Summertime blues – not got an internship or summer job yet?

Haven’t got an internship? Not volunteering with vipers in Venuezla, tigers in Tanzania, youngsters in Yarmouth?

Maybe the name of your vacation game is making money.

Are you worried that you’ve missed the boat? If so, here are some ideas to get you sailing again:

London Life
Endless opportunities for casual and short-term paid work in the Great Metropolis, some more interesting than others.  Use the web links below and /or go straight to individual websites of bars, stores, hospitals, local councils (etc.)

Culture Vultures
A few openings remain at museums and tourist sites.  Act with alacrity. In addition, festivals, music and drama events, performance projects could all do with a helping hand (yours).

High Society
Left off the list for Ascot, Wimbledon, Henley?  See some of the action and get paid too. Polish up your serving skills – strawberries, not aces – and apply. ASAP.

Rough And Rugged?
Summer camps and adventure holidays, in the UK and beyond, continue to look for outdoor types who can coach and care for clients.

Wave Me Goodbye
Resorts from the Balearics to Barry Island are hiring help.  Whether you’re a well-worn waiter or a would-be water babe, move as fast as you like.

Home Sweet Home
Returning to your nearest and dearest? Get the family to put out feelers, check local papers and do your research for you.  Now.

Olympics Ahoy
Thought it was just London?  Think again. Venues include Newcastle, Glasgow, Cardiff, Weymouth. North of Watford and south of Streatham, they’re raring to recruit!

The Usual Suspects
Wherever you are, a high street near you will have agencies with something to offer.  Get registered, get known, get in there.

Sites To See
www.qmul.ac.uk/careers
wwww.careers.lon.ac.uk
www.gumtree.com
www.e4s.co.uk
www.summer-jobs.co.uk
www.student-jobs.co.uk

All aboard and full steam ahead.

Gill Sharp
Careers Consultant QM  Careers

Looking for Work This Summer?

If so, know that there is a wide range of opportunities available to help you gain new skills, as well as valuable work experience to make your CV shine. Whether it’s an internship or a volunteering position, summer or vacation work can play an important role in your career in a number of ways. Here’s how:

Why Do It?

• To gain work experience and improve your CV: many students have more free time during the summer, so vacation work is a great opportunity to fill in any gaps in your CV.
• To develop transferable skills: employers are looking for such skills as adaptability, teamwork and problem-solving, which you can gain by working in a shop or volunteering with a charity, for instance.
• To make informed career choices: by sampling a particular job or industry, you can find out what skills you have or what activities you enjoy, which can help you choose a career path tailored to your needs.
• To get an entry into certain sectors: for example, recruiters in the media or banking sector are typically looking for candidates with relevant work experience, while many graduate employers tend to recruit from their own intern pool. Alternatively, you can use your work experience to network and make contacts for later opportunities.

What’s Available

• Internships – work placements offered by companies often seeking to hire employees for permanent positions. They provide an insight into diverse industries and allow you to get firsthand experience of particular roles.
• Work Shadowing – observing the work and role of certain professionals to better understand the field. Work shadowing can land you a job offer if the employer is impressed with your performance and initiative.
• Temping – temporary placements are a great way to earn some extra cash or network with people from different fields. See The University of London Temp Agency website for more information.
• Working Abroad ­– not only can you get work experience, but you can also discover new cultures and even learn a new language to really stand out from the crowd. There are various career options abroad, one of the most popular being teaching English as a foreign language.
• Volunteering ­– tasks can be more diverse and less structured than with an internship, and they generally involve a greater degree of responsibility. Volunteering demonstrates commitment, initiative and social engagement – essential skills sought after by any employer!

These are just a few of the opportunities out there, so it’s worth doing some research to see what work experience schemes are available in your area of interest.

Where to Look

To find summer or vacation work placements, visit the websites of the organizations you’re interested in or contact them directly asking for information. The Prospects website is an excellent source of industry information, as well as vacancy listings.

JobOnline, our very own vacancy database, is an extremely useful tool for finding work experience. The current online vacancies run the gamut from summer placements with insurance companies, to technical internships within media corporations or temporary clerical and office-based positions with various institutions and firms. To apply for these and to access other work placements, visit JobOnline.

Raluca – Maria Chereji
2^nd Year French and Politics Student

Teaching English as a foreign language – find out more…

Whether you have a passion for teaching or want to travel abroad to discover new cultures, teaching English as a foreign language might be the perfect career choice for you. Since fluency in English is the main essential requirement for the job, why not think about kick-starting your career in an original way to really stand out from the crowd?

What Is It?
Teaching English means a bit more than just classroom experience. It involves a particular methodology designed for and targeted at a specific audience. If the plethora of acronyms in teaching confuses you, here’s a helpful guide:

• ELT – English Language Teaching; a widely-used teacher-centred term describing the overall teaching practice and methodology
• TEFL – Teaching English as a Foreign Language; refers to teaching adults or children whose first language is not English but who choose to learn it for various purposes
• TESOL – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages; often involves the same thing as TEFL but also describes teaching English to non-English speakers living in an English-speaking country
• TESL – Teaching English as a Second Language; teaching in countries where English has the official status of a second language. The term TEAL (Teaching English as an Additional Language) can also be used in this context.
• ESP – English for Specific Purposes, such as for business, tourism, the banking sector etc.
• EAP – English for Academic Purposes; refers to academic teaching for university study. Many such courses are run by the British Council.

Why Do It?
Teaching English abroad is a fantastic way to get the firsthand teaching experience necessary for a career in education, while the accreditations you will obtain can add to your CV and maximize your chances of getting a job.

Even if you don’t want to become a teacher, teaching English abroad can be extremely useful regardless of your career plans. You can gain valuable transferable skills such as project management or learning a new language, as well as work experience to get your foot in the door of the tough job market.

Before You Start
While the main requirement is proficiency in both written and spoken English, you might need to have additional qualifications depending on what you’re interested in. Think about who and where you would like to teach, whether you want a long-term engagement or just a summer placement, and what sort of skills you would like to develop. Also consider the financial aspects, e.g. paid work or volunteering, or the living costs and employment legislation of you chosen country.

Training
Once you’ve decided what you want to do, start looking at the relevant requirements and courses available for teaching English abroad. Here are some options:

• TEFL courses – offered by TEFL England, these courses vary from a basic 20-hour initial introduction to a complex 130-hour course preparing you for all aspects of teaching.
• CELT – Certificate in English Language Teaching, a 120-130 hour course validated by either University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations or Trinity College London. It is one of the most popular options for teaching English abroad.
• CELTA – Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults offered by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations at more than 280 centres worldwide. Very useful for teaching English overseas.
• certTESOL – Certificate for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages provided by Trinity College London, another principal training course of a minimum 130 hours on a weekly basis.
• TKT – Teaching Knowledge Test by the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. Refers to teaching English to speakers of other languages and it is generally more accessible than CELTA.
• certTEFL – Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, aimed mainly at teachers whose first language is not English. This course is offered by International House.
• DELTA – The Cambridge Diploma in English Language Teaching to Adults aimed at experienced English language teachers.
• DipTESOL – The Trinity College London equivalent for the experienced English teachers diploma.

Although different companies expect different qualifications, most employers tend to favour courses of a minimum 100 hours ELT/TESOL input, especially for people looking for long-term commitments.

If you’re interested in short-term work or want less intensive training, look into distance learning, an option offered by some TESOL/TEFL centres. Though such courses are generally shorter and cheaper than others, they are not as widely recognized as longer courses. For more information about the types of courses available, see i-to-i TEFL Courses or English Language Centre (CIC).

What Next?
After completing a training course, you can start looking for jobs and work on your application. TEFL England provides a free job placement scheme for people enrolled on TEFL courses for vacancies across the globe, which is useful for finding both long-term and short-term opportunities. The British Council is also running its own recruitment scheme for TEFL teachers. Visit their website for more details on the programme, and on TEFL in general.

You can also have a look at the Prospects website for more information about the teaching industry, as well as for a list of vacancy sources.

We Can Help!
Whether you’re confused about choosing the right course or need help with your application, our team of career consultants can offer you guidance and support with your career. Just give us a call on 020 7882 8533 or drop by our office in room WG3 in the Queen’s Building to book an appointment or look through the resources in our Information library.

Raluca – Maria Chereji
2^nd Year French and Politics student

Start thinking about Summer jobs now!

As the bleak midwinter lingers over Mile End Rd, don’t forget that those hazy lazy crazy days of summer will soon roll round again. And when the academic year ends, most students – particularly those without vacation internships – need temporary jobs.  Believe it or not, NOW is the time to start researching and applying. So what’s out there?

The obvious answer is the Olympics and Paralympics which continue to recruit paid staff (although perhaps not for much longer).. …..

With sport still in mind, Wimbledon, Henley and other events hire seasonal staff.  So  do such varied attractions as Regents Park Open Air Theatre, BuckinghamPalace,  theScience Museum and – er – Chessington World of Adventure.

What else? Well, the knock-on effect of London 2012 means that major stores and shopping centres will be seeking additional staff more eagerly than ever.

Not staying in London?  Whether you want to be a surf instructor in Sidmouth, a gardener in Guernsey or a counsellor inConnecticut, these websites will give you the low-down:

www.anyworkanywhere.com
www.gumtree.com
www.seasonworkers.com
www.summer-jobs.co.uk

www.bunac.org and www.campamerica.co.uk arrange working holidays with accommodation and pocket money wages throughout theUSA

If you prefer a good book, “Summer Jobs Worldwide 2012” is indispensable.

Going back to your home town? Job possibilities may be more limited.  Think hard: which companies / organisations might have temporary work?  Contact them right away, as many holiday jobs are never openly marketed: they go to employees’ sons, daughters and neighbours, not to mention sisters, cousins and aunts.  Get in first! Use your own family and friends for inside information

Time is tight, so scramble through that small window of opportunity before it closes for ever.

Gill Sharp
QM Careers Consultant

Paid work during the Winter Holiday

Want to get some work experience and/or some money coming in over the coming Winter Holiday? Wondering if there are any opportunities left out there which won’t require you to dress up in a Santa costume?

Here are two businesses currently recruiting in the London area:

Royal Mail – https://rmg.i-grasp.com/fe/angard.asp?newms=hm
Boots – http://www.boots.jobs/christmas/

Retail (shops, markets and their distributors) and hospitality (restaurants, pubs and hotels) do a huge amount of business at this time of year. While some will already have recruited the extra staff they need, others are still scaling up. Look out for opportunities with local businesses and keep an eye on sites such as Gumtree http://www.gumtree.com/jobs/london

But is it worth the effort if retail and hospitality aren’t sectors where your career is heading? It is. You’ll gain skills which you can transfer to other roles and be building a track record of work on your CV with evidence of team-working, customer focus, being organised, meeting quality standards and more. Take a look at http://ow.ly/7Q2rK for some thoughts from Target Jobs on the value of bar work for example.

Sue Moseley
Freelance Careers Consultant

Latest Vacation Opportunities Booklet Available Now

With Christmas around the corner,  it might seem strange to be thinking about the Summer.  But the long vacation is a fantastic opportunity to strengthen your CV and get some experience.

Whether you are thinking about internships in the City or volunteering abroad, there are a huge number of options available to help you make the most of your Summer.

To start you thinking and to get some ideas, download the latest Vacation_Opportunities guide. This is produced every year by The Careers Group, University of London.  As well as vacancies, it also contains helpful tips and advice on finding experience and lists useful websites to help you with your search.

If you would like to talk about your options, discuss your ideas or get feedback on an application, book an appointment with one of our Careers Consultants.  To arrange a session, come to Careers WG3 Queens’ Building or call 020 7882 8533.

Tower Hamlets Volunteering Fair

Next week, June 1-7^th, is Volunteers’ Week and this year Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets has organised a Tower Hamlets Volunteering Fair. This is a free Volunteering Fair in Old Spitalfields Market from 12pm to 2.30pm on Wednesday 2 June.

There will be a wide variety of volunteering roles on offer, from mentoring to catering,  music to overseas volunteering and sports-related roles, with  full-time and one-off opportunities available.

Volunteering is a fantastic way to gain new skills and looks brilliant on your CV.  It is also a chance to try out different working environments to help you identify the career for you. If you are still looking for a job over the Summer, volunteering can be a great way to avoid gaps on your CV and you never know – as a result you could make contacts who will help you with your career in the future. Some voluntary positions can also lead on to paid roles.

You could suggest helping out with projects that relate to the career area that you want to follow e.g. designing promotional materials if you are interested in marketing, writing articles if you want to go in to journalism, tutoring if you are considering teaching, website design if you want to get some IT experience…. and so on!

This fair is open to anyone 16+ who live, work or study in Tower Hamlets. If you cannot make it on the day, please see www.do-it.org.uk or call Volunteer Centre Tower Hamlets on 020 7377 0956 to book an appointment.

Make your CV shine this Summer

Exciting as the approaching long summer holidays may be, it is important to use at least some of the time to add skills and experience to your CV.  When you graduate, employers will value any work experience you have gained as it gives you an insight into the work place, builds on your skills and demonstrates that you have been proactive.  It’s also an opportunity to try out something you’re interested in and gain valuable experience, giving you a head start when you enter the job market.  Most employers will ask about your previous work experience and what you gained from it on their application forms.  Some employers use work experience as a way of ‘trying out’ a student with a view to offering them a job on graduation.

Work experience can be broken down into two different types:

Work Experience
Work experience/vacation work is often more informal and isn’t necessarily career focussed.  It can be arranged through existing contacts, or involve temporary or part time work such as retail or office support roles.  It can also be more casual, lasting just a few days or weeks and is not always paid.  You can still take this route to get an insight into a particular career, however you won’t necessarily be working in the job you’re interested in (more than likely you’ll be in a supporting / assistant role).  However it is a great opportunity to ask questions to find out more about working in the industry etc. Make sure you are enthusiastic and always willing to help out, as then you are bound to impress – you will find that opportunities can be found in the most unexpected places!

To find this kind of work, talk to the people you know – friends, family and contacts you have from any previous work experience or volunteering – they may know someone who can help. For example, if you had a part job in retail, you may be able to get work shadowing in the head office within a business area. Come to QM Careers for more specific information about networking and how to network effectively in the industry you are looking to enter.

You can also search for vacancies on QM JobOnline, as well as look for temporary work  via recruitment agencies, a list of which can be found at www.rec.uk.com. Check out our Part time work handout for further tips and advice.

Internships
More structured work experience takes the form of an internship.  These are usually offered by the bigger graduate recruiters, who take a set number of interns on each summer and have a tough application processes.  The best interns may get offered a place on the graduate scheme, so they are very competitive.

Employers recruitment for internships around January/February time, however there may still be opportunities available.  Check out JobOnline, Targetjobs, and Prospects.

See also our ‘Internships, Vacation Work & Work Experience’ handout.

Vacation Opportunities 2009 /2010

Although it is raining outside and summer seems a million miles away, it is actually closer than you think, as our new Vacatation  Opportunities  booklet is out this week!  With details of internships, work experience and voluntary work opportunities,  it is full off ideas and advice on making the most of your summer.  Vacation experience looks great on your CV and is a fantastic chance to help build on your experience and develop your skills.  Collect your copy from QM Careers in the Queens’ Building.

Boost your CV this Christmas

The Guardian recommends taking on part time Christmas work as a way of bumping up your CV and adding to your current skills.  It may sound suprising, but employers value ALL work experience, especially customer service roles.  M&S alone is hiring 20,000 additional staff this Christmas.  Gaining experience on the shop floor can sometimes be an advantage when applying for graduate schemes as you gain an insight into the business, which you can talk about on your application form.  Most retailers and pubs will start looking for Christmas staff at the end of October so start hunting now:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2009/oct/10/graduate-careers