Graduates

If you have delayed your career planning until after graduation and are unsure about what do to with your degree, do not panic! Whilst an early approach to career planning is recommended, in reality many recent graduates leave any planning until after their degree course.

Now is an excellent time to start formulating your future plans. In making a career decision, start thinking about your interests, skills and values. Ask yourself what do I enjoy doing? (interests), what are you good at? (skills) and what type of environment would I like to work in? (values/motivations) Personality is also another key factor to consider when making a career choice, why not sign up for our workshop? (add weblink)

We have plenty of resources to aid your career search:

• Find out what's on in the Careers Service
• Find information on career areas, career planning and employers in the JobShop / Placement Base.
• Use Prospects Planner to generate career ideas and learn more about particular occupations.
• TARGETjobs Careers Report - online self assessment tool which looks at personal potential for graduate jobs. Users can make an action plan to build on their skills and strengths.
• Book a careers guidance appointment with one of our experienced Careers Advisers to discuss in depth your career ideas and plans on a confidential one to one basis.

Missing out on the degree classification you wanted may seem like the end of the world in today's graduate recruitment, however, it's well worth bearing in mind that many employers would be interested in you and what you have to offer.

If you expected a 2:1 and achieved a 2:2, it is worth noting that many employers do not insist on a 2:1 degree as they consider the importance of work experience and extracurricular activities as well as academic results. It is a good idea to contact companies directly about their requirements before investing time on an application.

You may have to re-evaluate your career ideas if you needed a specific degree result for your career area. Book an appointment with one of our careers advisers to for a review of your options.

It should be highlighted that annual recruitment onto graduate schemes only accounts for a small percentage of graduates, at approximately 10%.

If you got a third, there are many employers who insist on a degree as the minimum entry requirement and a proactive and flexible approach to job hunting is a necessity. For more advice in this area make an appointment with one of our friendly, professionally trained careers advisers.

How can the Careers Service help?

• CV Advice
• Mock Interviews (practice interviews customised to suit upcoming Interviews - contact us for more details).
• One to one guidance interviews (30 minute long appointments).
• Drop in service for quick queries.
• Workshops and Events including employer presentations.
• Careers Fairs
• Our Careers Information & Resources point: the JobShop / Placement Base
• Assocation for Graduate Careers Services - find out how AGCAS Scotland can help you.

Do you know about the Scottish Shared Vacancy Service?

As a graduate, you have access to graduate level vacancies in our online database showing vacancies across the UK. Check out the JobShop for more information.

Graduate Job Seeking Strategies

Many students think of Graduate Training Schemes offered by large companies when they hear the term "graduate job". However it is important to remember that many of these programmes focus on particular career areas and approximately only 10 per cent of graduates are recruited onto such schemes.

There are many opportunities for challenging and rewarding graduate level roles outside of traditional graduate training programmes.

Graduate Training Schemes

If you are considering applying to a graduate training scheme, early planning and research is recommended. However, most recruiters will accept applications from graduate up to three years after graduation.

Details of graduate training schemes can be found in but are not restricted to the following websites.

• • JobShop
• • Best Companies Guide
• • Prospects
• • Graduate Elite

Directories and publications of graduate training schemes and other graduate level roles including "The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers" are also available in the JobShop / Placement Base and are free.

Other Vacancy Sources

• Online Vacancy Sources
  • Targetjobs
  • Inside Careers
  • Guardian UK 300 - the top 300 UK graduate employers - as voted by students and graduates
  • Prospects
  • Top Employers Graduate Jobs
• Subject specific journals such as "New Scientist"
•  Local and National Newspapers
• Targetjobs Employer Insights - independent reviews on top graduate employers.
• Inside Buzz - an inside look at companies, interviews, salaries and more...
• Recruitment Agency Lists
• Try Yell.com for a list of sector specific companies / organisations.
• Obtain company lists from Professional Bodies and Associations such as:
  • Chartered Institute of Marketing
  • Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry
  • Scottish Investment Operations

Networking

• • Tayside Young Professionals (TYP) aims to deliver an opportunity to for professional networking and socialising in a relaxed and informal setting for those who are in the early stages of their career.
• • Creative Dundee highlights, showcases and generally shouts about all the creative happenings in and around Dundee.

Additional tips on job hunting strategies

• Sorted Seminars
• Alumni Database Search

Stuck in a rut? Are you feeling dissatisfied in your current role? For many people, the thought of changing career can be a daunting one, particularly if you have no idea what else you can do. A good starting point is to be clear about the reason why you are dissatisfied with your current role. Perhaps a radical career change may not even be necessary; a move to into a different sector or another role with your current employer may be the answer.

If you are considering a career change but don't know where to start, the Windmills Programme Training programme (specifically the Windmills Virtual Career Coach) helps you determine your key skills and identify what is important to you in a career.

• Windmills Programme

Whatever your reason for changing career, we can help you explore your options, review your career and give informed advice about retraining in a non-judgemental / confidential setting.

• Seeing a Careers Adviser

Other resources: 

• Changing Careers Magazine

You may be forced to consider a career change through redundancy. This is a good opportunity to take a fresh look at the career you want. Although, all University of Dundee graduates have lifelong entitlement to the Careers Service, we highly recommend you discuss your situation with an adviser from Careers Scotland.

See Careers Scotland's Redundancy Advice Service for more information.

Before you start applying for a course of further study, it is important to think about your reasons for undertaking postgraduate study.

Common reasons include:

• Intellectual Challenge e.g. a real enjoyment of your subject
• Training for a particular profession e.g. Law, Teaching
• Converting to a new career area e.g. IT, Journalism
• Enhance employment prospects e.g. specialist Masters course
• Delay making a future career decision 
  (The problem with this approach is that you may have difficulty convincing course selectors of your suitability and may also face difficulty in explaining your actions to employers)

We recommend researching postgraduate study options as early as possible. If you are undecided about further study, why not book an appointment with a Careers Adviser to discuss your options. We can also provide advice on how to apply and funding.

The following links are also helpful:

• • Why Postgraduate Study?
• • postgrad.com - advice specifically targeted at postgraduate students including PG Chat forums and blogs, comprehensive UK course search
• Choosing Your Course
  • Search Courses and Research
  • FindAMasters
  • TARGETcourses
  • FindAPhD
  • Research Assessment Exercise
  • Prospects MBA Directory

In the JobShop / Placement Base you will also find paper based resources including Prospects Postgraduate Directories (Reference only) in Arts & Humanities, Business & Social Sciences, Science & Engineering.

Funding

Funding for postgraduate study is limited, more information can be found in the following links:

• SAAS
• Career Development Loans
• Next Step Resource Portal

Other sources of possible funding can be identified using The Grants Register", "Directory of Grant Making Trusts" and FunderFinder (database of charitable trusts) all available in the Careers Service.

Studying Abroad

If you are considering studying abroad, early research and planning cannot be stressed enough. In some cases you may have to apply 18 months in advance.

• If you are interested in studying in the USA, you can access postgraduate information from the Fulbright section in the JobShop / Placement Base
• Brain Track
• Information on Specific Countries

Beating the Credit Crunch - Top Tips

Despite the recent bad press, there are still graduate jobs available! Although there has been a decrease in graduate vacancies, employers are still actively seeking to fill graduate positions. Competition for these positions is fierce, so here are some 'Top Tips' to help manage/plan your career after graduation. 

Tip 1: Use the Careers Service 
We have a wealth of information on CVs, interview skills, occupational and employer information, etc. Our Careers Advisers can offer you one-to-one advice and guidance on where to go from here. You can have your CV checked, arrange a mock interview or watch a DVD on how an assessment centre and interview are run. Remember, as a University of Dundee graduate you have life long entitlement to our services. 

Tip 2: Attend one of our Events 
The Careers Service organises and hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year for students. These range from workshops on how to improve your CV, to Employer presentations on subject area related jobs. Find out what's happening! 

Tip No 3: Your Job Search 

• • Register for the Job Shop to source graduate, work experience, voluntary and part time vacancies. This is updated on a daily basis, so keep checking back.
• • DUTE - Dundee University Temporary Employees - provides people who are available for temporary work within the University.
• • Visit Prospects and utilise the "Graduate Job Search".
• • Register with an Employment Agency.
• • Check out the recruitment pages of newspapers and journals. We hold current issues of the Dundee Courier and Advertiser, Scotsman, Herald, Guardian and New Scientist for reference purposes.
• • Visit Graduate Talent Pool - a new graduate initiative that offers internships in the private, public and third sector.

Tip No 4: Speculative Applications. 
Due to the recession many companies have decided not to pay large amounts of money on job advertisements.

• • Pop into the Careers Service and pick up your free copies of employer directories, including Prospects, TargetJobs,
• • Inside Careers.
• • If you are thinking of working abroad/returning to your home county, the Going Global database of international employers will prove to be a useful resource.
• • A few well targeted applications are more likely to produce results than a mass mail-out.
• • Employment Agencies can also help you tap into the hidden job market.
• • Follow up the application with a telephone call about a week later.

Tip No 5: Get Some Work Experience
Recruiters are placing ever increasing emphasis on the skills graduates gain through work experience and like to see evidence of motivation, initiative and perservance. The types of work experience available include: voluntary opportunities, national programmes, local and overseas opportunities, vacation courses, workshadowing, casual/part time work. Check out our Work Experience Advice and Tips leaflets. 

Tip No 5: Be Realistic 

• • You may have to set your sights on a lower level entry job within a company and then work your way up.
• • Mobility - if you are prepared to live and work anywhere in the UK/world, then you're chances of securing a position are greatly enhanced.
• • Try and have a 'back-up plan'. Think about what you can do whilst waiting to secure a job i.e. further study, volunteering. 

Tip No 6: Remember.... 

• • ...get a good degree! This will stand you in good stead, no matter what the future holds. Although the job hunt is important, getting a good degree should always be your top priority.
• • ...we are here to help! For further information email us or telephone Careers Reception on 01382 384017.