Employability Toolkit

Responding directly to industry feedback, the Employability Toolkit offers exclusive tips and guidance on creating a focused and commanding CV and cover letter.

Your CV is an great opportunity to promote the work you’ve done,  download our CV advice to make sure you have presented yourself according to best practice within the creative industries.

No two positions or companies are exactly the same; wherever possible your application, CV or cover letter should be tailored to suit the specific criteria set out by the employer. Take a look at out tips on CV customisation, to make sure you stand out from the crowd for the right reasons!

Perhaps you need a completely fresh start - get inspired using our CV and cover letter templates

For students and graduates looking for more in-depth CV advice, the Creative CV Guide by Jan Cole is packed with fresh approaches to creative CV writing. The guidebook provides real examples of CVs and sample cover letters from students and graduates. UAL Students can buy the Creative CV Guide at the reduced price of £5 direct from the Careers Centre at High Holborn (10am - 5pm weekdays), or order via Amazon

Making those first steps into creative industry can be difficult and demanding. The Employability Toolkit offers ten key steps to securing your first industry position, to ensure your transition is smooth, successful and focused.

It’s estimated that 80% of jobs within the creative industry are never advertised. Sometimes the most effective way to try and secure one of these positions is to introduce yourself to a company over the telephone.

Download our handy tips which will help you get the most out of independently approaching companies of interest.

test

We know that interviews can be a nerve racking experience, and the more you want that job - the worse your nerves - we've all been there! Your not alone, many graduates come to us looking for interview advice, so we've put together a set of  frequently asked interview questions to let you know exactly what the creative industries expect from new graduates looking to take that next big step.

Our Employability Toolkit aims to send you out to that interview brimming with confidence, and preparation is key. Download our interview tips for an overview of what to expect on the day, but to make sure you 'hit a home run', why not ask a friend to help you role-play your upcoming interview using questions commonly asked at interviews.

It's important to set yourself apart and leave a lasting impression with your prospective employer.  Ensure your interviewer is convinced of your interest by asking a few relevant questions of your own.

If you've prepared, practised and had a good nights sleep, but are still feeling the nerves follow these Top 10 stress busters!

Once you've secured a great job, securing the salary you'll need to support yourself is often a top consideration. As a graduate looking to prove yourself it's likely you'll be working extremely hard for a starting salary. But you may be wondering how much can you expect to be paid? And at what point should you consider negotiating for more money?

Download our advice about average graduate salaries in the fashion industry and brush up on your understanding of graduate salaries in other industries so you can have a realistic conversation, where appropriate about what you can expect to be paid.

Not all graduates decide to take up permanent, full time positions upon graduation. If you are considering taking on short term positions or part time work, you may need to agree hourly rates with your employer. Make sure you have all the information you need to know about National Minimum Wages in the UK.

If you are a graduate moving into your first full time position, those first few days can be a daunting prospect. LCF FirstMove has put together some tips to make sure you make the best first impression possible:

• Make sure you arrive on time, having done any possible research on your team so you know the areas of work they cover.

• Dress appropriately for the environment.

• Smile as you are being introduced to new people, when you’re able to get back to your desk jot down names and job titles or little details that will help you place the names with the faces.

• If you’re making a cup of tea in your break and other staff members are around don’t be afraid to introduce yourself, break the ice and be known, but remember that these breaks are short and people are busy so keep your introductions brief but friendly. Don’t get caught out telling your life story!

• Remember that offices environments can be fast paced, especially in the creative industries, people may seem unapproachable or very busy – don’t take this personally. If you have questions jot them down and find an appropriate time to ask for 5 minutes to discuss them. Timing is key but don’t suffer in silence.

It’s important to attempt to keep up the appearance of an even temperament in the office. Although we’re only human and emotions may at time spill over, work place professionalism is vital to allow for many personalities to work effectively within a limited space.

Things to bear in mind:

• Everyone feels stress from workloads, but a considerate team player limits the effect of their own work stress on colleagues, prioritise your tasks and plan your day this will help you reduce your stress levels as well as make it clear when you may need to negotiate an extended deadline.

• Be aware that your colleagues will have diverse sets of responsibilities and priorities which you may not be privy to; try and allocate extra time within your tasks if you require feedback or direction from a teammate, so as to accommodate others workload.

• Don’t be too hasty to take on the work loads of others. Stay focused on your own work until you’re in a position to help others, use any extra time you may have to exceed you manager’s expectations by taking on new responsibilities which may assist you in earning a promotion.

• Remember that even the best of us make mistakes; in fact these mistakes can be an excellent learning curve! Do the best work you can, but don’t waste time obsessing about the occasional blunder. Learn from it and move onwards and upwards, it’s always best to be part of the solution rather than allowing insecurity to add to the problem.

• If you are having one of those days where you feel totally overwhelmed, take 5 minutes. Walk around the block, clear your head and take some deep breaths, it’s better to take 5 minutes to yourself than to unsuccessfully fight back tears at your desk. We’ve all had days that make you feel emotional in the workplace but we’re no longer at school, one has to find ways to diffuse these situations professionally. If you’ve done this and it’s an issue you’re still struggling to deal with, ask your line manager for 10 minutes of their time and ask for the help you need.

There’s a fine line between marketing yourself and just ‘blowing your own trumpet’! But it’s a line we all have to learn to traverse if we are to get noticed. Once you have the job, at the company you’ve worked hard to be in and have mastered the basics of your role, you face a whole new set of challenges with a set of equally qualified internal competitors.

Tips for getting noticed:

• Promotions are usually given out in waves, often those able to vocalise their efforts and achievements are the first to pop into the minds of management. So when you do a bit of great work don’t be afraid to take credit for it. There’s no need to brag but don’t be a corporate wallflower either.

• Once you are established in your role and coping with your work load you may be looking for ways to imbed yourself in the culture of the business. Volunteering for a social or charity committee can be a great way to get to know people from other departments and all levels of the business.

• Taking up extra vocational training opportunities are not only useful for your own personal development, any achievements are likely to be celebrated by your team and the extra effort will get you noticed by management.

• Be consistent. Colleagues and management will notice a reliable, enthusiastic team member who is polite, friendly and has a ‘can do’ attitude.

• When you have team meetings (especially where senior management may be present) be prepared to contribute at least a couple of times. Keep your comments succinct and relevant, but show that you are a valuable asset to the team, confident and able to engage with process of developing ideas for the project, team or client

• If some time has passed since your start date and you feel unsure about your progress within your role, you can ask your manager for an appraisal. This will allow your manager to feedback on your performance and to work with you to set appropriate goals and timelines.  This is a great opportunity for you to gain important insights to where your career may be headed, but make sure that you have time to prepare adequately, be aware of your duties and highlight any additional duties you have volunteered for.