Royal Holloway Careers Service is part of The Careers Group, University of London

What Can I do with

my Criminology Degree?
Andrew Falconer
Careers Adviser, Horton Building
Today’
Today’s Session Royal Holloway Careers Service is part of The Careers Group, University of London

• Look at your options

• Post graduate study & graduate schemes

• Look at jobs History graduates might consider

• Look at how to plan your career

• Look at how you can sell your Criminology Degree to

employers
Monday Morning Quiz Royal Holloway Careers Service is part of The Careers Group, University of London

• I should know what kind of career I want right now

• Not using my degree in a job would be a waste of time
• History students should look for jobs: teaching, archiving
and historical research
• Graduate training schemes are the only way to start a
career
• Post-graduate education will definitely improve my chances
of getting a good job
• A Careers Adviser will tell you what job to do
What stage are you at? Royal Holloway Careers Service is part of The Careers Group, University of London

Some questions to ask yourself?

YOU

Further study Get a job Year out

Have no idea at all !!

Postgraduate Study
www.prospects.ac.uk/postgraduate Royal Holloway Careers Service is part of The Careers Group, University of London

Suggestions

• Research and visit open days

• Why?
• Applications, personal statement +
CV
• What?
• Check application & funding
deadlines …?
• How?
• Interview: reasons, motivations, exp
& skills, career aims etc
• Where?
• PG funding typically £3-6K

• Average costs £12,700 in London

& £10,500 elsewhere
What is a graduate scheme? Royal Holloway Careers Service is part of The Careers Group, University of London

Are typical in:

• Applicable to finalists and PG
students
• Usually…need 2.1, although a 2.2
in some organisations is possible
• Very competitive, companies often
recruit from summer internships
• Structured with exposure to
different teams within an
organisation
• Remember - Process begins in
the autumn term
• commercial
– finance (inc. banking,
accountancy & tax)
– law, management
consultancy, marketing
– graduate management
schemes
• other
– public sector: Civil Service
Fast Stream, local
Government
The Job Journey…. Royal Holloway Careers Service is part of The Careers Group, University of London

Decide career Graduate 1st job promotion,promotion,promotion Retire

Typical Undergraduate Destinations 2008
Royal Holloway Careers Service is part of The Careers Group, University of London

Court Clerk - Crime Management Unit Officer - Police Officer -

Community Worker - Strategy Support Officer – Council
Performance Monitor - PGCE Primary - Clinical Audit Assistant -
Admin Assistant - Ass't Corporate Documentation Manager -
Business Relationship Manager - Graduate Diploma in Law -
Crime Reduction Clerk - Claims Adviser - RAF Officer -
Restaurant Manager - Employment Support Officer
More likely…. Royal Holloway Careers Service is part of The Careers Group, University of London

Graduate 1st job New area of work New area of work

Springboard!
How to plan your career? Royal Holloway Careers Service is part of The Careers Group, University of London

www.careers.lon.ac.uk/sortit
Jobs ideas for Criminology graduates
Royal Holloway Careers Service is part of The Careers Group, University of London

Related directly to your degree Your degree would be useful?

• Home Office research manager

• Prison Governor • Public Administration
• Case Review Manager, Criminal • Social Work
Cases Review Commission • Public relations
• Probation Officers • Fundraising
• Forensic Accounting and Fraud • Finance
Investigation • Transport/Logistics
• Social Policy Researcher Management
• Lobbyist • Journalism
• Criminal Intelligence Analyst • Library/information work
• MI5 Intelligence Officer • Manufacturing
• Paralegal • Hotels and Restaurants
Activity 1. What skills do you have to offer?
Royal Holloway Careers Service is part of The Careers Group, University of London

Skills from Criminology degrees: Skills sought by employers:

• Research: familiarity with various methods • Teamwork

• Interpretation: the capability to • Written & verbal Communication

accumulate, select and interpret a wide
range of material
• Adaptability & flexibility
• Organisation: of information in a logical
and coherent manner, managing large and • Time Management
diverse quantities of information
• Motivation and enthusiasm
• Presenting: facts, ideas and arguments
• Initiative and proactive
• Communications skills: Both written and
verbal
• Commercial Awareness
• Writing: clearly and concisely and to tight
deadlines; critical and analytical ability
* more employers look at ‘employability skills’
than degree subject or degree class when
• Initiative: an ability to work alone and on selecting graduate employees.
own initiative
Activity 2. Your Values Royal Holloway Careers Service is part of The Careers Group, University of London

Rate in order of preference 1 high;5 low

a) I want to be earning at least £25K in three years

b) I want to be managing other people within two years

c) I want a professional qualification to fall back on

d) I want to use music in my work

e) I want the end result of my work to be more than just profit

What factors are important when choosing a job?

Where do graduates find jobs? Royal Holloway Careers Service is part of The Careers Group, University of London

• Company Websites • Work experience/ internships

– 11%
• Increase your commercial
• Newspapers and Magazines awareness: read industry
– 10% magazines etc.
• Recruitment Agency
– 16% • Look at your own personal network?

• Speculative Application
• Develop skills
– 5%
• CV & Application checks
• Personal network
– 25% • Practice interviews
 Careers resources Royal Holloway Careers Service is part of The Careers Group, University of London

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 Royal Holloway Careers Service is part of The Careers Group, University of London

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