Lecture - 08/03/13

Career Services at the university of Dundee

Today Karen Sleith and Kirsty Miller from Carer services came in today to discuss work experience and placements. 

87% of 200 recruiters said that the most viable thing fr students to do is get work experience. 

To secure a job you must...

* Stand out from the crowd
* Try out particular job or sector
* Network and make contacts
* Enhance your CV and employability skills - lets employers know you are enthusiastic and  
  committed

It will help employers
* 'Try before you buy'


The work opportunity wheel

* Work placement
* Work shadowing
* Self-Employment
* Voluntary Work
* Home Working
* Project Based work
* Part time work
* Work abroad


Placement Base

The placement base allows student to view placements provided by agencies, sourced by the university. It is open to all students and most opportunities are summer based. There is opportunities to work during semester time for short time periods (ie 3 hours a week). 

Opportunities include...

* DVD Production
* Set Design - Dundee Rep Theatre
* Textile Design projects
* Gallery projects
* Packaging Development - Angelic Gluten Free, Scotherbs etc
* Lorraine Law Jewellers
* Web Design
* Game Design 


If you do not see anything that interests you, you can ask for the Placement Base to look into other area's for you. 


Placement Sources

Third Sector Internship Scotland (TSIS) - Working with charities with paid and unpaid positions. 


Sourcing and Securing Placements 

Make your own luck - Spot opportunities, solve problems, be confident, be resilient and never take no.

Build Contacts - Through jobs, networking, friends, family 

* Market Yourself - Be sure of who your are, what are your strengths, positive attitude. 
* Making Contacts

If I was a biscuit I would be a...

Digestive - Cause Its the most sold biscuit and go with everything. Used it to make cheesecake bases. Goes with chocolate. Great to dip etc etc. 

Phone

* Ring the company to source people
* Watch out for the gate keepers!!!!
* Think through the call in-advance - what info do you want to get and/or give?
* Ask 'is it a good time to call you'? 
* Have a friendly voice


Structure for email

Dear...

Section 1 - Introduce yourself and why you are writing

Section 2 - Why them? What are the links?

Section 3 - Why you? What have you got to offer? What can you do for them?

Section 4 - Practical details - Availability, location, flexibility, end positively 


Sincerely

Sarah Crawford 


Follow Up 
Ring back in 10 days, confirm they have received the email, ask about other employers who may be recruiting. 


Placement Base
1 Airlie Place
Open: Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm
Drop in or make appointment
careers@dundee.ac.uk
k.miller@dundee.ac.uk


Lecture after the break - Social Media 

Work out which Social network works best for you. You can use all of them but if you don't feel comfortable doing it then don't do it. 

Kirsty discussed how she did not feel comfortable creating a blog during her time at university. She viewed it as an online diary and didn't really want to reveal too much. She realised that she would have to get over this as blogging was good for making contacts. 

Pinterest - A social networking site that captures what you are doing but visually. Puts across your personality through imagery. 

Instigram is good for selling items and having people see that you are approachable. Use sharp and snappy comments to grab attention. 

* Take this lollypop.com - Totally Creepy!!!!