The Student Job Blog > general advice

Graduate Schemes

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Are you about to finish your University degree? Are you worried about obtaining a good enough job once you’ve finished? Although graduates are currently struggling in today’s economic climate to gain employment this does not mean there are not opportunities out there and statistics show that individuals with a degree still fair better in the job market than those without. One of the best paths for a recent graduate to take is that of a graduate scheme. Graduate schemes are programmes of training that are often run by large companies; these firms aim to recruit graduates in the autumn of their graduating year. They provide a paid, permanent job as well as 2 years of structured training providing graduates with a career path and guaranteed employment after training. As with all jobs and work experience applying early is extremely important, closing dates for graduate schemes vary and the selection programmes can be lengthy and competitive. Simply entering, ‘graduate schemes’ into a search engine can bring up thousands of opportunities in both the public and private sector. To have the best chance of gaining a place on a graduate scheme…

  • Research different companies and know where you want to apply
  • Tailor your CV to companies and make sure it is organised and clear
  • Apply early – continue to check company websites even after deadlines close
  • Be prepared for numerous interviews, group tasks ad assessments during the application process

Freshers Advice: Settling In at University

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Adjusting for Freshers Week

‘Freshers Week is an opportunity to get to know the university, socialise and join fantastic societies’!

I’m sure many of you have heard this line before, or perhaps have seen the over enthusiastic staff at the university beckoning you to join their societies. For some first year students, this may be exactly what you were waiting to experience, for others it is a daunting experience. Continue reading →

Volunteering – why do some organisations charge you to do it?

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Volunteering AbroadVolunteering abroad should only cost you your time, effort and enthusiasm- so why do so many volunteering organisations charge you to volunteer?

Google ‘volunteer abroad’ and you will be greeted with a plethora of flashy websites, professional-looking pages pregnant with volunteering opportunities, for a pricely sum that is. Scroll down a few pages, quietly tucked away are slightly more minimalistic, cut-and-paste websites. In the latter you will find volunteering opportunities where a willing volunteer is all that is required- not your money.

Continue reading →

Self-Checkout vs. Tills: How to boost employment in society

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Self-Checkout vs Supermarket Workers

Even in busy central London people would rather queue for staff checkouts than use the abomination that is self-service. I regularly notice this, but in a recent trip to a supermarket every self-service machine was dormant while people waited to use staff checkouts. It was a satisfying tumbleweed moment, but sadly one that extends into the empty tills that could otherwise be providing jobs.

Continue reading →

Employment – Let’s Think Positive

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Work: Let's Think Positive

Who wants to hear some great news?

Unemployment fell by 51,000 to 2.61 million according to the latest figures released by the Office for National Statistics. Oh, and youth unemployment fell as well by 29,000 with just over 1 million young people now unemployed.

Okay, so it’s hardly the greatest news you will receive today but it offers a crumb of hope for young people looking for a break in what are arguably the most difficult economic times in a century.

Continue reading →

Student Discounts – UK Student Money Tips

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Saving Money

BROKE, skint, penniless; these are words us students are all too familiar with. When student loans and payday comes around, we soon forget the weeks of beans on toast and Tesco value instant noodles. But there is a way to make pay day last that much longer. Many of your favourite high street brands, online shops, bars and clubs, even your bank have amazing deals that could save you a penny here, a pound there and soon you can afford a whole new outfit. The first money saving investment you should make is to buy an NUS EXTRA card. Many shops accept university ID for student discount, however not all stores do. Having an NUS EXTRA card gives you discount not only in participating retail stores but also on rail travel, driving lessons and amusement parks such as Alton towers. Continue reading →

Rights of Agency Workers

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Once you have established that you are an Agency Worker (see my previous post on agency workers), you should familiarise yourself with the rights available to you. These are slightly different, arguably, not as broad as employment rights.

Rights of Agency Workers:

• To be paid minimum wage
• Not to have unlawful deductions taken from wages
• Not to be discriminated against (based on protected grounds by the Equality Act 2010)
• To have paid holidays
• To have a limit on the amount of hours worked each week
• Not to be treated unfavourably after reporting any illegal activities happening at work (such as breaches of health and safety regulations)

Click on “Read More” to learn about more rights of Agency Workers. This is important! Continue reading →

Trade Unions

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At some point in your life you have or will come across the term ‘Trade Unions’. At times, they tend to generate a great amount of media exposure. If you have a job, your employer might have mentioned them. They are an important part of the employment market.

What are Trade Unions?

A Trade Union is an organisation created by workers for workers. Its main aim is to protect interests of its members within the workplace.
All Trade Unions are independent of any employer. Instead, they aim to develop close relationships with employers or even create partnerships. Continue reading →

Interview Advice (Part 1)

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Interviews are usually the last hurdle one has to
jump over in order to land a job, a placement or an internship. Interviews can
be very daunting considering that they are designed to do just one thing: find the best possible candidate.  

Sometimes it may feel that the questions being
asked have been designed to deliberately catch you out or make you question whether you are up to the job or not. But that’s not their intention.

Some questions aim to establish how well you cope under pressure, others will be to
reveal your personality or to see what your career aspirations are. Continue reading →