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Great with disability May 17, 2013

Posted by Louise Honey in : Uncategorized , add a comment

A new website is now available with the specific focus to help those with disability or long term health conditions when applying for graduate jobs and going through the recruitment process.

The site affords information, which is specifically relevant to anyone in this group, such as disclosing a disability, requesting adjustments, requiring support, gaps in the CV and lack of work experience, etc.

The site has been made possible due to the collaboration between My Plus Consulting and their 3 key partners: Barclays, EDF Energy and Ernst and Young, so has been developed with both disability professionals and employers contributing.

The site will have an official launch in September but there is no need to wait until then…….it is live now!

The website can be accessed at the following address http://www.greatwithdisability.com/index.php

This resource along with many others relevant to disability, equality and diversity can be found on the Careers Tagged website http://www.careerstagged.co.uk/ Use the search term most appropriate to what you are looking for, for the best results, or visit your universities careers service who will be happy to talk you through it.

Case studies – a piece of inspiration May 8, 2013

Posted by Louise Honey in : Uncategorized , add a comment

Taking a look at career case studies can be a really insightful way of learning about other people’s career paths, the difficulties they may have had and how they have overcome them.

There are many of these around and just one example would be those on the BBC site from disabled candidates who have completed or are completing Extend – the BBC’s work placement scheme for disabled people.

The questions asked of the candidates are particularly useful as they do not just explore the experience they have had on the scheme but also how they found the application process and what they were doing previously.

Take a look at some of their stories here http://www.bbc.co.uk/careers/trainee-schemes/case-studies-extend

Too old to go digital? April 26, 2013

Posted by Louise Honey in : The Careers Group Blogs, disability , add a comment

The digital sector can seem like a daunting place and many older professionals do not see this as a viable career area for them – assuming that the younger generation, who have grown up with technology would be better suited, and they themselves overlooked. A recent blog post ‘You’re never too old to go digital’ from the Guardian Careers Diversity Hub looks at this in more detail.

This post raises some interesting issues around the digital sector and details strategies to help you gain your confidence and boost your job prospects in this ever expanding digital economy.

Such as;

Having an ‘outsiders’ view on certain aspects of technology may actually allow you to view the usability of a product from a different perspective, which could be hugely valuable to a potential employer. As long as there is willingness to experiment with new technologies then age should not be a barrier.

There will be other important skills that as an experienced professional you will have – even if developed in a different industry. Things such as leadership, communication and commercial awareness are all still vital to many positions and often employers look for candidates from a range of backgrounds so as to bring fresh perspectives, knowledge and experience.

One thing that you will need to show, whatever your age is passion for the job role. There are many courses, online training opportunities and workshops that can allow you to brush up on skills and develop techniques that will prove to a potential employer that you are genuinely interested in their area of work. That ability to up-skill and continuously learn will be hugely attractive in this market – and actually many more!

The full article can be found at the following link http://careers.guardian.co.uk/never-too-old-to-go-digital

Working with bipolar April 17, 2013

Posted by Louise Honey in : Uncategorized , add a comment

 

A recent article from Guardian Careers discusses the challenges faced by professionals with bipolar in the workplace and how they can be overcome. 

In the article Seaneen Molloy-Vaughan, who suffers with depressive episodes, describes the difficulties that such behaviour can bring, in relation to professional boundaries and relationships with colleagues. 

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Daniel Smith also talks about the difficulties that disclosing such an illness can bring – alongside how some people can find it helpful to discuss with their colleagues as a way of explaining past behaviours. 

The full article details suggestions for attempts to reduce symptoms as well as viable career options that minimise stress and allow sufferers to lead progressive and successful careers.. To see the full article visit the following link http://careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/bipolar-professionals-challenges-workplace

City Course 2013 April 10, 2013

Posted by Louise Honey in : Uncategorized , add a comment

(Originally posted on Lifesciences Careers blog)

Monday 9 – Thursday 12 September 2013.

Investment Banking. Management Consultancy. Commercial Law. Accountancy. Risk Management……. 

What really goes on inside those towering, shining, slightly intimidating buildings at Canary Wharf and alike? As a student in London you no doubt know of at least one person who is adamant that a career in the city is for them. But what does that really mean to work in one of the roles listed above and how can you find out more? 

For a unique, insider’s perspective on a career in the City, come on The Careers Group’s long-running and successful City Course. During the week you will visit prominent City employers and institutions. You will participate in employer-led business games and listen to presentations and graduate panels about the range of City careers. 

At each employer visit you will get the opportunity to meet and network with recent graduates working within the firm, representatives from the graduate recruitment teams and sometimes more senior employees. You’ll start early, work hard, and come away with a detailed understanding of how the City works. 

You do not have to be studying a particular degree route in order to attend this course but an interest in working in the City and an enthusiasm to find out more is a must! 

The course is a long-running event and is extremely popular with all University of London students. You will need to apply with a CV and Covering letter – further details of the application process, including a few hints and tips can be found here. The deadline for completed applications is Friday 21 June 2013. 

The cost of the course is £96, which is not payable until you have been accepted onto the course and bursaries are available for those in receipt of hardship funding. 

Still not sure if this is for you? Take a look at the Facebook page and get involved in some of the discussions to whet your appetite.www.facebook.com/CareersintheCity

Access support to help you into work April 3, 2013

Posted by Louise Honey in : The Careers Group Blogs, disability , add a comment

 It can be difficult to know where to look for positions of work or internship opportunities as a student or graduate. This can be made all the more daunting if you feel you face particular barriers to employment and are unaware of the support you can access.

Below are examples of two organisations who work to help students and graduates into employment and overcome those barriers; 

Employability assists students who have all disabilities including dyslexia and long term health conditions into employment. Through a range of events, workshops and conferences they educate both employers and students and graduates around disability awareness and inclusion and are proud of their ‘success in matching talented students to these disability inclusive employers’.  For more information about what they do and how they can help you, visit their website www.employ-ability.org.uk 

SEO London has traditionally focused on helping students from under represented Black and other minority ethnic (‘BME’) communities to secure places on some of the most rewarding and competitive internship and graduate programmes in the UK.  They also provide students with a comprehensive training and mentoring platform to ensure their long term success. Visit their website for further information www.seo-london.com 

Alongside these organisations there is support at your universities careers service. If you want help with applying for positions, interviews, where to find vacancies, working out what would suit you or any other career concerns you may have then make an appointment to see the careers professionals where you study to get some support.

Autism doesn’t hold me back March 20, 2013

Posted by Louise Honey in : The Careers Group Blogs, Uncategorized, disability , add a comment

A recent article in the Guardian (March, 2013) discusses how the confidence and determination of young people with autism is forcing the pace of change in organisations, previously inaccessible to those with autism.

Jonathan Young a business analyst at Goldman Sachs and Penny Andrews a library graduate trainee both on the autism spectrum, speak of the contribution they are making to the organizations they work for and how they are hugely valued employees. As Penny says she beat 200 other applicants to the job, proving she was the best candidate.

With early diagnosis and consequent support from a young age this generation have been educated to expect not just a job when they leave school but a career on a par with their “neuro-typical” contemporaries.

The article also highlights some of the reasonable adjustments that can be expected of employees during the application process and then once in employment. Penny says  “I was completely open about my autism throughout the interview process and even asked for a few special conditions to take account of my Asperger’s, such as working from 8.30am to 4.30pm,for example, so I don’t have to take the rush-hour bus home, taking extra breaks in a special quiet area if I need quiet, and not having to answer telephones.”

Although employers are coming round to the arguments from disability advocates that employing those on the spectrum is not about charity or social responsibility – but the empirical benefit of taking on people with unique skills, the article does state that those with autism are showing the highest unemployment rates of any disability group, highlighting that there is still a lot of ground to make up.

Have a look at the full article available via this link http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/mar/08/autism-career-ladder-workplace

Equality and Diversity – enhance your employability March 5, 2013

Posted by Louise Honey in : Job applications, The Careers Group Blogs, disability, employability and skills, inclusion, skills development , add a comment

It is likely that many of you will be familiar with the ‘employability’ skills that are looked for by recruiters. Coming up with examples of your team work, leadership and strong communication skills is relatively normal for most roles within most industries.

But what about an understanding of equality and diversity issues?

I came across an interesting blog post from Sheffield Hallam University for their social science students and feel it has some really relevant stuff for anyone about to leave student life behind and enter the world of work. Protected characteristics under the 2010 Equality Act which defines ground in which discrimination is unlawful are noted as; age, disability, gender re-assignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. Whether you consider yourself as potentially facing barriers to employment under one of these characteristics or not, it is argued that an understanding of equality and diversity issues is an attractive skill for potential candidates to hold.

The post comments on three main themes in relation to how your knowledge can be of benefit;

This post signifies that employability skills can go beyond teamwork and communication and your learning and understanding of equality and diversity will show you as an attractive employee.

Read the full post here http://employability4socialsciences.wordpress.com/employability-skills/equality-and-diversity/

Assistive Technology for Dyslexia and SpLD students in HE and in the workplace February 20, 2013

Posted by Janette Back in : disability, dyslexia , add a comment

Present figures show that only one third of disabled students take up their Assistive Technology  training which can be paid for by Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA).

DnA, is a social enterprise designed and led by dyslexic and disabled adults working to provide support, strategies, Assistive Technology (AT) training and shared wellbeing. Their philosophy is that peer-to-peer empathy, respect and support, delivered by trainers who share a lived experience with trainees, will fundamentally change the way the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is taken up and perceived. If used and accessed well, DSA has the potential to make life-changing differences for learners accessing higher education.

Their website has a wealth of information and links to free resources to help students in HE during their studies:

and on help in the workplace:

Some of the resources are downloadable Pdfs and some free links to software.  There is also a step by step guide to DSA.

Don’t forget that if you are  a student in HE you will have access to a Department set up to help students with a disability and or dyslexia – they will be able to advise you on the process of applying for DSA, any necessary assessments and any adjustments (e.g. extra time for exams) that can be arranged for you.  They are their to help so use them!

Equal pay in Science? Apparently not! Women’s pay ≠ Men’s pay January 28, 2013

Posted by Janette Back in : The Careers Group Blogs , add a comment

An anonymous senior scientist writes in The Guardian on what she feels must be done to change attitudes.  To read more see article

Much is being done to try and address inequalities in Science and Engineering – Women in Science, Engineering & Technology aims to redress the under representation of women in science, technology, maths and engineering.

The National HE STEM Programme supports Higher Education Institutions in the exploration of new approaches to recruiting students and delivering programmes of study within Science Technology, Engineering and Maths   disciplines which ultimately will attract more women, disabled and diverse students for example who will then go on to work in the sector and influence the future in terms of pay and equality.