Employability and careers support goes virtual

Our University buildings are currently closed, but read on to discover a whole new world of employability resources available at your fingertips via our online Career Centre.

It’s got gadgets and gizmos a-plenty, so dive in and find these fantastic resources for yourself, wherever you are in your career journey!

(A word of warning before you go any further – this one’s for all you Disney fans out there. Sorry, not sorry).

1. Know yourself

Understanding your personal qualities can be extremely useful when considering what job or career might be right for you. Have a go at Career Pulse or try a number of Career Assessments covering personal resilience, motivation, and more. You might just find you’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

2. Know your options

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Browse the employer videos to spark ideas for your future. I’m not sure I agree with The Cheshire Cat’s view – 'If you don’t know where you want to go, then it doesn’t matter which path you take' – so recommend Career Pathways to look at what job you could do and how to get there.

3. Know your market

The Industry Reports provide valuable information on 15 different industries, allowing you to evaluate trends and statistics when deciding which sector to work in. There’s also the ‘latest news’ pop-up on the homepage to keep up-to-date with companies and commercial awareness.

4. Ready your applications

Make use of the CV Builder and Cover Letter Builder to create these all-important documents. Refer to the templates and get the bare necessities sorted. Don’t forget the power of speculative applications! Upload your first CV draft to CV360 to receive an instant score and feedback report and after making any suggested changes, email your CV to [email protected] for advice on content.

5. Search and apply

Now the hunt begins! You’ve got the Job Search Engine on hand to find live jobs out there just waiting for you to apply. Take time to tailor your CV and cover letter for each role you apply to, showing the employer that you are keen to work for them and that you’re the best person for the job.

6. Psychometric tests

As part of the recruitment process, you may be required to take aptitude tests or a personality questionnaire. Good news is, the Career Centre has a number of practice tests as well as the Personality Insight for you to take for free!

7. Practise your interview technique

It’s a tale as old as time, fail to prepare… prepare to fail. But fear not, the Interview Simulator has your back. View different types of interview questions that you may face and then have a go at answering. You can record yourself to listen back and hear how your responses sound, or even better, you can video yourself so you can perfect your body language – great practice for video interviews!

8. Assessment centres

This is not something to worry about, see it more as an opportunity to show potential employers what you’re really like and also get a better idea of what they’re about too. The Assessment Centre Tool explains everything you need to know and offers some great tips for success.

9. Prepare for the job

If you’ve secured the role, congrats! Hey-ho, hey-ho, it’s off to work you go! One of the many E-Learning Paths can help you prepare for the workplace and integrate successfully into your new role.

For some, the answer might be a ‘no’ and nobody likes rejection. Try to let it go, ask for constructive feedback and think of the experience you have gained that will make you a better candidate for the next role. Resilience and perseverance are your friends. Remember, just keep swimming!

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So there you are, plenty to do whilst we try to keep ourselves healthy and sane(ish) amidst the Covid-19 outbreak. For those who want to explore beyond the nine steps above, there are plenty of other Career Centre resources on topics such as self-employment (try the Elevator Pitch Builder), developing management techniques, further study, LinkedIn, returning to work, and much, much more. As the saying goes, 'Today is a good day to try'.

The Employability Service is offering advice and support remotely, so let us have any questions we can help with – we’re all in this together! (I’ll stop with the Disney references now.)

Email us at [email protected] and an Adviser will get back to you as soon as possible. Career planning appointments via Skype or telephone are also available – just book online through the Career Centre.

Be our guest! (That was the last, I promise!)

By Tara Price, Employability & Careers Adviser