work/job for the summer?

mug51

Hi,
I saw a thread about work experience but didnt want to hijack his thread, this pretty much is the same.

Anyways, I am in my second stage of university and I would love to do some work in the summer just to make my CV look better than blank when I get a proper job. Problem is I have no idea what jobs are out there based on the subject i'm studying (Maths), I can't see how the work we do in the lectures relate to jobs. So if anyone has any thoughts, I'd be happy to hear them.

Also, should I write out my letter to the companies and send it off now or wait till exams are over?

Thanks, James.

ames123_2

I don't think it would matter too much if the job is not related to your degree subject - though would help if you are hoping to get a job related to your degree. I don't know whether you should apply now, but I think you should apply before the exams are over if you wanted to start soon after you have finished.

I am looking for something to do over the summer, am thinking about aupairing lol!
Amy

Blacksheep1979

Doing something always looks better than nothing but unfortunately alot of the big companies internship type things will have closed their applications now. But doing anything even work america gives you valuable life and people skills that you can talk about in an interview.

A little tip for next year - do your applications as soon as you get back to uni as alot close farily early.

Oldernotwiser

mug51 wrote:

Hi,
I saw a thread about work experience but didnt want to hijack his thread, this pretty much is the same.

Anyways, I am in my second stage of university and I would love to do some work in the summer just to make my CV look better than blank when I get a proper job. Problem is I have no idea what jobs are out there based on the subject i'm studying (Maths), I can't see how the work we do in the lectures relate to jobs. So if anyone has any thoughts, I'd be happy to hear them.

Also, should I write out my letter to the companies and send it off now or wait till exams are over?

Thanks, James.

I wouldn't worry too much about summer jobs related to your subject at this stage (although you should be giving a fair bit of thought to your ultimate plans as you're half way through your degree!) . Look to develop transferrable skills like working with a variety of people, communicating, taking responsibility and problem solving. Employers are very keen on transferrable skills.
As before, this website is excellent and will give you ideas for careers using Maths.

http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Options_with_your_subject/Your_degree_in_mathematics/Your_skills/p!elkiXeg

Also remember that the majority of graduates don't use their degrees vocationally; in other words, you do a degree so that, ultimately you'll be a graduate.

si1503

Blacksheep1979 wrote:

Doing something always looks better than nothing but unfortunately alot of the big companies internship type things will have closed their applications now. But doing anything even work america gives you valuable life and people skills that you can talk about in an interview.

A little tip for next year - do your applications as soon as you get back to uni as alot close farily early.

Tell me about it! I've finally got around to doing my applications now and the majority of the big investment banks have closed their little doors already (morg stan, GS, ML, deustche), even a lot of the others have, bank of america, barclays.. not looking good for me. Most of the rest I've looked at close within the next week, so I'm just trying to apply to as many a poss now, but earlier applications are advised by a lot of them.

As someone else mentioned, my next stop will be to find a job with good transferable skills, that will help develop my interpersonal communication, problem solving, responsibility work. And just about every company out there has some sort of accounts/finance division, so chances are I still might be able to find something related to what I want to do, if not directly related to the job position I would like to undertake upon graduation.

mug51

thanks for the replies guys and gals

Was looking for internships last night and found hardly any had bases in Newcastle, the ones that did had been taken. Looks like I will have to move away.

crazy_guy

Depends on what you want as a future career really - I'm studying law so last year i wrote a load of letters to local solicitors asking for a summer placement, got one and going back this summer aswell!!

If you want to work for a accountants for the summer or wherever do the same thing - No harm in asking now!

mug51

I am applying for internships in Mercer HR and Rolls Royce, however they ask for a minimum of 2.1 honours degree. I haven't yet completed m,y degree so thats pretty much impossible to have. Rolls Royce does say a predicted 2.1 but how do I know what I am predicted if they are still marking our exam papers which we will find out our results in late feb?

Cheers

si1503

mug51 wrote:

I am applying for internships in Mercer HR and Rolls Royce, however they ask for a minimum of 2.1 honours degree. I haven't yet completed m,y degree so thats pretty much impossible to have. Rolls Royce does say a predicted 2.1 but how do I know what I am predicted if they are still marking our exam papers which we will find out our results in late feb?

Cheers

They will look at what grades you have attained so far (in your first year), and what "you" expect to get, obviously you are not going to have the degree yet.

tripled

William Hill are advertising for students to do summer work. There's a massive poster in the window of the one down the road from me.

mug51

oh thanx si, didn't think they would look at the first year grades as they don't count towards the final grade.

thanx tripled I'll check my out the local Will Hill aswell.