IT’S an image of the student summer holiday which many immediately relate to: long, lazy days filled with very little, while those who needed cash for the next term spent their “vacation” pulling pints or stacking shelves. Sadly, at least for the classes of 2007 and onwards, the Utopian summers which older generations remember so fondly are being consigned to the history books in favour of finding ways to make one’s CV sing that little bit louder when it comes to graduating and finding a career. “More and more people are going to university, and that means people need to find ways to make their CVs stand out when they do enter the marketplace for work,” says Katharine McKinnon, employer liaison officer at Edge Hill University, which has its main based in Ormskirk and a business campus in Liverpool. “Spending the summer working can help prove that you are reliable, good at keeping time, and determined to show how good you are. “We try to help students find work placements, or summer jobs or courses which relate to their studies, and which will add something to the CV in the end. “Of course, many students have jobs while at university to help make ends meet, but it is important that these don’t interfere with studies. “In the summer, however, students have a real chance to do something which will give their CV a lift and make employers think ‘they’re really dedicated and committed’. “For some, that could be getting first- aid training or taking on additional summer studies. Little things make a real difference.” Martin Wright, executive director of the North West Aerospace Alliance, says: “We are in a global marketplace, which means we have to make sure we have the best possible workforce in order to maintain a world competitive aerospace industry in the region. Seeing students spending their summer learning is a very positive sign.” Increasingly, big firms, including Deloitte and Touche, which has a presence in Liverpool, offer American-style summer internships for undergraduates where, in return for holiday working, students can jump to the front of the queue when they start recruiting for full-time vacancies. Websites such as employment4 students. co.uk have been set up to link companies offering such intern- ships with suitable students. “The idea of internships has really taken off,” says Katharine. “Again, it provides the chance to experience work relating to the degree a student is studying for and gives them the chance to get their name known. “For the organisation offering the internship’s point of view, it also means they have people working for them who have a good knowledge of the work when they arrive and it can lead to more regular work while still at university. A lot of students now actively seek out work at firms relating to their studies.” That’s certainly the case for mature student Julie Comlay, who is in the fifth year of the nine-year architecture degree at the University of Liverpool. Julie, who moved to Liverpool for the course, approached 2020 Liverpool, a joint venture partnership between Mouchel Parkman and Liverpool City Council to provide property and professional services. A 12-month placement ensued, during which Julie put a lot of her skills into practice – and she’s now back there for this summer again. Julie said: “Putting what I’ve learnt into practice has been very satisfying, because with this course, you study for a very long time. “This training will hopefully give me a competitive edge when I come to look for permanent work, and the fact I’ve been invited back for a 12-week summer placement shows that it has proved to be worthwhile. “Getting the practical training to accompany the academic side of things is very important, and it’s worth putting the effort in to get it.” Career advisers say it is not only students working on career-specific degrees, such as law, architecture and engineering, who can benefit from looking for additional training and work in the summer months. “There are a lot of students who approach us while doing degrees in things like history or English who want to experience different types of work,” says Katherine Tiddy, from Search Consultancy’s Liverpool office, in Castle Street. “The student workforce is a very well respected one within businesses now, because students are seen as hard-working and reliable people who can really help in the summer. “Spending a summer in, say, a sales job not only helps clear student debt but also shows that a student is learning skills which will help massively when they go on to a sales job in the future. “It’s certainly worth spending time in the summer getting such work, because the conversion rate from temporary work to full-time employment is quite remarkable. “Extra training, or summer jobs, give that edge on CVs when employers are looking through a mountain of applications, the vast majority of which will have degree-level learning on it.”
Putting theory into practice TAKING such advice on board last summer was Carlos Musimurimwa, 22, who studied engineering at the University of Liverpool. While many of his friends headed abroad for the summer, or just returned home, Carlos, originally from London, opted to commute daily to Blackburn. That is where a 10-week summer school was being held for engineering students by the North West Aerospace Alliance, which aims to promote the region as an area of aerospace excellence, and training provider Training 2000. Undergraduates have been attending the summer school for the past six years, and the course’s reputation has led to good jobs in the competitive aerospace sector for many. Carlos received £140-a-week for attending, and spent time at a Lancashire-based aerospace firm, who said after the course they would be keen to have Carlos back with them – quite probably because he helped to find efficiency savings in the company. “They asked me to look at one of their machines to make sure it was running efficiently,” said Carlos. “I looked at the various parts in it and changed a few things, and it has gone from needing 15 litres of oil a time to seven, which will save the company money over time. “That was probably the most rewarding thing about the summer school, seeing how what I learn in university can be used within a company. “On a degree course, you learn a lot about the theory behind engineering, but this course was the first chance I had to put it into action. “It means that when I leave university I can show employers I have been on a well-regarded course in my own time and have experience in the world of work. “Hopefully that will be the difference between me and other candidates for jobs. “I would recommend to anyone doing engineering that they should spend the summer in Blackburn.” Industry experts also believe such courses help the economy overall.
What to look for in an employer TALENT management company Taleo, which works with companies across the region to find suitable “future stars”, offers the following tips for undergraduates looking at which companies to approach for experience in the workplace: Interactive career website: Does the company’s career webpage provide all the relevant information or is it confusing? Can you apply directly on the site? Fast interaction: Are communications from the company prompt? Are you kept informed about what is going on? Strong brand presence: Does the company have a strong recruitment brand? Does it attend events and university open days? Does it use online referral networks or social networks to draw interest towards the company? Priority on career-pathing and internal mobility: Once employed, are there the opportunities to move around the company and broaden your horizons? Is there a clear career path mapped out for you? Promotes flexibility and a work-life balance: Does the company truly value a work-life balance and, more importantly, provide you with the tools to achieve it? Try before you buy: Does the company get involved in internships or college placement programmes? Engaging with an organisation in this way provides a valuable insight into the company’s culture. | 
