Graduate Prospects - December 12, 2007 - (Page 4)

4 PROSPECTS GRADUATE Issue 57 · 12 December 2007 · Fortnightly www.prospects.ac.uk DEAR CAREERS CONSULTANT ESCAPE FROM LAW I completed a law degree, but do not want to enter the legal profession. How do I convince employers that they should consider me for their graduate schemes? MICHAEL Many employers of graduates do not require particular degree subjects and welcome How clear are you about possible career options? If you are to present yourself well to applications from a variety of disciplines. They potential employers, you will need to be clear about what you want to do and why. Consider will, of course, have other requirements. For if you wish to utilise your legal knowledge in example, some will specify high academic results such as a 2:1 or above and maybe high some way or whether you are looking for a complete change in direction. A-level grades (or equivalent). Others may require relevant work experience (paid or unpaid) and all will be looking for a selection of skills that will vary depending upon the employer and the nature of the work. Your success in convincing an employer that you are the right candidate for their opportunity will depend very much upon how well you present yourself and relate what you offer to their needs. You may also have to be very clear, and concise, about why you do not wish to pursue a career in law. Your degree study will have allowed you to develop many skills that employers seek. There are profiles of particular degree subjects at www.prospects.ac.uk/links/signposts including law. The profile covers some of the skills that If you are not at all sure what to do, the job matching exercise Prospects Planner might help. This cannot tell you what to do or tell you the ‘right’ job. This is for you to determine. However, the exercise can help you to concentrate on what interests you and can produce a list of jobs that you may wish to explore further. There are roles where your knowledge of law might be useful, but do not require training to become a solicitor or barrister. An example is jobs relating to compliance with financial regulations. The profile of the legal sector at www.prospects.ac.uk/links/sectorbs includes some of these roles. YOUR VOTE In 2007 have you got nearer to where you want to be? (SEE PAGE 2 ARTICLE) YES NO RESULTS NEXT TIME THE VOTE LAST TIME Employers and agencies don’t keep readers well informed of the progress of their job applications. 88% said they were left in the dark. 12% were told what was happening. Also try your university careers service to see if you can still use them. Discussing law students develop, such as attention to your situation and plans with an adviser detail, analysis, research, problem solving and might help. Contact details will be at public speaking. You will also find detail of www.prospects.ac.uk/links/careersservices. some of the jobs that law graduates choose. LAURA HOOKE, CAREERS CONSULTANT, PROSPECTS PROSPECTS’ TEAM OF CAREERS CONSULTANTS ARE AVAILABLE TO GIVE FREE CONFIDENTIAL ADVICE BY EMAIL SEE THE BAD BUSINESS ARCHIVE http://www.prospects.ac.uk http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Feature_articles/Yes/p!edcbjiF http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Feature_articles/No/p!eaLeijF http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/sectorbs http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/signposts http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/gradadvice http://www.prospects.ac.uk/links/careersservices http://www.prospects.ac.uk/cms/ShowPage/Home_page/Feature_articles/Bad_Business/p!egimFbd

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Graduate Prospects - December 12, 2007

Editorial: The 2007 Experience Editorial: Bloggers At Work Boots Plc Editorial: Escape From Law NATS ABP Norwich Union SELEX Enterprise Rent-a-car Costain Oil, Gas & Process Ltd Gradweb Babcock Marine OFCOM National Graduate Recruitment Exhibition National Graduate Recruitment Exhibition Matson Driscoll & Damico UK Property Market Analysis NHS Perriam & Everett Recruitment Cambridgeshire County Council Shape Media University of London Careers Service Editorial: Act Two

Graduate Prospects - December 12, 2007

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