IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE
In an emergency requiring evacuation, you are requested to use the emergency exit route identified
Mewn argyfwng pan fo angen dianc o’r ddarlithfa, gofynnir i chi ddefnyddio’r allanfa argyfwng penodedig
RHYBUDD DIOGELWCH PWYSIG
Aled Williams
Cardiff University
Careers & Employability
To provide you with a sound understanding of the work experience possibilities and how you could identify and secure opportunities to help enhance your own employability
The session aims to provide a general overview and assumes no prior knowledge of this area
AIM
By the end of this session you should be able to:
• Understand the range of different experiences and activities that constitute work experience
• Implement some tips on how to identify and secure your own work experience
LEARNING OUTCOMES
In pairs, for 2 minutes:
Discuss:
What questions or concerns you have about getting work experience, as an international student?
DISCUSS IN PAIRS
Add value to your UK study experienceIncrease your employability in the global job marketExperience UK work culturePractise general and business EnglishBoost your CV / ResumeEarn moneyBroaden your network of contactsDemonstrate key Employability Skills
WORK EXPERIENCE BENEFITS
Self managementTeamworkingBusiness and customer awareness Problem solving Communication and literacyApplication of numeracy Application of information technology
EMPLOYABILITY ATTRIBUTES & SKILLS
Source: Making the most of work experience. The National Centre for Work Experience (NCWE)
Graduate Placement Schemes
Work Shadowing
Entrepreneurial Activities
Volunteering
Project- BasedWork
Part-Time Work
Work/Study Abroad
Vacation Work
Skills Workshop
Student Societies
Work Taster
Agency work
Internship / Vacaton Placement
IT’S ALL WORK EXPERIENCE!
Source: Making the most of work experience. The National Centre for Work Experience (NCWE)
Sandwich Placements
Work Shadowing
Student Enterprise
Student Volunteering Cardiff
Course Projects & Positions
Unistaff Job Shop
UNA Exchange
First Steps Internships
Student Development
UnitCardiff SU
Careers ServiceJobs Pages
GO Wales Jobs
Classroom Experience Project
IT’S ALL WORK EXPERIENCE @ CARDIFF!
SandwichPlacements
Language & Culture
Student Enterprise
Student Volunteering Cardiff
Course Project & Positions
Unistaff Job Shop
Planned Vacations
International Exchange
Student Development
UnitCardiff SU
Internship
Indian Society Treasurer
Pakistani Society Communications Secretary
Sought advice on expansion of Forever Healthcase business
GO Wales Jobs
Cardiff Job Agencies
Bollywood Dance Teacher, Riverside Community Centre
Bar Tender, Celtic Manor & Marriott via Blue Arrow Job Agency
Data Entry Operator, British Gas
Sales Advisor, Sky
Customer Adviser, Phones4U
Insurance Adviser, Cunningham Lindsey
Postgrad Student Rep, Cardiff Law School
MBA Live Project
Undertook Certified Personal Development Training with PwC in Time Management, Networking, Problem Solving etc.
3 day internship with Film Production company, London
Intern in Britain, BUNAC
Carer for the Elderly, Teaching Assistant projects with Cardiff SV
SO, WHAT DID PREVIOUS STUDENTS DO?
Cardiff AIESEC Committee members
Language Exchange
Frontrunner Leadership course for Chinese & UK students
Cardiff University (CUROP & CUPID Projects)
WORK EXPERIENCE TIPS FROM PREVIOUS INTERNATIONAL
STUDENTS
“I would suggest getting … work experience … even if it means volunteering without pay. Through this means you would get companies you volunteered with to give you references and it could possibly lead to a paying job. The UK work experience is important because it gives UK employers assurance that you understand the 'system' and work culture. UK employers also rely on opinion of your previous employers to aid their decision making. Hence the references from previous employers or volunteer companies”
Chioma Mbanugo, MBA (2006)Current employment: SOx Assistant ManagerLloyds Banking Group, UK
“Try to participate in associations or apply for summer intern jobs that are relevant to the industry or career vision you have in mind.”Ting He, LLB (2003)Current employment: Associate, Clifford Chance US LLP
“Get lots of work experience in your preferred calling, paid or unpaid. Be out and about and make the most that a diverse international environment offers to one’s personal growth as well. One’s never too old for some life education”Piyush Roy, MA in International Journalism (2004)Current employment: Editor – StarWeek, Magna Publishing Co. Ltd, India
“ Get relevant work experience and be flexible. Don’t just apply for summer vacation internships but consider year long placements as well”
“Engage in many extra-curricular activities. This will show the interviewer that you are not a laid back person and are always on the front foot. You can do this by showing enthusiasm and using body language to show your interest during the interview. I believe it was my body language and enthusiasm at the interview that got me the job, obviously this was backed with different examples of extra-curricular activities, which gave me freedom in answering the questions”
Kishan Patel, MEng Civil Eng (2012)Current employment: Assistant EngineerHalcrow Group, Cardiff office
In pairs, for 10 minutes:
Discuss the work experience challenges on the handout and brainstorm ways in which you could effectively address each challenge.
Be prepared to share a summary of your proposed solutions to the whole group.
WORK EXPERIENCE CHALLENGES
• Go to the ‘Work Experience / Placements’ section of the Vacancy Bulletin and then go to ‘Job Categories’ where you can search under an occupational field of interest to you
• Remember that any work experience can be useful and can be a way of showing transferable skills
1. CAN’T FIND RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE – ONLY PART-TIME STUDENT JOBS
• If you have a work restriction as opposed to a prohibition stamp in your student visa you can show this to them. This means you are allowed to take employment for up to 20 hours per week term-time without getting any further approval or permission
• You can refer them to the UK Border Agency website and employers’ helpline on 0300 123 4699 where they can check
that you are allowed to work
• Remember that all employers are legally obliged to check that all their employees are eligible to work in the UK
2. EVIDENCE OF ELIGIBILITY TO WORK IN THE UK
• You do not need to have a NINo before starting work, but you must obtain one when you get a job.
• Your employer can employ you without a NINo by issuing you with a temporary NINo until you get your own from the local JobCentrePlus office
3. NEED NATIONAL INSURANCE NUMBER BEFORE YOU START WORKING?
• You might need to clarify what level of English Language ability is required to do the job
• What evidence can you give to show that you meet the English language and other requirements of the job
• If there are gaps in your English language ability, consider how you might fill these e.g. taking an English course, Student
Union Language Interchange, International Cafes, finding opportunities to practise your English, making friends with
British people or other nationalities
4. EMPLOYER CONCERNED ABOUT ENGLISH LANGUAGE ABILITY
• This may not be the case for every employer
• Explore other work exp opportunities e.g. work shadowing, business projects or case studies
• Find out about any graduate internships on offer
5. EMPLOYER NOT RECRUITING P/G INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FOR SUMMER INTERNSHIP
• Remember that some types of work experience like work shadowing or tasters might be very short and will not take up
too much of your time
• Consider a general work placement or several short but different placements to help you decide
• Getting UK work experience as well as a UK qualification will make you more attractive to an employer back home
6. TOO BUSY TO FIND UK WORK EXPERIENCE
Be focused in your career plans
Remember that a number of activities count as work experience
Your academic tutors may have contact with previous international students
Attend any school based guest lectures of interest to you and take contact details of speakers
If you are going home for the summer vacations try to gain some work experience or find out about the job market there
TOP TIPS
Don’t apply for everything
Make your CV stand out and tailor it to a job and employer
Identify UK companies that have links with your home country and vice versa via UK Trade Partners, UKIBC, CBBC, Chambers of Commerce etc
Identify International Recruitment Agencies
Establish international alumni links via Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter etc.
TOP TIPS contd
www.prospects.ac.uk/graduate_job_search.htm
- Prospects International Graduate Jobs - Worldwide
http://jobs.thecareersgroup.co.uk/international - International Job Online
www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers/points/sponsoringmigrants/registerofsponsors
- UK Register of Sponsors
www.britishchambers.org.uk/ - click on International Chambers
www.ukibc.com/ - UK India Business Council
www.cbbc.org/ - China Britain Business Council
www.ukti.gov.uk/export.html - UK Trade & Investment
INTERNATIONAL WEBSITES
INTERNATIONAL CAREER WORKSHOPS FOR THE DIARY
26 Feb - Employment Regulations
4 Mar - CV Writing
11 Mar - Global Job Search
Further details & bookings online:
www.cardiff.ac.uk/careers
30-minute appointments with International Career Consultant
Thursdays 9:30am – 4pm
• Advice on how to identify and approach UK employers
• Information on work visa route most relevant to working in UK after your studies
• Advice and coaching on job hunting strategy and most effective use of language in CVs, job applications and interviews
Book on-line at www.cardiff.ac.uk/careers
INTERNATIONAL APPOINTMENTS
Boost your CV – Get Work Experiencewww.cardiff.ac.uk/careers
Classroom Experience Project
COPY OF SLIDES
Twitter: @cardiffglobal
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