Giving a talk on my career

Princess_Jane

I've been asked to give a talk on my career to uni students who are thinking of following the same path.

Has anyone done this before and has any tips to offer?

I'm good at my job but explaining it is another matter. A lot of it I feel I just 'do'.

I might just shout this for half-a-hour before inviting questions.;)

Oldernotwiser

I would certainly include something about qualifications and experience (normally) required as well as your expected career path or options to transfer your skills/education into other pathways. I wouldn't get too stuck on the minutiae of your job, although you could describe a typical day.

They will almost certainly ask you about salaries, so be prepared to answer that generally if you don't want to tell them how much you earn.

Princess_Jane

Thanks.

Luckily I rarely have typical days, so there's plenty to tell and my salary is pants, which I'm happy to admit.

If they still want to follow my chosen career after that, then they are obviously dedicated and I wish them well.

donquine

I've done this sort of thing quite a few times. Firstly, the students will want to know if they are even able to get a job like yours - are there minimum academic requirements? Are these flexible? If you're talking on behalf of your employer rather than in general about your job, there may be questions on work permits and job application closing dates.

Secondly, they'll want to know more about the day to day job. You may not have a typical day, in which case stress there is a lot of variety and give them an example of a recent day for you. If you want to encourage them to join your profession, pick a recent interesting day, rather than one where you went home and wanted to cry afterwards.

The last question students generally always ask is how much the job pays. You may be prepared to answer this honestly, however you may be part of a profession where salaries are not really disclosed, so if you need to fob them off, practise doing so beforehand. If a student wants to know the salary, they will be persistent in asking you.

You may occasionally have students with less typical circumstances, e.g. mature student with children, in which case they will want to know if your job can be done by them, or if it's really only suitable for fresh graduates with no baggage. This sort of scenario is best covered in a question and answer session, rather than being part of your presentation itself. Be honest - some parents will be put off by things such as long hours and long distance travel, but others will be happy to take the job as long as they've had time to find a solution. By highlighting the impact of your job on your home life now, you're giving them a chance to work out if they can manage a similar scenario and if so, how. That kind of heads up is generally appreciated - your students won't be working until the summer at the earliest and if they start planning now, they should be able to fnd a solution by then.

You can get loads of students at these sort of events, or hardly any, so don't panic if you're talking to a huge roomful of people, or get upset if you're talking to an audience of two.

Whatever the turnout, you have first hand experience and that is really valuable. If you forget to cover something important, you'll get asked a question on it anyway.

Good luck!

getmore4less

Most jobs have good bits and bad bits make sure you cover both.

Another area that may be relevent is who employs people to do this job, it might some will be a lot better than other, on pay and conditions and others are know as being bad, a heads up on that might be usefull.

Princess_Jane

Thanks all,

the only awkward thing might be is the university course they're on doesn't cover all the specific requirements for my job.
Basically, if they want to work in the industry, they're going to have to do additional qualifications.
I'm sure this will not be well received, but I can only speak as I know.
It's the uni's problem, not mine..

getmore4less

Princess_Jane wrote: »

Thanks all,

the only awkward thing might be is the university course they're on doesn't cover all the specific requirements for my job.
Basically, if they want to work in the industry, they're going to have to do additional qualifications.
I'm sure this will not be well received, but I can only speak as I know.
It's the uni's problem, not mine..

Best they find out now and not later.

This can happen with a lot of jobs

The crazy thing is unless they are legal requirements often people have the jobs without the "required" qualification but just shedloads of experience.

A lot of the stuff I know about now there were no qualifications for it when I was doing it 20 years ago. now you need a degree and I don't have it.

Great untill you need to move!


These extras are they easy or hard to get?

Princess_Jane

I got the on a 20-week professional qualification.

It's 100wpm shorthand, law and a few other necessities.

It's a tough course and not cheap, especially after a degree.

Princess_Jane

Well that seemed to go well.

They seemed genuinely interested, asked questions and I've got a few who'd like to do some work experience.

:j