www.realworldmagazine.com
graduate jobs + careers advice + sector news + case studies + employer profiles +
»Master yourself Which postgrad courses really count? P.12
2011
Section | topic
» Gap years Career chasm or a bridge? P.28
RW
» New year, new career Want success in 2011? Ask the experts. P.15
living Make a life, not just a
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
CHRIS BATES FROM ‘THE APPRENTICE’ REVEALS WHAT’S NEXT
‘The job interview from hell’ JANUARY/FEBRUARY ISSUE
WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM RW 1
sara richardson
rebecca white
vishal parmar
Jason arthur
tamsin robinson
jonathan sobczyk
science
history
maths
english
geography
citizenship
Join in, stand out, Teach First.
Registered charity no:1098294
Question: A class in a challenging school has 32 pupils. 13 of them are eligible for free school meals. How many of them will go on to attend university? Answer: Just 2. Is that ok with you? It’s not with us – and we’re doing something about it. Over 2,500 outstanding graduates – people like you – have joined us and become exceptional teachers and leaders, and transformed the life chances of young people in challenging schools. Now it’s your turn.
www.teachfirst.org.uk
CONTENTS|
08 21
CONTENTS Editor’s letter
04
News
06
The Interview 08 ‘The Apprentice’ favourite, Chris Bates, reveals why ‘you’re fired’ is just the beginning Masters of destiny Which postgrad courses really make the difference?
12
Postgrad case studies
14
New year, new skills Want to be a success in 2011? We ask the people who already are
15
12
The complete graduate pull-out 18 He’s plastic, fully poseable and has everything you need to get your dream career Working the numbers Does further study add up to the right choice
21
Going higher How are you going to get to your postgrad career?
22
Postgrad case studies
25
NEW: Graduate of the Year
26
What sort of gap year are you? 28 Take our quiz and find out Fill the gap Getting from A to B to CV
30
Gap year case studies
32
When tax attacks Are you paying too much? Or are you breaking the law? To gap or not to gap? Is that the question?
33
15
34
WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM RW 3
RW
RW
Editor’s letter | Welcome
Make a life, not just a living At Real World we believe you should have a job that you want to get out of bed for. You should be doing something that’s going to inspire you, reward you and challenge you for the next 50 years. We help you do what you enjoy and enjoy what you do. We want to be the ones to tell you about the job opportunity that’ll change your life. And we want to help you to get that job and then succeed without limits. Real World is more than just a magazine. We’re leaders in graduate employment research. We train people how to raise their game. Everything we do is about helping you understand your career, kick-starting it and developing it. After all, apart from sleeping, you’ll spend more time working than doing anything else in your life. We want you to make a good living, but we also want you to make a good life in the process. No sugar-coating and no dry job jargon – Real World tells it like it is. Just the best facts, advice and opportunities. Editorial Publisher: Johnny Rich Editor: Jon Madge Reporters: Maxwell Ward, Alex Lane, Harriet Hale Sub-editor: Jen Clark, Priya Nai
Sales Andrea Moretti
Marketing and Distribution Manager James Munday
GRAPHIC DESIGN Luke Merryweather
Client Services Manager Marie Tasle
EDITOR’S LETTER A new year, new possibilities and new chances to get on the road to that perfect career. To help us all along the right path, here at Real World we’ve put together what we like to call our ‘New Year’s Handbook’, which is stuffed full of everything you’ll need for 2011. With the jobs market a little on the ropes, we’ve gone looking for other options for graduates keen to point themselves in the right direction. If escaping the recession in an exciting corner of the world takes your fancy then why not check out our gap year advice. Or if you haven’t quite scratched that studying itch then our look at which postgraduate degrees will take you where is sure to get you excited. Then again, if you’d rather let the great and good of the business world tell you what’s in store for the world ahead, we’re not going to stop you. In fact we’ve collected a shed load of them together to give their tips on the skills you’ll need for the year ahead. Plus Apprentice favourite Chris Bates tells us all about the world’s toughest job interview. The only thing we’re sad about is that we had so many tasty hints, tips and stories we couldn’t fit them all in. Luckily we’ve put the rest on our website, if you fancy a little bit more. Jon, Editor jon@realworldmagazine.com
FOUNDER Darius Norell
Real World
WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM
22-26 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TJ Tel: 020 7735 4900 info@realworldmagazine.com www.realworldmagazine.com
Careers For job vacancies, careers advice and case studies. Copyright © 2010 Cherry Publishing. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored in a retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher. We cannot accept responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts and photographs or for material lost or damaged in the post. The views in this publication or on our website are not necessarily those held by the publisher.
4 RW WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM
Real World doesn’t end here, we’ve got more news, advice and exciting competitions on our website. For all this and a chance to win James Caan’s new book go to www.realworldmagazine.com/competitions
GRADUATE OF THE YEAR
In association with
For more information on the awards and how to enter visit www.realworldawards.com
lT rus
ol
Graduate of the Year Award
A nj o
2011
.anjool.o rg ww
t
w
M
ald
ĂŠ Memo
ri a
Section | topic
NEWS | What’s happening?
NEWS
STEM sells
If postgraduate study is on your mind, now might be the time to whip out the white coats and chalk boards because STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) courses might just be your safest bet.
news*advice*strategies
Few university departments have not suffered at the axe of the recent spending cuts but one area that’s come through the proposals only slightly trimmed are STEM courses. In the recent funding overhaul the science research budget was cut by only 10%, significantly less than the average of 40% that universities suffered. Couple this with the fact that the teaching budget for these subjects has been protected and it looks as if STEM subjects are set to thrive where other university departments will be making cuts or accepting fewer students. To postgraduates, this will impact most heavily on their access to funding. Non-science research councils, which represent a primary source of funding for many postgraduate students, are expecting to see their budgets squeezed in the near future. Speaking for the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, CEO Professor Dave Delpy said the Council “will ensure the UK continues to maintain a portfolio of internationally leading research.”
Giving graduates
extra
Why is it that as soon as you graduate, stop getting that student loan and maybe even start paying it back, you stop getting those student discounts? We can’t think of a good reason and neither can the NUS, which is why they’ve launched their Graduate Extra card. Anyone familiar with the NUS student discount card will recognise how it works. Cardholders get discount on everything from meals out to gig tickets to roadside repairs. You also get free legal advice and the chance to enter exciting competitions each month. It isn’t exactly free, the card costs £30, but any graduate worth their salt should be able to cannily save double that in the 2 years the card lasts for. Find out more at www.nus.org.uk
Do you wish you’d studied somewhere else? The reputation of UK universities abroad is slipping and UK students are preparing to study abroad. Findings of the annual OECD report, Education at a Glance, show that the UK has fallen in the international ranking of universities. In 2000 the UK had the third highest graduation rate, but in recent years has fallen to 15th with Poland and the Slovak Republic overtaking it. Speaking about the report, Sally Hunt, General Secretary of the University and College Union,
said, “It shows a worrying decline in the UK’s standing in the world of education. Unless urgent and decisive action is taken the situation is going to get much worse.” Graduates haven’t failed to notice the change. A recent poll by the website Milkround showed that 9 out of 10 graduates wished they had studied abroad, with 60% of respondents saying they thought graduate recruiters would look more favourably on a candidate with a degree from a foreign university.
WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM RW 1
RW
NEWS | What’s happening?
Graduates take to the skies
Cranfield University has raised the bar for field trips, so much so it’s now at a cruising altitude. Most universities give their students a chance to visit a foreign country or the opportunity to see the workings of an industry. Cranfield have gone one better, giving students from all over the EU the chance to win a 2 day extravaganza of air-travel and flight simulation. The Cranfield Aerospace Experience 2011 is open to all UK students, and selected EU students. Six lucky winners will get to spend
two days learning to fly a plane, conducting airborne experiments and hobnobbing with the cream of British Airways flight crew. The University specialises in aeronautical engineering degrees, offering one year taught masters courses and PhD programmes, and can boast graduating three quarters of all UK aerospace engineering postgraduates. The competition is, in part, to encourage new blood to their aerospace postgraduate courses.
The fight to write The likelihood of getting a job in journalism is falling, that’s the worrying findings of research done by the University of Central Lancashire. There was a time when a degree would go a long way towards getting you a foot in the door for a job in the media. Sadly that’s no longer the case, with the last ten years seeing a fall of around 30% in the number of mainstream job in journalism in the UK. The research suggests that there may now be only 40,000 jobs left in the field with most of them unsurprisingly taken. This number doesn’t look set to grow in the near future, in which time rising student numbers may make the competition even harder. Glamorgan University graduate Donna-Louise Bishop recently got her dream job as a reporter. Talking about her experiences job hunting she said, “It wasn’t easy and I spent a lot of time working voluntary or writing in my spare time to build up a decent portfolio for job interviews.” It’s not all hardwork, however, as Bishop adds, “If you are determined enough and persistent enough then your hard work will pay off.”
Go to www.realworldmagazine.com/news for all the latest graduate news including: • Why graduates should follow city boys fleeing the city. • How backing up can be the difference between success and failure • Why KPMG are paying off employees’ student debts
WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM RW 7
RW
RW
Section | TOPIC
The INTERVIEW
CHRIS BATES THE FAVOURITE TO WIN THIS YEAR’S APPRENTICE ON TAKING RISKS, TELLING LIES AND THE WORLD’S TOUGHEST JOB INTERVIEW.
Having narrowly missed out on the top spot in this year’s apprentice, Chris Bates is a graduate who knows all about just how tough the competition for jobs is. Despite not quite getting Lord Sugar’s job, Chris was quite cheerful when real world met up with him. He told us why doing your research and taking some risks is all it takes to get the job you want. 8 RW WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM
Interview | Chris bates
How does it feel now The Apprentice is over?
It’s a bit of a bitter-sweet feeling. Whilst it was an immense amount of pressure and quite a tough situation, it was also massively enjoyable, so now that it’s over I feel quite bad to see the back of it. It’s also a mix of emotions because I was quite proud of what I achieved but also narrowly missed out on getting the job.
How did it feel to have all the stress of a job interview but stretched over 12 weeks and on TV? It’s like the job interview from hell. You see everyone you’re competing against every day; you’re also living with them. Coupled with that is the most intense scrutiny you can imagine in a job process. The emotions you see on TV are genuine and you know that any mistakes you make will be magnified. It certainly helps you put into perspective applying for jobs in the future.
Did you enjoy any of it at the time?
It was enjoyable; it’s very rewarding seeing what you can do under that sort of pressure and scrutiny. You do get a lot of enjoyment and a lot of satisfaction out of learning new things as well.
As one of the few graduates on the show, did you find your experience was different to the others’?
feels like quite a while now, going back to normality isn’t quite starting again but you have to prove your worth wherever you decide to go.
Has The Apprentice given you any tips for real life job hunting?
Firstly, I think the main lesson is professional conduct. You see on the show that when people don’t act in a professional way they get found out. You have to show people respect and carry yourself with a certain amount of integrity. It’s also about selling yourself. You should never be under any illusions - everyone else applying for a job will always be selling themselves to the maximum. Even if it makes you cringe at times, you have to sell your abilities as much as possible.
You got picked up on The Apprentice for lying. How important do you think honesty is in a job?
I think it’s important to distinguish between telling a white lie, having judged the situation and knowing it’s part of the banter, and being in a corporate role, where you have to remember that integrity is distinguish paramount.
it’s important to between telling a white lie and being in a corporate role
Ultimately, because Lord Sugar’s background isn’t one of higher education, it’s not a prerequisite to go onto The Apprentice. There’s a very broad mix of characters from all different backgrounds. But I think towards the end, particularly in the interview round, having a good education stood me in good stead. It’s bound to give you some beneficial skills. In the world outside of the Apprentice, an education is given a much greater importance, especially if you’re a young person. If you’ve got that, it can help you to stand out from the crowd and quite often employers have so many people to sift through that it could be the difference between getting an interview or not.
You risked a good job at JP Morgan to go on The Apprentice. Do you think that was the right decision?
It was obviously a massive risk and it was something I had to take into careful consideration before I went on the show. I’d worked quite hard to get that position. So it was a big risk but nonetheless I thought it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I think I would have always kicked myself if I hadn’t gone for it.
How does it feel now to go back to the real world? Going back to the real world does feel somewhat weird. When you’ve been under such intense scrutiny for what
Negotiating was one of your skills on the show. Is that an important skill?
I’ve always had a bit of a natural flair for it. More than anything it’s about being able to gauge your audience and that’s something I have a bit of a knack for. Negotiating is massive when you’re looking for a job. You are a sales person when you’re job hunting because you’re selling yourself. But also, and this is something graduates often forget, once you’re offered a job you’re in a position to negotiate your salary. You’re in a very strong bargaining position and you should be negotiating to make sure you get the best deal.
Did you consider your career when choosing your degree?
In all honestly, I did the degree I did because I found the content quite interesting. It’s quite difficult as an 18/19 year old making that decision. You find you either have to pick something that might lead to a job you want to go into, and risk finding out that’s not something you enjoy, or else choose something you’re interested in. It came up on the show that I initially chose to study law because I wanted a “good career” afterwards, but I realised that was the wrong motivation because I wasn’t enjoying what I was studying. So then I went a different way. I thought: as much as university is about getting a qualification that will help you in the job market, you’ve also got to get some personal satisfaction out of it.
WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM RW 9
RW
RW
Interview | Chris bates
How important was research before going on the show?
Very. The old cliché ‘failure to prepare is preparing to fail’ is quite true, especially going onto The Apprentice when you know there is going to be an interview round. It’s quite difficult to credibly sit there and say you want to work for Alan Sugar if you don’t know who he is and what he does. It wasn’t even just the interviews. If you research the man then in the boardroom you can know what he’s looking for and what his values are.
What do you think of Alan Sugar, off camera? We got on. He’s someone I have an immense amount of respect for, and that’s increased since being on The Apprentice. He’s somebody who is very upfront; very honest, but ultimately quite fair. In the workplace you can meet people who say one thing to your face but think something completely different. With Lord Sugar you know exactly where you stand with him, it’s quite refreshing.
On the show, your public speaking was criticised. Do you take criticism well in the real world? If you watch other candidates say things about you in the process, you can’t really bear a grudge because you’re all there to try to get a job. Nobody likes hearing criticism but if it’s constructive then in the long run it can be quite beneficial.
Who do you think should have won?
Considering what he was looking for, Stella probably was the right winner. This year, in the final, it was quite different to make direct comparisons. Me and Stella were very different in our experiences and what we can do. Ultimately it came down to what he was looking for.
What advice would you give to graduates? I would say, make sure you’ve committed yourself while you’re at university. There are quite a lot of distractions so by all means enjoy yourself but you are trying to distinguish yourself from quite a large crowd of graduates each year.
10 RW WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM
Once you have graduated, try to think outside the box. Don’t feel you have to be driven into graduate schemes. If you think big and have big ambitions you can do some exciting things. You don’t have to go down the safe or easy routes. Life’s too short too not take risks, but they’ve got to be educated risks.
Jamie Lester ran neck and neck with Chris for most of The Apprentice. As someone who never went to university, he told us about the careers market from the other side of the fence.
Alan Sugar doesn’t do a personal level. His isn’t a good style of management, it’s just for entertainment
Experience Cranfield A postgraduate university with an international reputation Cranfield University offers specialist full and part-time Masters programmes, developed with leading organisations such as Airbus, Anglian Water, Shanks Group plc and Rolls-Royce, designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills industry needs. You can:
•
Progress towards Chartered status through our CIWEM, IAgrE, IET and IMechE accredited programmes
•
Benefit from the highest standards of teaching by internationally acclaimed academics
• •
Undertake in-company projects, finding solutions to real-world problems Use our specialist research facilities, including the offroad facility, soil dynamics laboratory and laser welding facility
A limited number of bursaries up to £5,000* are available on selected full-time courses for suitably qualified individuals. We also offer PhD and MSc by Research opportunities and an exclusive portfolio of specialist short courses.
T: E: W:
+44 (0)1234 754086 appliedsciences@cranfield.ac.uk www.cranfield.ac.uk/sas/rw
Register for our next Open Day:
www.cranfield.ac.uk/openday
* Conditions apply. Details are available on application.
Design | Environment and Water | Manufacturing | Materials | Motorsport | Offshore
Thinking of postgraduate study?
Use the UCAS postgraduate service to research your choices and apply online Explore
Information and links to postgraduate study in the UK.
Search
Use course search to choose what and where to study.
Apply
Complete your application online for UKPASS institutions.
Track
Follow the progress of your application online.
RW
Section | TOPIC
MASTERS OF DESTINY
WHEN IT COMES TO A MASTERS DEGREE, WHICH WILL TAKE YOU FURTHER, FASTER... TAUGHT COURSES OR RESEARCH?
12 RW WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM
Postgraduate | Master your destiny
With an average of 70 applicants for every graduate job, fighting your way to the top of the pile is a tricky business. One way to stand out is to get another degree. It’s basic maths that two will look better on your CV than one. But how will choosing between a research and a taught programme impact on your future career? “Everybody has their own reasons for undertaking graduate study,” says Danny Byrne, “but for most people it’s a combination of career development and pursuing a genuine academic passion.” The way those two ingredients are mixed can decide what sort of degree you need. If it’s mostly career development you’re after then you can let your vocation be your autopilot, probably towards a taught programme like a PGCE or MBA. If your mix favours the academic side of things, then a research progamme is probably more your speed.
So what is the difference between a taught and research masters? While there’s no clear cut distinction between the two, there are a few basic differences, the most obvious being different letters. “Research-based programmes lead to the award of MPhil. Taught programmes most commonly lead to the award of Master of Arts (MA) or Master of Science (MSc)”, explain Judith Done and Rachel Mulvey’s convenientlytitled Brilliant Graduate Career Handbook. Another key difference is that taught programmes are structured a bit like undergraduate degrees, with lectures, essays and exams. You’ll be expected to work harder and take a lot more responsibility for your study, but the structure is recognisable. Research programmes, on the other hand, are a bit like one huge dissertation (or really huge essay). You’ll probably have a few supervisions here and there, just to make sure you’ve got the right idea and know how to source things properly, but it’s pretty much all down to you.
How do I know which one is right for me? Some careers require a specific postgraduate qualification. But if you’re not planning on being a
surgeon, architect or teacher, there’s less pressure on getting a particular qualification. “It’s difficult to generalise about the distinction employers will make between these two degrees,” says Danny Byrne. “In some career areas, like international development, scientific and technological industries or the civil service, having academic expertise may be extremely useful. However, in other areas a more practical or vocational skill-set may be a better investment or you may even be better advised to get some work experience and learn on the job.”
What does it cost? In the UK, it’s often the case that taught masters are more expensive than research courses. That’s particularly true for vocational study where the degree can mean the difference between an architect and someone that likes to draw buildings. Some research degrees will also require precision equipment that could cost a packet more than the books needed for a taught course in literature. But, as Byrne points out, “The reason universities are able to charge more for these courses is that they are highly sought-after, often because they open professional doors. It may be a bigger initial outlay, but equally you may decide that the extra money is a worthwhile investment for the future.”
So what now? Both a taught and research masters develop and demonstrate skills to potential employers and both are interesting in their own way. But whichever you choose, you’ll need to be sure it can hold your interest. “Postgraduate study will often be more intellectually demanding and require greater self-motivation than undergraduate study,” says Danny Byrne. “There will be long periods of time spent in solitary confinement in the library. It’s therefore crucial that, as well as considering the strategic value of a postgraduate qualification for your career goals, you have a genuine passion and interest in your field of study.” After all, why study something you hate only to get a job that uses the same skills and knowledge? If you’ve decided on a postgraduate degree, sorting out funding will be next on your to do list. To make it easy, go to www.realworldmagazine.com/postgradfunding
WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM RW 13
RW
RW
Postgraduate | Real life stories
Do something practical, try things out and see before you commit four years of your life to it
Audrey Moyal studied for an MSc in Motorsport Engineering and Management at Cranfield University. She now works for Michelin’s Motorsport Division. Since I was 10 years old, I’ve wanted to work in motorsport. I chose Cranfield because it offered the best adapted course to learn motorsport engineering. I’ve learnt about many parts of motorsport engineering: data acquisition, vehicle dynamics, composites, which I use now in my job. Moreover, with this course I had many good contacts in motorsport and I was able to find a very interesting internship at Renault Sport. Part of my group project was to model and design a LMP1 car, a prototype which participates in the 24 hours Le Mans Race. My individual project was to optimize the rear wing of a Formula 3 car. I worked with the British champion Formula 3 team Carlin Motorsport. During my year at Cranfield, I trained to be a motorsport marshal and marshalled for several races. I won the Sir Jackie Stewart Prize for best overall performance on my course. I did a six month internship at Renault Sport and then Michelin offered me an interesting job in motorsport. It’s very challenging, I use a lot of the engineering knowledge I acquired during my studies.
For more real life graduate experiences visit www.realworldmagazine.com/case-studies
14 RW WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM
Elisa Pye is studying for a Research PhD in Psychology. She has a BSc in Psychology from the University of Memphis and has been a research assistant for 5 years between the two. It was my undergrad lecturers that made me want to study Psychology. I had a hands on opportunity to work in a lab, that’s what got me truly interested in it. They don’t throw you in at the deep end as a research assistant, you’re not expected to run things on day one. They’re quite happy to give you time and to help you do the job properly. That experience was what made me want to do a research degree. When you finish you have two roads, to become a lecturer or become a researcher. For me, the research is what I enjoy. When I look for a job it will be in research. But that is a personal choice. Financially, the biggest expensive is paying for living expenses not for the fees. The fees aren’t as much as, for example, paying rent. It is worth it, but I was lucky enough to get on a studentship. I built up my experience and CV so that I could get that. I would definitely advise others to do that too. I wouldn’t tell people not to study if they don’t get one but I’d suggest they definitely look into it. I came in very sure about what I wanted to do but departments recognise that there are different kinds of people and that they suit taught and research degrees. Do something practical, volunteer or apply for a job. Try things out and see before you commit your life to it, or at least three or four years of it.
NEW YEAR, NEW SKILLS | ASK THE EXPERTS
WE ASKED THE GREAT AND GOOD OF GRADUATE RECRUITMENT WHAT SKILLS YOU’LL NEED THIS YEAR. HERE’S WHAT THEY TOLD US. Preparation, preparation, preparation. And then more preparation. Research the company, what’s going on in their industry sector, the person who’s going to be interviewing you. It’s easy with the internet, and absolutely fundamental. But remember, they may be researching you too. During the interview aim to ask the interviewer as many questions about the job and the company as they are asking you. The interview should be a two-way dialogue, not an inquisition. Be proactive and confident in asking questions, getting feedback, maybe offering to work a week on spec. Having the perfect CV doesn’t prove you can do the job: in the interview a flash of passion might make all the difference. Check that, like a good grocer, your CV puts the best apples right at the front of the stall. Make sure every piece of information is directly relevant to the specific job you are applying for: it should be a bespoke item.
ur an entreprene James Caan is , n ’s Dragon’s De V T f o r a st d n a rtune in the he made his fo dustry. He is recruitment in EO of private founder and C w ilton Bradsha m a H rm fi y it equ ny itment compa and the recru nn. Alexander Ma
WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM RW 15
RW
RW
2011 opportunities | New year, new career
Graduates will need to develop the ability to demonstrate their potential if they want to succeed in 2011 and beyond. Skills such as the ability to lead a team, project manage and communicate effectively will be vital for graduates who want to make a real impact in any industry and rise above the competition. More and more employers are looking for graduates who aren’t afraid of taking on a challenge and new responsibilities too – those who are keen to really fast-track their careers. These skills and attributes are also important as graduates increasingly need to be flexible in their approach to finding a career, so skills which can be applied to a number of different disciplines and situations will be much in demand.
is the epinska ging Maria K a n a and M urs founder le g n of Jo r a o t c e ir D e’s also club. Sh y d ’s e n a m o c om f everyw ct. je patron o o r p e Mus Modern
Undoubtedly the rate of change will increase rather than decrease in the future and its precise direction is difficult to determine so the trick for graduates is to ask what are the skills and competences that will make me ‘marketable’ as an individual in the next ten years not the last thirty. Are you flexible and adaptable and open to further training at your own expense? Do you have a global outlook and
16 RW WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM
Employers want to see enthusiasm. Want the job, show that you want the job and do the job properly. Ask questions about the industry and show that you’re interested and are prepared to step up. People in business will tell young people more than they ever thought they’d learn. Ask “is there anything else that I can do?” Management and leadership comes from wanting to be involved and showing that you want to take on more. I don’t want people in my office that have a ‘couldn’t care less’ attitude. I expect people to be bright, to read, write and have maths skills as a minimum. You are not a god, you’ve got a degree, so show you can do the job.
Brigadier Jolyon Jackson has served at Regimental Duty in UK, Northern Ireland, BAOR, Dhofar and Bosnia and held officer positions since 1996. He has recently published ‘Family at War’ about the experiences of a family in WW1.
are prepared to move and work anywhere? Are you personally inventive and entrepreneurial or Sir Rob blinkered and conventional? Have er t he Dire t Salisbury w you the ability to work in teams as c at the U tor of Partne and motivate others? Are you ICT rships niversit Notting y literate, but above all can you ham, a of ‘S in uper-H N otting communicate comfortably, fluently e Chair o hamshire an ad’ and effectively to individuals, f the go d is vernm Literac ent groups and in all new situations? If y force in and Numerac the answer in all cases is ‘yes’ your y Northe rn Irela task He was prospects are excellent! nd. knight ed in 1 998.
2011 opportunities | New year, new career
Jonathan Bond has been HR Director at Pinsent Masons since 2006. In 2008 he won the title of HR Director of the Year at The Lawyer HR Awards.
It is becoming increasingly important for graduates to demonstrate evidence of the skills that employers seek. At Pinsent Masons we have a transparent set of criteria derived from our trainee capability framework. The four key areas of skills that we look for are ‘Practical and Technical’ such as attention to detail and organising and planning skills; ‘Client Focus’ the ability to advise clients on bespoke business matters, problem solving and project management skills; ‘People Focus’ – teamwork and communication skills; and finally ‘Commercial Awareness’ - to be able to advise clients and understand the commercial context in which clients are working.
thor Nab, Au c M y d An porter and sup evelopment sd of skill
The first thing I want to do, is reassure you that even in these difficult times, when all is supposedly gloom and doom on the job front, you will get a job. There are three good reasons for this: Graduates are smart, willing to learn and, compared to their more qualified cousins in the workplace, cheap. What company isn’t going to look that gift horse in the mouth.
So don’t worry. Once you’ve got the job, all you really need are three basic skills and you’ll go far: an interest in new ideas, the stamina to see them through, and most important of all, the ability to arrive on time. These got me through being a soldier in the SAS, thrillerwriting, and film-making. It’s a combination that can’t be beaten.
Rajeeb Dey is an entrepreneur and CEO of Enternships.com, a website that finds entrepreneurial work experience placements for graduates.
Entrepreneurial skills will be essential in the current jobs market. This does not mean you have to go out and start your own business per se, whether you’re interested in working for a start-up or a blue-chip corporation the ability to think in an entrepreneurial manner is increasingly desired. This means demonstrating that you can spot opportunities, think laterally, you’re comfortable with networking and you’ll be able to go the extra mile for your employers. Think about how your CV demonstrates these skill sets and make sure these shine through in your interview. Getting yourself work experience will be a good way of developing these attributes as it shows initiative and the desire for self development and career advancement. It is a tough market out there but have confidence and persevere.
For views and insights from more than 30 other experts, celebs and industry leaders, visit the ‘Real World graduate advice randomiser’ at www.realworldmagazine.com/randomiser
WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM RW 17
RW
OF OUR PANEL VALUED COMMUNICATION SKILLS AS CRUCIAL TO SUCCESS.
29%
OF OUR PANEL RECOMMENDED
18%
OF OUR PANEL THOUGHT A VARIED SKILL SET WOULD HELP YOU GET AHEAD THIS YEAR.
12%
EQU ALL IPPED F SIT UAT OR ION S
Overleaf our panel of experts told you what they’re looking for. Now you can assemble their top skills into the ideal graduate.
OF OUR PANEL VALUED LEADERSHIP AS ESSENTIAL TO GETTING AHEAD.
24%
COMPLETE GRADUATE
New for 2011
12%
OF OUR PANEL SAID HAVING PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS MADE GRADUATES WORTH EMPLOYING.
18%
OB- . J , EAL CTION R H WIT KING A SEE
DUTCH AGE COUR
18%
OF OUR PANEL WERE LOOKING FOR PERSEVERANCE IN GRADUATES IN 2011.
OF OUR PANEL THOUGHT CONFIDENCE WAS THE KEY TO GETTING A GREAT JOB.
18%
OF OUR PANEL VALUED ENTHUSIASM AS THE SECRET TO SUCCESS.
35%
RESEARCHING A COMPANY OR EMPLOYER BEFORE APPLYING FOR A JOB OR GOING FOR AN INTERVIEW.
l ol ed r Sc lud c in
OF OUR PANEL WANTED THEIR GRADUATES TO BE PREPARED TO TRAVEL.
12%
OF OUR PANEL SAID IT SKILLS HELPED GRADUATES STAND OUT FOR THE CROWD.
6%
OF OUR PANEL SAID THAT TO SUCCEED YOU HAD TO BE ON TIME.
18%
OF OUR PANEL SAID IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BE FLEXIBLE THIS YEAR.
RW
Section | TOPIC
If a postgraduate degree wets your lips, then these are the pages for you. • On this page... how does going back to uni add up? • Turn over... which is the right postgraduate qualification for you? • Read on... real life stories from grads that have been there, plus more online.
GOING HIGHER? 20 RW WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM
GRADUATE TRENDS | postgraduate study
Postgraduate | Going further?
Working the numbers WITH A FLOOD OF NEW POSTGRADUATES, IS FOLLOWING THE CROWD THE ONLY WAY TO STAY AFLOAT? Increasing numbers of undergraduate students are deciding to further their academic study with a masters degree. From 2001 there has been a steady increase in participation, with the number of full-time postgraduates rising by 36% in the last five years. As more students opt for further study, what effect will this have on their employability, and will those without a postgraduate degree be weaker applicants in the job market?
Traditional vs. vocational degrees The percentage of graduates entering further study after finishing their undergraduate degree has increased from 14.1% in 2008 to 15.4% in 2009. The most popular Masters subjects may also have taken a swing. With an influx of students now wanting to study a more vocational or practical degree, such as Business Studies and Management Studies, traditional academic subjects such as English and History are less popular than they once were. In 2008, 8.2% of graduates took Business Studies at postgraduate levels, compared to 2.4% who opted for English. This swing in subject choice could be attributed to the recent increase in tuition fees, as well as the economic climate, with the recession causing higher student unemployment. Professor Steve West from the UWE claims students “are likely to be focused on what will give them the skill sets they are looking for. They will be seeking out vocational professional programmes, not an MA in History.” He suggests this will see universities simply churning out students ready to fit neatly into the job market rather than shaping them according to the demands of academic creativity and rigour.
Postgraduate degrees and the job market One advantage of taking on further study is the huge difference between unemployment rates for Masters students and for undergraduate students. Just under 8% of those leaving university with an undergraduate degree are unemployed six months after graduation, compared to 4.1% of those with a postgraduate degree. Beyond pointing to an increasingly competitive job market, the increase of students opting for postgraduate study has raised concerns about the quality of graduate jobs. Employers have their pick of successful, highly educated candidates, so naturally will often demand the more skilled workers. As more candidates have postgraduate degrees, the bar is raised for everyone else. Will this continue until students are obliged to get PhDs just to stay in the running? Some professions are demanding university training where none was previously required. Others disagree. Donna Miller, from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, claims her preference would be an undergraduate, with work experience, rather than a Masters without it. Others point out that there is no need for employers to hire those with a postgraduate qualification when so many high quality BA holders are readily available.
The future of further study Despite recent plans for increased tuition fees, the signs point to growing popularity for postgraduate degrees, especially if students rush into further study in 2011 to avoid the planned increases. The job market, especially for graduate jobs, is still difficult and largely affected by the recession. If the fees aren’t too tough to stomach, graduates who opt for further study may just find they have the edge in this competitive environment.
Just under 8% of those leaving university with an undergraduate degree are unemployed six months after graduation WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM RW 21
RW
RW
Postgraduate | Which is right for you?
PGCE
Crying children, sulky teens and the prospect of getting back into a classroom. If none of that sends you running for the hills then a career as a teacher might be for you. The Postgraduate Certificate in Education provides training for graduates to gain Qualified Teacher Status, a must to teach in any school in the UK, except the odd private school.
Entry requirements • Undergraduate degree or equivalent, preferably in a national curriculum subject for primary teaching or in what you plan to teach if shouting at teenagers is more your cup of tea. • Grade C or above GCSE English and Maths. • CRB check, just to make sure you’re pukka. • The hardened mentality to put up with a classroom of children, as well as the right physical fitness to chase after the mounds of missing homework.
What’ll it do for me?
The obvious careers are in teaching, but if your stress levels are wavering, PGCEs are sought after in other educational professions, such as text book writing, professional and management positions.
How long? 1 year full time, 2 years part time
Cost
Around £3,290 per annum at the moment but set to rise with undergraduate fees. Though the dreaded Student Loan Company usually reserves its loans for undergraduate students, they make an exception for lucky PGCE students and offer them loans on the same terms.
Earnings £21,588 to £31,552 – more in London and more if you enter a leadership programme or headship programme
Carlos Huggins studied for a Postgraduate Certificate in Education Secondary Science (PGCE) at Anglia Ruskin University The training and practice on my course, together with some high-quality mentoring, has put me in a good position to start my teaching career. The ability to practise in schools was a great way to develop opportunities for my first teaching post. I enjoyed the PGCE, the best thing was definitely being in the company of peers and pupils with a passion for teaching and learning, that was simply inspiring. I also experienced the difficulties of lesson
MBA If an MA or MSc are the jeans and t-shirt of the postgraduate world, an MBA is the power suit with briefcase to boot. Standing for Master of Business Administration, it gives students a cut-to-the-chase, blue sky thinking, out of the box introduction to business. They’re expensive but are a must to get some of the top business roles.
Entry requirements You will usually need a good undergraduate degree or equivalent professional qualification, and a few years’ managerial or business experience. This will be why the average age for the London Business School is a mature 28. On top of all this, you need to pass the Graduate Management Admissions Test if you want to become suited and booted as a top Business Executive.
Career path
Anything from Business Executive to Management Consultant, right through to Financial Analyst. If any of 22 RW WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM
preparation, assessment and the actual management of a classroom of children. The PGCE was extremely challenging, and I did ask several times if I was wise to continue, but I am glad I completed it. By the end I was clear about the skills I had gained, and the areas I still needed to develop before I could call myself a competent teacher. I certainly understood exactly why many teachers see the profession as a vocation.
these titles sound a bit abstract, they’ll probably make sense after an MBA.
How long? 15-21 months
Cost
Can be substantial and is virtually guaranteed to be more than any other Masters. But having an MBA usually leads to hugely increased earning potential, so if you bear in the mind the end results, this can ease the burden. Costs of up to £49,900 for the London Business School but can be considerably less, like the much smaller £7,950 demanded by Holborn College. You could start your own business with the difference. Natwest has an MBA loan scheme approved by the Association of MBAs (http://www.mbaworld.com/)
Earnings £40,244-£190,000 This depends on the sector, though usually at an increase from non-MBA graduates.
Postgraduate | Which is right for you?
MSc/MA
Just about everything else. If you can’t quite make up your mind, then there’s plenty on offer and an MSc or MA may be perfect for you. MSc or MA courses provide advanced, specialised study and research opportunities in many different academic areas in the Arts, Humanities, Sciences, and different aspects of Education and Business. So, if there’s something that really interests you, an MSc or MA provides you with the chance to really get your teeth into it.
Entry requirements
Good undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline, or considerable professional experience.
Career path
An MA can really open up the path to further study and for the MSc, scientific research can become your specialty. In some cases, the degree targets a certain career, for example MSc in Engineering, MSc in Marketing or MA in Applied Linguistics. It can also open the doors to greater employment prospects – 4.1% of students with a postgraduate degree are unemployed after an MSc or MA, while the figure is more like 7.9% for those with only a first degree.
How long? 1 year full time
Cost
Usually between £3,000-£7,000, but more for business and medical science and also depending on whether you choose research or taught (relative merits of research or taught degrees: p12). Research degrees (and sometimes taught degrees too) can be eligible for extra funding through research councils, such as AHRC (Arts and Humanities Research Council). There is also funding for both types of degree through the universities themselves, in the form of scholarships and bursaries. Chien-Chien Huang studied for an MA in Financial Management at Durham Business School. After one year of work experience, I decided to pursue an MA in financial management. The reason I chose Durham was because of its academic quality and diversity. There are more than 40 nationalities at the school. The course equipped me with rich financial skills and knowledge. The lecturers are enthusiastic and generous to share their strong academic and real business experience which was highly useful. I am now on a training project with a financial holding company in Taiwan. I would not have been able to gain this opportunity if I did not have my Masters degree. I appreciate that Durham offered me a chance to take my first step in the financial field. My experience has become my priceless asset in my life.
Lindsey Nefesh-Clarke is the founder of Women’s Worldwide Web (womensworldwideweb.org), an online platform for connecting and empowering women around the world. She studied an Executive MBA at ESCPEurope in Paris. I committed to an 18-month Executive MBA because I wanted to apply business, management and leadership skills to strengthen my work in the humanitarian field. I had been considering resuming studies for a few years and I was increasingly interested in microfinance. It was self-funded and cost me €35,000 but it was definitely worth it. Given the cost of the MBA, it was an investment I had to get right. The favourite MBA buzzwords are “global learning experience” and it’s satisfying to say that it was just that. I had brilliant colleagues of all nationalities and diverse business sectors. And now I’m doing my ideal job. It combines several fields that I’m passionate about and I’m working with a dedicated, international team of social entrepreneurs, with team members all over the world. It’s wonderful! I can imagine myself, without my MBA, drafting humanitarian fundraising proposals with a deep feeling of frustration at how time-consuming and inefficient the whole process can be and worried about the financial sustainability of my organisation. The MBA experience has provided me with the skillset, insights, resources, contacts and confidence to navigate professional challenges with greater confidence and to try to work towards innovative solutions.
WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM RW 23
RW
RW
Postgraduate | Which is right for you?
MSW/MSc in Social Work The MSW or MSc in Social Work explores both the theory and practice of social work and prepares students for a career in this area. Most courses are qualifying and recognised by the General Social Care Council (GSCC).
Dr Mark J Pierotti is the COO of AjA Private Jets. He studied for his MBA at Edinburgh Business School, Heriot Watt University.
Entry requirements
Good undergraduate degree or relevant professional qualification. Some courses also require experience of, or a demonstrable commitment to the sector and, to top it all off, GCSE English and Maths.
Career path
Stating the obvious; social work, but there are a variety of areas you could go into: youth, mental health, physical disability, substance abuse, the elderly, sheltered housing.
How long?
Approximately 2 years
Cost
Around £4,000, though financial help is available from the NHS Business Authority (NHS BSA) or the Care Council for Wales.
Earnings £23,500 - £30,000 per annum
GDL/CPE
For those with a non-Law undergraduate degree who have decided it’s time to learn some legal spiel, the Graduate Diploma in Law or Common Professional Examination (‘law conversion course’) provides a one-year (full-time) approved route into legal careers.
I knew as an engineer I needed extra business and management qualification to be able to better myself professionally and to improve my career. It was always my ambition to start an airline. My MBA cost me around £10,000 but was very enjoyable. It was definitely worth it. It massively improved my knowledge, ability and my career prospects. I think without an MBA I would not have been able to do what I’ve done. It allows me to have the confidence and knowledge that senior executives need. So I feel even though I am an airline man I could run any type of company. I really enjoy the job it’s helped me get, starting and running an airline has been great. If I hadn’t go the MBA I would still have made it as a senior executive but I the MBA helps for sure.
There are many funding options for the GDL, and subsequent LPC/BPTC, these include: • Inns of Court Scholarships and Bar Council Scholarship Trust awards (for further information contact www.legaleducation.org.uk)
Entry requirements
• Chambers Pupillage Awards and Guarantees: students can get lucky, with some chambers offering financial help in addition to the award
Career path
• Sponsorship from law firms Local authority grants and other discretionary awards. These are very limited and not available in all areas
Good undergraduate degree in any discipline. Before you are fully-fledged in everything legal, you need to progress through the LPC (Legal Practice Course) or BPTC (Bar Professional Training Course) to become qualified as either a solicitor or barrister. Alternative legal career paths, if you don’t fancy the wig, include working in government and local government departments, in-house lawyers for industry or commerce, or careers in the civil service, finance, insurance, legal executives, academic, publishing and media.
How long? 1 year full time
Cost
Full time: £6,000 - approx £8,900 (in London)
24 RW WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM
• Charities and grant-making trusts; enquire with your local authority • The Law Society Diversity Access Scheme and Law Society Bursary Scheme (for further details contact www.lawsociety.org.uk)
Earnings
Currently, the minimum wage for trainees in Central London is £18,590 and £19,040 in other areas. However, many employers do pay more and eventually, the average salary being a cushty £50,000, lawyers do tend to ‘make back’ on their training expenditure. (http://www.sra.org.uk/sra/news/minimum-salary2010-to-2011.page provides up to date information).
Postgraduate | Real life stories
ILEX
Lubna Girach is a Legal Executive, currently working for law firm HBJ Gateley Wareing LLP.
For those without the cash or time for another degree, there’s also the Institute of Legal Executives route into law. These take you from A-level standard right up to the equivalent of an honours degree in law.
Career path
For the most part not that different to any other legal graduate, there are even judges that have come via this route. The major plus is that two years after you get your qualification you get the chance to become a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives, a process which includes a graduation ceremony and the right to put ‘Legal Executive Lawyer’ on your business cards.
How long?
Usually 4 years (plus 5 work experience) but this can be flexible to suit you.
Cost
Typically around £6,000.
Earnings
Similar to those of any other law graduate, plus the extra you can make working part time whilst you do the qualification.
Elizabeth Jones studied for an MA in Publishing at Anglia Ruskin University. She is now the publisher of the International Student Times.
I’d wanted to be a Barrister from a young age so worked hard at school, got good grades and went on to university to study law. However, in my last year, several family issues affected my studies and I didn’t get the grades. I spoke to a careers advisor, which is where I heard about ILEX. Initially I was a little dubious but I researched the courses available through ILEX on their website and it seemed to be very flexible and cost effective, plus I could work and study at the same time which meant that I would not have to get into further debt with another student loan. I became a member of ILEX and enrolled for an evening lecture. I completed the practice elements of the course over three years whilst I built up my qualifying employment required to become a Legal Executive. I have now qualified as a Legal Executive and have embarked on my LPC, which I am due to complete in June. As I am a Legal Executive, I am also exempt from undertaking training contract as the five years qualifying employment is recognised by the Solicitors regulation Authority.
With ambitions to start my own business in teaching publishing, I was excited to discover the MA Publishing at Anglia Ruskin University. The lectures are conducted by current publishing professionals who have invaluable insight into the field, but the master classes are given by famous names that have inspired me with their experience and spirit. The course leader and all the lecturers have been on hand at all times for academic and professional support, something that generally makes the difference between a good course and a great course and I have made firm friendships with my peers.
Having now completed the MA Publishing, I can safely say it has steered me in the direction that I hoped it would. As part of my course, I was able to write a business plan for the publishing of a print and digital magazine for visiting English language learners in Cambridge (the International Student Times). The course provided both a range of industry background information and technical knowledge that has been essential in helping me to plan processes in magazine production and business. I simply wouldn’t have had the required level of awareness about the industry, and working within it, without the course.
None of these took your fancy? Why not take a look at some of the quirkier postgraduate degrees on offer at www.realworldmagazine.com/oddpostgrad
WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM RW 25
RW
RW
GRADUATE OF THE YEAR
Is it you?
Graduate of the Year Award
lT rus
In association with the Anjool Maldé Memorial Trust
ol
26 RW WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM
A nj o
2011
.anjool.o rg ww
t
w
M
ald
é Memo
ri a
Real World awards | Are you a super graduate?
For the last seven years, Real World’s Graduate of the Year Award has recognised the brilliant contributions students make to all aspects of life, on campus and beyond. For the last seven years, Real World’s Graduate of the Year Award has recognised the brilliant contributions students make to all aspects of life, on campus and beyond. It’s the efforts of extraordinary students who make any campus more than just a place to go to lectures and carry books around. They make societies flourish, turn an evening at the student union into a night to remember and get universities to listen and respond to the things that matter to students. We’re sure they’re not in it for the glory. They do it to make life that bit better for everyone. But that doesn’t mean Real World shouldn’t give them a moment in the limelight and a big thank you on everyone’s behalf. One such student was Anjool Maldé who was runnerup for the Graduate of the Year Award. Following his tragic death in 2009 at the age of just 24, Real World wanted to acknowledge the huge contribution to graduate life that he embodied, typical of the dynamism, verve and adventurous spirit that make a truly great graduate. Last year we rededicated the award in his honour and the 2011 Award has prize money of £2,000 to give away with the generous support of the Anjool Maldé Memorial Trust. Richard Kuti, winner of the 2010 award said “Anjool is an inspiration to all students and I’m honoured to receive an award in his name.” Now it’s over to you. The greatest among us are often the most modest, but now’s the time to drag your light out from under the bushel. Are you a student who’s made the most of uni life? Have you been an inspiration to your community? Do you know someone who has? If so, now’s the time to put yourself or someone else up for this year’s award.
Aadya Shukla was a runner up in the 2010 Graduate Personality of the Year award. She took an active role in student media, societies and her academic life, organising everything from guest lecturers to Bollywood dance nights. The awards have so many interesting categories to accommodate different kinds of talent and motivate students to reach out. They go beyond just celebrating student achievements, so the winners remain motivated to do more. The fact that they were being given in memory of Anjool Maldé, a very accomplished fellow Oxford student, made it a privilege for me to enter. I was proud that I managed to be considered for the award when I had dealt with some personal issues that year. I’d suffered a life-threatening bout of tuberculosis and the emotional stress caused by the passing of my brother. Student life gives us the best window to explore the boundaries of our abilities and develop new ones in a relatively risk free manner. Working for many societies helped me to stay dynamic in my thinking and learn from fellow students, a lot of whom didn’t even know about the full range of training, networking and collaboration schemes that existed at university. I think every student outside their native country should try to enrich the community they’re in. I got involved with the Indian Society hoping to do this. We ran yoga, music and culinary classes for Oxford citizens and students, organised Indian classical music concerts and invited prominent Indian authors, social activists and politicians for talks. My advice to this year’s entrants is ‘be yourself and be honest’.
Applications close in March 2011, for more information go to www.realworldmagazine.com /real-world-awards Real World Founder Darius Norell with Graduate of the Year winner Richard Kuti and runner-up Aadya Shukla
WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM RW 27
RW
RW
Gap year | What sort are you?
WHAT SORT OF GAP YEAR ARE YOU? SHOULD YOU BUILD UP YOUR CV OR BUILD AN ORPHANAGE IN TAIWAN? ONLY OUR GAP YEAR QUIZ HAS THE ANSWERS
You’ve waved your friends off to their jobs and postgraduate study and they wished you the best of luck on your gap year, so what do you do now? You could always spread out a map on the kitchen table and chuck a dart into it. Or, you could pick the perfect gap year the easy way, with the real world gap year quiz. WOULD YOU RATHER SPEND YOUR YEAR OUT…
a building an orphanage, nursing sea-turtles
and teaching English to Vietnamese tigers b making tea, photocopying and finding out exactly what a spreadsheet is useful for c making chai, learning the Arabic for ‘photocopying’ and finding out exactly where Kathmandu is d lying on a beach, cocktail in hand, before spending an afternoon discovering your spiritual side in a Bangkok marketplace
IS THE BOUNDARY OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE…
a wherever you can lend a helping hand b the circle line c anywhere in the world, as long as there’s a
modem connection and a coffee shop nearby
d non-existent, provided your mates are there
and you can have a really good time
ARE YOU…
a a giver, a team worker with excellent communication skills b a hard worker with a career plan you want to get a start on c career-minded with a focus on the future, as well as a curiosity about the big wide world d a fan of spiritual, political, cultural trips, involving the odd drink or seven IS YOUR ATTITUDE TO MONEY…
a a one off payment isn’t too bad, provided there are no hidden charges b that it’s a good thing to have but you’ve got to work to earn it c you’d like to make some but it shouldn’t stand in the way of you seeing the world and doing the job you want to do d spend, dance, get some souvenirs. You only live once and there’s a big old world out there to see
SO HOW DID YOU SCORE? 28 RW WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM
a
You’re the giving kind. You don’t want money, just the chance to do something good and learn from the experience. Don’t forget to put the skills you’ve learned on your CV when you venture into paid employment. As Alex Sharratt, editor of the Gap-Year Guidebook says, “Employers actively seek to recruit those who have taken a structured gap-year because they are more likely to have developed key skills such as teamwork, project management, risk assessment, languages and communication skills.”
Mostly B – you’re an internship gap year
m at io n
on
g
m he et ak , you for rk wo
op nt tu r age 30 .
You’re focused on your career and know that developing those crucial workplace skills will help you to get ahead. You don’t see any of that standing in the way of a bit of seeing the world. As an intern abroad you’ll learn all the usual workplace skills, be able to show employers that you can adapt to different cultures and might even be able to throw in an extra language to sweeten the deal.
in fo r
m to
Mostly C – you’re an internship abroad gap year
Fo rm or e
w ho
You don’t see the gap year as a ‘year out’ but a chance to get ahead. Internship gap years are great because they give you a chance to focus your attention on building up skills and experience which will be invaluable when you go chasing that perfect job.
SCORE CARD
nd sa ar ye
d
Mostly A – you’re a volunteer gap year
RW
ap
b c
Gap year | What sort are you?
Mostly D – you’re a holiday gap year You’ve got your degree and that’s a step in the right direction. Now you’re going to take the holiday you spent the last three years earning. Future employers aren’t always that impressed by a ‘year out’ but life isn’t always about future employers is it?
If you’re best suited to a gap year studying, why not learn everything you need to know about postgraduate study abroad at www.realworldmagazine.com/mastersoftheuniverse
WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM RW 29
RW
Gap year | Bridge or chasm?
FILL THE GAP What it involves
How to get it
If you enjoyed university, why not go back to study a post-graduate qualification abroad? You get to see a new country and get valuable letters at the end of your name. A surprising number of courses are taught in English and schemes such as ERASMUS make the process a doddle.
Apply independently to the university or try to get a place recommended through your old university. If you take part in a scheme like ERASMUS then they will take care of some of the paperwork, but like at university you’ll have to sort out your own visas, accommodation and edible underwear.
There are no jobs here, so why not consider the rest of the world? The language barrier can be difficult to overcome, but English speakers are highly sought after in all sorts of capacities – almost none of which are cleaning floors…
Search for jobs abroad and apply directly to companies. Alternatively your old university may be able to set you up with an official placement. Ski resorts, hotels and some bars all hire seasonal workers so check out their websites.
Volunteer
Sign up with a charity or NGO to see the world whilst making a difference. You’ll be able to pick up girls (or guys) and make people cry by telling them how you helped distribute grain to hurricane victims. It’s just the balance of self serving and philanthropy that employers want.
Apply directly to the organization. The UN runs the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme which works on behalf of several charities worldwide and there are many other smaller providers. Often you will have to pay a fee or take part in a selection process.
Teach
If you feel that you need a break from education after all that time at university, why not try the other end of the stick? Teaching abroad is a great way to mix travelling, volunteering and skill development. You can either pay or earn depending on where you go and how qualified you are.
There are two main routes. If you have a TEFL qualification then you can find jobs through their website. If you don’t there are companies that organise placements but you’ll probably have to pay. Many graduates teach, travel and then repeat until their early 30s.
Get down to Millets, buy yourself a big backpack, kick it around the garden a bit for the ‘weathered’ look then fill it with everything you own and lug it around a tropical jungle for a month or two. Come back and tell everyone that you went on a spiritual journey to find yourself.
Either organize it yourself or book through a gap year company. The latter might sort out all of those little details like visas and accommodation, so your gap year is a little bit more like a package holiday.
Study Work
Travel 30 RW WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM
Gap year | Bridge or chasm?
YOU WANT TO TAKE A GAP YEAR, BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT’S ON THE OTHER SIDE? What will you be doing
Pros and cons
Putting it on your CV
It’ll be like university again, but with more work and a different currency.
• You get an actual qualification. • International students are often lumped together, so you’ll make lots of great contacts. • Living in the country for a whole year allows you to experience the culture. • It can be expensive.
Study abroad looks good and is very marketable, especially if you can pick up a qualification for learning the language. However, employers often focus far more on the qualification that the travel.
Working, funnily enough – chalet maid, au-pair and bar staff are common jobs for graduates. A professional placement will require more work but will offer far better training and give your CV a leg-up. It’ll be much like a job here, but with a more complicated keyboard.
• Working means you’ll have less time to travel around. • You might have to learn the language. • Earning money means you may be able to spend the first half of the trip working, the second half travelling. • Placements are competitive.
Learning the language and knowing local business customs will put you on a good footing to apply for jobs in international companies. Having worked abroad makes it easy to get a job abroad in the future.
Disaster relief, health, education, construction, distribution, logistics and operations, data analysis, local initiatives – from equality to democracy - and even monitoring disbarment and war zones. There’s plenty of choice and you’ll be assigned based on both your wishes and your skills.
•
Having a big name behind your experience packs extra punch on your CV and gives it credibility. Large schemes also pile on the responsibility and it may not be until you get back that you realise what a large project you were involved in.
You could find yourself teaching English to Chinese businessmen or posted to a small town anywhere from Avignon to Afghanistan, depending on how adventurous you are. Lots of schools abroad have vacancies for English speakers to come and live-in.
• Language barriers can be daunting, but a lack of basic facilities and nothing but chalk and a blackboard will make it seem like being back in Lambeth. • Some larger businesses don’t value it as much as having gained business acumen.
Teaching in other countries can be very impressive as it shows superb communication skills. Charity teaching also shows off your ethical side.
Travel gap years are package holidays for students, backpacking round ruins, staying in hostels and contracting malaria are all on the cards and it’s up to you how much you go off the beaten mudpath. Generally you’ll be part of a group, but some brave it alone or with a friend.
• Can be a lot of fun and you get to see the world. • It’ll be tricky passing off your jaunt around Cambodia as a wise career move. • Can be pricey.
Be aware of how travel can look on your CV; some countries can carry negative stigma, for example “I spent a year living in Amsterdam” can lead people to jump to conclusions about you as a person.
• •
Schemes are structured and give great opportunities to develop skills. Fantastic networking opportunities with charities and NGOs. It’ll be like work, but without the pay. Great if you’re in it for the experience, not so much if you want to get the backpack out and go for a wander.
Getting the experience is half the fight, the other half is getting it on your CV. For top tips go to www.realworldmagazine.com/CVmasterclass WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM RW 31
RW
RW
Gap year | Real life stories
Deborah Milroy studied Marketing and Communications at Glasgow Caledonian University. She turned her gap year job as a holiday rep into a career and is now Brand Manager for Club 18-30 and The Big Events Group. I started in 2002 as a Club 18-30 rep in Mallorca during the summer off from university. I carried on repping in the summers as it allowed me to save enough money that I didn’t have to work when I returned to university in the autumn. When I graduated in 2004 I was offered the position of Resort Controller in Ibiza. I now look after the marketing, promotions and advertising of one of the biggest names in travel. The job is still as exciting and alongside Club 18-30 I also manage our music festival brands The Big Reunion and The Big Snow Festival. I took every opportunity possible while at university to combine my studies with learning about business. This really paid off on graduating as I had the opportunity of a managerial role.
Although this was just a summer job, I would then spend the winters in Ibiza as Event & Promotions Executive looking after the marketing of our festival brands. As soon as the position of Brand Manager for Club 18-30 was available I jumped at the chance. The people you meet and work with are definitely the best things; they turn into friends for life and give you memories you’ll never forget. The worst thing has to be missing my family and friends at home. You should research carefully who you are working for, if you are looking at strengthening your CV and looking for potential opportunities when you graduate choose a well-known company. It will be hard work, it will be rewarding but most importantly, you’ll have the time of your life.
of managers think gap years are as, or more, important than degrees. 2011 survey by Projects Abroad
32 RW WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM
Your money | Want to keep it?
WHEN TAX ATTACKS WANT TO PAY LESS TAX? HERE’S HOW.
If i took a big chunk of your pay cheque every month you’d be annoyed, and rightly so. But thousands of graduates and students are losing money just like that by paying tax they don’t need to.
What do I have to pay? The answer could be ‘not very much’. Everyone gets to earn a bit before they have to start paying tax, to feed and clothe themselves. So if you’re not earning more than that amount you’re not expected to pay any tax. Jane Frost is Individuals Customer Director at HMRC. She explains, “The key thing you need to know about tax is that everybody can earn up to £6,475 before they have to pay tax.” It’s also a matter of timing. If you’ve just started a job you probably won’t have to pay anything this year. “The current tax year runs from 6 April 2010 to 5 April 2011, so you can earn £6,475 between now and 5 April 2011 without paying tax.”
Part time and term time Working while at university is only going to get more common in the future. If you do, or if you’ve graduated but only have a part time job, then you’re expected to pay tax the same as everyone else. That is, unless your weekly wage is less than £125 a week or £6,475 per year.
If you are unlucky enough to earn more than £125, the government expects you to chip in with your fair share, which is 20% of your earnings. But remember it’s all added up on April 5th, so keep track of those pay slips in case you earn a little bit more or less than you thought.
Relax and de-tax - you’re on holiday If you’ve only worked during the holidays and not earned more than £6,475, you won’t need to pay tax. To make sure you don’t pay it anyway fill in a P38(S) form. As Jane Frost explains, “This confirms to your employer and the tax authorities that you are a student and only working during the holidays.” These forms are available online at www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/p38s.pdf
Where’s my money? Think you’ve paid too much tax? Worry not, you can always claim it back. There’s a simple tool for working it out online at www. hmrc.gov.uk/calcs/stc.htm. That’s the good news. The bad news is that it does involve filling in a form called a P50. These are available online at www.hmrc.gov.uk/ pdfs/p50.pdf or you can pop along to your nearest tax office. If you’re not sure where it is, there’s a handy list on the HMRC website too. Now your tax is sorted, go to www.realworldmagazine.com/intheknow for everything you need to know for your first day in your new job.
WWW.REALWORLDMAGAZINE.COM RW 33
RW
RW
Gap year | Can you afford one?
TO GAP OR NOT TO GAP, IS THAT THE QUESTION? You’ve survived the drunken haze of first year, the lazy second year, and you’re currently in the middle of the “my dissertation is how many words?” third year. Feel like a break? Welcome to the lure of the postuni gap year. What’s the point of a gap year? And what do you do on one? Well... • Around 13% of graduates postpone employment (compared to 9% in 2007), which equates to around 28,600 people taking a year out before becoming ‘proper’ grown ups. • Gap years can cost £3,000 upwards but work and travel, say, teaching English, can gain you priceless skills. But leaving the country isn’t the only option. If you decide to stay in the country, volunteering or interning can improve your earning prospects by up to 23%. • Interning or finding work experience is great for testing career paths that you might be unsure of and could boost your potential starting salary.
Taking a year boosting your CV is great, as long as you do something constructive. A post-uni gap year demonstrates leadership skills, selfconfidence, the ability to organise your time, employers like these things. This in turn translates into them believing that they aren’t hiring that guy who spends their time sticking pins into dolls that looks like Steve from accounting. Still, you may be aching to be a proper adult with a steady job and 2.4 children. That’s fine too, 87% of graduates do just fine going into further study or the world of work. The next step is entirely up to you. But if you do decide on a gap year, it might be your last chance to see the world or discover whether you really want to be an accountant. There’s only one rule about a gap year. Make the most of it.
Youth Development Charity
CONSERVATION
TEACHING
CARING
Lattitude Global Volunteering is an international youth development DO MORE THAN JUST TRAVEL! charity that sends young people on unique, structured and rewarding programmes that are designed to get the most out of the volunteer by T: +44 (0)118 959 4914 developing skills, confidence and independence whilst making a real E: volunteer@lattitude.org.uk and lasting difference to their host community. Lattitude Global Volunteering is a UK registered charity, no. 272761.
www.lattitude.org.uk
Be ready for anything Whatever the future brings It’s virtually impossible to predict the future. But whatever it may be, it’s an actuary’s job to help businesses prepare for it. Their highly valued skills and ability to assess risks are instrumental in helping organisations around the world plan for what may be around the corner.
Find out more at www.be-an-actuary.co.uk 16585_ATL_Real World ad 190x140:Layout 1
17/12/10
17:08
Page 1
n union?) ose your educatio (How will you cho
Qualifying in 2011 or already working as an NQ? ATL is the education union for newly qualifieds. Our members have access to dedicated newsletters, interactive website www.new2teaching.org.uk, specialist summer seminars and discounted masters through Edge Hill University. Our NQ publications will help you create your CV and give you interview tips, plus advice on how to meet pupils’ parents and manage classroom behaviour.
Join ATL and receive FREE membership until 2013 and half price until 2014 Visit www.new2teaching.org.uk/join or call 0845 057 7000* Terms and conditions available online. *Local rates apply. If you qualified in 2010, you will receive FREE membership until 2012 and half price until 2013.
www.pwc.com/uk/careers
Being the one who never stands still
Helping create value through: Assurance Consulting Tax Financial Advisory Actuarial
You need a 2:1 or above in any degree discipline. From 300 UCAS tariff or equivalent. We value diversity in our people
Nationwide Opportunities, Spring and Autumn 2011 To help our clients get the value they want we can never stand still. We need to be constantly challenging ourselves, constantly learning. At PwC we’ll give you training, support and access to global experts. You’ll be tackling some of the world’s toughest issues with great clients – so you’re always moving forward. We work with clients to measure, protect and enhance what matters most to them. Smart, ambitious people able to build strong relationships make us the best at what we do. Students agree: we’re proud they’ve voted us number one in The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers survey for the last seven years. Become the best, take a step in the right direction. Visit www.pwc.com/uk/careers. Text ‘pwc’ to 85792 to find your nearest PwC event.*
© 2011 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved. “PricewaterhouseCoopers” refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (a limited liability partnership in the United Kingdom) or, as the context requires, the PricewaterhouseCoopers global network or other member firms of the network, each of which is a separate legal entity. *Texts charged at your standard network rate.