Enhancing Careers Services for English Students
Project overview
This page contains information about a group of projects run from 2005/2006 to 2008/2009 aimed at enhancing careers services for English students. You can find out more about individual projects in the panel on the right-hand side: there is a link to projects from previous years at the bottom of the list of 08/09 projects. Projects, were disseminated at an annual Networking Day for Humanities Careers Advisers held each summer.
The additional funding enabled Careers Advisers to offer services tailored to the needs of English students. The projects were often innovative in the way they deliver services, and involve students in the production of resources or events.
For further information read about the individual projects by following the links below.
Background
It is a widespread view that English graduates are not good at ‘selling’ themselves to employers. This is not to say that they lack the skills, attributes and enthusiasm that employers seek: research conducted by the English Subject Centre shows that English graduates are doing as well as, if not better than, most other graduates three to four years after graduation.
Employers value the skills in critical thinking, communication and analysis that English graduates usually possess, but our students tend to underestimate the relevance of these skills to the workplace. (The ‘student profiles’ project undertaken by the Subject Centre produced a template which helps students link the skills listed in the English Benchmark Statement to those typically sought by employers.) English students need assistance and encouragement in articulating, in a way that is interesting and relevant to employers, the skills and attributes they have developed whilst studying and engaging in extra-curricular activity. It is for this reason that the Subject Centre sponsored these projects.
2008 / 2009 Projects
- Videos interviewing English graduates – Liverpool University
- Employer led workshops – Roehampton University
- Employability activity focussing on entrepreneurial skills – Glyndŵr University
- Developing a partnership with local writers – University of Brighton
- Taught internship module – University of Dundee
- Career opportunities once you graduate – Keele University
2007 / 2008 Projects
- Careers for English Language graduates – York St John University
- Employer led workshops – Salford University
- Identifying and developing employability skills – University of Portsmouth
- Media vodcast project – University of Aberdeen
- Podcast for mature students – The Careers group, University of London
- Seminars to explore enterprising potential – University of St Andrews
2006 / 2007 Projects
- Interactive workshop on The Employability of English Graduates – University of Sheffield
- Assisting English students in making the transition from higher education into employment – University of Gloucestershire
- Pack of English-specific Personal Development Planning Materials – University of Northampton
- Alumni Event – University of Birmingham
- A series of chatrooms aimed at English Students and graduates – Prospects.ac.uk
- A Careers Fair in Conjunction with the Alumni Department workshops – University of Reading
- Online Careers Magazine Project – Brunel University
- Scoping the needs, career aspirations and work experience of English students – University of Hertfordshire
- Early Years Seminar, Supporting Literature and Website – University of Edinburgh
- Making a Podcast on Commercial Awareness for English Students – University of Liverpool
2005 / 2006 Projects
- Interview workshops – University of Bradford
- Careers fair and web resources – Birmingham City University
- Brochure Linking Academic and Career Values – University of East Anglia
- Mock Interview Programme – Oxford Brookes University
- Careers Newsletter for Academic Staff – University of Liverpool
- Interview workshops – Sheffield Hallam University
- Interview workshops – University of Warwick
- Open Day – Swansea University
- Alumni Information Seminar – University of York