Skills section

8. 7. Other interests/info

9. 8. Two referees – one academic

and one professional

10. Check for spelling,

punctuation and grammar!

N.B. As your career progresses, the format will change. You may wish to move

Employment before Education; add professional qualifications; use letters after your name

such as MRAeS or MIMechE. You may be able to list skills with less detail as your role,

responsibilities and achievements start to speak for themselves!

You can visit the RAeS for help developing your CV as your career evolves

YOU ARE MORE THAN A DEGREE

The Working Environment:

• Communication (oral and written)

• Interpersonal skills

• Innovation and Creativity

• Analytical and Problem-Solving ability

• Team-working

• Time Management

• Leadership potential

• Initiative

• IT

• Languages

Note the similarity with the

competence framework for

CEng!

The Business Context:

• Specialist technical knowledge

• Commercial awareness: What impact do external factors have on airlines, airports and aerospace manufacturers?

E.g. competitors, recession, defence spending cuts, emerging economies, oil prices, deregulation, terrorism, environmental pressures, politics, mergers & acquisitions, etc.

• Who is the Customer (airline, government) or the Supplier? contracts, tendering …


ONLINE APPLICATIONS AND INTERVIEWS

• Online forms will ask you specific, detailed skills-based

questions and/or for a personal statement

• You should also research the company in detail

• Prepare your skills on a separate document

• Practise at www.selectsimulator.com

• Interviews: articulate them out loud!

• Psychometric testing, group exercises,

presentations to test your skills

• Assessment centres

• Online Self Assessment Portal –


• Prepare in advance!


YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW YOUR SKILLS!

Aircraft Manufacturers

Component Manufacturers

Design and Innovation

Aircraft Maintenance, airworthiness and quality

Environment

Defence/Civil/Homeland Security

Space engineering

‘SME’s, ‘second tier’ suppliers and ‘primes’ etc.

‘OEMs’, ‘MROs’ …

With around 1000 related companies in the UK alone!

WHAT IS AEROSPACE?

JOB-HUNTING

www.careersinaerospace.com RAeS CAREERS WORKSHOP 2012/13

Space facts:

• Provides 19,100

direct UK jobs

• Supports 68,000

UK jobs through

wider spending

• C. £5.5BN GDP

FINDING VACANCIES

• Register on recruitment websites

• Check out regional industry websites

and www.ukspacedirectory.com

• Visit Careersinaerospace.com

• Attend recruitment fairs

• Use other events for networking

• Get your free copy of the RAeS Handbook and job-hunting pack from [email protected]

• Consolidate the information: create a spreadsheet and an action plan!

• Note closing dates

• You can now also register with the Talent Retention Solution www.talentretention.biz


RECRUITMENT IS UNDERWAY!

‘GRADUATE’ EMPLOYMENT

• Most major aerospace manufacturing companies run graduate

schemes (similar for construction)

• Majority of positions filled by early Spring

• Look out for direct entry roles

• Online applications take ages!

• High competition

• Don’t forget there are hundreds of SMEs (Small to Medium-sized

Enterprises) which can also offer good opportunities


NETWORKING

• Making contacts to try and find vacancies ‘by the back door’

• ’80% of vacant posts are not advertised’ (how do they know?!)

• Social media – Linked In, Twitter etc.

• Events

• Free student place at RAeS specialist conference? For example:

Enhancing air crew performance – Aviation Medicine Group

Space Traffic Control – Space Group

• Free public lectures throughout UK and year. For example:

Spies in the Skies – How Satellites Saved the World, Yeovilton

• Take your time – may not be able to ask everyone you meet for a job

or internship!

• ‘Breaking the ice’ – have you got an interesting conversation opener?

• Practice makes perfect!


MORE CAREERS SUPPORT FROM US

• 1-2-1 appointment service: free and unlimited, in person and

by telephone

CV reviews, skills advice, online applications, covering letter

reviews, interview preparation etc.

• Dedicated website: www.careersinaerospace.com

Resource section – company directory, CV, skills, interview

advice etc., recruitment news

• Careers in Aerospace LIVE, Friday 8 November 2013, HQ

FREE and open to all

• Scholarships – CENTENNIAL FUND AND NEW MSc

Aerospace Bursary

• Young Persons Events: AeroChallenge - 15 March 2013;

Lecture; Awards and Conference later in year

RAeS CAREERS AND EDUCATION TEAM & YOUNG PERSONS’ ACTIONS


INTRODUCING THE E-ASSOCIATE RATE


NEW!

• Existing student members – upgrade to E-

Associate for £40* for one year following

graduation

• ARAeS letters after your name

• Continued use of all services including

electronic magazines, Careers service and

Library

• Access to mycareerpath for recording your

professional development

• Discounted rates at conferences and more!

• Only for existing student members so join

now for free if you haven’t already done so!

Career Launch: Job-Hunting, CV and Applications Advice for Budding Space Engineers

Career

Transcript of Career Launch: Job-Hunting, CV and Applications Advice for Budding Space Engineers