Careers Service Presentation Dr Lorraine Craig Department Careers Adviser Frances McEwen Careers Adviser Careers Advisory Service 48 Prince’s Gardens.

Careers Service PresentationDr Lorraine Craig

Department Careers Adviser

Frances McEwen

Careers Adviser

Careers Advisory Service48 Prince’s Gardens

Aims Of The Session

• What opportunities are open to geologists and where do you find them ?

• Making applications – what are employers looking for and what makes a good CV

• What next - your plan of action

OPTIONS

• PhD research• MSc build on interests or new topic

• Employment relevant to your discipline

indirectly related to your discipline

• Year out, temporary work, travel

PG Study

• Discuss with your tutors• Think about why you want to continue to studyPersonal interest, develop research skills ?????• MSc or PhD ?

• Check www.findaphd.com • Use www.prospects.ac.uk/pgstudy• Funding see Prospects web site• Research Assistant work www.jobs.ac.uk

EMPLOYERS and VACANCIES

• www.imperial.ac.uk/careers• JobsLive - for vacancies, careers events • www.prospects.ac.uk/myprospects• www.targetedGrad.com• www.doctorjob.com• www.hobsons.com• www.topcareers.net• www.insidecareers.co.uk

Employers – who are they ?

• PRIVATE SECTORMultinationals :oil and gas, engineering/

environmental / geological consultancies , utilitiesmining and extractive industry companies

• PUBLIC SECTORGovernment, government agencies • NOT FOR PROFITUN, OECD, VSO, WaterAid

Where do your find them ?

• Geological Society website/ Yearbook

• www.acenet.org.uk www.cet500.com www.energyinst.org.uk www.iom3.org.uk

www.mininglife.com www.the1.co.ukwww.ends.co.ukwww.esa.org.uk

• Recruitment Consultancieswww.working-smart.co.ukwww.matchtech.com

What are Employers Looking for ?

• 38 companies in 7 geoscience sectors were surveyed• Drive/ motivation, willingness to learn• Oral, written communication• Team work• Initiative, creativity, problem solving, analytical skills• Industry related work• Intellectual skills• Time management, leadership• Cultural skills / international living/ languages

What are Employers Looking for ?

• Team players• Communication skills oral and written• Analytical thinking and problem solving skills• Interpersonal skills• Persuading and influencing skills• Assimilating and evaluating information• Drive and resilience• Pragmatic and committed• Want to make a difference• International outlook

AGR Survey 2006

CV WRITING

• Length 2 pages of A4• Paper use good quality• Font Arial, Times Roman black ink

largest size for your namenext size down for key headings

next size down for sub-headings/ content

• Words and phrases rather than sentences• Rectify to the left hand side• Avoid using “ I” “he”/”she” passive tense

Mind your Language!

• Use positive wordsenthusiastic enterprising responsible

• Use positive phrasesgood working knowledge ofset up new system

improved organisation of/publicity for

actively involved in• Use action words

analysed coordinated developeddiagnosed evaluated investigated

presented persuaded streamlined

Personal Details

• Centre your name at the top of your CV

• Address• Phone number Mobile• Email address• Date of Birth ?• Nationality

• Work Permits

• College Contact Ilya EigenbrotInternational Office, Room

212, Mech. Eng.• www.ukcosa.org.uk• www.workpermits.gov.uk• www.prospects.ac.uk/int

Education

• Imperial College London• BSc/MSci Geology/Geology with Geophysics

with a Year Abroad• Subjects covered• Fieldwork, Mapping • Projects• Include techniques • Give details of qualifications from school or

college in reverse chronological order

Education

• Dates Imperial College London

BSc/ MSci Geology/Environmental Geoscience

Studies include…………….

Fieldwork/ Mapping

Techniques: GIS

Projects:

Employment

• Use categories to describe experiences: Environmental, Geological, Energy, Industrial, Commercial, Scientific

• Start with the name of the employer and job title in bold

• Describe your work duties • Your responsibilities• Your achievements

Geological Experience

Dates Z&S GEOscience Geologist

Responsibilities: single and multi-well interpretation of petrophysical data specialising in sedimentological and structural analysis of borehole image and dipmeter data.

Dates Petroclays Technical Assistant

Responsible for preparation of samples and operation of XYZ equipment for petrochemical clients

Skills

• Technical Skills

GIS, mapping, fieldwork• Computer / IT

include examples of specialist and other software, systems, databases,

Internet, email• Languages

(bilingual: mother tongue Italian and English)• Driving licence

Awards Qualifications

• Include prizes and awards• Life saving• Duke of Edinburgh awards• PADI diving and diving instruction• St John’s Ambulance training• First Aid• Health and Safety / Laboratory Safety

INTERESTSRESPONSIBILITIES and

ACHIEVEMENTS• Emphasise team/ group activities, your contribution

and successful outcomes• Avoid one word interests e.g. reading, music• Refer to De La Beche activities, Reapp

responsibilities• Travel – give information on continents/ countries/

cities visited or lived in – and the benefits • Photography

References

• Can be supplied on request• Two referees• Personal Tutor or academic who knows you• Employer• Someone who knows you through activities

outside College

Application Forms

• Print off online forms and draft your answers• Keep to the word/ character count by careful editing,

using phrases, listing skills/activities • Time limited forms - print off first, then complete• Use the information from your CV to illustrate your

answers• Investigate the organisation you are applying to on

their web site, in the professional journals, in the business pages of national newspapers/ FT

Application FormsCompetency Questions

• Please describe your most outstanding non-academic achievement highlighting your approach to any significant difficulties faced in meeting your objective.

• Question is testing • how much effort, energy, thought you put into

something that is significant to you• What is important to you and why• What to you are the difficulties and what qualities do

you demonstrate in tackling them

Competency Questions

• Describe the activity you want to use/ give an overview

• What resources did you have; how many people involved; what tasks/ responsibilities did people have and how allocated

• What happened - problems overcome• What was your contribution• What was the outcome/ result

WHAT NEXT?

• Explore the options open to you• Decide which areas of work you want to apply to• Plan which presentations to attend• Find out about employers relevant to your

choices from directories, web sites, tutors and others

• Make your applications carefully• Prepare for interviews

And Finally!

Be successful!