Employability - What Employers Want Computer Science Yr1
Sophie Charles Careers Adviser
Aims of the session
Be informed about destinations of Birmingham graduates Define what is employability Know what skills/ qualities employers want Identify ways of making yourself more employable:
work experience voluntary work part time/ temporary employment
Know what resources are available
Destinations: Computer Science Graduates - 2001
Permanent employment Temporary employment Employment overseas
Higher Degree Other training
Unemployed Not Available
59.7% 4.5% 4.5% 68.2% 13.4% 1.5% 14.9% 13.4% 3.0%
Destinations: Computer Science Graduates - 2002
employment Temporary employment Employment overseas Degree Other training
Unemployed
Permanent
Higher
Not
Available
49.4% 7.8% 1.3% 58.4%(65.3) 14.3% 1.3% 15.6% 22.1% 3.9%
Graduate employment:
Software Engineer Website Designer/Developer Systems Analyst/Engineer IT Technician Electronic Engineer Computer Programmer Network Specialist Help Desk Adviser IT Consultant Self Employment
Trainee Chartered Accountant Civil Servant Graduate Trainee Youth Worker Customer Service Asst. Broadcast Engineer Administrator Scientist Bar Staff EFL Teacher Typist Teacher Catering
IT Graduate Salaries:
2001 Highest reported salary = £47,000 Lowest reported salary = £19,000
2002 Highest reported salary = £22,000 Lowest reported salary = £10,000
Mean
= £25,227
Mean
= £17,833
Upturn in the IT market:
The
results reveal that the plummeting demand for IT skills in the UK seems to have bottomed out. At last, the recruitment climate for permanent staff is not getting worse - and for contractors it has begun to improve - which suggests that things should now start to get better…. And those unfortunate IT professionals currently seeking employment can take heart from the fact that an upturn in the recruitment market at last seems to be on the cards.
-Computer Weekly/SSL Quarterly Skills and Salary Survey 2003-
Employability
Task: In pairs discuss the following question: What would help you to get into a top graduate job when you finish your degree?
University of Birmingham Alumni Comments:
A good quality degree Relevant work experience Work experience - paid/voluntary Relevant skills Contacts and networking Planning & preparing for the future Doing some homework - research
Employability
Definition: Skills needed to get and keep a job „employability goes well beyond the simplistic notion of key skills, and is evidenced by the application of a mix of personal qualities and beliefs, understandings, skilful practices and the ability to reflect productively on experience‟ (Yorke & Knight) Demonstrate a combination of:
Academic work Personal skills and qualities Work experience Extra curricula activities
Developing Transferable Skills
Work Experience
Advantages of work experience
Beneficial to your studies
self
confidence, motivation, time management, putting theory into practice
Clearer understanding about occupational choice and career management
the
opportunity to experience „real jobs‟ and identify what you want to do and what you do not want in work of working with different people, in an older and more mature environment, different from university
Personal development and maturity
experience
Development of skills
practical
and technical skills, communication, problem solving, interpersonal skills, project work, prioritising work & time management, following instructions etc….
would rather employ someone already tried and tested, and with an understanding of the world of work. (Eg. Shell - 50% of undergraduates who do work experience are offered a graduate job).
Enhanced employability/ Offer of future employment
employers
Financial rewards
Employer Perspective
Employers want to see evidence of skills outside of your degree Trial run Part of recruitment process
Target penultimate year students Interviews, Assessment Centres, Tests etc. Potential sponsorship Potential job offers upon graduation Attractive salaries, accommodation, expenses...
Deadlines range from Oct -Feb/March Demand is highly competitive
Importance Of Experience
“Just
as the crucial success factor for a restaurant is location, location, location, the critical factor in IT is experience, experience, experience. Employers want evidence you have used your skills on real-life projects. Even if you retrain, you still need commercial experience to back it up” Resource Manager at
Key People. » Computer Weekly June 03
What employers want when recruiting work placement students
oral and written communication skills (67%) degree subject & class (63%) other work experience gained
technical skills/foreign language skills
A levels/UCAS points a knowledge and interest in the company a genuine desire to work in the industry
a good understanding and interest in the post
extracurricular interests and achievements
Opportunities for work experience
Sandwich courses Industrial placement/ Internship Course-related projects Vacation/ Summer placement Vacation courses Casual vacation work/ part-time jobs Voluntary work International exchange Summer jobs abroad
How to choose?
Make some practical decisions first:
paid/ unpaid; time & duration (when, how long or how often); location eg. UK or abroad Responsibility, project work, management Experience in chosen occupational area Work with a reputable employer Chance to focus on developing key transferable skills Add to your overall career development plan/ CV
What will the work experience provide?
Making it Count
Think about what you are doing and what you are learning Seek out opportunities to gain more responsibility and to demonstrate initiative Work effectively with others, build a rapport with colleagues and managers Become familiar with the company and the industry Keep a record and evaluate the development of the key skills required by the industry and employers you would like to work in upon graduation
Where are the vacancies?
website:www.careers.bham.ac.uk Your department (noticeboards/lecturers) Work experience magazines - free publications Employer directories - KOMPASS, Yellow Pages etc. Work experience fairs International agencies - BUNAC, AIESEC Local newspapers Personal contacts Speculative letters to companies/ Company websites
Voluntary Work
Unpaid but provides scope for variety A range of opportunities: writing bids for fundraising; managing a budget; organising events; teaching & training; setting up a website or database; producing reports; being an advocate; providing advice or counselling; chance to learn a new skill…. Millennium Volunteer www.bugs.bham.ac.uk/involve
Part time/ temporary employment
Aim for jobs:
directly related to future career choice that provide you with the chance to progress with a position of responsibility with a reputable company (if possible)
Opportunity to demonstrate transferable skills:
reliability, good time keeping, team working, interpersonal skills, customer service skills, time management, working under pressure and more…
www.bugs.bham.ac.uk/jobzone
Demonstrating Relevant, Transferable Skills
Complete Handout
Application Form Questions:
"Describe a situation where you had to work effectively as a member of a team. What was the team's aim? How was the team selected? What was your role?" "Describe a significant piece of work or achievement that shows that you have excelled and sets you apart from other graduate applicants” (300 words max)
Skills employers look for
AGR Survey
Self-awareness - Understanding fully your own skills and weaknesses, your own work values and what you want out of working life.
Self-promotion - Being assertive with others, speaking out when appropriate, arguing your case.
Research skills for ideas and opportunities - Being patient and methodical in researching the choices open to you, identifying new opportunities, digging around for information. Decisiveness and action planning skills- Identifying options, assessing their suitability, choosing the best option, planning action, making decisions.
Teamworking skills - Being a constructive team member, contributing practically to the success of a team. Adaptability and flexibility - Changing or modifying your behaviour in response to changing circumstances or the needs/wishes of others, taking on new challenges/responsibilities without much notice. Negotiation skills- Holding discussions with others in order to reach a mutually satisfactory outcome, getting your arguments across without losing your temper, protecting your position but knowing when to compromise.
Networking skills - Feeling confident when meeting strangers, establishing a rapport, getting them to help you.
Written communication skills - Expressing yourself well on paper, being persuasive, having a reasonable grasp of grammar and spelling, understanding what is required by the reader and structuring your content accordingly. Oral communication skills - Using speech to express ideas, give information and get your ideas across to another person.
Presentation skills - Presenting ideas or information to a group of people effectively, using visual aids confidently, keeping their attention.
The most important were:
Employers saw the largest shortfall in:
Motivation and enthusiasm Team working
Oral communication
Interpersonal skills Initiative Managing own development
Business awareness
Flexibility Initiative
- A 2002 survey from the Association of Graduate Recruiters
Oral communication Problem solving
Commercial Awareness
“Employers often spend quite a bit of time and energy with new graduates, who have just focused on the technology, to make them productive in the business environment. We are hoping, with our combination of business and interpersonal skills, to reduce that and to make the pain of transferring from academic to business life, a lot less.” senior lecturer at
Brighton University.
“We are trying to get those essential commercial and business skills into graduates before they join us”
technology services account manager at IBM.
» Computer Weekly Sept 03
Careers Centre Events
Work Experience Fair - Wednesday 28th January Employer Led Skills Series - Spring Term Work Experience Talks & Skills Development workshops at the Guild of Students - Spring Term
website: www.careers.bham.ac.uk Careers Centre, 1st Floor, University Centre
Action Plan
Setting clear objectives will help you get the most out of your job or work experience. The objectives you set should be: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic & Timebound Plan your Easter, Summer & Christmas holidays well Look for and apply for opportunities early Reflect on and record what has been learnt at work Write a CV and update it regularly