We also had the opportunity to talk with two recent graduates working at Cancer Research UK, Andrew and David, who took us on a tour of the office and also shared their experiences of their graduate schemes so far.

Photos of the afternoon are here and we should be able to put up a few videos of the day soon!

We’re looking to build a new type of profile which allows students to gain a genuine insight in what it is like working at some of the top business in the UK. We’ve titled these overviews “social profiles” and here’s our first attempt at opening recruiters doors one.

We think the main benefits are:

• You can see photos of the offices, the people you’ll be working with and the surrounding area
• You can keep up to date with the latest news from Twitter, Facebook and RSS feeds
• You can hear direct from recruiters in their own videos about what they are looking for in the ideal application

Would be great to hear any thoughts or feedback – we’ll be looking to launch this on the 10th August 2009.Please take a look at the link below and feeback in the comments below – thank you!

http://thegradroom.com/profile.html

AIESEC student members are enabled to take responsibility from the moment they join the organisation through running our global internship programme; participating in mentorship activities; connecting through virtual learning environments; attending local competency development sessions; organising events; and attending national and international conferences for functional training.  As AIESEC members works to develop professional and leadership skills – in parallel with his academic coursework – they track their progress because they know that part of becoming a responsible leader is understanding how they have grown in the process.

Organisations like HSBC, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Cadbury and Microsoft are proud to work with AIESEC because of the highly skilled, well rounded international and UK graduates sourced through AIESEC’s Access Global Talent and graduate recruitment programmes.

For more information, e-mail paul@aiesec.co.uk or check out www.aiesec.co.uk.

Recruiter and Student testimonials:

What our partners say about us…

“As a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, Ernst & Young are proud to support the work of AIESEC. Like AIESEC, we believe in making a difference and helping people achieve their potential.”
- Senior Manager, Global Recruitment

“Our partnership with AIESEC in the UK gives us access to extraordinary talent and energy that would be difficult for us to find on our own. AIESEC talent means passion and international experience married with strong values and maturity beyond youthful years. Alcatel-Lucent is proud to be an AIESEC UK partner and an AIESEC global partner. More than that: we’re inspired by AIESEC.”
- Vice President, Alcatel-Lucent

“KPMG has held a mutually beneficial relationship with AIESEC over the years to help AIESEC members realise their potential during their time at university and in the workplace afterwards, while at the same time providing KPMG with a platform to raise its profile among highly motivated and enthusiastic students at some of the UK’s leading universities.”
- Campus Marketing Executive, KPMG

“HSBC International Management has worked with AIESEC for a number of years. There is a natural fit between the skills and experiences students gain through AIESEC and as an International Manager. Both require mobile and adaptable leaders with the ability to work with new people and adjust quickly to unfamiliar surroundings.”
- Senior Recruitment Manager, International Managers Programme, HSBC

The student perspective…

“I joined AIESEC as a way to strengthen my university experience and provide a practical element to my Economics and Management degree. Since joining, I have organised conferences, managed a local committee of over 20 people and worked for the National Team of AIESEC in Croatia during my summer. My AIESEC experience exposed me to a new culture, taught me to adapt, and enabled me to improve my communication skills.”
-Celine Estache, AIESEC Bristol

“I have had the joy being local committee president of AIESEC Birmingham this year, organising and coordinating events and managing a team of diverse people to reach a common goal. I have been consistently challenged to develop myself and my skills. After having attended several conferences and networking with inspiring students from all over the world I am more confident in my abilities and I am sure that I have put myself in an excellent position to kick-start my career.”
-Rumbie Mushangi, AIESEC Birmingham

CV/ Web form

Covering letter advice: structure: http://www.milkround.com/news-careers-advice/295/Covering-Letters/careers-advice

Free cv check: http://www.cvchecker.com/freecvreview_all.asp?id=179

How not to write an application form: http://www.milkround.com/news-careers-advice/595/How-NOT-to-Write-a-Winning-Application-Form/careers-advice

How to fit job hunting into your final year: http://targetjobs.co.uk/general-advice/articleview-13a_4471.aspx

Downloadable sample cvs: http://targetjobs.co.uk/job-hunting-tools/downloadable-cvs.aspx

What to do with a 2.2: http://targetjobs.co.uk/general-advice/articleview-14a_3148.aspx

Making speculative applications: http://targetjobs.co.uk/general-advice/articleview-15a_10.aspx

Different CVs for different jobs: http://targetjobs.co.uk/general-advice/articleview-15a_9.aspx

CV examples: http://www.ratemyplacement.co.uk/articles/2008/01/27/cv-advice/

Industry specific sample covering letters http://targetjobs.co.uk/job-hunting-tools/downloadable-covering-letters.aspx

Paid application form review: http://www.wikijob.co.uk/application-form-review-service

Top ten cv tips video: http://www.grb.uk.com/cv_makeover.0.html

Covering letter template: http://www.grb.uk.com/resource/uploads/template_cl.pdf

Professional CV advice: http://www.bradleycvs.co.uk/index.htm

Role specific cv templates: http://career-advice.monster.co.uk/cvs-applications/free-cv-templates/jobs.aspx

Create your own Audio and video cv: http://www.talkingcv.com/index.html

Psychometric Tests

Psychometric tests explained: http://targetjobs.co.uk/job-hunting-tools/articleview-11a_22.aspx

Free Practice Tests: http://www.shldirect.com/practice_tests.html

And http://www.psl.co.uk/practice/

And http://www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/practice-psychometric-tests

And http://www.jobtestprep.co.uk/jtpsite/content/en-GB/3/chooseTrial.aspx

First Interview

Law Firm interview questions: http://www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/list-law-firm-interview-questions

Questions to ask in your interview: http://www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/questions-ask-your-interviewer

Investment banking interview questions http://www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/investment-banking-interview-questions

Virtual Job Interview: http://career-advice.monster.co.uk/job-interview/job-interview-questions/it-virtual-job-interview/article.aspx

Interview Preparation Video: http://career-advice.monster.co.uk/job-interview/job-interview-questions/it-virtual-job-interview/article.aspx

Marketing yourself in an interview video: http://career-advice.monster.co.uk/job-interview/job-interview-behaviour/marketing-yourself-successfully-video/article.aspx

Classic job interview questions video (4 hardest questions) http://career-advice.monster.co.uk/job-interview/job-interview-questions/classic-job-interview-questions-video/article.aspx

What to do if you fancy your interviewer!! http://career-advice.monster.co.uk/job-interview/job-interview-questions/classic-job-interview-questions-video/article.aspx

How to give examples in interview video http://jobs.guardian.co.uk/videos/200792/297113/1/

Assessment Centre

Guide to surviving an assessment centre: http://www.ratemyplacement.co.uk/articles/advice-and-featuresold/assessment-centres/

Practice e-tray exercise: http://www.wikijob.co.uk/wiki/e-tray-exercise

Practice intray exercise http://www.careers.ed.ac.uk/STUDENTS/Applications_Interviews/AssessmentCentres/in-tray%20exercise/intray_exercise.htm

Second Interview

Offer and Acceptance

How to deal with acceptance and rejection http://targetjobs.co.uk/general-advice/acceptance-and-rejection.aspx

Follow up interview audio advice: http://career-advice.monster.co.uk/job-interview/after-a-job-interview/following-up-job-interviews-audio/article.aspx

The process of accepting a job offer: http://career-advice.monster.co.uk/job-interview/after-a-job-interview/what-is-the-process-of-accepting-a-job-offer/article.aspx

So you didn’t get it. The best thing to do at this stage is get feedback. Where did you go wrong? Was it something you said? How can you improve for next time? There will always be a next time…graduate recruiters are human and they are allowed to make mistakes!

Here are some useful resources on how to get back on your feet.

A general job offer process is described well on Monster’s website and they also have some useful tips on how to follow up your final interview here.

Prospects:
Really useful summary of psychometric tests and lots of useful links.
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Applications__CVs_and_interviews/Tests_and_exercises/Psychometric_tests/p!eLagFgF

Target Jobs:
Links to section on psychometric tests which has a lot of resources on why tests are used, the different types of tests and some examples.
http://targetjobs.co.uk/job-hunting-tools/psychometric-tests.aspx

Treat it formally
Grammar is critically important

Be clear and to the point
plan your answers, think about how you structure your response
Most sites run sessions which time-out after a while of not using the site.  This can be extremely irritating – spend a while writing an excellent answer and when you hit ‘submit’ the information is lost!

Some parts may be time restricted
You can use Word to copy the questions from an online form and work on them later
Check over it once you’re done and take the chance to have someone else have a look at it.  Get some advice from your careers service by printing off your application or the questions you’ve written in Word.

SelectSimulator
If you would like to sign up for it, SelectSimulator lets you create a mock application form and gives advice on each section as you build it.  http://www.selectsimulator.com/
Prospects:
Single page which clearly describes the sections you are likely to find in an online application form and what you should be thinking about in each section.
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Applications__CVs_and_interviews/Job_applications/Application_forms/p!egFlab

Target Jobs
http://targetjobs.co.uk/general-advice/articleview-15a_13.aspx

Get:
Application form advice

http://www.get.hobsons.co.uk/advice/job-applications-forms
Quick list of Do’s and Don’t
http://www.get.hobsons.co.uk/advice/job-applications-online

GRB:
Description of application forms with some example questions
http://www.grb.uk.com/making_applications0.0.html

Power Words
Application form is the recruiter’s first impression of you – the language you use and the tone you set will make a difference.  Two links to examples of power words below.  A word of caution, be careful how you use these techniques as they can make the application look a bit insincere or over

Talks about what you should be thinking about to make sure your application or CV has a really positive impact
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Applications__CVs_and_interviews/Job_applications/Power_words/p!eklfXef

List of words to which strengthen your point
http://www.get.hobsons.co.uk/advice/job-applications-power-words

Interview preparation
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Applications__CVs_and_interviews/Interviews/Preparation/p!eplFbj

Making a good impression
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Applications__CVs_and_interviews/Interviews/How_to_impress/p!elpgeg
http://www.get.hobsons.co.uk/advice/interview-job

Types of questions you can expect
http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Applications__CVs_and_interviews/Interviews/Interview_questions/p!ejimac
http://www.get.hobsons.co.uk/advice/interview-sample-questions