• Job centre style service

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► Job centre style service

University of Salford

The University of Salford advertises a diverse range of work experience opportunities as part of the University’s Careers and Employability service, open to all students and graduates of the University of Salford. It is the role of the Student and Graduate Futures team (who sit within Careers and Employability) to liaise with local and national employers, promote and advertise vacancies and organise recruitment fairs. All work experience opportunities are advertised via the Careers and Employability website.

The types of work experience opportunties advertised include:

• local part-time jobs;
• vacation-period jobs;
• summer / industrial placements;
• graduate jobs;
• volunteering opportunities.

The Student and Graduate Futures (SGF) team work to raise awareness to students that employment can improve their employability and provide valuable evidence of skills and experiences, which prove vital when making applications for graduate vacancies in the future. The team also ensure that vacancies promoted to current students are appropriate.

The key responsibilities of the Student and Graduate Futures team are to:

• promote vacancies on behalf of employers to current University students;
• work with employers to define and promote their vacancies to students;
• organise annual Work and Placement Fairs;
• work to promote the value of developing employment skills and experiences to students and academics;
• work and collaborate as part of the wider Careers and Employability service and take on other duties as appropriate;
• support enterprising and entrepreneurial students and graduates with workshops and business advice;
• provide a year round service to students and graduates (Monday to Friday, 8.30am-5.00pm, all year round).

Charges are not made to employers for the promotion of online vacancies to students.

Student and Graduate Futures is an integral part of the University’s Careers and Employability service. The team are managed by the Student and Graduate Futures Manager who is managed by the Head of Careers and Employability. Careers and Employability is part of the University’s Student Life division which contains many of the University’s student support services.

The Student and Graduate Futures Manager is a member of the Careers and Employability Management Group.

The key stakeholders / clients are:

• University of Salford – seeking to improve the employability of graduates (by encouraging students to engage in employment) and student retention (by providing students with opportunities to earn a financial income to cover their living costs);
• students - seeking employment opportunities to develop skills, experiences and earn an income;
• employers - seeking to fill their vacancies;
• university academics - seeking appropriate placement opportunities for their students.

Many on-campus vacancies are promoted via the website, such as; University Tour Guides, Welcome Programme Assistants, Researchers, Social Secretary…etc. Promotion of these has been arranged with individual support services and Schools of study.

All employers using the vacancies service must complete a ‘Submit Vacancy Form’ which can be sent to them or completed online. This is enforced to ensure that detailed information about each vacancy is obtained allowing staff to assess each vacancy for suitability and adherence to employment legislation.

Most employers using the service operate in the sectors outlined below:

• contact centres (finance / telephone / market research);
• hotels;
• retail;
• marketing;
• hospitality / catering;
• I.T. (web / graphic Design);
• museums;
• film extras / modelling;
• care / social work;
• teaching / coaching;
• translation / interpreting;
• bookmakers.

Staff deal with queries from students in relation to specific vacancies, employment legislation, feedback and finding appropriate employment. The service also provides information on student employment issues such as the National Minimum Wage, obtaining a National Insurance Number, information for internaitonal students who want to work whilst studying and employment rights and responsibilities.

The service promotes vacancies during semester-time that are up to 20 hours work per week but recommends that full-time students do not work more than 16 hours per week. These maximum and recommended limits were set after considering students’ study commitments, the needs of employers and standards set by other Universities.

The service also has its own “Guidelines on Suitability” which define types of vacancies that cannot be promoted, including; commission only jobs, jobs that require the employee to make an initial financial outlay, jobs that conflict with University practices (eg encourage plagiarism)….etc.

Success is measured by compiling statistical data such as numbers of; employer clients, vacancies promoted and students registering with the vacancies website. Statistics are compared to previous years to identify changes and measure success. Success is also measured by setting and reviewing the achievement of key aims and objectives as set out in the Annual Operational Plan which defines key targets and deadlines. Conducting surveys of students and by pro-actively encouraging feedback from employers, students and University staff. Survey results and feedback are monitored and evaluated to determine the effectiveness of the service and identify potential improvements.

(September 2011)