Jobs & Careers with Piers Linney - 66

ADVICE:

GR ADUATES

Connect on social media with relevant
companies and contact people who are
successful in the field you're interested
in. Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn can all
be used to your advantage. Phrase a tweet
right and you could find yourself shadowing
someone you respect in your field, or they
may even give you some insider info on a
job that's about to come up. They can also
explain to you how the company works
and what the different roles entail, or may
even offer to mentor you.

Look to fill any skill gaps
You may decide that you're not yet ready to
enter the world of work, or have discovered
that your chosen career needs further
qualifications. If that's the case, you'll be
looking to go back to college to achieve a
postgrad qualification - either a vocational
certificate or a higher degree, such as an
MA or doctorate.
Or you may decide to take further eduction
because you want to do something different
from your degree, or you feel you are lacking
skills in certain areas. If so, consider taking
continuing education classes at a community
college or an adult learning centre in your
area. A few months gaining additional skills
may help you stand out from other applicants
when you start job hunting.

Case study
'I'd definitely recommend a graduate scheme'
Bill Mustafa, Rotational Energy Graduate at Siemens Oil & Gas UK
'I left King's College
and I'm getting to work alongside highly
London with a degree in
motivated people. In the long term, I plan
mechanical engineering.
to be a commissioning engineer for gas
Having gained an
turbines, and I'm undergoing training
understanding of a variety
for that as part of the Siemens rotational
of engineering roles, I
scheme, where you gain experience
developed an interest in power generation, across different departments.
especially through renewable resources.
'I'd recommend a similar graduate
'I am doing a placement at Siemens Oil
scheme. It's very rewarding as you get to
& Gas, which provides engineering design
see the different sectors within the
solutions and equipment to the oil and gas
business, receive a high level of support,
industry. I enjoy working at Siemens as it's a and then get to make a decision on your
very comfortable and relaxed environment, final role based on that.'

Take time out
Don't rush into making any big decisions, as
panic can lead to mistakes. You have spent
years studying, and you want to take some
time out before you jump headlong into the
world of work. Maybe travelling, interning
or volunteering could be the best option for
you right now. Travelling will let you see a bit

Travelling
will let you see a bit
of the world, and learn
about yourself away
from the preconceived
perceptions
of others

of the world, and learn about yourself away
from the preconceived perceptions of friends
and family. You'll meet interesting people,
and do things that you'll remember for ever,
which you may not get time to do once you
begin your career.

Get experience
Interning and volunteering will allow you to
get first-hand knowledge of an industry,
which will help you gain experience and skills
for the future and increase your employability.
It may also help you make important longterm decisions. Maybe you'll chose to intern
or volunteer in an industry close to what you
studied, and then discover it's not what you
really want to do. Or you may decide to try out
an entirely different field that you've always
wondered about, and then decide you'd like
a career in that industry. Either way, these
options open up a host of opportunities for
you, and look great on your CV.

Piers says...
the cost
❛Weigh upagainst
of a degree

the chances of it
improving your
career. Employers are
increasingly interested in new
recruits that have received onthe-job training and real-world
experience via apprenticeships.

❜

6 6 /// J O B S & C A R E E R S

Words by: Kia Hansen. Images: Getty Images, Shutterstock. * Source: Times Higher Education July 2014.

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