Whenever I am in need of fresh inspiration, the BBC News website usually has a little nugget of gold. Today, it contained an article on the perils of social media.
Upon reading this, I was reminded of a piece of advice that I have been offered by lecturers, family members and friends alike. Make sure to use social media wisely. Continue reading
When you’ve got exams to revise for and essays to write the last thing you want to be doing is spending every minute you’re not in university at work. When it comes to finding work during your time studying, it’s important that you find a job that is flexible – a job that will work around your commitments. After all, what’s the point in messing up your studies all for the sake of a job that you’ll be leaving in a couple of year’s time?
The following advice was provided to us by the editor of StudentMoney.co.uk and explains how you can find flexible jobs which to alongside your degree.
What is flexibility?
Flexibility is where employers recognise that you have commitments and build your work schedule around them. This might mean that for the majority of each semester you work evenings only – because you’ll be in university most days anyway. It may also mean that during exam season you only have to work one day a week – or you don’t have to work at all. It may all seem a little farfetched, but there are companies out there that will build your schedule around you.
Working as a student definitely comes with many merits – but it can come with many drawbacks too if your employer refuses to acknowledge the fact that you have a degree to study for. For example, my sister recently had to quit her job working at Dominos in Manchester because the late night shifts (11pm – 4am) kept interrupting with her studies the next day. On the other hand, my friend Matt works at a sports betting company in Leeds where he’s more than happy to work the light night shift and then go to University during the day.
Increasing your chances of finding a flexible job
Whilst there are lots of companies out there who are willing to offer flexibility to students, many of which are listed at studentmoney.co.uk, there are many more that won’t. If you need flexibility in your student job here are our three top tips for you to bear in mind:
Working during your time as a student is a great thing to do – it helps you to reduce your reliance on student loans, and if you play your cards right you may well end up leaving university with a nice pile of cash behind you. There’s no point in damaging your chances of obtaining a top degree by working day and night because your employer has imposed an unforgiving schedule on you however – so before you go taking a job make sure the employer offers flexibility to suit you.
Hello there you lovely freshers. Did you have good freshers week? I bet you did.
The freshers season has just finished. That means one thing, and one thing only, lectures and tutorials have begun. Continue reading
Thousands of students in England and Wales will have the chance to be able to get into university for free. In a recent report that found a loophole in the system that if students choose to take Ireland citizenship and then apply for universities under EU students resulting in students having their fees paid under the European Equality Act.
Work experience is a great way to be able to build you skills, experience and especially you’re C.V. It improves your chances of being able to get a job you would like after graduation. And more the experience the better it will look to your employer.
Now the difference between work and work experience is: Work means moaning about the boss, drinking cheap coffee and helping you to the “free” stationery room- all the while getting paid. Work experience means being enthusiastic, diligent and full of ideas, while not receiving a bloody penny.
There are many ways of being able to get work experience, maybe through family and friends, or sending letters and C.V. to possible organisations, or even go to your university careers advisor see if they can help. Or even look TheStudentJob.com, even if it may not lead to your specific area, it may give you the skills you can gain.
When you eventually do get a week or two work experiences learn everything you can about the company, think of why you would want to work for the organisation and think about questions you may be asked.
Find out in advance before going to your work experience as to what the dress code would be, if there is a uniform, if you have to be formal, etc.
Never be afraid to ask questions while you are there, take notes, absorb as much as you can about the job, the experience, the organisation. Learn from your mistakes as well, and accept them.
At the end of the experience ask for feedback for future experiences and ask for a reference as well.
Your time at secondary school and sixth-form college has flown by and you can probably hardly believe you’re poised to begin applying for university – perhaps one of the most crucial decision-making processes you’ll ever go through in your life.
If you’ve not yet started your personal statement, you best get cracking. The final UCAS deadline may seem an age away on the 15th January, but if you want to apply to Oxbridge, or to study medicine, your application needs to be completed by the 15th October. Continue reading
It is sadly the beginning of October. That means school is back, college and university semesters have just begun or you’re starting a new job.
I, however, am a lost soul stuck in the void between studying for an undergraduate degree and getting a career. I will try to make the most of my time in the void by studying for a Master’s degree.
Since finishing the final year of my degree, I have had twelve weeks off. To most this would sound like boasting, but after failing to gain a place on a graduate training scheme during my last year of university this has been twelve weeks of forced self-improvement. Continue reading
The current economic climate has not helped the job market, especially for those trying to secure their first full time job.
Yet the debate whether work experience or education is the most important can be summed up here. The matter is you need both.
Continue reading to see why. Continue reading
‘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
Congratulations! You’ve made it to Uni! So now it’s time to let your hair down before all that hard work begins!
Getting ready to come and meet this year’s student newbies in my new role as a Milkround Campus Promotions Assistant makes me reflect on my own experiences of being a fresher three years ago (Oh my goodness where did that time go!?)
Looking back I think my priorities during those crazy first two weeks of Uni went a little something like this… Continue reading
