CAREERS NEWSLETTER 2018-19
ISSUE 5 – Friday 30 November 2018 Well done to our Shells and Mrs Bamforth, who organised a recent week of fundraising for Children in Need – over £1000 was raised and the most popular events that did not involve cake were a series of ‘Sponge the Teacher’ sessions. What an outstanding piece of enterprise to be able to add to future CVs! Thank you, of course, to all the staff and students who supported this charity enterprise.
UNITY, TRUST AND RESPECT BRING RESULTS Even fervent supporters of football north of Carlisle such as Bablake’s Assistant Head Mr Burns and PE teacher Mr Wilson could not fail to have been impressed by particular events immediately after England’s recent UEFA Nations League win at Wembley over Croatia, which saw the team reach next year’s finals in Portugal. A video of England manager Gareth Southgate keenly congratulating every single member of his coaching staff soon went viral. “I’m hugely proud of all the players and the staff. We’ve grown together,” Gareth said. Commentators praised his wisdom for seeing that if you really want to get the best out of a team – whether a business, co-workers, sports players or students – you need to create a culture of unity, trust and respect. His calm leadership, promotion of young talent and steady development of the whole team have brought great optimism for further achievement. Southgate’s management appears to have a clear vision and work both ways. Those scenes of him warmly congratulating his backroom staff appear to demonstrate a mutual respect for not only the superstar players in the England squad who crafted a dramatic late victory on the Wembley turf, but also those behind the scenes and by his side – people that are so crucial for team success, but all too often unsung and unrecognised.
IT’S A LIDL BIT FUNNY Over the last 5 years, Christmas has been hijacked by Michael Bublé, the Coca Cola lorry, Cyber Monday, Black Friday, elves on shelves – yes, of course Bablake Careers has one – and eagerly awaited adverts from major high street retailers. Admittedly not all a bad thing. The John Lewis ad had created its own successful cult status, so this year’s homage to superstar musician Elton John advertising an £800 piano appeared a misguided move alienating many of its customers. With Iceland’s ‘banned’ palm oil ad creating very positive press, John Lewis could have been forgiven for thinking its year could not have got worse. But, it has! Lidl very cleverly ‘punned’ its brand name into the lyrics from the John Lewis ad and offered a musical instrument on sale for a 10th of the piano price. Reasons why you should find marketing so fascinating… part 4573!
The sense of togetherness and unity between the manager, players and support team has created a powerful message on how to achieve success; the tournament campaign, as at the World Cup earlier this year, seemed set about the philosophy of winning together or learning together. What a powerful message on how to achieve great team success. #leadership #motivation #empowerment #teamwork #respect #winorlearn
@BablakeCareers
#CAREERSFORUM #BABLAKEPUPILSEVERYWHERE – REMY McNAMARA BRIGHTSTART SCHOLAR
Our Careers Centre was packed for Class of 2011 student Remy McNamara’s excellent presentation on Deloitte’s exciting BrightStart programme. Remy, who is based in Canary Wharf, offered an excellent insight into life in professional services and London, and her inspiring talk prompted a flurry of excellent questions from the audience. Without doubt, BrightStart matches graduate opportunities in Deloitte, offers an excellent wage (plus perks such as BUPA, Oyster travel and a discount card) and gives every opportunity for its apprentices to work from start to finish on projects. One of Remy’s peers, Liam McSorley, also works for Deloitte on this programme, in Birmingham.
#REALISEYOURPOTENTIAL #STUDENTJOURNALISMSTANDINGOUT @BablakeCareers
#18BEFORE18 18 REASONS WHY: “STUDYING LANGUAGES & WORKING ABROAD ARE AMAZING” Former pupil Rachel Taylor who is now based in Alicante – what’s not to like?! – dropped by Bablake before our recent drama reunion to talk to some of our 5th Year pupils about the advantages of languages. Rachel who despairs about the fall in take up of modern languages in the UK has had several careers across Europe, including significant work with the European Commission, the wine trade and teaching English abroad. We asked Rachel to compile a list of 18 ways in which languages and working abroad are so exciting and impress future employers. Here is her list: 1. The boost to your CV increases your competitive edge. 2. The ability to do many different jobs in different places offers better career choices. 3. You show increased flexibility, adaptability and team-working skills. 4. Travel becomes easier and often cheaper, plus you end up knowing how to stay smart in tourist areas. 5. You get to know a wider variety of people and make more friends. 6. There is the advantage of learning more about other cultures and understanding them better. 7. You comprehend better how other nationalities see the British and by extension your employer in any negotiation. 8. You build multitasking skills, when you switch between two or more language systems. 9. There is a huge benefit for your memory through exercising the brain. 10. Language learning is being praised for its aid staving off Alzheimer’s and dementia. 11. You become more perceptive and more adept at focusing on the relevant and filtering out what is irrelevant. 12. Decision-making skills are improved as bilingual people generally make more rational decisions – it brings out their ‘inner Mr Spock’! 13. You actually improve your own use of English, because focus is drawn to language. 14. You become a better communicator, editor and writer. 15. Your own negotiation skills are developed. 16. You develop your own networking skills. 17. You can actually watch foreign films (or La Liga- MGAW) in the original language. Nothing is then lost in translation. 18. If all else fails – tho’ you really can guarantee your employability will be very attractive on the job market - you will be first on the list for recruitment as a spy!
Rachel pictured with Emmy winner Tim Hands at our recent former pupils’ drama reunion.
#REALISEYOURPOTENTIAL
NEXT ISSUE! COMING SOON! Information about February Half Term ‘Routes into STEM’ courses. See www.etrust.org.uk/routes-stem-students and www.etrust.org.uk/routes-stem-courses for more info.
#18BEFORE18 – 5TH YEAR We are currently in the midst of meeting each Fifth Year pupil, helping them with decisions for Post 16 and beyond. During these discussions, we have been suggesting each student would benefit from planning 18 ‘activities’ this academic year. This schedule, if then taken into the post GCSE years, will also assist future plans.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
ACTIVITY Choose Post 16 Options – consider necessity, strength/ ability & interest especially. Gain the best possible GCSE grades to open doors – make most of workshops. Attend employer taster/ insight days or weeks (summer holiday) and Bablake Careers Forums. Seek work experience (summer holiday) – we will define this further in a future newsletter. Attend Open Days at universities (June, July, September) and ask about degree apprenticeships. Extend yourself academically - complete a MOOC or two (e.g. via FutureLearn), plan future EPQ or CREST projects. (We feature a MOOC of the Fortnight in every Careers Newsletter.) Explore ‘Fast Tomato’ results and suggested links. Build your own network: e.g. using Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, family, friends and Bablake alumni/ae. Keep up-to-date and be curious. TV or radio programmes, online forums, newsletters, newspapers, magazines and books all offer you exceptional opportunities to stand out here. Update, expand or consider your digital portfolio. Get involved outside the classroom in team activity like sport, music, drama, dance, co-curricular and House activity. For the majority, it is continue and expand your already impressive current involvement. Challenge Yourself! Do the NCS? Or take up a new skill (e.g. a language) or task (e.g. lead or contribute to an assembly, seek leadership opportunities). Follow real stories – e.g. on the iCould website or via the hashtag #BablakePupilsEverywhere. Use specific websites suiting your future outcome, if you have a plan in place, or explore Prospects, Which?Uni, UCAS, Student Ladder, Not Going To Uni et al. Find a part-time job (whether in the traditional or gig economy market) and volunteer (e.g. charity work, mentoring, coaching younger people). Produce an up-to-date CV. Investigate how to future proof yourself – NB future rise of #AI. Does your future job exist yet?! #NoWrongPath - #YOURpath #NotAFinalDecision #BackYourself #AnythingIsPossible
PLANNED/ COMPLETED
Notes:
The 18 activities above are just a suggested guide. There is every opportunity to add aspects that are being enjoyed outside Bablake. Please make #18Before18 work best for you!
TALKING POINTS MOOC OF THE FORTNIGHT (5)
ONLINE OPEN DAY: ABERYSTWYTH UNIVERSITY WED 5 DECEMBER
‘Good Brain, Bad Brain’ is a free MOOC created by the University of Birmingham. In 3 weeks, you will find out what we know and what we are discovering about the form and function of the human brain.
Register via: www.aber.co.uk/ood
For more information, see: www.futurelearn.com/courses/go od-brain-bad-brain-basics
CAREERS FORUMS 2018-19
Speak with staff and students. Watch presentations on a range of topics. Watch Campus and Accommodation tours.
#LoveAber
#BABLAKEPUPILSEVERYWHERE
We are planning sessions on Fashion, Harper Adams, JLR, Marketing, KPMG, Psychology, Social Enterprise and a few other areas. ‘Degree or No Degree’ should take place on Jan 22 7pm.
SCHOOL LEAVER PROGRAMMES IBM https://www-05.ibm.com/employment/uken/school_leaver.html
KPMG https://www.pwc.co.uk/careers/schooljobs/jobs/work-experience.html
EY https://ukcareers.ey.com/students/programmes/a pprenticeships
MEDLINK – FREE HEALTH SCIENCES/ MEDICINE/ VETERINARY SCIENCE EXHIBITION Mon 17 Dec See: workshop-conferences.com for information.
DELOITTE https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/careers/careers. html?icid=top_careers
. Whiney (aka ‘Will Hine’!) has his second album released today.
THOUGHT OF THE FORTNIGHT Tomorrow’s Workplace Suits Young People
“We need to equip young people for tomorrow’s workplace as well as today’s. New technology is in the process of shaking up the labour market like never before and young people, who have grown up as digital natives, are primed to adapt quickly to these changes. Business has a huge opportunity to harness this youthful energy and enthusiasm which will help fuel competitiveness, but it must provide better access to the workplace as well as chances to learn new skills” PETER LACY, Senior Managing Director at Accenture www.accenture.com/gb-en/careers/school-leavers
PwC https://www.pwc.co.uk/careers/school-jobs.html
CONTACT BABLAKE 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 Instagram: @bablakecareers Careers Circulars: http://issuu.com/bablake/stacks