College of Social Science

Careers Handbook for the Department of Economics

Department of Economics / Careers Service

Careers Handbook: College of Social Science / Careers Service Page 1

Department of Economics College of Social Science - Careers Handbook

Contents

1 Introduction

2 Don’t know what to do? Plan your career and develop your skills

3 What do Social Science students do after graduating?

4 Job hunting

a. General job hunting strategies for Social Science students

b. Creative Job Search for Social Science students

5 Career options with a degree in Economics

6 Making applications

a. Application forms

b. Covering letters

c. CVs - general guidelines

d. Interviews

e. Assessment centres

7 Careers events on campus

8 International students

9 Postgraduate study

10 Further sources of help

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Understand yourself

Research what's out there

Gain experience and develop

skillsMake choices

Time for action

1 Introduction

This handbook has been written by the Careers Service to provide a useful resource of information and advice for students in the College of Social Science. You will find help if you don’t know, or have little idea about, what you would like to do when you graduate. There are details of typical jobs Social Science graduates do to help you generate ideas as well as jobs and useful websites specifically for your subject area. You will also find practical tips for making successful applications and performing well at interviews.

2 Don’t know what to do? Plan your career and develop your skills

You may know exactly what you want to do after you graduate or you may have absolutely no idea - or you may fall somewhere in between, where you have some ideas but are very undecided. Wherever you are in the process, putting in some effort now to do some research can really help you along the path to making the right career decision. The Careers Service is available to help you through the process.

Although there are various methods to approach career planning, the process below shows one way of looking at the different stages. This is the Career Planning Cycle which is a useful model to follow.

UNDERSTAND YOURSELF - think about yourself and what makes you special

Career planning starts with you. Think about your skills, interests, values and motivations. What skills and competences can you offer to an employer? What makes you different? What have you achieved? And what you are looking for in a career?

Look at the ‘Career Planning’ section of the Careers Service website at www.le.ac.uk/careers.

Try using Prospects Planner, a careers guidance programme, at www.prospects.ac.uk (see ‘Jobs

and work experience’ then ‘What jobs would suit me?’).

Think about Personal Development Planning (PDP) which is designed to help you to record,

reflect and develop your skills, and build up your career profile. If you are a campus-based

student contact your personal tutor and/or supervisor. If you are a distance learner, contact

your department.

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RESEARCH WHAT’S OUT THERE – find out what’s available

Look at what other graduates in your subject have gone on to do; this is available at

www.le.ac.uk/careers.

Find out about employers and talk to them at employer events such as fairs and presentations.

Details are advertised on our website.

Visit the Prospects website at www.prospects.ac.uk for information on specific occupations (see

‘Jobs and work experience’ then ‘Types of jobs’).

Consider other options such as postgraduate study or taking a gap year.

GAIN EXPERIENCE AND DEVELOPING SKILLS – helps you decide what you do and don’t like doing

Use your time at university to gain as much experience as you can. Demonstrate to employers that you have the skills and qualities they are looking for. There are many things you can get involved in, such as:

working during vacations to demonstrate that you are committed and motivated

working part time during the term to develop those valuable transferable skills

working on volunteering projects – if you are developing your skills it is irrelevant to an

employer whether you get paid or not

work shadowing if you are interested in a particular career area where work experience is not

easy to come by.

Work experience is also invaluable as it allows you to ‘test-drive’ different roles, helping you establish whether you’d enjoy them long-term. Keep a diary to record what you have done and to refer to when making applications.

MAKE CHOICES – decision time

When you have researched your ideas you will be able to start making choices that suit your skills and interests. Think about short, medium and long-term goals to help you to develop your career on your terms. Consider the priorities of what you need to do and when. For example, not everyone chooses to pursue a career immediately after graduating. You may decide to take time out, or undertake a postgraduate course. Book an appointment with a careers adviser if you would like to discuss the ideas you have, and make a contingency plan in case things don’t go quite as you expect them to.

TIME FOR ACTION – make applications

Apply for vacancies that match the career choices you have made – whether for jobs or postgraduate study. Before you start however, make sure you do some research into an organisation before applying to them.

Talk to employers by visiting fairs, attending presentations and going to workshops.

Write/update your CV.

Visit the Careers Service website at www.le.ac.uk/careers for information on covering letters,

application forms, interviews and assessment centres, the Prospects website at

www.prospects.ac.uk or the TARGETjobs website at www.targetjobs.co.uk.

Consult an adviser if you would like help with any of these.

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3 What do Social Science students do after graduating?

Students graduating from the College of Social Sciences work in a wide range of different occupations and industry areas. Many students choose an occupation that is related to their degree. However, for many employers and job roles, subject discipline is irrelevant provided applicants have a good class of degree from a good university, the right skills and qualities, relevant work experience, and enthusiasm for the job they are applying for. Therefore, you don’t need to have to limit your choice of occupation to your degree discipline.

The chart opposite indicates the destinations of students who graduated from the University of Leicester in 2009. If you are looking to use your degree discipline look in Section 5 for ideas about what jobs are related to your specific subject where you will also find information about skills and useful resources.

4 Job hunting

There are many ways to start your job hunting. In this section you will find general resources and information about creative job search followed by resources specific to your subject area.

4a General resources for Social Science students Many jobs, such as graduate training schemes and one-off graduate positions, are advertised. You will find below various useful websites detailing general information about occupations as well as vacancies, followed by listings for recruitment agencies, internship programmes, work experience and working abroad. The lists are meant as at starting point and are not exhaustive so do investigate further as appropriate.

General websites which include vacancies as well as other careers related information • Careers Service - www.le.ac.uk/careers • Careers Service - vacancies go.le.ac.uk/jobsonline • Prospects - www.prospects.ac.uk, see Jobs and Work Experience for a searchable database of

vacancies • Target jobs - www.targetjobs.co.uk • Inside Careers - www.insidecareers.co.uk • Local and National Press - www.thepaperboy.com • Job Centre Plus – www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk • . . . and don’t forget . . .

employers’ own websites specialist journals

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professional associations/bodies careers fairs

Recruitment agencies that usually have a searchable database of vacancies such as: Monster – www.monster.com Totaljobs – www.totaljobs.com Milkround – www.milkround.com . . . and the Recruitment and Employment Federation – www.rec.uk.com, the regulatory

body for recruitment agencies.

Internship programmes • Leicester Graduate Internship Programme – paid internship at the University of Leicester -

http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ssds/sd/vacancies/jobshop/tulip • Graduate Talent Pool - http://graduatetalentpool.direct.gov.uk, range of paid and unpaid

graduate placements • Graduate Gateway - www.lboro.ac.uk/business/collaborations/gateway_grads.html, a 26 week

business assignment for people living in Derbyshire, Leicestershire or Nottinghamshire • KTP – Knowledge Transfer Partnerships – KTP - Accelerating Business Innovation also advertised

on www.jobs.ac.uk, 10 weeks – 3 years projects.

Work experience • Year in Industry - www.yini.org.uk • Step - www.step.org.uk, eight week summer placements • Employment 4 Students - www.e4s.co.uk, student jobs, internships and graduate jobs • Fledglings - www.fledglings.net, student work placements • Careers Service - www.le.ac.uk/careers.

Working abroad • Prospects – www.prospects.ac.uk, see Jobs and Work Experience then Working Abroad • NASES National Association of Student Employment Services -

www.nases.org.uk/students/content/index.php?page=235123, contains country specific information and guides.

4b Creative job search for Social Science students The key to successful job search could lie in tapping into the “hidden job market”. This is where opportunities exist but are not advertised through the usual channels such as online recruitment websites, employers’ websites, etc, as suggested in the previous section. However, you don’t need to just restrict your applications to large employers as there are lots of small and medium sized organisations who may provide good training and experience, many of whom don’t advertise their vacancies.

Think about networking and make contacts with as many people as possible, especially those who are employed in the industry of interest to you; this can be a very powerful way of being in the right place at the right time with the right people when jobs become available. Attending careers fairs and presentations is an excellent way to meet and network with employers. Work experience, volunteering and work shadowing is another good way of finding out about a particular job role and help to get you known in a particular organisation. Don’t forget your own contacts such as friends, family, tutors, previous employers in relevant industries and let them know what you are looking for; ask them to let you know if they hear of any opportunities.

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If there is a particular organisation you want to work for, but cannot find any advertised vacancies, you could approach them directly and apply speculatively by sending in your CV along with a covering letter. Be sure to know what it is you want from the employer when you do this and be as specific as you can when you make your application.

5 Career options with a degree in Economics

Skills Studying a degree in economics enables you to apply economic principles and models to a wide range of issues as well as understanding the larger driving forces which shape social policy. You will also acquire knowledge specific to your subject. Although the content of courses vary, if you studied for a BA you are likely to have developed knowledge including, for example, a broad coverage of modern micro and macroeconomics and, if you studied for a BSc, specialist in-depth understanding of the application of mathematics and statistics to core areas of economics.

Recruiters look for more than “just a degree” from their applicants; as well as relevant knowledge, they want strong employability skills and attributes. Typical employability skills include good communication, problem solving, leadership, working in a team as well as autonomously, creativity, research skills, and the ability to prioritise and manage time. Therefore, in addition to studying for your degree, consider the skills you have developed through your other activities such as work experience, society memberships, positions of responsibility, and volunteering, as well as your interests such as sport, theatre, travel, etc, all of which will be attractive to employers. You will be expected to provide evidence of your skills and will need to effectively articulate these to employers.

Jobs - What do Economics students do? Although this is certainly not an exhaustive list, the following areas are where Economics students typically work where their degree discipline is directly related to the job role:

Economist

Industry economist

Agricultural economist

Jobs where an Economics degree would be useful include:

Financial risk analyst

Credit analyst

Accountant – Chartered certified, Chartered public finance

Actuarial consultant

Statistician

Civil Service fast streamer Don’t forget, many employers look for graduates in any discipline. Economics graduates are employed in a wide variety of areas including teaching, corporate graduate programmes, business, human resources, and law, to name just a few.

Visit the Prospects website at www.prospects.ac.uk for further information - look in Options with Your Subject.

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Resources The following is a list of useful websites, ordered alphabetically within the sections, relevant to occupations relating to Economics: General

Economics departments worldwide - http://edirc.repec.org/areas.html

Guide to Career Education (American site) - www.guidetocareereducation.com/library/economics-careers

International Health Economics Association - www.healtheconomics.org Prospects online directory of UK postgraduate courses – www.prospects.ac.uk/links/Pgdbase

Society of Business Economics - www.sbe.co.uk

Studying Economics - http://studyingeconomics.ac.uk

The Economics Network - www.economicsnetwork.ac.uk

The Royal Economic Society – www.res.org.uk

Why Study Economics? - http://whystudyeconomics.ac.uk

WiWi-Oneline - www.wiwi-online.co.uk/start.php Jobs and vacancies

Econ-Jobs.com - www.econ-jobs.com, economist jobs worldwide

Economics Forum and Jobs - http://economists.ning.com, discussion forums, blogs, etc

Inomics – www.inomics.com, jobs board

The Supply Curve - www.thesupplycurve.com, specialist jobs board

For further useful web links to assist you in your career planning, visit the Careers Service website at www.le.ac.uk/careers (see the Research Occupations pages). See also the Prospects website at www.prospects.ac.uk and look in the Contacts and Resources section of occupations of interest (see Jobs and Work Experience then Types of Jobs).

Also look at the section 4a General Resources for a list of useful websites with vacancy and careers information which cover all disciplines.

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6 Making Applications

Whether you use a CV or an application form, apply online or on paper, you’ll need to convince the recruiter that they want to meet you.

When you make an application you are actually marketing yourself, or at least you should be, if you want to maximise your chances of obtaining an interview. The following provides some tips for success.

6 a Application forms The questions on application forms can broadly be divided into two main types – straightforward/factual and those that analyse your qualities and competences. The latter are the more difficult but they are the ones where you will be marketing and selling yourself directly as a suitable candidate. It is essential to look at what the employer is offering and the type of person they are saying that they wish to recruit. Show awareness of the company and why you want to work for them. For competency-based questions avoid general answers – give specific examples. Try and vary your use of examples in each question. Drawing them from different areas of your life will help you to do so.

For online application forms, cut and paste your response from a word processing document first to allow you to run your text through a spell-check before you send it - but make sure you proofread it anyway. Also make sure that you keep a copy of what you have sent.

Visit the Careers Service website at www.le.ac.uk/careers for further information about application forms, getting feedback from an adviser, and dates of workshops and presentations relating to completing application forms and making applications generally.

6 b Covering letters A covering letter is particularly useful to tailor your application to the particular job and company you are applying to and should be sent to accompany your CV.

You can highlight the most relevant areas of your CV or application form and thereby give your application impact. A covering letter is also essential for when you apply to organisations speculatively (when a job has not been advertised). Your letter should:

be one page long

mention the job title, reference (if provided) and where it was advertised

state why you want to pursue this particular career/vacancy, why you think you are suitable, and why you want to work for the particular company or organisation that you are submitting your application to

close with ‘Yours sincerely’ if you have named the recipient; ‘Yours faithfully’ if not. It is always better to use a name if you can.

Visit the Careers Service website at www.le.ac.uk/careers for further information about covering letters, getting feedback from an adviser, and dates of workshops and presentations relating to covering letters and making applications generally.

A sample covering letter appears on the next page.

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Sample Covering Letter Ms S France 389 Mile End Street Graduate Recruitment Manager Leicester LE1 6RJ London and New York Financial Insurers 12-15 Regent Street London EC1 6PY 10th October 2011

Dear Ms France,

RE: Graduate Training Scheme – Human Resources Officer

I am writing to apply for the Graduate Training Scheme for Human Resources Management as advertised on the vacancy bulletin on the website at my university.

I first became interested in a career in human resources through attending a series of careers presentations by employers at my university. The presentation on this area and your company by your colleague, David Rome, impressed me most and led me to feel that training as a Human Resources Officer would combine my skills and interest in working with people, training and business. The work experience I obtained last summer in the Personnel Department at XYZ Bank was extremely useful and I greatly enjoyed working with human resources issues within a financial environment. I am now particularly excited about fulfilling my potential in Human Resources and my choice of career has been confirmed by extensive reading of careers literature about the profession.

I feel I have a range of relevant skills that I can bring to London and New York Financial Insurers. My communication skills have greatly developed both through my work experience at the bank and through my degree. During my course I have not only written essays but frequently presented papers and arguments orally in seminars, employing the use of visual aids. One assignment involved small groups of four students working as a team to co-research and co-present a topic which both further developed my team-working skills and presentation skills to a high standard. Additionally, on my course I have developed a high level of IT skills: I regularly use Word, Excel and the Internet and I am comfortable in sourcing and handling data electronically. As my CV illustrates, I lead a busy life through my various sporting activities, which has meant that I have very quickly learnt the importance of time management. I have always handed my work in on time and never missed a deadline.

London and New York Financial Insurers interests me because of the variety of your training scheme and the emphasis on early responsibility together with all necessary support. Your company position as one of the top 20 firms attracts me and I feel that London and New York Financial Insurers offers the opportunity to work in the environment that I am seeking.

I hope my CV shows that I have the skills and potential to join London and New York Financial Insurers’ training programme. I am available for interview at any time and look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Harry London

Harry London

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6 c CVs – general guidelines

General points to consider No more than 2 sides of A4 and word processed.

Be consistent in how the information is presented including typefaces and font sizes.

Use plenty of space around the information so that it is clear.

Use of the first person and the active voice - e.g. "I organised...", "I developed...", "I co-

ordinated...".

Layout of CV There are two broad styles of CV although many variations exist within these.

Chronological - the information is arranged under general headings (Education, Work

Experience, etc.) and set out chronologically thereafter with the most recent events first. This is

probably more common for new graduates (sample structure below).

Skills-based - all information is analysed for evidence of the most relevant skills for the job and

then arranged under skills headings.

The following guidelines are for writing a chronological CV. It is intended to be used as an aide memoire rather than as a rigid structure and format.

Personal Details (not usually written as a heading) Name, address, telephone number, email address.

Nationality and immigration status if you are not a British citizen.

Personal Profile / Career Objective Skills/attributes with regards to the role being applied for and detail of the type of opportunity

being sought. Should be brief – no more than two or three lines.

Education Details of education to date, including fuller information about courses relevant to the job.

Work Experience Most recent and/or relevant experience first.

Skills For example, languages, IT, communication, problem-solving, leadership, creativity, negotiation,

etc. You should provide evidence of skills with specific examples.

Other headings may include: Society Memberships, Positions of Responsibility, Achievements, Other Qualifications.

Interests Brief details including your involvement.

References

Details of one academic and one from a work situation or “references available on request”.

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CV - Example structure Name

Address Line 1 Home tel no

Line 2 Mobile Line 3 Email Line 4

Personal Profile / Career Objective Statement to draw the reader in – encourage them to read more.

Education Date Subject, Place of study (e.g. University of Leicester)

Provide information such as: Modules include: . . . . .[relevant ones]

X thousand word dissertation on [title]

Date A Levels, Place of study

List of subjects

Date GCSEs, Place of study

X number of GCSEs including Maths and English

Relevant Work Experience Date Name of organisation, job title

2 or 3 examples of main responsibilities

[Add as appropriate]

Other Work Experience Date Name of organisation, job title

2 or 3 examples of main responsibilities

[Add as appropriate]

Skills 4 or 5 skills with examples drawn from all areas of life. Such as:

Communication

1 or 2 actual examples Teamwork

1 or 2 actual examples

Problem solving

1 or 2 actual examples

Society Memberships - dates and name of society

Positions of Responsibility – dates and brief descriptions

Interests – this should be fairly brief

References – usually two references - one academic and one work. Can write “available on request”

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6 d Interviews Preparation is the key to convincing an employer that you are the right person for the job. If you have made it to the interview stage – congratulations! You have already passed the first hurdle in the application process and convinced the employer that you meet their basic requirements. The interview is now your chance to give a good impression and demonstrate that you are the right candidate for the job. Spending some time preparing before your interview is your key to success.

Prepare to succeed at interview Make sure that you know about the organisation and are very clear about your reasons for applying. You should have already done lots of research about the employer to help with your initial application so ensure that you have brushed up on this knowledge. Look again at your application (i.e. CV and covering letter or application form) to remind yourself exactly what you wrote. The interviewer is likely to ask you questions based on your application documents.

Check the details Before you set out for your interview, make sure that you know what you are supposed to do and what will be expected from you. For example:

familiarise yourself with where the interview will actually take place and how long it will take

you to get there

how many people will be at the interview?

will there be any other tests or activities?

What sort of questions will you be asked? Interviewers are interested in your motivation to do the job and whether you have the skills and abilities to do it. There are different sorts of questions employers may ask to establish this.

Open or unstructured questions such as ‘Tell me about …?’ Prepare structured answers in

advance as it is easy to drift off the subject.

Situational questions such as ‘What would you do if…?’ These gauge how you would react to a

hypothetical scenario.

Criteria, competence or behaviour type questions such as ‘Describe a situation when you….’.

These encourage you to talk about specific skills.

Technical questions may also be asked if, for example, you have done a more technical or

vocational degree.

Strengths-based interviewing gives candidates the opportunity to talk about their natural

strengths and the situations in which they are at their best. This helps employers to identify

candidates who are best suited to the role in question.

Look for further information and typical interview questions on the Careers Service website at www.le.ac.uk/careers, the Prospects website at www.prospects.ac.uk or the TARGETjobs website at www.targetjobs.co.uk.

Prepare examples Interviewers need evidence that what you say about yourself is true. Prepare some answers with specific examples of what you have achieved to demonstrate that you have particular skills. The more you prepare the easier it will be for you to draw on those examples when you need them during your interview.

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Interview formats Telephone interviews can be an integral part of the recruitment process and are becoming increasingly popular amongst employers. Most employers will pre-arrange a time with you but do be prepared for those who just ring. Remember that non-verbal cues are lost as the interviewer is not able to see you, so try to keep a positive tone in your voice. Try and find a quiet place to take the call and use your CV or application form to prompt your answers.

One-to-one interviews involve just the candidate and one interviewer. This may be the only interview you have or it may be just the start of the selection process with another to follow and/or an invitation to an assessment centre.

Panel interviews involve several people forming a panel – the number can vary. As you cannot speak to them all at once, try to concentrate on giving your answer to the person who asked the question.

First impressions count On the day, make sure that you:

arrive on time

dress appropriately

shake hands firmly

use ‘open’ body language and smile frequently

expect to be nervous – this will give you adrenalin to perform well

are positive – the employer was impressed enough with your application to invite you to interview

are yourself – if you put on an act the interviewer will probably see through it

show enthusiasm – for the job and the organisation.

But don’t:

be negative

waffle

expect the interviewer to be an expert – he/she will probably be as nervous as you are!

Top tips for interview preparation

• Preparation is key. • Do your homework and sell your skills and achievements. • Practise your answers out loud – record them if possible. • Give some questions to a friend to ask you, to give you more practice. • Think of the questions you would most hate an interviewer to ask you, then prepare some

answers. • Prepare questions for the interviewer. • Book an appointment with a careers adviser for interview coaching for further advice and

help.

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6 e Assessment centres Assessment centres are designed to assess candidates’ capabilities and future potential. They are usually held (although not always) at the employer’s premises and can last anything from half a day to two whole days. Recruiters want to see how candidates perform in various tasks and to assess their behaviour, competencies/skills and qualities, knowledge and motivation. They are looking for competences such as communication, sensitivity, negotiation and listening skills. They will also want to see how you handle difficult situations and cope in team situations, and will tailor the tasks to show the competences they seek.

What to expect at an assessment centre

Activity What’s involved

In-tray/e-tray exercises

Business simulation exercises where candidates act as a member of staff in a hypothetical organisation. You are asked to prioritise and deal with documents such as letters, memos, telephone messages, reports, etc. E-tray exercises are similar in that there will be an electronic in-box full of e-mails.

Group exercises/discussions/role play

Discussions with a group of other candidates who work together and find a solution to a problem.

Case studies Candidates are given a set of papers relating to a situation based on typical day-to-day issues and asked to assimilate, form an opinion and make recommendations in a brief report. Designed to evaluate how well candidates analyse information, think clearly and logically, exercise judgement, and express themselves.

Presentations May be anything from 1–2 minutes for an exercise such as an ice-breaker, to 10–15 minutes or more and requiring quite extensive preparation. You may also have advance notice. For more information about presentations visit the Careers Service website at www.le.ac.uk/careers.

Business game/simulation

May be linked to the employer’s own business where a task has to be performed, targets met and difficulties overcome. Employers are looking for candidates’ ability to grasp basic commercial issues, negotiate and organise workflow, and to work within a team.

Second interview As with any interview, candidates should prepare beforehand by finding out as much as possible about the job and the organisation. Visit www.le.ac.uk/careers.

Psychometric assessments

Psychometric assessments are structured ways of evaluating how people perform in various tasks or react to different circumstances. The most commonly used are aptitude tests, such as verbal, numerical and diagrammatic reasoning, where candidates are required to reach a set standard. Personality questionnaires may also be used. Find more information at www.le.ac.uk/careers.

Social events You will be expected to cope with general socialising amongst other candidates as well as with management, often over coffee and at mealtimes. This is part of the selection process so how candidates behave will be noticed. However, this does give candidates the opportunity to ask probing questions about the organisation.

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7 Careers events on campus

The number of graduates seeking graduate level employment is usually exceeded by the number of vacancies available. To ensure that you secure an offer of employment it is vital that you engage with potential employers to get ahead in the graduate job market. The Careers Service offers numerous opportunities to help you increase your employability and to interact and engage with employers throughout the course of your degree. You are strongly encouraged to attend these employer-led events in every year of your study. It’s never too early to begin researching future opportunities and improving the skills you need to be successful in getting the job you want. Employer skills sessions, presentations and careers fairs take place throughout the year.

Events calendar Autumn Fair 2 November 2011

Volunteering Fair Autumn term 2011

Skills Workshop Programme Autumn/spring term 2011/12

Employer presentations Autumn/spring term 2011/12

Stand Out Week (work experience) Spring term 2012

Summer Careers Fair Summer term 2012

Graduate Success Programme Summer term 2012

Visit the events section of the Careers Service website at www.le.ac.uk/careers for further details.

8 International students

The Careers Service provides information for all University of Leicester students, including international students. There is a specific section for international students on the Careers Service website at www.le.ac.uk/careers. There is a careers adviser and information specialist dedicated for the development of services and support for international students. The Careers Service also runs a number of events specifically geared towards the requirements of international students including central workshops such as Finding a Part-time Job, Creating a UK Style CV and How to look for Work Experience. Check the Careers Service website for details of forthcoming events.

If you are planning to work in the UK, either while studying or after completing your studies, familiarise yourself with the current work permit regulations. You will find this information on the UK Border Agency website at www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk and the UKCISA website at www.ukcisa.org.uk.

9 Postgraduate study

There are hundreds of further courses that you can study, either as full-time study, on a part-time basis while working or as distance learning. You may choose this option if you enjoyed your degree and want to continue studying a particular subject, need a specialist qualification for your career or want to change direction. However, do be aware that it can be hard work and may not automatically help you jump the job queue.

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Types of courses Research courses include doctorates and masters degrees (e.g. PhD, DPhil, MPhil, MRes). It can take four years to complete a PhD (some take many more), and research masters courses are usually one or two years. Research usually builds on an interest you have developed in your undergraduate degree, although you will be working independently so you will need to be highly motivated and determined.

Taught masters courses (e.g. MA, MSc, LLM, MBA) allow you to develop a specialist interest or change direction completely. These usually take a year full time or up to two years part time. They will include formal teaching (lectures, seminars, tutorials) and independent research (leading to a dissertation).

Postgraduate diplomas/certificates are usually vocational courses that provide the skills needed for certain careers (e.g. teaching, journalism, social work and law). Courses last around nine months full time or up to two years part time, and usually lead to a professional qualification.

Funding Fees can vary and you should find out about sources of funding before deciding if you can afford to do a postgraduate course.

Investigate the following:

research councils – you should already have an offer of a place on a course before applying and there are strict deadlines for applications. Visit www.rcuk.ac.uk for more information

university/departmental bursaries

grants or loans from charities and trusts

career development loans

part-time work

company sponsorship.

When and how to apply Apply early: start making enquiries in your penultimate year.

Check out deadline dates as some courses have strict deadlines – for example primary PGCE, graduate entry into medicine and social work.

Generally applications for postgraduate study are made directly to the institution and closing dates may vary (although there are exceptions, for example, PGCE).

Familiarise yourself with the application process; for example, ensure you have a good personal statement and referees. Prepare these well in advance of the closing date to avoid last-minute panics.

Further information

www.le.ac.uk/careers – further study

www.prospects.ac.uk – advice and profiles on further study

www.rcuk.ac.uk – links to all the individual Research Councils’ websites

www.jobs.ac.uk – jobs and studentships in further and higher education

www.findaphd.com and www.findamasters.com

www.targetcourses.co.uk search and compare courses and read hints and tips

Careers Handbook: College of Social Science / Careers Service Page 17

10 Further sources of help

There is lots of information and help available to you. For example:

The Careers Service provides you with a number of services. You can: o use resources on the Careers Service website at www.le.ac.uk/careers o arrange an appointment with a careers adviser – telephone the Help Desk on 0116 252

2004 o meet employers by attending fairs, workshops, and presentations o and when you graduate you can still get help via the Graduate Success Programme at

www.le.ac.uk/graduatesuccess. Other useful resources include:

Prospects, the UK’s official graduate careers website, at www.prospects.ac.uk

Targetjobs, graduate online advice services at www.targetjobs.co.uk

The Careers Service 2nd Floor David Wilson Library, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH Tel: (appointments): 0116 252 2004 / Tel: (general enquiries): 0116 252 5040 Web: www.le.ac.uk/careers

College of Social Sciences: Department websites Department of Criminology www.le.ac.uk/departments/criminology

Department of Economics www.le.ac.uk/ec

Department of Media and Communication www.le.ac.uk/departments/media

School of Management www.le.ac.uk/departments/management

Department of Politics and International Relations www.le.ac.uk/po

Department of Sociology www.le.ac.uk/sociology