Introduction to the Lancaster Award

James Perry, Careers & Employment Advisor

1
Session Overview

What is the Lancaster Award?

How do I complete it?

What are the deadlines?

2
What is the Lancaster Award?

Focuses on what you do outside of academic study

Gain points by:

participating in campus activities (sports/societies)
undertaking work experience/volunteering
attending careers related workshops

Opportunity to practice selling your skills/experiences to employers

3
 Why do the Lancaster Award?

• It is likely that you are already doing activities that count

• Show employers you make the most of your spare time:
Summer/Easter/Xmas holidays
Free periods/evenings/weekends
• Strengthen your application/interview technique before the ‘real thing’
• You will receive feedback on the strength of your CV, responses to written application
questions and video interview questions
• Give yourself the best chance of getting picked by employers

4
 A Student Perspective

“The Lancaster Award has helped me prepare for my future career as it has motivated me to engage
in even more extra-curricular activities”. Fylde student studying BBA Management
“Lancaster Award has helped me find out my own strength that would be useful in any career fields.
The award has also allowed me to link my experience in university into the relevant skills employers
would love to see in fresh graduates.” Furness student studying Geography
“The Lancaster Award has prepared me to be able to explore several different
future careers.” Grizedale student studying Medieval and Renaissance Studies
“The Lancaster Award has made me become a well-rounded person and has provided me with further
interests, capabilities and skills which will make me stand out from other candidates.” Fylde student
studying Geography​
“Work I had done for my Lancaster Award really helped me get my place for my
placement year” Bowland student studying BBA Management (With Study Abroad)

5
 An Employer Perspective

KPMG
“We value any experience you’ve gained so far. This could have
been through academic work, hobbies, part-time jobs or extra-
curricular activities.”

Morgan Stanley
“It helps to demonstrate experiences outside of education. This
could be work experience, sport or volunteering – anything you’re
passionate about”.

Enterprise rent-a-car
“Those who get involved with extra-curricular activities early on in
their university experience are attractive to prospective employers”. 6
Recruitment Context

Why is it important to stand out to employers?

400,000+ graduates enter the labour market each year

On average 90 applications per graduate vacancy (Nov

2021)

7
 How to Build your Points – Careers
Workshops (5 Points Each)
Maximum of 4 workshops (20 points) from either central Careers workshops, LUMS Careers
workshops or in-curriculum sessions.
Examples:
Creating Winning CVs & Cover Letters
LinkedIn Workshop
Interview Questions
Applying for Postgraduate Study
This Lancaster Award session and employer recruitment events do not count.

8
 How to Build your Points – Additional
Workshops (5 Points Each)
Maximum of 4 additional workshops (20 points)
Examples:
Work in Progress Events & Workshops
Modules e.g. Future Global Leaders
Ready for Lancaster (pre-arrival course)
Launch Your Future
Digital Skills Certificates

9
 How to Build your Points – Campus
Activity (10 Points Each)

Student Course Representative

Active Club or Society Member
College JCR Executive
Student Ambassador
University Tour Guide
Student Mentor
Freshers’ Representative
10
 How to Build your Points – Volunteering
(15 Points Each)
Minimum of 15 hours (per experience):
Supporting members of the community: from home eg. AgeUK befriending​ or in
your communities eg. foodbanks
Charity fundraising
Volunteering in a charity shop
International volunteering
Citizen’s Advice Bureau
Conservation volunteers
Animal Care/RSPCA
Classroom assistant 11
 How to Build your Points – Work
Experience (20 Points Each)
Minimum of 35 hours (per experience):
• Placements
• Internships
• Part-time work
• Jobs at home over the vacation periods
• Jobs overseas

12
Lancaster Employment & Recruitment
Service

13
Lancaster Employment & Recruitment
Service

14
What application processes do employers
use?

CV review
Application forms - competency questions
Psychometric tests
Interview: face-to-face/phone/video
Assessment Centres

15
Assessment – Activities Checklist

16
Assessment – CV

• Come along to a compulsory CV Writing Workshop.

• Using CV360 on the Careers Portal, upload your CV to receive
your feedback and score.
• Make sure to upload this to Moodle.

17
Assessment – CV Example

This will be covered in-depth in the CV Workshop

Key sections may include:

• Personal details
• Professional Profile
• Education
• Employment History/Relevant Experience
• Extra-curricular Activities/Other Interests
• Skills
• References available upon request

18
 Assessment – Video Interview

• Strengths-based questions:
• Do you most like starting tasks or finishing them?
• What do you like to do in your spare time?
• When did you achieve something you're really proud of?

• You will be using Interview360 on the Careers Portal to record your answers.

19
 Assessment – In-person Interview

• Interviews will be held at set periods throughout each Term, so make sure
to book on in advance via CareersConnect.
• You will receive immediate feedback from a member of our team.

20
Assessment – Application Form

21
Using the STAR Framework

22
Application Form – Example Answer

23
How is your Application Form assessed?

We will mark your Application Form using the following criteria:

• Spelling and grammar
• Structure of your answer
• Effectiveness of your answer
• Would an employer be impressed?

24
Grades

• Excellent – very good submission. Little room for improvement.

• Competent – generally a good submission. We will still provide
feedback on where you could improve further but no need to
resubmit.
• Further work required – showing potential but further work required
to achieve the Award.
• Poor – You will be given detailed feedback and one
opportunity to resubmit.

The completion of the Award will appear on your record of

achievement. However, the grade will not feature on your diploma
supplement, only that you have passed. You will also receive a digital
certificate to recognise your achievement.
25
 When are my deadlines?

Undergraduates
If you are an undergraduate student, the Award is submitted on the 31st
October in your final year of study.

Postgraduates
If you are a Masters student, your deadline is June
PhD students will submit in June of your penultimate year
26
Signing up

27
Signing up

28
 FAQs
Can I refer to activities from before I began University?
No - the Lancaster Award is focused on activities you have been involved with since you started
your degree. If you return to something during university breaks, this can count. For PG students
who studied their UG at Lancaster, you can include work experience/ volunteering undertaken in
between your undergraduate degree and your postgraduate degree, and throughout your time
at Lancaster. For PG students who didn’t study UG at Lancaster, you can include volunteering and
work experience from the past 3 years.
How do I know if my unpaid experience is work experience or volunteering?
If you are undertaking some unpaid work/activities in order to gain an insight into a sector, then
this would count as work experience as you are doing it for your own benefit. There are some
sectors unfortunately where some unpaid work experience is common in order to improve your
chances of future employment in that area.​
Can I get points from project work with employers as part of my degree programme?
These can be counted as work experience and so you can gain 20 points for this activity.​
What if I change my mind and want to leave the Award?
If you no longer wish to complete the Lancaster Award and have already signed up via Moodle,
then you can simply choose to not submit any work. Although the module will still show on your
online transcript, it will not appear on your final degree transcript. 29
30
 How we can support you

We support you to make the most impact with your CVs, applications, and in
interviews.

CV Checks: Bookable through CareersConnect​

Lancaster Award appointments: Bookable through CareersConnect
Drop-ins: Every day, 14:00-16:00 in the Student Services Hub​
Lancaster Award drop-ins closer to the deadline​
Dedicated Teams space for your year​

We advertise vacancies, run workshops and webinars, provide 1:1 support, and 31
produce electronic resource
32
33
Thank you for attending, any questions?

34