Employability Natalie Smith Employability Adviser
Jan 14, 2016
Agenda
Time Speaker Topic2.15 – 2.35
Natalie Smith(Careers and Employability Service)
The Careers and Employability Service. Employability skills/what are graduate recruiters
looking for? Introduction to employability initiatives at Kent.
2.35 – 2.55
Rejane GywnneSteph HughesSuzanne Payne(Kent Union)
Jobshop Volunteering Employability Toolkit
2.55 – 3.05
Vanessa Burley(Partnership Development Office)
Student Ambassador Scheme
3.05 – 3.15
Chris Broad(Kent Innovation and Enterprise)
Employability Points
3.15 – 3.25
Kaye Bachelard(Unit for Enhancement of Learning and Teaching)
Personal development planning MyFolio
3.25 – 3.45
Bruce Woodcock(Careers and Employability Service)
The Careers Employability Award. The Careers Network. Resources for SMSAS students on the Careers
and Employability Service website.
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Agenda – Natalie Smith
• What is the Careers and Employability Service?
• What is employability?
• What employability skills are graduate recruiters looking for?
• How can you develop employability skills and provide evidence for them?
• Introduction to employability initiatives at the University of Kent.
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/slides.htm
Services and Facilities• Reception & careers library
• Quick queries
• Careers guidance interviews
• Talks & presentations
• Options leaflets & free careers literature
• Reference files, books & postgraduate prospectuses
• Vacancies - www.kent.ac.uk/careers/jobs/index.htm
• Alumni careers network
• Careers Employability Award on Moodle
What are employability skills?
‘A set of attributes, skills and knowledge that all labour market participants should possess to ensure they have the capability of being effective in the workplace – to the benefit of themselves, their employer and the wider economy.’
(CBI, March 2009)
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What employability skills are graduate recruiters looking for?
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Communication
Report writing
Team working
Leadership
Planning and organisation
Project management
Enterprise
Problem Solving
Reflection
Adaptability
Energy
Drive and resilience
Integrity
Reliability
Enthusiasm/passion
Self awareness
Confidence
Contextual/cultural awareness
Capacity to develop
NumeracyPositive attitude
Business and customer awareness
IT skills
How can you develop employability skills and provide evidence for them?
Through your course:
•Numeracy
•Problem solving
•Written work
•Research
•Presentations
•Working in groups
•Using ICT skills
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How can you develop employability skills and provide evidence for them?
Through extra-curricular activities:
•Clubs/societies
•Volunteering
•Learning a language
•Travelling
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How can you develop employability skills and provide evidence for them?
Through gaining work experience:
•Part time work
•Internships/placements
•Company events
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Providing evidence for employability skills
• Evidence/examples/details.
• STAR approach:
Situation
Task
Action
Result
http://www.kent.ac.uk/careers/compet/skillquest.htm
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Employability initiatives at the University of Kent
• The Careers Employability Award
• Kent Student Certificate for Volunteering
• Jobshop
• Stand Out Training
• Student Ambassador Scheme
• Clubs and Societies
• Learn a language with the Centre for English and World Languages
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Employability initiatives at the University of Kent
• Careers and Employability Service presentations
• Work/study abroad
• Kent Careers Network
• Peer mentoring schemes
• Employability Points Scheme
• MyFolio
• Employability Toolkit
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