The Grad Hub - Helping Students Get Through University and Find a Career https://thegradhub.com/ Helping Students Get Through University and Find a Career Sun, 18 Apr 2021 10:20:30 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.3 https://i0.wp.com/thegradhub.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/The-Grad-Hub-Logo-2020.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 The Grad Hub - Helping Students Get Through University and Find a Career https://thegradhub.com/ 32 32 161674756 Tips to Keep on Top of Job Applications During Your Final Year https://thegradhub.com/2021/04/18/tips-to-keep-on-top-of-job-applications-during-your-final-year/ https://thegradhub.com/2021/04/18/tips-to-keep-on-top-of-job-applications-during-your-final-year/#respond Sun, 18 Apr 2021 10:20:30 +0000 https://blog.thegradhub.com/?p=10378 During your final year of study, the realisation often hits that, come July, your educational years are over and you have to venture out into the ‘real’ world. Finding the time to apply for graduate jobs can be extremely daunting, especially alongside the increased workload that final year brings. Application forms, cover letters, psychometric tests […]

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During your final year of study, the realisation often hits that, come July, your educational years are over and you have to venture out into the ‘real’ world. Finding the time to apply for graduate jobs can be extremely daunting, especially alongside the increased workload that final year brings.

Application forms, cover letters, psychometric tests and interviews, job hunting is a time-consuming process to take on. Here at The Grad Hub we recently heard from recent graduate, Katie Oliver, who shares her top tips to help you keep on top of job applications alongside the workload of your final year at University.

Make use of a diary or tracking system

Keep yourself organised on application progress by using a diary or digital tracking system. Deadlines for applying often come thick and fast, meaning keeping track of these is vital to ensure you have enough time to complete the application to a high standard. Additionally, as you progress through the stages of a graduate job interview, there will be various deadlines you must meet to still be considered for the next stage.

Utilising a diary or creating your own digital tracking system on programmes like Microsoft Excel or Notion are great ways to stay organised. Being able to visualise the approaching deadline and the free time you have available to dedicate is a useful way to plan your schedule effectively and make sure you’re not having to pull an all-nighter to submit on time.
Another benefit to keeping tabs on applications is avoiding confusion in the job roles. There’s nothing worse than working hard to write a showstopping cover letter for your ideal position, only to realise it closed last week. As I said, deadlines often come in quick succession, so ensuring you know which role closes when is important to be able to prioritise.

Say ‘yes’ to job site notifications

Turn on email notifications from job sites for your desired role. Half of the job hunting process is trawling relevant websites looking for a position that ticks all of your boxes. If you have a good idea about which sector you would like to work within, or even a particular job title, make sure you create a saved custom search on job websites using the filters.
Once this is in place, you can opt to receive email notifications on a frequent basis if any new roles are posted fitting your requirements. Using this feature helps save a lot of time, something that is imperative to staying on top of your University workload whilst maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Only apply for roles you’re really striving for

In true student style it can be tempting to, as they say, throw everything at the wall and hope something sticks. But, applying for jobs that you are not set on or do not feel passionately about is detrimental in the long run. Yes, it is true that all interviews are worthwhile since they provide practice and experience. However, spending ample amounts of time writing job applications and preparing for an interview for a role you have no intention of taking is not time effective. Juggling a dissertation and job hunting is difficult enough as it is, so be sure to cut yourself some slack and only dedicate time to those positions you can envision yourself working in.

Craft a cover letter template

Another great tip that will undoubtedly help you a great deal during your graduate job search is formulating an ideal cover letter template. Crafting coherent cover letters that really engage with each company and job role is a time-consuming process. Since these are often the first thing employers see, you don’t want to find yourself rushing them and producing a lacklustre piece that offers no flow or appeal.

If possible, enlisting the help of your University careers team to help you structure the ‘perfect’ cover letter is a great way to ensure each application always hits the mark. Of course, these must be well tailored for each individual position but understanding the basic format of what should be included and where it best fits to maximise impact helps no end in making the process much quicker.

Don’t let job hunting consume your final year

If you are finding it difficult to stay on top of job applications whilst juggling the workload of final year, don’t be afraid to take a step back from the job market. Sometimes it’s better to focus on finishing your degree and hitting those imminent deadlines to the best of your ability. For sure it’s a nice feeling to have a secured position upon graduation. However, it’s much more important to receive your final degree results and feel happy that you gave it everything you had.

Remember, graduate jobs re-open their application process every year alongside an abundance of other entry level positions that recruit on a rolling basis. Although it might appear frustrating to have to wait a little longer to secure that post-University full-time job you’re seeking, it will all be worth it in the end.

A bit about Katie Oliver

katie oliverKatie went to Aston University where she studied a degree in Psychology and Sociology, graduating in 2020 – minus the actual graduation due to the pandemic. During her degree, Katie undertook a placement year working as a Marketing and Research Assistant which highly developed her interest into the marketing sector and led her into her graduate role, where she now works as a Digital Marketing Exec for a B2C company. During her final year of University, Katie worked closely with the University Careers team to help and advise prospective placement students with their job searches and expectations – a highly rewarding job. Throughout she have always had a real passion for writing, combining that with her love for running led her to pursue a passion project of hers and set up an online blog focusing on all things running, fitness and graduate life.


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5 Tips to Study From Home More Effectively https://thegradhub.com/2021/01/06/5-tips-to-study-from-home-more-effectively/ https://thegradhub.com/2021/01/06/5-tips-to-study-from-home-more-effectively/#respond Wed, 06 Jan 2021 23:57:58 +0000 https://blog.thegradhub.com/?p=7113 The COVID-19 pandemic has left us all thinking…WTF! The new lockdown has left students wondering what’s happening with their education and are now having to spend the next few weeks or maybe months studying effectively from home. You may be at home by yourself, or at university halls with friends, wherever you maybe adjustments need […]

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The COVID-19 pandemic has left us all thinking…WTF! The new lockdown has left students wondering what’s happening with their education and are now having to spend the next few weeks or maybe months studying effectively from home.

You may be at home by yourself, or at university halls with friends, wherever you maybe adjustments need to be made to allow you to fully focus on getting through the next few weeks of virtual education.

We’ve put together 5 tips on how you can study effectively whilst stuck at home or university.

1. Sort out your study space

Make some room for you to study. If you have a desk in your room, get decluttering and remove any unwanted items to make room for your books, computer and stationery. If you don’t have a desk, find a dedicated area where you can study. Again, make sure the area is clear from clutter, its quiet and spacious enough for your study materials. Don’t go crazy and take over the whole dinner table but make the most of the space you have so you can concentrate and prepare yourself for the next few weeks.

2. Create a timetable

Get yourself organised and plan your week of studying. Schedule your study times, your breaks, and ensure you get an hour’s lunch. Set reasonable limits for how much time you spend to studying each day and break it up in manageable chunks of time. Remember to give yourself plenty of breaks. Spending too much time at the screen or with your head in the books, can cause headaches and fatigue and may put you out of studying for the next day or two.

Don’t be waking up at 11am and thinking, let’s see how the day goes. Try to have a normal routine, as it would be like if you were at university. Keep your weekends free to recharge your batteries. Maybe try getting out of those pyjamas and motivating yourself for the day ahead.

3. Communicate with others

It’s always beneficial if you are studying with others. My advice would be to get your friends on zoom/whatsapp/Microsoft teams and have a study session each week. Engage with your peers on these video platforms and across social media. Ask questions, share your thoughts and ideas and collaborate. Having those video calls with your friends will also help with your mental health, providing that sense of togetherness.

Also, try reaching out to your teachers for support. They are always on hand to offer help and answer any questions you may have. Speaking with your teachers also shows them you are dedicated to getting through the virtual learning but also builds a rapport with your teacher. That rapport would come useful when you need a reference when you are looking to start your career.

4. Set yourself goals

Having set goals in mind will help you stay productive and motivated throughout the day. Remember to make sure your goals are achievable and realistic. Think about what you are aiming for by the end of the day and write it down.

5. Take advantage of productivity apps

How many apps do you have on your phone? Are any of them helping you with your studies? We live in a digital age and there’s an app for everything these days. These apps will help make studying more achievable and takes one further thing off your to do list. Here’s a few of the best productivity apps out there:

Remember The Grad Hub and many other student platforms are here to help you. You are not alone through this pandemic. Reach out, speak to family and friends and keep yourself motivated. We are in this together.


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Your Guide to Ace Your Next Video Interview https://thegradhub.com/2021/01/01/your-guide-to-ace-your-next-video-interview/ https://thegradhub.com/2021/01/01/your-guide-to-ace-your-next-video-interview/#respond Fri, 01 Jan 2021 12:21:26 +0000 https://blog.thegradhub.com/?p=7105 Video interviews have been around for years but recent events have brought them front and centre. Thanks to COVID-19, more people than ever are having video interviews either as part of the application process or the entirety of it. Like with in-person interviews, preparation is everything. You should prepare yourself, your tech and the room […]

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Video interviews have been around for years but recent events have brought them front and centre. Thanks to COVID-19, more people than ever are having video interviews either as part of the application process or the entirety of it.

Like with in-person interviews, preparation is everything. You should prepare yourself, your tech and the room for the interview ahead of time. Then you have one less thing to worry about during the video interview itself.

We teamed up with Broadband Genie to write this guide to help you ace your next video interview. These tips can also elevate your video chat or streaming, too!

Preparing your equipment for your video interview

Interviews are stressful enough without having to contend with technical issues. Preparation is key here. In the same way you check your interview outfit before you walk in the door, prepare your equipment to make sure everything is where it should be and won’t let you down.

You will need:

  1. A device with a microphone and speaker.
  2. A broadband or 4G/5G connection.
  3. A quiet room where you don’t be disturbed.

The hardware

You can use a laptop or desktop along with a webcam and speakers or you can use your phone. Whatever device you use, make sure the camera and microphone are of sufficient quality to ensure both audio and video are clear.

While an HD or 4K webcam might be nice, it isn’t mandatory. As long as the video and audio is of decent quality and shows you in good light, you’re ready to go.

The connection

You don’t need super-fast broadband for a video call. We would suggest alerting anyone else in your household so they don’t start downloading files during the interview though!

According to Zoom, a 1:1 video call only requires up to 600kbps connection. If you’re facing an interview panel, a group call requires up to 800 kbps. Other video apps have similar requirements.

These modest bandwidth demands mean you can use a 4G connection and still have a seamless interview as long as you’re in a good coverage area.

The space

Where you have your video interview is also important. It should be quiet, offer uninterrupted privacy and have decent lighting. If your room doesn’t have good lighting, you can buy a range of low-cost lighting options designed for camera use.

Natural light is always best. If you have the flexibility, choose a room that faces south or has good natural light. If you don’t have that flexibility, look at some cheap lighting options.

Testing, testing

Once you have everything you need, you should ensure everything works properly and that everything is ready to go.

If you’re using a laptop or phone for your interview, check the room, the lighting and your interview outfit. If you’re using a desktop with external microphone and webcam, make sure the application you’ll be using for your video interview is set up to use them as default.

Most invitations for video interviews will tell you in advance the platform they will use. Make sure you have a copy of the software or can access the platform well ahead of time. If you can, test the platform to make sure it can use your webcam and microphone.

Troubleshooting camera and microphone

If something goes wrong during preparation, or during the video interview, knowing what to do next is key.

Here are a couple of things to check.

If no video or audio appears in the video application – Check the video app is configured to use your webcam, microphone and speakers. Also, some laptops have a hotkey (typically an ‘FN’ key + F1-12 key) which can enable/disable the mic and webcam, so use that to make sure the hardware is not switched off.

If using a browser application and no video appears – Make sure you’re not using any ad blockers or autoplay video blockers in your browser.

If audio or video is choppy or broken – Make sure nobody is downloading files at the same time or that WiFi where you are is sufficient. If you’re practicing, you could also reboot your device to reload the drivers.

How to test your broadband connection

If you’re not sure how fast your broadband connection is, you can use a free online speed test to see how it’s performing.

Run the test ahead of time to make sure your connection is sufficient to run a successful video call.

Final tips for video interviews

Finally, there are some other simple things you can do to ensure you look your best when on video. Whether you’re simply chatting with friends or attending a video interview, these quick tips can help.

  • Make sure you won’t be interrupted during the call
  • Check that nobody will be downloading large files at the same time
  • Check everything beforehand using Zoom Test Meeting or whatever platform is to be used.
  • Dress and act the same as an in-person interview
  • Place the app window close to the camera and remember to look at both
  • Close all messaging apps and silence your phone
  • Silence any audible alerts or computer reminders

A video interview is the same as an in-person interview. As long as you prepare your equipment beforehand, make sure you look your best and ensure you are as prepared as your gear, you should be fine!


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Guidance for EU Students Studying in the UK https://thegradhub.com/2021/01/01/guidance-for-eu-students-studying-in-the-uk/ https://thegradhub.com/2021/01/01/guidance-for-eu-students-studying-in-the-uk/#respond Fri, 01 Jan 2021 11:46:26 +0000 https://blog.thegradhub.com/?p=7102 Are you a student from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland? Do you know what to do now that the UK has officially left the EU? We’ve summarised the Government’s guidance for EU students below to make sure you are aware of the steps you need to take. EU Settlement Scheme If you are […]

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Are you a student from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland? Do you know what to do now that the UK has officially left the EU? We’ve summarised the Government’s guidance for EU students below to make sure you are aware of the steps you need to take.

EU Settlement Scheme

If you are from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland and are living in the UK on or before the 31 December 2020 and still want to remain living in the UK, then you will need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). This is free to apply to and you have until the 30 June 2021 to apply. Irish citizens do not need to apply to the EUSS.

The EUSS means, those individuals from the above countries are able to stay and are able to work, study and access benefits such as the NHS broadly on the same basis as they currently do.

EU Students Starting a Course in the UK from 1 January 2021

If you plan to come to the UK to study from the 1 January 2021, you may need a student visa to study. A student visa is needed if you plan to be in the UK longer than 6 months. If you plan to be a student in the UK less than 6 months, then a visa is not required. However you must be studying at an accredited university. You cannot study at a state funded school or academy, do a course that lasts longer than 6 months, do paid or unpaid work or get public funds.

You can apply for a student visa in the UK if you are over 16 and have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor, have enough money to support yourself and pay for your course and can speak, read and write English.

If you are applying from outside the UK, the earliest you can apply for a student visa is 6 months before you start your course. If you are applying for a student visa within the UK, the earliest you can apply is 3 months before the start of your course. You must apply 28 days before your current visa expires.

How long you can stay depends on the length of your course. You can read the guidance for how long you can stay here.

If you are on an Erasmus+ programme 2020 to 2021 academic year, your placement should continue as normal. Contact your college or university if you need more information.

Student finance for EU, Swiss, Norwegian, Icelandic or Liechtenstein nationals from August 2021

If you are starting a course on or after the 1 August 2021, you must have settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to get student finance.

Following the UK’s decision to leave the EU, if you are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, then you will no longer be eligible for home fee status, undergraduate, postgraduate and advanced learner financial support from Student Finance England for courses starting in academic year 2021/22.

This change will also apply to Further Education funding for those aged 19+, and funding for apprenticeships. It will not affect students starting courses in academic year 2020/21, nor those EU, other EEA and Swiss nationals benefiting from Citizens’ Rights under the EU Withdrawal Agreement, EEA EFTA Separation Agreement or Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement respectively. It will also not apply to Irish nationals living in the UK and Ireland whose right to study and to access benefits and services will be preserved on a reciprocal basis for UK and Irish nationals under the Common Travel Area arrangement.

For further advice please visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs website or the UK Government website.


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Applying to University https://thegradhub.com/2020/12/30/applying-to-university/ https://thegradhub.com/2020/12/30/applying-to-university/#respond Wed, 30 Dec 2020 22:54:04 +0000 https://blog.thegradhub.com/?p=2025 So, you are planning to attend University, but have no idea of when and how to apply. The UCAS website is your best place to get all the information you need to apply to University, including key deadlines. I have summarised below what you need to do during your application process. Want to know what […]

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So, you are planning to attend University, but have no idea of when and how to apply. The UCAS website is your best place to get all the information you need to apply to University, including key deadlines. I have summarised below what you need to do during your application process.

Want to know what the admissions team look for when you apply?

Here are some of the top items you need to focus on in your application:

  • Qualifications.
  • A personal statement that shows passion, motivation, enthusiasm, skills and experiences.
  • Quality of reference.
  • Knowledge and commitment to the subject applied for.
  • Your approach to learning and development.
  • Ability to articulate yourself fluently and accurately.

Register

The first thing you need to do is register your details with UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Simply fill in the application on the UCAS website or do this with your school, college or centre.

Here you will need to fill in funding and sponsorship options, residential status, any special needs or impairments, any criminal convictions. Plus, any additional information if you are applying from the UK only, including ethnic origin, national identity, occupational background. You will also be able to mention anything about your individual circumstances, such as your parental education, if you’ve been in care, or whether you have been involved in widening participation activities.

Course Choices

You can choose up to five courses and can apply to five different universities for the same course or five different courses at the same university. For medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and veterinary science, you can only apply to a maximum of four courses.

Remember you will only have space for one personal statement, which is usually quite specific to the course, so do keep an eye on this.

Your Employment History

If you’ve had paid jobs, full-time or part-time, ensure you list these in your application. You can enter details for up to five previous roles and any unpaid or voluntary work can be added to your personal statement.

Personal Statement

Here is where the magic works. This is your chance to sell yourself to universities and colleges, letting them know why you want to study the course and why you think you will fit into their university and make a great student. Make sure you talk to fellow teachers, friends and family to ensure you are getting the key points across and showing enthusiasm. Have your teachers review the statement before you apply it, so start early.

Get a Reference and Apply

This is your time to get an academic reference. Approach your teachers or any professional that knows you academically and have them give you a great reference to support your application. Once you have this, you are then ready to pay the relevant fee and apply.

If you are applying through a school, college or centre, they will let you know whether you should pay them or pay UCAS. They will then send your application to UCAS on your behalf.

What Next?

After you have applied to university, you will receive a Personal ID in your welcome email and be able to sign in and track your application. The universities and colleges will then review your application and decide on whether to make an unconditional or conditional offer to you, which will depend on your exam results.

Once all offers are in, you have to reply by a specific date. Steps include selecting a firm choice (your first choice), if this is a conditional offer then you have a chance to also include an insurance choice too as a back-up; then declining all the other offers. You will then be able to track if your place has been confirmed by the university. If you are unsuccessful, you can use Clearing to apply for more courses. And that’s it, you have now fully completed the UCAS application.

Good luck, you’ve done amazing to get this far. 

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Get a kickstart with the Government Kickstart Scheme https://thegradhub.com/2020/11/22/get-a-kickstart-with-the-government-kickstart-scheme/ https://thegradhub.com/2020/11/22/get-a-kickstart-with-the-government-kickstart-scheme/#respond Sun, 22 Nov 2020 22:30:13 +0000 https://blog.thegradhub.com/?p=6382 The coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on the future of young people. We are seeing businesses closing, opportunities dwindling, and job applications within their hundreds. The pandemic has left the young feeling nervous and scared about what the future might hold for them. From this November 2020 the government released their Kickstart Scheme, […]

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The coronavirus pandemic has had a major impact on the future of young people. We are seeing businesses closing, opportunities dwindling, and job applications within their hundreds. The pandemic has left the young feeling nervous and scared about what the future might hold for them.

From this November 2020 the government released their Kickstart Scheme, a 6-month paid job opportunity with a local employer. The scheme provides a fully funded opportunity for young people, aged 16-24 to gain paid work experience at many exciting companies in the UK.

The Kickstart Scheme Eligibility

To be eligible for a role within the Kickstart Scheme, applicants need to be 16-24 years old, on Universal Credit and are at risk of long-term employment. These placements are designed to help develop the skills and experience of the young to find work beyond the 6-month placement. Those employers who apply for the kickstart scheme funding must provide support to look for long term work, offer career advice as well as setting goals. Plus they must support with CV writing, interview preparation, and basic skills, including attendance, time keeping and teamwork.

The fundamental part of this, is that applicants need to be signed up with their local Jobcentre Plus. All roles will be filtered through them. The Jobcentre Plus work coaches will guide them through the roles they have available on the scheme and support them throughout the 6-month period. The government is expecting hundreds of thousands of roles to feature through the Kickstart Scheme and have dedicated a £2bn pot for funding the scheme.

The Kickstart Scheme Pay

Through the scheme applicants will receive a full salary of up to 25 hours a week for a total of 6 months, at the appropriate minimum wage for their age, full training and on the job support. The employer will be funded £1,500 for training, tech and support, which should be used towards training.

If you are not currently on Universal Credit, you can apply online. This could take up to 12 weeks to approve, so apply today and speak to a Jobcentre Plus coach for further support.

This advice has been provided by Xpertd, an online community designed for redundant professionals and small & medium enterprises that have been impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic. If you are a business and are looking for advice and support to grow out of this pandemic, you can gain some insight through this platform.

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5 Tips for Finding a Job https://thegradhub.com/2020/10/02/5-tips-for-finding-a-job/ https://thegradhub.com/2020/10/02/5-tips-for-finding-a-job/#respond Fri, 02 Oct 2020 09:12:09 +0000 https://blog.thegradhub.com/?p=4308 This past week The Grad Hub connected with Anastasia Lisova, Country Manager at Jooble who provided her 5 tips to finding a job and essentially a step into your career. Crack some of these and you will surely be on the job ladder to a successful career. 1. Start earning money through temporary work Always […]

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This past week The Grad Hub connected with Anastasia Lisova, Country Manager at Jooble who provided her 5 tips to finding a job and essentially a step into your career. Crack some of these and you will surely be on the job ladder to a successful career.

1. Start earning money through temporary work

Always think about your future. The majority of companies these days require you to have work experience. Gaining experience in a particular area will open the door to a successful career. Therefore, before embarking on your search, you need to determine what exactly you want to do. In this case, it is worth considering both personal inclinations and the benefits that you can derive from temporary work for future employment in your specialty.

In some professions, students can work in their specialty from early in their journey. These roles provide the possibility of freelancing, remote work, or part-time employment, i.e. design, journalism, IT, etc. The most suitable office specialties for students are secretaries, couriers, interviewers, assistant managers, office managers, administrators, PC operators. Also, students can gain experience through the service sector – a waiter, bartender, sales assistant, promoter, and so on.

2. Attend different courses enriching your CV

All available certificates, diplomas, knowledge of foreign languages must be indicated on your CV. It is very important to be able to write a CV correctly, as it is the CV that determines the first impression of a person in front of the employer. The main task of any CV is to show not just your strengths, but those that are important to a potential employer. Typically, companies that look at candidates with no experience expect you to learn quickly. Therefore, it is worth mentioning in your CV that you are capable of doing this, and are interested in mastering the profession as best as possible. You are also expected to have an active life position, the ability to work in a team, perseverance in achieving goals, the ability to learn quickly. Leadership, analytical and organizational skills are valued, as well as persuasion and effective communication.

3. Internship

An internship is one of the best ways to try yourself in your chosen profession. Many companies recruit recent students to work as trainees, with accompanying training. After a successful internship, there is a chance to get a permanent job within your career. On average, internships last about three months, and during this period the minimum wage is paid, but the goal of getting a good permanent job justifies the work. The main thing is to try to show yourself, to win over the employer.

4. Responsible approach to interviews

You must arrive on time for your interview. Answer the questions with confidence. Furthermore, to show your interest, you should also ask the interviewer questions of your concern. Don’t forget to dress appropriately and be neat.

5. Self-confidence

You should not underestimate your opportunities, nor exaggerate them. It is worth learning to speak confidently about your skills and abilities in interviews. Most career success stories start with a simple job. The main thing is that you started working, and experience will increase your value in the labour market over time. For the first job, it is not the money that is more important but getting experience in the field in which you want to develop.

JoobleJooble is a job search engine created for a single purpose: To help you find the job of your dreams! Jooble is included in the TOP 5 world leaders and represented in 71 countries of the world.


Further Reading

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UNiDAYS or Student Beans or Both? https://thegradhub.com/2020/09/13/unidays-or-student-beans-or-both/ https://thegradhub.com/2020/09/13/unidays-or-student-beans-or-both/#respond Sun, 13 Sep 2020 15:00:52 +0000 https://blog.thegradhub.com/?p=2329 You are probably aware of the main student deal websites out there, but do you ever get confused at which one to use? Which is the best for student discounts? UNiDAYS, Student Beans, TOTUM, any others? Back when I was a student, there was only one main discount card to use, that being the paper […]

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You are probably aware of the main student deal websites out there, but do you ever get confused at which one to use? Which is the best for student discounts? UNiDAYS, Student Beans, TOTUM, any others?

nus cardBack when I was a student, there was only one main discount card to use, that being the paper NUS card, and no app to easily get discount codes. (Something like the image on the right, and most of the time a fake one) How times have changed. Now with the power of the web, we have several student discount websites and apps. NUS has become TOTUM and has lost considerable share of the market and new apps have taken over.

Over this short post, I’m not going to shout about The Grad Hub, but instead compare the two main student discount website, UNiDAYS and Student Beans. I guess we can leave NUS TOTUM for another day.

UNiDAYS

Firstly UNiDAYS. It’s free to join! That’s a bonus, but you have to be in sixth form, college or university. They offer discounts on everything from food & drink, fashion, technology, beauty, lifestyle and health & fitness.

To join all you have to do is register with your email address provided by your institution, enter a password, confirm if you are male or female and hit register. It’s that simple.

There are hundreds of brands to choose from, including Dominos, Expedia, JD Sports, Ryman, Topshop, Topman and more.

Student Beans

Student Beans offers similar deals as UNiDAYS. You may see several retailers advertising their services with either one or the other brands. For example, with Student Beans you can get offers from McDonalds whereas UNiDAYS have teamed up with Burger King.

Student Beans uses the same verification function as UNiDAYS. You need to sign up with your institutions email address to be verified into the programme. It’s a simple step and unlike UNiDAYS, you can sign up with Facebook and Google, although I’m not so sure how they verify Facebook and Google registration. I guess it must be the follow up verification link.

Like UNiDAYS , there are hundreds of brands offering student discounts via Student Beans, including Benefit, EuropcarMobiles.co.uk, Missguided, PRETTYLITTLETHING and more.

Do they have an app?

Both brands have an app to go with their website, which you can easily download from either the Apple Store or Google Play. Both websites are also mobile responsive, meaning if you don’t want to download even more apps, just type in their URL and you have all the deals there on your mobile.

Student Beans App

Student Beans AppLooking at both apps, I personally prefer the Student Beans app. As soon as you download and open the app, you are shown how to use it via a short tutorial. You are then asked to sign in/register or you can skip. Once in you can set location services so you can find deals near you. The main screen doesn’t have that many offers compared to UNiDAYS app, but you can navigate through online and instore via the icons at the bottom of the app and find all the offers available. And then all the offers can be navigated through menu options, similar to the website.


UNiDAYS App

UNiDAYS AppThe UNiDAYS app also asks you to sign in/register or skip when you first open it. Once in, the home screen is designed to be swiped to see offers, and they focus their attention on the ‘featured’ and ‘just in’ offers over showing all the offers. I guess you need to sign in to see all the offers. The good thing I like about the UNiDAYS app over the Student Beans app, is that it also shows you other offers you may like, once you click into one of the offers. So I’m being up-sold to, which isn’t a bad thing when I’m getting a discount, right!

The Blogs

Both websites offer a blog that provides students with a variety of advice, from food & drink, hair & beauty, fashion, travel and student tips.

UNiDAYS Blog – The Edit

UNiDAYS The Edit Blog

Having a read of both blogs, the winner for me by far is the UNiDAYS blog – The Edit. The Edit has 13 different blog topics with a variety of posts geared to everything the student wants to know. But most importantly, the Tips & Advice section goes beyond just retailers and entertainment. The Tips & Advice section provides quality content that a student would love to read on university advice, such as ‘Things I wish I knew when I started university’ and ‘7 uni life hacks you need to know’. They also discuss anxiety and stress, which is a big thumbs up from me! The layout is nice and clean, with latest and recommended posts showing first, followed by trending and then older posts, allowing me to get a good idea of when the posts were produced. Plus they have an easily navigated search menu!

Student Beans BlogStudent Beans Blog

Moving on to the Student Beans blog, maybe it’s me, but it just doesn’t do anything for me. I guess it just doesn’t look clean like the UNiDAYS app. It feels a bit difficult to navigate and get actual student specific content. I think it’s a bit disjointed. The first thing that popped out was the ‘Heres everything we know about next year’s Love Island’ post. How could it not stand out. Just look at that image!! Obviously I opened it, so something worked. The blog looks at a variety of different categories, but no where near the number that UNiDAYS touches upon. One thing I did like is the ‘A day in the life of’ posts. It really helps students understand what work-life is like and helps encourage students when they are looking for a job. If I was however looking for student specific advice, it would have to be the UNiDAYS blog!

Are there any cons to using both sites?

Hmmm, that’s a tough one. Who wouldn’t want to sign up to a free student discount site? I can’t see any cons with using any of these brands. They help you save money at a variety of brands, offer advice and are continuously coming out with new offers.

Should I sign up to both?

The short answer is YES. You have different discounts being offered by both brands and they are both FREE to sign up to! You never know when one or the other will come in use during your time in education.

To conclude

Both UNiDAYS and Student Beans have been around for a while now and are continuously improving to provide students with a variety of discounts across retail, food, tech and more. It’s a no brainer that as students you would want to save money and use both of these student discount websites. There’s no harm to signing up to them and getting the most of these during your time studying.

Sign up to UNiDAYS here
Sign up to Student Beans here

secretHere’s a little secret between you and me…

If you have any friends and family that aren’t in education, once you have signed up you can send them discount codes for them to use online and sometimes in store (as many brands dont check). So it’s a win for you and a win for your friends and family! Shhhhh!!

 

 

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University Clearing – What to do? https://thegradhub.com/2020/08/05/university-clearing-what-to-do/ https://thegradhub.com/2020/08/05/university-clearing-what-to-do/#respond Wed, 05 Aug 2020 14:38:30 +0000 https://blog.thegradhub.com/?p=2215 You’ve got your results and it wasn’t what you were hoping for. You don’t have an offer from a university, what do you do? Well, you can still apply for a course using University Clearing. What is Clearing? Clearing is a UCAS service that allows universities and colleges fill remaining places they have on their courses. […]

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You’ve got your results and it wasn’t what you were hoping for. You don’t have an offer from a university, what do you do? Well, you can still apply for a course using University Clearing.

What is Clearing?

Clearing is a UCAS service that allows universities and colleges fill remaining places they have on their courses. If you didn’t manage to get into your selected university or the course you applied for then this is the ideal way for you to find another course that would interest you.

How does it work?

There are a number of ways that you can find a course through clearing, but the official way is through UCAS. Once you find a course you will need to apply for it via the UCAS website through Track. Here’s a quick snapshot:

  1. The UCAS website has a search tool to find courses. It’s the only official course vacancy list. Please note not all universities take part in clearing, including Cambridge and Oxford.
  2. Contact the university. If you have a course in mind, give the university a call and find out whether they would accept you. Consider different subjects. I originally wanted to do Law and I went through clearing and ended up doing a Dual Honours in Law & Business Admin (Marketing) at Keele University, so although it might not be your first choice, there’s always a different way in.
  3. Add the course to Track via the UCAS website. Once confirmed your place is guaranteed.

How do I apply?

Everything is done via the UCAS website, so, if you haven’t applied already, you will need to register and make an application. UCAS will then send you a welcome email with details on how to access Track and provide you with your clearing number.

They will also tell you the steps you need to follow as listed above.

When you contact the university, you will need to give them your clearing number and personal ID number. Ask if they would accept you, they might reconsider you for the course. Get the informal offer over the phone, maybe from a variety of different universities and colleges, then you can decide which one to accept.

Once you have that informal offer, add it to Track. Click on the ‘Add Clearing choice’ and fill in the course details by the date the university gave you over the phone. This counts as your acceptance of the offer, so when the university confirms, it will show as an acceptance on your ‘Choices’ page in Track. Please note, you can only add one choice at a time. If the university doesn’t confirm the offer, you can then apply again for another course.

Direct Contact Service

UCAS also have an additional service called ‘Direct contact service’. This is an optional service that allows universities/colleges to contact you during clearing. You will need to sign up for this and can find more information here.

To Summarise

Whatever you do, don’t give up searching and don’t panic. It took me a good part of the day searching for a university and course that would accept me. Listen to the advice of your parents and teachers. Be aware of dates and times and be ready to answer questions. Most courses won’t close until the end of the first day of clearing and universities will want to know why you want to join the course and university, so be prepared. And be patient. Universities/colleges can take the whole day to respond to your application in Track. With hundreds of applications to process, they may not be able to get to your application until the end of the day, so be patient and if you need to follow up, give them a call the next day. Remember hotlines are open until October.

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Using Social Media to Build Your Career https://thegradhub.com/2020/07/27/using-social-media-to-build-your-career/ https://thegradhub.com/2020/07/27/using-social-media-to-build-your-career/#comments Sun, 26 Jul 2020 23:34:14 +0000 https://blog.thegradhub.com/?p=3130 Some serious stars have emerged in the last five years and guess what? They’re under 30! How did they do it, you ask? Where? Why? What? I want some of that! Just like you, we follow amazing people on Instagram, we admire them and we take our hats off to them. So we reached out […]

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Some serious stars have emerged in the last five years and guess what? They’re under 30! How did they do it, you ask? Where? Why? What? I want some of that!

Just like you, we follow amazing people on Instagram, we admire them and we take our hats off to them. So we reached out to GLEAM, the talent behind stars like @gracebeverley, Forbes 30 under 30, Founder of @WEARETALA, and paid our respects, asking them if they could give us a glimpse into what life is like in an agency spotting stars and building brands. Luckily for us, they were only too happy to connect us with the savvy talent manager @veritypark who shared her experience with us. 

**Stop what you’re doing, grab a coffee and a notepad, what Verity Park is about to tell you, could be the catalyst in starting your career.  Are you ready?**


You’ve been a talent manager for Grace Beverley for some time now, could you explain to us how you found Grace and explored the talent she had?

Verity ParkThree years actually… I hate to be that person… but time really does fly. It was actually our CEO Dom Smales that spotted Grace over three years ago. Grace was placed onto my roster because when I was interviewing for the role I flagged her as a talent with huge potential and Gleam clearly felt the same as Grace signed one month after I joined in 2017.

 

Gleam existed pre-Instagram and before the existence of the ‘social media influencer’ so we offer strategic insight into the careers of digital talent, to help them build long and meaningful careers. For Grace, that meant building an ethical brand that prioritises the planet. For other talent that might mean building a name for themselves in broadcast, radio or podcasting. Whatever the aim, my job is to put together strategies, form connections and ultimately take the right steps to reach the end goal.

With so many potential digital entrepreneurs on social media, how do you choose the ‘stars’?

There is no ‘secret formula’ to becoming a successful digital entrepreneur. We are looking for a spark, a potency, an energy. Having one million followers doesn’t necessarily translate into having a successful, long-lasting career on or off social. It can be a number of things, it might be expertise, creativity or another sort of talent. Now more than ever people use Instagram to educate, entertain, inspire or inform so you need to consider what value you’re offering to people when they visit your page. Whether you’re teaching them to cook fluffy protein pancakes, inspiring them to paint their living room or informing them of the unethical practices of fast fashion… it doesn’t matter. The thing that matters is that the content you’re creating is valuable.

In terms of your own personal growth, when you started working on TALA with Grace Beverley, what learning curve did you go through personally in managing the relationship?

The things you find easy probably aren’t worth bothering with. I’m always conscious of how Instagram makes it appear that things are really easy for the person you’re watching/absorbing, but it is such a small fraction of everything they do. Grace and the TALA team are so undeniably dedicated to the brand and to making things happen. At times, we’ve been hugely under resourced and everyone mucks in to get things done. I couldn’t have put it better than when Grace said that the team treats the brand as though it is their own. For every TALA launch, announcement, event or pop up that you see remember there will have been many sleepless nights, phone calls, spreadsheets, meetings, debates etc that went into it. And that is what makes the process so rewarding. When we see the positive feedback from the TALA consumers about something we’ve created, it would be nowhere near as satisfying if the process had been easy.

We are so impressed by your own achievements at GLEAM, what piece of advice could you share with our students to motivate them to build their careers?

GleamHave courageous conversations. We are taught from a young age that being ‘nice and polite’ should be prioritised over being honest and transparent, but not being clear about your expectations can lead to miscommunication and confusion. Typically, the conversations you don’t want to have are the most valuable to you and your company, so approach those conversations with extra confidence and plenty of preparation.

 What happens when things go wrong, how do you lift yourself out and move on?

Re-strategise. My career has taught me that there is never just one singular route to an end goal. You could take many different routes and some may be longer, some may be shorter, but you’re moving and that’s the key. Don’t get stuck on one idea or route because you’ll only be holding yourself back. That’s not to say when things go wrong, I’m not annoyed, sad, distressed, irritated… all of the above. You need to accept that you might feel emotional when things don’t go your way, but make sure to sit down, regroup, have a cup of tea, hob nob, green juice, wine (…whatever gets you going) re-strategise and move.

Above are some great insights from Verity Park at Gleam Futures, a global talent management company for the top influencers across the UK and US. And if you aren’t followed Verity, Grace or the brand TALA, check them out, they are all doing some amazing things right now and can add some inspiration to your ideas.

Starting your career doesn’t mean it has to be the perfect plan, in fact, it’s the plans that get thrown out of the window that usually end up being the best thing that ever happened.

Below The Grad Hub have summarised 5 key characteristics you need to develop in order to help the growing pains:

  1. Accept the challenge,  don’t take the easy path. One thing for sure when we are inventing and problem solving we grow and mature. The easy path doesn’t lead to creativity, it sucks the passion out of life.
  2. Keep on moving – they say: give a busy person a task and it gets done. Give it to someone who has nothing on their to-do list and you’ll wait forever for it. 
  3. Don’t be afraid to fail. We learn so much from failure…. And this is where our competitive natures kick to make sure the next thing we do  doesn’t repeat unnecessary mistakes. 
  4. Don’t be so serious. Learn to develop a relaxed disposition so that when things do go wrong (and they will), don’t take them personally and the world doesn’t end.
  5. Re-strategise whenever you need to. The best laid plans dont always turn out the way you imagined. Amazon started off by selling books, now look at, you can buy everything from under the sun. Adapt and move on. 

Prepare yourself for the fact that you are going to write many chapters in the book of your career, you have to have courage to try, test, take a leap of faith, quit what doesn’t work and re-strategise. When you keep on moving, it creates energy and things happen. When you don’t move, nothing happens. 


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