The importance of networking

While the idea of networking with professionals can seem slightly intimidating, it is a highly valuable way to both decide on a career direction and look for a job. By effectively interacting with useful contacts you can:

• Gain first-hand industry knowledge from people working in the sector.
• Get yourself noticed by potential employers- improving your chances of getting a job.
• Demonstrate to employers your interest and initiative in learning about an industry.
• Access positions that are never advertised – the ‘hidden’ job market.

How do I start?

• QM Careers’ Employer Events are a great opportunity to meet and network with employers from different industries. For a calendar of our current events visit the events section of our web page.
• Many companies host open days at their offices. These events are a great opportunity to establish a relationship with a potential employer and gain an insight into the company. If you are interested in working with a particular employer have a look at their website for information.
• Take advantage of online networking. Professional networking websites like LinkedIn.com and career-realted forums and discussion boards can be great ways to meet new people and find out about different opportunities.

GraduateCareers.com  has recently posted a helpful article with tips and information on how to network and raise your profile with employers at both events and online. Click here to read the full article.

For more information and tips about networking, drop by QM Careers to have a chat with a member of our information team or pick up a copy of  our ‘Networking’ Handout.

Interested in Graduate Entry into Medicine?

17.00 – 18.00 Tuesday 5 October 2010
Room GO Jones 602

No matter your degree, if you are interested in pursuing a medical career this is an important event for you to attend.

Vinny Potter, Medical & Dental Careers Adviser, will be on hand to answer your questions on:

• Entrance exams
• How to get work experience
• How to choose a medical school
• The difference between Graduate and Standard Entry into Medicine.

No sign up is necessary, but places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis so please do turn up on time for this event.

The Target guides have arrived!

After many student queries, QM Careers is happy to report that the Target sector guides have finally arrived. Target guides are a great resource when researching or applying to a particular job sector.

QM Careers is currently carrying Target City & Finance, Engineering, IT, Property and Public Service. We are still expecting the Target Law and Teaching publications  to arrive in the coming weeks.

Get the most out of your Target guide

• Research different areas within a job sector.
• Locate graduate employers and graduate schemes.
• Get tips on applications, interviews and assessment centres.
• Get an insight into what recruiters are looking for (i.e. what key skills they look for in ideal applicants)

Drop by the Careers’ information room to pick up your free copies today. To read Target’s sector information online, visit their website.

Need help improving your CV?

QM Careers offers CV Clinics every Monday through Thursday 1:00-1:30. During these small group sessions a member of the careers team will give you advice on how to draft a good CV and target it for different vacancies. You will also be able to take home a ‘CV Ideas Pack’ and list of helpful skills words to use on CVs and application forms.

To book your place into a CV Clinic just drop by the Careers office in the Queens’ Building, room WG 3 or phone us at 020 7882 8533.

Book your place at the QM Law Fair

Time: 11.30 – 14.30 13 October 2010
Location: The Great Hall

The QM Law Fair is your opportunity to find out from around 30 of firms and training providers about how to pursue a career in Law.

To register for the QM Law Fair and pick up your copy of the event brochure please visit QM Careers in room WG3 of the Queens Building.

Click here for a full list of exhibitors

Opportunities for students who live and study in East London

The East London Business Alliance (ELBA) works with businesses in the local community to create volunteer and employment programmes. If you live and study in East London, ELBA’s programmes can be a great opportunity to network with local companies and build your CV.

Join the ELBA Training Opportunities and Networking Club

ELBA works with finance, law and insurance companies to recruit from the local community. The Training Opportunities and Networking Programme offers a series of five very different, focused training and networking events that will help you look and feel more like a professional. The sessions are held on Wednesday afternoons between 3-5pm in the autumn and spring. Joining the programme can offer:

• High quality training in areas identified as useful by employers
• Networking opportunities at major businesses in the City and Canary Wharf
• Information about the range of jobs available within those businesses
• Help with CV and job applications

If you wish to register, please send a CV and covering letter outlining why you would be a great candidate for the programme to: Rohima.Begum@elba-1.org.uk

Looking for part time work?

This Saturday’s Guardian published an interesting article about working part time while studying. Click here to read.

If you are looking to boost your CV and earn some extra cash we have two bits of information that might be useful!

• We have updated our JobOnline service for the new academic year so you can search by postcode. Click here to search  local vacancies.

• Finally on 4 October 2010 QM Careers will be holding an Experience Works event in the Octagon promoting on campus opportunities. Visit the Experience Works page of our website for more information about this event.
  

Additionally, we have some great guides to help you write your CV and Application form, as well as tips on how to get through an interview. Pop into the Careers Service for information and advice.

Top Tips from Magic Circle Trainees

QM recently attended a career open day hosted by the international law firm Allen & Overy LLP. During a panel Q&A a handful of the firm’s trainees and associates shared their personal tips on landing a training contract.

Top Tips

• Meet the law firms. Use firm open days and careers fairs to build a relationship with your potential future employer. It is important to introduce yourself to recruiters and ask educated questions. This will help you to stand out in the application process as well as gain a better understanding of the firm and what they are looking for in their candidates.
• Make your motivations clear. Be able to explain why you want to pursue a career is law. Training contracts require an investment of both time and money from the employer. The firm will want to see that you have reflected on your career choice and have the drive and motivation to work hard and complete the traineeship.
• Sit in on a court case. Internships, vacation schemes and job shadowing are great ways to gain legal experience and understanding. However, you can witness the law in action by simply observing cases in your local court. These observations can also give you interesting stories to talk about on application forms and in interviews.
• Keep up to date with the news. Recruiters commonly ask candidates to talk about current events that relate to the legal areas in which they want to work (i.e. banking or corporate law). Pick at least two stories and follow them in the news. One trainee kept a notebook with clippings from her chosen news stories as they progressed. Another suggested reading articles from various sources to help your understanding of the story. For example, start reading short articles on the BBC news website. When you feel that you have a basic understanding of the issue read the more in-depth reports in the Financial Times.
• Come to your interview with questions. Generally recruiters will give you the opportunity to ask questions at the end of an interview. Always bring a few thoughtful and well-informed questions to your interview. This shows your genuine interest in the firm and traineeship.

For more information about locating and applying to training contracts, please visit QM Careers.

The Third Degree

If you’ve just graduated and got a third here is an interesting article from the Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/sep/11/graduate-careers-third-class-degree

Incidentally, I was at an open day for Careers Staff hosted by PricewaterhouseCoopers earlier this week and they mentioned that they have now developed a scheme for students who may have mitigating circumstances for not doing as well as they expected in their degree, or perhaps even at A-Level.

The scheme is called ‘Inspired Talent’ and, as they phrased, it is ideal for ‘rough diamonds’, by this they mean people who on paper might not have the right eligibility in terms of academics, but might have an awe-inspiring extra-curricular activity like running a successful Business, or Social Enterprise, or perhaps have been heavily involved in something like training for the Olympics.

If this has piqued your interests full details and eligibility can be found at: www.pwc.com/uk/en/careers/student/inspired-talent.jhtml

It might also be worth your while looking at other larger companies (if that is the route you want to go down), for similar programmes.

The Benefits of Business Challenges

Many large companies run interactive business games and challenges for students.  Each competition gives you a unique opportunity to get hands-on experience in areas such as marketing, event planning, financial trading, project management, fundraising or even setting up your own business. Whether working independently or in a team you will compete against students across the UK and internationally for prizes or recruitment opportunities.

What can I gain from business games and challenges?

Business games and longer business challenges are a great way to build skills, boost your CV, and gain interesting experiences to talk about in application forms and interviews. In addition, you can:

• Gain industry-specific experience and knowledge. Whether it’s trading simulated stocks and bonds or developing a marketing campaign for a new product, you will gain practical experience and a better understanding of the industry and career that you wish to pursue.
• Learn from professionals. Some competitions provide teams with a mentor to guide you through the challenge, others give you the chance to present your ideas to a panel of professionals.
• Get noticed and develop networks. Business challenges allow professionals to observe talented students. Making a good impression can help you stand out and form networks with industry professionals- potentially opening up graduate career opportunities.

Where can I locate competitions?

Keep a look out on the QM Jobs Blog for announcements of upcoming competitions. If you are interested in a particular employer, visit their website or Twitter profiles for information on any business challenges or competitions they may offer.

For examples of business challenges  click on the links below:

• Ernst & Young Profitunity Competition
• efinancial Careers Investment Challenge sponsored by Credit Suisse
• L’Oreal Brandstorm
• L’Oreal Reveal
• BNP Paribas Ace Manager
• Npower Energy Challenge
• Thomson Reuters Top Trader: Facebook Application, search for Thomson Reuters Top Trader on Facebook to find it.
• Allen & Overy Game On
• CIMA Global Business challenge

Competitions for the creative industries:

• Vogue talent contest
• London Lives Art Competition
• Guardian Journalism competition
• The Life Support Change Through Art Competition