Employability and

your future career

There is no exact way to plan a career. Everyone makes decisions in
different ways. Many influences and experiences impact on people
throughout their lives.
We all need to be prepared and willing to gain new skills and knowledge.
You may face a series of small steps before reaching your ultimate goal.
Indeed, the goal may change en route.
The skills and experience you gain through this process, combined with your
academic qualifications are what make you employable. In this leaflet we'll
look at employability in detail. We'll define what it is and help you assess
your existing employability skills and find ways to expand and market your
skills to employers.
We'll then look at the four main steps of career planning, starting with self
assessment. Approach the process as a circle rather than a straight line;
you may need to revisit steps as you develop and define ideas and
experiences, and opportunities become available.

Your employability
In a fiercely competitive job market it will be your transferable skills, your
achievements and your experiences that will give you the edge when it
comes to applying for jobs. Employability skills are not only necessary to be
employed though, they are also essential if you want to make a success of
freelancing or starting your own business.
Employability refers to the skills and experience you gain through work,
study and other activities. These will play a major part in helping you
succeed in your chosen career. They are the qualities employers look for to
determine which candidates have the advantage.
it is a top concern for business that students should leave university better
equipped with a wider range of employability skills...such as team working,
business awareness, and communication skills.
Higher Ambitions report, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Employability skills gained at university

Study
You may not think that your study tools and techniques say anything to a
potential employer about your employability. Think again.
The Prospects website has a page called options with your subject* which
looks at the full range of academic disciplines. Each one gives a breakdown
of skills associated with that area of study and also suggests a range of
possible career options.
Don't be tempted jump to conclusions. Careers which may your fellow
graduates may not suit you. Keep reading and we'll guide you through the
process of analysing your particular skills, strengths and preferences. That
way you can be sure of coming up with options that are tailor-made, not offthe-peg.
Placements/Work experience
Work experience has always been a valuable asset. In the current climate,
industry or even specific employer experience is increasingly important.
*www.prospects.ac.uk under Careers Advice

A recent survey from High Fliers found that graduate vacancies were likely
to be filled by applicants who had done work experience with that company.
50% of respondents also stated that applicants with no work experience at
all were unlikely to be considered.
The views of blue-chip employers such as those surveyed by High Fliers
may not represent the whole graduate labour market. Even so, it's an
employers' market and its workplace experience that will give you the
advantage.
Many courses offer a sandwich year or optional placement. Our webpage
on placements and internships* links to individual schools' information on
placement provision.
The Careers Service can also help you find your own work experience. See
our page on work experience* to access other sources of opportunities.
By making the most of these opportunities and thus maximising your
employability, you'll ensure you are a step ahead when it comes to securing
the right job.

How does the Careers Service support employability?

By being here in the first place! Whether we're helping you find opportunities
to improve your skills or recognise and market the skills you already have,
our focus is on helping equip you with the tools to succeed in your chosen
career.
Read the University of Brighton's Employability Statement on our page
About us/Aims and mission statement
Working in partnership within individual schools
There is a Careers Counsellor attached to every school. One of their main
concerns is to ensure you make the most of the opportunities that exist both
inside and outside university.
We encourage you to recognise the skills, knowledge and personal
development you are gaining through your course and through employment,
work experience, voluntary work and leisure activities. This is the process by
which you'll gain the skills and knowledge required by employers.
Through guidance interviews, workshops and online and paper information
resources we'll help you to assess and optimise your employability.
* www.brighton.ac.uk/careers under Develop your skills

Career Planning Agreement

There are some formal structures operating within this university which
underpin this work. One is the Career Planning Agreement (CPA) which
began in 1995 and to which every school and undergraduate course is
signed up to.
Student Profile
Student Profile is the title the University of Brighton has chosen for their
version of personal development planning.
This is an individual programme wherein you can reflect on your personal
development throughout your course. You can also discuss your progress
with your course or personal tutor.
Employability Skills Programmes
Employability Skills Programmes are an initiative from the Careers Service
designed to help you develop your career plans and enhance skills you'll
need in the workplace.
Jobs and Volunteering
Our online vacancy and events service* advertises graduate, part-time,
work experience and voluntary opportunities. You can also view our
calendar of workshops, employer presentations and other events and sign
up online.
Get in touch with Active Student** who offer volunteering opportunities with
local not-for-profit organisations.

Whats Next?
Next we'll look at the four stages of the Career Planning cycle. We'll start by
showing you how to assess yourself, your skills and your employability. We'll
consider how you can improve your chances in the graduate labour
market...or whether you even need to...
* www.brighton.ac.uk/careers under Find a job.
** www.brighton.ac.uk/careers under Volunteer.

Step 1: Assess yourself

Think about yourself - what are you like as a person?
Consider your skills, interests and aspirations
What do you enjoy doing and what would you avoid?
Have you enjoyed or disliked any previous work experience?
Acknowledge factors which might limit your options but try to be open
to ideas in the initial stages.
Employability skills
You can develop employability skills through different aspects of life inside
and outside university.
Getting involved with student club or societies and community projects will
give you additional skills. Work or volunteering also offer further
opportunities.
Look at the employability skills listed below. What evidence could you
provide to demonstrate your abilities in each case. What level of skill do you
think you have attained?
Communication - verbal skills
Willingness to care for/ have empathy with others through speech or
possibly sign language
Persuading people, e.g. selling something or persuading someone to
try and change their behaviour
Motivating others
Deal with difficult customers or situations
Discussing issues with team and recognising differing job roles
Reporting to meetings on behalf of others.
Communication - written skills
Writing e-mails or letters in a business context
Writing reports
Contributions to publications, e.g. the university newspaper
Contributing to or starting blogs
Writing seminar papers
Group discussions preparing exercises and then outcomes
Projects or presentations.

Numeracy - understanding of numerical data, statistics and graphs

Devising, analysing and summarising numerical or statistical reports
for mathematical and non-mathematical audiences
Cashing up in a work context; ensuring books are balanced
Reporting figures from an organisation to an external body.
Information technology
How you have used IT for course work/assignments?
Have you also developed skills in using spreadsheets and specialist
software packages?
Have you completed research via the web and have you have used
email effectively?
Using social media in a work-related context. Be careful to ensure any
examples you give don't include content which might show you in an
unprofessional or unfavourable light.
Commercial Awareness
Consider the commercial environment of any organisation you have worked
for.
In a customer-based environment can you recall how many customers
you served per hour?
Were you set sales targets or objectives?
Were you involved in any promotional events, either in the workplace
or in the field?
If you were the manager how would you have done things differently?
Did you take part in any games or challenges at university where the
task was to maximise profit?
Read the Financial Times or other financial/business journals or
articles to keep informed.
Leadership and managing others
Have you done the following:
Taken responsibility for others in a work setting?
Set specific tasks for others and measured progress?
Dealt with any tricky issues that arose?
Taken responsibility for a team, e.g. being captain?
Used techniques to motivate others to do a job?
Guided or mentored people through a project?

Time management and organisational skills

Have you done the following:
Worked under pressure?
Organised a timetable to meet deadlines?
Worked as a manager/had management responsibilities.
Managed conflicting demands - Think about your own life and what
you do. This could be a mixture of completing academic work, working
part time, having a social life and dealing with family issues.
Creative skills
These can be applied in different ways and need not relate to traditional
creative degree subjects
Thinking originally and imaginatively about a design brief, a problem or
an issue
Using your imagination and a variety of physical media to create a
product or piece of art.
Problem solving: thinking things through in a logical way in order to
determine key issues
This may involve helping someone solve a problem or finding a
solution to a technical issue and testing it out.
Team working: being a constructive team member, making a practical
contribution to the success of the team
Were the teams large, medium or small?
At university or in a work setting? Or both?
How did they function?
If things went wrong were you able to identify the reasons why? How
would you things differently next time?
Taking the initiative: identifying opportunities, setting and achieving
goals
Have you ever done the following:
Set up a business or helped to raise funding?
Started something new and original?
Can you demonstrate commitment and motivation?
Do you have the energy/enthusiasm to pursue and complete projects?
Flexibility and adaptability - ability to handle change and adapt to new
situations
Plans sometimes go wrong. Have you had to quickly think of a solution
to an unforeseen problem?

Interpersonal skills
Can you establish and maintain good working relationships and can
you identify the benefits of this?
Technical skills
These are usually skills you have developed specifically through your
course relating to your academic discipline.
Other skills
Languages: What languages have you studied and to what level? Did
you attain any formal qualifications? Have you ever used languages in
a commercial setting?
Health and safety: First aid, Fire warden training, Survival courses for
work offshore
Driving licence: Even if you only have a provisional licence it is still
important to mention this on your application, always assuming it is
relevant to the job.
Many skills overlap between different job roles. Also, employers use
different words to describe the same skills. Use your judgement to try and
identify what employers mean in their job descriptions.
In time you'll be able to zoom in on the key requirements outlined in a job
description and quickly relate these to your skills and experience. If you are
having difficulty with this process we can help. Contact your local careers
centre to speak to a careers counsellor.
Employability skills are transferable - Skills gained in one job can be
used to evidence your potential to perform well in another. For example;
Being chair of a student society will have developed your leadership,
motivational, organisational and team work skills.
Bar or restaurant work will develop your interpersonal skills, numeracy,
stamina and ability to work under pressure.
Note: Be careful not to keep referencing the same experiences in an
application. You should vary the examples you give otherwise your
application will make for a boring read and the employer may lose interest.
Assessing yourself and your skills will help you:
Identify your skills and explore what motivates you in a job
Generate new job ideas and check out our current ideas
See how these match the jobs you are considering
Research your chosen jobs in more detail to enable you to decide on
the right choices for you.

Interests
Think about activities that interest you. Might these inform your choice of
career?
Examples of interests are:
Education/training/coaching others
Interpreting data/dissemination of information or results
Government/political events
Working with young people or animals
Designing or producing items or buildings
Developing IT systems
Managing resources
Restoration or conservation
Advice or legal work
Writing/journalism/research
Culture/media/performing arts
Using scientific or engineering principles to solve problems.
Lifestyle and values
Think about your values and how you would like to work. For example:
Gaining promotion rapidly
Being self-employed. For some industries self-employment is the
standard way of working, rather than a lifestyle choice
Helping others to cope or succeed with their lives
Receive financial rewards
Have job security
Work in a team or independently
Fulfil a desire to travel
Work in a large global company or a small local one
Work in a creative environment.
Different types of employer - What do they offer?*
Large graduate recruiters usually offer structured graduate training;
higher salaries, planned career progression and the scope to develop
your career within one organisation
Small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) often offer flexibility to
incorporate special knowledge; greater variety of workload and
responsibility
Contrast opportunities within the private and public sector
Are you interested in an ethical career path, perhaps in the not-forprofit sector?

* www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/ under Plan your career-Explore your career options-Types

of employers

Location
If you wish to stay in Sussex (or have another specific location in mind) this
may restrict your opportunities.
Brighton has a strong service industry (hospitality and tourism), is close to
major transport links and has a large number of SMEs (Small or Medium
Sized Enterprises) particularly in new media.
There are also companies offering opportunities in more technical fields in
West Sussex.
See our Sussex and the south-east* pages for more information on the
local economy and finding work within commuting distance. The more
flexible you are on working location the more opportunities will become
available to you.
Online assessment tools
Prospects Planner
Will help you assess your skills and generate ideas for possible job roles
www.prospects.ac.uk/links/pplanner
Target Jobs Careers Report
Uses questionnaires and psychometric tests to explore your interests,
strengths, personality and abilities.
http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-report
The Windmills Programme
Focuses more on personal development but may be useful in identifying
your skill level and highlighting areas for improvement.
www.windmillsonline.co.uk
There are many other assessment tools available online. However none will
offer a 'quick fix' and any which claim to do so should be treated with
suspicion.
Ultimately the only person who knows what is right for you is you. Being
self-aware (knowing your own personal strengths, weaknesses and skills)
and having the confidence to put these across is a skill in itself.

* www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/ under Find a job

Evidence your skills and interests to employers

When completing job applications or CVs think of the evidence you need to
support what you are saying about your skills:
What or who were you responsible for?
What were the outcomes and where they expected?
How did you achieve success/did you meet any targets?
You may have a lot of evidence of relevant skills and experience to draw on.
The job description will tell you what the employer regards as priority skills
for the job. You should emphasise the skills and experience you have which
meet these criteria.
See our CVs and interviews* pages for more information on presenting
and evidencing your skills and interests.

* www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/ under CVs and interviews

Step 2: Research your future career

In this stage of the Career Planning cycle we look at how to research your
future career to find out what options there are with your degree.
Occupational information
Find out what jobs are available in your chosen sector. Research the skills
and qualifications you are likely to need and find out more about potential
employers.
Use our A-Z directory of occupations* or the paper resources in our
careers centres.
Prospects has a directory of occupational profiles entitled Types of jobs**.
This includes regularly updated labour market information and guidance on
terms and conditions, including starting salaries.
Options with your subject
Prospects has information on possible careers relating to your qualifications
under the heading Options with your subject***.
You might also be interested to look at our reports on the destinations of
University of Brighton graduates****

Looking for work

There are a number of options to consider and routes to try out.
Employment
Many jobs are advertised as and when a position becomes available.
Register with our Vacancy and events service***** to access details of
graduate opportunities, internships, volunteering and much more. Our
directory of occupational profiles Researching Careers* has links to many
sector-specific vacancy sites.
Prospects also advertise graduate schemes, vacancies, placement
opportunities and much more.**
* www.brighton.ac.uk/careers under Plan your career-Explore your career options
** www. prospects.ac.uk under Jobs and work experience
*** www. prospects.ac.uk under Careers advice
**** www.brighton.ac.uk under About us Facts and figures
***** www. brighton.ac.uk/careers under Find a job

You may wish to consider approaching employers on a speculative basis.

This is a labour-intensive approach but one which pays off more often than
you would think.
For more information on these and other ways to find employment
opportunities see our pages under the Find a job* heading.
Graduate schemes
Many large organisations offer training programmes specifically for
graduates. These schemes usually recruit annually with closing dates in the
autumn or early spring, and start in the summer following graduation.
We have a range of free graduate directories (e.g. Prospects, Target) and
also industry-specific titles which are published annually and available to
take away at all campus careers centres.
Employer events and careers fairs
Attending employer events or careers fairs is an excellent way to find out
what employers offer and what they are looking for. You can also get details
of their application procedures.
The careers centre has a diverse programme of events running during the
academic year. Check out our current events programme and register with
the Vacancy and events service* to get updates on forthcoming events.
For information about regional and national events see the Careers Service
blog on studentcentral and also the Careers fairs page the Prospects
website**.
Work/volunteer abroad or travelling
Many graduates consider travelling or working abroad after graduation.
Take some time to think about what you want to do when you return. You
can always modify your plans en route.
Before you go find out about the graduate recruitment cycle and how it
works. With internet access available worldwide you can do your research
anywhere.
Keep a record of any work experience you are involved with while away.
This will help you with CV preparation and job applications when you return
home.
* www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/ under Find a job
**www.prospects.ac.uk under Careers advice

See our page on Working and volunteering abroad* for more information.
You can also research specific destinations using the Prospects directory of
Country profiles**.
Further Study
Ask yourself why you want to continue studying. Do you enjoy the subject
matter or do you need further qualifications to pursue your chosen career?
Could the extra qualification help you stand out from the crowd or help you
to change your career? Studying because you cannot think of anything else
to do is not a good idea.
There are numerous courses on offer, think carefully and consider what
would suit you.
For more information see our Studying further* pages.

*www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/ under Plan your career

**www.prospects.ac.uk under Careers advice

Step 3: Make a decision

Having looked at your options we'll now address the next stage of the
planning cycle - how to make a decision.
By now you should hopefully feel better informed about what to do next. At
the very least you may have an awareness of the range of options open to
you.
Assessing yourself enables you to examine your own skills, interests,
knowledge and abilities and see how these relate to different occupations
and work styles.
You will have considered what is important to you in terms of lifestyle choice
and your personal values.
Clarify your ideas
Remember that you are not necessarily going to find 'the perfect career' for
you. There are usually a range of possibilities that would suit you.
Having too many choices will confuse you and slow you down. Focus on a
few ideas at a time and follow these. You can always review and adapt your
plans and goals as they develop and take shape.
Are you still feeling unsure? Go back to the earlier stages in the career
planning process. Review your initial choices in the light of the research you
undertook subsequently. You can always scrap your research and start
again from the beginning.
Don't be afraid to take a step back if it means you can move forward more
productively.
Whilst making your decision, consider the following questions:
Is my chosen industry very competitive?
Do I understand what this job entails?
Do recent graduates usually go straight into this type of work?
Are there a series of stepping stones which would help me to get
where I want to be?
Do I need to get more work experience/any new skills?

Useful links
What do other graduates do?* case studies and destinations of
former University of Brighton students as well as national statistics.
Options with your subject** Careers ideas for graduates from a
variety of academic disciplines.
Types of jobs*** - Detailed occupational profiles including regularly
updated labour market information and details of current pay and
conditions.

Formulating Plans
Always be ready to modify the plans you made at the outset. Remain open
to the possibility of lucky breaks, random opportunities and brain waves.
Sometimes the best opportunities arise out of the blue.
Talk to family members and friends, tutors and fellow students. How would
they describe you? Do you behave different in a work setting. How would
your colleagues describe you?
If you have followed our advice on assessing yourself and researching your
options you should be feeling more informed about what to do next.
Through assessing yourself you will have had chance to examine your own
skills, interests, knowledge and abilities and how these relate to different
occupations and work styles.
You will also have considered what is important to you in terms of lifestyle
and perhaps your own personal values.

* www.brighton.ac.uk/careers under Plan your career

** www. prospects.ac.uk under Careers advice
*** www.prospects.ac.uk under Jobs and work experience.

Step 4: Action and review

If you have reached this stage you should have an insight into your skills
and abilities and some sense of the opportunities available to graduates. If
you have decided on a possible career route then you can start to formulate
an action plan.
Action planning
Here are some questions to consider:
Do I know the types of job I would like to apply for?
If you are ready to seek out vacancies, use the resources in our pages
Find a job* and Occupations**
Register with our Vacancy and events service** to access vacancies
sent to the careers centre
Register with Prospects*** to receive their vacancy updates
If you haven't identified possible job options, continue your
occupational research
Find out what a job is really like you might try voluntary work, work
shadowing or making contacts with people already doing the job. See
our resources on work experience*
Where do I find out more about the employers offering this kind of
work?
See Researching careers* for details of occupations, labour market
information and employers of graduates in this sector
Prospects careers also has a directory of occupational profiles entitled
Types of jobs***
See our information on Finding employers* to help you identify and
approach suitable employers.
What about my CV? Where do I start?
Having a really good CV and covering letter is crucial
You should always tailor the CV and letter to the job - never rely on a
general catch-all CV
See our information on writing CVs and covering letters*.
* www.brighton.ac.uk/careers under Find a job
** www.brighton.ac.uk/careers under Plan your career-Explore your career options
*** www.prospects.ac.uk under Jobs and work experience
**** www.brighton.ac.uk/careers under CVs and interviews

What about application forms? How do I demonstrate that my skills

meet the employers requirements?
Always match your skills to those required by the employer.
Review Step 1: Assess yourself for ideas of the skills you will have
acquired during your time at university
Give examples from your experience of how your skills meet the
criteria; what you did, what you learnt and how your skills developed.
See our information on job applications*.
I have applied for jobs but haven't been offered any interviews.
Try and get feedback about why you have not been successful
Make an appointment to see a Careers Counsellor to review your
applications and discuss your approach
Review Step 1: Assess yourself. Many graduates overlook or
undersell what they have gained from previous employment or in
organising study, family commitments and work
Some areas of employment are fiercely competitive and work
experience is essential. These include broadcasting, advertising,
personnel management, publishing and journalism
In the current labour market the number of occupations classed as
'fiercely competitive' is on the increase.
Meeting deadlines
Set deadlines within your action plan and stick to them. Be clear what your
next move will be.
Reviewing your plan
Revisit your plans regularly and consider your progress so far. If progress is
not good put more effort in or see a careers counsellor to help kick start your
plans.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Many professions have a programme of CPD. It is often an essential
element of career progression particularly for those seeking chartered
status.
CPD covers a range of ongoing learning situations enabling you to develop
skills and keep up to date with developments in your sector. This could be
through formal courses, attending conferences or through more informal
contacts with other professionals.
* www.brighton.ac.uk/careers/ under CVs and interviews

Summary
By engaging in this process you should have an insight into your skills and
abilities and some sense of the opportunities for graduates. If not, go back
to the previous pages in this section and review where you are at.
If you feel you have decided on your career you can start to formulate a plan
of action. If you are struggling to reach a decision make an appointment to
talk to a Careers Counsellor.
Whatever career(s) you have decided to pursue, our careers centres have a
wide range of information available about companies, jobs and graduate
schemes.
We also have a range of free publications on matters relating to career
planning and development.
If you cannot find the information you need please let us know. We are
always happy to research additional information on request. Careers is your
service, make sure you make the most of us.

Contact the Careers Service where you study

Come and carry out your research, speak to a member of the team or
make an individual appointment to discuss your plans (or lack of
them).
Moulsecoomb
First Floor, Manor House,
Moulsecoomb Place,
Brighton BN2 4GA
(01273) 642855
careers@brighton.ac.uk

Falmer
E Wing, Checkland Building
Village Way, Falmer
Brighton BN2 9PH
(01273) 643584
careers.falmer@brighton.ac.uk

Grand Parade
Student Services
1st Floor, Grand Parade
Brighton BN2 2JY
(01273) 643187

Eastbourne
First Floor, Room 113, Trevin
Towers, Gaudick Road,
Eastbourne,
East Sussex BN20 7SP
(01273) 643845

careers.grandparade @brighton.ac.uk

careers.eastbourne@brighton.ac.uk

Hastings
LRC, First Floor, Havelock Road,
Hastings, East Sussex TN34 1DQ
(01273) 644643
UCHstudentservices@brighton.ac.uk

Careers Centres are usually open Monday - Friday 9.30am - 4.30 pm

studentcentral: select Student Life from the menu at the top right of
your home page. Then select careers, jobs and volunteering from
the menu to the left of your screen.
This leaflet and related information is available online at
www.brighton.ac.uk/careers or in alternative formats please ask for
details.

February 2012