No doubt you have already got yourself involved in lots of new extra-curricular activities, whether this be a sports team, societies and committees, or attending the super popular Autumn Careers Fairs (we hope to see you all back in the Spring!). However, there are a whole bunch of career and employability focused events that can help take your skills to the next level, no matter where you are on your career journey. 

Here is your round up of November’s employability activities, tailored for our Equal Opportunities community.

Placement year workshops

Calling all Year 1 and Year 2 students. Are you interested in undertaking a placement year during your studies? Are you not sure where to start and where to find support with your application? The Careers & Employability Service are putting on two sessions, targeted to each level, to help you with applying for a placement year, no matter where you are on your journey.

For Year 2 students, the workshop, Enhance your future career with a placement year, will go through everything from the benefits of doing a placement year, what support is available when applying and even hear from a current placement student.

Year 2 workshop 14th November 12-1pm @ The Diamond LT01

Register your spot on Career Connect here.

For Year 1 students, the workshop, ‘Why do a placement year?’, will cover the timeline of applying for a placement as well as tips on planning you can be doing in your first year, to prepare for applying in your second year. 

Year 1 workshop 28th November 12-1pm @ The Diamond LT01

Register your spot on Career Connect here.

How to… series

The ‘How to…’series are a collection of workshops run by the Careers & Employability Service advisors and cover a huge range of popular topics. Similar to a seminar, you will be taught through presentations and group activities and be expected to get involved with the work. This is also a great way to get help from the employability advisors in a more casual way, rather than a 1-to-1 appointment. 

Continuing on with this semester's How to…series, are two highly requested workshops:

8th November: How to… succeed at interviews 3-4pm @ The Wave 

Register here

14th November: How to… write a CV, cover letter and application 3-4pm @ Hicks LT03

Register here

KPMG 2023 Autumn Employability Skills Programme

KPMG are looking for final year students who are graduating in 2024, and are from the following backgrounds:

• Attended state school or college, and

• The occupation of your main household earner when you were aged 14 is categorised as coming from a lower socio-economic background**, or

• Whilst at school you were eligible for free school meals (or you attended a school with ‘above regional average’ free school meals***), or

• Your immediate family did not attend university.

The programme will provide you with the opportunity to develop your employability skills, virtually network with our colleagues, and learn more about what KPMG looks for in our people.

The programme will be delivered virtually on Microsoft Teams and run from 15 November to 14 December 2023, across 5 sessions.

You’ll learn to develop your professional skills and as well as supporting you in exploring graduate job opportunities. To reward your hard work and dedication, at the end of the Award you’ll be invited to a virtual celebration event, where you’ll receive a £25 Amazon voucher and certificate to recognise your achievements, if you successfully complete all sessions.

For further information and to register, head to the programmes & courses page.

Bright Network’s GradVantage Competition

To celebrate Bright Network’s 10th anniversary, they are launching a competition for 10 lucky members to 1 of their prize packages. 

Here are just some prizes up for grabs:

• A 6-month mentorship programme with a mentor in the sector/field of your choice from top employers such as Allianz, Citi Bank, Dyson and P&G

• Application and interview preparation including a CV and LinkedIn review

• Personal branding workshop

• £150 voucher towards a new professional wardrobe

• A 3-year 16-25 railcard

In order to win, you must be a member of Bright Network (which is free!) and fill in a short application explaining why you should win the mentorship programme.

Key dates: 

• 20 November at 23:59pm: Deadline to enter. 

• 1 December: Winners announced. 

• January 2024: Mentor sessions commence. 

• January - March 2024: Application & interview preparation, financial planning and personal branding workshops occur virtually. 

Head to the Bright Network GradVantage competition page to find out more and apply.

There is a huge range of external employability opportunities happening in November. Some are free to attend and will cover travel expenses. However, if you are unable to attend an event for any barrier such as travel expenses or ticket cost, this is the perfect example of how the Equal Opportunities fund can help you attend. Here are some highlights we have put together:

The Black Girls Tech Summit 

The Black Girls Tech Summit returns for their 5th event on Tuesday 14th November hosted by Amazon at their UK Headquarters in London.

This years theme is "Decoding your career success path" where we will have a mixture of lightening talks, roundtable discussions, debates, hackathons and up-skilling sessions so that Black women in the UK tech ecosystem can understand the specifics of succeeding in their careers.

Book here!

HSBC Neurodiversity Insight Event

HSBC are hosting an event on 22nd November that gives students the opportunity to view our Technology Hub in the centre of Sheffield as well as gain insight into the Digital Innovation Graduate and Intern Programmes and speak to some of our current graduates and the graduate recruitment team about their experience working for HSBC, neurodiversity in the workplace and what a career in technology is like. 

Registration for this event is essential as spaces will be limited.

Target Jobs present ‘Inspire’ and ‘Inspire Law’

Target Jobs are putting on two events to help level the playing field, when it comes to getting graduate opportunities, and doing away with the phrase “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” The one-day event is specifically tailored for students who don’t have established contacts. The event aims to bring these students together with prominent employers in the UK, providing a platform to create new connections and open doors to exciting future opportunities.  

Inspire on 10th November will have a range of employers such as Rolls Royce, Deloitte and KPMG, allowing you to improve your skills as well as network. To find out more about the day and apply, click here.

Inspire Law on 14th November is focused on the law sector, and will feature employers such as Bird&Bird and Covington. To find more about the day and apply, click here. 

Both events are free to attend and travel will be reimbursed by Target Jobs.

West Yorkshire Police Forensic Recruitment Information Event

On the 29th November from 6-8pm, West Yorkshire Police will be hosting an informative evening with presentations from various forensic departments within RSSS, such as Crime Scene Investigation, Forensic Collision Unit, Identification Bureau, Digital Forensics, Fingerprint and DNA Laboratories. 

You will have the opportunity to speak to RSSS employees, ask questions and find out more about the roles within the departments including qualification requirements, the recruitment process, pay scales and working hours.

The West Yorkshire Police Positive Action team will also be on hand to explain how they can support potential applicants from ethnic minority groups.

Address: West Yorkshire Police Training and Development Centre, Bishopgarth House, Carr Gate, Bradford Road, Wakefield, WF2 0QN

Book here

Explore the Law Careers Insight Event

Explore the Law is a unique event for ambitious students with disabilities and long-term health conditions who want to find out more about careers in the legal industry, the support that can be provided, and how to access this.

The event is taking place in London on the 23rd November; is free to attend; and travel expenses will be reimbursed.

To find out more information, and to apply, head to the Explore the Law events page.