Whizz Kidz – Open to all wheelchair users wishing to gain experience in the Finance sector. Fully supported by Whizz-Kidz in a range of high profile organisations.

Paid Internship – Finance and HR

How to apply

Name: Claire Smith, Whizz-Kidz , 10-12 Allington Street , Victoria , London , SW1E 5EH

Phone 02077986161

Email c.smith@whizz-kidz.org.uk

Opportunity for first year disabled students interested in a career in financial regulation

The Financial Services Authority has partnered with EmployAbility for a 3 Day Insight Programme this summer.

The FSA offers a three day programme to first year undergraduates designed to give a full overview of their multi-faceted work. The Insight will combine a mixture of networking with graduates and business representatives, case studies to give students an insight into the work of the FSA and skills sessions to help them succeed in the assessment process.

Requirements

To apply for the programme undergraduates will need to:

• be a first year undergraduate.
• have 300 UCAS points or more.
• submit the short application form
• have a short telephone interview, demonstrating a motivation for a career in regulation.  They will be informed shortly afterward if successful in obtaining a place on the programme.

If there are extenuating circumstances which may have affected grades, this must be clearly stated on the form and/ or EmployAbility contacted for further information.

Apply now

The completed application form must be returned to applications@employ-ability.org.uk by 20^th February, 2011.

Please contact Justin Penney on 07776 090 508,  info@employ-ability.org.uk should the form be required in an alternative format or for any questions.

Don’t forget to contact EmployAbility should you have any questions or require further information regarding the FSA Summer Internship Programme. We can provide additional information about this programme and can give students useful advice and tips on how to make a successful application.

Looking for second and first year University students to attend a once-in-a-lifetime Leadership Programme

The Powerlist Foundation* will be holding a FREE three-day leadership programme this July. It is a world class programme where attendees will be given top-level master classes on everything to do with leadership, from how to conduct yourself in interviews, how to put together a good C.V, how to dress for an interview and in the office environment, how to network, commercial awareness and so much more.

The people taking the seminars will be experts who have lived it and reaped the benefits. Sky, Barclays Capital, Deloitte and IBM are just some of the companies on board to host seminars, so it is definitely not one to be missed. 
There are only 100 spaces for the programme, which takes place 28th-30th July, 2011 and we are only looking for 75 second year students, and 25 first years.

For further information and an application form contact Adenike Adenitire, Future Leaders, Editor
Powerful Media Ltd
Quay House
2 Admirals Way
Marsh Wall
London
E14 9XG
T. 0207 868 1470
E. adenike@powerful-media.com
W. www.powerful-media.com

*The Powerlist Foundation is a registered charity (No: 1138699) whose objects are to promote the development of young people up to the age of 25 in achieving their full potential by providing support and activities, which develop their skills, capacities and capabilities and enable them to participate in and contribute to society as mature and responsible individuals.

Blind in Business – Law Day

Wednesday 4^th May 2011   Times: 10am to 1.30pm   Venue:Blind in Business 

Nearest tube stations are Moorgate and Liverpool Street.

For blind and visually impaired A-level students, undergraduates and graduates:

You will have the opportunity to learn more about what law firms offer, the routes into law and meet some blind and visually impaired lawyers.

You can also learn more about Blind in Business and how we can support you throughout education and finding work.

Refreshments and lunch will be provided.

Please confirm your attendance e-mail: info@blindinbusiness.org.uk

Tel: 0207 588 1885

Or contact Dan, Robin or Justin from Blind in Business

Report published on careers destinations of disabled students

The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services has just published the 2011 report on the first destinations of disabled graduates (based on data collected from the 2008/09 cohort) . Findings reported in What Happens Next? A Report on the First Destinations of Disabled Graduates suggest that the proportion of both disabled and non-disabled graduates entering employment in 2009 fell, although the decrease for disabled graduates overall was marginally less than for their non-disabled peers.

Exciting opportunities for students with disabilities with EmployAbility

EmployAbility is a not for profit organisation providing a free service to students and graduates with all disabilities, including dyslexia or long term health conditions, to ease the transition from education to employment.

They are currently recruiting for paid opportunities for disabled students/ graduates of all disciplines, but for immediate deadlines looking for those studying Computer Science, Information Technology, Maths, Physics, Engineering, Business/Finance/Marketing.

Shaw Trust Monthly Job Hunter Newsletter

Ability at Work – Graduate Opportunities for all Disabilities through Shaw Trust.  Among many other opportunities link here for internship schemes with Ernst & Young, GCHQ and Slaughter & May.

Civil Service Summer Diversity Internship Scheme

The Civil Service Summer Diversity Internship Programme for black and ethnic minority and those from socially diverse backgrounds is designed to give high-calibre undergraduates and graduates an insight into the broad range of opportunities available. For more information and to apply now go to http://faststream.civilservice.gov.uk/summer-diversity-internships/

Is it time for radical solutions when it comes to getting poorer students into top universities?

There is an interesting article in the education section of The Independent today that focuses on the reasons why poorer students tend to have difficulty accessing higher education in top UK universities.  It also suggests some new approaches that could be used to improve access.

What’s in a name? Should you conceal your gender and race in applications?

We're on the road to nowhere?

I was disappointed to read a series of articles showing how much prejudice about race and gender can still affect your chances of success, even at the most basic level, the CV and application form.

See this government ‘sting’ operation,  sending out identical CVs with different names, from clearly different ethnic communities :

They found that an applicant who appeared to be white would send nine applications before receiving a positive response of either an invitation to an interview or an encouraging telephone call. Minority candidates with the same qualifications and experience had to send 16 applications before receiving a similar response.

And this study on gender, shows an interesting result – male and female recruiters perceived male and female applicants’ resumes differently:

Male recruiters perceptions of applicants work experiences did not differ depending on applicant gender. However, female recruiters perceived male applicants’ resumes to report more work experiences than resumes of female applicants.

Although another study I found did not report a difference between male and female recruiters’ perceptions, but did find:

…highly qualified applicants were preferred over poorly qualified applicants, male applicants were preferred over female applicants…

I think unconscious bias plays a part in these decisions, but there may also be conscious negative associations. Some may assume that someone with a ‘foreign’ name won’t be as fluent in English, that they might need a visa (and then they’ll have to process it…), or they may feel they can’t identify with a candidate if they aren’t even sure how to pronounce their name. Regarding gender, if someone is applying contrary to current gender stereotypes in that role, there may just be a feeling that they don’t ‘fit’. None of these things may be true, fair, or reasonable, but clearly it can affect your chances at making it through the first quick sift.

So what do you do? Some have been known to anglicise a name, or use an initial instead of a full first name. While it can get your foot in the door, you do have to ask yourself, ‘if this company wouldn’t have looked at me before, do I want to work for them now?’. Alternatively you could attempt to proactively counter peoples’ negative assumptions – write a particularly fluent and expressive cover letter, demonstrating your excellent communication and your successful performance as part of a team working on a related project. It can be frustrating if you feel you have to put in more effort here than most to get the same response, but time spent in tailoring applications is always worthwhile, and could make a connection. Or, finally, you could spend more time researching companies and looking for those who clearly make a positive statement about equal opportunities, with demonstrable results, good diversity right up to the highest levels of the company. On a personal level, that would hopefully give you the best chance of a long and successful career, but doesn’t that mean you are limiting your choices?

I can’t help but feel there is no right answer, since it is the world-at-large that needs to change, not you. What do you think? Have you felt discriminated against in this way? Do you have any tips or approaches? Or do you think it is best not to change your methods? It is their loss after all!