The end is nigh… October 14, 2008
Posted by gradselectteam in Uncategorized.Tags: best, careers, consultancy, employment, event, fair, finance, graduate, IT, jobs, London, recruitment, the careers group
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Graduate Select yesterday was a huge success, with over 500 visitors able to speak to representatives from top companies in finance, consultancy & IT. I hope those of you that made it found it useful; the pre-event Careers Coaching Session in particular was very well-attended! We welcome feedback, so if you have any thoughts on how we could improve the event please do get in touch at fairs@careers.lon.ac.uk. We are already taking bookings from exhibitors for the event next year, and are hoping to get the application process open earlier to give everyone as much chance as possible to get involved.
For anyone who wasn’t able to attend on Monday or who unfortunately was not accepted this time, our next event is The Guardian London Graduate Fair from The Careers Group, which takes place next Tuesday 21 October at the Business Design Centre. We have a great line-up of exhibitors from a huge variety of sectors, and some big names from the worlds of finance and IT, including Bloomberg, IG Index, the Financial Services Authority, Cerner, Fidessa, Capital One and many more…. For more information and to pre-register (no application form involved!) see the website www.londongradfair.co.uk/autumn.
This is the last post you’ll hear from us for a while, but do watch this space for our Events Team blog which will be coming soon….
Good luck and happy job-hunting!
The Grad Select Team
Don’t Ask Stupid Questions… October 10, 2008
Posted by gradselectteam in Uncategorized.Tags: careers, consultancy, employment, event, fair, finance, graduate, IT, jobs, London, recruitment, the careers group
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Graduate Select is only a few days away and so here is another juicy piece of advice from one of our resident expert Careers Advisers on how to avoid looking stupid in front of exhibitors at the event…
‘So, what do you do then?’
‘Do you have any jobs for me?’
‘Do you take on people who require work permits?’
‘How much do you pay?’
‘What sort of roles do you have available?’
Those are a few — there are lots more. They are questions that make employers on stands at events like Graduate Select grind their teeth.
Some questions demonstrate your lack of research. Don’t ever ask anything you could have found out by rooting around on their website or by looking through their recruitment literature.
Some questions are presumptuous. They make the assumption that the recruiter already wants to employ you. It’s a little bit like asking a complete stranger what side of your bed they would like to sleep on before you even know they fancy you. Not recommended.
Some questions just miss a trick. It is possible to show the recruiter that you are an intelligent person who has done some researching and thinking. For example, ‘I know that forensic accountancy involves looking at the financial aspects of legal or criminal situations, but I would like to get an idea of the typical cases that a recent graduate might end up working on. Would you be able to give me a couple of examples?’ Or what about, ‘I know that you ask for candidates to demonstrate drive, focus and a commitment to deliver results. Could you give me an idea of what that means in practice and what sort of examples you look for in candidate applications?’
So, it’s not just a case of avoiding stupid questions. If you really want to make the most of the event, you need to be ready to ask some intelligent questions.
This is just a taster of the kind of advice you can expect to get at the pre-event Careers Coaching Session at this year’s Graduate Select. This session promises to be a great final step in your preparation for the event, so don’t miss out! The session starts at 12pm (limited places, so get there 10-15 minutes before…), with the Hall open at 1pm.
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Difficult times demand a bit more thought… October 8, 2008
Posted by gradselectteam in Uncategorized.Tags: careers, consultancy, employment, finance, graduate, IT, jobs, recruitment, the careers group
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Graduate Select is fast approaching and so we thought this week we’d give you a bit of last minute expert advice on how to prepare for the event. Below is an article written by one of our University of London Careers Advisers on general preparation techniques…
In telephone interviews for a financial services employer early in 2008 one of the questions asked was, ‘Tell me about a recent financial news story that has interested you.’ A large number of candidates mentioned the sub-prime mortgage situation that had been in the news for several weeks. Apart from the fact that this was such an obvious (and therefore boring) answer, it was also a bit of mystery that none of these candidates had thought through the potential implications of what they were reading. Within a few weeks the employer had drastically scaled back their graduate recruitment intake. Many candidates who had struggled through most of the rigorous selection procedure were just dumped.
Anyone who was capable of performing some basic research on the nature of that company should have been capable of predicting that this was a strong possibility. The complete failure of these intelligent candidates to think through the potential consequences of the information they were receiving, or even to perform a basic SWOT analysis may explain why the financial sector has got itself into such a mess.
Now more than ever it is important to undertake thorough research on any employers you are considering. This doesn’t just mean finding out a few facts about their history and clients that you can regurgitate at an interview. Look in detail at their company reports to get an idea of how the business as a whole is structured. Don’t just cram on business news a few days before applying. Keep constantly up to date with developments in the sector and the business world as a whole. Read every news report as if you were the chief executive; think about the potential implications for the organisation.
That might just stop you applying to a company that is about to go down the pan.
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Exciting Exhibitor Update! October 6, 2008
Posted by gradselectteam in Uncategorized.Tags: best, careers, consultancy, employment, event, fair, finance, graduate, graduate select, IT, recruitment, the careers group
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Where better to get information about the technology industry than from one of our exhibitors? Below is some great information from SunGard on how to break into this competitive sector AND how to approach applications and interviews.
Check out the website too for some information on opportunities at SunGard and employee profiles – the inside scoop on working in the technology industry from the people who know it best!
Five top tips for breaking into the Technology Industry:
1. Don’t rule yourself out. You can still apply if you don’t have a technical degree as there are many opportunities available for non-technical graduates. The technology industry offered a diverse range of careers with opportunities ranging from Sales and Marketing to Consulting and Project Management.
2. Be a problem solver. The technology industry is all about looking for solutions to make things faster and easier, whether this is a bug in a line of code or a business problem relating to productivity.
3. Creativity is key. It is a very fast moving industry and the only way to stay ahead of the competition is through innovation. Your ideas could become products or services that are used around the world!
4. Keep your options open. Your skills can be transferable across a number of different careers in technology so keep your mind open to the different options available.
5. Do your research. Demonstrate your motivation to joining the industry. Do your research and keep up to date with developments in the industry.
Advice for applicants:
• We look for individuals who can bring something new to the organisation and take a fresh, creative, entrepreneurial approach to solving problems. The most important characteristics you can demonstrate are motivation, enthusiasm and a proactive, can-do attitude.
• Recruiters can immediately see if someone has taken the time to personalise their application. Don’t regurgitate a company’s key selling points word for word from their website – do a bit of extra research and define what it is about that company that makes you want to work for them.
• If you are uncertain about the dress code, phone the employer and double check before your interview. There is nothing worse than turning up in trainers and a jumper when everyone else is suited and booted!
• First impressions do count – a smile and a firm handshake will get you off to a good start. Back this up by demonstrating that you’re well prepared: read up on the company, practise your answers with a friend and think of questions to ask at the end of the interview.
• Interviewers want to see that you are genuinely interested in the opportunity, so ensure that your body language and questions convey this attitude. Don’t sit back in your chair and fidget but instead lean slightly forward and make eye contact.
• Most interviews are competence based so prepare a few examples of when you have demonstrated skills relevant to the placement. It helps if you ask yourself “what do I want the interviewer to know about me?” and think of examples that demonstrate these qualities. Beware of sounding over prepared and mechanical though. Assessors can’t get to know you if you just parrot back textbook answers.
(Sacha de Klerk, graduate resourcing manager at SunGard)
SunGard are just one of the employers at Graduate Select next week – check out the website for the full list!
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Calling all IT grads….. October 3, 2008
Posted by gradselectteam in Uncategorized.Tags: best, careers, consultancy, employment, event, fair, finance, graduate, IT, jobs, recruitment, the careers group
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This year we have had a huge number of applications for Graduate Select: Finance, Consulatncy & IT from students and grads interested in careers in IT. With this in mind, see below for a couple of articles on the current IT graduate recruitment market….
What’s wrong with IT grads in the UK?
IT remains a competitive area – recruiters look for ‘all-rounders’, as technical excellence alone is no longer enough. The ability to demonstrate soft skills such as communication is massively important when applying for a job in this sector. The article below from eFinancialCareers shows how it’s important for UK IT graduates to impress…
The UK IT skills crisis
Finally, a crisis that spells good news for grads – according to the IT sector skills council E-Skills UK, the industry needs about 140,000 entrants each year. Last year, there were 16,440 computer science graduates, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, leaving a shortfall of 120,000 per annum!
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www.gradselect.co.uk
London City News: In the Papers October 1, 2008
Posted by gradselectteam in Uncategorized.Tags: careers, consultancy, emplyment, event, fair, finance, graduate, IT, recruitment, the careers group
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City A.M is the morning daily of choice for most city workers – check out their website for all the up-to-date news and gossip from the City. Particularly useful is the In the Papers section, with a round-up of what the papers are saying about the financial sector each day.
Examples of other great sources of information are on the right hand side of this page as RSS feeds – you can download these onto your own computer and get updates directly every day!
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Credit Crunch Jargon explained September 29, 2008
Posted by gradselectteam in Uncategorized.Tags: careers, consultancy, employment, events, fair, finance, graduate, graduate select, IT, job, London, recruitment, the careers group
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No matter how switched on you are to current affairs today, there are bound to be a few phrases you hear that just don’t make sense – recessionista, anyone? This is a brief guide to some of the terms flying around in the headlines at the moment – perhaps there may be a few choice suggestions you can drop in during interviews?
Read: Credit Crunch Jargon Explained
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Why you should apply early September 26, 2008
Posted by gradselectteam in Uncategorized.Tags: best, careers, consultancy, emplyment, fairs, finance, graduate, IT, recruitment, the careers group
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In today’s difficult times, eFinancialCareers have reported that it is more important than ever to apply early for those coveted finance graduate schemes; this shows that you are organised, prepared and a perfect candidate for the job.
Read: Why you should apply early – eFinancialCareers
Grad Select is the perfect opportunity for you to get the lowdown on what to include in your applications and find out how the interview process works, so apply now!
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Graduate Select: How to be the best September 24, 2008
Posted by gradselectteam in Uncategorized.Tags: best, careers, consultancy, employers, fair, finance, graduate, IT, recruitment, the careers group
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Welcome to the Graduate Select blog! So, you’ve got this far, the question is have you applied yet? Despite recent industry news, we are impressed with the number applications from high calibre grads and current students looking for a career in finance, consultancy & IT, keen to show how their educational and professional experience makes them the best candidate for the job they want.
Applications are now open for Graduate Select, with attendance strictly by invitation only. This event will allow you the chance to meet the recruitment teams at the top finance, consultancy & IT firms AND to get the best careers advice on how to get the most out of the event – all for FREE! Check out the rest of the website for the Exhibitor List and other information on the event, and apply now! Watch this space too, for useful articles, hints and tips and other snippets on this blog over the next few weeks.
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