To revise or not to revise, that is the question!??

Christmas is fast approaching and many students have gone home for the Christmas break. However, reading many people’s Facebook status’s they still have revision and assignments looming in January. Whoever decided to put exams and deadlines at the beginning of January?! Well…I have three exams and an assignment due in January so here is my plan for success:

* Decide which subjects you are least good at: some students may go for the ‘bury your head in the sand approach,’ or ‘I find this subject hard so I am going to leave it until last.’ This is not the approach to have. I rank my subjects dependent on how hard I find them and how much I have to learn. For me this would go: IFRS for SMEs, Corporate Tax and then Advanced Management Accounting. Once you have done this you can create a revision timetable.

* Create a revision timetable: I print off a simple timetable from the internet. I then put in revision timetable slots of an hour for each subject. My tips here would be thinking realistically what else you having going on the day and whether there is time to do revision. Also, I never do more than one hour at a time or more than two hours a day as research has shown any more and it is just pointless!

* Give yourself plenty of breaks: After I have revised for an hour I have a break. Plus I also give myself ‘days off’ to spend with family. So, I will definitely not be revising the 24th/25th/26th of December!

* Have a reward system: To enhance motivation, I also bribe myself with a reward. For example, doing my nails or watching a Disney movie (yes, I am a very sad person but you can never beat a Disney day!).

* Revise with friends: If all other options fail, I revise with my friend. This is very helpful as we can be each other’s procrastination police! Also, a friend may be better at certain elements of the subject than you so you can help each other.

These tips have worked for me and to prove it I have received two ‘Academic Excellence Scholarships’ from the University of Worcester.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year : D

Here is a little video about revising that made me laugh. It is so true!

Youth Employment Magazine

Have you heard about the HEAR?

Students have many possible responses to this ranging from ‘sort of’ to ‘I have no idea!’ So, what does HEAR stand for I hear you cry…The Higher Education Achievement Report. But what does this mean?

Students graduating in November 2013 were the first students to be able to use the HEAR to demonstrate their extra-curricular activities. This meant that their degree transcript did not only show their degree classification, but also activities that were endorsed by the university to boost employability. These activities include: The Worcester Award, StAR accreditation, V50 award and above, university prizes and awards, scholarships, and the university mentor programme level 2.

So what are the benefits of the HEAR?

* To provide a comprehensive record of your university achievements, to accompany the degree certificate you will receive when you complete your course.* To recognise your extra-curricular achievements and record more detailed information about your academic activities.* To help you to identify and articulate your individual skills.* To provide you with evidence of your university learning, to help you showcase your individual strengths and experiences to employers and others.

The HEAR is not intended to replace your CV when applying for roles; however, it can be used to write you CV and an electronic copy can be sent to employers. It is a good way for employers to verify your claims in your CV!


To find out more information visit: http://www.worc.ac.uk/careers/1610.htm



The Higher Education Achievement Report Introduction from The Higher Education Academy on Vimeo.

Bright Futures Magazine

Open publication - Free publishing

Are you university league tables the be all and end all? What you should really know!

"I have applied to Warwick University as it has moved from fourth to third in the league table for my accountancy course", said a college student when I was working as a student ambassador. But should ranking really be the only factor considered when choosing a university? And can you get a great job even if you didn't go to a top university?

It's easy to see why students place so much emphasis on rankings. With stretched recruitment budgets and such a competitive graduate job market top recruiters primarily target these universities. The Highflyers Report 2013 shows that students from the top ten universities have the highest earning potential and are the most likely to gain a graduate position in a top company. I attend the University of Worcester, which is currently ranked 107th; however, it is fast moving up the league tables. Most students do not realise that league tables are based on numerous factors but are grounded on the amount of research the university does. I based my university decision on how much the university focused on employability. When I started university I knew that I would have to compete with students from ‘top’ universities, so I made sure I had the opportunity to build up skills. Regardless of what university you're at, getting a job is the main aim of attending university. You can do this by boosting your employability. Getting a job is about being able to demonstrate that you have the relevant skills that match the company's needs. The UW graduate employability figures are extremely high, with 92.3% of students gaining employment or continued studying. So, should you only look at league tables, or look towards universities that factor employability and skills building high on their agenda? I know which one I would choose. I degree is not enough and it is important that all students can demonstrate an understanding on the ‘skills need’ and here is how:

It's important to get to know the company you're applying to and to understand the skills they value. The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Service (AGCAS) shows the top five skills all employers are looking for are: commercial awareness, teamwork, communication skills, flexibility and integrity. Pushing yourself towards situations and experiences that will develop these skills is important. University is not just about studying; extra-curricular activities are necessary to demonstrate relevant skills. While at university I have got involved with as many projects as I can in order to make myself employable The Worcester Bright Futures Society organises networking and employability events with top companies; I am a committee member, which means I not only attend the events, but help set them up. Organising an event improved my time management and communication skills and being part of the society has enabled me to meet people in companies and learn more about the recruitment process. I have learnt that although top grades are important, your first job will probably come from networking. I would advise other students, whether you're at a low ranking university or not, to work hard on making networks.

Another way to develop skills is through charity work. I work with a charity called Mentor Link and have helped students improve their behaviour through arts and crafts. Volunteering is a good way to demonstrate that you are a "well-rounded individual". It's an excellent way to gain insight into a chosen career as well as developing skills.

If you get involved with extracurricular activities, you might also be eligible for employability awards that can show a company your dedication. At my university I attained the Worcester Award for my extracurricular work. Your university might have a similar employability award, and it's a way to highlight your strengths. Other students have used the award as a talking point at interviews and have attained jobs with companies such as Microsoft and Blackberry.

Once you have built up your experiences, be it through networking, volunteering or other extracurricular activities, you need to make sure you put all of this across in your job application. A good way to do this is by using the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, and Result. Describe the situation, talk about the task, and say what you did and then what affect that had. Recruiters have limited time and do not want to read pages of waffle. STAR is a way to effectively and concisely put forward the skills gained from an experience. This method could be used in your CV but also when answering competency-based interview questions.

If you are determined, and work on building employable skills, then you should be just as employable as a student form a higher ranking university.

My advice would be to attend a university that you want to attend and not to be restricted and worried about league tables. I have had a great time at university, and have built up employable skills through my extracurricular work. Your focus should be on how the university will help you boost your employability, not just to get a degree.

Graduates’ biggest interview mistakes

So you got an interview! First of all, well done, you are one of the select few to be interviewed. Now how to turn the offer of an interview into a job offer? Follow my handy tips and you will have a better chance of success.

•  Showing an understanding of the job: Knowledge is the key here. Look up your interviewer on LinkedIn. Read through the job description, news reports, research the industry, and the company and its competitors. Can you formulate an answer to ‘why do you want this job?’ or ‘what do you know about our company?’ I have found http://www.wikijob.co.uk/ an extremely useful tool as it allows previous graduates to inform others about their interview experiences.
•  Using ‘we’ instead of ‘I’: A recruiter will ask you competency-based questions. ‘Tell me of a time when you worked well in a team’. It is essential that you answer this question using ‘I’. The recruiter wants to know what you can bring to the role. Use the STAR method here. (A good website to show you how to this  http://careerweb.leeds.ac.uk/info/20/applications/216/star_method). Another point is to make your examples fit with the type organisation or role you are going for. There is no point talking about how you managed a large team if you want to work for a small family run business! 
•  Not knowing why you want the job: Passion is the key here. Yes, an organisation is looking for a person with the right skills, but skills can be learnt and improved. An organisation wants someone who has passion for the job, who will be eager to learn and who will give 110%. Passion can be shown through knowledge.
• Do you have any question? : When going to an interview have three insightful questions ready to ask at the end of the interview. DO NOT include questions revolving around remuneration and holiday! Here are some questions I have found to be positive:

o   Are there opportunities to travel?

o   Have you always worked for the company? (people always like to talk about themselves)

o   Are there good opportunities for progression within the company?

o   What did you think of the recent ... (story)….in the news?

•   Follow up: This can be the most nerve-racking part of the process! Send the interviewer a post-interview thank you note for their time and for any feedback. This is an excellent way to be remembered by the recruiter. 

Why do graduate job applications get rejected??

Students either fit into one of two categories. Either they tailor each application to each job, applying to a few roles, but well, or make numerous applications to hundreds of positions. Which student do you think has more success? From reading numerous articles, I am going to outline the main reasons why employers reject applications. If you can think of ways to combat these, you will one step closer to getting your dream job, or at least a job!

1. The main reason employers reject application is that it is obviously not bespoke. Read through your application. If you can replace the employer’s name with another company and it still makes sense, it is not a CV that has been created for that company. My advice would be find five unique reasons why you want to work for that company. This links to the next fore-paw, lack of research.
2. Lack of research is one of the primary reasons a job application is rejected. How are you supposed to know about the company or the role you are applying to without doing any research? My advice would be to look beyond the company’s website. Have you read the company’s reports? Have they been in the news recently? Who are their competitors? Have there been any developments in the field? This will show companies that you have a real interest in their company?
3.  Cun ypu rord thos? Yes you can… but is it right? Employers say that their pet hate is applicants’ poor spelling and grammar. With some employers, this will mean your application is automatically rejected. Other companies will have limits on the number of errors allowed in an application. I would advise printing off your application and reading it or send it to a friend or family member to read! Imagine the reason you didn't get a job is because you made a spelling error!
4.   Applying for a role that you are not qualified for. But I have a degree! I hear you cry. So? So do lots of other graduates. Some graduates want to be at the top straight away and do not apply to entry level positions. Read the job description. If you don’t have the relevant skills and/or experience don’t apply. You are wasting your time and the recruiters.

For further reading or advice here is some reading!

·         http://careers.theguardian.com/careers-blog/graduate-employers-feedback

·         http://targetjobs.co.uk/careers-advice/acceptance-and-rejection

·         http://graduatefog.co.uk/advice/handle-rejection/

·         http://careersblog.warwick.ac.uk/2013/11/14/why-do-applications-get-rejected/

'UK STEM Student Challenge'

Are you studying a science, technology, engineering or mathematical based subject? Are you looking to showcase your skills in front of top employers including Coca-Cola and MARS? Then the Student Challenge is for you! The Bright Futures Society is holding a national event for students based in London. Experience a day of physical and mental team challenges designed for you to showcase and develop your business skills. The day will allow you to improve your employability, gain direct feedback from top employers, win work placements and shadowing experiences; and above all an opportunity to have fun!

Visit: http://www.brightfutures.co.uk/home/events/the-uk-stem-student-challenge.html for more details and to sign up!

'Volunteering-What's in it for me?

Many students think that to have a CV that is appealing to employers that you must do some kind of volunteering while at university. Some students may see this as an extra workload on top of their studies, but doing volunteering can be invaluable. I have volunteered as a mentor for school children, a StAR and writing this blog for the careers department! Here are a few benefits I have found:

Gaining experience of a role. One of the main barriers students find when going for their first graduate job is lack of experience. It is always a Catch 22- you need a job to get experience, but can't get the job without experience! This can be resolved through volunteering.You can gain the necessary skills and competencies needed to make good job applications in the future.

Volunteering could lead to paid work. I have found that many of my volunteering positions have lead to paid work or recommendations. For example, volunteering as a StAR has lead to the paid role of Institute Representative for the Business School.

You can log volunteering hours. The SU has a volunteering scheme revolving around the V-record (these can be collected from the SU reception). In this you can record your volunteering hours. This year, for anyone who volunteers for more than 50 hours; the accolade with be visible on The HEAR. This will be visible to all employers and will show them that you have done more with your time at university than just study!

Little perks! I recorded my volunteering hours with VInspired, who run a national volunteering scheme. From this I got free tickets to go and see Radio 1's Hackney Weekend. 

Oh and finally, you may just have fun!!

To find out more about volunteering opportunities visit:

http://vinspired.com/

http://www.do-it.org.uk/

http://www.worcestervolunteercentre.org.uk/

The university also has strong links with the YMCA, visit First Point for more information!'

National Recruitment Exhibition

National Graduate Recruitment Exhibition

8th & 9th November 

NEC

Wondering what you should do next year, when university finishes? Most students can't decide what to have for dinner, let alone what they want to do as a career. Think back to when you were a child, what did you want to be? is it the same as now? Some students may have a specific company or occupation in mind, others may have no clue! A good way to gain an insight into companies is to attend networking events. These provide an opportunity to ask recruiters what it takes to write an application that passes the selection process and to find out exactly what the company culture is. There are mock assessment centres, CV clinics, graduate panels and much more! Gradjobs is hosting the National Graduate Recruitment Exhibition at the NEC on the 8th & 9th of November. With 100 top companies, it is a good opportunity to ask all those burning questions; to seek out numerous companies in one day. Maybe you will come away interested in a company you never thought about!

To reserve your place visit: https://www.gradjobs.co.uk/recruitment-exhibitions/autumn-birmingham-2013'

Graduate vacancies and internships.. which company to choose?

'Tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock. With so much to do such as assignments, dissertations, and exams; the last thing some students want to think about is applying to graduate schemes and internships. However, with most schemes closing in October and all closing by January, if you want to take the 'traditional' route you will have to be quick! I think this puts extreme pressure on students. To ease this pressure, the Careers and Study Skills Zone is offering free copies of graduate employer directories. These free directories will be a useful tool in understanding the options/companies available and 'hints and tips' on creating successful applications. Nevertheless, I would like to emphasis that large graduate schemes are not the only route to a 'successful' careers. There are many options and paths, so don't get overwhelmed with applying to numerous schemes or disheartened if you don't get accepted.'

Student challenge, win £1000 and an internship with Siemens!

Bright Futures Magazine: graduate opportunities and careers advice for all!

‘What inspired me to come to the University of Worcester’

Decisions, decisions, decisions! Millions of A-level/BTEC students will be deciding this winter whether they want to go to university at all and if so, which university to attend? This was the position I was in three years ago. So what inspired me to come to University of Worcester? When attending the open day, I just knew that the University of Worcester was the university for me. It just felt right. I felt that being a smaller university, it could provide me with more opportunities. Over the three years, this has been proven to be true. I am involved in the student academic representative scheme, The Worcester Award, the SAP Project and volunteering opportunities. The university has a keen focus on employability. All of these opportunities have provided me with talking opportunities in interviews. What is the main aim of university? To get a degree or to have a good time? A little of both, but in my opinion it is to develop skills that could be used in the workplace. So, if you want to attend a university that has the best environment to make the transition for student to graduate, then the University of Worcester is the place for you!?

How do I make myself a 'well-rounded' student?

"Have you ever heard 'a degree is not enough?' This is what I heard before I started university and continuously ever since! This got me thinking, 'how can I find the time to get a good degree and do all these extra-curricular activities?'Good time-management. It is a challenge but is vital to show employers that you have transferable skills such as good communication skills, analytical skills and the ability to manage your time. All of these can be developed through a wide range of activities that the university promotes. Student societies and sports clubs, V-record, The Worcester Award, StAR- Accreditation scheme, Part-time jobs. I would strongly recommend that students attend the 'Get Involved' event during the first Worcester Week on Monday, October 21 at 12:00pm The Pear Tree in Worcester, Worcestershire to find out what you could do! These experiences are good for answering competency based questions at interviews. The more you do, the more examples you can use using the STAR technique. If you were a recruiter, would you choose the candidate that only had a degree or degree plus extra-curricular activities?

Youth Unemployment.. Help, advice...

My top tips for a great CV!

'Writing a CV can be one of the most challenging aspects of university life. It is a document that could mean the difference between securing an interview or not. The number of hours I have sat there writing and re-writing my CV to tailor it to each specific application are numerous. What is the aim of a CV? To concisely present your skills and experiences and tailoring them to the job in such a way that it attracts the recruiter’s attention.

Here are my personal top tips on how to do this: 

• Understand the job description. Highlight the skills the company are looking for a think of experiences you can use to demonstrate that you have these skills. 
• Start with an objective. In two sentences write why you want the job and what you could bring to the job.
• List education with the only the most relevant qualifications and modules
• Outline your experiences using the STAR method. Situation, Task, Action and Result. This provides a better structure and stops students from just listing tasks they did, rather than what they accomplished. I would use this for employment and university experiences. 
•  I would end the CV with an achievements section to demonstrate accolades achieved. This end to the CV will leave the recruiter with a good impression if you get this correct! 
•  Keep your CV to 2 pages of A4. Recruiters are busy people and do not want to read pages of waffle. 

If you follow these helpful tips, I guarantee that you will be in with a good chance of getting an interview…'

Things you might not know

Did you know that the university has affiliations with many professional bodies including: CIMA, ACCA, CIPD and many more? This means many of the modules you are taking may make you exempt from taking them further on in your careers.


 Here is some information from CIMA


 

Interested in a career with Enterprise-Rent-A-Car??

Women in Investment Banking

Freshers

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail!

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail! Preparation is always key to success and lack of preparation is one of the main reasons why students don’t get through the application process. One of recruiters main complaints is about receiving numerous generic applications for a position. Companies want to see that you have researched their company. They test this through competency-based application questions, covering letters and telephone interviews. To ensure you get through these stages you need to show the recruiter that you are answering questions in a way that is specific to their company and not giving answers that could apply to any company! To test this look at what you have written and change the company’s name. If it could apply to that company to, then it is too generic. To avoid this you need to do research! Here are my top tips for carrying out in-depth research about a company and how to use the information in the application process.

• To gain the best insight into a company, I would advise attending an insight day. This is a good way to gauge the company culture first-hand. Insight days usually involve a company presentation. This is an excellent way to compile facts about the company that only people who have attended the insight will know. 
• Visit the company’s website. From this you can usually find out the company’s core competencies. You can also find ‘hints and tips’ for the application process and news links. 
• Visit Targetjobs.co.uk. Targetjobs provides excellent advise on how to write applications and CVs; however, it also provides company profiles which can be used to find out about the company’s culture, recent news links, and awards. 
• Research the industry not just the company. Finding out facts and figures about changes in the industry will be an added extra that will put your application to the top of the pile. Researching the industry could include changes in legislation, technology and information about competitors. This level of research show recruiters that you have gone the extra mile. 

How to use this information?

When you have collated this information, to answer either application questions or to write a covering letter, I advise you to write five reasons why you want to work for that company and five reasons how you match what the company is looking for. This will formulate a succinct covering letter/application answers, but will be in-depth enough to show that you have done your research. This level of research may take a few hours, but what is a few hours if it gets you to the next stage in the application process? I bet most of you spend longer than a few hours per day on Facebook!

Using the STAR method when writing your CV...

When applying to graduate schemes (or otherwise) there will be numerous application for the position, so how do you make your application/CV stand out? From reading articles, I have found out that recruiters normally look at a single application for about two minutes. This is a very short amount of time so you want to get your skills and suitability for the job across succinctly. This can be done using the STAR method. Situation, Task, Action, Result.

Here is an example of what is normally written:

"During university, I worked in a shop. I served customers and replenished stock."

The applicant is just stating what they have done in the job and is assuming that the recruiter can guess what skills they can bring to the job.

The above example could be written using the STAR method:

"During university, I worked in a shop. I was very effective at resolving customers' issues. One customer could not find the product she was looking for. I listened to what she wanted and told her that I would look in the warehouse to see whether it was in stock. As it was not, I brought her an alternative product. I explained  the benefits of the product to the customer. She bought the product and went away happy."

From this the recruiter can see that you have selling skills, communication skills, problem solving abilities and the ability to think on your feet.

You can see that the second option says more to the recruiter than option one. As you have a limited amount of time, each paragraph needs to say something to the recruiter. If you follow this method, on your CV, it is a sure fire way to get an interview.

A semester or a year abroad...

Whether you are studying a language and have to do a compulsory year abroad or you have decided that a semester abroad would be right for you there are many things you need to take into consideration. If you are taking a language then usually the country of destination is decided; however, if it is not the university has partnerships with universities in Australia, America, New Zealand and Europe. Once you have decided on the country, you can then decide on the city. Whether you are looking for culture or time by the sea. I would strongly recommend visiting the First Point and booking an appointment to find out about all the places you could study. Research has shown that students who study abroad are more employable as they develop life-long skills that translate to the work place. These skills include language skills, the ability to adapt to new situations and the ability to build relationships. One opportunity to study abroad is to take part in the Erasmus scheme. Here is a bit more information:

 

Insight days...

With so many career options it is a difficult decision to make when you graduate of what you actually want to do. A great way to gain an insight into different career options is to attend insight days. I have attended insight days at Deloitte, PwC and recently the Bank of England. Insight days are a great way to learn more about the company culture, the recruitment process and an opportunity to ask lots of questions! You will also usually do a group task. This is usually competitive and a great way to test your business acumen. I won a cocktail shaker (which is a bonus!).Companies will provide you with helpful hints and tips about how to make your application stand out from the crowd.

Here is the outline of the Bank of England insight day:

 It is usually many of the large financial institutions that provide insight days. I would look on http://targetjobs.co.uk/ for ones coming up. If you are looking for experience in other areas I would write speculative letters outlining the experience that you are looking for to companies you are interested in. I would research the company first so that you can direct this to a specific person. The university has three Worcester Weeks which would be a great opportunity to gain experience. Worcester Weeks are periods of time when students can increase their employability through work shops and work experience.

My motto is that you wouldn't buy clothes without trying them on, so why choose your career without testing it out first? So go on as many insight days as possible.... 

Teach First..another way into teaching

Graduates are looking towards teaching more and more. There are many routes into teaching including the PGCE and a newish programme called Teach First. This is a two year programme were you complete your PGCE and become a future leader. The programme focuses on schools/pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds and areas. It is primarily for people who are passionate about education and believe that education is a right, not a privilege. On completing the programme, you become an ambassador.

How to survive an assessment center??

Everything in life is so competitive. With everyone wanting that elusive graduate scheme. I mean anything less would seem to be a failure, no? Corporations have had to devise ever lengthy and complicated processes to decide which graduates would be suitable additions to their company. From initial application to psychometric tests to assessment centers. This article will give you an insight into how to pass an assessment center. 

First of all well done! To get to the stage is a big achievement. You have probably been through numerous stages so far. The recruitment process is quite expensive, so if you have got to this stage the HR personnel want you to get through to the next stage. Take this as a positive. I will tell you about my experience at an assessment center for one of the top banks. First of all I was extremely nervous. Watching all the other applicants coming in and asking the necessary question 'so where do you go to university and what degree do you study?' I would advise you not to take the answers to these questions to heart. So what if someone attends the University of Oxford? It doesn't mean that they are more suited to the job than you. The assessment center involved three parts: an interview, a group discussion and a presentation. One of the strangest things I found was that we had to manage our own time, so I would advise you to definitely arm yourself with a watch! 

• Interview: this was the strongest part of the assessment center for me. I would advise you to look at www.wikijobs.co.uk. This website will give you some idea about what questions you may get asked. I would definitely have answers prepared to the obvious questions such as: 'why do you want to work for us'? and 'what do you know about the company?' Failure to prepare for these kind of questions will put a red mark against your name. It just shows lack of preparation. My interviewer had studied economics at university so we had a lot to talk about. This boosted my confidence as I had found some common ground. We all have achievements. Academic and extra-curricular. When being asked competency-based questions, I would advise you to try and guide the conversation so you can highlight all of these experiences. Companies want to know that you are a 'well-rounded' individual. 
• Group discussion: in this task you are given a scenario and you have a certain stance that you have to put forward to others in the group. Usually, you have to persuade others that your scenario is worthy of a certain % of a budget. Firstly, many students go wrong in this area. They think this task is about arguing your point, you are right and no-one else is. This is NOT the purpose of the task. The task is testing your ability to put forward an argument. I do this by putting forward the pros and cons of my scenario and what I am recommending. It is also testing your ability to work as part of a team and communicate with team members. This also involves listening. If someone else suggests something good acknowledge it or if you think it is good but needs something extra say 'while that is a valid point, how about this..?' I would also advise you to either take on the role of time-keeper or note-taker.
• Presentation: this tasks involves reading an abundance of information and trying to put together a presentation arguing a certain point of view in a very short space of time. This is testing your ability to work under pressure, accuracy, presentation and communication skills. Firstly, when reading the information if the 'Manager' is putting forward a certain view point go with this. DO NOT try to argue a different point of view. The task will involve answering certain questions. Make sure you answer these questions. Again I put forward pros and cons and recommendations. I always find this the most logical way to meet the objectives of the task.

If you follow these pointers I think you will do well in the assessment center. However, if you do not take the experience as a learning curve. Someone once told me write NO 100 times on a piece of paper. Every time you get a NO, cross one out. This means you are another step closer to a YES!

Clearing... a new opportunity...

So you have just received your GCSE results or your Scottish Highers. Some of you may be a little disappointed and some of you may have done better than you expected to! So what does this mean? For some it may mean taking up your first choice of university or accepting your 'back-up' choice. However, it could also mean what some call 'the dreaded clearing process'. I think why it is renowned as this is that it is undertaken by students when they are in a state of sheer panic. Deciding where to go to university and what to study is a big life decision that should not be undertaken lightly. From reading articles, I have gathered a few helpful tips for students going through the clearing process:

• Don't panic: I think this speaks for itself! 
• Location, location,location: Would you prefer to be in a big city like London or are you suited more to living by the sea? Being a 'country girl,' I know personally that I am more suited to attending the University of Worcester as it is in a smaller city rather than living in the capital.
• What subject do you want to study?: What subject would you really enjoy learning about for the next three years! Three years is a long time, so don't just make a rash decision. However, you may not be able to get onto the exact course that you want so it is crucial to be open-minded and flexible.
• Get the clearing hotline numbers: If you do have an idea of what subject you want to study and which university you want to attend then this is a must! Course places fill up quickly. The University of Worcester (and other universities) have experienced advisers to help you. 
• Think about the positives of clearing: a student told me that the benefit of clearing is that you can barter and that you can ring a university and get an answer straight away. Think of all those agonising months you were waiting to see whether any of your university choices would accept you. This way if they say yes great, if not then move on! 

Here is a UCAS video to give you some more advice:

Choice,choices,choices....

I have been watching the news and seeing either the teenage faces of adulation or disappointment has made me reminisce. It was six years ago that I received my GCSE results! I have been reading how teenagers feel the pressure of having to choose a certain career path. I feel like this at 22! I have things that I am good at, things that I enjoy, but is there a graduate job (or even job) that encompasses all of this? With competition for graduate jobs at its highest, students are always striving for the best. What subjects do I need to take at A-level to get into a top university? Which then leads to which course do I need to do to get into this specific company or job? Only then at the end to realise that the job is not what you thought it would be! I think this comes from two avenues. Not having enough careers information to realise all the options that are open to you, or continuing on a path because a teacher or parent has told you that you would be good at it. This is me. I am the first in my family to attend university and I have been told that I should aim for the top. Many people don't know that before I attended the University of Worcester I went to the University of Birmingham to study Law with Business Studies. Why? I thought that it would make me money and give me prestige. This was not a good decision basis for the next three years of my life! My advice would be to meet as many people as possible and talk to them. I bet you that what they do now is not what they wanted to do at eighteen. I would also advise visiting the careers service at the earliest opportunity. I have read that the majority of university students don't seek out advice from their careers service until the last term of their third year. This is a mistake as you may miss an opportunity as the deadline for applications has already passed. My one pointer for university is to take advantage of all the opportunities on offer to you and to visit the careers service in the Pearson Building on St John's Campus at the first opportunity!

Factory Boy: My First ‘Graduate’ Job

Factory Boy: My First ‘Graduate’ Job

Bright Futures Hints & Tips from Top Employers!

Interview pointers!

How to write a good CV?

Resume Workshop from Aimee

Excellent hints and tips!

http://blog.freshessays.com/20-laziest-but-effective-college-life-hacks/?utm_content=buffer8450c&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer

'So you didn't get into a 'top' university? How do you make yourself attractive to top corporations?'

Whilst working as a student ambassador, I spoke to a college student who told me ' I have applied to Warwick University as it has moved from 4th to 3rd in the league table for my accountancy course'. While Warwick University is ranked as one of the top ten universities by the Guardian, should ranking really be the only factor considered when choosing a university? I can see why he thinks this. With stretched recruitment budgets, and such a competitive graduate job market, top corporations primarily target these universities. The Highfliers Report 2013 shows that students from the top ten universities have the highest earning potential and are the most likely to gain a graduate position in a top corporation. I attend the University of Worcester, which is currently ranked 107th. When starting university, I thought 'how can I make myself attractive to top corporations and compete with students from top universities?' It is all to do with being able to demonstrate that you have the relevant skills, that match the company's competencies.Any student, from any university can do this and this article will show you how!

1. Research the companies competencies: While perusing many a corporation's website, I have noticed that they are all looking for similar competencies. This is supported by The Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Service (AGCAS) which shows the top five skills all employers are looking for are: commercial awareness, teamwork, communication skills,flexibility and integrity.
2. Develop experiences to show that you have these relevant competencies: University is not just about studying. While gaining the proverbial 2:1 is necessary for top corporations, extra-curricular activities are necessary to demonstrate relevant skills. A few I have got involved with are: Student academic representative, The Bright Futures Society, Mentor Link and the SAP Project. 
3. Present these experiences using the STAR method: Situation,Task, Action, Result. Recruiters have limited time and do not want to read pages of waffle. STAR is a way to effectively and concisely put forward what skills you have gained from an experience. This method should be used in your CV and when answering competency-based interview questions. Here is a CV example:

"Mentor Link (February 2011- July 2013):
I volunteered as a mentor for Mentor Link. I built relationships, with the mentees, in order to help them set goals and achieve them. I set goals using 'wish charts' to help improve their behaviour. I have received positive feedback from the mentees and the school. The mentees have moved from
special needs classes to mainstream classes. From this volunteering, I have achieved my V100 award from Vinspired."

In my opinion, the only difference between students at higher and lower ranking universities is the ability to follow these three simple rules. So my advice would be to attend a university that you want to attend and not to be restricted and worried about league tables. Attending an 107th ranked
university has not stopped me. I have received offers to attend assessment centres from top corporations such as: Lloyds Banking Group, Microsoft, Siemens and PriceWaterhouseCoopers.

How to Gain a Graduate Position by Thinking 'Outside of the Box?'

Recession-Proof Graduate from Charlie Hoehn

TARGETjobs Bloggers: How to gain a placement by Alexa-Jane Moore

TARGETjobs Bloggers: How to gain a placement by Alexa-Jane Moore: Second year student at Worcester University, Alexa-Jane Moore writes her thoughts on how to gain a placement.  The graduate job market i...

First Year to My Dream Job!

Recruiters' use of Social Media

Recruitment & employer branding on the social web from Paul Jacobs

Releasing Potential and Presenting Achievement by Michael and Sarah-Jayne

Conference presentation 2 from Alexa-Jane Moore

Releasing Potential and Presenting Achievement by Michael and Sarah-Jayne

Releasing Potential and Presenting Achievement by Michael and Sarah-Jayne

We both took part in an appreciative inquiry as Student and Institute Representatives and presented our findings at the 5th Annual Employability Conference.  

Detailed Project Report:

'How has the University supported you in achieving your potential? In particular with regard to the PHUEC course?'

The University has supported people in achieving their potential through providing a HCPC approved course, which upon completion, allows you to register as a Paramedic. The PHUEC course at the University of Worcester is unique in comparison to other university Paramedic courses as it allows you to learn skills in the classroom at the beginning of the week and then practice these skills out on placement later on in the same week. This is a different approach to block learning, where you can be out on placement for up to six weeks at a time. The way these placements are delivered in a unique fashion works well because you are in continual contact with the University and West Midlands Ambulance Service, therefore it allows you to become integrated into the service. You also build up a rapport with your peers and can share experiences with one another on a regular basis, which may not be possible if you were on block placements. You also get the opportunity to meet a variety of different Paramedic mentors, so you can experience similar, yet different approaches to how a variety of mentors handle situations.

‘Can you tell me about an occasion when a member of University staff helped you?’

The lecturers at the University are very helpful and will go over and beyond their expectations. A particular time that individuals remember is when the lecturers have put on extra classes during their own time to allow us to practice certain skills in preparation for OSCE’s. This has involved hiring equipment and rooms, which has been kindly prearranged by the tutor in advance.

A few students commented that they had trouble with the allocation of their practice placements and that a certain member of staff took control over the situation and resolved it quickly before it became a problem.

A particular student commented that they did not perform as well as they would have liked to during one of the summative in-class examinations. The tutor allocated their time to put this students mind at ease. They sat down with the student and went through their answers on the test paper. Although the lecturer could not offer an alternative examination, the student commented that they felt reassured by the tutors help and left the tutorial feeling positive and optimistic for the next in-class examination.

Students' opinions on how to be successful at university

Demii Moore I would say get a part time job and network with as many employers as possible. For example my boss has connections with someone in finance and now there's a possibility I could have a placement there.

TARGETjobs Bloggers: TARGETjobs weekly news roundup

TARGETjobs Bloggers: TARGETjobs weekly news roundup: Hello, hope you are all enjoying the lovely weather. If you are taking a break from the sunshine then you’ve come to the right place ...

Check List for Starting University

1. Attend Freshers Fair and join as many societies as you can. Join some for socialising and meeting like minded people and some for career progression. 
2. Attend events during Freshers Week as it is a chance to experience new things and make friends.
3. Get involved with schemes such as: student academic representatives, students' union and the university's newspaper.
4. Read through module outlines so you know what is expected of you in terms of assessments/deadlines.
5. Go and visit the Hive and play around with Summon so you can find out how to borrow books and find journal articles. 
6. Find out where the local supermarket is, so you can get some nutrients!
7. Look in the Peirson Building to find out about local jobs, or use the Job Pod.

Do You Really Want That Job? - Social-Hire

Do You Really Want That Job? - Social-Hire

Employers raise UCAS tariff for grads | GradTouch

Employers raise UCAS tariff for grads | GradTouch

Top Websites for Students

• StudentBeans: is a website full of student offers and articles: http://www.studentbeans.com/student-money/a/8-jobs-you-can-easily-do-from-home-4752.html
• Targetjobs: is a careers/employability website: http://targetjobs.co.uk/
• WikiJobs: is a great site to gain insight for placement/internship interviews and processes: http://www.wikijob.co.uk/
• Bright Futures: is a society were you can network with top employers: http://brightfutures.co.uk/home/index.php
• The Guardian: has a great newsletter and student blog section: http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/students
• Employability Award: a way to recognise and record non-academic achievements: http://www.worcester.ac.uk/careers/1592.htm
• VInspired: a way to find volunteering opportunities and record your hours: http://vinspired.com/
• Just-do-it: a way to find volunteering opportunities: http://www.do-it.org.uk/

Inspiring Interns.com

Excellent website for internships in London visit: http://www.inspiringinterns.com/interns/internship-offers/?utm_source=Candidate+newsletter+15+07&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Vacancies+?page=2?page=2

During the Holidays

During the Holidays

Graduate jobs, schemes, internships, recruitment: TARGETjobs UK

Graduate jobs, schemes, internships, recruitment: TARGETjobs UK

Far too many competing graduates: FMCG tops applicant rates, finds AGR | Business intelligence for recruitment and resourcing professionals

Far too many competing graduates: FMCG tops applicant rates, finds AGR | Business intelligence for recruitment and resourcing professionals

TARGETjobs Bloggers: What part of your CV matters most to employers

TARGETjobs Bloggers: What part of your CV matters most to employers: What part of your CV matters most to employers Last week we ran a poll asking you ‘what part of your CV matters most to employers.’ We ...

The Worcester Award

The Worcester Award – A Student's Perspective by Alexa-Jane Moore

I first heard about the Worcester Award from a recruiter, at Enterprise-Rent-A-Car, who praised the award as a way to collate and reflect on your experiences whilst at University. Knowing how competitive the graduate job market is, I thought it would be a good way to stand out from the crowd as the award is recognised on your degree transcript. I looked into starting the award, in the careers department, and I attended the introductory session. The first thing I noticed was all the opportunities, that I did not know about, that could be used in the different sections of the award. The award entails showing involvement in activities that can aid personal and skills development, show a contribution to society, show that you have learnt how to promote yourself to employers and work experience.

The experiences I chose to use were:

• Bright Futures Society Treasurer
• Student Academic Representative
• Mentor for the charity Mentor Link
• Sales assistant for The Co-operative
• Endsleigh workshop
• 'Finding student placements' workshop

I undertook these activities, during my second year, and I collated my hours in the activities log. When I had completed it, I reflected on my experiences in the personal statement. I learnt that I had strengths such as: good communication skills, problem solving abilities, the ability to build relationships and good time-management skills. I also learnt that my weakness was the ability to work well in a team. This gave me the chance to highlight this weakness and think of ways to improve it. Doing this, has enabled me to come up with answers to those dreaded competencies questions asked by employers! I have a set of examples ready, using the STAR method, that could be used in any interview. I was given the chance to use these in the final panel interview for the Worcester Award. It was a new experience as I have never had an interview with more than one person before.

I would recommend the Worcester Award to any student. It gives you the chance to collate your experiences in a way that can be presented to employers. I think most students are already doing activities that can be used in the award and do not realise you can get recognition for it. You can learn about your strengths and weaknesses and it will definitely get you more involved in student life. This is an excellent way to set yourself apart from other candidates to get your dream job!  

How to Gain a Placement

How to Gain a Placement by Alexa-Jane Moore

The graduate job market is tougher than ever and the process of gaining your first job can be nerve racking and laborious. A starting point to this process can be gaining a placement in your second year. 75% of graduate jobs are awarded to students on summer or year long placements. I have gained such a placement and here are my top tips to get through the very long application process!

Refine your job search- you have to think; what do I really want to do? Don’t just apply to every job you see. I would apply to ten jobs maximum. This way you can really spend time tailoring your covering letter and C.V.
Visit the careers department- First Point has just opened in the Pierson Centre. This is an excellent place to visit to get advice on how to create a C.V. and possible local opportunities.
Create a ’punchy’ C.V.- I would keep your C.V. to a maximum of two pages. Recruiters are extremely busy and may receive a thousand applications per position. You really need to focus on the skills that the company are looking for and really highlight these. I tend to explain my experiences using the STAR method. Situation, Task, Approach and Result.
Practice psychological reasoning tests- so you have passed the initial application and now it is time for the tests! These tests could include: a personality test, numerical reasoning test, verbal reasoning test, diagrammatic test and situational judgement test. All of these tests are used to make sure you have the right skill level for the company. I practiced these tests on www.assessmentday.co.uk and I found lots of books in the careers department.
Research potential questions- so you are now onto the telephone interview. If you have got to this stage, firstly well done! When I reached this stage, I used Wiki Jobs to research potential questions, that could be asked, and I prepared answers to the dreaded competency questions.
Relax - when I reached the assessment centre, I just thought how well I had done to get this stage. I asked the recruiter and there were eleven of us chosen from one thousand applicants. The aim of the assessment centre is to see how you work as part of a team. My main piece of advice would be to talk! If you do not say anything, how can the assessors assess you? However, this does not mean talk over people! Ask others what they think and if someone says something good, acknowledge it.
Don’t be afraid to talk about yourself- I found this really difficult. The final interview is extremely nerve racking. My advice would be to have some answers prepared to questions like, “Why do you want to work for us?” This means you will not be put on the spot. I would also advice trying to guide the interview so you can talk about all the achievements you have. If you don’t, then how will they know how you can bring certain skills to their team.

I have gained a placement to be an Assistant Merchandiser at George. I have found all of this advice extremely helpful. Out of the ten jobs I applied to, I was invited to eight assessment centres. I would say, be persistent and don’t give up. If you don’t get the position, review the feedback and try to improve. Otherwise, maybe that job wasn't the right job for you!