Good2Go! - Issue 4 by Let's Go! Publishing Ltd

My independence starts here...

A level+ Independenceâ&#x20AC;Ś Choiceâ&#x20AC;Ś City Centre Campus

Call 0800 035 5885 or visit www.liv-coll.ac.uk

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Well, where does the time go? One minute we’re planning Christmas gifts and New Year celebrations and the next we’ve got Easter, exams and school proms lurking on the horizon. The good news is there is still plenty of time to get your house in order and ensure the best possible outcomes and NOW is always the best time to start. Inside we have interviews with local band Bird and Liverpool Acoustic Songwriter Winner Vanessa Murray. We also have advice on Facebook safety, the benefits of work experience and how to impress potential employers. We have our usual apprenticeship updates and also fun ideas on keeping fit, managing your money and getting ready for Proms. Special thanks go to this issues’ student contributors, Kelsey Anthony (pg 22), Jonathan Stevens (pg 16) and Molly Newton (pg 14). Remember! We are looking for students of all ages to get involved as contributors to Good2Go! magazine. Please email with your suggestions or feedback to editor@letsgopublishing.co.uk. This is a good opportunity to obtain valuable work experience in the publishing industry and to see your work in print with full credits as a great addition to your CV or college application forms. We are genuinely interested in what you have to say and will work with you to make your article print ready. So be brave and get in touch today – we don’t bite! Next issue out April / May. Just in time for study leave. See you then!

Once again, we’d like to say hello and a big ‘thank you’ to our fantastic panel of contributors:

Kelsey Anthony

Jonathan Giblin

Molly Newton

Editor: Barry Bragg Publisher: Melissa Bragg Design & Production: Neil Rees for SunriseDP.co.uk Creative Assistant: Alex Ramsey Sales: Claire Jackson-Twist Published by Let’s Go! Publishing Limited.With kind thanks to our contributors. To advertise in future issues call (0151) 200 7422 or email advertising@letsgopublishing.co.uk. To contribute email editorial@ letsgopublishing.co.uk. © Copyright Let’s Go! Publishing Limited 2013. No part of this publication may be reproduced, either in part or as a whole, without prior written consent. All details are correct at time of publication.

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LABOUR PARTY HEAR STUDENT’S VIEWS

Brightside CLC opens doors T

he charity set up in memory of Wirral teenager Charlotte Churchill finally opened its doors last weekend. The official launch of Charlotte’s “Brightside CLC” was attended by 300 people on Saturday after months of painstaking preparation. Nineteen-year-old Charlotte died in April 2011 when the car in which she was travelling hit a tree. But her death inspired her family and close friends to raise thousands of pounds to create the charity designed especially for local youngsters. Former Coronation Street star Sally Lindsay and Olympic boxer Natasha Jonas were present to ensure the launch was a great success. Now Charlotte’s mum, Angie, and a team of volunteers are ready to get the Brightside Centre in New Brighton fully up and running. Angie said: “Saturday was an amazing day – it went much better than I had ever hoped it would. We had a steady flow of people through the doors all day and at one point it was completely packed. “There was some wonderful feedback from the kids and some of them seemed to love having somewhere to just sit and chat. To think how far we have come is incredible but there’s still work to do – we’re asking young people to come along and tell us what they want from us. There are plans to run dance classes and also set up a football team so please come along, see what you think and have fun.” The centre, in Molyneux Drive, features a recording studio, tuck shop, cafe area, table tennis and ‘chill-out’ areas with beanbags and a television. There is also a special mural to Charlotte, featuring her own catchphrases and funny sayings which is the focal point of Brightside. The centre is open on Monday nights from 6pm-8pm for eight to 11-year-olds and Tuesdays at the same time for 11 to 16-year-olds. Opening times will become more regular in the near future. For more information visit www.charlottesbrightsideclc.tk.

Birkenhead School One of BBC’s top schools Birkenhead School became the only Wirral school represented on the BBC’s list of the top 227 schools where more than 25% of students achieved at least grades AAB in ‘facilitating subjects’ – those needed for entrance to the competitive Russell Group universities. In fact, the school can be proud to have achieved a 29% rate of students reaching this threshold. Well done Birkenhead Schhool!

n October, student Bethany Eason from Bebington High Sports College was chosen to represent the NDCS (National Deaf Childrens Society ) and travel with Alison Mcgovern, MP for Wirral South to the Labour Party Conference to discuss her experiences as a young deaf person in the UK and what changes she felt needed to be made by the government. Bethany who is profoundly deaf with a cochlear implant, recently applied and was accepted onto the National Deaf Childrens Society’s Youth advisory Board. In July she attended her first residential in Birmingham and then after being picked from 45,000 deaf young people from the UK, she was chosen to represent the NDCS and put her point of view over at the Labour Party Conference. As well meeting various MP’s, Bethany was interviewed by Jon Snow from Channel 4 news and Adam Boulton from Sky news and was also chosen to write two articles for the Buzz website about party conference training, outlining her views. Furthermore in November, Bethany travelled to London for another residential and met up with other members of the NDCS where she was interviewed by BBC Scotland. She has also been chosen to meet up with TV actress Rachel Shenton (Hollyoaks) for an interview next week. Bethany’s aim is to ‘spread the word’ about young people and deafness and has stated that people like her will struggle in the future due to one in three councils cutting down services for deaf young people, which she feels should be stopped immediately. The young NDCS have started a petition called ‘Stolen Futures’ which needs to have over 100,000 signatures by May 2013, details of which can be found on their website www.ndcs.org.uk.

The Liverpool City Region Apprenticeship Awards will be held at St George’s Hall, Liverpool, on Tuesday, 12 March 2013.

Join over 500 guests at the first annual Liverpool City Region Apprenticeship Awards. The glittering ceremony in the majestic St George’s Hall will see the stars of tomorrow recognised today as well as applauding those employers who best support the region’s apprentices.

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ith the help of money from the Co-operative Community Fund, Tesco Community Fund and Wirral Farmers Market (plus a donation from ‘Brantano’ of twenty one pairs of ‘wellies!), Bebington High Sports College began phase 1 of the initial build of their new school farm. To engage the students with ethical and sustainable methods of food production in an urban environment, the Level 2 Btec Horticulture class have started to cultivate the land, recently planting 32 fruit trees (mixed apples, mixed pears, plum and cherries). Later in the year they plan to sell the farm produce such as vegetables, eggs, and even hanging baskets. The farm at the moment comprises of a potting shed, poly-tunnel and poultry enclosure housing six hens and eight chicks, which have been raised at the school. Phase 2 of the farm will begin shortly when pigs, goats, quail and ducks take up residence. Bebington High Sports College wants to offer students opportunities to learn outside of the classroom through extra-curricular and vocational pathways, developing life and employment skills whilst building on the cooperative values of selfresponsibility and sustainability. Therefore, from June students will be able to study Level 2 Btec in Animal Care and will be responsible for the care of the animals and the day to day running of the farm. In the future the farm aims to be open for visits from other schools, organisations and the local community.

New Bus Service for Wallasey, Heswall, Pensby and Irby Students From September, brand new Birkenhead Sixth Form College bus services will carry students from the Wallasey and Heswall, Pensby and Irby areas. These new services are being developed in recognition of the need to provide an economical, dedicated direct bus service to and from the college, cutting students’ expense and travel time. Due to a substantial College subsidy the new buses will cost students the equivalent of £50 per term, working out at less than 40p per journey. The new buses are in addition to a FREE shuttle bus service operating from Birkenhead Park and Hamilton Square each morning and supplement a range of Merseytravel school and bus services that already assist students travel to college. Kate Rigby, Assistant Principal said: ‘As one of only 92 dedicated 6th Form Colleges in the country we offer a unique service and receive a large number of applications from these areas. We want to ensure students are able to get to college easily and quickly and we expect the new bus services to be very popular.’ From July onwards bus passes can be purchases at the College’s New Student Conference (tasters days) and Reception. Final routes will be confirmed according to postcodes of students who wish to use the service. Students in the applicable areas can give their postcode and ‘reserve’ a place on the college services by emailing Karen Alcock ka@bsfc.ac.uk.

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Students invited to National Citizen Service Youth Federation in partnership with vInspired and the Dame Kelly Holmes Legacy Trust will be delivering NCS in summer and autumn across Wirral, Cheshire and Halton. If you are aged 16 - 17, National Citizen Service is a once in a lifetime experience; a Big Society initiative, supporting young people from all backgrounds to work together, take on new challenges, have fun and engage in their communities - making lifelong friends along the way. NCS Summer of a Lifetime & Experience of a Lifetime participants have one of the most motivational and rewarding experiences of their lives. The 5 stage programme is well structured to deliver meaningful results to individuals and the community and includes induction days, and adventure packed 5 day residential at Hill Climb Activities near Blackburn or Patterdale Hall, Cumbria. Teams will then familiarise themselves with their local community needs and devise and implement action plans to create a lasting difference to people’s lives. In recognition of your achievements you will be invited to attend a celebration and will be presented with certificates upon successful completion of the programme. Interested? Places for this year’s programme are filling up fast, so what are you waiting for, sign up now! www.ncsyes.co.uk.

My If you're leaving school or college this year and aren't sure of the next step â&#x20AC;&#x201C; take a look at the full-time courses available at Myerscough College's Liverpool centre at Croxteth Park. There's a unique range of Foundation Learning courses and two year advanced, A Level equivalent, Diplomas â&#x20AC;&#x201C; ideal for progression to university.

MORNINGS

EVERY MONTH

Saturdays: check website for dates

Animal Care - Arboriculture: Tree Surgeon - Equine Studies and Horse Care Football Coaching - Horticulture - Landscape Design - Sportsturf facebook.com/myerscoughcoll To receive a prospectus call

@myerscoughcoll

01995 642211or visit www.myerscough.ac.uk

MysuccessMyrewardsMyfutureMyambitionMycourseMyerscough Myerscough College, Croxteth Hall and Country Park, Croxteth Hall Lane, Liverpool L12 0HB 8 #Good2Go!

The benefits of

work experience A great way to add strength to your CV is work experience. Working for free forever isn’t sustainable, however working for free for a few weeks will add content to your CV and broaden your experience. Depending on the type of job, it will also help you practice the job application process and refine your cover letter writing.

ork experience provides many benefits, giving you skills and experience that will allow you stand out to potential employers as well as helping you make the right career choices. Having qualifications is a tremendous asset to help put you on the radar of potential employers but it’s not the only option. Work experience builds potential, developing practical skills that cannot be taught in the classroom as well as introducing contacts that you would otherwise never meet. A prospective employer will always look favourably on the effort taken by those who have done work experience. Below are a few examples of the ways you can benefit from undertaking work experience and work placements. Whether you’re doing a week-long stint or a year in industry you’ll be gaining skills that will make you far more employable.

Where do you start? Just like when writing a CV or cover letter, you need to sit down and think about what type of experience you want. Clarifying where you want to work will enable you to write a more effective email or letter. After targeting the company you can either phone and ask about work experience schemes or send an email with your CV and cover letter attached.

When’s a good time? Whenever you have some spare time. If you are in college you will have time off throughout the year so this is a great time to gain work experience. It’s also a good opportunity to find out what career is best for you. After you leave college you will be job hunting so building work experience is a great way to improve your chances of finding work. You may also find that a work experience role turns into full time employment so it’s definitely worth considering. Gaps in your CV are not ideal from the viewpoint of the prospective employer. So if you do find yourself between jobs you should use work experience placements to keep your CV current.

Differentiate yourself Work experience also helps you to differentiate yourself, an important thing to factor in when competition for jobs is so fierce. Work experience equips you with certain soft skills such as team working, communication skills and commercial awareness, all of which are sought after by employers, >

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especially at a graduate level. Young people need to have work ready skills from their first day, such as deadline management, phone and email etiquette and the ability to work well with a variety of ages in a team. Employers value competitive advantage and that’s what work experience gives you. If you take two people with equally good qualifications and personal attributes; one has gained work experience and the other has none, it is likely that the job will go to the person who has shown initiative and gained experience. There is anecdotal evidence that employers look more favourably on candidates who have gained a basic understanding of their business sector and know what it’s like to be in a work environment.

Enhance your application forms and interviews Work experience also equips you with knowledge that will enhance your job applications and particularly your interviews. Because you’ve gained a better understanding of the sector you want to go into, you’ll be able to talk more authoritatively and ask questions that resonate with the employer…

Road test a company/sector/role One of the great things about gaining work experience as a student is that it gives you the chance to try things out to see if they suit you. Want to find out what a company is actually like to work for, or what doing a certain job is like? Well work experience gives you the chance to experience this - for a week, a fortnight, a summer or even a year. It can crystallise your mind about career choices either confirming that you are making exactly the right choice, or change your mind. If the latter happens, you should view this positively as you can re-direct your energy into an area you find more stimulating.

your CV o t e lu a v adding Points for

The possibility of full-time job offers Some long-term internship can lead to full-time employment. A year long or vacation placement will look very impressive on your CV and, if you perform well, can lead to the offer of a full-time job after graduation. Many employers use their placement schemes as the first stage in the recruitment process.

Personal development But work experience isn’t just about impressing recruiters; it is also about personal development. Indeed, the skills - both soft and technically focused will help you start on the career development path. Skills you learn during work experience are the first steps towards ticking off competencies.

Should you impose time limits on work experience job placements? It’s a great idea to use work experience as a way of enhancing your CV. But doing it for too long could lead to: • Jeopardising your skills learnt at school • Making you unaware of current paid positions in your industry • Hindering your financial situation It’s important when building a CV to think about volunteering and maximising your experience but it’s crucial you use work experience when the time is right for you.

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Interested in

SCIENCE?

Looking for an alternative route to university? Take a look at

APPRENTICESHIPS for Laboratory & Science Technicians We also deliver Higher Level Apprenticeships in other subjects

Matthew Harrington, Advanced Level Apprenticeship for Science & Laboratory Technicians, Wirral Met College. Matthew was successfully recruited as an Apprentice by Intertek, Ellesmere Port. Matthew has received sponsorship from his current employer and is now at Wirral Met studying for his HNC qualification.

The Apprenticeship programme has been a springboard to enable me to progress in my chosen career and onto higher level qualifications.

Apprentice Science and Laboratory Technician

You can progress through Intermediate (level 2), Advanced (level 3) and then Higher (level 4-5) Apprenticeships. You’ll gain NVQs and HNC/HND qualifications whilst gaining the skills and experience in the workplace. You can then progress to university.

“People who complete a higher apprenticeship can expect to earn at least the same as those who go to university, plus they will earn while they are studying. This Government is making sure that vocational education is no longer seen as a lesser alternative to academic education." Skills Minister Matthew Hancock

Find out more about apprenticeships, come along to our Open Evening Thursday 21st March 2013, 4.30pm – 7.00pm, Twelve Quays Campus. .

Employer Services 0151 551 7610 Learner Services 0151 551 7777 www.wmc.ac.uk/apprenticeships

the business

Facebook is the fastest growing social networking site in the world with up to 250,000 new users being added every day. But sharing information on your profile which can be accessed by others has many risks. Anyone can get valuable information and private photos from your profile potentially getting you in trouble. You can keep risks to a minimum by following these steps. Set the security settings on your profile to ‘Only my friends’. By doing this, you can control who has access to your information and pictures. For certain pictures, you can also select certain friends that you do or don’t want to view. Monitor pictures that other people tag you on. You can find tagged pictures of you by going to your profile and under your profile picture it should say “Photos of You” and the number of tagged pictures. Click on that, and look through them. You should be able to un-tag any unappealing photos of you although people can still view them. Don’t hesitate to ‘untag’ yourself from pictures that you do not approve of. Simply click ‘remove tag’ next to the name in the list of people in the picture. Also if you think a picture puts you in a compromising situation, contact the poster and ask them to remove it immediately. If they are a genuine friend they should agree.

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Don’t post pictures of yourself in any compromising situations. This refers to pictures such as you behaving irresponsibly or candid shots of the last time you got out of control with your pals, and don’t be photographed with alcohol or cigarettes if you’re underage because anyone can print out the picture and show it (or threaten to show it) to your parents, boss or head teacher. Be cautious of the statuses of photos and videos you post if your workmates, colleagues, or even your boss is friends with you. If possible, avoid sending out or accepting friend requests from those who know you from work or college, especially your boss. Granting them full access to view your personal life can only have negative effects on your prospects. Avoid putting your phone number, birth date, home address, children’s or pet’s names in your profile. People often use words such as pet’s names, dates or numbers as passwords, so it is not recommended to publish them online. Never post information regarding an upcoming holiday or trip as your status. Doing so is just asking for your house to be burgled. If you must post photos and every detail of your two-week trip to France, do so after you return home, not before or during your trip. Change your password every so often. Don’t make your password something obvious such as your birthday or mother’s maiden name. Try to have at least one capital letter, one lowercase letter, two numbers and a symbol. The longer and more complicated the password, the safer you are from getting your account hacked. Always remember to log out after you’re finished with Facebook, especially on a shared computer.

“If you think a picture puts you in a compromising situation, contact the poster and ask them to remove it immediately” Report any abusive postings or harassment. If you ever feel threatened by anyone on Facebook or someone is harassing you by sending unwanted Facebook messages or posting something abusive on your public wall, report it by clicking the “report abuse” link on the post.

Don’t confuse Facebook with an on-line dating site. The purpose of Facebook is to connect you with people you know. Making your profile public means you’re sharing your information with everyone, even though you don’t know them. Never arrange to meet up with anyone you only know through Facebook. If in doubt check with your parents. Don’t post your location or that you are home alone. Criminals and predators could use your location information to track you down. You might think that only your friends would have access to this information, but if your friends’ account is left logged in on a public computer or their account gets hacked then strangers will now have your location information. Never ever post that you are home alone.

Keep an eye out for Facebook scams and rogue applications. Not all Facebook apps are made by good people. Usually a Facebook app will require access to parts of your profile as a condition of using it. If you give an app access and it’s a bad application then you might have just opened yourself up for SPAM or worse. Likewise before clicking on a link from Facebook, always check the address bar, which should always display “www.facebook.com/” and nothing else like “www.facebook33.tk” or “www.facebook1.php”, etc. which is a giveaway of a phisher. If your account gets hacked, report it immediately. Don’t be too embarrassed to report your account getting hacked by someone. It’s important that you report the hack immediately. Hackers may try and impersonate you using your hacked account for the purpose of getting your friends to fall for their scams. Check out How to Tell a Facebook Friend From a Facebook Hacker” for more information.

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“...a great balance between

working and learning” What does your apprenticeship involve? My apprenticeship at Designated Associates involved undertaking an NVQ or a Diploma at a higher level, which is what I opted for, in Sales. Each component of the apprenticeship is a qualification in its own right and is recognised nationally in all industries. I was tutored monthly on a 1 to 1 basis in the workplace, updating my portfolio and completing units within the 18 month funded timeframe. Why did you choose an apprenticeship over getting a job straight away or perhaps going to university? After leaving school I completed my first year of college and was thinking about going to university but soon realised it wasn’t the correct path or setting for me. I then looked for job opportunities that I’d enjoy; I’m really interested in Business and knew a career in this area would be perfect for me – the Wirral Apprentice scheme offered a way in to this field of work, I was particularly interested in undertaking an apprenticeship because this gave me the opportunity to be paid whilst learning and gaining all of the skills, experience and knowledge needed for a future career. Do you enjoy your role as an apprentice? Why? And what do you enjoy most about it? I enjoyed my role as an apprentice as I was comfortable with my job role and responsibilities. Each day was different - I enjoyed work based learning, working as part of a team as well as individually, meeting and greeting clients and turning potential customers in to actual customers. This was a very rewarding part of my job. Building relationships with customers was also a vital part of my job and still is! What appealed to you about becoming an apprentice? I was introduced to the Wirral Apprentice Scheme in 2010, the scheme was funded for 18 months and offered the opportunity to work and learn at the same time which appealed to me. I wanted the opportunity to broaden my knowledge in the working world as well as learning and achieving new skills and recognised qualifications What advice about apprenticeships would you give others your age who are deciding whether or not to become an apprentice? If you have the determination to do well in the world of work, and you’re not afraid to commit yourself to long term training and studying then I’d say GO FOR IT! To be an apprentice, you need to be focused on the career you want. You also need to be prepared to work hard to get it. You might have to commit yourself to further years of training and further study, depending on what you decide to do. What do you hope to achieve from this in the future? I hoped to achieve a job offer at the end of my apprenticeship. I finished my apprenticeship in February and was offered a position within the company (Designated Associates). I also hope to achieve further work based skills and knowledge.

Do you feel the apprenticeship and being able to work in the work place have helped you expand certain skills that you may not been able to do if you hadn’t become an apprentice? If so, what skills? Yes – I feel that the apprenticeship scheme has expanded my skills in areas such as; customer service, telephone, organisational, work prioritising and much more. I would not have gained these skills if I had chosen to go to university due to the majority being work based learning skills. What options and qualifications do you feel are open to you as an apprentice? I have gained a Level 3 Diploma in Sales and Level 2 Key Skills in

“Before becoming an apprentice I was very unsure about my future career and what I wanted to do. Now I feel as though I am on a steady career path and could climb the ladder to bigger and better things” Communication & Numeracy. Other training is available and open to me internally. I can also request external training to gain new qualifications to further my role as I am now a staff member and no longer an apprentice. What qualities do you think are required of a person to be a successful apprentice? I think you need to be dedicated and committed to become an apprentice as it can be demanding, but it can also be rewarding. This is especially the case if you enjoy working in a high energy and team orientated environment. You must complete your Apprenticeship to get your qualification, therefore need to make sure that you’re serious about your chosen career from the start. What would you say the advantages you feel you have over other forms of education like university? I’m glad I took part in the Apprenticeship training programme as I have learnt so much and have taken my first steps on the career ladder ahead of some of my peers the same age as me. I would recommend becoming an apprentice to anyone who wants to take an alternative route than university, if you prefer to learn in a busy working environment where you can pick up new practical skills rather than in a classroom.

How did you feel about your future career before the apprenticeship, compared to now? Before becoming an apprentice I was very unsure about my future career and what I wanted to do. I was having difficulties deciding whether to take my education further or whether to take the plunge and get a full time job. I found out more about the apprenticeship programme and it seemed a perfect balance. I could still earn money, gain new skills and qualifications whilst working a 40 hour week in a business environment. Now I feel as though I am on a steady career path and could climb the ladder to bigger and better things. Do you feel that an apprenticeship has any disadvantages or that perhaps it may not be suitable for everybody? If so, why? You may be more suited to classroom study and full time education, this way you are not buckled down to working a 35-40+ hour week, it is a big change from school hours! Also - not all occupations offer Apprenticeships, so you may have no option but to take the academic route. Why do you think people should consider an apprenticeship? I think people should consider undertaking an apprenticeship because you gain recognised qualifications - NVQs, Key Skills and a Technical Certificate and you will be trained to do a job. So, unlike those who stay on at school and take A Levels, you will have a qualification that shows that you have the skills necessary to do that job. Do you feel apprenticeships are becoming more popular? Why do you think this is? The main reason I think apprenticeships are becoming more popular is because apprenticeships give you the chance to earn while you learn. This appeals to young people and is a great balance between working and learning.

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Jonathan: Why did you join the youth theatre? Lucy: I enjoyed doing drama in primary school but had not done it in High School. I was shy and thought it would be good for my confidence. Finn: Because it was a chance to do more drama. I had started to like it when I was younger and have liked it ever since. Jonathan: What do you think you have gained from being in the youth theatre? Lucy: Definitely more self confidence and probably also team work skills. Finn: Much more experience as an actor and I have hopefully learned so much from the directors. I hope I might become a famous, professional actor in the future. Jonathan: What sort of play would you like to do next time? Lucy: I like the play we are doing at the moment (‘Don’t Feed the Animals’). The ending has physical theatre and the gang scenes are great. At first I was unsure but it is a good genre of comedy. ‘Little Foot’ in 2012 was the most challenging play so far because you had to make it interesting through storytelling. It was hard. Finn: I liked farce and would like to do farce/comedy again. Jonathan: If you could choose a completely different genre what would you choose? Lucy: Something action packed, fast and furious. Finn: A thriller or horror story.

Reader Interview Jonathan Stevens, aged 12, Year 7 at St Anselm’s College

onathan Stevens is a member of InterACT Youth Theatre, a Neston based, professionally led youth theatre for ages 11-19. There are currently fourteen members in the cast and new members are always welcome. The youth theatre is directed by professional actors Samantha Giblin and Natasha Symms. The group was set up in 2005 by Samantha who secured a grant from The John Thaw Foundation. The group are currently working on the National Theatre’s Connections, which involves playwrights writing new plays specifically for young people and then choosing 200 lucky groups to premier these new plays around the country. The play that InterACT are working on is called ‘Don’t Feed the Animals’ by Jemma Kennedy. The play is about a circus shutting down because people don’t want to watch their shows live anymore. Until a gang comes and ………but if you want to know the rest you’ll have to go and see the show on the 16th and 17th March in Neston or the 12th May at The Lowry Salford. Jonathan says… “I think being in a youth theatre gives you something to do and something to be a part of and take pride in. Also when we go to The Lowry to rehearse it gives you an amazing adrenaline rush, like you are on a very long roller-coaster thinking…. ‘We will be performing here soon’. I interviewed two members of the ‘Don’t Feed the Animals’ cast. Finn Miller Musset aged 13 and Lucy Mothersdale, 17. Both are pupils at Neston High School.

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Jonathan: How do you like the current project? Lucy: I like the storyline and how at the end it uses movement to make it different through physical theatre. Finn: It is very funny and shows how teenagers get on with life surrounded by prejudice. This is a theme about the circus and discusses how adults are prejudiced against teenagers and it goes round in a circle. Jonathan: Who are your role models? Lucy: Maggie Smith is a very good actress. Finn: Acting wise Morgan Freeman, Ewan McGregor and Jonny Depp. I like Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles because they show that no matter what your disability you can do anything, and I like their music. Jonathan: Do you get nervous? Lucy: I worry I will get sick or have a nose bleed. Finn: I think every actor has nerves before a show, but once you start you just go with it and go with the flow. Then you think afterwards “ I wonder how I did that?” Jonathan: Are your school subject choices influenced by your interest in drama? Lucy: Some of them are because I have a wide a range of subjects for A level; including chemistry, geography, textiles and English Literature. Finn: Of course because it gives you a whole new set of skills including communication. Drama helps you with everyday life. I chose drama, music, history as well as the compulsory subjects. Jonathan was also able to interview one of the parents about her son’s involvement in the youth theatre. Jonathan: Why did you let Finn join InterACT Youth Theatre? Eileen Miller (Finn’s Mum): Finn expressed an interest in drama and music so we looked for a local group. Mainly to gain confidence and so he can express himself. Jonathan: Was the cost an issue? Eileen: The fees are reasonable because of the low income discounts compared to other theatre companies. Jonathan: Have you seen changes and development? Has there been an impact on Finn? Eileen: I have seen him grow in confidence and in being able to adapt to any situation. There is an increase in his memory skills and it gives him something he can work on and share with others. It’s better than sitting on the Xbox every day. He has become a good role model through the YT opportunities. I would recommend this group to any parents who are looking for a good outlet for their child to develop confidence and life skills while studying the arts. Finn has aspirations to direct and is getting a view of how production in the professional theatre works which will prove very useful.

ANDREW COLLINGE TRAINING

Make the right choice for a career in hairdressing For more information: 0151 709 5942 or email: info@andrewcollinge.com www.andrewcollinge.com

#Good2Go! 17

music

Good2Go! meets Bird

Three piece Merseyside band Bird is the creation of Adele Emmas, Sian Williams and Alexis Samata. Together they create dark, haunting, atmospheric music which will “entice you in to their magical, other worldly universe”. With beautiful, siren-esque vocals, tribal, hypnotic drum beats and spellbinding guitars, Bird are refreshingly unlike anything that’s on the current music scene. Good2Go! caught up with Adele for a chat. When did you start in music, what kick started it for you? I had always loved music since a very early age, I was brought up on artists such as Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake and Kate Bush and there was always music playing in our house, so I picked up a guitar when I was a teenager, started writing songs and it’s just sort of stemmed from there. I know the other band members Sian and Lex are similar, they’ve been brought up in similar backgrounds and with creative families too. Bird is a collaboration between yourself, Sian Williams and Alexis Samata. Can you tell us a bit about your backgrounds and how you got together. Alexis and I had been friends for years and had been in previous bands together, we were at a bit of a loose end after a previous band came to an end when we met Sian through a friend and it just so happened that we all jelled really well and had similar musical tastes and influences, we decided to have a practice together one day and I guess the rest is history! Given the band have been together less than a year you seem to have crafted a unique and distinctive sound. Where did that come from? I think the fact that we’re all on the same wave length musically and know what we want to create sound wise helps a lot, Sian has a distinctive guitar sound as does Alexis on the drums, so when I add my bass and vocals we have a nice family of sound that I feel sounds quite distinctive. We also like to use certain effects and lots of vocal reverb so that also makes us stand out.

18 #Good2Go!

How do you approach the creative process of writing? Is it a private experience or collaborative? A lot of the time I’ll bring an idea, riff or even a whole song in to the practice room and we’ll just go from there, but things are becoming a lot more collaborative now and we’re starting to jam more and create things together as a unit which is great and takes the pressure of me a bit! Congrats on being mentioned in NME’s buzz section, when you get recognition like that do you feel like things are finally happening or does it all feel like its happened overnight? Thank you! It kind of happens overnight, you’ll get an email one day saying you’re going to be in NME and you’re smiling from head to toe, I’d always dreamed about this kind of thing happening so it’s a nice reality to see all of the hard work gradually paying off. As the lead vocalist and focal point of the band do you feel any added pressure when you are performing? Yes definitely, as the focal point there’s always more pressure and I have to concentrate on singing and playing my bass constantly so it can be difficult and there’s not much room for mistakes! But I enjoy the challenge and it’s getting much easier as time goes on. You’re very well known on Merseyside and you are about to embark on a 15 day UK Tour to increase your profile further afield. How does it feel to be stepping outside of your comfort zone and breaking new ground? It’s exiting, we have a lovely, loyal fan base in Merseyside but we are looking forward to visiting new cities, meeting new people and working hard to get our music across to as many new people as possible. And after a couple of months of no gigging we’re looking forward to getting back out there and having an adventure! You’ve enjoyed a successful 2012 with lots of really positive recognition received from public and media. How do you intend to top that in 2013? We just hope that the music we make will continue to get positive feedback and impress people, we don’t want to put too much pressure on ourselves so we’re just going to stay true to writing the kind of music that we love and hope it will be well received and that these lovely reviews and feedback keep pouring in! If you liken the music industry to a rollercoaster what have been your personal highs and lows? The lows have been the break up of previous bands, which in some cases can be harmful to friendships. Also the fact that you have to be really careful on who you employ industry wise to work for/with you, they have to be in it for the right reasons and not push you to do anything you don’t want to do. The pros are that you get to create your own art and exhibit it to the world, meet some wonderful people, travel and do what you love for a living. The pros definitely outweigh any negatives! You’re working in what is still a male dominated industry. Do you have any tips for girls aspiring to give it a go ? Just to go for it, if you believe you have the talent or you have a passion for something then you should go after it wholeheartedly regardless of gender or any other obstacles. Sian and I personally feel very strong as women and we like the fact that we can blow some of the ‘female musician’ stereotype out of the water when we play live. You’re from Wirral but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of opportunities here for live music . Why do you think that is? I think the fact that the Wirral is lacking in music or creative type venues. Kids at school or at home may also not be pushed in any kind of artistic direction. I also think the fact that Liverpool is just a short bus ride makes it easier for people to go and see live gigs over there.

“...you get to create your own art and exhibit it to the world, meet some wonderful people, travel and do what you love for a living!” If our readers want to see you live or listen to your music online where can they find you? Check out our facebook page www.facebook.com/birdmusicofficial. What else would you like to tell us??? Our new EP ‘Ophelia’ (produced by Bill Ryder-Jones of The Coral) is out on Valentines day (Feb 14th) Our EP launch is also on Feb 15th but failing that you could try and catch us on our 15 date headline tour of the UK.

15th FEB 16th FEB 18TH FEB 19TH FEB 20TH FEB 22ND FEB 26TH FEB 27TH FEB

LEAF LIVERPOOL SOWERBY BRIDGE - PUZZLE HALL INN EDINBURGH - ELECTRIC CIRCUS INVERNESS - HOOTENANNY GLASGOW - KING TUTS YORK - THE DUCHESS MANCHESTER - THE CASTLE LEICESTER UNI - THE SCHOLAR BAR

1ST MAR 2ND MAR 4TH MAR 5TH MAR 7TH MAR 10TH MAR 11TH MAR

MILTON KEYNES - THE SNOBAR LONDON - UPSTAIRS @ THE GARAGE BRIGHTON - THE HOPE BOURNEMOUTH - THE WINCHESTER BRISTOL - START THE BUS BIRMINGHAM - THE YARDBIRD LONDON - BRIXTON WINDMILL

#Good2Go! 19

music

Up and coming Liverpool based singer songwriter, 17 year old Vanessa Murray, recently won the 2012 Liverpool Acoustic Songwriter Challenge held at the View Two Gallery in Mathew Street. Good2Go! caught up with her. You play the guitar very well. When did you start learning? Thank you very much! I started learning at the age of 11. My school had an extra curricular guitar club which I attended. From this my first band formed. When did you realise you wanted to be a songwriter? Well, I remember being 8 years old and watching the music stations on TV and the band Busted came on. I just remember thinking to myself, I want to be like them. So I wrote my first song at the age of 8, It was a parody song which I tried to use in a girl group I formed at lunchtime on the playground but It only lasted about 2 weeks haha! But I would say I started to take song writing seriously at the age of 13 when I improved on the guitar. Would you have any advice for our readers who might want to follow your example and write their own material? Definitely give it a go! Like anything it takes practice but the more you do it, the better you become. Inspiration for a song can come from anything, For example: A conversation you overhear, a personal situation or something from a movie/book so just be aware of everything around you and try to put it into words. Getting your thoughts out on paper, crafting it into a song and having people singing along to it is probably one of the best feelings ever! What are your musical influences and which performers do you most admire? KT Tunstall is an influence of mine, I love how creative she is and how catchy her songs are! I also admire her performing side too, especially when she uses a loop pedal! I’m starting to get more into artists like Joni Mitchell, Lucy Rose & Kate Rusby so maybe my music will change but I think it’s good to have a variety as you’re opening yourself up to a bigger audience and also it’s quite difficult and a little bit boring to stick to one specific style. Where do you stand on ‘X Factor’culture? Ground breaking talent show or glorified karaoke?

20 #Good2Go!

Being honest, I’m not a big fan of the X-Factor. I mean It’s good for exposure and it does support talent on some level but there’s still the fact that it’s an entertainment show and there have been so many talented people turned away because the judges are also looking for acts that can make people laugh so they can get more views. It’s quite sad really. What was your first gig and how much performance experience have you had since? My first performance was at my school’s talent competition. I was in year 7 and it was really nerve racking as it was the first time I sang seriously in front of anyone, even my own family! My nan came along and she was in tears, she said she was so proud. Since then I’ve been a support act for comedian Crissy Rock, Canadian singer/songwriter Billy The Kid and The Voice star Frances Wood. I’ve recently played for the Lord Mayor and have played at various venues around Liverpool including: The Cavern Club, The Cavern pub, The Royal Court, The Picket, The O2 Academy, The Zanzibar, The Brink, The Lomax and many more. Do you feel there are enough opportunities for performers in the city? I do think there are loads of opportunities for performers around the city. I started off doing open mic nights, and from there other artists/ promoters came up to me and asked me to play in other places, so it all builds up! Also there are quite a few facebook pages and radio stations that advertise different events in Liverpool that musicians can get involved in. Have you ever been busking?…..and if so how much did you make? I have indeed! At christmas time I busked on The Liverpool Bandstand for an hour and a half and I made over £100 and got a bag of malteasers. I was not expecting that sort of reaction, i’m so grateful though! Do you get nervous before a show and if so do you have any particular coping mechanism? I always get nervous before a show even though i’ve been doing it for

a while now. As a musician you’re opening yourself up for criticism but you just have to realise that you can’t please everyone, and that you should be doing it for yourself more than anything else. We attended the Songwriter Challenge and thought you were the stand out performer on the night. What are your memories of the competition? Thank you very much! I remember sitting there watching all of the acts and thinking that everyone was amazing. We were allowed to ask questions about how each songwriter was inspired by their piece of art, I thought it was really interesting finding out their creative process. Also when I was announced as the overall winner, I remember thinking ‘Wow, this is crazy!’ I was so shocked and I couldn’t stop smiling. Everyone was so kind to me and I can’t thank everyone involved enough! It’s opened new doors for me. You were the youngest contestant there. Did you feel any added pressure, competing against more experienced performers? To be honest it didn’t really phase me because I’ve gigged with various age groups with different levels of experience. I was nervous, but like I said, I get nervous before every gig. Your winning song ‘I Don’t Want To Lose You Like This’ was inspired by a work of art on display at View Two gallery in Mathew Street. What can you tell us about the creative process involved? In the gallery I found a picture of a stone wall in a field which I thought would be interesting to write about. The way I saw it, you could look at it in different ways. For example: You could be looking at something from the other side or the wall could be a symbol of something that is stopping you from progressing. That’s what ‘I Don’t Wanna Lose You Like This, is about. It’s about having feelings for someone but you’re scared to take the risk and tell them. Therfore fear is the thing that is stopping progress. The prize for winning the competition was re-cording time at Crosstown Studios. How did you use it and was it a productive experience? I haven’t been to record ‘I Don’t Want To Lose You Like This’ just yet, only because I am in the process of getting a full band together for the recording. To me I can imagine it to be at it’s best as a full band recording so I’m really excited to try something new! You certainly have the talent to succeed in music but it’s such a tough industry to work in. Do you see it as a viable career opportunity or are you making other plans also? For me, music isn’t just a hobby and I don’t have any specific back up plan! I don’t mind if I don’t break into the industry ‘big time,’ as long as I can still play everyday and be able to earn enough money to pay bills then I’m happy with that. What about school/college/university? I’m in my last year of college now. I’ve applied for Uni and have a few auditions coming up for them so I’m going to see what happens! If our readers would like to see you in action; listen to or download some of your music where can they find you? I post gig dates on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ vanessamurraymusic and I have some demos on Soundcloud at ww.soundcloud.com/vanessamurray1995. In an ideal world where would you like to be in 5 years time? I would just like to carry on gigging and writing music for a living, it’s what makes me happy so If I can pay the bills by singing and playing guitar, that’s enough for me. Good luck for your future. We wish you all the best. Please keep us informed of any developments with your music career. Thank you, I will make sure to!

#Good2Go! 21

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22 #Good2Go!

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Ever earn money, go out, spend it then think to yourself “what did I actually spend all that on?” well with the following apps you will be able to track everything you spend...

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Mobile Checkbook £3.50 Help you handle multiple accounts without going to your local bank or using your computer. Insert your expenses. Keep track of your account balances easily. Available for Blackberrys.

As exams are approaching, revision begins. Why not combine your love of technology with your hopes to do well in your exams by preparing yourself with these apps?

iStudiez Pro £1.99 Organise your schedule (organise by date/course/ priority) Keeping you up to date with tasks/events. Available for both iPhone and iPad.

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RU Studying Custom Flashcards Free Create flashcards on your computer and sync them to your android device. Helps to study for upcoming exams/tests. Available for android devices.

#Good2Go! 23

The true benefits of keeping fit and healthy What does being fit mean to you? Physical fitness is actually a broad term that’s used to encompass different elements of overall fitness including:

Cardio Respiratory Endurance: the ability to perform a

strenuous activity over a length of time, more commonly known as aerobic exercise. Muscular Endurance: The ability to hold a particular position, or the ability to repeat a movement several times. Flexibility: Flexibility usually refers to one’s overall range of motion. Yoga would be a good example of this. Each of these different components should be incorporated into our daily lives. There are hundreds of physical activities that will achieve your fitness goals. In the long term you should be aiming to be sufficiently active to increase your heart rate for 30 - 60 minutes each day.

What are the benefits? People who are physically fit will look, feel and perform better

Health The health benefits of exercise are well –known. Exercising regularly helps to improve heart function and the transport of blood and oxygen throughout the body. Lung capacity and function increases as well, which means you’ll be able to take deeper breaths, and hold your breath for longer.

Obesity Perhaps the best benefit of regular exercise is that it helps to cut the risk of obesity (being significantly overweight). Carrying extra weight, particularly around the middle is dangerous to long term health, and can lead to a whole host of future complications, including diabetes.

Psychological When it comes to fitness there is a clear mind-body connection, and the psychological benefits of exercise may be particularly helpful to teenagers. That’s because physical fitness has been shown to enhance mood, and when you feel good, you look good! Not only will your mood improve, but so too will your self esteem. School work The more exercise you do, the better you’ll sleep and a restful sleep is key to feeling good. Sleep improves psychological health, giving the mind and body time to recuperate from the day’s events. After a good sleep we wake feeling refreshed, recharged & ready to face the day. S tudents who sleep well perform better in exams and school work so maintaining physical health is beneficial on every level.

Getting Started If you are revved up and ready to begin an exciting physical fitness journey, here’s the best way to get started:

Talk to your doctor: This needn’t be complicated at all, but if you have any doubts about your ability to start exercising, make sure your doctor gives you a clean bill of health before you begin. Be patient: If you’ve been slightly sedentary up until this point, don’t overdo it at first. Start off small by walking a few extra minutes a day and gradually build up your activity levels. It will surprise you how quickly you can build strength and stamina over time but if you try too much too soon you could injure yourself so take it slow. Enjoy It: Find out what activity suits you best, and do that. If you

love sports, join a team. From swimming, football, athletics to hockey, volleyball and rambling there are literally hundreds of ways to get physically fit while having fun. The more you enjoy your chosen activity the longer you will stick at it and the more you will benefit.

24 #Good2Go!

Try something different and climb the heights! “Rock climbing is enjoying a massive growth in popularity due to many collaborating factors. Climbing appeals to young peoples’ desires to become and stay fit and healthy while harnessing the ethos of outdoor pursuits, adventure and healthy living. With the proven success of the rock climbing world cup competition format, climbing has recently been trialled and may be accepted as a new Olympic sport in 2020.” Dave Douglas – Awesome Walls Climbing Centre

#Good2Go! 25

So you want your prom night to go with a bang for all the right reasons and not blow up in your face for all the wrong ones. Try our fun guide for some advice on ‘what not to do’ in the build up to the big day.

Five things not to do to your girlfriend in the run up to prom 1. Roll your eyes every time the word “prom” is mentioned - If you’re not excited that’s up to you, but if your

Five things not to do to your boyfriend in the run up to prom

girlfriend is, you need to prepare yourself: the closer it gets, the more she’ll want to talk about it. It doesn’t matter if you’ve heard it before, or you think her worries are silly, just listen – without the eye rolling.

1. Take him out shopping for prom dresses. Take your Mum, your best friend, even your Dad, but not your boyfriend. Even if he is one of those lovely blokes who’s happy to wonder in and out of shops carrying your bags for you, don’t take him shopping for the prom dress as it will spoil the surprise on the night.

2. Ask her how much weight she’s planning to lose before the prom. - I’m hoping that you’ve just read that and

2. Arrange a surprise course of ballroom dancing lessons. So what if you’re obsessed with Strictly Come Dancing

and want to wow everyone at the prom, don’t even go there unless he is dead keen too. And anyway, that kind of dancing doesn’t really happen at proms these days, no matter how much you may want it to.

3. Make him watch you practice receiving the prom queen crown - Oh this is so full of bad and wrong – and would

you believe this has been done. You may be nervous of speaking in public but the only purpose it will serve is to make you look vain & conceited. If you must practice do it in front of a mirror.

4. Tell him which kind of limousine you want to arrive in, and then get him to tell all of his friends he’s ordered it as a surprise for you. Bad enough that you’re not involving

him in choosing how to arrive (he might want to arrive separately, with his mates, or in a sports car that would ruin your hair, whatever) but asking him to lie to his mates to create a sense of romance is simply awful.

5. Make him think that there are loads of other fit blokes in your year who have asked you to go to prom with them. You may want to give the impression of being desired

by many, but your boyfriend is not the person to convince. Trust me on that one.

thought “Whoa! I’d never say anything at all about her weight!” Even better, hopefully you don’t care about that anyway, but your girlfriend is likely to worry about whether she’ll look good in her dress, so just don’t go there.

3. Ask “You’re not going to wear one of those [insert any kind] prom dresses are you?” If you hear about a

certain style being the rage, or you happen to be with her when the celebrity news is on and they’re talking about the latest dress fashions and your girlfriend gets excited about something awful on the screen, button your lip. Trust her taste, accept that fashion does dumb things sometimes and remember, whatever she wears, she’ll look fabulous.

4. Tell her that you’re going to be picking her up in a taxi – even if you have already booked a limo. It might

seem romantic to make her think that you’re a clutz and all the while be arranging the most amazing prom transport surprise, but nine times out of ten, all it will do is stress her out. Instead, tell her you’re sorting out the best prom transport ever and promise her you’ll be arriving in style – then be sure to make that happen!

5. Neglect to ask her to the prom – she’ll just know, right?

- No assumptions! Don’t just think that she knows, she might be worried that you don’t want to partner with her.. Why not go the whole hog and make a big deal of asking her? It’ll make her feel special, get both of you excited about the prom and earn you a lot of boyfriend points. If you have any advice or horror stories you’d like to share for prom night please email them to prom-no-nos@letsgopublishing.co.uk.

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PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF THE POSSIBLE... The local charity Age UK Wirral needs your support and involvement in the current project ‘Generate’. This is a rare opportunity for younger people to get directly involved with an organisation that provides support for older generations and link with the Pilgrim Street Arts Centre, home to the Wirral Youth Theatre/ Youth Arts. This 6 month pilot project aims to...

• Spark interest in intergenerational work and discussion surrounding possible generation gaps and stereotyping.

• Discover projects that are already working well in schools and communities.

• Encourage and engage local people of all ages through artistic involvement.

• Raise awareness about issues affecting older people especially through the difficult winter months.

WHEN?

Launched on Oct 1st 2012 to celebrate ‘International Older People’s Day’ the project is building towards the commemoration of the ‘EU Day of Solidarity between Generations’ on 29th April 2013, with a celebration event at the Pilgrim Street Arts Centre, Birkenhead.

WHY NOW?

Students are being encouraged to think about the ‘journey of life’ from a range of viewpoints. 2012 was the ‘European year of Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations’ which led us into 2013, an especially important year for Age UK Wirral who is currently trying to renovate and refurbish a new community centre called Meadowcroft in South Wirral to eventually provide a range of services.

HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED?

As one of the ways to celebrate this event all generations are invited to enter a competition to create artwork to decorate the community centre. Anybody who would like their work displayed is welcome to donate their work, enter the competition, or upload it to the website. Contact us directly to discuss any collection issues. Age UK Wirral would also like to encourage entries of poetry, short films, media work and song writing, as well as art work, based around the theme of ‘a journey’, that can be shown or performed at the celebratory event in April 2013.

So...are you or your school involved in a project with different generations already? Entry forms are available on the website and need to be emailed, posted or handed in by March 22nd 2013. There are 4 different age categories open to Primary, Secondary, 6th Form students and Adults (aged 19+) and awards will be presented at the awards ceremony. Could you make a short film about what you do and how it affects people in your area? Maybe you could write a poem about the ‘journey of life’, express your thoughts and experiences through a song or simply paint a picture for everybody to enjoy... Age UK Wirral is currently working with local schools and colleges including Wirral Metropolitan College, UAB, Birkenhead Sixth Form College, and Woodchurch High School, amongst others, to encourage students to get involved as ‘volunteer representatives’ of the project and champion the cause of intergenerational work in their learning communities, gaining invaluable experience working in partnership with a charity. Sophie, a student Generate Representative excited by the project said, “I’ve got loads of ideas already. I would like to be a journalist and so I am looking forward to interviewing my grandparents and talking to them about some of their experiences in life.” So go on... ﬁnd out how creative you can be...

Join the journey and generate your own ideas today. generate@ageukwirral.org.uk or www.ageukwirral.org.uk or 0151 653 4404. Registered Charity No. 1034510

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From finance to floristry, design to dentistry. You can get an Apprenticeship in over 250 industries, and choose from more than 1,400 different jobs.

Great employers. Great opportunities. Great prospects. Apprenticeships deliver.

View vacancies now apprenticeships.org.uk #Good2Go! 29

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Most employers want a candidate who can not only do the job described but who will go above and beyond the call of duty and put in 110% effort. This may mean arriving slightly earlier than scheduled, leaving slightly later and putting in extra effort to secure a sale or contract etc. Whether you choose to go that extra mile for your employer is up to you, but generally those people who work that bit harder than the rest, are the ones who get the promotions. Add value to your company and you will be noticed!

At the interview, you can let the employer know that you are the type of employee who will add value to his business and deliver 110%? Key point to add value at the interview • • • •

Arrive slightly early for and turned out immaculately. Prepare to the maximum with research on the company. Bring a copy of your CV with you. Have examples of scenarios where you added value in previous jobs or at school/college etc.

Even if this is your first job, you can reflect back on other areas where you ‘added value’. Captain of a sports team, member of the school council, volunteer etc. Consider what your contribution was to those roles and be prepared to discuss them at the interview. Discuss them in terms that will appeal to the employer, such as: • • • • •

I stayed late to tidy up afterwards and left the place better than we found it I volunteered to clean the local park and cleared more rubbish per hour than anyone else. I was a member of the school council and had a new idea for (xyz), which proved very popular. I increased my last employers profits by 15% - by implementing these strategies I reduced company expenditure by reducing paper waste by introducing (xyz) measures

The task mentioned need not be complex and can be fairly simple but it is how you performed the task that counts and that is what you need to express. Detail how you went above and beyond the call of duty and gave 110%. If you can impress the employer with your effort you will fair better than the other job search candidates.

Adding value to your job once hired can be done in many ways. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Maximise profits Build the client list Improve client relations Improve the public image of the company Improve time management for self and others Streamline processes by introducing new time effective systems Reduce costs by identifying and eliminating unnecessary expenditure Reduce waste by identifying areas where waste occurs and implement measures to reduce it Increase productivity of staff if you are in a supervisory or management role etc. Improve employee morale Contribute to any suggestion box with helpful ideas re any of the above Arrive to work slightly earlier and leave slightly later than scheduled. Ensure your customer service skills are second to none and that no customer ever has a justifiable reason to complain about you Never let problems from home effect your performance at work Ask for extra responsibilities and demonstrate that you are ready for more. Don’t take too much time off for being sick Don’t hang around gossiping to colleagues during work hours Compete quietly with others (and yourself!) when in sales/performance environment Keep your desk area tidy and free of clutter Don’t make personal phone calls during work hours using the company phone

Some of the things listed above sound pretty obvious, such as don’t arrive late, don’t take too many sick days or make personal phone calls. You’d be surprised how many employees behave like this on a regular basis. They are the ones who will be overlooked when a promotion is due. By performing 110% all the time and valuing yourself and your employer you will be better positioned when a promotion is up for grabs!

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Looking for stuff to do, or need some help? Check out teenwirral.com

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