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The MMU Professional Passport

  • How do you convince an employer you are the right person for the job?
  • How do you demonstrate the skills an employer seeks?
  • The MMU Professional Passport will give you the confidence to present yourself in a positive way to employers.

Do you want to stand out from the crowd in the job market? Learn to promote your employability skills with our elite employability award – the MMU Professional Passport.

The Passport programme will help you make the most of your work experience, your volunteering and your academic skills – giving you the confidence to present yourself in a positive way to potential employers.

At whatever stage you start – second or third year, or during your taught postgraduate programme, you will be supported by a team of Careers & Employability Advisers, academics and industry specialists to complete a rigorous application procedure set at graduate recruitment standard.

The MMU Professional Passport will help you to consider all your attributes and skills in a new employment-focused way so that you learn how to promote them and persuade future employers to give you the job.

You will need to:

  • Attend compulsory workshops that will enable you to understand application procedures
  • Use the comprehensive guidance notes to help you every step of the way

This is a brilliant opportunity to gain hands-on experience of the graduate application process that will help you today and for years to come.

What does the MMU Professional Passport involve?

  • Am I Eligible?

    To be eligible to undertake the MMU Professional Passport you need to be a second or final year undergraduate or on a taught post graduate course and to have undertaken significant extra- curricular activities outside of your academic course such as paid work, volunteering and international, cultural or community involvement (see page 4 of the Guidance Notes for further ideas).

    If you meet these eligibility criteria you can begin the MMU Professional Passport.

  • How does it work?

    Stage One

    • Completion and submission of the application form and an up-to-date CV

    Stage Two (having passed stage one)

    • Panel Interview and presentation

    After each stage you will have one opportunity to have another go if at first you are unsuccessful.

  • What support is available?

    MMU Professional Passport introductory sessions will be offered in the Autumn Term and are optional, but it is compulsory to attend the following workshops:

    Prior to submission of stage one (application form and CV) attend:

    • Amazing Applications – Net That Job!
    • How To Write Great CVs

    Prior to stage two (interview and presentation) attend:

    • Successful Interviews – Get that Job!
    • How To Present Like A Professional

    Dates and venues of all workshops are listed under Careers Events on the Careers and Employability Service website. Guidance notes offer you detailed help with each stage of the application and it is essential to refer to them!

    Additionally the following support from the Careers and Employability Service is available specifically for Passport applicants.

    • Stage One – careers appointment to review draft application
    • Stage Two – careers appointment to prepare for interview/presentation

    If you are not successful in gaining the MMU Professional Passport the Careers and Employability Service will support you further in developing your employability skills.

  • When will applications need to be submitted?

    Stage One

    • Friday 18th January 2013 by 5pm – deadline for submission of application form and CV.
    • Week commencing 18th February 2013 – notification of the results of application.
    • Friday 1st March 2013 by 5pm – deadline for re-submission of application form and CV for those unsuccessful in round one.
    • Week commencing 18th March 2013 – notification of the results of application.

    Stage Two

    • Weeks commencing 15th April and 22nd April 2013 – interviews and presentations will take place.
    • Week commencing 29th April 2013 – notification of the results of first round of interviews and presentations.
    • Week commencing 20th May 2013 – second round of interviews and presentations will take place.

    Successful applicants will be invited to an award ceremony at the end of the academic year.

  • How will I be assessed?

    Your application will be assessed by academic staff and a Careers & Employability adviser and, at Stage two (interview), an employer. In stage one both the application and CV will be assessed by the Passport team and feedback will be given electronically (Look at the criteria which will be used for marking). Your form will not be assessed by an academic from your programme of study.

    Stage two involves a panel of three comprising of an employer, academic staff and a career and employability adviser. The assessors will be evaluating your understanding of the transferable skills and personal development you have gained from your breadth of experiences and your ability to articulate that to a future employer.

    Application Form

    For a successful application you will need to do the following:

    • Analyse the question and follow all the instructions precisely
    • Stick to the word limits and use clear concise English
    • Use correct grammar and spelling – international students are welcome to apply but must achieve the same standard of English required by UK graduate recruiters
    • Make sure you provide specific and detailed evidence for any claims you make.

    CV

    • You may choose the most appropriate format for your CV
    • Your CV must be up-to-date and no more than two sides of A4
    • Present yourself positively, but be honest
    • Grammar, spelling, layout and use of English will be assessed

    Interview

    You will be asked 4 questions from a possible ten. All are listed in the guidance notes.

    Presentation

    You will undertake a five minute presentation on a topic of your own choice.

  • How do I send my work to you?

    This is an electronic process. You need to download the Application Form from our website.

    Please send your completed CV and Application Form to passport@mmu.ac.uk, clearly labelling them as ‘Your Name’ Application Form.doc and ‘Your Name’ CV.doc.

    The email address for submissions or queries is passport@mmu.ac.uk.

Download and complete the application form below. Guidance notes are provided to assist you.

Your completed application form and CV should be e-mailed to: passport@mmu.ac.uk

MMU Postgraduate Professional Passport

The Professional Postgraduate Passport closely follows the structure of the MMU Professional Passport offered to undergraduates and taught post graduate students but in addition acknowledges students’ research and development activities.

This enables research students to experience typical application procedures for both graduate roles in commerce and industry and for teaching and post doctoral research work in academia.

For more information, contact Madelyn Hickman in the in the RED Office at m.hickman@mmu.ac.uk.