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Adapting your plans for a placement? You can still gain valuable work experience and build on your skills

placements

It goes without saying (although we constantly do), that we are in unprecedented times.

There are more questions than answers at this point as we all adjust to different social behaviour patterns. We are proving on a daily basis that we can adapt and continue to communicate effectively with each other and  to learn and develop new skills to help us on our way when things return to ‘normal.’ Keeping active, not just in a physical sense by partaking in daily exercise, but also by keeping our minds active and our days in a fairly structured routine is vital in maintaining a positive outlook regarding future opportunities.

This blog offers some suggestions regarding useful activities to help build work experience and skills in the current shortage of live work experience opportunities.

How to keep active and continue to develop skills

There is a good chance that employers in the near future will ask about how you adapted and used your time during the lock down period. Consider how you might answer this question in a positive way.  Much depends upon your own unique circumstances and stage of career development. The list below is not exhaustive and you are likely to have your own ideas on how you can use this time effectively.

  1. Career planning and research.

Have you researched career ideas for your future? This quiet time provides a great opportunity to really explore your career plans and move them a step closer by ensuring that you are aware of the skills, qualities and values required and where to find opportunities. It is an ideal time to reflect on your skills and experience and connect them to your career choices. Are you keeping your options open? Do you have a Plan B or even Plan C? Are you fully aware of progression routes?  Your Careers Adviser can support you with this process so why not get in touch to arrange a virtual meeting or phone call. Email careers@ljmu.ac.uk or call 0151 231 8740 to get the ball rolling arranging this.

Do you feel uncertain about your future career plans? It may be that you have no clear career ideas or that your ideas have changed over time and moved away from an original choice. Again, make the most of the opportunity to reflect on your skills and qualities and explore career pathways. You are not alone in this! Talk to family and friends to gain 360 feedback on your personality and skills. Spend time exploring careers self-assessment and reflection activities via Careers Zone 24/7. Make contact with your LJMU Careers Adviser for support and reassurance. Email careers@ljmu.ac.uk and use the valuable career tools and resources on Careers Zone 24/7.

  1. Perfect your approach to employers

Having identified your career area of interest consider your next steps. Is your CV an accurate portrayal of your key skills and experience? This is the ideal time to refresh, update and restyle your CV to make it stand out. Explore the resources available via CareersZone 24/7 and seek advice and feedback from our team of Employability Advisers. Email careers@ljmu.ac.uk or call 0151 231 8740 to arrange CV or application support.

  1. Review your social media presence

Recruiters rely heavily on social media to promote opportunities and to find potential staff. Consider setting up a LinkedIn account or develop an existing one. Many students have created an account as they have heard this is useful but have not had the time to really explore its full potential. Now is your chance! Please see the blog ‘Using LinkedIn to market yourself, research careers and network’ and the LinkedIn Mini Guide on the ‘online guides and resources‘ page of the LJMU careers website.

Consider how you use other social media platforms and establish a professional presence. Employers will undoubtedly check your social media as part of their recruitment process so check your settings and make sure you are projecting the image that you want them see!  Practical support is also available via the webinar : Social media and online presence: presenting your best self to employers. Check dates and sign up via. our events website.

  1. Simulate a work placement experience

Sound intriguing? Check out www.insidesherpa.com. Register with the site and get involved in simulated work experience programmes by completing a series of modules on how to handle work place scenarios with real companies. Participation in the virtual experience programme can be cited on your CV and demonstrate your motivation to the companies participating in the scheme. The site is Australian in origin but the employers featured are global players and the skills developed transferable into any organisation.

In addition to the programmes described above and in direct response to the current situation, Rate My Placement are promoting a partnership training devised by Inside Sherpa and Development Beyond Learning offering a 4-5 hour free virtual work experience programme, open to ALL students, providing the opportunity to develop skills, build work place competencies and earn a certificate to add to your CV and LinkedIn profile. Register here.

  1. Investigate Summer Insight programmes

An insight schemes is a short period of work experience targeted at first or second year students and offering a taster of what it is like to work in a particular sector such as Law, Banking or Education. A number of such programmes are running albeit online rather than in person and it is possible to pre-register your interest in the 2021 programme.

  1. Take part in online learning programmes

There are a number of free on line learning short course programmes that you can tap into to boost your understanding, keep your mind active and demonstrate your proactivity levels in our period of down time. Future Learn offer a wide range of subject options including business and management, creative arts and media, IT and Computer Science, Nature and the Environment to name but a few.

Fancy learning a new language or brushing up existing language skills? LJMU Library Services provides free access to the Rosetta Stone language learning system with 24 different languages on offer.

  1. Voluntary and paid opportunities arising from the Covid 19 crisis

There are a range of opportunities to be considered here. Take a look at our blog article dedicated to this area.

  1. Can I still pursue placement and work experience options?

If you are considering a placement year for 2020/21 it is definitely worth applying for any opportunities that interest you bearing in mind that the employer will adapt their usual recruitment methods (expect an online interview) and there may be a delayed start date. Any questions around placements regarding university regulations should be directed to your placement unit.

If you were in the process of looking for a summer placement opportunity and things have gone quiet it is definitely worth checking out whether this could still be an option by following up with a phone call or email to the organisation. You could demonstrate a proactive flexible approach by offering to do research or to work on a project from home for the company. They should be impressed by your motivation and potentially more likely to offer you an opportunity when things become more stable.

Useful links for exploring placement options and advice:

Further advice and information

The Careers, Employability and Enterprise Team is available to help from 9am-4pm, Monday to Friday.

The Careers Team is offering remote appointments by telephone, video or email; these are particularly useful when you are exploring your options or starting your own business.  Call 0151 231 8740, email careers@ljmu.ac.uk or visit the Careers Team website.  Also, check out our programme of webinars (online classes) which can help you navigate the current graduate recruitment landscape.

For advice on starting your own business or freelancing, contact LJMU’s Centre for Entrepreneurship at: startup@ljmu.ac.uk.

 

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