MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR YEAR ABROAD

1
MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR YEAR ABROAD

• Tim Reed T.M.Reed_at_kent.ac.uk
• Careers Advisory Service
• www.kent.ac.uk/careers/

2
Introduction

• The CAS at the University of Kent
• Benefits of a Year Abroad
• How to sell these benefits
• CV preparation

3

• CAS location
• Staff
• Opening times
• Facilities

Careers Advisory Service University of
Kent Canterbury, Kent. CT2 7ND Tel. 01227
823481 Email careerhelp_at_kent.ac.uk
www.kent.ac.uk/careers/
4
Benefits of a Year Abroad

• The experience itself rewarding
  life-changing
• Skills development (eg. Independence,
  self-reliance, self-confidence, maturity,
  adaptability, flexibility, communication)
• Enduring friendships
• Enhanced cultural awareness
• Better prepared for further study

5
Benefit to employers

• international education ignites a passion for
  understanding other people and their perspectives
  .. essential to success in our increasingly
  diverse world.
• Douglas N. Daft
• Chairman Chief Executive Coca-Cola

6
How to sell these benefits

• Declare your year abroad on application
• Identify YOUR key qualities from time abroad
• Target organisations, businesses, careers which
  value international experience

7
Who to sell these benefits to

• Civil Service Departments
• eg. DFID, Diplomatic Service, GCHQ etc
• International businesses
• eg. Nestle, Arup, PwC, Sky, Shell etc
• International NGOs
• eg. Greenpeace, Amnesty, Raleigh etc
• Other International groups
• eg. United Nations, European Union etc

8
CV Preparation

• Layout
• Personal details
• Academic background
• Work Experience
• Interests achievements
• Additional information
• References
• Where to put year abroad details/information

9
John Michael Andrews (5/11/86) 33 Union Street,
Manchester, M6 3AE. Tel. [phone]
Nationality British Email J.Andrews_at_hotmail.com
Mob [phone] EDUCATION AND
QUALIFICATIONS 2005 - 2009 University of Kent,
Canterbury BA (Hons.) American Studies
(History) 21. Final Year Subjects The Supreme
Court, Civil Rights Movement Project "Economic
Consequences of the Destruction of the Sioux
Nation". 2007 - 2008 University of California,
Los Angeles. Year abroad at
university studied History of Accounting in the
USA 1998 - 2005 St. Johns Boys School,
Manchester. A-Levels Mathematics B, History B,
Economics C. AS-Level Geography D 8 GCSEs
(grades A-C) including Mathematics, English and
Spanish. WORK EXPERIENCE Summers 2007 2008
Tourist Information Office, Canterbury Los
Angeles Helping tourists, working in Bureau de
Change, booking theatre and concert
tickets. Summer 2006 Canterbury City Council.
Accounts Clerk in Treasurers office. Dealing
with enquiries, using computerised systems. 2005
- present Simple Simons Public House,
Canterbury. Bar work throughout the year
serving food and drinks to customers and cashing
up. ACTIVITIES AND INTERESTS
Secretary of the Accounting Society, involved
booking speakers. Organised a
charity fun run for Rag Week raised 250.
Enjoy competitive sport and play
for the University basketball and football
teams. Other interests
include international current affairs and
studying the Stock Market. ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION IT Skills Word, Excel, PowerPoint,
Email, WWW etc. Good level of spoken Spanish
French. Full, clean driving licence. REFERENCES
Available on request
10
CV - Year Abroad

• A marketing tool
• Yours!
• A4 sized
• Targeted
• Stylized Chronological/Skills-based
• Different in other countries
• www.prospects.ac.uk www.eurograduate.com/p
  lanning.asp

11
John Andrews 33 Union Street Manchester M6
3AE 6th October 2008 Ms Verity Wise Graduate
Recruitment Manager Great Big Company Anywhere
Street London SW1 Job Reference Number 12345
(state this if it is mentioned in the
advert) Dear Ms. Wise I am writing in response to
your advertisement in Prospects Finalist" for
Graduate Trainees and enclose my CV for your
consideration. I first became interested in
retail banking through talking to a Kent
graduate, currently in the second year of your
Management Training programme, at the University
Careers Fair. Since then discussion with my
careers adviser and with management staff at my
local branch has confirmed my decision to aim for
a career in this field. Through my degree course,
I have been able to develop my interest in
business together with my numeracy skills. While
at University, I have also been able to utilise
my skills in working with people through a
variety of vacation jobs. My work at the Tourist
Information Office was valuable in teaching me
the importance of ascertaining customers needs
and providing clear and accurate information. I
will be available for interview if required at
your convenience. I can be contacted at my home
address (above) and look forward to hearing from
you. Yours Sincerely John Andrews
12
Further Information

• Careers Advisory Service website
  www.kent.ac.uk/careers/applicn.htm
• CAS booklet Making Applications
• CAS Reference Files (013 series)
• Example CVs (013)
• CV Writer software
• Quick Queries at the CAS
• Reference Books (eg. CVs for Graduates)
• DVDs/Videos Your Jobs online Looking Good
  on Paper