This document provides advice on professionalizing and landing one's dream job. It discusses developing key skills like critical thinking, writing, and teamwork. These skills should be emphasized in one's CV. While an English degree opens many career paths, common occupations include teaching, journalism, publishing, and media jobs. Additional advice covers networking, gaining experience through internships or volunteering, knowing the job market, perfecting applications and interviews, and creating a personal development plan to achieve career goals.

1. Professionalisation
and
Landing your
dream Job
Tata Boli Dinyuy
M.Sc, MBA

2. Assumptions
 how to argue a point,
 how to think independently,
 summarise and precise,
 write and speak well,
 write reports,
 present information effectively
and to work as part of a team
 Make sure you get most of
these into your CV

3. Degree in English Modern Letters
40% of vacancies advertised
specifically to graduates do not
specify degree subject, so English
graduates can enter a wide range
of careers

4. Occupations associated with a
degree in English

5. More professions
General
• School teacher
• Journalism and
writing
• Publishing
• Tv, radio, film drama,
music
• Teaching English as
foreign language
• University lecture
• Librarian/ archiviste
• Masters degree
• Translation and
interpretation
Employment
• Journalist
• Writer
• publisher
• Marketing, advertising,
PR
• International law
• Diplomacy
• HR or personnel
management
• Civil service
• Media
• Market researcher
• Events management
• Receptionist
• Personal assistant
• administrator
Self employment
• Writer
• Freelance journalist
• Community publisher
• Blogger
• Freelance reviewer
• ENTREPRENEURSHIP/B
USINESS PERSON

6. Unemployment rate is the
percentage of the population who
are:
•Not Employed
•Are employable
•Qualified
•Relevant qualification to job market
•experienced
•Actively job searching (3 months periods)

7.  What can you do, with who do you do it with,
where is that person (company) and how do you
contact the person
 Where are jobs published (newspapers, job
websites, career programs on radio and TV, social
networks and WhatsApp groups, mentors,
company websites, etc.
The Job search

8. The competition
Limited places for unlimited
number of people
Everybody is developing
themselves
Global competition
Global standards
Unemployment
The competition

9. Godfathers?
Favouritism exists
But favouritism is not
sustainable
Take your chances
Unemployment
The competition
Godfathers?

10. Education - CVUnemployment
The competition
Godfathers?
Education - CV A levels
1st degree
Masters
Doctorate
Professional
training

11. Writing your CV
 Sell yourself (shop window)
 Accessible structure
 Reflect opportunity and personality
(flexibility)
 Language
 Experience (detailed responsibilities)
 No gaps
 References
 Be near your CV at all times
Unemployment
The competition
Godfathers?
Education – CV
Writing your CV

12. Experience
 Find internship positions
 Offer to volunteer – do productive
volunteering
 As you volunteer, remember your CV
(data and specific responsibilities)
 Find volunteering positions that match
your career aspirations
 Remember letters of recommendation
and/or attestations of work
Unemployment
The competition
Godfathers?
Education – CV
Writing your CV
Experience

13. Positioning
Use every opportunity to be right,
speak right, act right
Clean up your social media profiles
Mix with people who are where you
aim to be
Know where jobs are advertised
Unemployment
The competition
Godfathers?
Education – CV
Writing your CV
Experience
Positioning

14. Know the news
Current affairs
Development of
your sector
Unemployment
The competition
Godfathers?
Education – CV
Writing your CV
Experience
Positioning
Know the news

15. Applying for a job
 Respect the terms
 Channels, deadlines
 Adjust your CV
 Inform your references as well as all
persons and institutions that your CV may
lead someone to verify
Note
 Don’t apply too early, don’t apply too late
 Keep a record of all applications you
submit
Unemployment
The competition
Godfathers?
Education – CV
Writing your CV
Experience
Positioning
Know the news
Applying for a job

16. The Interview
 KNOW YOUR CV
 Know the company or institution
 Know the competitors
 Why do they need someone for the
position
 New position?
 Has someone been fired?
 Have a plan of action
Unemployment
The competition
Godfathers?
Education – CV
Writing your CV
Experience
Positioning
Know the news
Applying for a job
The interview

17. Interview day
 Know the venue
 Arrive 1 hour ahead and stay 5 minutes
away
 Dress, look and smell right
 Have spare copies of your CV
Unemployment
The competition
Godfathers?
Education – CV
Writing your CV
Experience
Positioning
Know the news
Applying for a job
The interview
Interview day

18. Interview questions
 Tell us about yourself
 What is there in your education and/or
experience that makes you the right person for
this job?
 Refer to a specific job related
problem/difficulty that you’ve faced and state
how you solved it.
 Where do you see yourself in five years?
 Do you have any questions for the panel?
 Have answers to these questions in French
and English
 Someone may try to catch you on a gap or
inconsistency on your CV
Unemployment
The competition
Godfathers?
Education – CV
Writing your CV
Experience
Positioning
Know the news

19. Attitude
 Be firm
 Be clear
 Be polite
 Be calm
 Do not sound desperate
 Take notes if necessary
 Ask interviewer to ask question
again if you’re not sure that you
understood (not often though)
 Do not thank people for questions
Unemployment
The competition
Godfathers?
Education – CV
Writing your CV
Experience
Positioning
Know the news
Applying for a job
The interview
Interview day
Attitude

20. Did you get the job?
 Start proving yourself
 Set targets
 Start aiming higher
Did you miss it?
 Go back to the drawing board

21. Skill Current
Ability
Target
Ability
Development
Opportunity
Criteria to
judge success
Time
Frame
Evidenc
e
1st
Priority
2nd
Priority
3rd
Priority
Personal Development Plan