Careers

Careers Preparation Level 1 Welsh College of Horticulture Registration Page Name: Address: Tel No: Course: Course Tutor: Programme Area: Section Head: Ext No: Year: Ext No: THE COLLEGE MISSION STATEMENT The Welsh College of Horticulture is committed to providing high quality, cost effective education and training for all students. The programmes offered will reflect academic progression for individuals, the needs of industry and those in the local community. The programmes will be delivered in a caring supportive environment, by specialist staff and appropriate to the needs of individual students. The College will continue to seek links with prospective clients or other training organisations to improve and enhance the range of learning programmes available. Welsh College of Horticulture Holywell Road Northop Nr. Mold Flintshire CH7 6AA Tel: Fax: Internet: 01352 841000 01352 841031 http://www.wcoh.ac.uk WHO CAN HELP YOU WHILE YOU ARE IN COLLEGE? Careers Advisors Employment Service Careers Wales WCOH Mold Chester Wrexham Rhyl Holywell Flint Prestatyn Mold Wrexham Holywell Flint Deeside Rhyl Margaret Gladwell Julie Pritchard 01352 894400 01244 583000 01978 203400 01745 455900 01352 869300 01352 896400 01745 455700 01352 750456 01978 266802 01352 712314 01352 732350 01244 813316 01745 330012 Careers Offices (Careers Wales) (Careers Company) LIBRARY/RESOURCES CENTRE The Library stocks a range of books related to college courses. Reference material, including newspapers, periodicals and CD-ROMs can be used within the libraries, and some CD-ROM material is stored on the main student network. Career guides and college prospectuses are stocked. Student photocopying facilities are based in the Library. COMPUTER FACILITIES There are computer facilities available for students to use for assignments, projects and careers advice and guidance. All students have access to Email and the Internet and the college has a comprehensive Web site giving details of courses, staff contacts and other useful information. http://www.wcoh.ac.uk STUDENT SERVICES Staff in Student Services will be pleased to help you. You may contact the Library to make appointments for career interviews LEARNING SUPPORT WORKSHOPS Facilities are available for students who require some extra help with communication, numeracy or information technology skills to help you succeed. Support staff can offer help in developing – PLANNING, WRITING AND EVALUATING – Essays, assignments, projects and reports Reading technique Assessing and selecting information Note taking STUDY SKILLS Planning and giving a talk Examination techniques Listening Skills Using Resources For more details about what the workshop can offer you contact Sue Davies. WHAT TO DO NEXT When you have successfully completed your present programme of study, you can use it in a variety of ways. You can continue in Further Education, at a higher level; you can progress to Higher Education, possibly on a HND or degree programme; or you can seek employment, with the possibility of further training as part of the job. On-the-job training is generally based on NVQ programmes, possibly through a Modern Apprenticeship or National Traineeship. Details of these are available from the Careers Officer. INTRODUCTION As a Student at the Welsh College of Horticulture, it is important to complete all tasks in whichever level of this workbook you are advised to do, to show that you have gained as much as possible from it. Your Careers Education tutor should be your first line of help for any difficulties you may have while working through the book, although you can also seek advice from the librarian and other people in Student Services. The tasks in this workbook have been designed to help you prepare for your Career. We hope that you enjoy working through the workbook. Successful completion of one of the Careers Preparation units in this workbook will earn you an additional certificate to go with your main qualification. It will also provide useful evidence to a prospective employer. You are expected to work on either Level 1, 2 or 3 of the workbook – your tutor will advise you which. You will be responsible for managing your time and completing the tasks. Your careers education tutor may work through some of the tasks with you, and may ask you to work on others on your own. When you have completed the tasks and exercises in this workbook, hand it to your careers education tutor who will check the completed book, and tell you if you have done enough to gain the certificate. If you have not, you may be asked to do a bit more. PLEASE WORK ON THIS WORKBOOK IN YOUR OWN TIME AND IN DESIGNATED TUTORIALS HELP IS AVAILABLE FROM THE LIBRARY – PLEASE CALL IN AND SEE JULIE ALL THE INFORMATION AND FACILITIES NEEDED CAN BE FOUND IN THE LIBRARY GOOD LUCK Welsh College of Horticulture Careers Preparation Unit Level 1 Student Workbook Student Name: Date: CONTENTS Section 1 – Level 1 a) Skills Audit – 1.1 b) Looking at Myself – 1.2 c) Progression Routes – 1.3 d) Looking at Jobs – 1.4 e) Job Adverts – 2.1 f) Career Route – 2.2 g) Steps to Take – 3.1 h) Careers Advice – 3.2 i) j) Action Plans – 3.3 Basic C.V. – 3.4 k) Assessment Record l) Hints & Tips CONTENTS CONTINUED m) Student Evaluation Sheet Level 1 – Careers Preparation SECTION 1 1.1 SKILLS AUDIT This section is designed to help you identify and analyse your strengths and weaknesses in relation to the skills and qualities that are required in particular areas of employment. An audit enables you to identify the skills and qualities that you already have. These may have been developed and demonstrated through your school or college courses, your hobbies and interests, work experience or part time employment, or any positions of responsibility you have held at school or college. TASK 1 Write a list of all the skills you have. (The purpose of this is to identify the skills you already have) TASK 2 Write a list of all the skills you would like to have. TASK 3 Write a short paragraph describing your course and how you see that helping you achieve your career goal. Signed: Course Tutor: Student: Date: Date: 1.2 Looking at Myself When doing this exercise you need to think carefully about: What you are good at What you would like to improve In order to make a good career decision Qualifications from school are only part of the story, think about yourself outside college: Tasks you can do Hobbies and interests Part time jobs The exercise over the page will help you understand all the different skills people use every day. 1.2 – Looking at Myself TASK 1 SKILLS – What am I good at? Look at the lists below and tick, in order, the ones you are most good at. Good Quite Good Fair Need to Improve Working as part of a team Playing team sports Organising yourself Listening to others Finding information Following instructions Dealing with money Please add any others that you think are relevant CHARACTERISTICS Good Quite Good Fair Need to Improve Caring – helping others Patient Confident Enthusiastic Sociable Responsible Please add any others that you think are relevant Describe any part-time jobs you have had, please include address and dates. Part-Time Jobs Write in the space provided about any hobbies or interests you have. Hobbies and Interests Signed: Course Tutor: Student: Date: Date: 1.3 – Progression Routes List any previous work experience and any other courses that you have done which may help in identifying your progression routes. Work Experience – Please explain what you did and when Voluntary Work Other Certificates/Courses Signed: Course Tutor: Student: Date: Date: 1.4 - Looking at Jobs Tick the personal qualities that you think are important for these different jobs and please give your reasons why. Job Responsibility Patience Confidence Determination Independence Air Cabin Crew Baker Bricklayer Bus Conductor Cashier Footballer House Painter Milk Delivery Nurse Office Junior Packer Plumber Police Officer Social Worker Waiter/ress Own Choice Reasons – Pick 3 of the above jobs Signed: Course Tutor: Student: Date: Date: 2.1 Job Adverts Look at the job advertisements that you have been given and pick four. Look at the four jobs you have selected and identify which characteristic best fits the job. Use the grid below to record your results. Caring for and working with people Creative Outdoors for some or all of the time Locally based Practical Scientific or technical Job 1 Job 2 Job 3 Job 4 2.2 List, in order, the jobs that would be the most suitable for you as a result of the exercise above. Signed: Course Tutor: Student: Date: Date: 3.1 Steps to Take From the selection given below, list the steps, in order of priority that you need to take, before you can apply for a job. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Signed: Course Tutor: Student: Date: Date: 3.2 – Careers Advice TASK 1 Compile a list of all the people and places where you consider Careers Advice would be available. e.g. Careers Advisory Officer - WCoH TASK 2 From the list of your steps in 3.1 a) write a list of the things that you have already done and b) write a list of the things that you need to do. HAVE DONE HAVE NOT DONE YET Signed: Course Tutor: Student: Date: Date: 3.3 – Action Plans TASK 1 Complete the following Action Plan Personal Career/Action Plan Name: Long-term career aim: Academic/career plans for the end of course/academic year: Action to be taken By When Date Achieved Signed: Course Tutor: Student: Date: Date: Tips for a successful application form * Before you do anything else, photocopy the original form. This allows you to make any mistakes on a draft version where it doesn’t matter. Keep the original clean and tidy. * Read the whole form carefully before starting. Make sure you follow any instructions, e.g. use black ink, block capitals, etc. * Have a copy of your CV, the advert and any job description handy to refer to. * Answer every question. If the question does not apply to you, write ‘Not Applicable’ or put a line through it. Otherwise the employer may think you’ve missed the question out accidentally, or are hiding something. * If you need more space, use a separate sheet of paper and write ‘continued on additional sheet’ on the form. Attach it securely to the application form, but just in case it becomes separated, write your name and the job title at the top. * Check spelling, dates, etc. * Only complete the original when you are certain every detail is correct. Then fill it in, in pencil and check it again before going over the final version in ink. (Remember to rub out the pencil marks before sending it.) * Always use black ink unless instructed otherwise. * Write neatly and clearly, block capitals are usually best. * Include a covering letter that draws attention to one or two key relevant selling points. * Only include your CV if it gives additional information you think is important to the application (unless you have specifically been asked not to send a CV). * Keep a copy of the whole application for yourself. It will help you prepare for an interview and save time when filling in other application forms. * Put the forma and letter unfolded in an A4 envelope. A piece of card will stop it getting creased in the post * Don’t forget to sign and post it! TASK 2 Fill in the application form provided. Tips for a successful letter of application An application letter is simply a letter asking that you be considered for a certain position. You need to state the reasons why your application should be given the reader’s careful attention. A covering letter will need to include: a) b) an introductory paragraph which says what the letter is about, and what other documents you are enclosing e.g. CV, application form one or more paragraphs which: reinforce the information given in the CV or application form draw attention to any particular skills, qualification or experience which make you suited to the post being applied for add any further details about yourself which are relevant to the job a closing paragraph, rounding off the letter. c) NB - All letters beginning with Dear Sir …… end with yours faithfully All letters beginning with Mr/Mrs …… end with yours sincerely No other terms are used TASK 3 On the following page write a letter of application in response to an advert of your choice. Would you like to take part in a mock interview? Yes/No If so, please see Julie in the Library 3.4 –Basic C.V. TASK 1 From the information below list in order of importance the information that should be on C.V. TASK 2 From the information above compile a basic CV. RECORD OF ASSESSMENT CAREER PREPARATION OCN Unit – Level 1 Student Name: DATE ASSESSED ACHIEVED BY 1.1 Identify general areas of interest t enable the learner to T 1.2 1.3 1.4 2.1 2.2 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 make realistic choices on future courses/careers. Identify own personal qualities, skills and experiences Identify areas of work or learning which might be appropriate progression routes. Give reasons why the learner’s own personal qualities, skills and experiences might be more suited to some areas of work or learning than to others Collect specific information on identified areas of work or learning Identify possible course/career on basis of findings Identify and outline the steps that need to be taken to enable learner to progress to chosen course/career Identify sources of advice and help to support learner making the progression to chosen course/career Produce a simple action plan with target dates to achieve progression Produce a basic CV ASSESSMENT CRITERIA P P/T S/T T S/T S/CEAdv S/CEAdv S/CEAdv S/T/CEAdv Codes: T = Tutor P = Peers CEAdv = Careers Advisor S = Self Signed: Course Tutor: Student: Date: Date: Signed: Date: Internal Verifier: Comments …………………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………………………………… HINTS AND TIPS Information on the following can be found in the Library:Writing a Curriculum Vitae Writing a Letter of Application Filling in an Application Form Prospectus Career Descriptions www.bbc.co.uk/justthejob - Information can be found on this website regarding full Career Preparation Weekly newspapers A Guide to applying for jobs Student Programme Evaluation Form LOOKING AT YOURSELF IN RELATION TO A FUTURE CAREER Course Title: Course Tutor: This evaluation form is designed to enable you to reflect and comment on your Careers Preparation programme at the Welsh College of Horticulture. With this information we can review and improve the programme for students in the future. Your views are very important. On a scale of 1 – 5, (1 being high, 5 being low), indicate your preference. 1 2 Strongly Agree agree 1. At the start of the Careers Preparation programme the units were fully explained to me. 3 Not sure 4 5 Disagree Strongly disagree Comments: 2. I am able to use the computer to enable me to search for jobs. Comments: 3. I am able to use the computer to find out information about jobs. Comments: 4. I know where to go and how the Careers Library works to find job information. Comments: 5. I feel confident about using the careers books and computers Comments: 6. I have used audio and visual resources to enable me to prepare for a career/employment. Comments: 7. I found some very detailed information about the job(s) I am considering. Comments: 8. I understand what needs to go into a CV. Comments: 9. I have produced a CV. Comments: 10. I understand require from form/letter. Comments: 11. I have developed skills for coping with interviews. Comments: 12. I have gained information which will help me in seeking employment. Comments: 13. What has been the most useful part of your careers programme? Comments: 14. What has been the least useful? Comments: 15. What would you have liked included in the programme which was not covered? Comments: what an employers application THANK YOU FOR COMPLETING THIS FORM