Careers and Employability Service

Careers and Employability Service Statement of Service for students and recent graduates 2012/13 The University Careers and Employability Service (CES) provides a range of impartial information, advice, guidance and vacancy services, helping you to find work experience and enabling you to clarify your career plans and develop the strategies and skills needed to achieve your aims. 1. Who can use the Service? You are welcome to use the Careers and Employability Service if you are: A current student at the University on a programme leading to a degree or an award at NVQ level 4 or above* A former student of the University of Sunderland who has completed a programme of study leading to a degree or an award at NVQ level 4 and above* within the last 3 years. A graduate returning to Wearside from another university, unless you have attended a university in the North East, and then you will be referred back to your own institution *NVQ Level 4 awards include BTEC Higher Diplomas, Foundation Degrees and Degree awards. NVQ Level 5 awards include Post Graduate Certificates and Diplomas, Masters and Doctoral awards. Students on foundation degree programmes are welcome to use the Careers and Employability Service (CES) website. For individual careers advice, students should contact careers staff at the college which they are attending. Students on the University s independent learning programmes are welcome to use the Careers and Employability Service (CES) website and the email careers advice service Ecad, which is available via the website. 2. What do we offer? a) Information We have a wide range of multi media resources in the CES Library area at The Gateway, City Campus covering the following occupations: job profiles work experience projects: paid and voluntary student jobs: part-time and vacation graduate recruiters vacancies after graduation (local and national) work and study abroad job search recruitment and selection processes further study and funding Linked to accessibility information is available to users in a variety of media (if you need information in a specialist format please let us know and we will try to provide this for you). The information provision is reviewed on an annual basis and reference materials are updated every 2 years or 1 year if volatile labour market information. The Careers and Employability Service (CES) website provides a range of information on the above range of services provided, careers-related events, employer presentations and current vacancies. Jobs and work experience opportunities for students and graduates are advertised on our online vacancy service Opportunities Online. 1

b) Advice and Guidance Careers Guidance Interview The interview is an opportunity to make progress with your career decisions by discussing your ideas, aims and options with an experienced and qualified careers adviser. Interviews are conducted in private and in accordance with the service s confidentiality policy. They can be booked in advance at the CES Enquiries Desk or by telephone (see below). We will ask you to complete a questionnaire before the interview to help the adviser focus the discussion on what is important to you. Careers Advisers will encourage you to identify and record any key points arising from the discussion. You can expect your appointment to last 1 hour. We aim to offer you an appointment within 10 working days of your request or to provide an explanation for any delay. Email Careers Advice We offer an email careers advice service, Ecad, staffed by experienced and qualified careers advisers for users who do not find it easy to get in to see us. You can email your careers questions at a time and location to suit you. The entry point for Ecad is the Careers and Employability website. We aim to answer your question within 5 working days. c) CV and Application Coaching You can make an appointment to have draft versions of your CV, personal statement and other applications reviewed with a careers adviser. You need to book an appointment on the day at the CES Enquiries Desk or by telephone. You can expect your appointment to last 45 minutes. d) Interview Coaching We offer an interview coaching service for all final year students, students applying for paid projects or placements and for all graduates. The interview coach will help you anticipate questions, practice your answers and give advice on how to improve. You will be issued with an interview coaching pack including paperwork that must be completed prior to making an appointment. You can expect the interview to last 1 hour. We aim to offer you an appointment within 10 working days of your request or to provide an explanation for any delay. e) Work Experience Services Student jobs We advertise paid part-time and vacation work including customer service, call centre work, clerical/administrative work, retail, bar/waiting/catering work, telesales, data entry, marketing and promotions, translation and interpreting. We also advertise a wide range of vacancies in the social/health care professions. 2

Paid projects Paid projects provide an opportunity for students and graduates to gain relevant work experience with companies in the North East. Past opportunities have included projects related to IT, design, marketing, laws, psychology, media, HR, event management and media. Part-time projects are flexible and fit around your studies. We also offer full-time graduate development programmes- ideal to start your career as a graduate and enhance your future career prospects. Volunteering Volunteering is an opportunity to get involved with the local community, gain valuable work related experience with local organisations, charities and community groups and also a great way to meet new people. The opportunities offered are flexible and very varied and include working with children and young people, the elderly and people with learning disabilities in a range of roles such as working on conservation projects, website design, public relations and more. Volunteering is an ideal way to gain experience that s often essential for careers in the education, health and social care sectors. Details of how to apply are included in each vacancy and all opportunities are advertised online at www.sunderland.ac.uk/ces f) Workshops and presentations Careers related activities will be publicised in the CES Library and on the News and Events area of the CES website. Careers sessions arranged for specific programmes will be publicised by academic staff. 3. Who are we? The Careers and Employability Service team all have relevant professional qualifications and/ or appropriate experience and skills. We are committed to continued professional development and training. Rachael Adamson: Student Adviser Tel 515 2920 BA (Hons) Fine Art Rachael joined the service in 2010. She has spent much of her career working in the arts sector, including 2 years at Tate Modern and 10 years working as an Arts Development Officer in West Cumbria. Anne Burlinson: Head of Careers and Employability Service Tel 515 2921 BA (Hons) History, Diploma in Careers Guidance Anne joined the University as a Careers Adviser in 1988 after 14 years experience as a careers practitioner, HE /FE specialist and team leader with Sunderland Careers Service. She became Head of Service in 1989 and now has over 22 years experience in this role. Laura Davison: Careers Coach: Tel 5152159 BA (Hons) English, Diploma in Careers Guidance Laura joined the service in 2011. Her experience is varied for the last 6 years she worked within schools, colleges, and the community supporting young people and adults with their career. Her role in the university focuses on interview coaching where she supports students and graduates with interview techniques and strategies to gain that graduate opportunity. Lynn Doughty: Student Adviser Tel 515 2920 BA (Hons) Politics with History, MA International Politics Lynn joined the service in 2010, having had 4 years experience with Murray library. Previously Lynn worked in Community Education in Sunderland. 3

Maureen Flynn: employer Liaison Coordinator: Tel 5152923 BA (Hons) Humanities, PG Cert Education Maureen joined the service in 2012 after 18 years experience teaching in business and tourism management at HE level at New College, Durham. Prior to this Maureen worked for 15 years in a variety of roles within the travel and tourism industry Laura Hope: Opportunities Adviser Tel 515 2931 BA (Hons) Human Resource Management Laura graduated from the University of Teesside. She worked as a HR Support Officer for a Local Authority for 2 years before taking up her current post in November 2006. Juliet Hudson: Client Adviser Tel 515 3798 NVQ Advice and Guidance Juliet has worked in the Careers & Employability Service since 2001 and prior to that, has worked in a variety of roles throughout the University. Rob Hunt: Careers Adviser Tel 515 2922 HND Design: Jewellery, Diploma in Careers Guidance Rob joined the service in 2010 having 15 years experience as a careers practitioner, gained at Leicestershire Careers & Guidance Service, New College Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University. Frances Jennings: Student Adviser Tel 515 2920 BA (Hons) English Studies Franc is a University of Sunderland graduate. She joined the service in March 2000. Her previous experience includes 5 years in the careers and employment services sector with posts in Tyneside Careers Service and the Bede Employment Initiative. Lisa Kelly: Job Shop Co-ordinator Tel: 515 3763 BTEC National in Business Studies Lisa has worked at the University since 1992. She joined the service in November 1999 after 7 years experience in Residential Services. She has 5 years previous experience working at Apex Charitable Trust - promoting employment opportunities for ex-offenders. Joanne Knowles: Volunteering Opportunities Assistant Tel: 5152937 BSc(Hons) Psychology Jo is a graduate intern and joined the service in 2011 after graduation from the University of Sunderland Sue Mulley: Employability & Employer Engagement Manager Tel 515 2924 BA (Hons) Business Studies Sue was appointed in January 2001 having worked previously for Newcastle College Company and prior to that a recruitment agency. She graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 1991 and worked in Warrington and Liverpool for a few years before returning home to the North East. Janine Neesam: Careers Information Officer (Job Share) Tel 515 2003 BA (Hons) Social Policy with Social Anthropology, Diploma in Library and Information Management Janine was appointed in January 2001 having had 5 years experience as Assistant Librarian/Cataloguing and 1 year as Assistant Librarian/Law at the University of Sunderland. Kim Purvis: Careers Information Officer (Job Share) Tel 515 2003 BSc Econ (Hons) Library and Information Studies, PGCert TLHE Kim was appointed to the role of Careers Information Officer on a job share basis in September 2006. Kim has 37 years experience working in the University Library Services and she continues to work at the Murray Library where she has been an Academic Liaison Librarian for ADMC/Performing Arts (parttime) since Sept 2006, and recently as Education Librarian. 4

Melanie Tyson: Careers Adviser Tel 515 3414 BA (Hons) French, Diploma in Careers Guidance Melanie joined the service in April 2002, after 10 years experience as a careers adviser working in schools and colleges for County Durham Careers Service. Marion Wilkes: Careers Adviser Tel 515 2945 BA English/Public Media, Diploma in Careers Guidance Marion joined the service in January 2008, after 15 years experience as a guidance practitioner with local careers service. 4. Where are we? The Careers and Employability Service is located on the ground floor of The Gateway, City Campus, ensuring easy accessibility for all our users. Our address is: - Careers and Employability Service, The Gateway, City Campus, Chester Road, Sunderland SR1 3SD. 5. When are we open? a) Term Time Opening Hours Mon Thurs 9.00 am 6.00 pm Friday 9.00 am 5.00 pm b) Vacation Opening Mon Fri 9.00 am 5.00pm Any changes to the opening hours will be publicised on our website and at The Gateway, City Campus. 6. How to contact us In person by visiting the Careers and Employability Service or telephoning us during opening hours Tel: 0191 515 2920 Fax: 0191 515 2281. You can leave us a message if we are closed or temporarily unavailable. We aim to return your call on the day and no later than two working days. Email us via ces.enquiries@sunderland.ac.uk Via the Careers and Employability Service website for information about our services, careers related events, employer presentations, vacancies and Ecad our email advice service. www.sunderland.ac.uk/ces 7. What will it cost? Services are free to everyone who is eligible to use the service. 5

8. What can you expect from us? You can expect us to provide: Up to date and accessible information, advice and guidance. An impartial, supportive and confidential approach (please ask for a copy of our confidentiality statement). The opportunity for you to give us feedback on the service you have experienced and put forward any complaints, compliments or suggestions for improving what we do. When using the service you can expect to: be treated courteously at all times. have your enquiry dealt with effectively and handled with sensitivity. have any agreed action by a member of staff resolved within 2 weeks or be informed of progress, including requests for information in alternative formats, or access to specialist equipment and services. be treated equally regardless of age, gender, race or disability. be informed of any changes to publicised services. be informed if your appointment has to be cancelled or delayed and be offered a choice of the earliest suitable appointment within 10 working days of the cancelled interview). be informed of appropriate alternative or additional sources of advice, information and guidance and how to access them where it is appropriate to your request. 9. What we expect from you A recognition that your career is your responsibility we can help you come to a decision and will support your plans but we cannot make decisions for you. Accurate information relating to your issue/enquiry and honesty about your requirements. We ask users to give us some basic information, which is kept in a secure environment and will only be accessed by Careers and Employability Service staff. Advance notice of any specialist facilities or support you need. That you arrive on time for events and interviews and let us know in advance if this is not possible or if you need to cancel/re-arrange appointments. That you give us feedback on our services. 10. Quality You will have access to experienced and qualified staff that regularly participate in professional training and continued staff development. The Careers and Employability Service complies with appropriate standards: Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services` Codes of Practice National Information Advice and Guidance(IAG) Board s Code of Principles ICG Code of Ethical Principles QAA Code of Practice on Careers Education, Information and Guidance (Copies of the above are available on request) We work to the requirements of the University s Equal Opportunities policy, Equality and Diversity statements, the Disability Equality Scheme and Disability Action Plan, the Health and Safety policy and the QAA Code of Practice on Careers Education, Information and Guidance. Reference copies are available in the Careers and Employability Service. We ensure our professional updating through on-going liaison with other careers professionals via our membership of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS); the Institute of Careers Guidance (ICG); the National Association for Educational Guidance for Adults (NAEGA); the National Association of Student Employment Services (NASES). We maintain our awareness of the national graduate recruitment market through liaison with employer members of the Association of Graduate Recruiters, Graduate Prospects, specific professional organisations and through reviewing major recruiters' vacancies and with the regional graduate 6

recruitment market through liaison with the Graduates for Growth forum, local business networks, regional employment initiatives and the University's Directorate of Student Recruitment and Business Partnerships. We maintain links with relevant internal staff as a means of ensuring up-to-date information about other areas of advice and information provision and awareness of appropriate referral options. As part of the University, we have Investors in People recognition. 11. Feedback We welcome informal and formal feedback on the Service. The views of students and graduates are used to improve our service and inform our annual service review and planning process. Our feedback mechanisms include: Feedback questionnaires: distributed at 1:1appointments, group sessions and periodically sent out to our users. Questionnaires cover key aspects of our service. Informal feedback forms: distributed at large events such as recruitment fairs; also available in the Service next to our Comments box. Online Student and Learning Support feedback: includes a comments section for the Careers and Employability Service. You can comment on our website by using the feedback form at the foot of our home page. Feedback can be given anonymously however if you require a response you will need to supply your contact details. Complaints are dealt with according to the University Complaints Procedure; details of the procedure are available on request. 12. Statement of Service A copy of this Statement of Service is available on the Careers and Employability Service website and from the Careers and Employability Service at The Gateway, City Campus. 2012/13 7