Digital PhotographyCVs and Creative Job HuntingMona Vadher

Employability Services

Agenda

0 Overview of the Employability Services0 The Alumni Mentoring Scheme0 Programmes0 Creative CV’s0 Creative Job Hunting0 Preparing yourself for finding a placement0 Skills gained from Digital Photography Students0 Jobs Boards

Employability Services

We offer a variety of services that give you the best possible opportunity to secure your dream job.

Whether you want to find the ideal graduate role, set up your own business, gain work experience

through volunteering or placements, work for LSBU or simply want some help with your CV, we

offer something for everyone.

Job ShopGround Floor, Student Life Centre

Opening hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday to Friday – Drop In Service

0 Hard copies of career guides and FAQs0 Prospects and other graduate directories

0 Online Resources including Job Shop Online0 Part time and full time work, graduate roles, work experience, volunteering

and placement vacancies advertised0 https://my.lsbu.ac.uk/page/employability

0 Drop in sessions for quick queries and advise0 Employability and Careers advice0 Part time work, graduate job, volunteering and internship/placement search 0 CV checking, application forms, mock interviews, assessment centre

preparation help.

Career Gym1st floor, Student Life Centre

Workshops in the Career Gym:

0 CV workshops Mondays - 12:30 Wednesdays - 12:00pm Fridays - 2:00pm

0 LinkedIn Lunchtimes Fortnightly on Thursdays (next session 20th February 2014)

0 Volunteering: Drop In every Tuesdays: 10am - 1pm Volunteering Fair – 5th – 6th Feb

0 Skills to Succeed sessions, E-learning

0 Employer Workshops and Presentations

0 Mentoring Scheme

Careers Fairs

AHS Career FairCreative Industries:

Film, Games, Sonic Media etc.

Thursday 3rd April 201411am – 3pm

Student Centre

Alumni Mentoring Scheme

Is LSBU’s first online Mentoring Scheme, connecting mentors to students.

Provides an opportunity to gain employability advice from industry professionals.

Offers real-life insight into today’s working world.

http://www.mentormatch.me/lsbu/

Alumni Mentoring Scheme

How will you benefit from the scheme?As a mentee, you will receive first-hand knowledge, employment advice and encouragement from someone who has valuable industry experience, for 6 months.

Who are the mentors?Former LSBU Graduates who are now industry professionals, have

signed up to support you with career direction, support and guidance.

http://www.mentormatch.me/lsbu/

Alumni Mentoring Scheme

1. Training:Attend one of our Mentee Training Days

2. Set up an Account via: http://www.mentormatch.me/lsbu/

3. Choose your Mentor and send out a Proposal:Receive Employability Support for 6 months

Alumni Mentoring Scheme

February Training Sessions:

0 Tuesday Feb 18th - 2pm-3pm0 Wednesday Feb 19th - 2pm-3pm0 Monday Feb 24th - 10am-11am0 Wednesday Feb 26th - 2pm-3pm

To book a place contact:Rudaba Osmani: osmanir@lsbu.ac.uk

https://my.lsbu.ac.uk/page/skills-zone

ProgrammesStarting a Business - 12th February - London Road - 10am – 12pmDelivered by Urban BalanceA session focussing on developing business and marketing plans; reviewing funding options; getting your first client; skills required for setting up a business, including self-management, solving problems, communication and commercial awareness. 3 day Freelancing Programme - 14th, 21st & 28th February - Borough Road – 10am – 4pmDelivered by Parity 

Creative Job Searching - 19th February - Career Gym – 1.30pm – 3pmA session created to explore different methods of job searching, thinking outside the box and accessing roles

through routes other than those we commonly think about.

Business Etiquette - 20th February - London Road – 2pm – 5pmDelivered by Black Bullion

Differentiate yourself from other candidates. Make a great impression pre, during and post an interview. Develop and project your personal brand: the elevator pitch, incorporate the tricks of your trade, build an

online image. Create opportunities: cultivating relationships.

Question?

What is the purpose of a CV?

Answer:To Get an Interview

Elevation Pitch:Discussion

Imagine you are in a lift with an employer who could offer you

your ideal job. What would you say in 30 seconds

to convince that person to employ you?

Common CV Mistakes…

Spelling grammar and usage mistakes

Incorrect Contact Details

Wrong chronological order

Unprofessional email address /other unprofessional/ informal use of language

Poor formatting or overly complicated formatting on CV

All soft skills, no tangible skills on the CV

Too much body text- too wordy

CV Structure

1. Personal Details (Including Linked In, Blog and/or Portfolio link)

2. Personal Profile/Career Objective3. Skills Profile/Skills Set4. Education and Qualifications5. Memberships/Additional Training – 6. Work experience/Career History7. Interests/Hobbies8. References

Formats 0 CVs should be saved in a format that can be viewed by the maximum

number of people

0 Use .pdf format or .jpeg , rather than .doc (except for a few exceptions)

0 Make sure that the file is saved for web viewing (File > Adobe PDF Presets > Smallest File Size), so that it is small and does not clog up the inbox

0 3 dimensional CVs are eye catching but may give employer problems filing them – so maybe have 2 versions

0 Decide which to send depending on recipient – if HR person then send plain text version but if creative director then the full designed version would have impact

Formats0 Don't let the medium interfere with the message - Start by producing a standard CV. Only when

the wording is excellent consider into something that is a bit different:

0 Get the content right before focusing on the design. - It is the content and presentation that will make the impact and not gimmicks. Eccentric CVs can put off employers. CVs have to be filed. How can you file a 3 dimensional CV?

0 The standard CV model is always the safe bet - Jobs where there are likely to be many applicants - the media, think tanks etc. - you may need to take more risks with your CV just to get it noticed.

0 Content is king - the best looking CV will not get you interviews unless it also contains depth of content.

 0 Don't include content such as graphics if they don't add any useful information about you as this is

the sole purpose of a CV!

0 You need to balance eye-catching/different with a sharp and professional promotion of your style.

Top Tips…..0 Presentation is particularly important but that does not necessarily mean an unusual CV . - These are difficult to

compose and tend to detract from the key purpose of the CV (the range of skills that relate to the job). Your creative skills can be assessed via your portfolio.

0 It's the content, practical skills, and work experience that employers are particularly interested in, plus evidence of what you have created: listings of exhibitions etc.

0 Work experience take priority over education. For example for a multimedia CV include your technical skills (Flash, Maya, Photoshop XHTML etc.)

 0 Provide a link on your CV to a web site with examples of projects from your portfolio. Let your real work do the

talking, not the CV layout.

0 Work experience is used to demonstrate the soft skills that most employers want: teamwork, customer service etc. Creativity is demonstrated in your portfolio not your CV.

 0 Once you do start introducing more of a design element to a CV you have to recognise that this is more of a high risk

strategy. Some recruiters may love your design, others may hate it, so show your CV to other people first. 

0 Where they have specialized recruitment functions, a well formatted CV will always work better.  Large advertising agencies recommended a standard CV.  Some smaller companies may like a more individual approach. They may be more impressed by an unusual CV because they have fewer to look at.  

More Top Tip’s…..

0 A tasteful and subtle watermark or border can be effective.

0 Landscape shaped CVs (wider than they are long) are harder to format correctly but can stand out from the crowd.

0 Book format CVs (folded into four A5 size pages) are awkward to photocopy and to look at. 

0 One method is to have a business card with examples of work on the card - this should be in addition to rather than a replacement for, your CV.

References

Creative CV guideJan Cole & David Whistance

(University of the Creative Arts)

2 Copies in the Perry Library - 650.142 COL1 reference copy in the Job Shop

Examples

Job Options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

0 Animator0 Location Manager0 Photographer0 Press Photographer0 Illustrator0 Commissioning Editor0 Television Camera Operator0 Fine Artist0 Printmaker

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

0 Advertising Art Director0 Broadcast Engineer0 Television/Film/Video Producer0 Graphic Designer0 Programme Researcher,

Broadcasting/Film/Video0 Magazine Features Editor

Typical EmployersPhotography graduates enter technical, operational and creative areas, as well

as taking on roles in support functions. Popular employers include:

0 Large broadcasters such as the BBC, Channel 4 and Sky0 Websites0 Communications companies0 Independent film production companies0 Public sector organisations, e.g. universities0 Charities0 Publishers0 Advertising and marketing agencies0 Self-employment is a common option, with graduates taking on photographic jobs alongside other

employment with the aim of developing a portfolio of clients.

Opportunities may be advertised via company websites, recruitment agencies and in magazines and newspapers. However, these are sectors in which you are very likely to

find employment through work experience, which allows you to develop and demonstrate your skills, and through personal contacts

What Employers Look For?

Question: What you think are the key skills and experiences…..

0 You have gained from your BA Digital Photography course so far?

0 Employers look for when recruiting candidates for a creative role?

Skills Digital Photography

Students GainStudying Digital Photography develops a diverse range of skills

including:

0 Ability to initiate, develop and realise distinctive and creative work in various media, such as digital photography and audio-visual formats,

0 Ability to work flexibly and independently with self-discipline and self-direction;0 Communication skills and the ability to present an argument,0 How to evaluate and reflect on your own work,0 Teamwork,0 Project management, including financial awareness,0 Problem-solving,0 Working to a deadline,0 Entrepreneurship,0 Research,0 Technical skills, such as IT, media production, multimedia and web-based technologies,

Skills Your Degree Has Given You

0 Researching, judging and evaluating complex information → analysis

0 Presenting arguments in a clear, persuasive and compelling way → communication

0 Applying theory to organisational problems → problem solving

0 Ability to manage workload with personal life and work/volunteering → time management

0 Working effectively in a group as well as independently → team working

0 Creative thinking → using initiative0 IT skills

What Skills do Employers Look For?

0 Underpinning all these attributes, the key foundation must be a positive attitude:0 a 'can-do' approach0 a readiness to take part and contribute0 openness to new ideas0 a drive to make these happen

0 Employers also value entrepreneurial graduates who demonstrate an innovative approach, creative thinking, bring fresh knowledge and challenge assumptions

What Skills do Employers Look For?

0 Analytical ability0 Good oral and written communication skills0 Influencing and negotiation skills0 Problem solving/using initiative0 Time management/organisation skills0 Teamwork0 Creativity0 IT skills0 Business and commercial acumen0 Drive and ambition

Notice the similarities: What does this tell you? The transferable

skills that employers are looking for in

graduates are those that you already have.

What Next?0 Have I been in to register with the Employability Service?

0 Do I have an approved CV? 0 Am I receiving and reading mail-outs from the employability advisors

with new opportunities?

0 Is my search wide enough?

0 Am I getting my application forms/ covering letters checked at drop in?

0 Am I also sending out speculative applications and contacting companies speculatively?

How do I Make Myself Employable?

0 Volunteer – gain valuable transferable skills0 Try to secure an internship or work/graduate

placement – highly desired by employers (note: deadlines for a lot of grad schemes is Christmas)

0 Send speculative requests for work experience to employers – between 70% and 80% of jobs are never advertised

0 Use LinkedIn – great networking tool0 Get your CV checked by us in the Job Shop!

The Speculative Approach

A request for a job that you send to a company although the company has not advertised one (Financial Times Lexicon: http://lexicon.ft.com/ )

STEP 1) INDUSTRY RESEARCH

STEP 2) SEARCH FOR SUITABLE ORGANISATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES

STEP 3) PUT TOGETHER A SPECULATIVE APPLICATION

STEP 4) FOLLOW UP FOR FEEDBACK

Rules for Speculative Applications

Research the company thoroughly beforehand and make sure you are clear about: 0 What they do and Why?0 How they make a profit (if applicable)0 Where they are based

Ensure your covering letter includes: 0 Your understanding of their activities0 An explanation as to why you are interested in working with them0 Relevant skills you can offer them

I have included an example of a speculative approach below:http://www.prospects.ac.uk/assets/assets/documents/cover_letter_speculative.pdf

Next Steps

0 Bring a paper copy of your CV to the Job Shop for checking with the placement service

0 Once checked and approved this will allow you to register for the Job Shop Online to get access to the work placement jobs as and when they come in

0 The team will also be able to send you job alerts and info about events during the year – Store CV Placements CV Bank

0 Apply directly through company website for their placements opportunities

Top Tips

Be clear about what you want.

Have an understanding about what you want to gain from an internship, better yet write it down. What's most important to you:

0 Work experience0 Learning new skills and gaining hands-on experience0 Increasing your networking connections0 Creating an entry point to the potential of a full-time

position

Top Tips

Use your connections.

Once you have the marketing area that your interested in, you are ready to turn on the "wow" power and start contacting and reaching out to

businesses.

0 Use your network to connect with those who can introduce you to the hiring powers of the companies you are interested in.

0 Use your social networks like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to learn about new opportunities.

0 Devote time to your search daily.

The search may take patience, but don't lose heart and most of all keep your energy positive this will help in landing that desired position.

Sector Skills Council

0 Creative Skillset: The Sector Skills Council for the Creative Industries offers a specialist careers information, advice and guidance service for a wide variety of careers in photo imaging. http://www.creativeskillset.org/

0 Association of Photographers (AOP) to gain immediate access to a network of assistants and professionals. You can also promote yourself on their web-based Assistant Search list. The AOP offers portfolio critiques, workshops and seminars, and runs competitions, which offer winners a good opportunity to improve career prospects. http://www.the-aop.org/

Job Searching0 Personality, perseverance and patience are all essential, and dedication is

needed to get a foot in the door.

0 Although freelance work may be solitary at times, photographers also need the ability to blend quickly into work teams and to build rapport with different people, for example when working on shoots.

0 The impact of digital technology has revolutionised the industry. In most areas, such as editorial and sports photography, digital technology has become dominant.

0 It is now the norm for images to be supplied in digital format, usually on CD-ROM or via the internet, which is likely to involve image manipulation using software packages like Adobe Photoshop or Aperture after the photographic shoot.

Job Searching0 As well as a strong CV, a professional and impressive portfolio is essential and

could be online, a traditional 'book' or a CD. It can contain tear sheets, if available. Whatever format you choose, your portfolio must be: Relevant to the chosen area Well presented Constantly updated

0 It is useful to join photographic societies, visit exhibitions and galleries, look at photographs in books and magazines and find out as much as possible about any specific fields of interest.

0 Volunteering, work shadowing, work experience and project work are also great ways of gaining experience and skills, as well as making contacts. Any opportunity to have work published should be taken, even if it pays little or nothing.

Placements Through LSBU

Work Placements we have currently are managing:

0 The Tree Council - Photography Intern (Unpaid) http://www.treecouncil.org.uk/press-and-news/item/4015-friends-of-the-tree-council

0 Emer O’Brien Visual Artist - Artists Assistant (Unpaid) - Location: Seven Sisters, 7hrs a day for 10 weeks - http://www.emerobrien.com/home/

0 Oxford House - Photography Placement (Unpaid) – Location: Bethnal Green 

To apply for the above three, please send your CV and a covering letter to Chris Messenger via messengc@lsbu.ac.uk by 9:00am on Monday 17th February 2014.

Please put “Name of Internship you are applying for” in the subject of your e-mail.____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________0 Invisible Dust -  Social Media Intern (Unpaid) - Location: Dalston - www.invisibledust.com

If interested, please submit a 1 - 2 page CV and a covering letter of 1 side A4 to our Producer Alessandra@invisibledust.com with ‘ID Internship’ as the subject heading. Please indicate your

availability and any areas of special interest you have for the internship.

Job Boards

0 Blog: http://www.msdm.org.uk/work-place/0 http://www.british-photographic-council.org/0 http://www.bapla.org.uk/0 http://www.the-aop.org/0 http://www.bjp-online.com/0 http://www.photoassist.co.uk/0 http://www.photographers.co.uk/0 http://www.creativereview.co.uk/0 http://www.thebfp.com/0 http://www.lebook.com/

Questions