by Stephen Gordon* *completed PhD in 2013 and has held numerous postdoctoral positions and student support roles; worked as an Advisor in the University of Manchester Careers Service since 2016 Writing covering letters for academic positions can be a tricky business. The structure and format of such documents are quite different from the template used for…
Read more Writing Covering Letters for Academic Jobs – A Quick How-To Guide
Not all jobs are advertised. Even if they are you might not see them. Sometimes an organisation may be at the point of thinking they need a hand, but have not thought about advertising. This is where a speculative approach can come in handy. If you know what type of work you want to do then…
Read more Creative job search – make jobs come to you!
*NEW* See information on STP interviews at the end of the post! (added 21 March 2018) 2018 STP – opened 15th January, closed Monday 12th February at 5pm The NHS Scientist Training Programme (STP) is open for applications! Thousands of scientists and engineers of all disciplines work for the NHS, and the STP is how…
Read more Applying for the NHS Scientist Training Programme in 2018
Amanda Conway, Careers Consultant at The University of Manchester, explores whether practice does make perfect with 3 of the main tests facing Manchester students. When it comes to applying for graduate jobs or internships, the chances are you will face a test or two along the way. Whilst some favourites remain firmly embedded in employers’…
Read more To practise or not to practise? That is the question! What’s the score with the latest employer selection tests facing students?
You are asking me a question and I have nothing to say, I’m just not that interesting! Does that thought sound familiar? When faced with questions like… Tell me about yourself Why are you interested in ….? What do you do? Tell me about a time when… You need to have something to say that…
Read more Telling your story. Interviews, applications and networking.
Unless you are applying for Teaching or Medicine through UCAS this will be a completely different process for you. There are some universities which use the UKPASS system but most require a direct application to the postgraduate admissions contact for the course you are applying to. (You will find this on the university website when…
Read more Writing a personal statement for a Masters course
Faced with a job advert it is easy to give up, shrug and say I can’t do that I don’t have what they are looking for. It may not even be that clear what they are looking for! Don’t give up quite so easily – print out that job description, have a good rummage on their…
Read more Have you got the right skills for the job? Think hard before you say no!
Employers want to be sure that not only do you have the relevant skills for a particular job but you also understand what the organisation does, how this role fits in and what it involves. They want people who are making informed decisions and have a genuine passion for the job. You may always have…
Read more How to do your research for a covering letter or personal statement
You’ve just sent me a CV & cover letter for a job. You and possibly several hundred others so I’m going to spend just a few seconds skimming over it to see which pile you fit in. Yes, No or Maybe. I have a check-list of all the skills & qualifications I’m looking for and…
Read more Why generic CVs and cover letters end up in the bin!
As part of your job search it is inevitable that you will have to write to or ring employers. You may be applying speculatively for work experience, asking for more information about a job or have a query about the application process or interview. Employers are not ogres but they are busy and will have expectations…
Read more Help! I need to ring or email an employer, what do I do?
