About us Contact us
← Older posts
Newer posts →

Part-time work while at university

Like many people, and students in particular, you may be feeling a budget crunch at this point in the year. After all the fun of first semester, especially if it’s your first year at university, this time of year is often when people realise they’re a little lacking in finances. This can obviously be quite a stressful experience, as you’ve got quite a few more months to go before getting a full-time summer job. So what options are there for you to earn some extra money? Why, a part-time job of course!

While going to university full-time and working part-time may not be anyone’s dream scenario, even working for a few hours a week to earn some extra money can make a big difference to your life and finances. It’s also great to put on a CV, and many prospective employers will be impressed by your ability to balance work and studies. So what kind of jobs are worth considering?

There are of course part-time jobs available off campus. These can a great opportunity to earn some extra money, but they can be hard to balance with your academic commitments. Many jobs, such as those in a cafe or supermarket, will have flexible hours and allow you to stay on top of your work. However, it may be that you manager is less sympathetic to your other commitments if they’re short staffed or during busy times.

One workplace where they will be more sympathetic to your study needs is your university campus. And by happy coincidence, universities tend to need a lot of part-time student labour to help them function. There are opportunities in student shops, cafes or pubs, at the library or even at a fitness centre. Some of these jobs will go on all semester, but some are available for a few weeks at a time, for example shelving books during really busy periods. This can be a great option if you just need a bit of extra pocket money. One of the advantages of working at your university is that everyone will appreciate that you’re also studying full-time.

You’ll still be expected to show up and fulfill your job requirements, but generally managers will be sympathetic to your scheduling needs and may even let you sneak in a bit of reading during quiet times. Your university is likely to have a careers centre where you can find out about any available opportunities like these.

Even if you do your part-time work on campus, however, you’ll inevitably find on occasion that you’re under time pressure as a result of studying and working. It’s important to remember if you do go down the part-time job route that you need to focus on your studies as well. This will require some excellent organisational skills so that you can let your manager know well in advance when you may need some extra time off, such as if you’ve got lots of coursework due or exams to prepare for.

It’s also important to remember that while the opportunity to earn some extra money is great, it’s a bit pointless if it means that your grades suffer. Remember that one of the reasons that you’re at university is so you can get a great job in the future, something that will be a lot more difficult if your key priority while at university was earning money and not studying!

Posted in university |

National Apprenticeship Week 2014

Tagged , , |

Three mistakes people make when completing coursework

Generally speaking, the further you progress through your education the more that coursework will play a big role in determining your overall grades. So, for example, although the amount of coursework an A Level student gets has been scaled back in the recent past, it still represents a step up from what you did at GCSE. And at university coursework plays a far bigger role, to the point where in some cases almost everything is assessed by coursework.

In some ways being assessed through coursework can be seen as a welcome relief. It requires a lot less cramming than preparing for exams, and there’s also less of that feeling of pressure that comes from knowing that regardless of all the work you’ve put into your subject over a period of several months your overall performance will be determined in the space of a couple of hours in an exam hall.

However, coursework brings its own challenges, and it’s sometimes the case that students actually struggle to make the transition from being assessed mainly by exams to being given more coursework. This is because if you haven’t done much coursework before, you may well not be fully aware of the expectations that are placed on you. Coursework isn’t marked in the same way that exams are, and because you get a long period of time to work on it the type of work that goes into it is very different from the revising and memorising you do for exams.

Rather than giving you general tips on the optimum way to approach coursework, it’s perhaps better to look at what students get wrong. If you’ve had coursework back recently and got a mark that was lower than what you helped for, one or more of these scenarios might apply to you.

Coursework mistake #1: Not considering the full implications of the task/question.

Generally speaking exam questions are more straightforward than coursework ones. This is because they have to be answerable in the space of a few hours. They also tend to follow a formula or pattern, so if you look at the past papers for your course you’ll soon get a clear idea of what problems you’ll have to tackle in your exam and how to deal with them.

Coursework assignments aren’t like this. They’re not designed for you to be able to think about the answer for just a few minutes before applying everything you’ve learnt beforehand. There will be specific ways of approaching the question that your teacher/lecturer will have in mind–for example areas of the subject you’ll need to discuss, or pieces of literature you’ll need to make reference to–but what these are won’t be clear immediately. If you don’t spend time thinking through the full implications of the question, and decide on an answer very soon after you’ve seen it, you’ll probably miss out some key things that the marker was expecting you to cover.

Coursework mistake #2: Not doing enough of your own research

Exams are about putting into practice a set body of work. Coursework involves much more in the way of exploring the subject on your own. This means, for example, that if the assignment you have to do is an essay, and all of the information and analysis that you use in answering your essay only comes from things you heard in your lectures or from the course’s compulsory reading, there will be a definite limit to the top grade you can get. Coursework is often about displaying additional knowledge and building on the information you’ve been spoon-fed, rather than simply repackaging it. This applies especially if the coursework you are doing is at university level. So if you’re preparing for your coursework by using the same technique you’d use for exams–that is, sticking to the essentials–you won’t be able to get the top grades.

Coursework mistake #3: Not matching your answer up with the course content

In some cases, however, some people actually make exactly the opposite mistake to the last one. After being confronted with a question that at first doesn’t seem to relate immediately to their lectures or classes, they produce a piece of work that doesn’t cover what they’ve studied in class at all. This is an equally big mistake, as it’s likely that your coursework has also been set so that you can show your proficiency in the fundamentals of the subject matter. It’s therefore important to both do extra research AND thoroughly go through your class notes when preparing your coursework.

Posted in university |

The golden rules of lecture etiquette

You may have noticed students in some of your university classes whispering during lectures, checking their Facebook statuses or otherwise ignoring everything the lecturer is speaking about. You may occasionally even be guilty of some of these things yourself. While it’s inevitable that some days we just aren’t feeling motivated to learn, however, it’s nevertheless never advisable to break the rules of good lecture etiquette.

There are a few simple rules that you should follow to avoid the wrath of your lecturer and fellow students, but before looking at them, perhaps it’s best to first think of why it makes sense to be on good behaviour during lectures, aside from the importance of basic politeness.

It’s quite likely that at some point you’re going to have to ask your lecturer for help with coursework, an upcoming exam or even a reference letter. While you may think that you’re being sneaky on your phone or getting a few minutes of shut eye, lecturers do see these things, and this may be reflected in their response when you ask for some extra support.

While the fact that it might seem quite liberating that you can snooze or tweet during lectures or breeze in twenty minutes late relative to the discipline you had to follow at school, then, the fact is that it’s less likely your lecturers will directly tell you off like your secondary school teachers would have doesn’t mean they’re not going to be bothered by such behaviour, and in turn be less inclined to help you.

The first rule of proper lecture etiquette is simply not to talk when the person leading the session is, whether that be a lecturer or, in the case of some classes, fellow students giving a presentation. Even if you’re just whispering and think no one can hear you, the chances are that lots of others can. This is distracting for your fellow students as well as your lecturer. Think about how difficult it is to get up and speak in public (and consider whether you’re going to have to make a presentation in that class and how you’ll wish for others to respond), and give the speaker the respect of listening to what they say. This goes for using mobiles as well – while this may be quieter than whispering it’s equally distracting and is likely to make you miss important points.

The second rule is not to show up late to lectures, or at least to handle the situation well if you do have to. On occasion we all run late, and that’s okay. However, when it does be apologetic to the speaker and quietly find the first available seat. Don’t brazenly walk in and take your time getting to the back of the lecture theatre. This is again distracting to everyone, and will likely infuriate your lecturer, who you may later rely upon to answer questions about the class. Related to this rule, another very important lecture etiquette point is not to leave a lecture early unless absolutely necessary. If you do need to leave early, let your lecturer know at the start of the class and again sit near the door so as to minimize the disruption.

A very common misdemeanour relates to how students behave when a lecture is wrapping up. It’s not really a good idea to start packing up your books before a lecturer has actually finished their presentation. One of the big problems with this is that a lot of the time lecturers give important reminders at the very end of a class. They may also give tips that will be useful for exams or coursework, as this material is often covered at the end of a class. By beginning to pack up early, you’re not only breaking major lecture etiquette rules, but are also risking missing important information.

Lastly–and this may sound ridiculous to even mention , though some students are proud of breaking this last rule, generally because they think people will interpret it as a mark of their hedonistic lifestyle–you shouldn’t sleep during lectures. If you’re feeling tired, bring a coffee or other caffeinated beverage to help you stay awake, and feel free to close your eyes for a few minutes in the library afterwards. But if you know you’re only turning up to the lecture to be a bum on a seat, you might as well just stay at home. You’re going to miss the lecture either way so you might as well skip the distractions.

Posted in university |

Study habits to help you stay comfortable

If you’re in university or college, you’ve probably had at least one encounter with the all day and maybe even all night study session, whether this is in preparation for exams or in getting coursework finished on time. For most people, it’s not the highpoint of student life, but ultimately we all have to complete study sessions that last for several hours at some point. One of the things that can make these sessions so unpleasant is that people often don’t have the right study habits to allow themselves to be comfortable. Making a few small adjustments to your workspace and study habits will not only help you physically but will also help you to stay refreshed and in turn get more out of your efforts. So with that said, here are a few steps to keep you happy during those long days of study.

The first thing to add to your study habits is to drink lots of water. Many students load up on caffeine or sugary drinks to get through a long study day, which will probably be needed to keep you awake. However, lots of caffeine can actually dehydrate you, which leads to headaches and exhaustion. And while sugar gives you an initial burst of energy, after a while that feeling is replaced with lethargy. We’re certainly not advocating that you give up your coffee or cola, but try to supplement it with lots of H20 throughout the day to keep your body happy.

The next point we want to make is about your body positioning. Because you’ll likely be sitting in one desk throughout the day, it’s really important that you try to keep a good posture. This is quite difficult, and it’s likely you’ll forget many times and need to continually reposition yourself. It may seem easier to just not bother, but sitting hunched over is likely to give you a sore neck and back, meaning you’ll not only feel uncomfortable later in the evening but possibly over the coming days as well. This is also another element which can lead to major headaches, and nobody wants that while studying.

The next item in our recommended study habits which will help you to maintain focus and avoid those back and neck pains is to get up and move around every hour or so. You don’t need to go for a long walk or anything, but consider having a bit of a stretch, going to the loo or refilling your water. Doing this for short periods regularly will keep your circulation going and ensure you can stay at the study game for a longer time than if you just sit in one place through the entire day.

The last recommendation we’ve got to offer you today is to help combat eye strain. Again, while this may not seem a major inconvenience considering all the work that you’ve got to do, it can definitely slow you down as it can lead to headaches and the inability to focus, literally. So what steps can be taken to prevent eye strain? First you should focus on where you’re sitting. You want to be in a well-lit area where you don’t have any glare on your computer screen and where you won’t be sitting too close to it (and if you’re sitting with good posture you probably won’t be). Using a bigger screen and sitting a bit further away is a really good option to try for a slightly different and more comfortable work position, although this is not always an option. The other really important thing to do to avoid eye strain is to give your eyes a break every half hour or so. This may mean looking away from the computer and focusing on something farther away for a few minutes, or can be achieved when you get up for your regular stretching session.

So there you have it, folks. A few very simple but effective study habits to get you through 12 hours of hitting the books with the least discomfort possible.

Tagged |

Job satisfaction through making things

Finishing school or university is an exciting time for most students. However, it’s also a time where students face life decisions that can be incredibly overwhelming and leave one wondering what to possibly do next. One of these decisions will likely be whether or not to pursue university studies, or whether perhaps an apprenticeship or a jump into the world of work would be a better fit. There’s no easy way to wrestle with making these decisions, just as there’s no right or wrong answer as to which path you choose.

One thing to think about, though, is what course of action will be likely to provide you with long-term job satisfaction.

Now, job satisfaction is one of those tricky areas where everyone has different requirements. For some people, the opportunity to helping people is the ultimate goal, while for others it’s to find a position of management or have the opportunity to travel. And, of course, some people just want to make heaps of cash.

One thing that you may not have thought about is when considering how to achieve job satisfaction is the gratification that you might get from making something. Many people involved in different industries have found the simple (obviously it’s never that simple in practice) act of being involved in the making of something like a building or software programme can provide them with the ultimate job satisfaction. As you may have experience yourself, there are few more gratifying things than taking a step back from your hard work and saying “I made that.” So today we’ll highlight a few industries where making things is at the heart of what they do.

Computers and IT

Given that computers are the defining technology of the twenty-first century, it’s unsurprising that there are so many opportunities to be involved in making things in this field, from designing and writing software programmes to being involved in the development of new devices such as tablets. Programme developers, scriptwriters and computer engineers are just a few of the job titles out there. There are plenty of apprenticeship opportunities available, and many develop their careers through getting into the industry, learning the ropes and working their way up. If conventional study is more your style, most universities offer programmes in computer science or engineering that would give you invaluable insight into the industry as well.

Energy and natural resources

This is another huge field and ever-more important field, which includes jobs and industries ranging from oil to renewable energy. This field may offer you not only the opportunity to be involved in the development and production of energy, but also great chances to work elsewhere and discover how other countries around the world are approaching energy production. Petroleum engineer or environmental scientist are potential job titles within this area, and there are many more. And energy has links to everything from the car industry to health and safety initiatives. Depending on whether you’re interested in the theoretical development and engineering side of this industry or getting into doing more of the physical development and implementation, you’ll again find that there are various entries into the field through academic studies or apprenticeships.

Construction

This is perhaps one of the more obvious fields that can lead you to point at something, for example a bridge or building, and say “I was a part of making that”. But, like the others, this might be from the viewpoint of a number of different job roles. Many people enjoy the physical elements of being involved in the construction process, but there are also numerous roles involved in designing buildings such as an architect, and determining how to actually safely construct a building, such as a structural engineer. If you’re more interested in determining how to make a building, then university is the way forward. Otherwise, consider what element of construction interests you the most and check out what apprenticeship or technical programmes are available to get involved.

There are so many interesting jobs out there that are not obvious at first thought. If you’re a bit unsure as to your next steps in life, why not think about a few broad industries that you’ve got an interest in and check out some of the jobs that may fit in – while some may be obvious, there are likely to be a few that you’ve not thought of but might give you the ultimate job satisfaction.

Tagged , , , |

Job satisfaction from making things

SEO – job satisfaction

Finishing school or university is an exciting time for most students. However, it’s also a time where students face life decisions that can be incredibly overwhelming and leave one wondering what to possibly do next. One of these decisions will likely be whether or not to pursue university studies, or whether perhaps an apprenticeship or a jump into the world of work would be a better fit. There’s no easy way to wrestle with making these decisions, just as there’s no right or wrong answer as to which path you choose.

One thing to think about, though, is what course of action will be likely to provide you with long-term job satisfaction.

Now, job satisfaction is one of those tricky areas where everyone has different requirements. For some people, the opportunity to helping people is the ultimate goal, while for others it’s to find a position of management or have the opportunity to travel. And, of course, some people just want to make heaps of cash.

One thing that you may not have thought about is when considering how to achieve job satisfaction is the gratification that you might get from making something. Many people involved in different industries have found the simple (obviously it’s never that simple in practice) act of being involved in the making of something like a building or software programme can provide them with the ultimate job satisfaction. As you may have experience yourself, there are few more gratifying things than taking a step back from your hard work and saying “I made that.” So today we’ll highlight a few industries where making things is at the heart of what they do.

Computers and IT

Given that computers are the defining technology of the twenty-first century, it’s unsurprising that there are so many opportunities to be involved in making things in this field, from designing and writing software programmes to being involved in the development of new devices such as tablets. Programme developers, scriptwriters and computer engineers are just a few of the job titles out there. There are plenty of apprenticeship opportunities available, and many develop their careers through getting into the industry, learning the ropes and working their way up. If conventional study is more your style, most universities offer programmes in computer science or engineering that would give you invaluable insight into the industry as well.

Energy and natural resources

This is another huge field and ever-more important field, which includes jobs and industries ranging from oil to renewable energy. This field may offer you not only the opportunity to be involved in the development and production of energy, but also great chances to work elsewhere and discover how other countries around the world are approaching energy production. Petroleum engineer or environmental scientist are potential job titles within this area, and there are many more. And energy has links to everything from the car industry to health and safety initiatives. Depending on whether you’re interested in the theoretical development and engineering side of this industry or getting into doing more of the physical development and implementation, you’ll again find that there are various entries into the field through academic studies or apprenticeships.

Construction

This is perhaps one of the more obvious fields that can lead you to point at something, for example a bridge or building, and say “I was a part of making that”. But, like the others, this might be from the viewpoint of a number of different job roles. Many people enjoy the physical elements of being involved in the construction process, but there are also numerous roles involved in designing buildings such as an architect, and determining how to actually safely construct a building, such as a structural engineer. If you’re more interested in determining how to make a building, then university is the way forward. Otherwise, consider what element of construction interests you the most and check out what apprenticeship or technical programmes are available to get involved.

There are so many interesting jobs out there that are not obvious at first thought. If you’re a bit unsure as to your next steps in life, why not think about a few broad industries that you’ve got an interest in and check out some of the jobs that may fit in – while some may be obvious, there are likely to be a few that you’ve not thought of but might give you the ultimate job satisfaction.

Posted in Uncategorized |

Finding a place to live after your first year of university

In our last post, we highlighted some things to think about when trying to find other people to live with during your second year of university. Once you’ve figured out who you want to live with, you’ll have to start the next step, which is finding a place to live. There are a lot of things to think about when finding a place to live and this post will highlight a few of these things. Hopefully it will mean that you can find a place where you’ll be happy and comfortable during the next year, and maybe even longer.

The first and probably most important thing to do when finding a place to live is to be slightly wary of the landlord. While a lot of landlords are efficient and quick to act if there’s a problem, some of them aren’t. Listen to your gut feelings about the landlords that you’re meeting. When you’re checking out each place, pay close attention to how well it’s presented – are the walls nicely painted, do white goods seem to be in good working order, do the walkways and exterior of the house look like they’re well maintained? Remember that a bit of dirt around the place is likely down to whoever is living there now, but further deterioration may mean that the landlord doesn’t deal with problems. It’s a great idea to take a parent with you if you can – this may not sound appealing since you’re looking for somewhere to be with your friends, but someone with a bit more experience navigating these situations might mean you end up in a much nicer living situation in the long term. A lot of student unions also have a list of approved landlords in the area, and even ones to watch out for. This is a great place to get a bit more information before you sign a lease with someone who may not have your best interests in mind.

Another thing to remember when finding a place to live is to not expect too much. When you see a place that’s a bit run down, the landlord may mention that they’re going to do some renovations and redecorating. That’s all fine, but don’t expect too much from this as it’s unlikely to look like something from an Ikea catalogue when it’s done. If they do mention that they’re going to make some changes and you’re truly interested in the place, try to find out exactly what they’re going to do and when they’re going to do it. You probably don’t want to move in and then spend the next month with walls being knocked down around you.

When finding a place to live, it’s also important to think of Phil and Kirstie’s mantra of location, location, location. This doesn’t mean you should be looking in glitzy neighbourhoods, but that you should have a quick check around the area. Are there amenities like supermarkets nearby? If you don’t have a car, you’re going to be carrying those groceries on foot and longer distances will not make this a fun experience. Also think about how far the place is from your university. Is that going to be a hindrance to you getting to an early class? This doesn’t necessarily need to be a reason for not getting a certain place, but you should be realistic about things like this as it might detract from your university experience in the long term. If it’s a bit further away but on a bus route, you should take regular bus fare into account when figuring out your budget.

These are of course only a few of the considerations to keep in mind when finding a place to live. Speak with your parents, friends and student union housing advisors to get some more tips which will help you end up somewhere that you truly love.

Posted in university | Tagged , |

The art of picking the right flatmates for your second year of university

If you’re currently in your first year of university and are studying away from home, you’ll have had a sense of the highs and lows that result from being thrown together into living quarters with a large gaggle of complete strangers. You’ll have hopefully met many colourful characters and forged new friendships with your flatmates or hall mates, and there’s also the unfortunate possibility that some of the people you’ve met haven’t been quite your cup of tea. Or even the room/flat/hall-mates from hell.

Your living arrangements probably won’t be quite the same in your later years of university. This is not just in the sense of you being in a different building, but also with regards to one very important difference in who you’ll be living with, namely that this time you’ll probably have the chance to pick your housemates.

And it’s at this time of year, when students are returning back to uni after the Christmas holidays to be reunited with their new friends that the topic of grouping together into bands of housemates for next year rears its head along, of course, with the task of f also finding a house for you to live in.

Now, the outcomes of this season of a hunt for flatmates and a flat can be very variable. While many new groups of flatmates all click perfectly, many also do not. In some cases the incompatibilities don’t become apparent until a few months of living together, while in others people actually find that even before the tenancy has started they’ve signed themselves up to live with people who they no longer get on with particularly well. And that only creates a sense of foreboding about the second year.

So, you need to think carefully as you approach this task of finding people to live with for your second year. Here are some of the key steps to take.

1) Don’t rush into anything and don’t be pressured

Once the search for housemates begins at a uni, a panicked herd mentality can set in, with everyone frantically looking to make sure they don’t miss out on becoming part of a group of future housemates. It’s this misplaced sense of urgency that causes people to commit to sharing with people who they’re not in fact 100% sure they actually want to live with.

2) Don’t try and live with too many people

In some towns and cities there are student flats and houses of gigantic proportions, with the number of bedrooms in some properties reaching double figures. However, once you get beyond a certain number of people all living under one roof, the possibilities for tensions and conflicts begin to rapidly rise. So if you’re offered a room in a nine-bedroom terrace, think very carefully before accepting, especially if there are people in that mix who you don’t really like.

3) Don’t just think about your relationship with the other people

It’s obviously crucial to make sure that you enjoy the company of your potential flatmates. But this isn’t the only consideration you should make when it comes to considering the viability of the group. Almost as important is how the other flatmates get on with one another. It only takes two members out of a group to not like one another for there to be a toxic sense of hostility that affects everyone in the flat.

4) Think very carefully before agreeing to move in to the same place as a new boyfriend/girlfriend, or into a place that a new couple will also be sharing.

Not all new relationships at university last more than a couple of months. And there’s more than a couple of months between now and the next university year…

Posted in Uncategorized |

Tips on speaking in public

Speaking in public is not a comfortable or fun thing for most people. Many people in fact go to great lengths to avoid this activity that leaves them feeling nauseous, sweaty, panicky and just a right mess in general. But despite your (or anyone’s) best efforts, public speaking is something that you’ll likely need to do whether you’re in school, university or the work force. You don’t have to start loving speaking in public, but the ability to get through it unscathed is definitely a useful skill to develop. To help you with this, we’re going to suggest a few strategies to get you through a session of speaking in public.

One thing that a lot of people don’t take into account when they’re speaking in public is just how quickly they’re speaking. We can all sympathise with the desire to have the event or presentation over, but speaking too quickly makes it difficult for your audience to follow what you’re saying. This is obviously a huge problem whether you’re being graded on it for university or making a presentation to your boss. This is why it’s really important to speak even more slowly than you think is necessary when speaking in public – it may seem excruciatingly slow to you but is probably at a normal speed for anyone listening. This is something that comes with practice, but is important to try from that very first presentation.

Another strategy to copy with speaking in public is to practice your speech out loud, multiple times, and in front of other people if at all possible. This is a really important thing to do for several reasons. First off it’ll ensure that your speech doesn’t contain any awkward sounding sentences that will leave you tripping over your words when you do present it. Second off it’ll give you a better idea of how long you’ll actually be speaking for (although remember that you’re likely to speed up when you’re not doing a practice run). Lastly, it’ll help you to get into the mind-set that you will soon be speaking in public, something which some people try to avoid thinking about until it’s about to happen. Being familiar with what you’re going to say will definitely make it a more comfortable process. The extra practice will also mean that you can make eye contact with your audience at various points during the presentation. This will keep them engaged with what you’re saying, making for a much more effective presentation.

Another tip that will help you get through speaking in public is to focus on your breathing. Slow breaths will help to stop that rising feeling of panic and help ensure that you’re not speaking too quickly. It may even be worth checking out some breathing techniques online. Find one that you’re comfortable with – if you can find one that calms you down it’ll prove useful long after any presentations are over.

Lastly, it’s a good idea to figure out whether you’re someone who is more comfortable speaking in public using notes in bullet point form or whether you need each sentence written out in full. Some people feel restricted if they’ve got entire sentences laid out for them, while others feel lost if they don’t. There’s no right or wrong way to do this part – you just need to figure out what works best for you.

While following these strategies will not automatically make you the best public speaker out there, they should help you get through some initial sessions where you’re speaking in public. With each time, you’ll get better and will figure out further strategies that work for you. Remember that experience speaking in public and making presentations is a great skill to put on your CV, so it’s worth putting some effort into developing your abilities now.

Tagged , , , , |
← Older posts
Newer posts →

Blog

ADVERTISEMENTS

ADVERTISEMENTS