Hello and Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year and a warm welcome to this edition of eAbility - the EmployAbility Newsletter - packed as ever with information, news and events relevant to you.  Here is a taste of what this edition has in store.

Current Internships and Other Graduate Opportunities

Internship Programmes - we are still seeking applications for our exciting Summer
Internship Programmes with January deadlines looming for:

• Merrill Lynch
• Ernst & Young
• UBS
• Enterprise
• Dow Chemical
• Mayer Brown

• Barclays Plc
• National Audit Office.

We are also delighted to announce two Spring Programmes for those of you in your first year of study or second year of a four year degree with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.

Well done to those of you that applied to our internship schemes with Barclays Wealth, Barclays Capital, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley. The deadlines for these schemes have now passed, but there are still many more to apply to!

• Student Workshops
This year marks the introduction of a series of EmployAbility Student Workshops kicking off with an introduction to Graduate Assessment Centres on 30th January. This event is hosted by Barclays in Canary Wharf London. A few places are available so apply quickly by emailing barry.hayward@eability.org

• Interview Tips
Check out EmployAbility’s “Study Notes” on interview techniques, one of a series of short helpful guides to assist your job hunting skills

• New Team Member
We are pleased to welcome Justin Penney on board as our most recent member of staff …. see more below

• Campus Events and Recruitment Fairs
You will be able to catch EmployAbility at various recruitment fairs / campus events over the year ahead. See below for more information on forthcoming fairs and keep checking our the recruitment fairs pages on our website

• Disability Inclusive Employers and Student Media Partners
As ever, do take a look at the Disability Inclusive Employers page link on our website with whom we are delighted to work in partnership and Our Student Media Partners as well link.

If you missed the Autumn, Summer and Spring editions of eAbility, they can still be found archived on our website.

Please feel free to get in touch with any disability and employment-related questions; we are keen to hear from you and are here to help.

Best wisher from,

All at EmployAbility

Summer Internship Programmes

Merrill Lynch 'EmployAbility' Summer Internship Programme 2008

Merrill Lynch is a world leading financial management and advisory company with a global network spanning six continents. With a wealth of diverse locations, products and services, we can offer you unparalleled opportunities to explore a variety of career options. Merrill Lynch is pleased to be working with EmployAbility to offer a summer internship programme for disabled students and graduates.

You will gain an invaluable insight into Merrill Lynch with the nine-week summer programme. Get to know the Merrill Lynch culture, offices and working environment whilst finding out more about the financial services industry.

Deadline for applications is 21st January 2008

 

Ernst & Young ‘EmployAbility’ Summer Internship Programme 2008

The Ernst & Young ‘EmployAbility’ Summer Internship Programme is available to penultimate year students and is a way for you to find out more about the company, and for Ernst & Young to find out more about you. It involves you working in a real job, with high expectations and tough demands.

Graduate jobs are offered to the students who thrive on the programme, so this is an exceptional opportunity to move ahead in your career before you’ve left university.

Closing date: 31st January 2008

The Dow Chemical Internship Programme 2008

Providing a range of paid internship opportunities from three to twelve months, Dow are looking for motivated and committed individuals who are interested in forging fulfilling careers within this sector.

Deadline for applications is 31st January 2008






Enterprise Graduate and Internship Programmes

EmployAbility in partnership with Enterprise is pleased to bring you a variety of internship and graduate opportunities, including internships and Graduate Trainee Programmes.

Deadline for applications is 7th February 2008

Mayer Brown ‘EmployAbility’ Work Experience Programme 2008

Mayer Brown is a leading international law practice with over 600 partners and 1500 lawyers worldwide. We are pleased to offer you a three week summer work experience programme which will provide you the opportunity to work within a leading law practice. You will gain valuable practical experience of two of the major legal departments of your choice. In addition to working alongside a Partner or Assistant, a number of training seminars and visits are also organised as part of your programme.

Deadline for applications is 31st January 2008

 

UBS ‘EmployAbility’ Summer Internship for Students with Disabilities 2008

UBS is offering a range of exciting summer internship opportunities across all divisions of the business. A ten-week structured summer internship programme which is a vital tool in our recruitment process. You will work alongside some of the brightest and best, learning about our organisation, our clients and the products and services we offer.

Deadline for applications is 31st January 2008

      

Barclays ‘Employability’ Summer Internship 2008

Barclays, in partnership with EmployAbility is offering you the opportunity to join the Summer Internship Programme for students/graduates with disabilities.

The Summer Internship Programme 2008 (SIP) is ideal for students interested in combining genuine commercial experience with an understanding of what it would be like to join Barclays when they graduate.

You'll spend eight weeks working with Barclays over the summer, you will be given a fantastic opportunity to work on a live project. You could be within a customer facing role or working with an internal team - either way, you'll learn a great deal about what it’s really like to work within Barclays.

Closing date: 08th February 2008

 

The National Audit Office ‘Employability’ Summer Internship Programme 2008

The National Audit Office (NAO) is the UK’s main public sector audit body, responsible for auditing the accounts of government departments and agencies and examining the propriety of government spending. NAO employs around 850 staff, most of whom are qualified accountants, trainees or technicians.

In partnership with EmployAbility, the National Audit Office is offering students with disabilities the opportunity to participate in an exciting and challenging summer internship programme. Assignments last for six to eight weeks commencing in July 2008. Through the Placement you will gain an understanding of the skills and capability needed to become a Chartered Accountant.

Please submit a CV and covering letter to EmployAbility by email to Sarah Denness at info@eability.org. Please include in your covering letter a brief summary of why you would like to join the summer programme and the skills/attributes/experience you will bring. Please also include details of any adjustment requirements you may have during the recruitment process and in the workplace.

Closing date: 25th February 2008

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Spring Work Experience Programmes

We are delighted to announce two Spring Programmes for those of you in your first year of study or second year of a four year degree with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.

 

Goldman Sachs 'EmployAbility' Spring Programme April 2008

Whether you have thought about a career in the Investment Banking industry or not, the Goldman Sachs EmployAbility Spring Programme is a great opportunity for you to understand more about what we do, be challenged in this dynamic, diverse and creative environment and explore future Summer Internship and New Analyst opportunities. This programme is ideally suited to first year students on a three year course and second years on a four year course. Programmes will be held in London.

 

Morgan Stanley 'EmployAbility' Spring Insight Programme 2008

We understand that making a career decision is no easy task. We would like to help you form this decision. Why not spend time with Morgan Stanley during their Spring Insight week to learn more about what the Investment Banking industry has to offer? For one week during the Spring break, you will have the opportunity to take part in a number of activities. This programme is ideally suited to first year students on a three year course and second years on a four year course.

 

Deadline for applications for both the above programmes is 31st January 2008.

 

Other Graduate Opportunities

Campus Brand Manager role for ENTERPRISE

ENTERPRISE is looking to hire students to promote the company on campus. Up to 15 hours per term, paid work is available to students at certain UK universities.

Deadline for applications is 31st January 2008

For further information and to download an application form for all of these vacancies, please go to - www.employ-ability.org.uk/internships.html

Please call/ text or email Barry Hayward if you require these application forms in an alternative format – T: 07970 057615 E: barry.hayward@eability.org

All schemes run by EmployAbility comply with Section 2.17 and 7.5 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Code of Practice for Employment and Occupation.

 

This year marks the introduction of a series of EmployAbility Student Workshops kicking off with an introduction to Graduate Assessment Centres on 30th January. Since many of you will be attending Assessment Centres in the coming months, this workshop offers a fantastic opportunity to pick up some tips and improve your chances of success! This event is being kindly hosted by Barclays in Canary Wharf London. A few places are still available so apply asap by emailing barry.hayward@eability.org

The student workshops are designed to equip you with the skills to succeed in the recruitment and selection processes of graduate employers

Graduate Assessment Centres 30/01/08 (Hosted by Barclays, Canary Wharf) Disclosing Disability 26/03/08
Researching Careers, Preparing CVs/Application Forms 23/05/08
Online Applications and Ttesting 17/09/08
Interview Skills 26/11/08

To apply contact::

Barry Hayward, EmployAbility Recruitment Adviser
email: barry.hayward@eability.org
tel. 07970 057 615

or download an application form from:
www.employ-ability.org.uk/student_workshops.html

EmployAbility “Study Notes”

Interview skills

Interviews are an opportunity for the employer to find out more about you and assess your suitability for the role, but they are also an opportunity for you to talk about your skills & experience and to find out more about the company and the role.

There are various types of interviews. You may be offered a telephone interview or a face to face meeting with one person, or it may be a panel of two or more.

The types of questions asked will vary.

The most common approach currently is the behavioural / competency interview - encouraging the applicant to discuss specific past experiences and accomplishments to assess their suitability for the role and/or company to which they have applied.

It is a good idea to think of specific examples of things you have done well in your life whether at university, in work experience or even in your social life. More on this below.

Hypothetical / situational interview – interviewer gives a situation, asks applicant what they would do in such a situation.

Competency based interviews preparation:

This is based on the premise that past behaviour is the best indicator of future behaviour / performance.

It is used by most graduate recruiters who draw up a list of the competencies (skills and abilities) considered as essential behaviours required to perform the role effectively.

Examples include:

• Leadership and initiative
• Team work skills
• Self motivation and tenacity
• Analytical skills and problem solving
• Judgement and decision making
• Communication and influence

Can you think of examples/ times when you have used these skills?

The employer may outline the competencies looked for on its website or application form

‘STAR’ technique

The STAR technique is a good way to structure your answers:

Situation
Think of and describe the situation in which you demonstrated the skill/ competency

Tasks
Describe the tasks that you were expected to do or carry out (in the situation)

Actions
Describe the actions that you (focus on what you did rather than what you and other members of your team did together – i.e use ‘I’ not ‘we’) took and what you actually did

Result
Describe the positive outcome. If the outcome was not positive, describe what you learnt from the experience.

Use the STAR technique as a checklist whenever you are answering competency based questions, whether in face-to face or telephone interviews or on application forms.

Interview preparation list:

• Ensure that you know the format (e.g. how many people will be interviewing you, will there be any tests etc in addition to the interview, will it be a generalist or technical interview etc) of the interview well in advance
• Ensure that any adjustments (related to your disability) that you may require on the interview day are communicated to the employer or to EmployAbility as much in advance of the interview date as possible
• Know your application / CV inside out and expect to talk about yourself and what you have done/ achieved – do not assume that just because you have already provided an application/ CV to the employer that the interviewer will know all about you.
• Competency examples – have some prepared and use the STAR technique
• Practice your answers out loud, in front of others
• Research the organisation and the role you have applied for - ensure you know enough information to convince the employer that you are genuinely interested in their organisation and the role/ area you have applied for. Try and keep away from generic reasons for joining an organisation – i.e. think of reasons that you want to join that particular employer, not just employers who offer good prospects/progression/training etc. in general, for example
• Use resources; their website/ brochures, information they may have given in presentations, careers service, EmployAbility
• Look through the company website especially the recruitment section.
• Prepare questions for them (but not ones that they have already specifically answered on their brochures/ websites etc.)
• Ensure you know the time you are expected and how to get there
• Get a good night’s sleep – do not stay up all night researching the company or role at the last minute, do your research in advance
• If you are very anxious about the interview or any aspect of it, try some relaxation techniques and/ or contact EmployAbility for tips/ information/ reassurance
• Ensure you are on time and are appropriately dressed (in a business suit)
• Finally, do your best and do not worry too much! Interviews require practise and the more you attend, the better you will become at performing well at them

At the interview:

• Shake hands, smile, and make eye contact
• Appear engaged and interested in them
• Be prepared to answer questions about yourself!
• Listen carefully to the questions and take a moment to think of how you are going to answer the question before you begin answering
• Structure your answers using the STAR technique
• Try not to give one word answers, explain/ back up your answers where possible with an example •
• f you don’t know the answer to a question and cannot make an educated guess, do not bluff – suggest that maybe you could find out the answer and get back to them
• If you do not understand a question, ask for clarification (do not pretend to have understood)
• If more than one interviewer, ensure that you are inclusive by making eye contact with or occasionally smiling at each interviewer
• The interview is your opportunity to ‘sell yourself’ – do not be afraid to over-emphasise your strengths and achievements
• Don’t assume that because you have sent in your application form / CV that the interviewer has read it, explain in full and talk about your background

Good Luck!

We are pleased to welcome Justin Penney on board as our most recent member of staff

Justin Penney – Senior Accounts Executive

• Justin has 14 years experience of working in the disability sector – specifically in the field of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
• 9 years experience as an employment consultant for Prospects, the National Autistic Society’s employment service for people with Autism / Asperger syndrome.
• Set up & ran the Transitions Project – helping graduates with Asperger syndrome to find work. The project was short listed for the Guardian Newspaper Public Service Awards
• Had responsibility for the management & development of key relationship with Goldman Sachs – enabling them to provide 20+ jobs for people with Asperger syndrome
• Has extensive experience of providing support & advice to disabled candidates & their employers on reasonable adjustments and other issues
• Retains extensive contacts with disability officers in Universities both in London & nationally
• Experienced trainer & speaker – especially in the area of Disability Awareness
  
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Oxford University

Work Experience Fair - 16th January 2008, 11am – 3pm

Disclosure session (students with disabilities) - 29th January 2008, 2pm–4pm

Session facilitated by EmployAbility

www.careers.ox.ac.uk/homepage/fairspage

Queen Mary University (London)

Getting into work - advice for disabled students about finding & applying for jobs

23rd January 2008 1pm - 2pm

Session facilitated by EmployAbility Queens Building, Mile End Road

www.careers.qmul.ac.uk/

Reading University

Charity Recruitment Fair

30th January 2008, 12pm - 2pm

www.careers.reading.ac.uk/events/diary.asp

This will give students with disabilities the chance to find out about work experience opportunities including summer internships and job opportunities specifically for those with disabilities.

The National Work Placement Exhibition

Looking to do some work experience during the holidays…?
Need to find a placement as part of your sandwich course…?
Looking for voluntary or international work experience…?

London : 09 October 2008

Birmingham : 30 October 2008

www.gradjobs.co.uk/

Register for entry at www.work-placement.co.uk and to find out who is recruiting.Birminghamies

THE NATIONAL GRADUATE RECRUITMENT EXHIBITIONS
Supported by The Times

Manchester 05 & 06 February 2008

London 07 & 08 March 2008 London 30 & 31 May 2008

Birmingham 06 & 07 June 2008

London 10 & 11 October 2008

Birmingham 31 Oct & 01 Nov 2008

REGIONAL GRADUATE RECRUTIMENT EVENTS

The London Graduate Recruitment Fair

Summer 2008 17 - 18 June 2008

One of the largest graduate recruitment events in Europe.
Come to find opportunities in a huge variety of employment sectors.
Also featuring career workshops, employer presentations, C2 careers advice and free CV & Application form checking.

www.careers.lon.ac.uk/output/Page115.asp

Good Luck!

Stay in touch, contact us at: info@eability.org or tel: 07852 764 684 or for more information on what we do, our services, ‘disability inclusive’ employers we are recruiting for, how we can help you or forthcoming events visit our website www.employ-ability.org

                             

         

                         

         

                     

  

      

         

         

         

   

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Our Student Media Partners

                                       

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Get in touch

Would you like to be featured in the next edition of eAbility?  Do you run a social event, a careers fair or do you have a disability or employment website?

Get in touch.  Send an email to info@eability.org or telephone 07852 764 684 or visit our website www.employ-ability.org.uk

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www.employ-ability.org.uk  |  07852 764 684  |  info@eability.org