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Getting a Start in Engineering Campus Life Explained How to Find a Humble Abode Sex: Fact Vs Fiction
Advanced Apprenticeship
Think IT is for geeks? Think again… Kick start your career with a QA-IQ Advanced Apprenticeship
All the games and applications you use on your mobile phone have been created by people working in IT... Formula One racing relies on people with technology skills to build the fastest cars and help the drivers win... The Nintendo Wii, Xbox360 and Playstation3 were all created by ‘IT people’ And many of the things we do everyday… use a cash machine, buy a railway ticket, check your email, send a text message and read a magazine
All of these need technology to happen.
If you want to get the practical skills you need, along with an accredited qualification at Level 3 then this is for you! Email apprenticeships@qa-iq.com to find out more. Visit www.qa.com/apprenticeships
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32 The Veterinary Profession: Your Guide to Courses and Careers
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16 First Day - How to tackle first day blues 18 GetSEXUAL Ahead -COMPETITIONS Work FASHION TRAVEL ENTERTAINMENTLIFEBYTE HEALTH SPORT TRAVEL ENTERTAINMENT SEXUAL HEALTH experience WHAT’S NEW WORLD OF WORK ENTERTAINMENT 20 Getting switched on to ENTERTAINMENT CONTENTS WHAT’S NEW WORLD OF WORK Advic Computer and IT e Advic e 24 Getting a start in Advic e Advic Engineering e 30 COMPETITIONS B uilding a Positive LIFEBYTE FASHION I WANT A... LIFEBYTE I WANT TO FASHION Image – a career in COMPETITIONS LIFEBYTE MONEY CAREER AT SEA BE A... VET I WANT A... construction LIFEBYTE STUDY ADVICE eyelids MONEY CAREER SEA 34 G ATetting Camels have three es ey – to protect their the Right sert from sand in the de attitude
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38 Never Ending Twilight 48 Reviews 50 10 Things you never knew SPORTabout Cheryl Cole TRAVEL
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PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC)
Welcome all the talented people... We’re the one firm for all talented people. People who, whatever their background, interests and aspirations, have qualities that make them shine in one way or another. Whether you’re about to leave school or college, or you’re ready to make a career change, it’s your ability that matters. Nothing else. We’ve become one of the world’s largest professional services firms, employing more than 146,000 people across 150 countries, because we’re good at what we do. But what is that exactly? Basically we help organisations – businesses, charities and even governments – check their financial performance and improve the way they work. The areas of our business are tremendously varied. One of the best things about PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC) is the huge diversity of clients in our portfolio. Wherever you find yourself, you can be sure that the variety of challenges we undertake means you’ll get to see the bigger picture and build an understanding of what it is that makes different organisations tick. We offer a number of programmes, each of which will give you the chance to learn more about the world of business and accountancy and develop strong technical and personal skills. Complete one of them successfully and you’ll be well-placed to build a long-term
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career within many different areas of PwC. Whether you’re thinking of applying for our HEADstart programme or applying for a place on the Flying Start Degree, our INS1GHT Days are a great way to find out more about the options available to you. In fact, many of the people who join these programmes have first taken part in one of our INS1GHT Days. You’ll spend a day in one of our offices across the UK, discovering what we do, how, why and where we do it, and who we do it for. We’ll explain the various directions a career with PwC can take you – and how far you could go – and you’ll have every opportunity to ask our people questions face to face and get a better grasp of our business. If you have decided against University then join us after your A-Levels/Scottish Highers or equivalent and start earning while you work towards a professional accounting or tax qualification. Likewise, if you’re looking for a change in career direction, one of our HEADstart programmes could be right for you. Our introductory training will give you a good grounding in book-keeping, auditing or tax specific skills, while improving your general business awareness. And the learning doesn’t stop there. Formal study, on-the-job experience and coaching from colleagues mean you’ll continually pick up new skills and develop
your business knowledge. Together with your personal coach, you’ll review regular feedback on your performance and use it to keep your career moving forward. Our Flying Start degree is an innovative BA (Honours) Business Accounting and Finance degree at Newcastle University Business School which helps you qualify as a Chartered Accountant more quickly. While many other degrees tackle Business, Accounting and Finance, none of them prepares you for your chosen profession as well as Flying Start. The degree’s unique structure enables you to put classroom theory into commercial practice on placement, then relate your practical experience back to your studies. It’s also designed to equip you with a range of business skills that will help you develop your future career. To find out more about the programme and how to apply, please visit www.ncl.ac.uk/flyingstart/ In return for your talent and commitment, we pay a competitive salary and have an innovative flexible benefits scheme.
Detailed information about our recruitment process, how to apply, and our online application forms can all be found at pwc.com/uk/careers/ Alternatively you can call us for a brochure and find out about other ways to apply. Call 0808 100 1500 or alternatively +44 (0)121 265 5852.
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D SCOVER Career Insights and Opportunities 2009
HEADstart Programmes Flying Start Degree INS1GHT Days
Requirements: 280 - 340 UCAS tariff or equivalent depending on entry route
Want to try something new? Because if you’re at a crossroads, taking on a fresh challenge can help you think more clearly about the rest of your life. And we’ve got just the thing. It doesn’t matter what you’ve studied, whether you’re about to leave school or college, or if you want to make a career change, you’ll work on real projects for real clients and enjoy real prospects. From our HEADstart programmes and Flying Start degree to our INS1GHT Days, we have something for everyone. And whatever’s right for you, you’ll get a real insight into how a professional services firm operates and develop invaluable business skills. Discover what you’re made of. We’re the one firm for all inquisitive individuals.
pwc.com/uk/careers/ Text: PwC to 85792 (Texts charged at your standard network rate.)
We value diversity in our people.
© 2008 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. All rights reserved. “PricewaterhouseCoopers” refers to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or, as the context requires, the PricewaterhouseCoopers global network or other member firms of the network, each of which is a separate and independent legal entity.
WELCOME BACK TO LEAVING SCHOOL!
In this issue, we have lots of helpful advice on the job market and how to do well at work. Of course, starting your first job can be a bit scary. So how do you act? What’s the best way to behave when you’re new? Questions like these have to be thought about, so we give you all the answers in our article starting on page 16. Another really important factor which most employers place high up the list when taking on candidates is ATTITUDE. Without a positive and polite attitude at work, no matter how qualified you are or how talented, your days may be numbered! So turn to page 34 to see the simple things which can help you have a winning attitude at work.
EDITOR Isabel Appio
EDITORIAL CO-ORDINATOR Jonathan Williams
PUBLISHERS Isabel Appio, Ian Thomas & Adam Hayes
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Darren Waite
SALES EXECUTIVES Gurpreet Kundi & Bridget Rodricks
DESIGN Art Editor: Jon-Paul Daly Senior Designer: John Blanco
ACKNOWLEDGMENT & THANKS Cover image: ITV.
SENIOR OFFICE MANAGER Marcia Abrahams
If you’re still unsure about which direction to turn in, then the best thing is to read more about all the careers out there. We’ve got all the information you need about making it big as the doctor for the smallest creatures around. Being a Vet combines the challenges of being a doctor and the fun of working with animals. Or, take a look at the careers out there in Construction or Engineering, both of which are examined in this issue. If you’re still unsure as to what you want to do, then maybe Work Experience is the best way to go. Not only does it give you the opportunity to learn about businesses first hand, but it is a fantastic way to get your foot in the door of any company. Learn all about how Work Experience can help you by reading up on page 18. Since we’re not all about work, you can also read all about everyone’s favorite X Factor judge, WAG and Girl Aloud, Cheryl Cole, and learn all there is to know about cinema’s next heartthrob and star of Twilight, Rob Pattinson. We are here to help. The Leaving School team.
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DISCLAIMER No material in this publication may be used without permission from the publisher. The views expressed in Leaving School are not necessarily the views of the editor or the publisher.
s could If all the body’s nerve y be laid end to end the les mi 47 ure as me would
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Green Gadgets Why do we get drunk? Here’s what happens when you drink alcohol. Alcohol enters the bloodstream through the stomach and intestine. Once in the bloodstream, it is carried to other parts of the body quite quickly. In fact, it reaches the brain almost immediately. Alcohol stays in the body until it is broken down by the liver and eventually leaves the body through breath, sweat and urine. The intestines are where most of the absorption takes place, and this can happen within minutes of swallowing (quicker if you’ve forgotten to eat dinner). Brains behaving badly Your brain is divided into sections and each one has a different job. The frontal lobe is the big bit in the front and it controls things like judgment and reason. Thanks to your frontal lobe, you can think before you speak, cross a busy road without getting hit, and act cool around the person you’ve secretly got a crush on. The frontal lobe is the first part of the brain that gets affected by alcohol (you can probably guess where this is going). After one drink, you may find it easier to do things you wouldn’t normally do, like chat up that secret crush of yours. But after a few more drinks, you start to lose control over your emotions and behaviour (and then it might seem like a good idea to tell your crush that you think you love them). This is where typical drunk behaviour comes from, and it can lead to all sorts: hugging strangers, random fits of crying, telling everyone you love them, fighting – the sky’s the limit, really.
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Make sure all your gadgets are good for the environment TVs and electrical goods Televisions and other electronic equipment – like MP3 players and consoles – waste electricity if they are not properly switched off, and it’s easy to do once you get into the habit! By just putting your TV on standby, you’ll only be using electricity you don’t really want to switch them off! Computers, gadgets and mobile phones Producing computers and electronic gadgets can require large amounts of energy and raw materials. By cutting down
on energy use, and disposing of unwanted equipment carefully you can reduce the harmful impact of electronic goods on the environment. If you’ve got a new mobile phone and you want to get rid of your old one, don’t just throw it in the bin. As well as helping the environment, you can also raise money for charity by recycling them. Your local authority might run a mobile phone recycling scheme, or some charities run regular events where you can hand in your handset. And always remember to unplug your mains lead or charger from the wall and or turn them off at the plug socket.
Pop Idol 15% of 10-17 year olds in the UK want a career as a rock or pop star, coming second only to a career in computing/IT. Today’s teens want money and fame but most are prepared to work for it. 22% said they saw technology as the career to study for, feeling it will guarantee them future employment with a good income, although only 4% believed it would ‘be fun’. Depressingly though, more than one in ten declared they just wanted ‘to be famous’, believing that fame can be achieved by today’s culture of reality TV and that income is assured afterwards. The odds of hitting the big time through Big Brother and similar shows are 30 million to one – greater than those for winning the lottery. Established careers like teaching, politics, medicine and law appeared way down the list. The lure of rock stardom is nothing new but, interestingly, the top two ambitions of today’s youngsters frequently work in tandem these days. Many bands and singers have managed to reach a much wider audience thanks to the internet and websites like Myspace. In addition, digital recording has come a long way so it may be no coincidence that 37% of teenage aspiration is accounted for by these two choices.
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Make the most of your money ENTERTAINMENT
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The world is facing a money crisis and somehow makes you feel you have lots of managing money is not an easy task, money to spend. especially if you never have enoughLIFEBYTE FASHION of it. But not managing money can The golden rule in managing finances is to be even worse, if you find yourself monitor your spending. spending what you don’t have. It is easy to lose track of your finances by spending Here are some suggestions for managing on things which are not a priority. your account: • As you spend keep the receipts (this includes Here are some of the reasons people end cash machine and till receipts. up buying things that aren’t a priority: • Keep a record of all the Switch or Delta • T he assistant is friendly or helpful payments you make. and so you feel like you should buy • At the end of every month tick off your something. payments against your standing order to • Y ou are depressed or upset confirm what you have spent. and you think shopping will • Always check your bank statement carefully. make feel better. Mistakes are surprisingly common. • You shop out of habit or ritual. To manage your money well you have to be • Shopping or buying drinks completely honest with yourself. It is no good in a group is a social ‘forgetting’ how much money you spend in the activity and makes you feel pub or on magazines every week. These smaller part of things. amounts can add up and you may be surprised • You may find you can how much you actually do spend when you get credit and that this keep an eye on them.
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(Pictured right) GCHQ Headquarters – Cheltenham
GCHQ is one of the UK’s three intelligence services, alongside MI5 and MI6. The only one based outside London – in Cheltenham – it has two very specific roles in helping counter threats which compromise national and global security. The first is to use some of the world’s most powerful technology to ‘intercept’ communications and electronic signals from around the world. Teams of IT, electronics and telecommunications specialists manage the equipment, while mathematicians, linguists and intelligence analysts study and interpret the information it provides. This information is then used by customers – the government, law enforcement agencies and the military – to inform foreign policy or fight terrorism and crime. The second is to act as a security organisation in the area of information assurance – protecting Government communication and information systems from attack – as well as providing technical advice to a range of UK customers. This specialist work is the responsibility of CESG – The National Technical Authority for Information Assurance. In both, the focus is on keeping one step ahead of people who are, in turn, trying to keep one step ahead of GCHQ. This means the work is constantly evolving, extremely challenging, and always interesting. GCHQ employs around 5,000 people – mainly in Cheltenham – and recruits from all disciplines into entry level roles in a huge range of operational and support functions.
While the work is totally unique, the skills – and professional qualifications – you gain will be industry standard, and transferable. Everyone benefits from personalised training, mentoring and shadowing. If you’re still at school and interested in working with us, take a look at our website to get a feel for what we do, and to see where you might fit in best. Our sheer size means we always have opportunities for people who really want to make a difference, and get paid while they’re building a career. While most of our roles do call for a degree, we also consider other qualifications, such as GCSEs and ‘A’levels (the ‘Vacancy Details’ will describe what is required). We regularly recruit for administrative, clerical and IT support roles, and offer apprenticeships in electrical/electronic (telecommunications) engineering. GCHQ’s campaigns run throughout the year. Please see www.gchq-careers.co.uk for more details. Applicants must be British citizens. In order to obtain Developed Vetting Security Clearance, you must be 18 years old.
it’s an interesting world
There are over one million viruses, trojans and worms in circulation worldwide. We want to make sure they don’t see the light of day.
Various Opportunities | based Cheltenham
The threats to British security are changing. Both terrorists and
criminals are becoming more determined and technologically sophisticated. As part of Britain’s intelligence services – and as the UK’s National Technical Authority for Information Assurance – it’s the responsibility of GCHQ’s Information Assurance team to protect the country against these threats – all from our Cheltenham HQ in the Cotswolds. Using pioneering technology to tackle some of the most complex digital challenges, the work’s vital, fascinating and totally unique. If you’re looking for a professionally satisfying career with a meaningful commitment to your work-life balance, find out more at our website.
www.gchq-careers.co.uk
Applicants must be British citizens. GCHQ values diversity and welcomes applicants from all sections of the community. We want our workforce to reflect the diversity of our work.
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Pulling Power Step one: Who do you fancy? Try to talk to as many men/women as possible until one gives in, which is torture if you have any sense of shame. Alternatively, pick one babe/bloke, muster up all your wit and charm and make your approach with your friendliest chat up line. Step two: Check them out properly Are they breathing? Preferable, surely; Are they as drunk as you are? Fine, so long as you’re both still sober enough to know what you’re doing; Are they currently kissing someone else? If so it’s probably wise to steer clear, at least for now. Step three: Move in for the kill Start with sexy glances and smiles across the room, hopefully they will be returned; When your mates get fed up with your puppy dog routine, prepare to make a move. Wander over trying to look as cool as possible without falling flat on your face; Stay and chat or move away discreetly, depending upon whether you they show mutual attraction or give you the cold shoulder.
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Finally, don’t: Tell them you want to marry them and have lots of children together this will scare them off and if it doesn’t then it should scare you; Throw up on their shoes. www.thesite.org The Charming chat-up lines • “Get your coat love, you’ve pulled.” • “Your feet must be tired, you’ve been running through my mind all day.” • “My friend thinks you’re hot, and if it’s any consolation so do I.” • “I’ve lost my phone number, can I have yours?” • So which one of Girls Aloud/Boyzone are you? • Is your surname Jacobs? Because, girl, you’re a cracker. • (Break an ice cube with your teeth) Now I’ve broken the ice can I buy you a drink? Crazy!! • You’re just like a parking ticket - you’ve got ‘Fine’ written all over you! • Shall we talk or continue flirting from a distance?
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Nike - Here come the girls
Below: looking for female sport lovers. Bottom: Nike in search of girls with sporting goals
Following a summer of outstanding female achievement in sport, Nike CONTENTS is scouring the UK and Ireland’s top universities for ambitious, stylish and inspirational young women who are passionate about sport and live their lives with the strength and confidence it gives them. As part of the “Nike Women Here I Am” campaign, female Nike athletes such as tennis star Maria Sharapova, runner Paula Radcliffe and olympian Kelly Sotherton have spoken with excitement and truth about what it means to them to be a STUDY ADVICE woman who loves sport. Speaking with the conviction sport gives them, their point of view resonates and inspires. This energy has inspired Nike to find young women who are the sporting heroes in their own community. The chosen few will become part of Nike Selects and form the prestigious Team Here I Am – working with Nike to embody the spirit of Nike Women on campus and share their passion for sport with the wider world.
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To find out more see www.nike.com
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Hands up – why volunteer?
Mother Nature: Volunteering roles can range from enviromental conservation to helping the homeless
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So why would you volunteer? There are so many Areasons! dvi ce Through volunteering you can: • try out new types of work •m ake a difference to people’s lives in your community • get experience LIFEBYTE that looks good on your CV • learn new skills that could lead to a new job • get training and qualifications - some volunteer organisations offer this • network - make contacts that could lead to offers of paid work • get references to use in job applications • meet new people • g et satisfaction from doing something useful! What can I do? There’s a huge range of volunteering opportunities. These are just a few examples of activities you could do: • environmental conservation • s upporting people with learning disabilities, mental health
TRAVEL problems or physical disabilities • taking care of sick animals • running community arts programmes • fundraising • supporting young people or older people FASHION • helping homeless people • administration • befriending isolated or lonely people. Volunteer for a new job! Volunteering experience impresses employers. It shows you’re a positive, motivated person and you use your time constructively. In order to get into some jobs employers will expect you to have done some volunteering - for example environmental conservation, the media and social work. Volunteering gives you essential hands-on experience and shows you’re committed to this area of work. www.careersadvice.direct. gov.uk
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CONTENTS
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CAMPUS LIFE Unlike school, you’re at university or college TRAVEL ENTERTAINMENT because you want to be learning moreSEXUAL HEALTH about a subject or job you’re really into. dvi You’ll Ahave more control over how and when ce you study – though it’s up to you to make the most of it. You will also get a chance to LIFEBYTE meet new people and FASHION make new friends. COMPETITIONS You’ll find higher education challenging – getting used to new ways of learning and thinking may take time - but you’ll have a lot of fun along the way. You’ll also have lots of opportunities to experience new things and meet new people. Higher education is a very different experience to school or further education. You are expected to do far more work for yourself. Lectures and seminars will provide guidance, but you’ll need to widen your knowledge through background reading. Subject staff will offer lots of advice to help you get used to this new way of working. Library staff will be able to help you find the materials you need, and advise on referencing and avoiding plagiarism when it comes to writing essays. Making new friends is a key part of the higher education experience. If you’re worried about fitting in,
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remember that students from all backgrounds and of all ages go to university and college. One way to form friendships is through student societies or sports. It’s always easier to bond with someone if you share a common interest. There will probably be a full list of societies available on your students’ union website, and you’ll have an opportunity to join up to most at the ‘freshers fair’. Most institutions have a sports centre of their own or an arrangement with the local centre.
“Making new friends is a key part of the higher education experience. If you’re worried about fitting in, remember that students from all backgrounds and of all ages go to university and college.”
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As a student you’re likely to have access to sports facilities, and you may get a discount on gym membership. Most universities and colleges run open days. They’re generally held two or three times a year, allowing members of the public to look around the institution and see what’s on offer. Many insitutions also offer short courses over the summer period, giving prospective students the chance to get a taste of higher education. At these events you’ll be able to find out from lecturers and students all the good and bad points of university life, take a tour of the campus and sit in on lectures and seminars. UNIAID’s (www.uniaid.org.uk) online games are another way of getting a handle on what day-today life as a student is really like. By taking you through a term as a virtual student, they may well raise some issues you hadn’t even considered. LS
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Starting a new job can be really stressful, but it can also be the start of an exciting new phase in your life. So think positive and make sure you get off on the right foot. Nobody likes being the new girl or boy, but most things get easier if you stick them out. Here are some tips on how to get through the all-important first day.
Positive attitude
If you automatically expect things to go badly, then they probably will. Being a bit more positive and open to new things puts your experiences in a different light. The unknown element can be scary, but it’s exciting at the same time. Thinking friendly thoughts will make people see you as a friendly person, and they are more likely to respond well towards you.
Trust yourself
FIRST
You wouldn’t be the first person to think, “I’m not good enough”, or “What if nobody likes me when I get there”. Well, the employers wouldn’t have wasted their precious time and money hiring you if they thought you were useless, would they? Of course you won’t know how everything works right away, but you won’t be expected to either.
The big day
Relax, smile at people, and try to
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“If you automatically expect things to go badly, then they probably will. Being a I WANT A... bit more positive MONEYand CAREER AT SEA open to new things puts your experiences in a different light.”
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remember their names. Don’t be afraid to ask for help; it’s better Find out TRAVELthan making a big mistake. SEXUAL HEALTH where the canteen and the toilets are so you don’t wander around looking lost. Remember that it takes time to get to know people and form friendships on a new job, so be patient. Be slightly wary of anybody who is all over you like an instant best mate; they often turn FASHIONout to be the officeCOMPETITIONS gossip.
Serious problems
Most people end up wondering what they were worrying about at the end of their first day. On rare occasions, it can be more serious. If the working conditions are unsafe, or the job description was completely different, don’t be scared to complain to the boss. Don’t tolerate threatening remarks, racial abuse, or sexual harassment - it’s not worth putting up with, and could harm your self-respect and your health in the long term. Speak to a senior person about your concerns. Remember, they offered you the job, but you choose whether you want to work for them or not. LS www.thesite.org
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You will probably do work experience at some point during Year 10 or 11. It’s a great chance to get a taste of a job and see what skills you’re going to need for the world of work. Work experience can be a great help if you’re still wondering what sort of career you want. A work placement is your opportunity to spend a period of time outside the classroom, learning about a particular job or area of work. During your placement, you’ll be able to find out what skills employers look for when they’re hiring someone to fill a job vacancy. You will also get the chance to develop your selfconfidence and communication skills. This will help you to work better with other people in further or higher education, as well as in your future career. With schools, work placements are only available in Years 10 or 11. You won’t be able to do a work placement with your school until you reach this age.
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Types of work experience
COMPETITIONS
Get ahead – work experience Find out how can work experience can help enhance your CV, make the right career choice and get a head start on the competition when looking for a job
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A work experience placement could involve working in a business or organisation full-time for one to three weeks, or spending one day per week in the workplace over a number of months. A placement may form part of your course if you’re doing a GCSE in a practical subject like engineering or art and design. And the new Diploma qualification – available in selected schools and colleges since September 2008 – involves at least ten days of work experience.
Young Apprenticeships work opportunities
Extended work experience is a central part of the Young Apprenticeship programme, which is now being offered by a growing number of schools. You study the normal curriculum at school, and over Years 10 and 11 spend 50 days gaining experience with an employer, training company or college. During this time, you’ll be working towards work-related qualifications such as NVQs. If you complete the programme, you may be able to move more quickly towards a full-time Apprenticeship in your chosen area. However, you could also decide to stay on in full-time education, either at school or college. Check with your teachers whether Young Apprenticeships are available at your school. LS
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QA-IQ
From January 2009 QA-Xpertise will be known as QA
Have you thought about a career in IT? Perhaps you loving messing around on your computer at home, you’re an ace with a Playstation or you’re the kind of person who loves getting stuff to work. But you think you need a degree, and don’t want to spend years at uni racking up huge debts… Think again! If you’ve got just 5 GCSEs at grades A – C, and they include maths and english, then you could start a fast track towards a career in IT straight away. An Advanced Apprenticeship in IT means you’ll spend just six months learning all the basic skills you need and getting your practical qualifications in the latest technologies, before starting your first job where you’ll carry on learning while being paid. So why IT? Maybe you’ve seen the IT Crowd on TV, but not everyone who works in IT is Roy and Moss – in fact the majority aren’t anything like them. IT isn’t just about answering phones and switching computers on and off - though fixing problems is a really important part of it - there are many things in today’s world that rely on IT to work… • Have you ever thought about how a cash machine finds out from your bank whether you’ve got any money left? Well, it relies on complex IT programmes and communications networks but can still tell you’re skint in less than 5 seconds. • What about the games you download to your mobile phone?
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Someone who works in IT has created not just the games but also the software that makes the phone work in the first place. • Do you love watching Formula 1 motor racing? Maybe you wonder how they can predict how fast their lap times are going to be and get their cars to go just seconds faster than the competition – guess what, it’s IT again! • If you’ve got friends thinking about going in to the Army, then think about how the weapons systems they’ll be learning to use were created…more IT people. Even if working on films, racing cars or saving the world sounds a long way in the future – being the person who keeps the boss happy with his computer is a pretty good place to be! How does it work? If you do an Advanced Apprenticeship you’ll finish the course with lots of new hands-on skills, and you can be confident that they’re the skills that employers have told us they need. You’ll get qualifications from Microsoft, Cisco, ITIL (service management) and A+, all in less than 6 months! As well as learning the technical stuff, you’ll find out more about how to act in the workplace and things like communication, team work, and problem solving, which will help you to settle in to your new job much more quickly. As well as all that, you’ll get help in finding your first job – things like putting together
a CV, and how to answer tricky questions in interviews. Why an Apprenticeship? There are loads of options for you once you leave school, and you’ve got to choose the one that you think is right for you. With an Advanced Apprenticeship you’ll be able to get in to your first job quickly, so you’ll already be earning while your friends are still at college or taking A-Levels – and people with Apprenticeships often get promoted quickly because they’ve got the right skills to get ahead. Don’t forget that an Advanced Apprenticeship is recognised by employers as a vocational qualification at Level 3. Did you know? Apprentices earn on average, over £100k more in their lifetime than other employees (Learning and Skills Council) If you’re worried about the cost of taking an Apprenticeship, then funding is available to help. If you’re between 16-19 then you may be entitled to receive Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). So what’s stopping you? Find out more about starting your career in IT with an Advanced Apprenticeship today. If you’re not sure whether this is for you, why not speak to a friend or relative who’s already working in IT and they can help you find out more. If you want to find out more about the QA-Xpertise Advanced Apprenticeship, then visit www.qa.com/apprenticeships and we can help you learn more.
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WORLD OF WORK
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NEWS
Get switched on to Computers and IT MONEY
I WANT TO BE A... VET
offices. Working hours vary from The dramatic and normal office hours to shift working. sustained growth of Some jobs involve travelling to information technology SEXUAL HEALTH sell or install systems, or sort (IT) continues to bring about SPORT out problems on site. Employers big changes in the working and include: home environment. •b anks, building societies and Most organisations, large multinational companies and small, national and • fi nancial institutions such as the international, now rely almost Stock Exchange entirely on their computer • retail and wholesale groups systems, and personal •p ublic sector organisations such computers are used by millions COMPETITIONS as the NHS of individuals. • t ransport organisations, airlines Jobs range from the highly and airports technical, such as software • a ny medium-sized and large developer, computer games business that uses computer designer or technical support, to systems. those requiring good business awareness, such as systems More than 20 million people use analyst, database administrator computer technology or the internet or web author. Jobs such as every day at work in the UK, and interactive media designer or over one million people work in IT. web developer provide work in Job opportunities exist in all parts this sector for those with high of the country and, as IT skills are levels of creativity and possibly international, opportunities to work a design background. Job titles abroad are fairly common. can be confusing as they are not Teamwork skills and good verbal consistent across the industry, and and writing skills are often just as multiskilling means job functions vital as technical knowledge, and can overlap. almost all jobs need the ability to People in IT may spend a lot of solve complex problems in a logical time at a computer screen, working manner. The internet has seen as part of a team, in open plan
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great advances in e-commerce, database-driven websites and wireless fidelity (‘WiFi’) networking. Consequently, all computer specialists also now need to have a broad knowledge of internet technologies. There are many ways into IT, and people may start training with very different levels of educational qualifications. Some go in with a degree in IT, others may have an unrelated degree, a HND or BTEC national qualification, A levels/H grades or GCSEs/S grades. It is possible to take an Apprenticeship in IT leading to NVQs/SVQs. There is also a lot of training material on the internet. IT offers good promotion opportunities. The fast pace of change in the industry means that career progression depends on keeping up with developments, retraining in new skills and anticipating future trends. Once experienced, many people work on a freelance or contract basis, or set up a consultancy. Check with your teachers whether Young Apprenticeships are available at your school. LS
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Computing degrees at Kingston
Career focused courses Brilliant facilities Attractive and lively location
Look around you – the world runs on IT. Communication, information, entertainment, business; computing is at the heart of it all. And it’s changing at lightning speed. PCs are increasingly fast; games consoles, media centres, Blu Ray players and digital TVs are selling out in the shops. In fact, shops are struggling against online sales. Phones are no longer just for talking on. And the future? We believe computer science will continue evolving and growing rapidly, creating fantastic opportunities for the next generation of computing graduates. With a range of interesting courses, the latest equipment and a real focus on your employability, we’ll help you prepare for your digital future. So get connected at Kingston.
www.kingston.ac.uk/cism
Beauty Therapy – A Career For Life! Want to work in a vibrant exciting industry with opportunities galore? The Beauty industry is growing year on year, offering opportunities for all! A qualification in Beauty Therapy, Beauty Retail and Holistic Therapy is a passport to work anywhere in the world. Wanting to look, and feel good is a global phenomenon. ‘’Beauty Therapy is a career for life’’ says Eileen Cavalier, CEO London College of Beauty Therapy. As well as the increase in salons and nail bars opening, hotels, cruise ships, airlines and even airports – now offer beauty treatments to their clients. People expect to be able to relax and enjoy a bit of pampering throughout their trip or holiday. LCBT works along side companies such as Virgin Active Health Spas, Sterex Electrolysis International Limited and Steiner International Recruitment to provide the best industry training and ultimately place people in jobs! Our Reputation LCBT is dedicated to working with people who want to work hard, learn new skills and build a career in the Beauty, Retail and Holistic Care sectors.
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Whoever you are, Beauty Therapy could be the career for you! LCBT is the Centre of Vocational Excellence for Beauty, Retail and Holistic Care with exceptional links with employers across beauty retail and beauty therapy, nationally, regionally and in London. There is plenty of opportunity for lifelong employment in an industry that continues to boom! What’s on offer LCBT is open throughout the year without term breaks, offering monthly enrolment on most programmes, enabling you to enrol at any time in the year and progress from one level to the next. We have the largest Salon in London and a busy Nail Bar which are open to the public. This allows students to practise on real clients and demonstrate their newly learnt skills. You come first – in striving to help you achieve your aims and aspirations, our primary focus is to give you a learning experience which will equip you to move into your choice of employment with confidence and the right skills. LCBT is also one of the only Beauty Therapy Training Colleges in the UK to be Further Education funded.
Student Story ‘’I started at LCBT in 2007 at Level 2 stage. I really enjoyed the course which made me want to go on to Level 3 and learn more about the industry. I have wanted to do beauty therapy since I can remember. My sister is a hairdresser and I would like us to go into business together at some point, but firstly I would like to gain more experience and maybe also work in different countries. I would also like to be a professional make-up artist and LCBT has given me that opportunity!’’ Chloe Huckle, NVQ Level 3 Beauty Therapy. Want to know what a typical day is like at LCBT? The truth is, no two days in LCBT are ever the same! • The College is a beautiful, Grade 2 listed, ‘landmark’ building • Oxford Circus is a two minute walk away • The trainee therapists in their stylish uniforms are a recognised part of this glamorous location • The area has a real ‘buzz’, it’s an exciting place to be! “I love being at LCBT. It is an exciting area to be in, with one of the world’s best-known shopping areas on your doorstep.” LCBT Student. ‘’At LCBT we continually strive for excellence in our training. I always say, we don’t run courses, we train for industry and there is a big difference. Quite simply, we want you to have the best experience possible when training with us. I often meet former students who now have their own thriving businesses, or work in related industries such as Beauty PR, as well as all those working in Spas, Health Clubs, Salons even Airlines. For all of them, the time they invested in training with us has given them the opportunity of a lifetime.’’ Eileen Cavalier, CEO London College of Beauty Therapy.
For further information about Courses, Careers in Beauty Therapy or Attending an Open Day visit our website www.lcbt.co.uk or feel free to contact us! info@lcbt.co.uk London College of Beauty Therapy, 47 Great Marlborough Street, London, W1F 7JP Tel: 0207 208 1329
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WORLD OF WORK
£ MONEY
I WANT TO BE A... VET
SEXUAL HEALTH
SPORT
COMPETITIONS
NEWS
GET A START IN ENGINEERING
Engineering is the practical application of science. Engineers are involved in the research and development, design, manufacturing and production of the machinery, products and systems of everyday life – from cars to hospital equipment; from computers to drilling rigs; from alternative energy to communication systems.
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There are various branches of engineering, including: • Aerospace and defence – working with aircraft and space technology. • Automotive – cars, trucks and the systems they rely on. • Chemical and materials engineering – using our basic natural resources, such as petroleum, natural gas and minerals, and converting them to products ranging from microchips
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to food products. • Electrical, electronics, telecommunications and power engineering – from nuclear power to television, and from computer systems to communication networks. • Manufacturing – systems in factories, including automated and computer-controlled machines. • Marine engineering and shipbuilding – ships, offshore platforms, other marine structures and the equipment installed on them. • Mechanical – designing components, machines and systems that involve the conversion and use of mechanical energy. • Petroleum – working on the exploration and production of oil and gas. People work in engineering at all levels, ranging from operators who operate machinery and carry out assembly work, to professional engineers who use their experience to manage projects. Working hours depend on the job, but are usually around 38 hours a week. Depending on the nature of the work, shift work may be required. Jobs may be indoors, in an office or factory, or outdoors. Around 1.5 million people work in engineering-related jobs for large and small-scale manufacturing companies, specialist engineering workshops, public utilities such as
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produce 121 tortillas would wer a po to y erg enough en e hour space shuttle for on
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electricity companies, and product design and development companies. Skilled people are highly sought after and opportunities, especially for those with flexible skills or a strong grasp of new technology, are growing. Engineering jobs exist throughout the UK and abroad. Women Into Science, Engineering and Construction (WISE) say around 20 per cent of engineering employees are female, but only six per cent of professional engineers are female. Along with other organisations, they are working to encourage more women into engineering. Engineering jobs require people who like maths and science, enjoy finding solutions to challenging problems, are practical and good communicators. Entry is possible through a number of different entry routes. Training can begin straight from school with either academic or vocational qualifications. Apprenticeships combine work and study, and can lead to craft and technician jobs. Alternatively, taking a degree can open up opportunities for graduate entry. Engineering work usually offers excellent training and development prospects. With further study and qualifications it is possible to progress into a supervisory or a technical role, to the role of engineering technician, and to Incorporated or Chartered Engineer status. Career progression is often to senior supervisory and management roles, and there are sometimes opportunities to work abroad. LS For more information see www.connexions-direct.com.
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Maersk, the leading shipping organisation, offers fully sponsored training towards marine related HNDs or Degrees and a prosperous career as a qualified deck or engineering officer onboard its world leading fleet. To find out more simply visit our website:
www.seacareers.co.uk
Or call our Recruitment Team on: 0191 269 2500
THE MAERSK COMPANY
UK . USA . Australia . Asia The Maersk Company can really take you places Formed in 1951 the Maersk Company is a leading British shipping company, owning or manning a fleet of over 60 vessels, employing approximately 2000 sea staff. In order to maintain high quality deck and engineering officers, the company runs the ‘Officer Trainee Scheme’ Officer Trainee combine academic studies with practical training onboard state of the art vessels.
route from the west coast of America to the Far East. It was a great trip and an amazing experience. I’ll never forget sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge or into Hong Kong Harbour. Spending time at sea gave me a new prospective on life” Maria Quigley – qualifying cadet joining the Maersk container fleet.
Tax Free Monthly Sponsorship. Tuition Paid. Paid Travel. Full Uniform. Recognised Qualification “I’ve always been interested in this area and a cadetship seemed to be the best way to become an engineer. It’s good to see and learn. I’ll de doing more main engine work before I go back to college and qualify for engineering work” Callun Deane – Engineering Cadet
day – meeting new people, doing practical work as well as studying and being part of a team” Jason McAloone – Deck Cadet.
“I’ve already seen Dubai, India, Sri Lanka and Singapore. It’s really enjoyable, with a different experience every
“After my first academic year, I embarked on a three-month sea trip aboard the container vessel, Maersk Gateshead, en
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Life at sea with Maersk offers a challenging and rewarding career for highly motivated and proactive individuals.
Get onboard, find out more www.seacareers.co.uk
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CONTENTS
WHAT’S NEW
WORLD OF WORK
£ STUDY ADVICE
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Environmental and Landbased Careers
ENTERTAINMENT
TRAVEL
MONEY
SEXUAL HEALTH
Advic e
LIFEBYTE
FASHION
COMPETITIONS
Ever thought of a career in one of the I WANT TO UK’s most diverse and BE A... VET rewarding sectors?
NEW
Each of the 17 different industries offers you the chance to develop skills in practical, technical and specialised areas with opportunities for career SPORT progression and promotion.
Careers can range from hands-on practical work through to demanding management opportunities – even the chance to diversify into your own business or work abroad. As new technology within the sector advances, the opportunities continue to grow. The options are endless! The environmental and landbased sector offers opportunities for everyone. Whatever your age, experience or ambitions there are qualifications and routes into learning to suit. • Agricultural crops • Agricultural livestock • Animal care • Animal technology • Aquaculture • Environmental conservation • Equine • Farriery • Fencing • Fisheries management • Floristry •G ame and wildlife management • Land-based engineering •H orticulture, landscaping and sports turf • Production horticulture • Trees and timber • Veterinary nursing For more information, visit www.afuturein.com
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READY TO
UP?
RISE
Set in the heart of north London, we offer a range of world-class undergraduate courses to give your prospects a real lift. So if you want to stand out in the capital, visit our website to see the full range of courses for 2009 and apply now for September. Benefit from the ÂŁ100m invested in new learning and leisure facilities at our Hendon campus, or enjoy the beautiful country park setting at Trent Park. If your focus is art and design then our Cat Hill campus, also close to Trent Park (near Oakwood and Cockfosters Piccadilly line stations), will be your destination.
0800 923 3958
or email enquiries@mdx.ac.uk for a Prospectus
Open Days in 2009: 14 January, 4-7 February, 11-14 March, 29 April - 2 May, 10-13 June
www.mdx.ac.uk MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY IN LONDON
BUILDING A POSITIVE IMAGE
A survey commissioned by ConstructionSkills, the Sector Skills Council for construction, has identified that Asian youths put their parents top of the list for advice on career choices, a long way above teachers or friends. • Over a third (41%) of the Asian participants said, without prompting, that their family were the key people to ask when choosing future career paths. • Just 13% of Asian young people said they would ask their friends, and only 7% would ask a teacher or lecturer. Although the credit crunch is having some impact on certain areas of construction, the industry will still grow over the next five years, resulting in the need for some 42,000 new skilled construction workers every year. Yet the research from ConstructionSkills also identifies that 78% of Asian respondents have never considered a career in construction despite the increasing number of career opportunities available. The study was conducted as part of a national campaign to promote the construction industry as an attractive career for young people. ConstructionSkills kicked off the Positive Image campaign earlier this year with outdoor and in-school posters in areas with prominent Asian communities including Brent, Newham and Tower Hamlets. A page on the social networking site Bebo was also set up to enable young people already working in construction to talk directly to interested youngsters.
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In addition, ConstructionSkills has launched an outreach campaign in Newham, the second highest ethnically diverse borough in Britain, to raise awareness of the opportunities in the construction industry. Outreach teams are visiting over 150 community organisations, charities and places of worship in the coming weeks, and speaking directly to the people who influence them. With school children back in the classroom after christmas, and the new Construction and Built Environment Diploma putting the industry on the agenda, the team is also visiting secondary schools and colleges in Newham. Paul Sykes, head of recruitment and careers at ConstructionSkills, said: “This study shows that parents still have a strong influence on young people.
“We have enlisted outreach teams to not only engage with the young people, but also their parents as they clearly play an integral part when it comes to career choices. “Construction is an exciting career choice, offering excellent prospects and we are working to make sure that young people of all backgrounds have the opportunity to get involved.” For more information, log onto www.bconstructive.co.uk or www.bebo.com/positiveimage * Please note that the survey mentioned above carried out by ConstructionSkills contained a sample of respondents from the Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani community which is representative of the UK’s South Asian population. LS
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CONTENTS
WHAT’S NEW
WORLD OF WORK
£ STUDY ADVICE
ENTERTAINMENT
I WANT A... CAREER AT SEA
MONEY
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renewable If 0.1% of the sea’s o electricity int d ne tur s wa y energ worlds the ly pp it would su wer po for nd ma de TRAVEL SEXUAL HEALTH five times over
Advic e
KEY FACTS ABOUT CONSTRUCTION LIFEBYTE FASHION The construction sector is central to the UK economy, generating almost 9% of UK GDP and with a turnover of more than £203bn a year. The industry needs to recruit 42,000 new entrants every year for the next five years to meet the significant demand for planned projects. Every year ConstructionSkills runs a campaign called ‘Positive Image’ which aims to promote construction as a career, showing it is about far more than being a bricklayer. Almost 200,000 women work in construction, proving that it’s definitely not just “jobs for the boys! Women account for around 1% of tradespeople and 12% of those working in design and management occupations.
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COMPETITIONS
There are three main routes for people wanting to get into the construction industry - craft, technical and professional. It’s also worth remembering that there’s a huge variety of training programmes available in the construction industry, so whatever you choose to do first is not necessarily what you’ll do for the rest of your life. Construction offers a huge number of professional jobs that are comparable to lawyers, accountants or doctors. There will always be many different opportunities - once you’ve got your job, you can start developing your career. In the construction industry, the sky is the limit. Whatever level you start at, as long as you have the determination and put in the hard work, there is plenty of scope to move up the career ladder.
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rld’s Chocolate is the wo most chemically complex food
CASE HISTORY Shomari Lyons Shomari is a 19 year old from London, currently in his second year of a vet degree at the University of Bristol. Why did you choose to become a vet? Though my family never allowed us to have pets, my extended family always had pets. My aunt worked at London Zoo, so we visited there frequently. I was about five years old when I decided that I wanted to become a vet. I was always into the sciences and loved drawing animals and it was natural to me to want to work with them! A past pupil at my secondary school, who
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had become a vet, invited me to have a few weeks work experience at his practice, and that was it! What is the course like? I am really enjoying the course. The hours can be long and the work can be intensive but it has to be, it’s the equivalent of studying to become a doctor. I especially like anatomy and physics.
What are you most looking forward too when you qualify? Just getting out there and working with the animals, being hands on and looking after the animals. What are your long term plans? Initially I want to work within a small animal practice in London and then go on to run my own practice, but ideally I would love to work with wild game in Africa – lions and elephants.
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CONTENTS
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The Veterinary Profession: STUDY ADVICE
I WANT A... CAREER AT SEA
MONEY
I WANT TO BE A... VET
Your Guide to Courses and Careers ENTERTAINMENT
A career as a veterinary surgeon?
Veterinary surgeons are medical Advic e professionals whose primary responsibility is protecting the health and welfare of animals and people. Vets diagnose and control LIFEBYTE animal diseases, treat sick and injured animals, prevent the transmission of animal diseases to people and advise owners on proper care of pets and livestock. They help to ensure a safe food supply by maintaining the health of food animals. Vets are also involved in wildlife preservation and conservation and the public health of the human population. Vets provide a variety of services in private clinical practice, teaching, research, government service, public health, military service and private industry. The work is physically demanding and can at times be stressful with a high level of responsibility, as every veterinary surgeon has an obligation to deal with emergencies in any species at any time. The majority of vets work in private practice, however there are other career options and these include: the state veterinary service, army, teaching/research posts, animal charities, and overseas opportunities.
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TRAVEL
SEXUAL HEALTH
SPORT
As a vet you could also end out relevant work experience, for up in scientific research, the example, in practice, on a farm, in pharmaceutical or animal nutrition kennels or at a pet rescue. industries, travelling abroad on wildlife projects, working in A veterinary government to maintain biosecurity degree means in the UK, in referral practice • Diverse opportunities dealing with specialist cases in hi • Career stability with 99% FASHION COMPETITIONS tech environments, as a lecturer or employment as a researcher in a university, or • Packages staring from about even treating sniffer dogs in £ 29,000 and rising to around the army. £41,600 after five years • Being your own boss • Respect within the community Qualifications • The ability to make a real required difference to health and welfare A university degree is essential. for both animals and people There are currently only seven • Rare combination of a caring universities in the United Kingdom profession and good earning that offer a veterinary degree potential course that’s approved by the • A passport to work abroad Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). These are Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Attributes Glasgow, Liverpool and London Applicants will need to be self(with the Royal Veterinary College confident and motivated students, offering their own degree). who have good communication and Each of the seven veterinary motor skills. schools asks for slightly different Students are expected to qualifications. The general guide have an understanding of the is AAB at A Level or AAABB at positive and negative aspects of SCE (usually including Biology and a veterinary career and have an Chemistry). For applicants who do awareness of current important not have the standard qualification, issues and developments in a one year pre-degree course or veterinary medicine and science. a six year vet degree is available LS from selected universities. All expect applicants to demonstrate For further information see their commitment by carrying www.rvc.ac.uk
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WORLD OF WORK Having the right attitude plays a large part in how well you get on in the workplace. No matter how good your qualifications or how talented you are, without the I WANT TO MONEY you will not get BE A... VET right attitude on well at work. A poor attitude gets more people fired than any other single factor, and a good attitude gets people jobs and can help you keep a job. Everything is possible with right attitude behind you to push you forward. When you feel that you can it is, make sure you look neat and SEXUAL HEALTH no longer achieve or finish a certain SPORT tidy at all times. Beware of missing task, just having the right attitude buttons, ladders in tights, too much pushes you on to your maximum jewellery etc. potential, and you will eventually BR PROFESSIONAL. Learn to achieve in the end. Having the right conduct yourself in a professional attitude encourages you to achieve a manner. Find out about the company goal that you have set for yourself. you work for. Make sure you are answer the phone in the right way, Here are some Golden and use the professional language COMPETITIONS of the workplace. Turn off your Rules to having the mobile phone during working hours. right attitude Don’t arrive back late from lunch, BE RESPECTFUL. You will most don’t surf the net for private reasons probably be a new-starter in your during office hours. place of work. Basic courtesy with MUCK IN. Don’t be a words like “Please” and “Thank “jobsworthy” by just sticking rigidly you” are vital in the work place. to your area of work. If you are able Good manners at work are a good to lend a hand, do help out where it working attitude. Be respectful is practical or possible. Your willing when conducting yourself in the attitude will not go unnoticed. If you office. This is an often-overlooked need to stay a bit later to get the job attitude that can bring you far in the done – do it with good grace and corporate world. Be courteously don’t moan. Little things like offering respectful of people in the office to make tea or coffee for other staff no matter what their rank and members will make people see you designation. as a good team player. DRESS THE PART. Have the DON’T GOSSIP. All workplaces right attitude to the dress code at suffer from gossip and “office work. If everyone is dressed smartly, politics”. Wherever you can stay out don’t arrive at work in jeans and of gossip as it will surely come back trainers. Most workplaces have a clearly defined dress code, whatever to haunt you! Don’t get dragged into
£
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S NEW GET THE RIGHT ATTITUDE other people’s private business. BE PUNCTUAL. Arrive on time. Being late all the time signifies a lazy and carless attitude to work. Someone who is continually late and with a string of lame excused will not last long at work. Be punctual for all appointments, even arriving 15-20 minutes early to give you time to compose yourself. Whether it is a meeting or handing in an assignment that has been given to you, make sure everything you do is on time. BE WILLING. Do all tasks handed to you willingly and well and don’t forget most success stories worked their way up from the bottom. Menial tasks such as photocopying or data inputting may seem boring but once you prove you can do these tasks well, you have more chance of being moved on to bigger and better things. However, if you feel you are being taken advantage of, immediately bring it to the attention of your line manager. But if the request is reasonable and you are perceived as being a willing candidate – you are more likely to be given greater responsibility in the future. LS
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GEtThe LOOK
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She: 1. Amelia check dress £49.99, brown stud belt £24.99, polka dot tights £7.99 2. Dogtooth Elle dress £49.99, blue tights £5.99 3. Isabelle check dress £39.99, Turn back cuff cardi £44.99, Argyle scarf £14.99. He: 1. Hat £9.99, Coat £59.99, Scarf £9.99, Fingerless gloves £6.99, Jeans £44.99, Leather taupe bag £79.99, Distressed biker boots £54.99 2. Cobalt blue check hoody £29.99, Coat £59.99, Jeans £39.99, Hi-tec hi tops £39.99 3. Black trilby £14.99, Tie £9.99, Check shirt £29.99, Black tuxedo jean £39.99, Coat £59.99.
Publications for everyone To see the full range of publications and websites visit www.sugarmedia.co.uk
Never ending Twilight
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the moon, There is no wind on d) an be tur dis s les (un so ints tpr foo s ut’ astrona will last forever
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STUDY ADVICE
ENTERTAINMENT
This Christmas, the must-see movie won’t be one about New York Zoo animals escaping to Africa, or even one telling the story of a father and daughter fighting evil characters escaped from books, but the epic love story between a vampire and a mortal at twilight. Here’s a change to learn more about heart-throb Robert Pattinson, the face of Edward. When Edward first laid eyes on Bella Swan at school, her scent overwhelmed him. He desired the new girl and, dangerously, found the smell of her blood hard to resist. So, at first, he tried to avoid the new arrival. But as with all great stories, the lovers eventually met and loved. The new film Twilight is, of course, the first chapter in this epic love story and with Stephenie Meyer’s novel now making it to the big screen, Leaving School wants you to meet Robert Pattinson, the man bringing immortal Edward to life. 22 year old Robert grew up in Barnes, south-west London with his two older sisters who liked to dress him up as a girl. Maybe this explains why he started acting, because he was used to being someone else, but he claims to have started acting school so he could meet girls. You might have seen him as Cedric Diggory, Harry Potter’s rival during the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Back then, he was nervous about being embraced by the massive
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fandom that is the world of Potter. “Someone asked for my autograph the other day which is quite cool. But, I don’t know. I hope it doesn’t make me not come out of my house, because I barely come out of my house as it is! So, we’ll see,” he told the BBC. Of course, the fame brought him by his death in the fourth Harry Potter will be nothing in comparison by becoming the most popular vampire on the planet. Despite this, he hopes nothing will change for him, saying that he’s still got the same friends as he had when he was 12. Things might calm down for him in a few months, when Twilight has faded a bit, but right now he’s being greeted like a rock star. “It’s kind of like being in some medieval battle,” he says laughing, “I mean I guess that’s the closest analogy, especially after yesterday. A ton of people ran down the street outside the Apple store. I felt like I was literally being charged by Celts.” Filming the film was easy, as he gets on great with Kristen Stewart, who plays Bella. So well, in fact, that he proposed to her. He now denies it, but Kristen insists it happened.
“I can’t even remember when this happened. Kristen is like, ‘Yeah, Advic you did.’ I was like, ‘Oh.’ I thinke that someone else sent me a text the other week saying, ‘Are we still on for our marriage?’ I think it was LIFEBYTE to yesterday that I was supposed marry someone else.” Only the two know what really happened and who knows, Robert might have even sung the proposal. He used to be part of a band called Bad Girls, but gave up singing to concentrate on his acting. Sometimes his friendship with Kristen did get in the way. Acting out some of the romantic scenes was “very embarrassing”, but admits that there are worse jobs to have than repeatedly kiss his beautiful Bella. For now, we’re only left with watching Twilight in the cinema and waiting desperately for the news that the rest of the series will be turned into movies (the signs are good). After all, there’s still plenty more to the love story between Bella and Edward we’ve yet to see. LS
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FIND SOMEWHERE TO LIVE Check websites and local papers for adverts.
With the economic downturn affecting everybody at the moment, finding and affording somewhere to live is on many young people’s minds. Whether you live with your parents, rent, live in student accommodation or are saving to buy your own property, the (Trade Unions Congress) TUC has produced a special booklet advising about young people about housing. You can see the booklet – A Place to Live – at www.tuc.org.uk. In particular, if you are renting, the booklet features a National Union of Student (NUS) vital check list:
When you shortlist a few flats, go and view them.
INTERNAL FEATURES There are a number of questions that you need to ask either yourself or the landlord/agent when visiting a property. These include:
Once you have found the flat that suits your needs best, sign a contract and get references.
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• How many rooms are there in the property? • How many of these are communal rooms? • Are there enough facilities being provided for the number of people who will be sharing the house? • Is the furniture in a good state of repair? • How is the property heated? • Do the fridge, cooker etc. work properly? • Is there plenty of hot water? • Is the house free of damp and/or mould?
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In addition to checking for yourself that the contents that are provided are sufficient and in working order, it’s vital that you ask questions to the landlord/agent about the safety and security of the property. You should back up your questions by looking carefully for certain features yourself, and if in doubt, talk to your students’ union.
Now that you have signed a contract and the landlord is happy with your references, hand over your deposit and get your new keys.
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THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE LANDLORD: • Does the landlord possess a current gas safety certificate? • Can the landlord prove that a CORGI-registered engineer carried out the inspection? • Have you checked to see that all gas appliances within the property have been included, and passed as being safe, on the gas safety certificate? • Did the inspection take place within the last 12 months? • Is there any fire detection equipment (e.g. a smoke alarm) and does it work? • If there was a fire, would you be able to escape using the main exits? • Has the electrical wiring been checked within the last five years? • Are all plug sockets free from cracks or other damage? • Are there sufficient plug sockets in each room? • Does all furniture comply with the relevant regulations? • Are there locks on the windows? • Have the previous tenants all returned their keys? LS
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Now get ready to move into your new home!
For more information see www.nus.org.uk/en/Student-Life/Housing-Advice/House-Hunting-checklist
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Coming Out at School, Coming Out on top The first girlfriend, the first friend to know you’re gay, the first time you make it public. Rachel Harris tells us about coming out and how she experienced it. The first time I started to like girls was when I was about 13. At first I just saw it as a phase I was going through. All my friends talked about ‘how fit that guy is’ and how they ‘really wanted a boyfriend’ so I just went along with it, pretending to myself and everyone around me that I thought the same. I was terrified that I would be seen as an outcast, someone who was different and weird because it was not normal and acceptable to be a lesbian. For about a year I managed to convince my friends and family that I was ‘straight’ until one day, in May 2006, I met my soon-tobe first girlfriend. From the moment I saw her I was spellbound and couldn’t get her out of my head. We kept our relationship a secret from our group of friends, both of us worrying about what they would say. Elena admitted to me that she was bisexual but did not want anyone
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AMAZIN G to know. As I was going out with her I began to warm up to the idea that I liked girls; nevertheless I still continued to deny the fact that I was a lesbian. Our relationship was just like a ‘normal’ relationship; we had our ups and down’s and eventually broke up. Two years on I have managed to tell my mum about the way I feel towards girls. Even though I knew that she would be fine with it I was still extremely worried about the reaction I would receive from her. Thankfully she was completely supportive and made sure that I knew she had no problem with it. In August 2007 I started going the BRIT School for Performing Arts & Technology. I had heard that they were very happy to accept lesbians, gay people and bisexuals and wanted to make sure that the students at the school felt secure and safe enough to be able to come out if they wanted to. Although I knew this I kept quiet because I was afraid that the students in school were not as accepting as the teachers. After a while, I told some of my close friends that I was a lesbian. The main reaction I received from them was a positive one which made me feel much better about coming out to the rest of the school, so when I heard about the BRIT school’s LGBT day I was over the moon. For the last four years the BRIT school has held a LGBT
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wider reaction from day. I take e rat parents and other a Theatre ne ge lts bo g nin Lighte es hotter people that she speciality temperatures five tim at of ended up denying strand and, than the 6000°C he ! ce rfa su n’s that she was a along with the the su lesbian. friends I had come I particularly wanted out to, we asked if to use my experiences to we could perform a play explore the issue of the stigma about the stigma facing lesbians for faced by young lesbians and to the school assembly that day. encourage the audience to consider We created, wrote and other people’s feelings. After this I performed the play which involved came out to the school. Everyone five girls and revolved around two was extremely supportive about it of the main characters. It explored and I have never had any negative their relationship and their friends’ reactions at school since I came reaction to discovering that they out. I know I’m very lucky to be able were lesbians. I played a character to have such a positive coming out who was proud to be a lesbian but at school and it’s all down to the BRIT School’s attitude towards “Two years on I have LGBT students, the fact that they managed to tell my encourage students to be individuals mum about the way I and embrace people regardless of feel towards girls. Even their sexuality, religion or race. And course, the amazing students who though I knew that she of attend the school help. would be fine with it I am now 15 and have come out to I was still extremely nearly all of my friends. There are still some people in my life that I don’t worried about the feel I can ever come out to because I reaction I would know that they would not accept me receive from her.” for who I am, but I am okay with that as they are not very close friends. Some of my family know but I haven’t was not out to her friends. Another told others because I’m not sure of girl played my girlfriend who was their reaction. However, telling the worried about people’s reaction to people I have told and having a good our relationship. During the play the response from them has helped me other characters discovered that we to accept my own sexuality much were lesbians and were supportive, more and I happily embrace being a however my ‘girlfriend’ was so lesbian. LS worried about their reaction and the
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OVER
A QUARTER
OF PEOPLE WITH HIV
DON’T KNOW
THEY HAVE IT.*
LET’S GET
TESTED
WIN £2000 AND THE CHANCE TO WORK WITH A LEADING BRITISH
DIRECTOR OR PRODUCER BY ENTERING OUR SHORT VIDEO COMPETITION. FOR MORE DETAILS VISIT
www.letsget tested.org.uk
registered charity no. 288527
* All figures from the Health Protection Agency
Funded by a restricted educational grant from Abbott UK
www.letsget tested.org.uk www.letsget tes
registered charity no. 288527
* All figures from the Health Protection Agency
Let’s Get Tested This month sexual health and HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust (THT) launched a new competition to get young people talking about sexual health and the importance of getting tested. The competition, which closes on February 28th, aims to highlight sexual health issues by asking young people aged 15 – 25 to make a short film about getting regularly tested for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The winner of the competition will receive £2,000 and the opportunity to work with a leading British director or producer to professionally make their film. Having regular sexual health tests is an important part of enjoying a healthy sex life, especially as the number of people diagnosed with HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is rising every year. THT estimates that there are now over 80,000 people living with HIV in the UK. Around a quarter are unaware that they have the virus. HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. HIV infects and gradually destroys an infected person’s immune system, reducing their
Sexual Health in Numbers: · Over 80,000 people in the UK have HIV; · 28% of people with HIV don’t know they’re infected; · 66% of new infections are from someone who doesn’t know they have it.”
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registered charity 288527educational grant from * AllAbbott figuresUK from the Heal Funded by ano. restricted
protection against infection. Initially, someone living with HIV may show no symptoms as their immune system manages to control it. However, in most cases their immune system will need help from anti-HIV drugs to keep the virus under control. There are a number of other STIs which if left undiagnosed, can also damage your health. Recent figures show that although young people represent only 12% of the population, they account for nearly half of all STIs diagnosed in GUM clinics across the UK in 2007. With that in mind it’s especially important that young people know the facts about HIV and sexual health. What can you do? Of all the ways you can lower the risks you take in your sex life, using a condom is the most effective. Used correctly condoms have one of the highest success rates at stopping unwanted pregnancies and preventing many sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. You can pick up free condoms from places like GUMs and family planning clinics. Why have a sexual health check up? If you’ve ever had unprotected sex then it might be worth considering getting a sexual health check up at a Genito Urinary Medicine (GUM) clinic. Having regular check ups means that you’ll have a clear picture of your sexual health. It’s also a good idea to get checked out if you notice anything unusual ‘down below.’ STIs vary in their symptoms but a visit to your local GUM clinic might be something to consider if you experience any itching, swelling or redness around your vagina or penis, unusual discharge
from your vagina or penis, or pains in your lower abdomen. Most STIs can be cured with no lasting effect to your health if they are dealt with early enough and if you follow the medication instructions. How do I get a test? If you go to your local genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic you can get a free sexual health check up. You might be able get this service from your doctor (GP) but GUM clinics will protect your confidentiality. None of the results will be put on to your medical records or be sent to your GP. You can even remain anonymous by giving a different name, although if you do give your name this information won’t be passed onto anyone else. THT also runs a range of services especially for young people, for more information visit: www.tht.org. uk/howwecanhelpyou/youngpeople/ Where to go for further information and advice If you are concerned about your sexual health then Terrence Higgins Trust is here to help. The people at our helpline, THT Direct, can offer confidential support and advice – and we’ll call you back if you need to call from your own mobile or a call box. Just dial 0845 1221 200 or email info@tht.org.uk. THT Direct is open Monday - Friday from 10.00am – 10.00pm and Saturday – Sunday from 12.00 noon – 6.00pm. Or visit www.tht.org.uk You can also find out more about what it’s like to go and get tested for HIV and STIs by going to www.letsgettested.org.uk. The site has a short film which shows what to expect when you go for a sexual health check. It’s not scary so if you have put yourself at risk get yourself checked out.
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Truth: Semen is around even before a boy ejaculates in the pre-come that leaks out when he gets excited – and it only takes one sperm to get you pregnant. Pre-come can also contain STIs, so even ‘pulling out’ could land you with a nasty illness too. Myth: You can’t get pregnant when you’re on your period Truth: If you have sex without using contraception at any time of the month, you could get pregnant. Semen can live inside you for up to seven days – so even if you do it during your period, semen can hang around long enough to get you pregnant
SEX: FACT Vs FICTION When it comes to sex, you hear so many stories that it’s hard to know what to believe. Everyone wants to be an expert on the subject, but the best way to keep safe and get clued-up is to be familiar with the facts. www.ruthinking. co.uk sorts the facts from the fiction. Myth: You can’t get pregnant the first time you have sex. Truth: If you have sex and don’t use contraception you could get pregnant – whether it’s your first time or you’ve done it lots of times. You can get pregnant as soon
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as you start ovulating – and that happens before you’ve had your first period. Myth: If a guy pulls out before he ejaculates you won’t get pregnant.
Myth: You can’t get pregnant if you do it standing up. Truth: There’s no such thing as a ‘safe’ position if you’re not using a condom or another form of contraception – there are no ‘safe’ places either, including the bath or shower. The best way to protect yourself against unwanted pregnancy and STIs is to use a condom every time you have sex. Myth: Sex doesn’t feel as good if you use a condom. Truth: Condoms are made from a very thin material so you can still feel everything – and they can make sex easier because they’re lubricated. As well as preventing pregnancy, condoms are the only way to protect against STIs like Chlamydia, warts, Gonorrhea and HIV. Myth: You can get pregnant by having oral sex? Truth: If you have oral sex, you can’t get pregnant, even if you
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AMAZIN G swallow semen. BUT – Oral sex can lead to STIs such as Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Herpes – so it’s safer to use a condom.
FACT
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ol which Mint contains menth s the hot en ad de ) rily ora (temp uth mo ur yo in s receptor
Myth: Drinking lots of alcohol makes your first time better. Truth: When you’re drunk, it’s hard to make smart decisions and alcohol can make you take unnecessary risks – such as having sex before you’re ready, and it will not make the experience any better. In fact you’re more likely to have regrets if you’re drunk when you do it. You can only have your first time once and always remember to use contraception and use it properly. LS
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• You cannot re-use a condom if you wash it out. • You can get pregnant if you have sex in the bath. • You don’t have to have sex every night to get pregnant. • Drinking a lot of milk won’t stop you getting pregnant. • Keeping your eyes closed doesn’t stop you getting pregnant. • You cannot use crisp bags or plastic bags as condoms. • Drinking alcohol before sex won’t stop you getting pregnant. • If a boy doesn’t have sex his testicles will not explode. • Going to the loo straight after sex won’t stop you getting pregnant.
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"
GAME OF THE MONTH Sonic Unleashed
Sonic the Hedgehog has had a rough time of it lately. For the last ten years, Sega slowly changed their speedy little mascot into a shadow of its former self. It’s not about exploring large green landscapes, collecting coins and saving little animals anymore - it’s about biological monsters, drive-by shootings and lifting boxes with the power of your mind. It’s certainly a far cry from the simple, fun and exciting Mega Drive classics, or even the Dreamcast Sonic Adventure games. The latest in the series, Sonic Unleashed, aims to fix all of those past mistakes by focusing on the feisty blue blur’s speed, fusing elements from the 2D ‘Sonic Rush’ series with the on-rails gameplay from Sonic and the Secret Rings. The result is a very pretty, technically interesting game, with the dynamic camera swooping from one angle to another seamlessly. Plot-wise, the ‘Unleashed’ part of the title comes from Sonic’s new transformation when the moon rises – a punchy werewolf brawler with stretchy arms called the Werehog. His new alter-ego comes after the evil Dr. Eggman sets a trap which splits the planet into fragments, releasing a mythical creature called Dark Gaia. This is where the game is split, balancing speedy daytime dashes as Sonic with slow-paced beat-em-up platforming as the Werehog. The best bits in this game are within the levels featuring the mascot himself. Playing as Sonic is fun and exciting for the most part - depending on what perspective you’re in, you’re either running to the left and right
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or into the screen, but you don’t lose control when switching between either, and the whole thing works quite well. You have a boost meter which is powered by how many rings you have, and this can really make the game go at a blazing speed. Further in the story mode you can earn new abilities such as walljumping, mid-air boosts, ring-dashing and ground-stomping. All of these can be used in some way in each of the Sonic stages, and rushing through a bunch of baddies before leaping into a wall and jumping off to reach a higher platform makes you feel like a real pro. In between the Sonic and Werehog levels are world hubs that you can explore. Well, I say ‘can’ but I mean ‘must’. The camera is probably the worst of any Sonic title yet, particularly in town or Werehog stages where moving the analogue stick at times simply jerks the camera rather then rotating it. Sonic Unleashed is by no means a terrible game – it’s just a very average one, and next to some of Sonic’s best over the last 17 years, just doesn’t cut it. For what it’s worth, it feels like Sonic Team has tried its best to create a game worthy of the franchise (and it’s a slight improvement on Sonic’s 2006 outing) but it’s still forgotten to go back to the series’ roots and see what made the originals so popular and successful.
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DVD OF THE MONTH Kung Fu Panda
ALBUM OF THE MONTH Kanye West 808s & Heartbreak
When is a rapper not a rapper? When he’s Kanye West! It’s been a busy year for Mr West touring his Glow In The Dark show as well as producing a host of talent. Recorded in Hawaii, 808s & Heartbreak was originally pencilled in as having the wonderful title of A Good A** Job. Thankfully it’s emerged as something that does exactly what it says on the tin. Insisting on a minimalism, with the titular drum machine providing the motorised beats, a wash of synth strings and some other keys and a voice that SINGS (not raps) through an autotuner, West completed this album in record time. The man obviously had something to get off his chest in a hurry. Yes, in years to come this album will be known as ‘that one with the drum machine and all the songs about his ex’. It’s an ingenious turn of events. Listen to the mechanical grind of Robo Cop or single Love Lockdown where he may be toughing it out, but the solitary voice does have a deeply bleak effect on the senses. It’s polished, perfect, mechanical; like the soul’s been ripped out and replaced with something utterly
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“I’m not a big fat panda. I’m the big fat panda.” With lines like these, you can’t really go wrong. That’s one of the reasons that Kung Fu Panda is such a great movie. The big fat Panda in question is Po (played by Nacho Libre’s Jack Black), who has only one dream: To escape from the noodle restaurant his father works in and join up with the Furious Five, the most awesome group of animals fighting for all that is good and right. Of course, if it was that easy to join forces with Viper, Mantis, Tigress, Monkey and Crane, everyone would do it, but Po is helped on his journey when picked as the next chosen one by a wise turtle, Master Oogway. Being the chosen one and Dragon Warrior isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and Po is not welcomed by the other Five, who think him clumsy and useless. His skills are soon put to the test, though, when his mentor’s enemy Tai Lung, a powerful tiger, escapes from prison. As a DreamWorks film, Kung Fu Panda is as funny as any of the Shreks or Madagascar. If Po isn’t making a fool of himself, then he’s busy wisecracking or dreaming up ways of
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fighting. He’s an everyman, making the most out of what he has, but never being deterred by others putting him down. With any luck, this isn’t the last time we will see Po fight the good fight. Having made bucketloads of money, there is already a second film planned, with the DVD release already being accompanied by a new 25 minute short film called Secrets of the Furious Five telling the story of the young group of crime fighters. Only time will tell what other adventures Po will get into. Kung Fu Panda is available on DVD from November
efficient but devoid of hope. The autotune IS liable to drag over the entire album. After about five tracks it can be a little like being locked in a padded cell with Sparky’s magic piano, but it certainly gets across the sad little robot feel which marks this album as personal. West himself claims this to be the birth of a new genre: ‘Pop Art’ (someone may want to tell him about Andy Warhol, but never mind...). Bless his modesty, it’s not as radical as that. But what WILL be interesting is how this album divides his fans. He hasn’t entirely denied his heritage - there’s a duet with Lil’ Wayne (See You In My Nightmare), but overall what is apparent is that Kanye has a gift for melody that extends his forte beyond mere bragging and busting rhymes. With another album already in the pipeline for next year one suspects that this may be a sideline that proves to be more cathartic for him than the rest of us. But it’s kind of reassuring to see that an ego so huge is as susceptible to heartache as the rest of us mere mortals. And somehow this makes 808s & Heartbreak even more affecting. It certainly won’t do his reputation as one of the top figures in popular music today any harm. Released: 24 November. Written by Dennis O’Dell, www.bbc.co.uk
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things you never knew about Cheryl
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Of all the members of Girls Aloud, Cheryl Cole, 25, has the biggest spotlight and is the LIFEBYTE flavour of the momentFASHION right now…withCOMPETITIONS girls and boys alike. Here are some things you may not have known about the Geordie beauty.
1
Cheryl grew up in a Newcastle suburb with painter/decorator dad Gary, mum Joan, brothers Garry, Andrew and Joseph and sister Gillian. She also has a half-sister called Mercedes.
2
Cheryl’s stunning looks have won her a string of awards over the years including, this year’s UK’s Fantasy Body, going back in time she was crowned Boots Bonniest Baby, then Best Looking Girl of Newcastle, World Star Of The Future modelling contest winner and – Most Attractive Girl at the MetroCentre.
3
According to the group’s autobiography, Dreams That Glitter, Cheryl has a deep-seated fear of cotton wool. She says in the book: “I never use it, not for taking make-up off or anything. Even when I get my nails done they use tissues. Just the feel of it... it squeaks. Urgh. I can’t bear it.” Her fear even has a medical name – bambakomallophobia.
4 50
Cheryl has not only come top of the polls for her looks, she was also
BE A... VET
voted Britain’s toughest woman. She beat other candidates such as serial killer Rosemary West and feisty supermodel Naomi Campbell in a poll by Maxim.
5
The young Cheryl wanted to be a ballerina and beat more than 5,000 other candidates for a spot at London’s Royal Ballet Summer School at the age of nine. However, the experience put her off dancing for life. She says: “I wanted to go home straight away. Everyone was prim and proper and I was just a Geordie from a council estate. It shattered my dream but I didn’t want to have to stand a certain way all my life and only eat salad.”
6 7
The first concert she ever attended was Steps and the first record she ever bought was Rick Astley’s Never Gonna Give You Up. Cheryl admits to having a fiery temper which she has now learned to control. Reported run-ins with stars such as Charlotte Church and fellow X Factor judge Dannii Minogue have hit the headlines, but she says: “I have learnt from my mistakes and
SPORT
I’m quite self-critical.” A number of stars have felt the lash of Cheryl’s tongue including Heather Mills, Justin Timberlake, Pete Doherty, Betty Boo, All Saints, Dannii Minogue, Natasha Bedingfield, Ricky Wilson, Beth Ditto, Stephanie McMichael, Charlotte Church and Lily Allen. Phew!
8
Cheryl is a staunch anti-drugs crusader. She says seeing the photo of one of her closest friends, the talented Geordie footballer John Courtney, after he died from a heroine overdose – curled up on a grubby carpet and still clutching the needle that killed him – put her off drugs for life.
9
Cheryl didn’t even fancy hubby Ashley Cole when they first met while living in the same apartment block. She recalls: “I saw him playing tennis and he’d look at me like he fancied me, you know! I’d tut and look away. One day he asked for my number and I said no in front of all his friends!”
10
Cheryl doesn’t like to wallow in failure. After England failed to qualify for Euro 2008, she told her husband Ashley to: “get over it”. She admits, “I told him to get over it and move on because at least now we can go on holiday early. That went down like a lead balloon.” LS
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adventure If you’re the kind of person who can’t stand looking at a lifetime of nine to fives then we have just the job for you Just the job for you.... Working for Maersk means you’re working for one of the world’s largest shipping fleets. And it’s definitely not 9 to 5. On our Officer Training Scheme, you’ll learn about practical seamanship, and also study for an internationally recognised qualification at a nautical college. For information on training opportunities go to
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You’ll see the world, and get paid for it – we’ll even fund your studies. For more information on these exciting opportunities please visit our website, www.seacareers.co.uk or contact the recruitment team at GBRMMSREC@maersk.com