Placement Talk to Sociology/Criminology and Media students

1. Placement Talk to Sociology/Criminology and Media students By Jeanette Holt Careers Adviser

2. Placement Talk • Why do a placement year? • Types of careers for sociologists/media/criminology • How to find a placement • Aptitude tests • How the Careers Service can help • Making the most of your year out

3. The University Careers Service • Located in Philip Marchant Building between Senate House (level 2) and the main Lecture Theatre Block. Same building as Accommodation Office • Opening hours 9.00am – 5.30pm close for lunch 12.30pm – 1.30pm • Still offer help after you have graduated including face to face, e-mail or by telephone. • Web-site www.surrey.ac.uk/careers

4. THE CAREER CHOICE PROCESS Self- Awareness Taking Action Opportunity Awareness Decision Making

5. Getting Started No ideas about careers try: • Prospects www.prospects.ac.uk ‘What job would suit me’ Prospects Planner • Myers Briggs Personality Indicator email Careers@surrey.ac.uk for login codes. • Your Degree in Sociology/Media/Criminology- What Next? Files in Careers Service information room • Careers Record www.targetjobs.co.uk

6. Careers where Sociology is useful • Social researcher • Social worker • Probation officer • Market research • Careers adviser/personal adviser • Youth and community worker • Family support worker • Housing adviser • Teacher, secondary social sciences or primary

7. Related Careers Sociology • Counsellor • Charity fundraiser • Information manager • Journalist • Police • Occupational therapist • Community development worker • Advice worker • Recruitment consultant

8. Media (Communications) • Public Relations Officer • Advertising Account Executive • Advertising copywriter • Market Research Executive • Event Organiser • Journalist print or broadcast • Media Buyer • Arts Administrator

9. Media (Technical) • Film/Video Editor • Runner Film/Video • Television/Video Producer • Programme Researcher • Computer and video games developer • On-line journalist • Radio presenter • TV - Production Assistant • More info on www.skillset.org

10. Criminology Related • Crime Analyst • Probation Officer • Probation Services Officer • Youth Justice (YOTS) • Prison Officer • Social Researcher • Government Researcher • Police Officer • Charity Fundraiser (NACRO etc) • Solicitor

11. Destinations of Previous Students • See www.surrey.ac.uk/careers click on: ‘Graduates’ ‘What do Surrey graduates Do?’

12. Why do a Placement? • It enhances your employability: some employers will accept lower UCAS scores because of it. • It helps you make a more informed career choice • It gives you lots of material with which to answer competency style questions on application forms • It enhances your CV • It earths your academic study • You have the chance to do some networking • They may even offer you a job! • Large graduate employers say on third of their new graduates have worked for them before.

13. Work Experience • Make sure that you appear focused in any work experience applications. • Research companies in advance and state why you want to gain experience. • Find out the name of the person that you should write to and make sure that you are aware of the company’s output. Look at the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television PACT) (http://www.pact.co.uk) website, which includes a voluntary code of practice for work experience • Useful web-site www.startintv.com • Advertising – IPA summer internships www.ipa.co.uk

14. Sources of information about Placements/Employers • Prospects www.prospects.ac.uk • National council for work experience www.work-experience.org • Your own department’s placement vacancies web-site. • Target jobs www.targetjobs.co.uk • Careers Service bulletin www.surrey.ac.uk/careers • www.work-placement.co.uk • www.ratemyplacement.co.uk

15. What is Networking – the answer! The idea of networking is to approach your own contacts for help and advice. You then tap into their network and get introductions to new contacts. Result? A large list of people who can help you.

16. Trade directories Year books Yellow Pages/yell.com Specialist magazines Specialist associations Word of mouth Tutors Part-time job Friends Family Peers Careers fairs Where Would you Look for Unadvertised Placements?

17. Ideas for speculative enquiries • Local government web-sites www.lgjobs.com • NHS www.jobs.nhs.uk • Community Care Magazine www.community-care.co.uk • Inside Housing www.insidehousing.co.uk • Market Research Society www.mrs.org.uk and Research Buyers Guide on-line • Social Research Association www.the-sra.org.uk • Wednesday’s Guardian

18. Useful web-sites applying on spec (Media) • British Interactive Multimedia Association www.bima.co.uk • British Film Institute www.bfi.org.uk • The Knowledge www.theknowledgeonline.com • New Media Knowledge www.nmk.co.uk • PACT www.pact.co.uk

19. Useful web-sites (Media) • Skillset www.skillset.org.uk • Student Radio Association www.studentradio.org.uk • UK Radio www.ukradio.com • Culture on-line www.cultureonline.gov.uk • The Arts Council www.artscouncil.org.uk • Department for Culture Media and Sport www.culture.gov.uk

20. What are your transferable skills? • Communication • Analysis (statistics and SPSS) • Research skills • Interpersonal • Numerical • IT • Team working • Problem solving • Handling data and information effectively • Measuring, assessing

21. Communication* Team working Integrity Intellectual ability Confidence* Character/personality Organisation* Literacy/writing* Numeracy Analysis/decisions* What employers want • Top 10 most important skills and capabilities when recruiting new graduates: Graduate employability: What do employers think and want? Archer & Davison, CIHE, 2008

22. On-line Applications • Don’t rush but submit your best effort • Prepare your answers and check them before you type. • Copy and paste answers into Word so that you can run the grammar and spell check. Keep a copy of your form • Choose the best examples you can for achievements and skills • Provide evidence for the skills you have from all aspects of your life.

23. On-line Forms • To practise log on to www.selectsimulator.com • DVD in Careers Service ‘Your Job’s On-line’

24. Written Applications-Preparation • Research jobs and employers to see what they want - see their web-sites • Review your experience to see what you can offer them (academic, work, social etc.) • Match your skills and qualities with the employer’s requirements. • Think about what attracts you to this particular vacancy

25. Competency Questions • Tell us about a time when you have worked as a member of a team? • Give us an example of a problem that you have solved and how you did it? • Tell us about a time when you have organised an event?

26. Employer’s Look for Stars • S = Situation • T = Task (the objective) • A = Action (what I did) • R = Result

27. Common causes of rejection • Examples from the same part of your life; • Not enough detail (or too much); • Verbose, vague or woolly answers -be specific; • Irrelevant answers - avoid irrelevant detail.

28. Covering letters • No more than one side of A4 • Good indicator of your written skills • Explain why you want the job • Highlight most relevant skills and experience –match these to the job requirements • What attracts you to the organisation? • Emphasise how you can make a positive contribution

29. Aptitude Tests • Aim to assess your reasoning ability and thinking competency • Usually multiple choice answers either pencil and paper or computer based • Strictly timed and have right and wrong answers • Your score is compared to a norm group • Include: verbal reasoning, numerical and diagrammatic • Make sure you understand the examples

30. Psychometric Tests • Career Service Practice On-line Aptitude Tests timed with feedback and results www.surrey.ac.uk/careers You will need to email careers@surrey.ac.uk for login details • Practise on-line ww.shldirect.com

31. How to look for a Placement • Decide on career areas of interest • Review list of past placements and reports • Research a selection of organisations • Network to find your own opportunity but check it out with your placement tutor. • Construct your CV • Apply for suitable vacancies and on ‘spec’ • Be flexible and keep applying

32. How to make the most of your placement • Set some personal objectives of what you want to get out of it • Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make notes • Keep a diary and reflect on what you have learnt • Grab any chance for extra responsibility • Share your ideas • Welcome feedback • Work hard • Adapt to the culture • Build relationships and keep in touch

33. How can the Careers Service help? • Check your CVs and application forms – come to Quick Query sessions listed on our web-site • Information on different careers • Options sheet for your degree course • What Next File on your subject • Employer presentations www.surrey.ac.uk/careers What’s On? • Skills workshops on interview technique, aptitude tests, personality and career choice • See Prospects web-site www.prospects.ac.uk for information on careers.

34. Don’t give up if not successful straightaway some placement vacancies do come up later on!