STUDENT STYLE For Students By Students
Welcome! I bet you’re all as terrified as I am about going into your final year of university… We know all too well how fast the time goes and before we know it we’ll be interviewing for proper grown up real life jobs! So, here at My Student Style we thought we’d put together a little booklet filled with wisdom to help get everyone through the best, yet most terrifying year of university! Obviously, third year cant all be doom and gloom, theres got to be some time for partying somewhere, so we have advice on all aspects of your last university year from our experienced writers. Some who are about to embark on third year, some who have been there and done it having just graduated and others who know so much about this kind of thing it’d be silly not to take note of their wise words! With a few little treats along the way, I do hope you enjoy the booklet and fingers crossed it’ll help calm those dissertation jitters! Yours,
Beth x
Contents... 4. How to get yourself back into a routine 5. How to cope with your stress levels 6. Balancing your work and social life 8. How to keep on track with your workload 9. Revision tips 10. Perfecting that dissertation 11. How to keep on track with your workload PT 2.. 12. How to survive your University exams 14. Haven’t got the grades you wanted? It’s not the end of the world 15. Tips for getting work experience placements 16. How to increase your chance of being employed after university 17. Moving back in with parents after graduating 18. Applying for Jobs after graduation 19. What exactly employers are looking for 20. How to get an Internship 21. How to spend your last holiday as an undergraduate
How to Get yourself Back into a Routine... Summer kind of sucks. Sure, it’s great to be home and see your loved ones and friends, but in reality it’s three (and in my case, four) months away from your university family and actually having to get up before 11am. So how are we expected to go from not leaving our onesies for days on end, to actually having to get up, attend lectures and learn when we can’t even remember how to hold a pen! Let’s face it, third year is sort of a big deal. So we have to get our head in the game pretty fast.
Take it steady - We all know that when we tell ourselves that going into we’re going to ‘work extra hard’ and ‘keep our heads down all year and hardly ever go out.’ that we’re fooling ourselves! Like I said earlier, you haven’t seen your Uni family for months on end now! You have a whole load of gossip to be catching up on. Now, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t knuckle down this year or give yourself goals, I’m just saying that you should take it slow at first. Have a little fun getting back into the swing of things. After all, this is the last time you’ll be able to do it. Start reading again - If you’re anything like me, you’d have gotten any work set over summer done straight away so you could enjoy that little bit of sun we had and not picked up a book since. Reading course books is a great way to get you thinking again and will also jog your memory back to that essay you did in around January last year. This will really help you, and although it’s probably not on the top of your list of things to do, it will help with any work coming up to and also get your head back into University mode.
Get some early nights - Yes, okay, early nights can be pretty boring and all the fun happens after midnight. BUT, those extra hours will mean the world when youíre having to scramble out of bed at 8am to make the 9 o’clock lecture. Instead of going out and suffering the next day, why not just have a night in with the flatmates youíve missed so much? Sometimes, a movie night with treats and gossip is much better than waking up not being able to remember a thing with a banging head. Set yourself deadlines - Oh, look. It’s your first day back and you’ve already been set a whole load of work to be completed in the next week. My advice is to set yourself deadlines. That way you won’t panic and rush it all or leave it to the last day, and feel that miniature heart attack coming along as you race against the clock. If you give yourself deadlines then you can take your work at a steady pace, as well as be able to enjoy your first few days back. Enjoy yourself - Like I said earlier, this is the last time you will start a new year at university. And it will be hard. We all say we know what to expect, but we don’t really. So take it slow, even out your time between work and play, and this year will without a doubt be your best. Yours,
Jessica x
How to cope with Your stress Levels... Whether you’ve got an exam coming up or you’re running behind with the rent this week, I think it’s fair to say we all get stressed from time to time. So what do you do to cope with stress? Be organised - Prioritise. Keep a diary, that way you’ll never miss a deadline. Make a to-do list every morning with only the most important items listed; this way you’ll acquire a sense of accomplishment once all tasks are completed and can start planning your free time.
Talk to someone - You know what they say, a problem shared is a problem halved and it is. Once you’ve gotten everything off your chest, youíll feel much better and could also gain some great advice. By keeping everything to yourself, not only are you adding unnecessary pressure onto yourself, the tension will also increase and will all come out when you least expect. This could mean an angry outburst or randomly bursting into tears.
Exercise - Either go to the gym and release all that negativity that’s been building up or take part in a sport you enjoy. Alternatively, go for a jog around the block and watch the negative energy be replaced by optimism. You can do it.
Make sure you eat on time - Overeating or under-eating never helped anyone. The most important thing is to ensure you stay in a proper routine: having breakfast, lunch and dinner and not comfort eating. Although it may sound tempting you’ll find it much more helpful if you decide to stay healthy.
Set yourself goals - By setting yourself realistic goals, you will manage your time better, as you know what you are working towards, while also earning a sense of accomplishment when you’ve achieved them. (Plus, you’ll have a reason to celebrate!) Go out with friends - Sometimes all you need is to take your mind off things and relax a little. By taking some time out and distracting yourself for a while, you’ll return refreshed and will have enjoyed yourself in the process.
Meditation - You could also try meditation to keep calm and focus on your breathing to help you stay calm. Meditation is a tried and tested method, which has proven successful all over the world. Last but most definitely not least, stay positive and you’ll see the world in a much better way! Yours,
Humaira x
balancing Your work and social life As you enter your third year, there will be almost two certainties; more academic work and a heavily restricted social life. It is of prime importance both factors are balanced, as you may risk neglecting one or the other. Some people may say that academic work is more important than social life, however both factors are valuable to a person. For example, if a student works constantly, then they may neglect their friends. This may seem perfectly fine, but having little or no friends in an institution full of students, can be lonely. However if a student was to go out every single night and completely neglect their university work, then they’re at serious risk of not achieving a degree. There needs to be a happy medium between completing your work and meeting up with friends.
To drink or not to drink... There are dilemmas, where work is due the next day, and you already promised that friend we’d attend their party. So what do you do? Do you risk becoming a social outcast or do you risk your chance of attaining a first class degree? The key is moderation. Also a student needs to recognise priorities. During my time at university, I took it seriously and completely abandoned my social life; meaning I missed out on so many opportunities to make new friends and just generally have a great time. Even though I gained extremely good grades and attained a first class degree, I still regret not making the most of my time at university. All the events that occurred; all the laughs and conversations that happened, I wasn’t there for and that will haunt me for the rest of my life. If you go to university and take out several loans adding up to thousands and thousands of pounds, you would definitely want to get the most out of your money wouldn’t you? Therefore I believe you shouldn’t neglect studies just to go out and have a good night.
With that said, if you have completed all your work, then by all means, enjoy yourself and have a good time. Do not forget that you are only young once, and you should take the time to enjoy these years. In conclusion, it is definitely possible to balance your work and social life. Although there may come a time where you have so much work on, time spent nurturing yourself and your relationships both revitalises you and fuels the value you add to the world. Yours,
Steven x
How to keep on track with the workLoad. One of the biggest differences between school and university is the workload. This of course increases each year you are studying and can overwhelm you before you’ve even noticed. And that’s just for one class. Staying on top of things can be a daunting task but it’s the minimum of what’s expected of you: Keep everything you need to know in one place - In order to keep on track the first thing you should consider is keeping a diary. At the very start of the term you can fill in everything you need to remember – your syllabus, timetable and deadlines – as they are made available to you. This way you have an at-a-glance note of the important things and how they relate to each other, allowing you to plan when to start a piece of work and how long you need to do it. Plan your time effectively and to suit your style of study - It is also important to plan your time on a day-to-day and weekly basis. Are you the kind of person who studies gradually throughout the semester…say, an hour in the evening to recap the day’s work? Or do you prefer taking a day at the end of the week to look over everything? There is of course a third option here which is cramming for 3 weeks before your exams. This is also very common and in most cases effective. Whatever you do make sure you don’t slack in doing it. Remember, university is one of your main priorities at the moment and to fall behind could get you put out on your ear after working so hard to get in.
Put aside time for recreational pursuits - The weekend is always going to present you with the dilemma: should I stay at home and study, letting myself get more stressed out and missing out on a good time with my friends, or should I go out and potentially let myself fall behind in my work? If you’ve done everything you’d planned to during the week, the weekend is effectively yours to do with as you please. Many students find it pays off to treat university like it’s a nine-to-five job, where breaks between lectures aren’t for Nando’s, shopping and napping, but for libraries, essays and productivity. A 5 minute break to pick up a Starbucks is allowed. Don’t procrastinate - If you have time to start a project or an essay right now but you’re in the exciting tempest that is a Facebook debate or a thrilling game of Call of Duty with your friends, you know what the right thing to do is. Even taking an hour to plan your project or essay takes some of the stress off as you actually do it, and we all know that just opening and naming a blank document is enough to merit a tea break. In short there is no excuse for falling behind with your university work. You signed up for it and it’s your responsibility. There are of course cases where students have part time jobs or even children to take care of as they study and sometimes your personal life gets in the way. Your university has people you can talk to if you feel you are truly struggling to keep your head above water; apply for extensions, visit a student counsellor and try not to drown. Yours,
Samamtha x
Revision Tips It is really crucial that you find what motivates you, if you already know, that is great, if you don’t, spend a little time figuring out, what makes you want to succeed. As this is important in setting the foundation for you to be able to revise effectively.
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Timetable & Goals Create a timetable for the week, specifying which topics you want to be revising on each of the days, and how long you want to spend on them. The best time to retain information is in blocks of 20 mins, so it might be worth splitting your day with a number of 20 min revision sessions. This is important as it will give you an idea as to what exactly you need to revise for the day and week, and will give you a sense of direction and keep you on track. Getting organized Once you have made your timetable and goal plan, it is really important to have a fixed place for studying. Make sure it is a space where you are able to study effectively, away from distractions and ensure that all your stationary, books, files, notes are in one place and right by your fingertips. Avoid any disruption, as it is most likely to throw you off your revision patterns. Positive thoughts In order to go about your day, it is always nice and healthy to keep positive, changing those more negative thoughts into ‘I can do’, ‘I will achieve’, ‘ I am successful’, substituting the negative with positive words really increases the levels of endorphins our body releases, making us a lot more happier. Happy & positive thinking = greater productivity levels = effective revision. Experimenting with learning styles Everyone has their own learning styles, some learn best through visual aids, others are better at listening and retaining, others are better at speaking through what they learn and many are great at reading and comprehending. It is important that you know which works best for you and adapt your style according to the subjects. Note taking If you can master notetaking it will make revision that much easier. Note taking is all about reading through and condensing information, to include the most important points, and building links; aiding memory. Practice on notes, reading through paragraphs and forming bullet points of the relevant information. Also include visual aids like spider diagrams to contextualise the long paragraphs. Don’t forget to take it easy, as long as you are focused, positive and keeping on track of your revision, exams will be a walk in the park... Good Luck! Yours,
Ayisha x
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Perfecting that dissertation Some students are dreading this moment, others have it sussed out. But how do we make that portfolio stand out? Originality – Try to choose an original topic. No one is going to expect you to perform ground breaking research (in fact, if it’s too original you may struggle to research the topic), but covering well-trodden areas may render your work unimpressive and ultimately affect your grade. Even if the subject is fairly well covered, try to think of ways, or a new angle that pulls your dissertation apart from the pack. Be critical and unbiased – This is an academic piece of work, so any opinion or assertion must be well justified. Question every point that your research suggests, ask yourself if your points are logical and backed by evidence, and present as many angles to the subject as you can. Expanding upon presented points, or even arguing with sources that you cite, will show a great deal of consideration and effort on your part. Coherence – The style of your work will probably differ by subject and course, but one universal trait is that you have to be coherent. Stay on task and make sure the information you are presenting has relevance to your chosen subject/question (it is surprisingly easy to go off topic). Additionally, form cogent points, describing the information and how it relates to your question – there is no use presenting a statistic or revelation if it has no bearing on the subject and the person marking your work doesn’t know what it means. Negative research - It is not always a failure just because an answer comes back negative, or different to what you expected, doesn’t mean that it’s useless. You shouldnít go into a dissertation hoping to reach a certain conclusion. Finding out that your hypotheses are incorrect does not equate to failure.
Primary research - Primary research is a great way to boost your marks. It’s not always easy to achieve, but there are some versatile and simple means, such as: questionnaires, surveys and even interviews if you can find someone who specialises in your chosen subject (maybe another tutor from your university will fit the bill, or help you find someone who does). References - Your information needs to be sourced via the relevant system (Harvard for example). Do this as you progress, so you donít have to worry about going back to find sources again later. Book references are preferred to online ones. Be prepared - This may sound a little trite, but it’s probably the most important point. If you are prepared you will have your subject chosen, a general idea of the areas you want to cover (maybe even some preliminary research completed), and will avoid all manner of stress. Tutors are there to help - Finally, if you are in doubt, or need help, then just ask. Your tutors are there to help you, and can steer you in the right direction, or even notify you of mistakes or areas for further development. Even if you think you are on the right lines, there is no harm in getting someone to read it through. Yours,
John x
How to keep on track with your workload (PT 2) Summer is drawing to a close, days are getting shorter and shorter and your final year of University is drawing ever nearer. This can mean only one thing, dissertation/final project. Most Universities will have had you mulling over this for the past few months and hopefully over the summer break you’ve had the chance to read through any dissertation material to help you with along your project. So hopefully you will have a firm idea in place of what you want to do ready to start back. Firstly you need to make sure you are fully prepared for going back.
Note down your initial ideas creating an in-depth mind map -
Break down your dissertation into sections, making sure to include everything you will need to do and keep it relevant. For each subsection that you include, make sure it is broken down into bullet points including what information is needed and how you are going to gather this information.
Allocate a percentage of your word count to each topic -
This is useful for assessing how much work you will have to do for each section.
Schedule and prioritise -
Buy a diary - this is essential! This will be your new best friend and will not leave your side for the year. Note - Do not lose, let the dog eat, leave on the bus or leave in the pub. Break your workload down into manageable weekly chunks. This way, you do not become overwhelmed or stressed, and make sure to schedule in some social time. You do not want your dissertation to take over your life, or you will become sick of it even quicker.
Stick to the weekly schedule -
Overestimate how long it will take you complete anything, as this way if you fall behind at all, you will in reality, still be on schedule. Universities also offer extra help throughout the year in the form of study skills sessions. I would advise attending these to help you keep on track.
Proof read everything -
Ideally proof read as you go along, section by section. If possible get someone else to read it through, as the last thing you want is spelling mistakes losing you marks. Yours,
Amy x
How To Survive Your University Exams Exams are stressful for everyone and unfortunately, it’s just a fact of life that at some point, we’re all going to have to sit one. I have to be honest, finding the perfect way to revise for exams can be quite elusive, to the point where you’re ready to tear your hair out, reach for the nearest bottle of the supermarkets own brand vodka and drown your sorrows watching endless YouTube videos of cats playing instruments. Whilst this method has worked particularly well for myself in the past, there are other ways of making it through exam period without damaging your liver or getting scratched alive after trying to get the neighbourhood cats to star in your own online video. As a student who had never revised before coming to university, I thought I could share my own advice on how I managed to survive and pass those exams. 1. Just because it’s exam time, it doesn’t mean that you are under house arrest! I’ve found that still having the odd night out here and there in the build up to exams helps you to relax and stops you hibernating under a mountain of revision; sitting in your room 24 hours a day is not healthy.
4. Try and find some past papers. More often than not lecturers themselves will provide you with these as they want to help you as much as possible. I’ve never actually completed a past paper but just getting an idea of the questions and how they are worded can be a massive help.
2. A lot of people find it easy to make revision timetables and in the past I have tried this myself, but sticking to one is harder than you’d think. If you have a rigid timetable you’re less likely to follow it and you’ll just end up procrastinating. So if you have more than one exam in different subjects, have a think about which one you need to revise the most for and start with that. You can spend a whole day on it or just a few hours, alternating between revising your different topics to break it up a bit.
5. Plan something to look forward to after exams. It can be a messy night out or even slogging out on the sofa all day whilst inhaling a couple of tubs of Ben & Jerry’s. Whatever it is it will help you get out of your exam depression and realise there is life outside of revision.
3. It can feel like your head is going explode with all the knowledge you have to store in there. I’ve found that buying cheap bits of coloured card (can be A4 size or cue cards if your writing is microscopic) is a big help. You can condense the important facts for the exam onto the card, using different colours for separate topics so if you want to revise just
It doesn’t matter how much we all moan and post endless ‘I’M GOING TO FAIL’ Facebook posts (yes I am guilty of that), we sum up the strength to move from our student pits, drag our endlessly hung-over bodies to the exam room and sit for a few hours answering questions that you feel have been made up to trick you. And remember, most exams aren’t worth 100% of your final grade so you can bring your marks up with your coursework. As long as you’ve tried your best then that’s all that matters! Yours,
Haven’t Got The Grades You Wanted? It’s Not The End Of The World In society today, we as students often feel pressured to get a first in everything we do. After all, with so many graduates out there already unable to get jobs, its understandable that many of us feel like beating ourselves up over a bad grade. However, they do not determine your life, trust me!
2.1 - Why not?
Getting a 2.1 instead of a first isn’t going to stop you from fulfilling your dreams. Getting a third doesn’t mean you are stupid. Everyone’s experiences are different. We all get different marks for different reasons. You may have been going through quite a traumatic time, you may have felt like quitting, you may have worked your ass off simply to not get the grade you dreamed of. Whatever the situation, not getting the grades you dreamed of is not the be all or end all. In today’s job market, it can be quite difficult to get a job. Employers are inundated with CVs from every university in the UK. So what makes you stand out from the crowd? A dreamy First? Nope!
Just a bit of old fashioned passion...
I’ve spoken to several interviewers and all have told me the same thing – having a First in no way guarantees you a job over someone else. Say someone with a First applies for the same job as someone with a Third or Second, many would assume that the applicant with the First would get the job. This is not the case. In interviews or internships, it is the applicant that shows the drive, the passion, the willingness to bend over backwards to get the job done that gets the job. If you have a First and go into an interview or internship thinking that you are the bees knees, above everyone else - you quite simply will not get the job because who wants to work with an obnoxious ass?
Grease up those elbows
So what can you do to make yourself stand out? Work out what you would like to do after University and just start doing it. Whether that means volunteering, shadowing or work experience, the options are out there. If you immerse yourself in the world you wish to be part of, it will show. Your understanding of the job will stand out more than someone with great grades but who is oblivious to what the work actually entails. Even if you have “truly messed-up” and your grades mean you can’t do what you initially planned, there are other avenues you get take. Not everyone who does your dream job took the university route. Lastly, don’t forget that you are only young. Most of you will be in your early twenties with the rest of your lives ahead of you. The world is a big place and things don’t always go to plan. Those who succeed are the ones who have faced these difficulties and continued anyway. Even the fact that you made it through three extra years of education will make you stand out from those who simply gave up and walked away. Yours,
Jenna x
Rebekah x
Tips for getting work experience placements. Separate CV’s -
If you’re looking for a part time job to see you through uni but you’re also looking for a graduate job, create a CV which outlines the skills which apply to that job. For example, if you’re applying for a part time bar job the employer doesn’t need details about the modules of your degree. At the same time, an employer at Sky, for example, won’t need to know how many part time jobs you’ve done (although it does make you look dedicated if you talk briefly about how you juggled a job on top of your degree). Tailor the skills and achievements on your CV to the description of the job/placement you are applying for.
Aim high -
If you don’t think you’re going to get that placement at that top organisation, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply for it anyway. The only way you can be accepted is if you actually apply for it. The whole point of work experience is: you can learn about the job that you are striving for. However, before you apply for your work experience placement, make sure you see a career advisor and talk through CV, cover letter and interview techniques to give you the maximum chance of getting the placement. Apply for as many as possible and document them. If you keep a diary of what placements you have applied for and when, you don’t have to keep a mental note of all of them. It would be very embarrassing to be offered an interview for a placement you forgot you even applied for. When you get the placement, keep another diary to document each day and set out goals, checking them as you go and assessing what you’ve learned. Reading this back later and keeping it to show to future employers will help a lot.
Get to know people -
Not only will it be useful to develop contacts for references, it also means that whomever you speak to will know your skills. Having a strong (and relevant) set of contacts will help you to make a good impression and it will show that you have people skills. Don’t be afraid of making phone calls. When e-mailing people regarding experience placements, a lot of applications will no doubt be drowned out in their inbox. Try to think of a unique way to approach employers to make sure that you get noticed. If you don’t have a LinkedIn profile yet, now would be a good time. It allows you to document everything you’ve done career wise. Think of it as a huge interactive CV. Anything that you have ever done which demonstrates your skills, stick it on there. Even little projects that you’ve done just as a hobby (or just things that inspire you) will build your profile and allow employers to see absolutely everything that you’re good at. After all, the first thing they do is ask you to attend an interview. If you have an interesting personality that they’ve already seen, you’ll have something to talk about so that no question goes unanswered. Yours,
Jennifer x
How to Increase Your Chances of Being Employed After University Your personal brand -
Without realising, each day you are developing the skills that employers need, the first step is to become AWARE of them so that you can present them in the best possible way in your CV, online applications and interviews. In academic, professional and even social environments we accumulate a range of skills- how can you best communicate these to an employer? Remember to think about what each question in an application is asking of you- are they looking for leadership skills? Self-development? Communication? Innovation? Key words such as ‘team’, ‘change’, ‘persuade’ or ‘create’ can help us to identify which group of skills the employer is looking for you to discuss.
That all important research -
It may sound like the simplest thing to do, but arm yourself with the facts to impress in your applications. Be sure of the specific role you are best suited for, rather than just the field you wish to enter and then develop a wealth of knowledge about that job. Websites such as www.prospects.ac.uk as well as your university’s career hub will help you to locate the key reading materials and even help you to narrow down your choices. Once you have decided upon a specific career path, think about the skills and keywords which have been repeated, and consider how best to develop them. Many university careers teams can help you to arrange a week’s shadowing or a period of work experience with a professional and have mentoring schemes.
Using your part time job -
For student it is often the case that finding a parttime job, perhaps in a bar, a shop or a restaurant, is necessary to manage our finances. However, don’t feel like you have to be stuck earning minimum wage and acquiring minimal skills. The majority of companies who employ students will have schemes, additional training and even opportunities for promotion available. Remember to ASK. Be it taking a leadership role, learning first aid or taking charge of a cashing up process, proving that you have progressed in a professional environment can only add to your CV and help you to impress prospective employers.
Don’t be just a member -
We all have our own individual interests and most universities provide the perfect platform to nourish them through teams and societies. However, as a prospective job candidate, what can you offer to prove that you have been more than just a member to your society? Most societies have roles ranging from president and social secretary, to treasurer and refresh their exec committees each year, use this as an opportunity to develop and evidence the skills which are particularly relevant to your prospective career. Even the process of running for a committee position within your society could provide you with an interesting experience to discuss with employers. So are you interested in organisation? Finance? Management? Are there volunteering opportunities or is there a project which you could launch on behalf of your society? Don’t just sit there thinking ‘I could do that’, give it a go!
Moving back in with your parents after graduation University, the word epitomises freedom. In this day and age university isn’t always about furthering your career but building up your life experience and this involves moving away from the childhood home and becoming independent. So when you’re nearing the end of your degree and you’ve worked and played hard, the thought of moving back into the parental home may not bring back the same happy and loving feeling it used to have. Meet the parents As silly as it sounds it is better to start on a common ground and discuss your new living arrangement. Discuss having friends round, financial expectations and requirements you expect of each other. Remember you are not a child anymore. Consideration Remember it is their home too. If you are running late for dinner call and tell them. Don’t come in loudly when you are drunk and clean up your midnight snacks. The typical student is not always hygienic and clean. Your parental home will be a palace in comparison to your student accommodation. If you make a mess in the kitchen, you should clean it up. If you need to have a ‘floordrobe’ keep it in your own room.
Taking advantage Your parents are not your slaves. While they will always be there for you in a supportive sense they shouldn’t have to do things that you are fully capable of doing. As much as I love my personal wake up call in the morning followed by a cup of tea, as I get ready for work, I still occasionally treat them to one in the morning, its only fair. And finally, do your own laundry and ironing. These appliances are not mythical creatures they do exist! If you’re hunting for a job, don’t spend all day on the sofa/watching TV. It’ll only annoy and frustrate your parents. Maintain boundaries Either you or your parents may not be used to living with each other again so it may take some time to understand each other. The parent-child role may suddenly arise. By letting them know that after work would be me time for an hour they have learned to not bother me. If they raise their voice to you like when you were younger, tell them. You are all adults and you deserve to be treated like one.
Yours,
Yours,
Catherine x
Lucy x
Applying for Jobs After Graduation The job application process can be a daunting one. You are no longer safe within the confines of university, and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of freedom that has been thrust upon you. Fear not, however, as with a few simple steps the procedure can be become a simpler and more enjoyable experience with minimal stress. First impression It is important to remember that your CV and cover letter are your only chance to grab an employer’s attention. Indeed, when you are applying for any job, you must ensure that these are adapted and suited specifically to each position you are applying for. Generic applications are seldom considered because they suggest a lack of interest, dedication or commitment to the application process, and consequently imply a lack of such qualities in your ability to perform the role for which you are applying. Now ensure that you have thoroughly researched the job position and the company so that you can demonstrate why you would be the perfect candidate for that specific role. Show commitment, dedication and desire through the thoroughness of your research. It is an easy way to ensure that you stand out and impress your potential employers. Do ask yourself if you meet the criteria? Do not waste time applying for jobs that ask for something that you know you don’t have. Let’s talk skills It is important to previous work, the skills you have developed during past placements, and how these are transferrable. Do use specific examples. For example, talk about how a particular job which required you to be on your feet all day instilled in you a sense of commitment, stamina and the necessity to maintain a consistent positive work ethic.
Be realistic You can’t start at the top and begin your dream job having just tumbled out of university. It may be necessary to apply for ‘filler’ jobs - something that may be easier to obtain that pays the bills and points you in the right direction of your dream, or simply fills the time and allows you to gain more experience while you figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life. Finally, it is crucial to maintain a positive, ‘can do’ attitude. In the current job climate competition is at its highest and it is thus not surprising that many recent graduates are receiving numerous rejections (or not being contacted at all after their application). Indeed, it is completely normal to apply for a large number of jobs and to receive little in the way of immediate response or acceptance. Do not allow yourself to be dejected by this (almost inevitable) course of events. Persist, hone your skills, have faith in yourself and your abilities and the rest will follow. Yours,
Imogen x
What Exactly Employers Are Looking For... Before you even start applying for jobs there are few things you can do to help yourself get the job you want at the end of your degree. First of all, even though it has been said elsewhere - volunteer in the field of work that you want to eventually be in. And the second thing you need to do is get a part-time job anywhere – bar, McDonalds, ....ANYTHING you can put on your CV. Both activities show different strengths. You need to show some basic abilities (that everyone else you are competing with needs to demonstrate too) just to get you in the ‘maybe’ pile of CVs. You absolutely MUST be punctual, well groomed (no studs, visible tattoos, dirty fingernails, clothes or hair – you aren’t working for me to ‘express yourself’), completely RELIABLE (remember when you had ‘flu’ and didn’t come in for work because you really had a hangover – well, guess what, to employers that is the ‘dog ate my homework’ excuse and you didn’t fool anyone. As a matter of fact DON’T drink or do drugs the night before work – your greasy and green visage will let your employers know what you were up to and no-one appreciates someone working at half par or breathing stale alcohol on customers.) Ok now you’ve shown you’ve got a track record of volunteering and basic work skills. That will at least get you a bit of somewhere being noticed by employers in your chosen field. Now the absolutely VITAL phrase I am looking for in a CV is - USES OWN INITIATIVE. To be very honest most entry level jobs even in ‘prestigious’ degrees like law could be done by a trained monkey.
But the seam of GOLD is to find a young person who has common sense and the intelligence to see the bigger picture. Namely at the bottom of the rung you are there to enable the people above you to do their jobs well and efficiently, including in the public sector. Your section is a part of an entity that needs to put its best foot forward by either making money or fulfilling a vital function in society. So make sure when you are volunteering or flipping burgers in McDs you are always looking for that little bit more you can do - kid sick in the bathroom? Offer to clean it up before your supervisor even knows it happened. Standing in an empty museum room? Go round and pick up any litter, straighten chairs or whatever. NEVER, ever let the phrase ‘It’s not my job’ cross your mind. Ask if you can help, and be seen to go the extra mile. If you get this you will go far - people can always be trained and gain further skills in their chosen field, but having a mindset that is open, helpful and has your employers’ needs first and foremost in your sights is very, very hard to find and can’t be taught. I have had people work for me who didn’t even read the letters they were opening - how she ever filed anything is beyond me, nor did they tell me when equipment broke - how can we work without our tools functioning? And I know every bullshit excuse for not turning up to work - I’ve tried them myself once upon a time. But more important so does your employer now. And all this will be reflected in your reference. Don’t shoot yourself in the foot, put your best one forward instead. Yours,
Nancy x
How To Get An Internship An internship is a pre-professional work experience that provides students, recent graduates, and those seeking to change careers with an opportunity of careers experience in a particular field. Completing an internship gives candidates a great advantage when applying for graduate jobs. Internships are excellent ways to try something new, to gain “real-life” experience and to see if a particular career path is suited to you. Many universities have careers advice and help centres that students can visit when hoping to get intern guidance. Furthermore, there are many websites you can visit such as www.e4s.co.uk that show you available internships in the UK. 21-year-old, ex-fashion design student Navneet Virk from Leicester, is currently interning for the fashion label Prey Of London. I asked her a quick few questions about her internship:
How did you apply for your internship at Prey of London? I got recommended from my last internship, sent through my CV and had an interview.
What is it like interning at the fashion label? What do you do? It’s a lot of varied work when I am working and helping out on a collection. My manager and I go through the research, designing and the sending off to manufacturer – there’s a lot of “hands-on” experience. Also, compared to what I learned at university, it is a lot faster paced so you have to got to be ahead of the game and on your toes 24/7.
Would you recommend interning to others? Interning is the best way to get into the industry, you might not enjoy the first internship you do as much as you hoped, but you never know where and who it is going to lead you too. It’s a great way to network and actually find out what you want to do. So yes, I would definitely recommend it.
Any tips for people looking to intern? My advice is to work as hard as you can when interning and also make sure you are learning a lot from it. If you’re not getting anything out of it or don’t enjoy it, definitely leave and find something new. Life’s too short to be stuck doing something you don’t like! Lastly, and most importantly, don’t be shy! Interning is a great place to network and start building up your contacts. As you can see from Navneet’s experience as an intern, you truly get an eye-opening look into the industry, whatever your career field may be. They are great opportunities for many and excellent ways of gaining that vital experience. So what are you waiting for, apply for an intern today! Yours,
Leah x
How to spend your last holidays as an undergraduate The time has finally come for you to take the safety wheels off your bike and enter the real world. The world where you no longer get to sleep in till two o’clock in the morning and where the money for your next night will no longer be your number one priority. A world where converse are replaced by sensible, adult shoes and skinny jeans are replaced by pencil skirts and black trousers. However, until then you always have your last summer.
Work Experience -
Get a summer job -
Friends -
Trips -
There is no time like the present to bulk up that CV one last time before you start applying for the job you have spend three years preparing for. Soon your schedules will be different and keeping in contact will be very difficult. Therefore, have sleepovers, have midnight food-fests and enjoy the time you have together before meetings and life get in the way.
Family -
Family time is important, they are the people who will support you until you get your first break so take some time out of your day and spend it with them.
Learn a new skill -
Always wanted to ice-skate, play the guitar? Why not learn during the summer, after all who wants to live with regrets?
Summer jobs are a great opportunity to meet new people, earn some money and slowly begin to gain independence before graduating. You can never have enough trips. Visit a theme park, visit a zoo, use the money from your summer job to make some amazing memories with your friends and family.
Don’t worry -
Don’t ponder about the future, wondering how you’re going to get your dream job, don’t worry about being rejected by companies. You’ve worked hard for three year. Enjoy the time you have free while you can and work harder later. Yours,
Amy B x
Thankyou.. To all who took the time to help us out and get involved in this handbook, you can find the whole team at mystudentstyle.co.uk. A massive thanks to our faithful companies and brands we have worked with who invested in this project too. If you are interested in up to date stories to do with the news, music, fashion, and all things student, then don’t hesitate to head over to our website. If you think you could become a valuable member of our team, or have some new, creative ideas‌ Why not write for us? Failing that you can like our FaceBook page, or tweet us @MyStudentStyle.
Meet the team..
Editor - Beth Henderson - @b_henderson1992 Sub Editor - Adam Ward - @wardyboy82 Graphic Designer - Stephanie Edger - @stephedger Guest Writer - Nancy Jaeger - @myselfhelpspace Contributors -
Jessica Sephton - @jessephton94 Humaira Iqbal - @humaira03299190 Steven Flora - @stevenflora1994 Samantha Hannah - @sammycinematic Amy York - @skull_amy Ayisha Hameed - @ayishashameed John Little - @johnlittle29 Jenna Healy - @jennahealy19 Rebekah Chaplin - @bkknc Jennifer Hewitt - @pleasecallmejen Catherine Hogan - @catherinejhogan Lucy McLane - @lucy_mclane Imogen Wenner - @ImogenWenner Leah Goodwin - @leahrosegoodwin Amy Bruce - @amybruceee