NO INTERNSHIP?NO PANIC!

LSE Careers Service

Viki Chinn

v.e.chinn@lse.ac.uk

Agenda

• Internship Fever!

• Alternative Options and Strategy

• Advertised Roles/Speculative Applications

• Networking

• Making Contact

• Other Sources

Internship Fever!

Alternative Options

What to do if you don’t have an internship!

BUT

Remember your priorities!!!!!

Soooo…

• Analyse the market

• Supply and demand rules!

• Think outside the box

• Skills/responsibilities vs ‘Name’

Develop a job hunting strategy

• Plan what you are going to do, be organised and systematic

• Treat the job search process as a JOB

• Record all your applications and progress

Start with the obviousAdvertised roles

• Just for LSE - Check our on line vacancy board (every day!) our website – My Careers Service – Search for Opportunities

• Other good sites– www.prospects.ac.uk– www.careers.lon.ac.uk

– http://targetjobs.co.uk/work-experience /– http://www.wikijob.co.uk/internships

Not advertised- Speculative Applications

• Pros:• Competition limited,

maybe nil• You seem

– well motivated

– full of initiative

• Cheaper for employer• Can be immediate start

• Cons:• More work for you• How do you find the

jobs?• You must know

– what you want– what you have to

offer

Speculative letters

• Useful when:– You want a specific job in a specific

organisation– The organisation is not advertising– You have relevant skills– You have relevant qualifications

Speculative letters

• Get a contact name

• Introduce yourself

• Spell out what you can offer

• Do your research thoroughly – have a ‘hook’

• Request a formal interview

• Say when you will follow up

Networking-The time effective solution!

• To research the job market

• It’s the most important way to source jobs in some sectors

• To gain information - informational interviewing

• Preparing for interviews

• Generating new contacts

YOU

family

education

Workexperience

friends

targetindustry

Making contact

• Introduce yourself

• State what you want to know

– eg more about sector/market/particular job

• Make clear – NOT asking for a job at this stage

• You would value their advice

• Ask tactfully for a short meeting, or

• Ask for names of others who might help you

Informational interviewing

• Typical questions:– What is it like to work in this industry?– Who are the key players?– Which skills are most relevant?– How did they get their current job?– Any advice they can offer?– Best person to contact re job?

How do I get the most out of my further conversations?

• Talk to contacts about;• Why you want experience/work in that sector• Why you want it with them Demonstrate you have researched the company Have an awareness of any opportunities available Be specific and ask open questions;eye contact and

name Make a note of names and answers to your questions Be business like – no flirting or schmoozing

Other sources• National newspapers,

particularly The Guardian• International papers • www talent4europe.com• Local and evening newspapers• Specialist press• Recruitment Fairs• Professional association vacancy bulletins

(cheap memberships for new grads?)

Recruitment consultancies

• Professional bodies often keep lists of specialist agencies eg:– Institute of Practitioners in Advertising– The Management consultancies association

• Specialist websites eg:– www.efinancialcareers.com– www.top-consultant.com

• Remember – you are not the client!

UK work experience

• National Centre for work experience - www.ncwe.com - www.work-experience.org.uk• STEP - www.step.org.uk• Prospects

- http://www.prospects.ac.uk/work_experience.htm

Non UK work experience

• www.summerjobs.com

• http://www.ccusa.com//

• www.campamerica.co.uk

• www.bunac.co.uk

• Teaching English abroad – careers information office

BUT REMEMBER….

Results are (almost) everything!

So DO enhance your CV But do NOT neglect your studies

BE SMART

Where do I go from here?

• Keep note of experiences, names and contacts• Employer skill sessions• Come to the fairs• Go to employer graduate presentations• Liaise with careers advisers• Go to careers presentations

Questions?

v.e.chinn@lse.ac.uk