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

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