Working, gap years and Summer jobs in the USA

Before you start making applications, it is important to find out about your visa status. You can ring The US Embassy helpline or visit their website:
http://london.usembassy.gov/

According to the US Embassy to get ahead in the USA job application process you need to get rid of ‘British modesty’  and be happy to explain your achievements and to get to the point! They expect that by 2018 there will be 34% more jobs for software engineers, 23.9% for management analysts and 10.3% for accountants / book keepers.

For advice and information about job opportunities abroad, including the USA, look at the jobs section on the new International Futures website.

Some short term and work placement schemes are listed below:

• BUNAC – offers a range of working holidays including a summer camp counselling programme, flexible work and travel programmes and volunteering/teaching placements.
• Camp America – arranges nine-week placements working at US summer (mainly countryside based) camps.
• Camp Counselors (CC USA) – arranges summer camp jobs, work and travel experiences, and volunteer opportunities.
• Cool Works – jobs in the USA, specialising in resorts, parks and camps. Includes internships and voluntary work (visas not provided).
• AgriVenture – places you with a host family for paid work on a farm or horticultural enterprise.
• American Work Experience – offers people aged 18 to 28 a variety of options to work and travel in the US for a four-month period during their summer holiday.
• Au Pair in America – matches au pairs with US host families.
• IST Plus – offers a variety of programmes in the USA, including Internship USA, Graduate Internship USA, Professional Career Training USA, Summer Work & Travel USA and Summer Camp USA.
• Mountbatten Internship Programme – offers 12 month internships and training programmes in New York.

America’s Career InfoNet provides occupation and industry information, salary data, education resources, self-assessment tools, and career guidance.

Advice from the experts – make yourself more employable

What can I do to make myself more employable?

As a Careers Consultant this is one of the questions I am asked the most at the moment (both from recent graduates and current students).

This is my advice…

1. Get some experience – this could be internships, work shadowing, summer jobs, part time work, volunteering, a year in industry, work placements – anything and everything! These experiences demonstrate your skills  such as teamwork,  organisation and communication skills.  It will also give you commercial awareness (business understanding), which is what most recruiters really want from you and will help you stand out from the crowd.  Often the more you have, the better your chances of getting a job.

2. Start job hunting early – Don’t leave it to the last minute to start looking. Many vacancies open early in the autumn term. So look now for jobs and internships starting in July.

3. PROPERLY tailor your application – Don’t just copy and paste answers into application forms and don’t send the same CV to all companies – making an effort with your applications really pays off. It’s better to make a few good applications than knock out loads of almost identical ones which aren’t really targeted to the job.

4. Research the Company – When writing a cover letter or answering the question “Why do you want to work for this company?” never just look at their website for two minutes. Make sure you do lots of research into the company – what they do, who their clients and competitors are etc.  It will really show how motivated you are to work there.

5. Talk to people – Ask lots of questions and don’t be afraid of speaking to people in the real world. Ask questions about them, their job,and what they do day to day. You can also ask for advice about what you can do to get an advantage when applying for jobs, where to look for vacancies and who else you can speak to for information and advice.

Get paid to explore the planet. Working in the travel industry

How would you like to make a career out of holidaying in the hot sun? There’s more to a career in travel than tour reps and cabin crew; working in the sector could enable you to combine two things you love, travel and just about anything else.

What you need

Passion is something that employers look for across the board. Sometimes it’s much more difficult to show on paper; but if you’ve done a gap year, worked abroad or done a fair bit of travelling these will immediately demonstrate that you have a real interest and experience.

If you have a blog start writing about your travel experiences or, if you are planning to go away, set one up. Writing about your travel experiences from the airport and flight to the food and nightlife could give you a greater chance of becoming a Travel Writer. Or perhaps you want to work for a particular country, promoting their attractions to the rest of the world. In this case a role in Travel PR may be the one for you. This involves representing countries and tourism boards. Similar opportunities are also available in the role of Tourist Board Representative.

Not just cruise ships and cocktails

Employing an estimated 14 million plus people across Europe, travel is a multi-faceted industry with many appealing career choices.  Whether it’s marketing and communications, finance or IT that interests you, careers in travel offer the opportunity to see the world. You can also experience luxury hospitality and have once in a lifetime experiences, such as swimming with elephants. It definitely has it’s glamorous points, but you’ll have to consider what will suit you best as staff writers often travel solo, so you will need to be prepared to eat and explore alone.

Salary expectations

You can expect to earn anything from £20,000 at entry level to £100,000 plus for top positions.

Where to look for jobs

http://jobs.travelweekly.co.uk/
this is a travel and tourism jobs board where you can search a number of roles in one place.

http://www.lgjobs.com/
local government jobs advertise various vacancies including those within the UK tourist and travel sector.

http://www.ttgdigital.com/
a jobs board advertising vacancies and featuring travel industry news.

http://www.tourismsociety.org/
the professional membership body for those working in the sector. Jobs in travel and tourism are also listed here.

Tourism boards such as Visit Britain.

Get the most out of your recruitment consultant

Maybe it is because I like to keep my options open, but I think it is always important to have a back-up plan. When it comes to looking for work, there is no one way that is guaranteed to bring success. Trying a number of different methods is a sensible tactic to adopt when job hunting, as you avoid putting all your eggs in one basket.  As well as the more traditional and perhaps familiar way of applying to advertised vacancies,  have you considered sending speculative applications and finding ‘hidden’ jobs through networking? Joining a Recruitment Consultancy is also an option.

Regardless of which methods you chose, similar to approaching an essay,  it is useful to take the time before you start to plan / brainstorm your ideas to ensure you make the most of your time and stay focused.  This will help make your job search as effective and efficient as possible.  The best job hunting methods to use will depend on which area of work you are looking to get in to, so do some research on this also.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation and Agency Central are useful websites you can use to find agencies for the area of work and location you are interested in.  It is important to remember that Recruitment Consultants get their money from the employer they are recruiting for. You should NEVER pay money to an agency.

This morning I read an article written in one of the excellent Inside Careers newsletters I receive titled Get the most out of your Recruitment Consultant, that has helpful advice and information on how to deal with agencies.

For further information about job hunting, from checking applications, to knowing where and how to look for jobs, see the resources section of our website and book an appointment with one of our Careers Consultants.

All this and job hunting too? Looking for work during exam time…

Revision, exams, assignments, part-time job. If you’d wanted to be a juggler you’d have joined the circus.

Do employers KNOW it’s exam time? Oh yes. But their recruitment schedule doesn’t mesh with your revision timetable and once in employment, your deadlines will be equally exacting, your workload just as heavy.  They are finding out who’s up for it (and up to it) now.

A simple mantra

Is it urgent, but not important?

Is it important, but not urgent?

Is it urgent AND important?

Your priority is getting good grades. Without this, your job hunt nosedives.

Keys to success

Arrange alerts. Buy extra time.  Get job sites to update you on opportunities.

Don’t delay.  Dithering, deferral, displacement are all time wasters.  Just start somewhere.  Otherwise you’re going nowhere.

Fix fundamentals (1) BEFORE the exam season kicks off in earnest, perfect your CV and cover letter so both can be adapted at a moment’s notice.  Because you wouldn’t waste your time and everyone else’s by submitting standard CVs and letters.  Would you?

Fix fundamentals (2) Application forms can’t be prepared in advance; skills audits, examples and evidence can.  Because you wouldn’t dream of cutting and pasting from one form to another, without actually answering the question.  Would you?

Top Tip

Divide and rule.  Tackle applications and revision in chunks, not all in one attempt.

Clock Watching

Bed Time: when do you work best?  A midsummer morning or a midsummer night? Nod off later or get up earlier. (Yes you can.)

Dead Time: gap between having a snack and the beginning of TOWIE, Jeremy (Kyle or Clarkson) or HIGNFY.  Use wisely.  See Top Tip.

Down Time: Avoid stress, panic and burnout.  Build in breaks.

No sweat.

Gill Sharp
Careers Consultant QM Careers

The Jobs they don’t tell you about…

Ever wondered what is takes to be a Rocket Scientist? Or just think Librarians; sit around shushing you and stamping your books? The Guardian Career’s Behind the job title series offers insight into careers which are less spoken about.

How can Behind the job title help me?

The series offers insights into non-traditional and traditional jobs. Through interviews with Graduates who have gained the job title. The page offers interesting articles which bust myths and ideas about particular industries. The interviews are what I found most useful. Interviewees talk about how they got into their current jobs and what their job role consists of. This could help you decide whether you might want consider going into particular job sector.

What jobs have been covered in the series?

• Cyber security consultant
• Fashion designer assistant
• Software engineer

And those are just a few careers that have been covered so far…

Featured currently on the series is the story of a former lifeguard Ben Whayman, who from a young age has a strong interest in sport particularly swimming. This took him from a life guard to a leisure centre manager to running the Aquatics centre during the 2012 Games.

Other stories features include a software engineer whose job has taken him from the Silicone Valley in America to the quirky streets of Shoreditch in East London. Who also has to attend music gig as part of his current job.

Behind the job title offers a realistic, candid insight into job titles by telling you about the perks of the jobs and also the cons such as long hours and no weekends.

To see what other possible careers path you could possible take head over to the Guardian Careers’ Behind the job title page now! Or if you have found a career path which has interested you head over to the Careers and have a chat with one our lovely careers advisers.

Tobi Ijitoye
3rd year International Relations Student
and QM Careers Centre Vacancy Researcher

Want to work in the media?

It may sound cheesy, but if you’re passionate about a career in the creative industry you’ll need to get creative with your job search and applications.

Quick tips:

• Make the first move- With a rumoured 60% of jobs not advertised, according to Guardian Careers, approaching employers with the intention of securing work experience, an internship or even a job can be a great way to find openings. Plus this instantly shows that you have a real interest for an organisation and what they do.

• Freelance- An alternative way of getting your work in a national newspaper or publication. Most newspapers have details of how to contact them about submitting articles and photographs on a freelance basis on their website.
• Blog- Not just for writers! If you’re interested in photography WordPress and Blogger have free templates which are a great way to showcase your work.  A blog can instantly illustrate to employers your understanding of the industry and your passion for it, as it’s something you’re doing in your spare time.

“I’ve been asked to send the link for my blog to employers as part of my application for writing and editorial roles and it is something increasingly asked for.”

• Tweet- Apart from your friends and family it can be hard to get an audience for your blog so put the link in your bio to increase traffic. You can link your blog to your Twitter and Facebook accounts too so that followers can be notified of each new post. If you’re keen to get into film or TV uploading projects onto a YouTube page can be a great way to showcase your work and organise an online portfolio.

“But remember to be professional! This doesn’t mean you have to be boring but think before you tweet. I’ve been asked for my Twitter username as part of my application and I’m now followed by @Oxfamfashion after an interview there for an internship.”

• Portfolio- Bring a collection of your best work along to interviews. This way the interviewer can see first-hand your writing or photography skills.
• Contribute- Whether it’s student media or the marketing campaign of a society run event, there are countless chances to demonstrate your creative side on campus.

“Regularly contributing to student media throughout my degree has been a great addition to my CV. With so much freedom on what to write about I was able to gather extra material for my portfolio, in areas which would have required far more experience elsewhere.”

• Go Local- Don’t neglect local publications in your search for opportunities.
• Get feedback- If you happen to be unsuccessful in receiving an offer after an interview, ask for feedback.

“I’ve had a few rejections but asking for feedback has led to offers of other positions and recommendations.”

• Network- Connect with people in your chosen field and let people know what you want to do. They may see opportunities or events which they can inform you about.  Events are great places to network, check out the list below.

“I tell practically everyone I meet that I’m actively pursuing a career in journalism. In my current role it’s meant that I get to write blog posts like this and just last week my friend invited me to a River Island press day. My friends, family and work colleagues are always directing me to vacancies and events and this way I hardly miss a thing.”

Events

Queen Mary Media Summit 2013- hear about current issues affecting the media, and hints on how to build a career from alumni and other industry professionals.

Marketing and PR Panel, Thursday 7^th February- This panel brings together representatives from a variety of organisations to deliver short presentations on what it is like to work in marketing and PR.

IPA Ad School Open day, 29th January- Practitioners from all the different disciplines in advertising, creative and digital media are joining Metro and the IPA to showcase the industry.

Channel 4 talent days-taking place in York on Thursday 21st February, more dates and locations TBA

News Associates are running free journalism workshops once a month in London until August. Check out the dates here.

The Network- a free intensive introduction to working in the TV industry, you’ll spend 4 days in Edinburgh learning practical TV making skills from top programme makers.

Jobs, work experience and training

ipaper student competition, deadline 28 January

Marketing Internship (Contemporary Music), Barbican Centre, deadline 11 February

Working Title Films’ Training programme, deadline 18 February

Channel 4 work experience, applications for 2013 work experience open on February 18th, April 15th and August 19th for two weeks.

Graduate Trainee, Alain Charles Publishing Ltd, deadline 10 February

BBC Production Talent Pool-The PTP works like a Temp Agency, and offers of work come up when programmes need short-term assistance, opens late February

Useful sites

Go think big

My first job in film

Gorkana Journalism and PR Jobs

@Latimergroup

Ideas tap

Wannabe Hacks

Alannah Francis
Careers Information Assistant
QM Careers Centre

Job hunting – tips from employers and recruiters

Job hunting can seem to be an all-consuming challenge and it’s all too easy to lose your head when browsing job boards. However with a little bit of planning you can ensure you make the most of your time. Here are a few tips  inspired by a number of blogs written by employers and recruiters…

Do your research – this is an absolute given, but internet blogs written by recruiters are still rife with complaints that applicants either fail to grasp the concept of the role they are going for, or don’t even mention the organisation’s name in the covering letter they write for it! Remember, employers use job titles and descriptions to sell their company in the same way that you use your CV and covering letter to sell yourself. Look past the sales pitch and get to grips with what you’ll really be doing in the role. There’s no harm in asking the recruiter for more information! It’ll help your application and it will ensure you’re applying for the right role.

Be choosy – in the current careers market it seems counter-intuitive to pick and choose what you are applying for. However, applying for everything that passes under your nose means that your applications will probably be mediocre. The reality of the job hunt is that for every role, there will be a handful of excellent candidates, and a sea of average ones. Your job is to make sure you fall into the excellent category by focussing your efforts on a selection of jobs.

Be ready tell people about yourself – at any moment you could be interviewed, formally or informally. This could be at a careers fair, on an insight day, even in a pub or café! It never hurts to be ready to network. If you have a portfolio of work, be sure to know the link for people to view it off by heart, just in case the opportunity arises.

Join LinkedIn – don’t just join, but take advantage of the access you have to thousands of professionals. You know how you spend 10 minutes looking over the life story of someone you barely know on Facebook and then make no further contact with them? You can do the same on LinkedIn. Search for a job title you are interested in and look through the career histories of people who are working in that role. It’s very interesting to see how they got to where they are and can provide some great hints to maximise your job-hunting efforts.

Weigh up your ambitions – consider the possibility of moving for your job. With spiralling rents in London, many organisations are based outside the capital. The more flexible you are prepared to be in terms of location, the more options you will find available to you.

Job-hunting can be  intimidating, but with a focussed attitude it’s much easier to produce brilliant applications. And remember, if you need help focussing your job search or preparing to apply for a role, you can come and see a Careers Consultant – give us a call on 020 7882 8533 or come and speak to us in Queens Building WG3.

Josh Lee
Employer Engagement Administrator
QM Careers Centre

Browse the 1565 vacancies on Jobonline today

Here are a few of the vacancies that caught my eye. To see what else is on offer visit QM JobOnline.

• Met Office, Undergraduate and Graduate Summer placements
  http://bit.ly/13Md4tS
  
• Food Standards Agency, Trainee Meat Hygiene Inspectors
  http://bit.ly/VvV1oE
  
• Saferworld, Advocacy Officer UK
  http://bit.ly/UKpXPi
  
• The Foundation,  Art Assistant: Children’s TV 
  http://bit.ly/VZLu7Z
  
• Mykidscoach, LACROSSE PLAYER/COACH
  http://bit.ly/TVrncm
  
• Royal Mail Group, Graduate Programmes
  http://bit.ly/VfNPx0
  
• Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Digital Marketing Officer
  http://bit.ly/V6Z65q
  
• Metropolitan Police, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Technician
  http://bit.ly/11x8iSj
  
• First UK Bus, Yellow School Bus Driver
  http://bit.ly/V70MvJ
  
• Northampton Museum and Art Gallery, Project Officer: The Cinderella Syndrome: Displaying shoes in museums
  http://bit.ly/UVc0Oz
  
• Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science,  Aquarist http://bit.ly/YdfiTE
• Tate, Blog Editor
  http://bit.ly/UAAXRa
  
• JFS School, Teacher of Ivrit
  http://bit.ly/SdILcV
  
• Ming-Ai (London) Institute, Internship for British Chinese Workforce Heritage Project
  http://bit.ly/VOtyjd
  

Would you lie on your CV?

Have you ever told a lie on your CV? Maybe a little one like making it sound like you had a bit more responsibility in a past job that you actually had or a big one like saying you had a degree that you in fact didn’t have?

This may be more common than you think. HR magazine published an article stating that graduate CV fraud looks set to increase as tuition fees rise and the job market remains competitive. According to HR Magazine the top 4 applicant qualification lies include:

1. Giving a higher class degree than they actually have.
2. Saying they’ve completed a course when they’ve only partly finished.
3. Changing the subject of their degree to suit a job’s requirements.
4. Saying they have a degree when they in fact do not.

So, is it okay to bend the truth?

It shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that the Careers team and any recruiter would highly advise against any CV fraud as the cost of getting caught can be severe. When you’re thinking of adding that little (or big) fib to a CV, keep in mind that:

• Recruiters are often trained to catch on to lies. Recruiting the candidate with the right skills and experience is what they do and they are often trained to pick up on mistruths.
• You are likely to be asked for more detail about your degree and experiences listed on your CV at interview. If your answers even appear ever-so-slightly untruthful they won’t give you the job. Just think how important it is to for a company to hire someone that they trust from the very start.
• Employers are increasingly checking degrees. The Higher Education Degree Datacheck (HEDD) is a service that allows employers to check the validity of an applicant’s degree. More employers are using this system.
• You could lose your job. If you do land the job and your employer finds out that you told a significant lie during the application or interview process, it would be seen as a breakdown of trust and you could be fired. This would leave a gap or ‘reason for departure’ on your CV that would be very difficult to explain to future employers.

 To read the full HR Magazine article click here. To get advice on your CV or application, please contact QM Careers.

Lindsey Shirah
QM Projects Coordinator
QM Careers