CHOOSING A CAREER www.kent.ac.uk/ces

Nicola UrquhartCareers Adviser

Agenda• What is a career?

• What are the options?

• How can the Careers and Employability Service (CES) help?

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

What is a career?

• Not necessarily a linear, planned sequence of events

• Career choice is not an event or occasion

• Career choice is a process

Why is choosing a career so difficult?

ALL JOBS

which match your goals, needs, values, personality

& require your skills, qualities & qualifications

in the desired location

where there are prospects for the future

What are the options?

• Employment with training

• Employment with study

• Academic study

• Time out/travel

Jobs directly related to subject

What subject did they study at university?

                   

Jobs that are not directly related to your subject

Many employers value the skills you have gained more than the subject

•Communication

•Teamwork

•IT

•Research

•Analysis

•Writing

•Ability to work under pressure

How to make a career decision

Two alternative starting points

• Start from yourself and work out

• Start from your opportunities and work back

• Or, combine the two!

Many factors affect choice

• Your values and motivations

• Your personality

• Hours

• Benefits

• Location

• Pay

Key Skills and Strengths • Organiser

• Analytical

• Conscientious

• Able to prioritise

• Attention to detail

• Team working

• Leadership

• http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/Choosing/strengths.htm

Values and motivations • To have autonomy and define your own priorities and schedules

• To work in a role that supports your personal life

• To have power and influence

• To have security and predictability

• To be a catalyst for change

• To use creativity and self expression

• To be recognised as an expert

• To work in accordance with personal, spiritual or ethical ideas

• To have social status as a result of your job

• http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/Choosing/values.htm

Personality • Energetic

• Resilient

• Creative

• Risk taking

• Relaxed

• Persistent

• Co-operative

• Sensitive

• http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/Choosing/personalstyles.htm

•

How can you identify your skills/what you would enjoy in a job?

• Work experience

• Study

• Extra-curricular activities

• Careers Employability Award

• Career questionnaires

Career Questionnaires

• http://www.prospects.ac.uk/myprospects_planner_login.htm

• http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-report

• http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/explorer.htm

How to research careers

Prospects/Careers and Employability Service websites

•http://www.prospects.ac.uk/options_with_your_subject.htm

•http://www.prospects.ac.uk/sectors.htm

•www.kent.ac.uk/ces

Researching Careerswww.prospects.ac.uk

•Overview of the sector

•Job descriptions

•Salary and conditions

•Entry requirements

•Training

•Career development

•Employers and vacancy sources

•Related jobs

Researching Careers

• Vacation/part-time work

• Internships

• Insight days

• Work shadowing

• Networking

• Kent Alumni Careers Network

Researching Careers

Check job vacancies to find out about the types of roles being advertisedwww.prospects.ac.uk

www.milkround.com

www.targetjobs.co.uk

www.kent.ac.uk/ces

Graduate directories

Careers and Employability Fairs

So much information!How can you keep track of your research?

•MyFolio

•Kent Union Employability Toolkit

•Your own careers notebook/mindmap

• http://www.careerplayer.com/tips-and-advice/general-advice/start-your-career-hunt

What if I’m still stuck?

• Make the most of opportunities (planned happenstance)

• Think about it little and often

• Make an appointment to speak to a careers adviser

Some tips on choosing a career• Take time over your choice

• Get to know yourself, your employability skills, values, personal qualities etc.

• Talk to others but make your own decision

• Do the research

• Keep an open mind - Stereotyped pictures of jobs are rarely accurate

• Use the Careers and Employability Service

Once career choice has been made

• Find out how that sector recruits

• Research employers/courses

• Apply

• Discuss your ideas if you are uncertain

• Change your job-hunting/application methods if they are not working

How can the CES help?

• ‘Choosing a Career’ booklet

• Free careers literature

• Reference files & books

• IT facilities

• Talks and presentations

• Quick query drop-in sessions

• Careers guidance interviews

• www.kent.ac.uk/ces

Careers and Employability Service Web Site: www.kent.ac.uk/ces

Careers and Employability Service Web Pages • I want to work in …. http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/siteach.htm

• What can I do with my degree in … http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/drama.htm

• Choosing a Career http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/Choosing/ChoosingCareer.htm

• Theories of career choice http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/Choosing/career-choice-theories.htm

• Careers Employability Award on Moodle http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htm

• What makes us happy at work http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/Choosing/career-satisfaction.htm

• Example CVs & Covering Letterswww.kent.ac.uk/careers/cv/cvexamples.htm

Careers Employability Award

www.kent.ac.uk/careers/moodle.htmThe module takes about 12 hours to complete

But this can be done at your own pace

You do this by completing:9 quizzes3 short assignments1 feedback form

Speak to an adviser:

• Quick query, drop in and speak to an adviser 10.30am -12.30pm and 2.00pm-4pm Monday to Friday.

• E mail @careerhelp and an adviser will respond to your query.

• You can also book a longer career guidance appointment over the phone or pop in.

CHOOSING A CAREER www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm

Nicola UrquhartCareers Adviser