Alecia Cotterell: Student education, job application tips and emerging technology shaping higher education. 

Welcome to Take A Chance On You hosted by Alexandra Forsyth, cyber security expert, advisor, coach and public speaker. 

Today's topic and theme is 'Back to Basics, Creating Success in The Job Market'. 

Alecia is head of careers at Teesside University London campus, providing a unique offering, including 20% of every module students undertake across all subject areas focusing on employability skills, so the students can hit the ground running straight away once enrolled. 

Alecia would like students to develop strong skills to allow them to have fruitful careers, underpinned by a heavy international population at the university. 

Alecia discusses challenges including the overuse of technology such as AI to enhance the application process. The conversation then turns to, how do you stand out in an oversaturated market, especially when it comes to CV and cover letter? 

Strategies involve students tailoring their responses to each individual job application, arguing it is better to apply for less roles, and provide quality answers to each recruiter / company. Making sure experience and skills match up. 

Getting students to feel motivated, passionate and curious to apply for job roles is also crucial to Alecia’s mission, alongside helping develop transferable skills.  

An example can be volunteering at a local charity who have a lot of data, and for a few months, the student analyses this data, searches for trends, makes predictions and helps the charity implement changes. 

The student in turn, builds on their strategic skills which in cyber security and technology is very relevant. 

There is however a lack of feedback from businesses, requiring a level of  accountability from all parties involved. Alecia recommends emailing, or making a call to the company, speak with the hiring manager and reach out to your connections and network utilising careers services at your local university. Resources, schemes and contacts can be tapped into. 

Teesside offers funded internships, paying businesses on behalf of taking on students, providing salaries and opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the workplace. 

AI can automate certain tasks, letting people do the jobs however possibly in the next few years, working at a higher expectancy if entry level roles are automated may raise standards. Students and early careers can decide to be at the forefront of change, gaining an understanding now and the skills needed for progression. 

Feel the fear and do it anyway!