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
The Student Job Blog > work experience
Tips in gaining work experience: for students
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.
Summer Jobs – When Should I be applying?
Whether you’re looking for work experience or an opportunity to earn some cash over the summer the time for applying for these positions is approaching. As with almost every kind of work placement at the moment, demand is extremely high. A great deal of companies begin to consider summer interns and work experience placements around the end of March, this means that sending off CV’s and cover letters is something you should start thinking about as soon as possible! If you’re looking to make some money with a casual work placement employers may start recruiting as early as April, some job application deadlines may have even already passed. This means it’s important to know what sort of position you want early and start applying! Common summer jobs for students include working at summer camps, festivals, office work, holiday reps, bar staff and retail jobs. Some of these jobs can even provide the opportunity to travel abroad to work. To give yourself the best chance of gaining work over the summer…
- Apply early!
- Brush up your CV, update it and start sending
- Research summer jobs, there is a lot out there specifically for students
- Research employers and the different roles you may be required to carry out
Work Experience, Education or Both?
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
Graduate Schemes – Five Handy Tips
It’s nearly that time of the year again!
Yes, it’s very nearly graduate scheme time. Whilst that may not be the most exciting prospect, it is still an important period of time in which recent and soon to be graduates will go about looking for jobs with reputable companies in a, usually, well paid training position.
Employment – 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.
Getting good jobs with 2:2 degree or lower: be streetwise
All students want to get the best grade that they can achieve at the end of their three years at university. But what happens when you get a 2:2 or 3rd, should it really matter if you don’t get a 2:1 or 1st. Shouldn’t it be the experience you have gained, the expertise and knowledge you have to give?
New Opportunities for NEETs: The Government Youth Contract Scheme
On April 2nd, the Government launched the £1bn Youth Contract Scheme as it set out to create just under half-a-million new work opportunities for young NEETs – a term used to describe those who are Not in Employment, Education or Training.
The plan, which is to be implemented over three years, will create an extra 250,000 work experience vacancies, along with 180,000 employment and apprentice positions through monetary incentives for businesses.
What are Assessment Centres? (Part 2)
Other activities that may be asked of you in an assessment centre are as follows:
Presentation - You may be notified of a topic in advance or given a subject during the assessment centre. Remember that the style of your presentation is as important as the content, so preparation is mandatory.
Chance to meet recent graduate recruits - even if you are told that this is not being assessed, do not relax too much! Use the opportunity to find out about the actual work, a typical day, the change from student to working life etc. Employers want to see a person with an inquisitive mind, not someone who is passive and docile.
General rules for assessment centres
- Never give up - even if one person seems to be doing everything perfectly
- Do not panic if you do badly in one aspect. If you do well in others, your overall assessment may still be good.
- Speak clearly- observers may be behind you in group exercises
- Do not compare yourself with others - employers recruit to a standard, not a quota
- Get involved in all activities
- Beware of the free bar!
For more career advice please visit: http://www.careers4graduates.org/job_seeking/jsasscen.php
The Erasmus Programme
EuRopean Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students, better known as The Erasmus Programme, is a student exchange programme that was introduced in 1987.
Since its introduction, many students have been given the opportunity to study, work and live in an array of interesting and exciting European countries. Indeed reports indicate that there are currently more than 4,000 Higher Education institutions participating in the Erasmus Programme, across the 33 countries involved in this Programme. Furthermore, over 2.2 million students have already taken part in the Erasmus Programme.
Who can apply?