Uncovering the secrets of successful job-hunting
Published 21 January 2010
Students on Lancaster’s Masters programmes in Accounting and Finance have been gaining a real edge in their preparation for job hunting.
In early January 2010 the students attended a workshop on assessment centres delivered by top firm of business psychologists, Carter Corson.
Assessment centres, which are widely used by employers keen to recruit the best graduates, comprise a range of activities designed to really test candidates short-listed for jobs. The range of activities is very broad, but often includes group work, presentations, business games and psychometric tests.
For many years LUMS-CEEC – Lancaster University Management School’s specialist careers unit - has given students the chance to develop the skills needed for assessment centres in a safe environment, in workshops delivered by top employers such as Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Carter Corson, who ran the workshop for Accounting and Finance students this January, are one of the UK’s leading firms of business psychologists, and specialists in the design and delivery of assessment centres, which they provide for many clients.
‘A distinguishing feature of our programmes,’ says Steve Young, Professor of Accounting at Lancaster, ‘Is that we’re currently investing substantial resources in events like this, which are designed to develop students’ employability skills. Rather than using academic staff, we’re bringing in professional consulting firms with key skills in employability, which are designed to improve the chances of our students succeeding in the recruitment and selection process.’
The January workshop was all about understanding the philosophy behind assessment centres and developing the skills to successfully navigate them, so that when the students leave university, they will have the skills to successfully enter the job market.
‘In an ideal world,’ says Jennifer Baggaley, a consultant with Carter Corson, ‘We want the first time the students attend an assessment centre to be the last one they ever need to do, because we just want them to get the job, and that’s what this workshop is all about today.’
