HIRE EDUCATION Cardiff student’s essential news on jobs, work experience and placements.
PART TIME JOBS the best one and why?
Vicky McCall tells us about her job!
Glamorgan Atrium’s new Career’s Adviser
Managing Workplace Conflict Managing workplace conflict is an ever increasintg feature of the human resource professionals’ role and for those engaged in people management. A recent OPP/CIPD survey records that 48% of HR professionals devote half a day per week dealing with conflict situations and 83% say that conflict management is a ‘very’ or ‘critically’ important leadership skill. The statutory requirements changed in April last year and place a greater emphasis on the regulation and avoidance of conflict internally and discourage external reference to employment tribunals. In response to this research, the University of Glamorgan is launching a unique postgraduate programme on the subject of The Management of Workplace Conflict. The Glamorgan Business School has put together the UK’s first Postgraduate Certificate, Diploma and full Masters Degree to embrace the essential areas of study in this critical part of the workplace environment.
Cardiff Council welcomes John Lewis
W
ales’ biggest department store is set to open its doors for the first time in Cardiff and Cardiff Council leader Rodney Berman believes it is another important milestone for the city. As the anchor tenant of the new St David’s development, the John Lewis store is the biggest of its kind outside of London. St David’s is a project of just under a million square feet that is bringing in circa £700m of investment into Cardiff city centre and create thousands of new jobs. This is in addition to the hundreds of construction jobs that have already been created as part of this development. It is estimated that when completed the development will attract more than £250m of new spending to Cardiff city centre each year and establish the Welsh capital as one of the top retail destinations in Europe. Cardiff Council Leader Rodney Berman said: “The opening of John Lewis is another significant step forward for the city of Cardiff. I know there is huge expectation from people, not just in Cardiff but the whole south Wales region, in the opening of this store and it is going to prove to be another major attraction for the city of Cardiff.”
got a superb “ We’ve retail environment
”
Cardiff’s current St David’s Shopping Centre attracts around 30 million visitors a year, second only to Birmingham’s Bullring - but by the end of the decade it is estimated the Welsh capital will have the UK’s busiest shopping centre development with a catchment area of 1.6 million people. Cllr Berman added: “John Lewis is going to play a key role in bringing more people into Cardiff and is another step
Photo by Holly North
meet David McCarthy on page 2
St David’s creates “thousands of new jobs”
forward into making the Welsh capital a leading European capital city. “John Lewis and the St David’s development will work in harmony with other schemes in and around the city, including the International Sports Village, Cardiff Castle with Bute Park, Glamorgan Cricket Club at Sophia Gardens and the new Cardiff Football Club stadium development. “I am proud of the Council’s involvement in helping bring these projects to fruition and look forward to John Lewis enjoying a successful and prosperous tenancy in Cardiff.” Liz Mihell, managing director of John Lewis Cardiff said the Partners are really impressed with the new building: “The new shop is fantastic and will really help us to make the experience of shopping at John Lewis in Cardiff second to none. Customers can look forward to shopping for everything under one roof in a fantastic new shop spanning four floors. “We’ve got a superb retail environment, and a wide range of exciting brands coming in – and we’re confident the people of Cardiff and further afield will be impressed too!” John Lewis has aspirations of becomin the “best store in Wales.” The doors open on September 24th 2009. In the run up to opening, a host of new
retailers have announced they will open stores at St David’s, the extended shopping centre in the heart of Cardiff. Fashion store Lambretta, audio store Digital Connections trading as Bose, Formula One store Wheels of Sport and stationer Paperchase will open their first shops in Wales. Also making their debut in Wales at St David’s are jeweller Thomas Sabo, gadget store Menkind and Prêt a Manger.
Cardiff as “ reinforce a key location ” Other new names Jane Norman, Game, Shoe Zone, Lakeland, Faith, and local favourite Italian restaurant Bellini’s will join the impressive line up at St David’s which includes Hugo Boss, Cult and the UK’s second largest John Lewis, which has traded well above target since its 24 September opening. St David’s will extend the existing shopping centre to provide 1.4 million sq ft of shopping space in the heart of Cardiff. Retailers will be opening from 22 October with some 50 new stores on open-
ing day; more than half of which will be making their Wales debut. More than 30 further stores will be opening in the lead up to Christmas followed by more retailers in early 2010. Joanne Skilton, of Capital Shopping Centres (CSC), on behalf of St David’s Partnership, the joint venture between CSC and Land Securities, said: “St David’s will offer shoppers even more choice when we open on 22 October. We will be opening more shops in the run up to Christmas and the quality of the retail offer will reinforce Cardiff as a key location within the UK retail hierarchy. We are all very excited.” The quality of St David’s offer and Cardiff’s catchment of 27 million shoppers and 10 million tourists each year has attracted many retailers new to Wales such as Kurt Geiger, Radley, All Saints, LK Bennett, Ollie & Nic, Crabtree & Evelyn and Jack & Jones. Other retailers, such as H&M, will open a second store in the Welsh capital to enable them to stock a full product range for the first time.
Holly North visits the St David’s 2 jobshop on page 6.
2
HIRE EDUCATION
Latest news from Careers Service
JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship.
Say hello to your new Career’s Adviser
Call for Applications Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) is the leading research funding agency in Japan, established by the Japanese Government for the purpose of contributing to the advancement of science. JSPS plays a key role in the administration of various scientific and academic programmes, whilst expanding bilateral exchange between Japan and the United Kingdom. In cooperation with the Nominating Authorities (the Royal Society and the British Academy), JSPS provides the opportunity for outstanding young researchers to conduct cooperative research with leading groups at Japanese Universities and Institutions for a period of between 1 – 2 years. The Royal Society and the British Academy are given a quota by JSPS and they operate all application procedures. The fellowship is worth a maximum of £62,000 (tax exempt for two years) and includes: Photo by Holly North
• Return air ticket • Insurance • Living expenses A further £1,000 is available for Japanese language training and the KAKENHI Grant worth up to £30,000 can be applied for to cover research support costs. More information about eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found on the following websites; The Royal Society www.royalsociety.org The British Academy www.britac.ac.uk
Careers Service opening times: Monday – Thursday: 8.45am to 4.55pm Friday: 8.45am to 4.25pm Telephone: 01443 668541
New Career’s adviser David McCarthy and assistant
Chrissy Evans says goodbye to Glamorgan Atrium as David McCarthy takes her crown whilst she retires. The Careers Service is there to help students and graduates with all aspects of their career planning. They offer one on one interviews to help go through your CV’s, arrange work tasters, post graduate study, working overseas and even more on their website. David was employed by Careers Wales and wanted a new challenge: “I’ve worked in schools for six and a half years so getting a job in university just seemed like the natural next step.” David thinks that work experience is vital whilst studying at university:
“We encourage students to be employable. Any way to get experience to appear more employable is vital, whether that be by getting a job or placement. This makes you look more employable.” The website advises that it’s important to get the correct balance between part time work and the hours required for study. The recommended guide is no more than 12-16 hours a week. “Yes, I think having a part time job is good as long as it doesn’t take away the purpose of university.” His tips for success are to be as original as you can: “There is so much competition to find a job once you graduate and you’re in the same boat as everyone else so you need to find a way to stand out from the crowd.”+
What students thought of the
“
Laura Foxwell BSc Psychology
Despite the fact my initial degree was a BSc in Psychology I managed to get the right work experience to move into the field I wanted to, in my transition phase I also enrolled in a part time course in Cardiff Centre for LifeLong Learners in Environmental Issues, which only benefited my CV and my knowledge further. I have benefited enormously from gaining relevant work experience. After completing my work experience I was lucky enough to land a temporary position with the Environment Agency in Cardiff. I think they were impressed with my voluntary work and commitment to
the environmental sector. After two weeks of being at the Agency I heard back from a permanent position I had gone for with a local authority for a Technical Officer in the Pollution Control team, I had got the job! Last August I discussed with my manager of the possibilities of starting a Masters in Environmental Health as I was enjoying the job, but wanted to progress. Although there was no funding available to support me on the course it was agreed that I could have the time to attend the course in Bristol once every week, but I would of course be self funded. I am now just about to finish my first year of the part time course (MSc Environmental Health), with one more year to go until I qualify as an Environmental
3
udy t S d k an
HIRE EDUCATION
What makes a graduate employable?
or W g n ini Comb
p develo g you to in k lp o e lo h bs are ation jo e employers , to ensure c a v d e at , an your tim t gradu time. porary e, tem perience tha you manage during term im t t r Pa ex ies hat r tant t ic stud ills and sucthe sk er it is impo our academ you to lp v y e e t h w c t o igh fo.H ’t affe that m ey don stions d study. e g that th g u n ls e job a ractica ome p your par t tim s e r a Here bine lly com cessfu nto an ation o m r o f r in or ente re. a diary work dates a y r r a c s e s y r a u o lw c A comhat time is now w • y k s u u o b y a so ow e-diary you kn rk. ahead if r place of wo n la p u to o y y r t T a urse or • ns your co n o p solutio u ing actical r p t s e g and sug n’t work ca ployers u m o e y e is know Adv u o y ind and if • to unw u can o e y m s ti a elf as soon e yours et to giv g r o f t ’ Don study • rns ork or w r te rk patte f red wo relax a tu c u tr s ember stick to in – rem t fi Try to n a c • hat you about w c ti s li a day Be re ing rs in a k, miss • 24 hou ly n o ke wor ty will serie ta r r a e e d r n e u th ali tures to or of poor qu kip lec Don’t s ng work late • mitti as e. and sub upport classes ct your degre e and s sework ic e f v f d a a r ously ng seek ten cou struggli urse tutor, of tances. e r a u o s o um If y ur c nal circ rom yo • u can f ed in exceptio o y s a early xtend es be e deadlin
uk
s.org.
nase www.
Go Wales Tasters set up by the Careers Service Health Officer.
”
Louise Griffith Hons in English and History & Ma
“
I studied at the University of Glamorgan between the years 2002 and 2008. I have a first class degree and a Masters in History by research. Whilst I was researching for my masters, I thought it would be valuable to carry out some voluntary work in the heritage sector which is where I eventually wanted to work. When I started at the university, the Careers service had carried out talks with all students during freshers week telling us about
the services they offered and so I knew that there was the strong possibility that they could find me a placement. I made an appointment with the Careers Service and was seen within a few days. I told them the type of work I was interested in and Llancaiach Fawr was suggested. I was then placed here on a work taster. The help that I received was excellent as it helped me progress. Even some of my travel costs were funded by the university. The experience that I received was invaluable. Although I am well qualified, a History degree is not vocational and work experience is invaluable. I volunteered here for about eighteen months and by some stroke of luck the
Education Officer decided to apply for another job. There were many applicants for the job but because I was experienced on the site and had a proven track record of what I could do, I got the job. I am now the Education Officer and am in a job that I love which I would have been unlikely to get had I not had the experience. The Careers Service obviously played a pivotal role in this and I am very grateful to them.
”
Work tasters are designed to help you gain a taste of a particular business sector or industry. They are short, unpaid periods of observation and experience to help you gain insights to inform your future career planning.
The Glamorgan Careers Service and cellence students. The students’ brief was to create a Business school combined forces to create a programme of employer led recruitment company ‘for students run by students’ and pitch their ideas activities. Over two days, students took part in to a panel of judges from commerce a Surviving Assessment Centres work- in a boardroom scenario. The prestigious panel of judges inshop, participated in Your Career in Business – a ‘Question Time’ inspired cluded Mark Seymour (Operations seminar and competed in an Apprentice Director – Hays Recruitment), Laurance Thomas (Head of HR HMPS) Student Challenge. The events were designed to give busi- and Ian Ashman (Business School ness students a realistic view of the cur- Employability Unit Manager). “Business operates in a global marrent graduate job market, enable them to connect with employers, and find out ket and the cultural mix of the parultimately what makes a graduate ‘em- ticipants showed Glamorgan to be a global learning community. Most ployable’. The programme kicked off with an in- impressed with the standard of the teractive session on the tests commonly presentations which is an essential used by graduate recruiters in assess- business skill” (Laurance Thomas) Feedback from employers and stument centres. Students were able to find out what em- dents who participated was extremely ployers look for in successful candidates positive “...in organising this event, and participate in an assessed group the foresight, energy, and professionalism demonstrated by the team based exercise and role play task. Martyn Flynn (Recruitment and Train- in Glamorgan was very impressive”. ing Manager, Enterprise-Rent-A-Car) (Andrew Foley, Recruitment Director (UK and Ireland) who delivered the session added that ‘for students run Meltwater News). Lesley Long (Busithe students who atby students’ ness in Excellence Protended the workshop gramme Leader) and learnt some valuable Ruth Morgan (Faculty skills that will prepare them for a competitive graduate job Careers Adviser), who devised the programme of activities are delightmarket. The seminar ‘Your Career in Business’ ed with the outcome of this event and included a panel of business experts extremely grateful to the employers from a diverse range of organisations who got involved and made it such and sectors including: Meltwater News, a success. Life Agency, Enterprise -Rent-A-Car and International Business Wales. In the true spirit of question time students were able to ask the panellists their own questions about opportunities available within these organisations, how to apply, and picked up useful tips on what employers look for in graduates. The employability programme concluded with the Apprentice Student Challenge – a task driven competition between teams of final year business ex-
4
HIRE EDUCATION
What’s the best part time job to get? Bar work? Retail? Promo? It’s hard to choose the job for you so Holly North asks the student’s of Cardiff the pro’s and con’s of their part time work. With lectures and student nights on weekdays there’s not a lot for students to do on the weekend, apart from watch Hollyoaks, so a part time job is ideal. Most companies and bars are crying out for new employee’s to work weekends so their full time staff can have a couple of days off. If you can afford to be fussy then you can take advice from these students to see what job will suit you best.
Agency
Agencies are student friendly and if you ever have a half hour to spare look outside the Millennium Stadium a couple of hours before a big gig/ rugby game/event and you’ll see floods of students wearing white or black shirts standing with all their different managers.
Vicky McCall
“ the hours I
work aren’t that sociable
”
Hannah Bone, 21, Glamorgan Atrium student has been working with her agency since February. With her agency she works on the bar or as a waitress and earns £5.75 an hour. She claims: “It’s easy work because you’re not given that much responsibility.” Agencies employ a lot of people: “you get to meet different people each time which is fun. However I do like working with the same people in a permanent job as you get to know each other and work better as a team.” With most agencies you have a nil hour contract, Hannah says: It’s really flexible, I get to choose when I work. It’s good to top up your account, really handy. “They’re not very reliable. I didn’t work Halloween when I was asked and haven’t been asked since. I feel like I have to ring them. I expected to work more this year. They employ too many people but sometimes not many people want to work and the agency ask if any of my friends are available. It doesn’t seem that well managed. It’s not a job I would rely on.”
Waitress Vicky McCall, 19, Glamorgan Atrium student works at a hotel who host weddings, functions and formal dinners.
it’s just like being a work with a good “piece “ I group of the puzzle. of people.” ” Hannah Bone
She is a silver service waitress and earns £10 an hour but unlike Hannah Bone she gets tips aswell. Becoming a silver service waitress involves some training but it’s worth it as it looks better than ‘waitress’ on a CV and you can earn more money as you serve at fancier functions. Think Jay Z and Beyonce at the Celtic Manor instead of the drunken Cardiff Uni Rugby boys at the Cardiff Union. “I’ve worked there for years and have developed a close connection with the management there. I’ve known them most of my life. My mum and my brother work there too. The hours are really flexible there. I can work as often as I want really and the shifts are only usually a couple of hours so it’s quite easy work.” Vicky explains why sticking at a job has its benefits: “Because I’ve worked there so long the management are really understanding if I don’t work as long as I give notice.” “The only problem working there was when I was younger. My friends all had daytime Saturday jobs and they’d be finishing work just as I was about to start. It wasn’t a big deal because I still got to go out but it would have been nice to take my time getting ready. It’s a great job but the hours that I work aren’t that sociable.”
Retail Working in a shop
Lloyd Halliday
is another route you can go down. Lloyd Halliday, 20, UWIC student has worked as a sales assistant for two years in his store. He earns £6.01 an hour but also gets more pay on a Sunday and discount. Getting money off products in a shop is great when you work in a fragrance shop and get discounted Coco Chanel, not so good when you work in a pet store. Well perhaps it is if you have a lot of guinea pigs. It’s worth going for a job when you’re interested in the store though as it saves reading up on product knowledge and it makes you a better sales person and you tend to enjoy the job more. Lloyd works mainly on tills and replenishes stock in his store: “It’s good working in a team. I like it when you make a customer happy because if the customer’s happy, you’re happy. I get incentives if I perform well and sometimes I get free samples and highly discounted
goods.” Again this is good if you work in a store that you actually shop in. “I work with a good group of people, I’m meant to be going out with them all this weekend actually. It’s very well managed because my manager is organised.” “You get some rude customers sometimes but the nice ones make up for it. The shifts I do are quite long and I don’t get paid for the breaks I work. You have to work a lot over Christmas time in a retail job which is a bit annoying but then again it doesn’t get in the way of my uni work.” Lloyd also acknowledges the benefits to sticking at a job: “I think my job is secure there as I have been there for such a long time. The manager makes my role within the store clear so I know where I stand.” There are other routes you can go down such as promotion work where you get paid a lot of money for short shifts. My friend got paid £10 an hour to dress up in a leek outfit! Getting a job in a pub or bar independently without the help of agencies is another option. Pubs have better hours as you don’t have to stay till 4am picking up alcopop bottles from the floor. Usually. In this current economical crisis, having any job is an achievement so don’t decline a job offer for petty reasons such as interferring with your £1 a pint at the Woody tradition. Jobs are usually advertised in store/ bar windows so keep your eyes peeled. Or you could sign up to a job agency such as Cardiffjobs.co.uk or Jobcentreplus.gov.uk and you can get sent updates when jobs matching your criteria become available. If however you like the taste of baked beans and cous cous then enjoy the student life you are currently living in. All photo’s by Holly North
National Minimum Wage How much must you be paid? The NMW is currently set at £5.52 per hour for workers aged 22 and over. For workers aged 18 to 21 inclusive the minimum wage is £4.60.
5
Photo by Glamlife
HIRE EDUCATION
A bog standard job
Michelle Davies writes about working part-time while being a student.
A
s I’m sure you can relate to, I got to a point last term when I desperately needed to supplement my income. My second overdraft was being extended monthly and the first had been maxed out since fresher’s week. With this in mind, it seemed to be time for picking up a part-time job to supply my beer money (and food and study essentials if you’re reading this, Mum.) I started by looking at and applying for the classic student jobs: bar work, shop assistant, library up-keeper… with no luck. I moved on to the slightly more obscure as I became more desperate for cash: dog walker, sales cold caller, hot dog seller. Again, no success. I spent months applying for more and more jobs and handing in CVs “just in case anything does come up”. To no avail. Then I came across a job advertised on one of the more obscure Cardiff recruitment websites. One that also serves to list vacancies for pretty (or just young) ladies offering their services to well-off older gents (perverts) for £50 an hour. So as you can imagine I did not have high hopes. “Easy money, I thought.” The job I had found, although not the most desirable, was offering successful applicants £10 an hour to work a four hour shift in a nightclub. Late in the evening, three times a week, minimum effort, maximum wages, happy days. I was extremely doubtful, however, about what the job entailed. After a phone call from my would-be manager, I was talking the position over with a friend. He reasoned out the pros and cons of the job with me. He pointed out that on £120 a week I would have paid off my rent after two weeks of work: I was sold. I phoned up and accepted the job. Ready to start that Saturday, Valentine’s Day. What could be more romantic than spending the evening in the company of five to six hundred drunken rugby fans
Six weeks down the line and I’ve worked enough disgusting shifts to fill all our nightmares. But far from running to the Job Centre, I’m actually enjoying the drama that the ladies’ loos offer. I’m (after having been roped into spending the first to know whose boyfriend has the day watching the match myself)? shagged who. Which girl’s fallen out So, at ten o’clock, I set off to my first with so-and-so’s friend. Who kissed who shift, leaving the boyfriend happily hic- and why. cupping the night away alone. I also didn’t realise I had quite such a I suppose I should say what exactly I strong stomach. Although mostly horriwas letting myself in for. When I rang fying, the few incidents I have seen have home to tell my father (who’d been nag- really been quite funny. Not for the toilet ging me since my first day at uni to get a users, unfortunately, but definitely for job) that I was finally starting one, I might me. have glamorised the job title a bit… I I’m not really sure how much I should told him I was going to be a ‘Water Clos- say but I’ll spill all anyway. I didn’t sign et Monitoring Executive’ in charge of any sort of confidentiality forms so we Health and Safety, general maintenance should be alright. I apologise now if you and overall monitoring of the nightclub’s are the girl that slept for half an hour befacilities. If you haven’t guessed by now fore we discovered you cosy as anything, that means I was starting my first shift with your knickers around your ankles, as Tiger Tiger’s impossible to wake. toilet cleaner. She was perfectly Or ‘attendant’ upright, assuming I’m constantly told that as the job advert the peeing position, said. but fast asleep. It “I’m not paid enough” or My trial was took me, a manager that “you must hate your and a female mema quick walk around the club ber of security to job.” with the manconvince her that ager who taught the loos weren’t an me the gist of the job. If it’s empty, fill it ideal resting spot and could she please go up (toilet roll, soap, hand towels) and if home, now that we’d all seen her fanny! it’s spilt, clean it up (drinks, glass, sick, Another girl fell asleep after regurgitat**** (Bleeped out by Glamlife Editor), ing all that night’s alcohol into her own THE LOT.) lap and then slid all over the shop, like Not feeling the most thrilled about the Bambi on ice, when she tried to leave the prospect of what was to come over the cubicle. When we got the door open, she evening I anxiously asked questions was slumped in a pile on the floor, havabout my safety. What am I supplied ing covered herself and the four walls in with? Gloves? Protection? An antibac- vomit. I did have to clean all that up afterial body suit? What about confronta- ter she was removed from the club, but I tions and drug users? All this was pretty honestly think her night was worse. quickly covered and I was left with a If anything is an advert against the walkie-talkie to brave the unique envi- ‘binge drinking’ culture it’s my job. ronment that is the ladies’ loos. The amount of girls convinced by eight My first shift was uneventful, bor- Smirnoff Ice that their voice is just as ing even. I didn’t take a book and the good as Duffy’s or Celine’s is unbelievnightclub was quiet for a match day, so able and annoying. I learnt early on that I spent my time wiping and re-wiping an iPod is essential if you don’t want to the already wiped sinks, walking up and hear constant calls of ‘(Insert girl’s name down, looking aimlessly into each cu- here) ARE YOOOOU IN HERE?’ or a bicle whilst humming away to myself. six girl rendition of Alanis Morissette’s Easy money, I thought. hit Isn’t it Ironic coming from the row of
right-hand cubicles. I’m constantly told that “I’m not paid enough” or that “you must hate your job.” I overheard one particularly huge woman with a front tooth missing and both her bra straps fallen down by her elbows tell her friend I should “get a f****n real job.” Stuck. Up. Cow. When one girl with a “Daddy-broughtme-a-pony” accent asked me once how much I got paid, I told her and the response was a delicate hand on my shoulder and an overly sincere look followed by “Well that’s good for you then.” A smug smile, and off she tottered in her high heels that I took some comfort in seeing a wayward square of loo roll hanging from. Stuck. Up. Cow. I’m undecided if the moments when I’m cleaning up another puke puddle or being patronised by a scary large drunken woman, breathing her vodka
breath all over me, is worth the £10 an hour I’m paid. But so far I haven’t been offered another job. It really is a struggle to get past the application stage anywhere else. Everything’s being snapped up quickly. Not having bar experience in Cardiff also means that the competition is pretty solid. My Dad blamed the credit crunch when I was starting to take the rejections personally, and then congratulated me on my new job by telling me that he was sure it will be a “pathway to greater things.” I’m hoping this is the case and, if anything, my job in the loos has inspired me to share my student job experience in this article. Also, it will potentially be paying my rent next academic year, so it can’t all be bad. I could always be working twice the hours somewhere else for half the money. Wearing out my soul for extra spends is doing me just fine for now. Maybe next year I’ll get a ‘real job.’
6
HIRE EDUCATION
HIRE EDUCATION visits... St. David’s 2 jobshop
Not many people know about the jobshop on the top floor of the new Cardiff Central Library, but Robin Winstone and his team are a free recruitment service who have helped employers fill their 4000 vacancies for the opening of stdavids2. Holly North talks to Robin Winstone about getting a job, John Lewis and St David’s 2.
About the jobshop
The jobshop’s key service is to “advise and guide” those wanting a job. Winstone claims they are different to the job centre as they “don’t care if you don’t have a job or how long it takes you to get one. We help you find a job you want and offer advice, guidance and training.” He believes a retail job is the best sort for a student and they are easy to get: “If you want a retail job and you can’t get one, you’re seriously doing something wrong.” He believes students should be flexible, especially in this current economical climate: “A lot of students are fussy about the hours they work and refuse weekend work. A lot of places are desperate for people.”
The best store in Wales?
J
ohn Lewis opened on the 24th December 2009 and by 8pm they had operated 12,000 transactions. The partnership arrived in Wales with aspirations of becoming the “best store in Wales” said store manager, Liz Mihell. The department store, which is the second biggest John Lewis in Cardiff, hit the news during the recruitment process as it came out there were more than 9000 applicants for only 780 jobs. The new partners had to undergo an intensive training course which took several weeks to improve their customer service, product information and health and safety tuition. Winstone shrugged off this ‘shocking’ news as he explained that supermarkets have a similar 1 to 10 ratio when they’re employing staff.
“unashamedly used John Lewis as a hook”
“It’s a leisure centre” The combined 1.4 million sq ft centre has helped Cardiff become a “leading European destination” says Lester Hampson, Development Director, St David’s Partnership. “The vision was one of a unique shopping, leisure, cultural and tourist destination created by the regeneration of the heart of the city centre.” Winstone claims: “It’s a leisure centre full of luxury shops and products. 25% of it is a food hall, 7 big jewellers and the rest are big high price stores. There’s no necessity shops in there.” A new Tesco and Sainsbury’s are to open on St Mary Street, a once high end shopping destination. Winstone: “I support the new Tesco and
on computers.” Despite the high amount of unsuccessful applications the store still seems to be doing well and have even got a ‘John Lewis wheel’ in Cardiff Winter Wonderland this year. Standing as tall as three double decker buses, the wheel boasts 24 heated, waterproof, enclosed gondolas that can accommodate up to 6 passengers on a 10 minute flight. From the top of the wheel passengers will be able to spot sights like Cardiff Castle, the Millennium Stadium and the department store itself. They are also set to be busier this Christmas time as they’ll be open for longer and have many events going on including a Father Christmas visiting the shop and a number of local choirs and bands in store to get shoppers in the festive mood.
He claimed: “in a local supermarket there are about 30 jobs and 300 applicants but that never makes the news.” Winstone admits that the jobshop to “unashamedly used John Lewis as a hook” when starting the jobshop. With all of their application done online Winstone thinks that some companies exclude those who aren’t computer literate and provides training for those who need the help: “we are still training people how to switch
Sainsburies being built on St Mary Street, there’s no decent food outlets in that side of town.” The major new extension of St David’s shopping centre opened on 22nd October 2009 after three years in construction, unveiling over 50 new shops in a transformed city centre. All Photo’s by Holly North
7
HIRE EDUCATION
Win a month’s Work Experience Do you want to make your CV brilliant and stand out from the crowd in a competitive job market? Would you like to win a month’s work experience with Nickelodeon and fabulous other prizes including a learn to surf weekend in Cornwall? All you need to do is demonstrate
Run a fun and successful event as an individual or a team (of up to four) to raise money and awareness for the NSPCC’s Child’s Voice Appeal.
If you sign up before the 18 October 2009 you wil be entered into a prize to win a bespoke HIRED! hoodie courtesy of Flairmonkey.
Let your imagination run wild you could see how many students fit in a camper van or hold a come as your
Registration closes the 18 February 2010.
More than 1500 applicants attended information evenings in October for Camp America this year but what exactly is this summer placement? It’s a chance to do something different with your summer and spend it in the U.S.A. living & working either with children or ‘behind the scenes’ as support staff on an American Summer Camp. Each year over 7,500 young people take the opportunity...will you be one of them? Camp America say: Ok some people say we’re getting on a bit, but we say we have life experience. We’ve spent the last 40 years in the business of sending young people over the big pond for a summer of fun, sun, kids and camp - so trust us …we know a thing or two about this - we’ve been doing it a long time! Many of our office staff and interviewers have been to camp themselves and loved it so much, they ended up working for the company helping spread the love! We pride ourselves on staying ahead of the pack - our most recent initiatives include a brand spanking new on-line application system which allows over 900 camps access to your application 24/7 and we introduced a groundbreaking system of basing the after camp payment you get on the skills and experience you have. The Camp America programme is designed to give you the best of both worlds - work and play. Following your camp/resort placement you’ll have up to 2 months to explore the USA and enjoy all the fun, excitement and adventure there is to discover there. We pride ourselves on the fantastic level of service we give you from the
Photo by Dean Schmidt
Camp America is an opportunity you shouldn’t miss! You leave on a jet plane, you spend the summer at camp, you travel a bit, you’re happy.
mate party.
creativity and business skills.
Dean, Camp America hopeful
moment you apply, we’re with you every step of the way to ensure that you have the best possible summer at camp. To secure your placement at a US summer camp or resort for summer 2010 here’s what you need to do... You complete our online application, pay your first deposit & meet with one of our interviewers. They’re nice people who know lots about camp (many have been to camp themselves). Your application gets posted on our on-line matching system, and is available to be seen by over 900 camps in the US! We find you a placement - you say “hurrah!”. We tell you where you’re going and provide you the assistance you need in obtaining the J-1 visa, and take all the hassle out of arranging the boring stuff like flights & medical i n sur-
ance. You leave on a jet plane, you spend the summer at camp, you travel a bit, you’re happy. Job done!
ing part in the scheme as a Counsellor which means I would be working with children every day, helping to enhance their experiences of the summer camp. I am sure this experience will be positive for me and help make me more independent. I recently had an interview as part of the application process, which went well, my interviewer explained to me all the different possible types of camps I could be placed on, as well as explaining what duties I would be expected to undertake on a daily basis. I was told I can expect to hear from them sometime soon regarding my application and whether I will be taken on.” Camp America: “It was a great pleasure in presenting the information evenings as it was certainly a great pleasure to have you there! Sadly we have come to the end our Information Evenings for 2009/10! If you have missed out on the information evenings and would like to
know more about Camp America please browse our website.
Dean Schmidt, 20, Glamorgan student: “I applied to Camp America because it is an amazing opportunity for If you have any specific enquiries me to broaden my horizons by spending send us an email at enquiries@campathe Summer in America. I hope to be tak- merica.co.uk”
Attention all drama and voice students! The University of Glamorgan is joining iTunes U to distribute digital resources across the world, and welcomes ATRiuM & RWCMD, which is also contributing content for this venture. We are holding auditions for voiceover artists for the A/V content, to provide audio introductions and additional commentary as required. From this, we intend to create a bank of voice-over artists upon whom we can call initially for the launch resources, and ongoing as new content is developed. We are offering 12p/h and the first batch of recordings will be held at Glamorgan’s Treforest campus in mid-December. Auditions are being held at ATRiuM on Friday, 4 December from 10am to 4.30pm. Note: these are open to drama and voice students from the University of Glamorgan and RWCMD only. Please come along to room CA413 to register. Overall, the registration and audition recording should take about 20-30 minutes. If you would like to pre-book a time (and to receive an advance copy of the audition scripts), please contact Nicola Sutton, LCSS Publishing Assistant, by e-mail: nlsutton@glam.ac.uk f you don’t book a time, you can just drop in and take your turn as a space arises. Audition: Friday 4th December 10am -
Discover the wide range of career choices in the NHS
Join the team On Wednesday 18th November 2009 there will be a presentation which will explore the broad range of career opportunities that exist with one of the largest employers in the UK. The presentation will be given by a representative from the new Dewi Sant Trust. The session will explore the range of careers including management in the NHS, sport therapy, healthcare science, accountancy, technical services and Allied Health careers. The session will also help you explore where you can find out about opportunities in the NHS and give you top tips on how to apply for jobs. This is the chance for you to ask the questions about a career in the health sector and to get answers from an expert with considerable experience of working in the NHS. The presentation will be held in the Aneurin Bevan Building (Room GT7121) on the Glyntaff campus from 1–2pm.
Are you a Science, Engineering or Architecture student? The International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience are looking for highly motivated undergraduates, normally resident in the UK and in their 2nd year and above, to undertake a period of work experience of between 6-12 weeks next summer. Placements will involve real work on industry projects or research related to your studies. You will receive a salary to cover your living costs, accommodation will be arranged for you, a summer social programme and local support will be provided and assistance given should you need a visa or work permit. Register your Interest by visiting www.iaeste.org.uk The deadline for registration is 19th December.
Out now...