English Subject Centre

Enhancing Careers Services to English Students

Careers Open Day for the English Department

at SwanseaUniversity

Jean Brokenshire

SwanseaUniversity

April 2005

Enhancing Careers Services to English Students

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.

For this reason, the English Subject Centre has sponsored small projects in Careers Services which tailor materials or events specifically to the needs of English students. About ten projects were undertaken, covering such activities as interview technique workshops, alumni presentations, web-based resources and careers open-days. Details of all the projects can be found on our website at:

This document is a report on one of these projects.

The English Subject Centre

Royal Holloway, University of London

Egham, Surrey TW20 OEX

T. 01784 443221

SwanseaUniversity Careers Open Day for the English Department

Introduction

  • In December 2004 and January 2005, the English Subject Centre invited interested HE institutions to bid for £500 grants to enhance careers services to English students.
  • It was felt that most students chose to study English because of interest, enjoyment and ability to do well in the subject and few would think about or make the links to their future careers. In that respect, they are disadvantaged compared with other students studying vocational degrees.
  • Swansea University Careers Centre applied for the funding to run a Careers Open Day specially for students studying English. The main objective was to encourage themto start thinking about their future plans, to prepare and participate so that they were better equipped to cope with the transition to the world of work.

Preparation and Organisation

1In December 2004, I (Jean Brokenshire, English Department Careers Adviser) discussed with John Turner (Careers Co-ordinator for the English Department) the proposal for running a targeted event specially for students studying English. It was agreed that an Open Day would be a good idea to achieve our objectives.

2On 20 January 2005, Swansea University Careers Centre submitted an official application for a £500 grant to enhance careers services to English students.

3A meeting was set up between Careers staff and academic staff from the English Department on 27 January to discuss the content and decide a date for the Open Day. It was suggested by John Turner that a Friday would be a good day because there were no lectures on Fridays and academic staff felt more able to take part in the event. Careers staff proposed inviting external guest speakers from the Alumni, but academic staff were not keen because they were uncomfortable with the thought that these speakers would have to give up a day’s work for the Open Day.

4Confirmation of funding from the English Subject Centre was received on 15th February. I organized and co-ordinated all the necessary preparation and arrangements including catering, posters, flyers, letters and an email to students, drawing up a staff list and job allocation for the day.

Program for the Day

9:00Catering staff delivered a portable coffee machine and various refreshments

9:15Briefing to Careers Staff about tasks and duties for the day

9:30Setting up foyer and seminar room

10:00Photo session with the first arrivals and staff

10:00-11:30Students arrived in groups and individually (teams of staff welcoming, tours of the Careers Centre, short talks on jobs and placements, showing students how to access information electronically and using traditional reference resources and dealing with individual queries)

11:30-12:00PhD student talk (specially run for those who were interested in postgraduate studies)

12:00-2:00Buffet lunch (students talked to staff and academics informally)

2:00-3:00Students were offered opportunities to sign up for future workshops and the use of the Information Room

Comments

The total number of students attending the Open Day was 31 and most of them stayed for the whole duration (10:00 – 3:00pm). We did not expect a huge number as there are no lectures on Fridays. Furthermore, this was the first time that academic staff from the English department actively took part and supported a Careers Centre event for their students. We did not insist on holding the Open Day on a different date because it was a huge breakthrough to convince the academic staff of the need for their students to think about their future options well before they graduate.

Putting aside the number of attendees, the Open Day was a success. John Turner and Mark Llewellyn (a third year PhD student) both wrote to me giving positive feedback. We certainly get the message that more can be and should be done for our English students although I don’t necessarily agree with the view expressed about inviting guest speakers for the event.

As for the students who took part in the Open Day, many expressed positive comments and have subsequently made further contact with Careers staff. Furthermore, most of these students had never visited the Careers Centre prior to the Open Day, and my colleagues and I were very pleased with the outcome.

Action Points for Running Future Careers Events

1If we wish to increase the number of students attending the event, it would be better to pick a day when students have lectures.

2Specific sessions should be run at a more appropriate time for students who are considering the option of further study.

3Some academics are very set in their views and practice; getting them to see that there are different or better ways of doing things isn’t easy and trying to convert them can be a very slow process. The key is to set realistic objectives and don’t take things personally when advice or suggestions are not taken.

4I couldn’t have run the Open Day without the support and involvement of my colleagues. It’s good to adopt a co-ordinated team approach for larger scale Careers events.

5Funding will always be an issue in any future project work. If we wish to run another similar event, we will need sponsors from outside sources as we do not currently have a budget to pay for the expenses incurred.

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