CAREERS NEWSLETTER
2017-‐18
ISSUE 17 – Friday 22 June 2018 During a recent visit to Ulster University in Belfast, we were reunited with
mentor Tom Griffiths -‐ a 2017 Sunday Times Top 100 Entrepreneur/ Disruptor -‐ who for the past 20 years has been innovating and disrupting in the digital
space. Our 18 reasons to study @ulsteruni are posted on p2. (Photo credit: Tom Griffiths.)
HAS THE CURRICULUM VITAE (CV) HAD ITS DAY?
For a good number of years we have been questioning whether last orders have been called
on the CV as a crucial element of the selection procedure toolkit for employers.
Strategic insights consultancy Flamingo has abandoned the CV. Instead, it is currently asking candidates to submit a video, voice file or blog link about what motivates them as a person or in work, and sets a question related to a brand impacting on culture. O2 has moved its focus from traditional assessment days to testing problem-‐solving and creative thinking through ‘escape room’ style activities. Red tape involved with CVs has smartphone to apply, using the Debut recruitment been removed and candidates use their app – an irony, as governments discuss restricting use of mobile technology in schools. A CV allows job applicants to create a tailored, targeted marketing brochure that highlights their professional strengths. Critics, however, say a CV does not give employers answers to the questions they would like to pose in pre-‐selection. A telephone interview, online application form, video interview et al would usually prove far more reliable in this process, and certainly with the advance of artificial intelligence (AI), other more effective recruitment methods will inevitably evolve. Goldman Sachs and Unilever are two of many companies already trusting AI. Algorithms -‐ set to analyse words used, confidence shown and concise argument -‐ scan video answers! First Direct hosts speed-‐dating ‘cocktails and careers’ evenings to allow its recruitment team a means of assessing candidates’ true personalities. Critics of the CV will also point to studies that prove sifting by this method merely fosters further bias and limits diversity as regards ethnicity, gender and age. Also the online application form allows employers to elicit the exact information they need to know. We cannot see the CV disappearing entirely. It is always a most useful tool for students to utilise in introducing themselves to potential employers, if targeted cleverly to each new job application. For now, traditional employers and professions may not see the need to erase the CV entirely from their selection process. A stunning, professional CV will still stand out and win its owner an interview. Time, though, will tell where the CV sits 5 or 10 years from now! See https://bit.ly/2tqZsIm for an excellent Marketing Week article on this topic.
2018 MOCK INTERVIEW MORNING REARRANGED
We have listened to students’ concerns over Open Day clashes on the original date for this event. The nd rearranged date is n ow Saturday 22 September. There are a number of other advantages of holding the Sixth Form Mock Interview Morning in the first few weeks of the Autumn term: • More pertinent advice will be given about the UCAS personal statement et al. • Students will have had the benefit of a summer of work experience, open day visits and research for an EPQ or CREST project. • There will be much more certainty about Post 18 options. • Students will be refreshed and ready to go! On the back page, you are reminded of new deadline dates for: a) accepting the invitation to attend, b) submission of a CV, and c ) completion of the online application. Over the summer, current Lower Sixth students should consider interview answers. It is helpful to: • Identify your strengths. • For each strength identified, think of a situation where y ou had a task to complete. • Specify the action you took and reflect on the success of this action. • Remember to choose a different situation for each strength. NB Don’t forget to say what YOU – not others -‐ did in each scenario. * S-‐ituation, T-‐ask, A-‐ction, R-‐esult/ R-‐eflection
www.2morrow-‐2day.com/mock-‐interview.html
@BablakeCareers
18 REASONS WHY… A DEGREE AT ULSTER UNIVERSITY, BELFAST, MAKES EVERY SENSE
A visit to Ulster University earlier this month presented an opportunity to discover what might draw you to life as a student in Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital. We were also indebted to Top 100 UK Disruptor/ Entrepreneur Tom Griffiths, a familiar face in Bablake around the dot-‐com boom, for a private tour of Belfast and visit to Ketrick Island. Olivia O’Hare and her team at Ulster University put together a superb programme of activities on the Belfast campus, which allowed access to all four faculties, the 2018 Art and Design Show and many of the city’s highlights, inc. the highly regarded James St South restaurant. From our experience during the visit, we have compiled 18 reasons to consider studying at Ulster University. 1. Ulster University is ‘a hidden gem’, the words of Deputy Vice-‐Chancellor Professor Alastair Adair. 2. A £250 million p roject will see the university sit firmly in the heart of Belfast with teaching, research and innovation central in the plans for expansion. 3. The broad variety of courses and locations (4 campuses in super locations) offers something for every student. The key faculties are: a) Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; b) Computing, Engineering and the Rural Environment; c) Life and Health Sciences; d) Ulster University Business School. 4. There is a d ynamic student experience; the university recruits from more than 100 countries and student satisfaction levels are very high. 5. Ulster is well rated in world rankings, as well as the UK leagues. 6. As well as being top for Pharmacy in the UK, there is wide range of courses consistently rated in Top 10 tables. 7. Student satisfaction for Drama is 100%, but 88% overall is well above average. 8. There are over 2000 placements arranged annually – these are validated, still include Erasmus, and bring the reward of a Diploma in Professional Practice. It is crazy that placements, not so long ago, were viewed as ‘non-‐ academic’, and no surprise employability statistics for Ulster graduates are impressive. 9. Courses are accredited – a crucial factor for the more vocational courses and for those looking to transfer back to England, Scotland and Wales post degree. 10. Students work collaboratively across faculties – Art and Marketing students clearly work together since students with work on display at the university’s 2018 Graduate Art and Design show h ad their branding immaculately set up, with websites, social media feeds, CVs, press releases and business cards. 11. Unique selling points include: a course in ‘Stratified Medicine’, learning as an engineer with a ‘lab on the palm’, and unit teaching. 12. Strong emphasis on teaching – academic staff turnover is low; PhD students are more likely to teach in collaboration with lecturers than instead of them. 13. Classes are relatively small as places for Northern Irish students are currently capped. Pastoral care is also very strong. 14. Belfast is one of the Top 5 affordable cities in the UK – costs for a capital are reasonable with very good accommodation costing around £80 a week. 15. There are many notable alumni/ae: e.g. recent Turner Prize and Emmy winners. 16. Ulster is closer than many English, Welsh and Scottish universities, with flights taking around 50 minutes. The university also offers non-‐NI students very generous discount packages for tuition fees, travel and accommodation of £2-‐ 2.5k. 17. Northern Ireland is a relatively small country, offering culture, city life, sporting opportunities, coastal opportunities and all the rural and hillside joys. Southern Ireland is within easy reach too! The Irish are a very friendly, welcoming community and post-‐Brexit, employability may be very attractive too. 18. Belfast as a city has a rich history and culture; the troubles of recent decades have passed, giving it a reputation as one of the safest capitals. It is steeped in engineering opportunities – city of the Titanic – and now has a name for its d igital opportunities, e.g. ‘Game of Thrones’ is filmed just outside the centre. Belfast has already been regenerated, but there are more exciting plans for expansion. #AroundTheUKIn80Universities See https://www.ulster.ac.uk/open-‐days OR email study@ulster.ac.uk for information on open days.
Photos by MGAW of @ulsteruni’s 2018 Art and Design Show, Belfast and Sketrick Island
TALKING POINTS
BRIGHT NETWORK
DISCOVER YOUR POTENTIAL
FAST TOMATO The public examination season deprived th our 4 Year pupils of the chance to complete the Fast Tomato programme last week. By the time you read this however, your daughter/ son will have an online report to work with, offering useful assistance for important options chosen at 16 and prompts for discussion over the summer.
Session 17
Simran Bansal – ‘Accountancy and Finance. ’ (ICAEW ambassador)
BUZZ TEST Before the end of term, we will be asking rd our 3 Years to complete the short Buzz test, which helps identity everyone’s natural character.
Please park this website for Post 18 aid for the moment. Former pupils speak highly of the assistance they received from Bright Network.
A reminder of the categories pupils using our planners should explore to create their programme:
Thank you to the parents who have
responded to our appeal for help supplementing our guidance. Please see http://www.2morrow-‐2day.com/help-‐ we-‐need-‐somebody.html if you are still keen to assist.
Session 18
#18BEFORE18
CALLING FOR ASSISTANCE
RECENT CAREERS FORUMS
• • • • • •
Aaran Patel – ‘Clinical Training, Life as an Interviewer at Imperial College, London.’
Networking Qualifications Help with Decisions Challenging Yourself Beyond the Classroom Bablake Opportunity
www.18before18.co.uk has more info.
NEW KEY 2018 U6TH MOCK INTERVIEW DEADLINES
www.2morrow-‐2day.com/mock-‐interview.html CHOICE OF TOPIC: Friday June 29 4pm CV: Monday September 10 6pm ONLINE APPLICATION: Sunday September 16 6pm
CONTACT B ABLAKE CAREERS Mr Mark Woodward Email: mgw@bablake.coventry.sch.uk Twitter: @bablakecareers FB: www.facebook.com/bablakecareers Website: www.2morrow-‐2day.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin/markwoodward Blog: http://bablakecareers.tumblr.com/ Spotify: http://www.spotify.com/18before18 @bablakecareers Instagram: Careers Circulars: http://issuu.com/bablake/stacks