This document provides information on applying for graduate schemes, including the common steps after graduation, finding job vacancies, the graduate recruitment process, and tips for CVs, applications, interviews, and maintaining resilience during the job search. It outlines the graduate recruitment process, which often involves competency-based applications, online forms, and activities like assessment centers and interviews. Advice is given for crafting CVs and application responses, including using examples and evidence to demonstrate skills and experience. Support resources through the Careers and Employability Centre are also highlighted.
2. In this session, we will cover:
o The most common graduate steps
o The graduate recruitment process
o CV and written applications
o Further support
3. Common steps after graduation
Work – graduate or non graduate
Further study
Other
Looking for work
4. Finding vacancies
Graduate schemes
sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs/graduateschemes
tinyurl.com/gradfairs
Graduate jobs
sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs
Social media – LinkedIn, Twitter etc.
Recruitment Agencies agencycentral.co.uk , jobagencies.com
Sector specific
sussex.ac.uk/careers/researchingcareers
Employers’ websites sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs/researchingemployers/
Location specific
Sussex: diigo.com/list/sussexcdec/working-in-sussex
UK: careers.manchester.ac.uk/findjobs/where/regional
International sussex.ac.uk/careers/careerchoices/international
Working for yourself
guides.careers.sussex.ac.uk/enterprise sussex.ac.uk/careers/startupsussex
6. Competency Based Recruitment
Set around a group of defined skills, attributes and
expectations
•Job advertisement
•Job description
•Person specification
•Other information
7. 1. CLIENT RESPONSIVENESS
2. DELIVERING QUALITY SERVICE
3. BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
4. LEADERSHIP
5. BUSINESS FOCUS
6. PROBLEM SOLVING
7. ACCOUNTABILITY
8. CAREER MOTIVATION
9. MAKING AN IMPACT
KPMG Competencies
10. Find out what the employer wants by looking at:
• Job advert
• Job description
• Employer´s website
• Sector information
Think about how you match this
• Skills
• Experience
• Knowledge
Before starting an application…
11. Filling in Application forms
• Work in draft first
• Follow tips for on-line applications
• Check for spelling and grammar
• Complete all the sections
• Check you have answered the question
12. Evidencing your skills in an application form
Competency questions
• Describe a time you've successfully used communication
skills.
• Provide an example of a situation when you dealt with
conflict in your team.
Personal statements
• Please give us any information supporting your application
and provide evidence of any educational, employment and
extracurricular activities which demonstrate that you have
relevant skills for the role
14. Personal Details
Name / Address / Contact Information
Personal profile (optional)
Do I have something concrete to offer – qualification/experience?
Education
What, Where, When / Highlighting relevance
Work experience
Any experience or employment
Additional skills
IT, languages etc.
Interests
Make them relevant
Referees
1 academic and 1 work or personal
CVs- What do you include?
15. Use of language
• Use bullet points.
• Verbs at the start of sentences e.g.
“Doubled attendance at club meetings“.
• Use action verbs.
• Short sentences.
• Active not passive.
• Sufficiently formal.
• Check grammar and spelling.
16. Layout / Structure
• Logically ordered.
• Easy to read and not cramped.
• Use of underlining and bold.
• Font.
• Length.
• Try the 30 second test!
19. Resilience
while job hunting
• Job hunting takes time and potentially some
rejection.
• Ask for feedback.
• Keep a positive attitude and self-belief.
• Fewer targeted applications = more effective than
blanket approach.
• Create a network of support – use CEC!
20. How we can help
• CEC resources:
sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs/applyingforjobs
• CEC events
sussex.ac.uk/careers/events
• 1-to-1 advice and feedback
• Approx. 400 graduate jobs at: sussex.ac.uk/careers/jobs