Thanks to our guest blogger for this insight into the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme.....

NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme interview day

I was invited to attend an interview for the NHS Graduate Scheme. I prepared by noting examples of achievements that matched the Leadership Skills – details of these were emailed with my invitation.

When I arrived I was directed to go to a room where all the other candidates were waiting. There were drinks available in the room and everyone was chatting to each other and to the Management Trainees who were there. Everyone was friendly and helpful and I didn’t get the impression that we were all competing with each other; in fact, candidates were trying to find others who were up for the same stream as them and everyone wished each other luck.

I had been told to arrive at 10.15am for a 10.45am interview. Actually, no-one was called for interviews until 11.15am. Just beforehand, we were given a briefing.

First, we heard the statistics! There were 11,600 applicants. About 4000 passed the psychometric test stage. 1000 of these made it to interview and 300 will attend the assessment centre later in the process. 100 will receive an offer of a place on the scheme.

We were advised that we would be asked questions assessing our personal qualities and how we worked with other people during the interview. If the interviewer interrupts and asks for more information, we shouldn’t be concerned as they just want to clarify what we have said. We were advised to use a range of examples from uni, work or extra-curricular activities.

Once in the interview room, I was introduced to two interviewers. They explained there would be six questions. The first three questions focused on why I wanted to join the scheme: what research I had conducted, whether I had considered other schemes and what attracted me particularly to this one. The final three were on how I worked in certain situations: I was asked about a time when I was in a team that had to overcome a difficulty; how I had made decisions to change things in my life (i.e. to go to uni) and for examples of teamwork. The interview felt quite relaxed and the interviewers were friendly and encouraging.

I wasn’t asked if I had further questions, but I was invited to return to the waiting room to talk to Trainees or other candidates before I left. After this I was free to go. Overall it was a positive experience of a graduate scheme interview.

Guest Blog - 5 Ways to make sure your final year is a Success

In our latest guest blog, a Keele Graduate offers some timely advice

5 Ways To Make Sure Your Final Year Is A Success

By Scarlett @BubbleJobs

Your final year can be a scary one - to start with you’ve probably heard horror stories about people struggling during their final year. Then you’ve got that resentful feeling towards the first and second year students who are having a whale of a time - and to top it all off you’ve got your job search to think about at the end of it.

Trust me, I understand that feeling – but you will get through it in one piece and you can still enjoy yourself - as long as you’re prepared. So I’ve come up with five ways to make sure your final year is a success. Hopefully this will help you start your final year on a high rather than a ball of anxiety.

 

1. Start As You Mean To Go On
    
   I can’t deny that you’re going to have times in your final year where you’re stressed and tired – that’s just a fact unfortunately. However you can keep this stress to an absolute minimum by starting your uni work early. There’s no rule that says you have to start an essay a week before it’s due - so start it as soon as you can – this way you’ve got loads of time to do a few drafts.
    
   Try and find out your deadline dates as soon as possible and get them written down on a calendar – then you know exactly what you’ve got to do. Remember that this year will count for the majority of your degree - so you don’t want to be leaving things until the last minute. Leaving things until the last minute can lead to silly mistakes – and unless you’re that annoying person who can do an essay the night before and still gets a 1^st – I’d be prepared.
    
2. Be Clever With Your Time
    
   Everyone procrastinates at some point but it’s important to not let it take over. From my experience I found that final years are pretty good at procrastinating. There’s no harm in being distracted once in a while - but if you’re doing it all the time then you just end up spending more time in the library than you need to.
    
   When you start your work, try and keep focused – I used to work all day Monday-Friday and then have the weekend off. This really did work, because I ended up with some proper time off.
    
   Not having some down time will make you tired and stressed – those two things are not good when you’re trying to revise or produce an amazing essay. So plan what time you’re going to work until and keep focused until that time.
    
    
    
3. Take A Break
   Leading on from my last point – in your final year your degree is obviously your priority, but you need to make sure you take some time out. There are a couple of reasons for this - a big one is that your brain can’t take staring at a computer or a book for a long period of time. If you spend eight hours working without a break you might start being a bit unproductive.
    
   So go and have a drink with a friend or go to a society. No one can say there aren’t enough societies at Keele – there are all kinds of weird and wonderful ones - so go and have some down time when you feel like you’ve hit a brick wall.
    
   Another reason is that this is your final year at Keele, so you need to make the most of it. You want to end the year on a high rather than being known as a hermit that never goes out – so try and have a night with your friends once a week.
    
4. Don’t Leave Your Job Search Until The Last Minute
    
   Your job search is probably the last thing on your mind right now - but if you want a job as soon as you finish uni you should really start thinking about your future.
    
   So get your CV sorted and start thinking about what you actually want to do when you have to leave the Keele bubble (scary I know). If you haven’t got much on your CV then try and get some experience under your belt – even if it’s just for a week over Christmas or Easter it shows that you haven’t been a lazy student for the past three years.
    
   If you pop down to the careers and employability team they can help you with all of the things above – they’ve got loads of resources and tips that can help you out. The sooner you start preparing for your job search the better!
    
5. Use Your Lecturers And Tutors

For some reason I only thought of going to see my tutor/lecturers in my final year and I wish I’d done it sooner to be honest. They’re there to give advice and help you with your assignments - so use them! You could be making a silly mistake that’s stopping you from getting the grade you want – your tutor can help you see this.

But at the same time don’t expect your tutor to do all the work for you – it doesn’t work like that unfortunately. Make sure you’ve got some questions at the ready and get a meeting booked!

 

Author Bio: Scarlett Wilson is a Keele University graduate and is currently working as a Digital Marketing Executive for Bubble Jobs – a niche digital jobs board that specialises in advertising digital, ecommerce, media and marketing jobs from the UK’s top brands. Follow her on Twitter: @Scarlett278 or find out more about Bubble Jobs at http://www.bubble-jobs.co.uk/ 

 

Employers,Keele Hall and a cute squirrel, what's not to like ?

For the first time in many years Keele is having a Graduate Careers Fair. On the 19th February from 10.30 - 3.30 Keele Hall is throwing its historic doors open for students to come and meet employers who are offering graduate opportunities. 

The list of employers is an impressive one there will be names you recognise and perhaps some you don't, what they all have in common is that they want to recruit from Keele.  They are interested in the skills and attitudes you bring to their organisation, some will ask for a specific degree discipline and others are happy to recruit from any academic programme.
Meeting employers can be a bit daunting so here are some ways to make the most of the experience.


Before the Fair

• Have an open mind – the employers represented may offer opportunities you may not have considered before, you may be surprised at the diversity some employers have within their organisations. Find out as much as you can about the possible career paths.
• Research the employers and the roles - Most recruiters will expect you to know something about them and to have a reason for approaching them specifically. You can see which employers are attending on the fair website. If you have an interest in any of them, look at their recruitment and information web pages in order that you can prepare questions for them. These may be about recruitment, training or career progression. Even if you don’t have any clear ideas do think about general questions that might benefit your career choice and job hunting.
• Be Proactive - If you have a specific career or company in mind, be ready to explain your interest, show motivation for and understanding of the specialisation and working culture - as much as possible at this stage!
• First impressions - Present yourself as a future professional. Dress as a potential employee rather than a student and you will be perceived as such.
• Prepare an introduction – Careers Fairs are great places to network/make introductions with employers so of course it is important to make a positive impression.  Think about how you will introduce yourself. Employers may also be interested in your degree, work experience and other activities.
• Have confidence in yourself - You are soon to be a graduate with a range of knowledge and skills to offer. Be positive about your future and the contribution you can make to an employer.

At the fair

• Be positive, polite and smile when approaching employers.  Developing a good rapport or first impression with someone makes it more likely that they will help you and could be remembered if you make an application in the future. Tips to help you do this include: show interest, ask questions, be aware of your non-verbal communication, smiling, handshake, and eye contact.
• Ensure you visit targeted employers – these stands should be your priority. However a careers fair also gives you the opportunity to find out about employers and career sectors that you may not have considered before.
• Come and see one of the Careers Advisers – we will be there to check CVs and offer advice and guidance on applications and career planning.

We hope that you will come and enjoy exploring some of your options, and talking to employers and staff from Keele.

You could even win a cute Keele Squirrel ! 

Three things you need to know to get a job in Marketing: a Guest Blog by Cidel Marshall

As a current 3^rd year Human Resource Management and Marketing student, going into the process of applying for graduate jobs in such a competitive climate is very daunting. So the opportunity to go to this seminar and get tips straight from an employer could not have come at a better time. In my mind the biggest thing I wanted an answer to was; how do I make my application stand out from the crowd? Which I’m sure was a key question that money other students in the presentation room also shared.

 After a light introduction the three main tips were revealed as:

·         Accuracy

·         Creativity

·         Know who I am

Taken at face value these tips may be something that every potential graduate thinks they know. However the way each element was broken down into a breadth of detail, hints and tips, emphasised how the simplest things can easily be overlooked.

In relation to Accuracy (grammar, spelling, dates) this was explained as a determinant factor when recruiters are sifting and sorting through applications. The rumours that one or two mistakes in these areas could be detrimental to your application are absolutely TRUE. Coming from an employer’s perspective, mistakes in these areas are viewed as a reflection of the time and care you have given to your application. Therefore proof reading is essential and should NEVER be compromised because of a deadline, first impressions really are everything.

The point about Creativity hit the nail on the head for me as it answered my initial question perfectly. Although applications can often me monotonous, it is important to remember that the field you are applying for is far from this. Marketing professionals are often exposed to the most imaginative and innovative working environments, which they are required to actively participate in. Thus it is essential to keep this in mind when applying for any job in this industry, creativity in the way you market yourself is key in differentiating yourself from other candidates.

Finally the last point of Know Who I Am simply refers to doing your research not only on the job role, but the company and its industry market. This has many advantages as it shows the employer your genuine enthusiasm and interest into the role and occupational field you are applying for. As well as this, during the application process competency questions are always something that many recruiters use to select their best candidates. Throwing in a bit of industry specific terms to help articulate your answers is always beneficial, and shows you have done your research.

Amongst these three tips we were also given a bit of advice which definitely surprised me and many other students in the room. YOUR PRESENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA SITES IS IMPORTANT. Anything you post on social media websites albeit pictures or comments may fall into the hands of your future employer. Thus it is absolutely essential that your internet presence does not include anything that may showcase your talents in a bad light. So for many of us who have enjoyed all the joys of student life and are happy to share our boozy nights out pictures with the world, now is the time to delete the comments and keep those photos hidden. The only side you want your employer to see it your best, so keep that in mind when you’re online.

To summarise, this event was very insightful and reminded me that it’s often the simplest things that we overlook that can really make or break and application. So it’s essential that we carefully construct each part of our application, with stringent care and consideration to the field and job role we are applying for.

Fancy educating Yorkshire, Cheshire, Essex..... ?

This time last year I was writing about the changes taking place within teacher training. It’s no surprise that 12 months on I’m still writing about changes taking place within teacher training!

If you are considering primary or secondary teacher training starting in 2014 you have a number of options to choose from:

·         University-based Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)

·         School-based School Direct

·         School-based School Direct Salaried (for those with 3 years school experience)

·         School-based School Centred Initial Teacher Training (SCITT)

·         Teach First

All lead to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and some, but not all, will also lead to the award of a PGCE. Information on all options is available at:
www.education.gov.uk/get-into-teaching/teacher-training-options

Applications to Initial Teacher Training 2013/14

If you are going to apply for initial teacher training (ITT) programmes offered through PGCEs, School Direct and SCITTs, with a start date in 2014, you will now apply through a single online system UCAS Teacher Training. Applications for Teach First need to be made direct to their website.

Points:

·       The UCAS Teacher Training online application process opens on the 1^st November 2013 for 2014 entry.

·        The application process is in two parts. All candidates begin with Apply 1, regardless of when they make their application. They make up to three choices which will be considered simultaneously by their chosen providers. All three choices must be made at once. Candidates who do not hold an offer through Apply 1 can then make further applications to one provider at a time, through Apply 2, which opens in January 2014.

·        Providers must notify their decision within forty working days of receipt of the application. This means that candidates may receive invitations to three interview days within a very short space of time.

·        There are no deadlines. Apply 1 will remain open until 15 September 2014 and Apply 2 until 31 October 2014 for any programmes with places still available.

·        Candidates should book their professional skills tests as soon as possible – some providers will make an offer conditional on passing them by a specified date or by the time they are interviewed.  There is a new version of the tests this year.  Candidates should check whether their provider is offering any support with preparing for the tests.

·        Applications for Teach First 2014 Leadership Development Programme opened during the summer. You will need to monitor subject availability; History and Business Studies are already nearing capacity.

Information and advice

If you have any questions regarding teacher training contact Careers and Employability and speak to a Careers Adviser. Also, watch out for our workshops in October covering teacher training. On Tuesday 15 October, Patrick Greenhalgh (Careers Adviser) will be giving an overview on routes into teaching with particular emphasis on the application process. On Wednesday 16 October, Kevin Mattinson, head of Keele’s PGCE courses  will be talking about Keele’s primary and secondary courses. Both presentations take place between 1pm – 2pm. Go to the Careers and Employability website for details and to book online.

UK’s central bank targets Keele students

In the square mile of the City of London sits the Bank of England, the UK’s central bank. Fondly known as the“old lady of Threadneedle Street”, decisions made here on the UK economy effects every one of us. As well as Finance and Economics graduates the Bank has schemes for all graduates regardless of subjects studied. So if the idea of a career that enables you to “help to drive new policy and change” appeal, read on!  

Keele University is one of the Bank’s target Universities, recognising both the reputation and quality of degree courses on offer here. However levels of application from Keele remain relatively low. The Bank would like to pass on the message to Keele students that opportunities are not just open to economics or finance graduates but also to graduates of all disciplines.

The Bank is also keen to develop a work force that is more representative of the UK’s population so would welcome applications from undergraduates and graduates from the full range of backgrounds. The Bank would particularly like to increase the number of women, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities in its workforce. Committed to the 2 tick scheme (the 2 tick symbol on job adverts means the employer is committed to employing disabled people): students with a disability, so long as they meet the minimum criteria, are guaranteed an interview.   

Introducing the Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA)

To be successfully recruited to one of the Bank's schemes you will be expected to have a good knowledge and understanding of the Bank's role and areas of business and this includes the PRA. The PRA has been set up to give the Bank powers to help ensure that regulated firms do not adversely affect financial stability. The PRA is described by the Bank as “one of the most exciting places to be within the financial sector”.

Business areas

·         Banking Services ·         Financial Stability ·         Information, Service and Technology ·         Markets ·         Prudential Policy ·         Special Resolution Unit

·         Finance ·         Human Resources ·         Internal Audit ·         Monetary Analysis ·         Prudential Supervision ·         Statistics and Regulatory Data Division

Career Options

Undergraduates: Options for Economics and/or Finance and all other disciplines

·         Summer internships; eight week placements for students in their penultimate year

·         Sandwich student scheme; industrial placement as either a research assistant, project assistant or in IT support

Graduates: Options for Economics and/or Finance, IT and all other disciplines

·         Graduate development programme; three to four year programme working in at least two of the Bank's business areas

·         Postgraduate sponsorship; for students who have completed a summer internship and are considering further study in economics or finance

PhDs: Economics and related disciplines

·         Internships: up to three months with a team Monetary Analysis or Financial Stability

·         Permanent roles: in Monetary Analysis or Financial Stability

Application tips:

·         Know your stuff; ensure you  have a good knowledge and understanding of what the bank and the PRA do

·         This is not an option suitable for applicants who are solely motivated by financial gain or money (not to say the positions are not well paid!). There is an application question that directly relates to this around what other graduate schemes opportunities you have applied for…

·         Have a disability? Ensure you disclose it on the application, if you meet the entry requirements you are guaranteed an interview

·         Examples of where you have demonstrated a strong commitment to doing something for others/the public will help

·         All applicants need to be comfortable with analysing data.  However for the non-economist roles you are not expected to be an expert in numeracy

·         Read the Approach documents www.bankofengland.co.uk/pra/Pages/supervision/approach/default.aspx

·         At interview expect to be asked competency based questions so ensure you are familiar with the competencies they are looking for and have plenty of strong examples ready

·         Year 2? Consider applying for a summer internship

·         40% of applications are received on the deadline day. Avoid the potential stress this may involve, start early and get it checked by a Careers Adviser

·         Application support available from Careers and Employability, drop-in (www.keele.ac.uk/careers/aboutus/seeinganadviser/) or email careers@keele.ac.uk

www.bankofenglandgraduates.co.uk 

The Bank of England are visiting Keele on 7 November, to meet interested students. Make sure you don't miss the opportunity to find out more. Book your place at www.keele.ac.uk/careers/events

Your feedback - our responses

The Careers and Employability Team at Keele recently spent some time asking students about the services we offer.  We were delighted to receive some great feedback on the work that we do and the guidance and information that we offer.  Students felt that the Careers Advisers in the team listened to them and offered positive, impartial guidance as well as useful information.  The majority of students told us that we had had an impact on their career planning and had ideas about what steps to take next.

We also received some great suggestions about how we could develop our services further and we have made plans to put some of these ideas into practice already.  Head over to our website to find the details of these.

http://www.keele.ac.uk/careers/latestnews/feedbackresponses/