Careers World | August Issue

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INTERNATIONAL EDITION August 2019

JOB MARKET TIPS

SPECIAL FEATURES

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Is Studying Abroad Right for You? Networking How to Effectively Delegate Tasks How University Clearing Works Don’t Let Your Social Media Stop You From Getting Interviews Managing Your Finances

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5 Steps To Take When Looking For a Job Becoming the Best Leader you can be How to Resolve Conflict in the Workplace What Employers Want 20 Most Frequently Asked Interview Questions Interview Dress Code

WELLBEING

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Secrets to Good Health Why Take Breaks What To Do On Your Career Break Building Confidence Exercise Helps Prevent Depression The Importance Of Reading

THRIVING AT UNIVERSITY

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CHANGING DIRECTION What to Expect From a Graduate Scheme

Writing Your UCAS Personal Statement Distance Learning How to Effectively Delegate Tasks 10 Advantages of Doing an MBA Transitioning from University to Work Balancing University and Work Preparing for a Presentation

EDITOR’S LETTER 52

BRAIN TEASERS Puzzles & Riddles

Hello everybody! It gives us great pleasure to welcome you to the August Issue of the Careers World Magazine.

Our goal is to be your go-to place for career-related advice. Our aim is to guide you through each step of your career development and job-hunting journey, from choosing a career to interview preparation.

We intend to be the best career information hub with a great job-hunting platform and a great easy-to-read magazine that is freely available to everyone.

We’d love to hear from you on social media if you have any feedback or enquiries.

EDITORIAL POLICY The views, comments, statements and opinions are not necessarily those of Careers World. Careers World will accept no responsibility for any loss incurred by any person or organisation as a result of using any material from this publication.

EDITORIAL Shareen Akhter & Ellie Smith CIRCULATION Kirti Patel & Cindy Bero MARKETING Sham Tizora & Aiden Brocklehurst DESIGN Joshua Taruvinga & Joe Page IT James Hall & Sky Shazad

Average circulation: Print: 30,150 Digital/Online; 1.4 million E: info@careersworld.org

@CAREERSWORLD

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Y T I S R E V I N U W S K O R H O W G N I R A E L C Clearing is a second chance for those that didn’t get the university of their choice.

If the university you wanted to attend decides against your application and you still want to go to university, you can go through the process of clearing and find a university that still has places available. This allows you to reapply to universities (although they won’t b your first choice) that have vacancies that haven’t been filled yet.

How to Apply On results day, if you don’t get the grades you needed to get into your chosen universities, you will be told first thing in the morning.

If you know that you still want to go to university, type into your browser the name of the course that you want to do and the word “clearing”. There will be several different universities that have clearing places, but you will need to think about whether the places are for you.

What to do if you Haven’t Received any Offers If your offer got turned down on results day, you will need to contact other universities to find out if they have any unfilled places on the course you want to study. Keep in mind that the longer you wait, the higher the chance those spaces will be filled by other students that are going through the clearing process.

You will need to apply to as many universities as you can. Before you start the clearing process, go onto the UCAS website and find out which five universities you applied to first, if you don’t remember them. Call the universities which didn’t offer you a place and ask them if they have any more places available for the course you want to study.

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You will need to research the different universities that you think you might like to attend. Remember that you most likely won’t have time to go and see them in person once you’re in the clearing stage, so find out what other people liked about the course and what they liked about the university itself.

Ring the clearing hotline number and give them the name of the course you wish to apply for. They will then direct you to the correct department and you will have to tell them the results you got. They may also ask for a portfolio of your work so make sure that you have it ready to send to them.

You will have to wait about a week before universities will start getting back to you because they will have to read your personal statement and deliberate over your grades.

Don’t pin all your hopes on one university by only applying to that one; apply to a variety to increase your chances of securing a place.

S D N O C E S 60 H S O J WITH “Always have a back-up plan in case things go wrong and you need something to fall back on.”

Josh, from Careers World, went through the clearing process when he didn’t get his first choice.

Here’s some advice that Josh has to offer:

“When you’re calling the clearing hotline, be mindful not to call just one university. Instead, call as many as you possibly can.”

“Give yourself as many options as possible and you’ll have a higher chance of securing a place on the course that you want.”

Keeping calm is key when applying for universities through clearing.

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket when applying for universities during clearing.”

“Preparing is a significant factor that you need to consider - always research the universities before you ring the clearing hotline.”

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IS STUDYING

ABROAD

RIGHT FOR YOU?

Getting to study abroad is a once in a lifetime opportunity for students that are studying at university. It’s something that you should take full advantage of if you have the chance to do so. However, there are many things to consider before you decide to take the plunge. Read on to find out the pros and cons of studying abroad!

PROS 1

LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE

There is no better way to learn a language than by going to a country where the language is its mother tongue. Being able to speak a different language around the locals makes it so much easier to learn it. Local people will be able to help you pronounce words properly and just generally help you practice. It will also look great on your Résumé when presenting it to potential employers as these are the types of things that make you stand out from the crowd.

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MEET NEW PEOPLE

Take studying abroad as an opportunity to form new friendships either with the other students that have travelled with you or the people native to the country. Having friends from other countries is an amazing thing; it means you get to learn about other cultures and backgrounds.

Meeting new people means you will have more memories to look back at once you leave.

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TRAVELLING

In between studying and any classes you may have, you will be able to go out and explore the country itself. You will be able to take trips to all those famous tourist destinations you have always wanted to see and experience more of the culture. Travelling around to different parts of the country will give you a good break from all the studying and help you make the most of the trip whilst you are there.

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TAKING IN THE CULTURE

Learning about new cultures helps to enhance your knowledge and broadens your mind. Having more knowledge about the world around us never hurt anyone so it’s great to really immerse yourself into the culture before you go back to your own. Try some new food, take part in traditions and visit places you have never been to before.

CONS 1

LONG DISTANCE

If you’re a bit of a home bird that likes to stick with family and friends, then it might be a bit difficult for you to come to terms with how far away you will be from home. This goes hand in hand with the fact that once you return home, any friends you made with local people will have to be long distance friendships. However, there is always Skype, FaceTime or other apps that you can use so you can stay in contact with any family and long-distance friends you have whilst you’re not there.

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EXPENSES

Depending on the country you go to and how expensive it is there, you could be looking at having to spend a lot of money. Flights, accommodation, tuition and living expenses all add up; especially if the country itself is dear as well. Not to mention that you will have to take spending money with you as well if you want to go on day trips or eat out.

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ISOLATION

It can be a very lonely experience if you don’t manage to settle in well and make friends or meet new people. Some people may be more introverted than others and that could make it harder when trying to introduce themselves to others. It’s important to socialize, put yourself out there and connect with others.

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CULTURE SHOCK

Not every country is the same and it is easier to see that when you go for a couple of months to study instead of a couple of weeks on holiday.

It can be very overwhelming trying to speak to people that don’t understand you, trying strange food and figuring your way around everywhere so it can come as quite a shock to the system.

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NETWORKING

Networking is interacting with others to exchange information and develop professional or social contacts.

It is key to a successful and expanding career.

WHY?

Networking is about sharing, creating trust and helping one another reach goals.

Regularly engaging with contacts and finding opportunities to support them helps strengthen your connection. Networking isn’t always with ‘business people’. You can network with friends and family as well. A good networker will invest their time in getting to know people. The more effort you put in, the more you will get out of the relationship.

Your network includes everyone from family and friends to colleagues, professional connections, social media contacts and members of groups or organizations. Regularly interacting within your industry can set you up to progress far in your career. Developing relationships is mutually beneficial. You can raise your professional profile and increase your access to opportunities, and your contacts are likely to experience those same rewards from networking with you.

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Social networking has become a significant opportunity for marketers.

HOW TO NETWORK There are 3 important things to consider when meeting someone for the first time.

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FOCUS When you first meet someone, where is your focus? Don’t think about yourself - think about the other person and how you’re making them feel. Confidence and professionalism will set the tone as you get to know people.

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CONFIDENCE To get your body language right, give a genuine smile, make eye contact and give a good handshake. Body language makes a huge difference to first impressions.

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TALK You have to know when to introduce yourself.

A simple thing to remember is the 3 ft | 30 second rule. If you enter a room and are three feet from someone, you should acknowledge them. If you have been near someone for thirty seconds or more, you should introduce yourself.

Drive conversations with questions. Get people talking about themselves. Take interest in the other person by asking questions about family and occupation, for example.

SOCIAL MEDIA Social media networking is the use of internet-based social media sites to stay connected with others.

It can either have a social purpose, a business purpose or both.

WeChat, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter are the most recommended sites for networking, but you may find others that work for you.

BENEFITS Strengthens Business connections Networking is about sharing, not taking. It is about building trust and supporting one another.

Engaging with contacts and finding opportunities to help them makes your relationship stronger.

Builds confidence By regularly meeting new people and putting yourself out there, you are stepping out of your comfort zone and building selfconfidence and valuable social skills.

The more you network, the more these will develop.

Advances your career Being noticed is a benefit of networking that is important in career building. Attending professional and social events will get you known.

Being knowledgeable, reliable and supportive will build your reputation. This might be as simple as offering information or tips to people who need it.

Hear a different perspective Exchanging information on experiences, challenges and goals allows you to gain new insights that you can use to enhance your own performance and can build your reputation as an innovative thinker.

It has become a significant opportunity for marketers to engage with customers, as they use social networking to increase brand recognition and encourage brand loyalty. Companies use social media to drive sales through advertising and promotion, to regulate consumer trends and offer customer support.

Social media is now full of so many possibilities that big companies employ whole teams of people whose jobs are to manage their social media presence.

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DON’T LET YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA STOP YOU FROM GETTING INTERVIEWS

Social media is great for posting pictures, sharing things with friends, looking at memes and watching funny videos. However, social media is also where embarrassing pictures from Saturday nights drunken fun at the bar get shared by your friends which YOU get tagged in. That’s not great when it just so happens that the day before you just sent off loads of job applications.

It’s no secret that employers tend to rout out your social media profiles to see if you are as professional as you seem on your résumé. In fact, over a third of job applications get denied because employers don’t like what they see on the potential candidates’ profiles.

SO, DO YOU NEED HELP RE-ORGANIZING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES? THEN READ ON TO FIND OUT HOW!

BE THOROUGH Go through your Facebook,

media accounts, access the settings

Instagram, Twitter and any other

section and change them so that

social media accounts you may

friends are not allowed to post or

have and check through every

share anything onto your profile.

single post. If you have any photos that may be considered as vulgar,

GOOGLE YOURSELF

sexually explicit, rude or just

By googling yourself, you’re able to

downright inappropriate, then you

see any stray posts or old accounts

must delete them. That also goes for

that you don’t want potential

likes, comments, shares or re-tweets.

employers to see. Remember that blog you used to have? It may be

CHANGE YOUR SETTINGS

old and forgotten about by you,

If you know your friends are prone

but the internet remembers. Other

to posting embarrassing pictures

people can still access it and read

that could jeopardize your chances

everything on there. Deactivate any

of getting an interview, change

old accounts that you find whilst on

your settings. Go to all your social

your search.

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of family outings and Christmas dinners. Use it to communicate

UPDATE YOUR LINKEDIN

with other professionals and share

Now that you have cleaned up your

appropriate business content. Keep

social media accounts, it’s time to

it professional.

update them. LinkedIn is extremely useful to show potential employers

EXHIBIT YOUR SKILLS

that you are professional and worth

As your social media may not be

the time for them to interview you.

as full as it once was, now is as

If you don’t already have a LinkedIn

good a time as any to showcase

account, make one.

any special skills or talents you may

LinkedIn will usually be the first-place

have. If the vacancies you are

employers look at to find out what

applying for are in the art field, post

you’re like in a professional manner.

pictures of your paintings, drawings

Make sure that your career history

or graphic designs. You want to

is completely up to date with your

convey to any potential employers

last job being the most recent. Look

looking at your social media that

at your Résumé and check that the

you have the skills to do the job or

job titles, dates and job descriptions

are willing to learn and trying hard

match what is on your profile. You

at it.

don’t want employers having a copy of your excellent Résumé only to

The option of just making all your

find your LinkedIn profile says that

social media accounts private is

you were working for a different

viable. However, some employers

company at the last job you had.

prefer to see that you actively use

Lastly, remember that LinkedIn

social media as it shows that you

is not a regular social media

are in tune with the modern world

platform for you to share pictures

and all the technology that is in it.

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G N I G A N A M S E C N A N I F YOUR Budgeting can be difficult to do if you’ve never had to do it before... In fact, quite a lot of people struggle with it - the National Student Money Survey showed that over 84% of students struggle to make ends meet. However do not panic, all is not lost! There are lots of things you can do to make managing your finances a little easier to handle.

Choose a Good Student Bank Account You absolutely must shop around before choosing a bank account because every bank has different benefits, so you should know what they all have to offer. Assess how they’ll help you when you’re in sticky financial situations, but be cautious of high interest rates.

Budget Everything There are a handful of expenses that you need to consider when figuring out your budget. You will need to look at your outgoing payments, such as utility bills, rent and council tax, then you can work out how much money you’ll have left over each month. That leftover money can go towards things like food, going out to bars and shopping for little treats.

Keep in mind the little extras you pay for on top. A subscription service such as Netflix will take money out of your bank account every month, so you must make sure you have enough to pay for it, or you’ll face going into your overdraft.

save money You should always put money away every time you get a pay-check or student loan. You never know when you might find yourself in an emergency and in need of extra cash. You don’t have to tip half your pay-check or loan into a savings account; start small and work your way up.

Put money away after you’ve paid all your necessary payments like utility bills and rent, but before you start spending money on things you want. Also, it’s good practice for when you leave university and need to save money for a house deposit or a new car.

F O N I BARGA NTH THE MO

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Take on a Part-Time Job If you feel like you’re struggling to live off of just your student loan, then you could consider taking on a part-time job. Having a job will allow you to earn a bit more spending money and will help you out financially.

In a survey of 2,128 students, 59% of students were working to fund their time at university. It might be a challenge to manage a job and university at the same time, but it’s the best way to put a bit more money in your back pocket.

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SECRETS TO GOOD HEALTH Most secrets to avoid getting sick aren’t secrets at all, but common sense.

For example, you should know to avoid contact with bacteria and viruses at school and work. Luckily, a whole host of other feel-good solutions can help you feel and live healthier.

OUR TOP 5 SECRETS Keeping your hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick.

Exercize reduces stress and the release of stress-related hormones such as cortisol. Keeping fit plays a vital role in building and maintaining strong muscles and bones.

Washing your hands regularly and thoroughly with clean water and soap is an effective way to protect yourself against bacteria and viruses.

Exercize can be a real energy booster for healthy people, as well as those suffering from various medical conditions.

Washing and bathing are the most important ways of maintaining good health and protecting ourselves from infections and illnesses.

3 BALANCED DIET

1

PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE

Maintaining cleanliness is also important for our self-confidence, physical and emotional well-being.

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EXERCIZE

Being active has been shown to have many benefits, both physically and mentally.

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Fruit and vegetables are part of a healthy, balanced diet and it’s important you eat enough of them.

They provide nutrients vital for health and maintenance of your body. Most fruits are naturally low in fat, sodium, and calories. Green, leafy vegetables are rich in vitamins that help you maintain a balanced diet and support a healthy immune system.

4 GET ENOUGH SLEEP Sleep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout your life.

Getting enough quality sleep is important as it helps protect your mental health, physical health, quality of life, and safety.

During sleep, your body is working to support healthy brain function and maintain your physical health.

In children and teens, sleep helps support growth and development.

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HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE

Positive thinking helps with stress management and can even improve your health.

Positive thinking lowers levels of depression and increases your psychological and physical wellbeing.

WHY TAKE BREAKS

Something as easy as a 5-minute walkabout break every hour can improve your concentration, health and well-being.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONFUSED BY A PROBLEM, DECIDED TO TAKE A BREAK, AND THEN LATER FOUND THAT THE ANSWER CAME TO YOU IN A BURST OF INSPIRATION? If so, you know the power of strategic breaks to refresh your brain and help you see situations in better ways.

Breaks reduce mental fatigue and help us stay concentrated.

Taking a break boosts productivity and creativity. Working for a long period of time without breaks leads to stress and exhaustion. Going for a break refreshes the mind, replenishes your mental resources, and helps you become more creative.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BREAKS Breaks restore motivation, especially for long term goals. By briefly taking your mind off the goal, this helps renew and strengthen motivation. They are an opportunity to develop social skills and are a great way to switch tasks and do something for your personal growth. “Movement breaks� are essential for your physical and emotional health: Physical movement boosts health.

Getting up from your chair to walk, stretch, do yoga, or whatever activity you prefer can reduce the negative health effects from too much sitting.

Just a 5-minute walkabout break every hour can improve your health and well-being.

Breaks prevent employee burnout: Taking regular breaks is an effective way to keep tabs on your own wellbeing and maintain a steady flow of efficiency.

WHAT TO DO Change your scenery Go for a walk or have a stretch.

Focus on healthy eating Eat food that is healthy and will give you an energy boost.

Have a nap Taking a short 20-minute increases your alertness improves your performance.

nap and

Socialize Using your breaks to interact is great for collaboration and engagement.

Talking to other people also helps clear things on your mind.

Encourage positive energy During your break, do something to generate positive feelings, since these emotions are energising and improve efficiency.

Relax Sometimes to use your break effectively, all you need to do is relax.

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What To Do On Your Career Break

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A career break is your chance to do something new and exciting. It’s an opportunity for you to get out there and see the world. Whether you’re bored out of your brain at work or quite like your job but fancy doing something different for a bit, a career break is a chance to get out there and see the world.

Why not travel?

Of course, you could decide to take a career break and stay at home, but where’s the fun in that? Career breaks are the perfect opportunity to fit a bit of adventure and travel into your life and shake up the routine.

Travelling is something that almost everyone does on a career break. Your career break is not complete without exploring some far-flung destinations.

You could go on a round-the-world travel, where you purchase one ticket and you can plan your route around the world- it’s totally up to you.

When choosing and organising your career break travel, bear the following in mind: Your budget It’s not about how much money you have, it’s about spending it wisely and getting the most for your money.

What you would like to see?

If you want to see the highlights and famous places of a country, your plans are going to be different than if you want to travel slowly and discover unusual, out-of-theway places for yourself.

How much time you have Flying is usually the quickest way around.

Your safety Travelling with others is generally safer, especially if you’re going somewhere you don’t know.

Travelling on your career break is a great way to learn and explore different cultures. Being able to speak another language is a big advantage, both personally and career-wise. There’s no better way to learn than living abroad, speaking with locals, and immersing yourself in their culture. In-country language courses are a good way to boost your confidence and learn the basics.

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BUILDING CONFIDENCE Confidence is feeling assured about yourself and your abilities. It’s important for positive social interactions, performing well in school, and advancing your career.

Being confident helps us prepare for life’s experiences. When somebody is confident, they are more likely to tackle hurdles well and progress quicker. Individuals with low confidence are less likely to reach out to people and try new things. A lack of confidence really can hold people back from reaching their full potential.

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Engage in positive self-talk Positive daily affirmations help you to be more confident: turn your “can’ts” into “can”. Take a few moments before you go to work or school to look at yourself in the mirror and say something encouraging to yourself. You can either say something that you believe about yourself or something that you would like to believe about yourself.

Maintain a positive support network Connect with those close to you, whether they are family or friends, to keep your perspective uplifted. Take some time to think about which people in your life really make you feel great. Make a goal to spend more time with people who are supportive and uplifting.

Identify your talents Everyone is good at something: discover the things you excel and focus on your talents. Find something you enjoy and cultivate a talent to go with your interest.

When you’re following your passion, you feel unique and accomplished, which builds your confidence.

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Achieve your goals Confidence is built on accomplishment. If you achieve small and big goals, you’re going to feel much better about yourself.

Begin with your day-to-day goals, what do you need to accomplish today?

Visualize where you want to be Visualisation is the technique of seeing an image of yourself that you are proud of, in your own mind. When we struggle with low self-confidence, we have a poor perception of ourselves that is often inaccurate. Practice visualizing a positive version of yourself, accomplishing your goals.

Acknowledge and challenge your negative thoughts Negative thoughts are common in all people, but they may be even more common if you lack confidence. It is important to acknowledge and challenge any negative thoughts that you have in order to be confident.

7 10TIPS 8 9 10

Monitor your progress The best way to reach your goals, big or small, is break them into smaller goals and to monitor your progress. Monitoring your progress helps you stay focused and boosts your confidence as you see your performance improving.

Identify situations that affect your confidence Many people have triggers that affect their confidence in negative ways. Try to identify the situations and places that seem to have a negative effect on how you feel about yourself. Being aware of these situations may help you to better address the way that they make you feel.

Don’t compare yourself to others

Everyone has their own qualities and talents that make them unique. Focus on yourself and establish your own identity: you will always know who you are. Spend some time to reflect on your values.

Take care of yourself Exercize, healthy food, rest, and relaxation are all important components in boosting confidence.

By taking good care of yourself, you are sending your mind signals that you deserve to be taken care of. Make sure that you are devoting enough time to meeting your basic needs for exercize, food, sleep, and relaxation. When you look good, you feel good.

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exercise helps prevent depression Research has shown that exercising and keeping active can lower the risk of depression by a third.

Researchers collected information from 49 studies around the world and found that people who do regular physical activity are less likely to get depression than those who don’t frequently exercise.

The researchers looked at studies that enrolled people without depression, of any age, and asked about their physical activity levels. Researchers then gathered results together, comparing people who did the most exercise in each study with those that did the least.

The outcome of the research showed that individuals who exercise often are 17% less likely to get depression than individuals that don’t exercise.

“people who exercise regularly are 17% less likely to become depressed” It is extremely important to keep fit and stay healthy!

A lot of people fail to acknowledge the numerous benefits of exercise routines and only begin to do so when health complications arise.

Here’s what exercise can do for YOU: • • • •

Increases energy levels Improves muscle strength Makes you feel good Boosts your physical health Advertisement

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the importance of reading According to The Guardian, 4 million UK adults never read books for pleasure.

People that read very often tend to be more knowledgeable and have bigger vocabularies.

It can be a cheap hobby to take up sign up to a library and take books home for free!

Broaden your Imagination Books can help inspire your creativity to shine through, as they are made so that you can imagine things beyond the realm of possibility! Instead of sitting in front of a TV and staring at a screen, you can read a book and imagine the situation for yourself.

Reduce Stress Reading is great for relaxing the mind and reducing stress.

Being able to take your mind off of what’s happening around you and focusing on the content of the book is a massive stress reliever. It’s great to forget about everyday life even if it’s only for half an hour.

Source of Motivation Books are rich with characters having to overcome problems in order to succeed. They often have problems that people could face in their own lives. That’s why seeing characters achieve rather than fail can be the motivation readers need in order for them to succeed.

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Memory Enhancement Books that are in a series like Game of Thrones or Harry Potter have a lot of content like names, places, different storylines and different personalities. This is an incredible amount of information that you have to digest and remember. As your brain starts to remember more about the content in the books, it will help you to remember more about things in your life.

Expand Your Knowledge Books are a never-ending source of information. Whether they are fictional or non-fictional, all books tend to have some information or even just new words that you’ve never heard of before. With more knowledge comes the ability to make better decisions and choices.

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WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A GRADUATE SCHEME A graduate scheme is one of the best ways to kick-start your career.

Joining a graduate scheme is a great way to gain practical work experience and provides you with the practical skills you need to help fast-track your career.

Not only does a graduate scheme work as a great entry-level position for anyone recently out of university, the experience involved will also allow you to figure out what career path to follow – whilst giving you the essential expertize you need to get there.

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3

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JOB MARKET

Here are 6 points on what to expect from a graduate scheme: 1. Training and Support Graduate Schemes are designed to deliver training and support and develop the essential skills needed to thrive at work.

This ranges from training sessions on communication and confidence, to one-on-one mentoring.

2. Qualifications Many graduate schemes offer the opportunity to gain professional qualifications, such as a Master’s, PhD, or an industry-recognized course, whilst you work.

5

6

3. Job Security

4

Graduate schemes are usually offered on a fixed term basis, lasting between one and three years. This means you’ll be able to benefit from a high level of job security, in a role that allows you to learn and grow at the same time. As graduate schemes are designed to train graduates, the structure of the scheme means you’ll become fully qualified and experienced to pursue more advanced opportunities.

4. Improved Career Prospects With graduate schemes offering a range of learning and development opportunities, you’ll be able to boost your career progression and employability skills.

5. Opportunities Graduate Schemes are available in a range of industries and professions. They involve a variety of roles, contract lengths, benefits and salaries, so you won’t be limited on choice.

6. High Earning Potential Graduate Schemes offer rewarding salaries, especially the big businesses. Graduate starting salaries can be influenced by many factors including company, location and sector.

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• 5 steps to take whe 1

2

Write or update your CV

Build Your Professional Brand

Resear opport

Create profiles on LinkedIn and other networking sites.

Research jobs skills and intere hunting is m

Your CV tells employers who you are. It needs to demonstrate how you’ll add value to an organisation, what you do well, and what problems you’ve helped solve in the past.

Tailor your CV to the jobs you’re applying for so employers can see you’ve got the right skills and experience for the role.

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A strong personal brand that portrays you in a professional light will provide recruiters, employers, and contacts with a strong positive impression of you.

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Use Job Search Apps

Connect with your contacts

Users can upload CV’s and apply for jobs easily.

They can create a CV and apply for jobs. Alerts notify you when your CV has been viewed.

Gain access to thousands of job listings, and first-hand knowledge of companies from current and former employees.

Once you’ve created profiles on online networking sites, such as LinkedIn, start using them.

Connect with everyone you know because you never know which contact may be able to help you with your job search or put you in touch with someone who can, such as Recruiters and HR Professionals.

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BECOMING THE BEST LEADER YOU CAN BE Leaders constantly wonder how they can improve their leadership and management skills. Having effective guidance and organization skills results in better financial results.

HERE IS OUR ADVICE ON BECOMING THE BEST LEADER. COMMUNICATE Strong leaders communicate effectively, as it is an essential tool in achieving productivity and maintaining strong, lasting work relationships at all levels of an organization.

you become a better leader.

LEAD BY EXAMPLE Your actions should be portrayed as the expectations of your employees.

Demonstrate behaviour that you want people to follow.

COURAGEOUS Leaders are bold and take on challenges.

They build their organization and contribute their role by developing managers.

LEADERS INSPIRE They inspire themselves and others to achieve their best. A leader creates a path forward with people using curiosity to hear ideas from their perspective.

MOTIVATE Leaders encourage and engage their team to work hard. Managers motivate and maintain performance.

LEADERS ARE TACTICAL They run the day-to-day operations of the company.

GET TO KNOW YOUR EMPLOYEES It’s important that you get to know your employees on both a professional and personal level, as you can learn something from them which can help

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LEADERS ARE VISIONARY They’re strategic and set the forward direction of the company.

KEY NOTES • Leaders and managers acknowledge when work of high standard has been produced and praise staff by telling them they’ve done a great job.

• Managers train their employees on what to do and how to do it; building competency and specific skills for a particular role or profession.

• Leaders develop their people personally and professionally, through continued learning and expanding knowledge for long-term growth and progression.

HOW TO RESOLVE CONFLICT IN THE WORKPLACE Healthy workplace relationships are essential to the success of any business or organization.

When there is conflict in the workplace, other employees are affected as well as the business.

TIPS FOR EMPLOYERS • Don’t assume situations will resolve themselves: when conflict is brought to your attention, it is past the point of resolving itself.

• Train employees on teamwork skills.

• Train managers in conflict resolution techniques so they are able to handle situations.

• Have clear discipline and dispute procedures.

• Set clear expectations as to what behaviour is not tolerated in the workplace and enforce these expectations.

• Take conflict as an opportunity to learn and grow.

TIPS FOR EMPLOYEES Talk Acknowledge the conflict and the individuals involved in the situation.

Listen Avoid interrupting one another, and listen to what the other person has to say instead of retaliating.

Find an agreement Trying to agree demonstrates your willingness to find common ground. Perhaps you can agree that each individual needs to do something to resolve the issue.

Forgive Apologize for your wrongdoing in the conflict.

Develop a plan Once you have talked over the problem, propose possible solutions.

Follow the plan Each individual must follow through the solutions that were agreed upon.

KEY NOTES • Ask questions to clarify your understanding.

• Participate and discuss ways to stay accountable.

• Focus on the future and how you can respond better.

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WHAT EMPLOYERS WANT Ready to enter the world of employment?

Recruiters and bosses look for many qualities in candidates, as specific skills are needed to do particular jobs. Recruiters and bosses search for candidates that are able to work in harmony with their colleagues and have an impressive set of abilities.

Here are some of the assets recruiters look for:

INNER STRENGTH Having inner strength means you have the quality of persistence when the going gets tough. One way you can demonstrate your inner strength is during an interview: just remain cool, calm and relaxed. This will give the recruiter a good indication of how you would appear if under pressure in the day to day responsibilities.

COURAGE Recruiters and bosses need candidates who have the courage to accept challenges and take risks.

Having courage also means willing to speak up and say exactly what you think.

RELIABILITY This is an important asset to have as it shows recruiters and bosses what they can expect of you going forward.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS This is about how clearly you put across your ideas and your ability to listen to others.

Employers will be keen to see how you build rapport, persuade and negotiate with people.

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INTEGRITY Recruiters and bosses prefer candidates who are honest and true to themselves. You should be willing to admit your strengths and weaknesses.

Candidates should demonstrate loyalty: never say anything negative about a previous employer or a colleague. Even if you were fired from a previous job, don’t say anything critical or negative.

AMBITION Employers look for candidates who are interested in the position and prepared. Being ambitious means you are determined to succeed.

LEADERSHIP Even if you’re not applying for a management position, you’ll still need to demonstrate to employers that you have the potential to motivate and lead others in order to achieve common objectives.

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20 MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED INTERVIEW QUESTIONS Wouldn’t it be great if you knew exactly what questions a hiring manager would be asking in your job interview? While we unfortunately can’t read minds, we’ll give you the next best thing: a list of the 20 most frequently asked interview questions.

1 CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF? This question seems simple yet so many individuals fail to answer it correctly. This question is not an invitation to recite your entire life story: It’s your chance to pitch the hiring manager on why you’re the right candidate for the job. Start off talking about 2-3 accomplishments you are proud of and the skills and experience you have gained.

2 HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE POSITION?

Your response to this question should be kept short: something along the lines of “I found it on (wherever you found the job), and since I’ve been hoping to work for the company for a long time, I was excited to see the opening had become available.

3 WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE COMPANY? Any candidate can read and repeat a company’s ‘About’ page. So, when interviewers ask this question they aren’t trying to observe whether you understand their goals- they want to know if you care. Start with one line that shows you understand the company’s goals, using a couple key words and phrases from the website, but then go on to make it personal. Say, “I’m personally drawn to this mission because…” or “I really believe in this approach because…” and share a personal example or two.

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4 WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS? This question is an open invitation for you to talk about your skills and accomplishments and to show how you match the employer’s values and requirements. Demonstrate your unique value as a candidate by identifying key strengths and then match them to the requirements and skills that are needed to carry out the job.

5 WHAT ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES? This is the interview question that nobody likes, but you should still be prepared for a well-thought-out answer.

When answering this question, think about something that isn’t a strong skill, but think about it back in the past. Talk about how you’ve taken steps to overcome it or worked hard on performing well and mention that you still are working to improve.

6 WHY DO YOU WANT TO WORK FOR US? When interviewers ask this question, they want to learn about your career goals and how the position you are applying for fits into your plan. Make sure you are interested in the job and will be motivated to perform well if hired. Your answer should demonstrate your knowledge of the company and the skills, talents, experience and strength you have.

10 WHY SHOULD WE HIRE YOU?

7 WHAT SKILLS CAN YOU BRING TO THE ROLE? This interview question is one likely to make you think about the skills and experience you already have. Think about what skills you could contribute to the new role.

These might consist of the standard required skillset for the position. To ensure you stand out from other job seekers attending the interview, make sure the examples you choose are relevant to the role and reflect you in a positive and professional light.

8 WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT? When the interviewer asks you this question, this is your opportunity to talk about your proudest achievement. They want to know what sets you apart from other candidates to get a better sense of what you’ve done and what you value.

Make sure you are comfortable talking about yourself and your work in a positive, natural way that conveys confidence.

9 WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN 5 YEARS? Interviewers ask this question as they want to understand more about your career goals. They are interested in your career goals as they want to hire someone who is motivated and proactive. This question should get you thinking about where the position you’re applying for could realistically take you and think about how that aligns with some of your broader professional goals.

Don’t just talk about why the company would be great to work for; talk about how the position is a perfect fit for what you hope to accomplish, both short-term and long-term.

Quote the aspects of the job that you like and explain why it matches with your career path and your expectations.

11 TELL US ABOUT A CHALLENGING SITUATION AND HOW YOU OVERCAME IT For this question, the interviewer is testing your ability to be resilient and cope under pressure.

Your answer should focus on a work-related issue, explain clearly the measures you took to overcome the problem. This question gives you the opportunity to demonstrate how you can use your initiative and act with integrity. Don’t fall into the trap of criticising your company or colleagues and trying to present yourself in a superior light. This will come across as unprofessional and arrogant.

12 DO YOU ENJOY WORKING AS PART OF A TEAM? You should answer that you do enjoy working as part of a team, but also that you aren’t afraid of taking on individual tasks, either. You want to show that you can indeed be a great team member and collaborate well with others to produce results. However, you also want to emphasize that you value the opportunity to share your own input.

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15 CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN THE GAPS IN YOUR RESUME? Having a gap on your resume won’t necessarily prevent you from being successful through the interview process. But potential employers will expect an explanation. Take the time beforehand to work out how you can address the gap in a way that projects confidence and positivity. You want to be truthful without going into unnecessary detail. A basic template for your answer could be: “I [reason you were not employed]. During that time, [what you did during the gap]. Returning to work was one of my priorities during the period and I’m ready to do that now.”

13 WHAT ARE YOUR SALARY EXPECTATIONS? Employers ask about your salary expectations to get a sense of whether they can afford you.

They might also ask you this to see how much you value yourself and the work that you do. By doing some research and preparing an answer ahead of time, you can demonstrate to the employer that you are flexible with your salary, but that you also know what you are worth. Your answer can be something along the lines of: “My salary expectations are in line with my experience and qualifications.” Or, “If this is the right job for me, I am sure we can come to an agreement on salary.”

14 HOW WOULD YOU DEAL WITH CONFLICT? In asking this question, the interviewer wants to get a sense of how you would response to conflict.

Focus on talking about how you would handle the situation professionally and productively, and wrap up with a happy ending, like how you would come to a resolution or compromize.

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16 WHY DID YOU LEAVE YOUR PREVIOUS POSITION? This can be a challenging question to answer.

Keep things positive — you have nothing to gain by being negative about your past employers. Show the interviewer that you are eager to take on new opportunities and that the role you’re interviewing for is a better fit for you than your last or current position.

17 HOW DO YOU HANDLE CRITICISM? Mention the positive aspects of criticism and think of an experience you had where it was useful to get criticism. Your answer should be along the following lines: “I always think that it is important to get feedback on how I am performing so that I can improve my work.

18 WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES? Interviewers ask this question to see if you are a well-rounded person who will fit in with the company culture. Employers want to know if you are passionate about certain things. Your response should be honest and brief. You could mention your hobbies include: Exercize and Healthrelated activities, Volunteering and Community participation and Professional Development.

20 DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

19 WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE MAKES A GOOD TEAM LEADER? This is a difficult question as most people will have different ideas about what makes a good manager. If you’re applying for a managerial role, or if you might progress into one, you’ll need to show a good understanding of the most important qualities to manage people effectively. Setting realistic goals, giving constructive feedback and providing support to team members to help them build their skillset are all good examples of excellent management qualities.

Always answer “yes” to this question. You’re there to find out information about your employer as much as they are there to find out about you – and the more details you know, the better you’ll be able to ascertain your suitability for the job.

You’ll need to be just as prepared once the tables turn. Here are some questions you could ask at an interview: • What are the skills and experiences you’re looking for in an ideal candidate?

• What training programs are available to your employees?

• Are there opportunities for advancement or professional development?

• What are the company’s plans for the future?

• When can I expect to hear from you?

SHOW THE INTERVIEWER THAT YOU ARE EAGER TO TAKE ON NEW OPPORTUNITIES. A U GU ST | IN T E RN AT ION A L EDITION

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INTERVIEW DRESS CODE How you dress for an interview makes a difference. First impressions matter and dressing up shows that you put some effort. The first judgment potential employers will make, is based on how you look and what you are wearing.

Therefore, it’s important to dress professionally for a job interview.

Hint: Dress in a manner that is professionally appropriate to the position for which you are applying.

Follow our tips to look your best!

Try shopping around for a not-so-standard formal blazer. Forget the stuffy same old two-button black blazer and find something more unique.

Consider a lapel-less version, or a blazer in a bright block color and pair it with an interesting patterned blouse underneath.

Bla ze rs A simple, chic dress can look smart, understated and can also mean you only have to worry about the dress and the shoes.

Tip: don’t overdo it with the perfume, you don’t know what your interviewer will make of it.

Less I s M o re There are plenty of wonderful colors out there, so potentially stray away from your go-to navies and black’s.

This will lighten up your outfit, and the mood you emanate.

Mix I t Up Update your interview attire with items of clothing that have something slightly different about them, and pair them with other pieces that have different textures or colors. Mixing it up adds dimension to your outfit.

Texture If you’re applying for a job with a more relaxed dress code, such as a new or creative company, don’t feel obliged to don the pencil skirt and polo shirt.

Show off your personality, by focusing on feeling comfortable as well as looking presentable.

Be Yo u

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Don’t want to put too much thought into your office attire? Then this one is for you. Invest in a collection of high-quality, interesting blouses and shirts that will easily go with a pair of cigarette trousers, midi skirts or suits.

Gr ab- and- Go

If you’re feeling ready to make the leap to a suit, commit to it.

Try out a suit in a bold print or color, that is both fashion-forward as well as dapper. Accessorize with a pair of statement earrings and slip-on leather loafers.

Sta n d O u t

The brilliant thing about jumpsuits is that they can be dressed up or down, depending on what you wear them with. For example, you can’t get more office luxe than with a black collared jumpsuit worn with a pair of black leather backless heels and some elegant embellished earrings.

O ne-Pie ce

If the job you’re going for is on the creative side, it might be a good idea to opt for a more casual look. Achieve this by swapping the suit trousers for a pair of smart, dark jeans.

Avoid the just-out-of-bed look by choosing well-tailored pieces that aren’t distressed or sloppy. You can’t go wrong with an oversized, stripy top, high-rise jeans and smart trainers.

Fr e n ch C h i c

Stay away from anything that shouts you’re trying too hard because this can be distracting. You want to look like you’ve made an effort with clean, crisp clothes that fit well and are impactful and powerful. Show your personal style without being too loud.

C lean & Cris p

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INTERVIEW DRESS CODE When going to an interview, making a good impression is very important- not only by how you present yourself but by how you look as well. Clothing plays a big part in the interview process. So, follow our tips on how to dress for a job interview and get ready to play dress up.

A FORMAL SUIT AND TIE Where to Wear It: Bank, investment institution or law office.

These working environments are for the most part on the more moderate side, so a classic suit is the best way to go.

A BL AZER, OXFORD SHIRT AND DRESS SL ACKS Where to Wear It: Corporate office, sales organization or in an educational institution.

This go-to suit is an appropriate outfit option for a business casual workplace. Business casual workwear is varied, so you can stick with the workwear essentials like dress slacks or dress shirts. Ties are optional.

A BUTTON-DOWN SHIRT AND CHINOS Where to Wear It: Creative ad agency, a tech start-up.

Lose the tie and pick a jacket, printed conservative shirt and chinos. Not feeling a second layer? Include enthusiasm with a conversational print in your shirt or pair impartial catch ups with a chino in a cool shading.

POLO AND TWILL PANTS Where to Wear It: Restaurant interview, non-fashion retail, service or repair company.

At even the most casual environment, leave the jeans and gym sneakers at home. A button-down or polo and chinos for an interview at a more laid-back office, while still casual, is a sign of respect and shows that you put some thought into preparing for your interview.

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WRITING YOUR UCAS PERSONAL STATEMENT Your personal statement is an important part of your UCAS application and supports your submission to study at a university or college.

It’s your chance to describe your ambitions, skills, and experience to university and college admissions staff and for you to articulate why you’d like to study a particular course or subject, and what skills and experience you hold that show your passion for your chosen field.

HERE ARE SOME TOP TIPS TO FOLLOW WHEN WRITING YOUR UCAS PERSONAL STATEMENT: Understand the UCAS personal statement guidelines

There are specific requirements for your personal statement which you can’t ignore. Your personal statement must not exceed 4,000 characters or 47 lines of text (including blank lines). If you don’t meet the guidelines, universities will not receive your personal statement.

Be enthusiastic – if you show your interest in the course, it will help your application.

Don’t leave it until the last minute – it’s a good idea to give yourself time to think about what you write to make sure you don’t forget anything.

UCAS’ PERSONAL STATEMENT TOOL https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applyinguniversity/how-write-ucas-undergraduatepersonal-statement This tool is designed to help you think about what to include in your personal statement, and how to structure it. It also counts how many characters you’ve used, so it’s easy to see when you’re close to the 4,000-character limit. But it doesn’t save your work, so it’s important you copy, paste, and save your work regularly into a word processing document.

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Write about the course

Explain why you want to do your chosen course(s).

You can write about anything you’ve read about the course(s) that you find interesting and what you would like to find out more about.

Let your personality shine

Your personal statement gives you the opportunity to bring a real sense of your personality to your UCAS application form - so don’t be afraid to let it shine! As much as the admissions tutors want to hear about your achievements and experience, they also want to hear about your interests that drive your determination to get onto the course you have applied for.

Work history

Include details of placements, work experience, voluntary work, or jobs, especially if it is relevant to your chosen course(s).

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DON’T FORGET TO: Check your spelling and grammar are correct.

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marjon.ac.uk Plymouth Marjon University is a trading name for the University of St Marks & St John

DISTANCE LEARNING Distance learning is a way for students to learn remotely without having to attend an educational institute to get qualifications.

Students can learn from home, work or on the move.

It’s becoming increasingly popular, with over 270,000 undergraduates and 108,000 postgraduates doing their degrees via distance learning.

With the rapid increase in technology, there has been a huge increase of tuition and learning through the internet.

PROS

CONS

1. Distance learning is flexible in the

1. You won’t be able to socialise

sense that you can pick and choose your own pace, and work around your own schedule.

2. You can learn and earn by

working full-time or part-time, which sometimes isn’t possible when attending a physical university.

3. Online learning is a lot cheaper

than attending university. Doing distance learning will help you save on costs such as fuel, childcare, or books, and you may end up paying less in fees.

4. You don’t have to travel to and

from the university, so there is no time spent commuting every day or any travel costs involved. Also, if you ever relocate far away from where you used to live you don’t need to worry about changing universities.

with other students, and you won’t be able to talk to your tutor and receive the same kind of support.

Many people struggle with the isolation that comes with doing distance learning.

2. Learning online can come with

a lot of technical difficulties, such as computers breaking and Wi-Fi not working, which can hinder your progress.

3. Having good time management skills and self discipline is crucial to reaping all the benefits of the course.

4. Some employers may be

reluctant to accept you doing distance learning. They may want you to be entirely focused on your work and not distracted by other responsibilites.

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HOW TO EFFECTIVELY DELEGATE TASKS The term ‘delegate’ means assigning the responsibility to do something, such as a task or project, to an individual.

Normally a manager delegates to an employee or individuals.

Delegating tasks is a common practice among business owners and managers as it allows them to focus on more impactful tasks that require their full attention. Delegation keeps your team challenged, helps them to build new skills and feel like they’re having a greater impact on the business as a whole.

Learning how to delegate effectively is the key to leveraging yourself.

There are 3 elements to consider and assimilate when deciding to delegate.

1. AUTHORITY When work is assigned to individuals, authority has to be delegated in order for the task to be completed.

The authority must be equal to the responsibility.

2. RESPONSIBILITY Managers should be clear and specific when delegating tasks as it helps individuals to understand why they have been given this responsibility. Managers must retain control and authority as they are still responsible.

3. ACCOUNTABILITY This is the process of checking whether individuals perform their responsibilities in the correct manner and to the expected standards.

The manager in the company must accept the consequences of actions and decisions.

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B.A.L.M. METHOD BREAK Break the goal down to specific tasks. Make a list, in order of importance, of all the tasks to be completed.

ANALYZE Analyze and make a list of the various abilities required to perform the tasks you have listed.

LIST List the members of the team and identify each individuals capabilities and specific individual skills.

MATCH Match the individuals to the tasks that need to be done and assign the right person to the right task.

10 ADVANTAGES OF DOING AN MBA The Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a postgraduate qualification that is highly valued by employers. MBA’s are the same level of education as other Master Courses and are studied once you’ve gained a few years of professional experience.

If you’ve already got some business experience and want to take the next step towards a promotion, pay rise or even a career change, studying for an MBA could make all the difference. There are many advantages of doing an MBA. Here are the top 10:

KNOWLEDGE

BUSINESS TOP-UP

One key advantage of doing an MBA is that it improves your theoretical and practical knowledge of how businesses operate.

Studying an MBA gives people with non-business degrees a competitive edge as it courteously rounds up their education, giving them the allimportant business knowledge.

QUALIFICATION You are differentiated in the crowded job market as you have earned a prestigious postgraduate qualification that is treasured by employers.

PROMOTIONS By achieving an MBA, you boost your chances of promotion and salary increment.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS An MBA is a great opportunity for top level networking as it develops your communication and confidence skills. It broadens your knowledge as well as developing your leadership skills and critical thinking.

NEW AVENUES

MINDSET An MBA creates an entrepreneurial mindset, as it helps you acquire business practices needed to start a new business or help existing organizations grow.

Whilst studying for an MBA, you interact with individuals from all over the world, which enhances your experience by giving you an insight to different business practices, cultures and points of view.

RESPECT

JOB MARKET

An MBA is a globally recognized degree compared to most professional qualifications and is well respected in all fields all over the world.

An MBA provides the skills and education needed to become a qualified successful candidate.

An MBA opens up new avenues for many career options and provides you with new skills in the workplace.

PERSPECTIVE

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BALANCING

WORK & UNIVERSITY ORGANIZE YOUR TIME Being efficient with your timekeeping works wonders when you’re struggling to keep up with both university and work.

You must remember that the 6 or so hours that you spent in class during secondary school isn’t the same as how much time you will spend working on your degree. University is harder so don’t squander away the precious hours that you could use to study.

At the same time, you need to have a look at how many hours you can commit to working a job.

Being strapped for cash isn’t the greatest when you must pay for rent, food and any studying equipment. In fact, studies show 84% of university students have financial worries.

However, it isn’t possible to manage 40 hours a week and still be able to make time for classes, studying and a social life. Look for part time work instead, ideally between 10 - 20 hours to properly balance everything out.

When you start your job, make sure to let your manager know that you go to university and make them aware of your schedule. The last thing you want is to be doing more hours than you intended to do or be working when you should be in class!

DEALING WITH STRESS If you’re working a job and attending university then things can start to become incredibly stressful.

Trying to keep up with studying whilst keeping your boss happy with you is difficult; we know this, and many people have been there. However, there are many ways you can deal with this. The first being to not leave important work the night before a deadline.

It’s crucial that from the moment you receive an assignment, you plan everything out straight away. Planning out assignments, whether they are essays or physical projects means that you will understand the amount of work there is to do and will have an estimate of how long it will take to complete. It is incredibly important that you plan your work out effectively. By doing this, you will be able to organize the time you put into the assignment with the time you will be putting in at your job. It’s always a good idea to allocate slots during the day for when you are going to be working on it.

To summarize this point; plan, plan, plan.

With regards to work, it’s always best that you let your manager know if you have any important assignments that have specific s. That way, they will more likely be lenient when you need to change your shift times or maybe even give you less hours, so you can concentrate more on your university and in return, feel less stressed.

Last of all, always remember to take care of yourself. There are only 24 hours in a day and running around here, there and everywhere will only make you burn out. Learn that it is okay to unwind and relax every now and then to stop stress from creeping up. If you are still finding it difficult to deal with, then consider visiting your universities student services and have a chat with them.

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PRIORITIZE THE IMPORTANT THINGS As you will be paying thousands for each year you spend at university, you will want to get your moneys worth, right? So, you should prioritize attending classes and studying.

But hang on, you also have a job? Well that certainly needs prioritising too.

But what about your social life? You must go out, have fun and see friends!

It is understandable. It’s hard prioritising things that are important to you. But you need to have a look at what is the most important thing at a specific point in time. If you’re getting close to exam season, then it’s time for your social life to take a back-seat. Keep the parties and socialising for after all your exams are over and get studying. You will thank yourself later when you get the grades that you were hoping for.

As for your job, it is going to be hard to prioritize university over work. Obviously, your job is important; it keeps you afloat financially. As the previous points stated, talk to your manager about your exams and let them know your schedule. Hopefully, they will take into consideration that you are a student and will need to focus on your exams.

As you can see, work and university can be hard to balance if you are not sure how to do it. But by using these 3 pointers, it should become easier for you to work out a schedule that fits you.

Try these tips out for yourself and see the difference it makes to your work/studying schedule!

KNOW THAT IT IS OKAY TO UNWIND & RELAX

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TRANSITIONING FROM UNIVERSITY TO WORK The term “welcome to the real world” has never been truer than in this case. It can come as quite a shock after having left the comfort of university to go into the working world.

Going from writing essays, partying, taking exams and attending lectures and classes to a 9-5 job can be very hard to adjust to. But don’t worry, here are 5 tips and tricks to give you some guidance on how to transition from university to work: 1 PUNCTUALITY EQUALS PROFESSIONALISM Being professional is part and parcel of any new job that you will have over the years. Unlike school or university, punctuality is expected and something you will not be praised for. Being late so many times could end up with you being spoken to by HR or management and a decision will have to be made on what to do about it.

If you know that you have a partiality for being late, then make a schedule: a time for going to

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bed, a time for getting up in the morning and a time for leaving the house. If you know that you are not a morning person and struggle to get up, then try going to bed a bit earlier. It’s recommended that you get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night.

2 DON’T SECOND GUESS YOURSELF You’ve finished your degree, started your new job and now the overwhelming sensation starts to set in. It won’t be like this for everybody, but some people are going to find it hard to transfer the knowledge and skills they have learnt from university and apply it to their job.

The trick is don’t doubt yourself; you were hired for a reason. The manager believes that you have the skills to efficiently do your job better than the other people that

were interviewed. So be confident and stick with it. Besides, no one ever stops learning in life: everyone makes progress.

3 UNIVERSITY WILL NOT PREPARE YOU FOR EVERYTHING Education only tends to educate you with knowledge of the subjects you are learning or degrees you are studying.

Unfortunately, it does not outright teach you about issues that you may find happen in your day to day work life.

Sometimes, you may have to negotiate a salary before you start a job. Having the right communication skills along with patience is key to negotiating. You don’t want to ask for a starting salary that is completely ridiculous and would get you laughed out

of the building. Instead, find out what they are offering you and start with a higher but reasonable counteroffer. From there, you will need to work with the negotiator until you reach a sum that you are both happy with. However, it’s not just negotiation that you will be unprepared for. Critical thinking, money management, etiquette, protecting yourself and managing failure are all things that university don’t teach you.

4 COLLEAGUES OR FRIENDS? Depending on the size of the company you work for, you’re going to have many colleagues.

Some of whom you will get on better with than others and that is totally fine. You’re allowed to be friends with your colleagues inside or outside of work but remember that they are still your colleagues in work.

Whilst the friendships you make with colleagues will make your day more enjoyable, it is vital to take note of the foundations and basis of which these friendships are formed. Not all colleagues are going to be friendly, some may even be a little competitive. But it is wise to remember that you

will be in a place of work, so you must remain professional around others, even if they are your friends.

5 NETWORKING IS KEY If you haven’t started networking already, start now. Networking is great for talking to industry professionals that have been in the game for many years. Start by going to networking conventions such as Glug. This way you will be able to meet people that have gone down the same career path that you intend to go down as well.

If you are not one for going to meet people in person, then LinkedIn is great for getting in touch with other professionals via social media. You can post your information about what work experience you have, where you have studied and anything else you think industry professionals would benefit from knowing about you. Not only does LinkedIn allow you to message other professionals, but for professionals to message you as well. Some of them may even be offering interviews or jobs!

For those of you that are reading this and will still be attending

university next year, it will be a good idea to start networking now. It is never too early to engage with professionals and build up relationships with the people that could potentially be your next boss.

It’s going to feel strange at first but once you get into the swing of things, it will start to become easier and less overwhelming.

There are many changes that you will have to make to your lifestyle to help you kick the university mindset and for some, this may take a while. But don’t worry, as time goes by the transition will start to feel smoother and you will adapt to the weight of the working world.

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PREPARING FOR A PRESENTATION PREPARATION IS KEY FOR SUCCESS. The more prepared you are, the more chance of success you’ll have.

Doing presentations at school or university is a great way to practice and gain confidence before doing one in an interview for a job or graduate scheme.

During your time at school and university, you will be asked to give a presentation. Whatever the topic, you will be presenting to your tutor and fellow students. Some people may not find that too daunting, but others will be understandably anxious - getting up and making your case in front of an audience isn’t easy, especially when you’re not used to it.

However you feel, it’s a good idea to improve your skills and become comfortable with the format, as many graduate employers use presentations as part of the recruitment process.

To help ensure that your presentation stands out, follow our tips on preparing for presentations.

PREPARE CAREFULLY

USE VISUALS WISELY

Give yourself plenty of time to prepare thoroughly, as a

Visuals should complement your oral presentation.

to delivering your presentation. Gather the information

an illustration supporting the concept that you’re

last-minute rush will leave you flustered when it comes you need and set it out in a logical order, with a clear

introduction and conclusion. Don’t rely on your notes

on the day of the presentation as reading from prepared text sounds unnatural.

CONSIDER YOUR AUDIENCE To pitch your presentation well, it’s important to know your audience. Your presentation shouldn’t include

Your slides should offer a summary of points or

discussing. Make sure you use a clear and suitable

sized font. Include short phrases and sentences so you don’t overcrowd your slides.

If you intend to provide hand-outs for your audience, distribute them at the beginning or end of your presentation. Doing it halfway through can be distracting and disrupt your flow.

content covered in lectures and readings. Spending the first half of your presentation telling an audience what they already know is impractical. Even if you go straight into detail, they could become confused, therefore it’s key to get the balance right and show you have thought about the audience.

PRACTICE You should run through your presentation in full more than once, ideally in front of an audience. Visit the room in advance if you can, and ask a friend to sit at the back, checking the speed and clarity of your speech. Make sure the visuals of your presentation are visible.

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BE POSITIVE

PLAN FOR SUCCESS

Develop a positive attitude leading up to the days of the

Part of the preparation process is planning for success.

presentation. This may seem obvious and easier said

This is about getting yourself into a state of belief. Belief

than done if you’re shy but pull it off and it will make a huge difference to how you perform. Acknowledge your

in yourself that you can accomplish the task before you.

nervousness but don’t give in to negative thinking.

FOCUS UNDERSTAND THE OBJECTIVE

During your preparation concentrate on what you need

When preparing for presentations, there are objectives

to do to succeed.

that must be met. Make sure you understand what you are preparing for. Ask yourself questions, for example,

DON’T RELY ON TECHNOLOGY

“Do I know what it is I’m trying to accomplish?”.

We’ve all witnessed the pain of a presenter struggling with a faulty USB stick or failing to get a projector to work. However, with a little bit of planning, you can

PACE YOURSELF Preparation isn’t all about seeing how fast you can get it all done. It’s more important to focus on doing it right.

minimize the risk of technology tripping you up. If possible, test your presentation beforehand with the same equipment that you’ll be using. Or try to arrive early on the day and have a run through.

Prepare for success by pacing yourself. This involves

You should have back-ups of your documents and

going over one area many times, to get it right.

print out a few copies of the slides to share if things don’t go according to plan. However, don’t rely too much on your slides as you should be prepared to present without them if necessary, using your notes or index cards as memory aids.

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PUZZLES AND BRAINTEASERS RIDDLE ME THIS

1. Paul’s height is six feet, he’s an assistant at a butcher’s shop, and wears size 9 shoes. What does he weigh?

2. In 1990, a person is 15 years old. In 1995, that same person is 10 years old. How can this be?

Give these riddles a go. No peeking at the answers!

6. How many sides does a circle have?

7. If you have three oranges and you take away two, how many will you have?

4. Can you decipher this?

‘Busines’

8. Which one does not belong?: 8.1. Trigononmetry, Geometry, Circus, Calculus 8.2. Comic Book, Atlas, Novel, Brain Teasers 8.3. Otter, Shark, Dolphin, Sea Lion 8.4. Pen, Pencil, Eraser, Chalk 8.5. Golden Delicious, Bartlett, Granny Smith, Jonathon

5. A man stands on one side of a river, his dog on the other. The man calls his dog, who immediately crosses the river without getting wet and without using a bridge or a boat. How did the dog do it?

Our brain tends to jump to conclusions and sees what it wants to. These riddles force you to take a step back and double-check yourself.

3. What five-letter word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it?

W

If you get into the habit of teasing your brain and start to switch up your thinking process and patterns, who knows what you could be capable of!

ZOOM IN FOR ANSWERS TO RIDDLES 1. Meat 2. The person was born in 2005 BC 3. Short 4. Unfinished Business 5. The river is frozen 6. 2 sides, the inside and the outside 7. The answer is 2. You take 2, you have 2 8.1. Cirrus, because the others are mathematics 8.2. Atlas, because the others are for leisure reading 8.3. Shark, because the others are marine mammals 8.4. Chalk, because the others are desk tools 8.5. Bartlett, because the others are types of apples

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Can you re-arrange the letters to work out the names of careers and famous entrepreneurs?

ANAGRAMS GALORE

CAREERS:

ENTREPRENEUR:

1. TARTRATES HIP

1. LEGITS LAB

2. RIGHTER FIFE

2. MELONS UK

3. COUNT SLANT

3. OSCAR MILLS

4. DISCHARGING PEER

4. KA JACM

5. ENIGMA AZ JAILORS TUN

5. HARRIDAN BRONCS

6. TACHISM PAR

6. ARYL GAPER

7. STATESMANLY SYS

7. BESTS JOVE

8. GHOSTS POLICY

8. MOO TICK

MAZES

ZOOM IN FOR ANSWERS TO ANAGRAMS CAREERS: 1. Art Therapist 2. Firefighter 3. Consultant 4. Graphic Designer 5. Magazine Journalist 6. Pharmacist 7. Systems Analyst 8. Psychologist ENTREPRENEUR: 1. Bill Gates 2. Elon Musk 3. Carlos Slim 4. Jack Ma 5. Richard Branson 6. Larry Page 7. Steve Jobs 8. Tim Cook

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