THE OXFORD GUIDE TO CAREERS pp16–35 Developing your career ideas pp36–46 Gaining experience and developing skills pp66–143 Sector advice and alumni profiles CREATE TODAY. PREDICT TOMORROW. WELCOME TO THE OXFORD GUIDE OPPORTUNITES FOR GRADUATES IN THESE AREAS: Quantitative Research Infrastructure GRADUATES AND INTERNS TO CAREERS 2021 Machine Learning Data Analytics Software Engineering Human Resources We hire a significant number of graduates and interns every I can confidently predict that this year is going to be year from all levels ranging from quite different for getting a job. Don’t believe everything undergraduate through to PhD. you read or hear from friends and family; as in every time of major change or recession, there will be roles and expanding industries that are keen to recruit you. There Join Europe’s leading quantitative finance research APPLY TODAY will be organisations that are winners as well as some firm and work alongside the brightest minds in that are losers. gresearch.co.uk/graduates the world to tackle some of the biggest questions To succeed in this time of change, I’d recommend you stay adaptable and open to new opportunities. Focus on in finance. developing your set of transferable skills – like problem solving, teamwork, business awareness and leadership We use machine learning, big data, and some of the most – that every employer is seeking when they recruit. You advanced technology in the world to predict movements can develop your employability skills in our programmes in financial markets. Develop your skills in a cutting-edge and also in activities across the University and beyond, environment, surrounded by colleagues who are leaders in their OFFICE Jonathan Black, including college, departments, student societies, sports, fields. We’re proud to offer a highly competitive compensation Whittington House Director of the Careers Service volunteering, and the creative arts. and benefits package, plus a dedicated intern social program. London WC1E 7EA www.careers.ox.ac.uk 1 WELCOME SOLVE PROBLEMS. SAVE LIVES. NO EXPERIENCE £45k REQUIRED STARTING SAL ARY Graduate Software Developer Graduate Analyst We have written this Guide for any and every Oxford • learn about information interviewing with alumni student: undergraduate or postgraduate, artist or • attend one of the many ‘Introduction to …’ talks scientist, who each usually have one of three questions: we run • Where do I start? • To gain more skills: Marketing & • How do I gain more skills to improve my chances • take part in the Oxford Strategy Challenge or The (especially in this time of change)? Student Consultancy Communications • Where do I find jobs and internships? • work, as the students above have, in an Oxford- You’ll find answers to these questions, and many exclusive Micro- or Summer Internship Programme more in this Guide: from ‘How do I write a winning • attend Insight into Teaching/Medicine/ CV?’ to ‘What does it take to be a solicitor?’ and from Business/Publishing/Academia/Pharma Account Manager ‘How do I get experience in the museum and heritage programmes. sector?’ to ‘How do I meet a careers adviser for a 1:1 • To find jobs and internships: appointment?’. • log onto CareerConnect This Guide is just one of the many free services you • sign up for automatic alerts about new jobs in Commercial Manager can access from the University Careers Service. Other your industries of choice services you can use include: • meet the Internship Office to explore our • To get started: Internship and Micro-Internship programmes • book a confidential 1:1 (there are over 5,000 a We look forward to meeting you at our fairs and year to choose from) events; in your college, department or faculty; or at the • visit some careers fairs Careers Service at 56 Banbury Road – both while you www.tpp-careers.com • use our Career Weaver tool are here and for the rest of your career (we offer the meet some employers Oxford Careers Service for life). • TPP Careers @TPPCareers @tpp_careers TPP 2 www.careers.ox.ac.uk CONTENTS p8 p36 THE CAREERS SERVICE GAINING EXPERIENCE AND YOUR YEAR AHEAD AND DEVELOPING SKILLS An overview of the recruitment Core employability skills: what year at Oxford University and they are and ideas on how to the range of support available develop them. p66 at the Careers Service. INDUSTRY SECTOR THE OXFORD Gaining experience and developing skills ...... 36 Your Careers Service ............................................. 8 Developing core skills ......................................... 37 BRIEFINGS AND What’s next? What’s first? ................................ 10 Joining employability programmes ................. 39 GUIDE TO Careers term by term ......................................... 12 Seven ways to gain experience ....................... 42 ALUMNI PROFILES Careers year by year .......................................... 14 Making the most of the internship office ..... 45 CAREERS 2021 An introduction to a wide variety of different industries, The team p16 p47 including real-world insights Content: The Careers Service and advice from Oxford alumni. Editor: Julia Sadler DEVELOPING YOUR APPLICATION Academia and higher education ...................... 68 Publishing assistant: Pauline Gümpel Accountancy and financial services ................ 70 Design and layout: Simon Minter, Nineteenpoint Ltd CAREER IDEAS ESSENTIALS Advertising, marketing and PR ........................ 73 Sales: Aisling Ridge and Eleanor Russell Arts and heritage ................................................. 76 Marketing: Corina Lacurezeanu Banking and investment .................................... 78 Accounts: Soon-Mi Newman Business and management ............................... 83 With thanks to: Careers information and advice Advice, guidance and tactics Business with purpose ....................................... 86 All Careers Service staff and alumni contributors for everyone – including how for being your best at all stages Charity and social enterprise ............................ 88 Images: Alumni photographs are the subjects’ own to develop and explore ideas of the application process. Consultancy .......................................................... 91 for what to do next, from Education ............................................................... 99 Where to find us Successful applications ...................................... 48 Energy, sustainability and environment ..... 101 further study to how to find Equality and diversity in the Engineering ........................................................ 105 Health and social care ..................................... 109 The Careers Service is offering a full programme of graduate jobs. application process ............................................. 50 International policy and development ........ 111 support and activities online throughout the current CVs .......................................................................... 51 Law ....................................................................... 113 pandemic. See www.careers.ox.ac.uk for details. Cover letters ......................................................... 54 Five steps for better career planning ............. 17 Application forms for employment Media and journalism ...................................... 120 National policy and government .................. 123 56 Banbury Road, Oxford, OX2 6PA Ethical networking .............................................. 22 and further study ................................................ 56 Publishing ........................................................... 125 Telephone: + 44 (0) 1865 27 46 46 Building your occupational awareness ........... 25 How to reflect the same experience Science ................................................................ 127 Email: [email protected] Routes into graduate employment ................. 28 in a CV, cover letter and application form .... 57 Start-ups and entrepreneurship ................... 131 www.twitter.com/oxfordcareers Further study ........................................................ 30 Recruitment tests ............................................... 58 Tech: IT, data, AI and machine learning ....... 134 www.instagram.com/oxfordcareers Working in different countries ......................... 32 Assessment centres ............................................ 60 Other careers .................................................... 140 www.youtube.com/user/OxfordCareersService Visa options for working in the UK ................. 34 Confident interviews .......................................... 62 www.facebook.com/internshipoffice 4 www.careers.ox.ac.uk www.careers.ox.ac.uk 5 ADVERTISERS’ INDEX / CONTRIBUTORS’ INDEX CONTRIBUTORS’ INDEX ADVERTISERS’ INDEX CONTRIBUTORS’ INDEX Oxford Careers Service would Oxford Careers Service would Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Patchwork Hub Martin Dickson ................................................. 115 Beth Kume-Holland ............................................ 89 like to thank all supporters of like to thank all contributors for this publication. submitting profiles and quotes. Genomics plc REED Specialist Recruitment Limited Dr Maria C Suciu ............................................... 131 Ann-Marie Jay ...................................................... 84 Ab Initio Software Ltd ..................................... 136 Accenture Government Legal Department Reuters Dr Lakshmi Manjoosha Adapa ................ 36, 106 Cisco Systems, Inc. .........................................