Student Blog things I Wish I knew as a fresher University of Manchester Careers Blog

Student Blog things I Wish I knew as a fresher University of Manchester Careers Blog Written by Ioana Pintilie, Final Year Psychology Student and Careers Service Student Blogger As a recent graduate, I entered an odd, introspective adjustment phase, due to not having to expect school or uni to start in September. Before it’s time to embrace adulthood for real (no, I’m not terrified at all), these are the 10 things I would tell my fresher self. Cooking for yourself is not THAT scary. You lived off mum’s cooking for 19 years of your life and you came to uni with minimal cooking skills (cereal doesn’t count). Learning how to cook will save you both money and health. Look up some easy-to-cook recipes, utilise Google, grab the seasoning, prepare to endure some slightly burnt chicken and you will learn before realising. Ain’t no party like Freshers’ pre-drinks. Like parties but hate clubbing? It’s more common than you’d think. But that’s fine, because pre-drinks are actually the best part of the night. They’re like nothing you’ve experienced before back home. Trust me, never turn down a pre-drink party. Volunteering, volunteering, volunteering! Supporting a good cause and volunteering is a great step towards preparing for a graduate role and the experience gained is useful in an interview. On top of that, you could get the Stellify award from the Uni with enough volunteering hours. Don’t skip volunteering in your first year you will end up regretting it when you actually have no time to do it. Do yourself a favour: don’t procrastinate. It’s okay, I already know you will anyway. You will often feel very lonely. You will experience a new type of loneliness, which is feeling as though you are the only one going through something (although you certainly aren’t) be it being away from home, having a financial issue, not feeling confident academically. This is perfectly normal, but make sure you don’t bottle it up, and speak to someone before it gets overwhelming. Which leads me to my next point: (Please, please, please) Look after your mental health! The thing with mental illness is that you can’t really comprehend how scary it can be until you experience it. Indeed, uni and work are both mentally demanding, to the extent that most people will struggle with mental illness. It does not make you weak. Just like you would avoid going outside without a jacket in January to avoid falling ill, work out strategies to support your mental wellbeing. Practice sleep hygiene. Do not compare yourself to others. Address feelings of anxiety, stress and loneliness and please make use of the University’s free counselling service as soon as you feel unwell. Do that UCIL course you’ll have your eyes on before 2nd year. The module you were going to swap it with turned out to be neither enjoyable nor particularly useful. It doesn’t make you “disloyal” to your course it will, in fact, broaden your knowledge beyond it. You came to uni with your next few years planned out? That’s cute. Not to scare you, but no part of that plan will work out. It will for some people, it might partially for others, and it won’t for the rest. However, it does not mean that nothing will ever work out for you. You can’t possibly know everything at the start of uni, things will sort out on their own in ways you wouldnt expect. Keep doing things as best as you can and don’t let setbacks get to you one way or another, it will work out. Finding a job is HARD (but completely possible). Oh, the feeling of getting an email from a potential employer that starts with “Thank you for your application. We regret to inform you…”. It’s not you, it’s just the way it is. The UK job market is extremely competitive and finding a job is a struggle. And yet, by now, you’ll have done it four times, work placements included. Keep doing your best, never stop applying, and make sure you make use of the Careers Service when you feel lost. And absolutely do NOT rage quit. Enjoy the ride. Uni is a crazy, yet reasonably “safe” time of your life, and it ends so quickly! Yes, there will be setbacks. Yes, there will be doubt. But there will also be friends, opportunities, parties, discoveries, laughter and many good memories. Uni is a bit of a roller-coaster. Savour every second of the good and seek support during the bad. I promise you, it’s all worth it in the end. All Student blogs freshers lists student blogger

Hope is Not a Strategy - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Hope is Not a Strategy - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career What do you think when someone precedes any statement with the following two words: I hope For example, if you are waiting for a report at work do you want to hear: 1. I hope to have it to you by the end of the day. -or- 2. I will have it in your hands by the end of the day. Which message do you want to hear? Of course, you want to hear the second one. When it comes to your career you want to deliver the second one. Because your career, your ability to advance, your communication skills, your perception among your peers as well as the way management sees you Depends on it! Dont hope something will happen. Hope is not a strategy. If it is within your power Get it done!

Common Mistakes in Writing Resume For a Job

Common Mistakes in Writing Resume For a JobThis article is about common mistakes in writing resume for a job. You need to make sure that you fill all the fields and that you get it right. If you do not get the job then this will negatively affect your career.The first mistake that people make is they do not know how to write a resume. You need to learn how to write a resume because people use it every day and you need to learn what it is. In order to be able to write a resume you need to be able to first know what you want to say. How you want to go about it.There are many different things that you can do to prepare yourself. You need to know what kind of things you need to include in your resume. This means that you need to learn how to research on certain things.One of the most common mistakes that people make is that they give their work history and contact information. This means that they forget that these are the things that most people really look for. It is important that you make sure that you give an interview, if necessary, in order to tell them that you are the best person for the job. Remember that you need to make sure that you take time to check the employer's records to make sure that you have never left one before.Another mistake that people make is that they do not give out their personal information. There are many things that you need to do when you are applying for a job. You need to provide a cover letter and a resume. If you want to have a good chance of getting the job then you need to be certain that you take time to send a professional one.Many people forget to include any information in their resumes. The information that you should include in a resume is the name of the company you are applying for and where you are looking for employment. You should also include any work experience that you may have had that is related to the job that you are looking for. All of these things should be included.This is one of the most important thing s to remember when you are applying for a job. When you are filling out your information, make sure that you have a name, address, phone number, email address, and even fax number. You should also include all of the major duties that you will have as well as any awards that you may have received.There are a lot of things that you need to consider when you are filling out your work history. One of the most important things to remember is that it is crucial that you are certain that you have everything on the page and that everything is correct. These are the things that you need to do to ensure that you have a great chance of getting the job.

Cut Down on Crossed Wires Communicate Effectively with Partners

Cut Down on Crossed Wires Communicate Effectively with Partners CrWorking with outsourcers and various business services has a number of benefits for your company. You can save time and money, and you can improve efficiency and productivity by choosing the right services. However, making the relationship work can be tough, whether your outsourcer is in the same town as you or on the other side of the world. Theyre not part of your company, which can often make communication more difficult. Fortunately, you should be able to make things work if both sides are willing to put some effort into maintaining clear lines of communication. Heres how you can make it work. Choose Services with Great Track Records The first thing you need to do if you want to communicate well with your outsourcing partners is to choose the right ones. You should check out reviews and ratings, as well as what they have to say about their own services. Check out how at http://www.myit.com/, they make a point to highlight their response times and their proven record of excellence. Many services will have testimonials from current and past clients, which will help you to see what customer satisfaction levels are like. You can also judge communication during your first instances of connecting with a brand before you start working with them. Set Out Communication Parameters Its a good idea to set some rules and expectations so that both you and your outsourcing partner know whats expected. You might start by looking at times when its acceptable or expected to be available, especially if youre working with people in different time zones. Next, consider how you want to communicate with each other and when certain methods are most appropriate. For example, you might mostly use email, but agree that phone calls are necessary for urgent matters. You can use various tools, including apps like Slack or task management and workflow apps that keep everyone updated on who is doing what. Document and Keep Records Keeping track of your communication is helpful so that you always know what you have agreed between you. If you keep records of your communication, you can always refer to something when you need to. For example, if you agreed to have something completed within a certain timeframe, its easier to find the email where confirmation was provided than to insist that you agreed over the phone without any evidence. Just make sure you have permission to keep anything that you need. Evaluate Your Communication Process You might set up an effective communication process initially, but that doesnt mean that it will remain effective. Its important to assess how things are going at regular intervals to make sure that your business relationship is working well. Ask your outsourcing partners for feedback on whether they feel that you are communicating effectively and what they feel that you could do better. You can also make sure you request any changes that you might want from them. If you want to communicate effectively with a business partner, you need to plan how to communicate. Develop an effective strategy that you can adjust as time goes on.

Your Professional Stylist Online Programme - Jane Jackson Career

Your Professional Stylist Online Programme - Jane Jackson Career When coaching my career transition clients, when they find out I am a qualified Image Consultant Im usually asked, How can I improve my Professional Image?   What should I wear that will suit my body shape and be appropriate in a professional environment?   Well, ladies, heres the solution!My Professional Stylist will teach you how to shop like a stylist and combine clothes in your closet into outfits that will have you feeling confident and professional every day. It will be like having your very own on-call personal stylist at a price you can afford.Never again feel embarrassed by not having the right clothes for an occasion or garments that dont suit you.Every woman is unique, and once you learn how to select the styles that best suit your figure, age and tastes, youll look and feel fabulous no matter the occasion.So what are you waiting for?At only AUD89.00, today is the perfect time to start your journey towards a great new image with My Professional Stylist.   Click here to start your journey Style Success My Professional Stylist OnlineFor more information email me at:   jane@janejacksoncoach.com

How to Write a Resume to Match Federal Job Application

How to Write a Resume to Match Federal Job ApplicationMany people think that writing a resume is the same as writing a cover letter. This is not true at all. What they do is they skip the first paragraph because they believe it is very important. However, if you really want to make sure you have all the bases covered you must cover it.It is not the most important part of your resume. This should be given the importance it deserves. In fact, it is the next to last section. This means that this section is all about what your strengths and what you can bring to the table.Here is an example: in the first section, you can show your experiences or jobs you have done. These are some of the few things that are listed in the second part. In the third part, you can list your skills and the educational qualifications you have.This is why you should not have one section for your writing resume and another for your cover letter. In fact, if you think you have more than one section, put them all t ogether. Also, if you are looking to fill out both sections, keep in mind that there are two types of writing resumes: narrative and analytical.Narrative resumes are where you make it look like you are writing the resume just by talking about your career history. Analytical resumes have facts and figures. Your narrative resume will be more convincing and persuasive because you can use your 'inside' information, but your analytical resume will be more thorough because it will contain more information.Remember, writing a resume can get very complicated if you do not have a plan and structure. First, you need to have a goal. What is your goal? What do you want from this whole process?The goal is to have a future employment lined up and a viable career waiting for you when you reach it. Now that you know how to write a resume, your next step is to do your research. Look for a copywriting company that offers free samples and then you can begin learning. If you really want to get a job, y ou should practice writing your resume and matching it with the particular job you are applying for.

How to Talk About Money During a Job Interview

How to Talk About Money During a Job Interview When you go on the first interview, you don’t want to start talking money too soon or the employer will think all you care about is compensation. You also want to learn as much about the opportunity as possible before talking money because what you find out could influence what you ask for. For example, the role might be a higher level or bigger scope of responsibility than you initially thought, in which case you might ask for more. Or the company is in a turnaround situation and your skills would be particularly suited to helpâ€"again, more leverage for you. At the same time, there are important benefits to starting the money conversation early in the hiring process. You establish your value by targeting a specific compensation. The company establishes its budget when it shares its target for the role. If you’re not sure about the position, the compensation might be high enough that it becomes a selling point (or low enough that your decision to stop the process is more easily made). So you want to have the money conversation not too early, but not too late in the discussion. Here are some guidelines for when and how to talk money during the hiring process: When a recruiter unexpectedly calls If you get a call from a recruiting agency who wants to submit you to a company or wants to consider you for their filesâ€"for example, you’re a marketing manager and they specialize in marketingâ€"one of the first questions that comes up will be salary. An agency is representing multiple clients so they will want to know which of their clients can afford you. Compensation is also a shortcut to approximating experience level so asking for salary helps a recruiter compare you to the market. However, just because a recruiter will talk money in the very first call, it doesn’t mean you necessarily need to share your salary right away. If it’s a firm that you recognize and that you know will keep your information confidential, then feel free to share. Remember to share your total compensation â€" bonus, benefits, and any significant perks. This way, the recruiter will know what you’re expecting and won’t waste your time with lesser openings. You should also ask the recruiter about what going on in your field, so you get some real-time market intelligence. But if you don’t know this firm, thank them for calling, collect their information, and don’t share any more about yourself until you do some digging. You don’t want your financial information and/or resume in the hands of just anybody. You can also vet the recruiter right on the call by interviewing them â€" ask the recruiter which companies they represent, what types of roles and levels they recruit for, if they are paid on retainer or contingency, and how long they’ve been in business. If the recruiter is forthcoming and articulate, that’s a good sign to continue discussions. In a first-round interview If you interview directly with the company â€" whether with someone from HR or the actual department â€" the money talk may or may not come up. Many first round interviews are focused on determining if there is a potential match in terms of skills and culture. Until a possible match is determined, the company won’t care about compensation. However, there may be reasons the money talk comes up right away. For example, the company is specifically trying to collect compensation data and uses interviews for this purpose. Or, a company knows your employer and that your employer pays more than it does, so the money talk comes up early to ensure the company would be able to even afford you. If a company does want to talk money early, don’t feel pressured to respond. You may not want to respond because you’re not sure yet what the compensation should be. You don’t just want to share your compensation if the role is different from what you’re doing (e.g., more senior title, more involved responsibilities). Turn the conversation back onto the job at hand and assure them that you’ll talk money when you and the company have both determined a fit. But you may decide it’s in your best interest to talk money now. If you are happy with your compensation and know you would never leave for less, then you may want to share this early and set expectations with the company. There is no sense in either party wasting time if the numbers are never going to work. It’s a myth that whoever says the first number loses â€" it really depends on the situation. In a later stage interview If you get to the second-, third-, or later-stage interview, compensation should have come up by now. If not, that’s a red flag that their hiring process is disorganized or that the compensation is low and they’re waiting until the last possible minute to let you know. Perhaps they’re hoping you’ll have gotten so excited about the role or feel so invested that the low compensation won’t matter. Because you really should have broached the money talk by now, I would ask the company for its budget (rather than offer up your expectations or salary history). Ask the HR contact or the hiring manager about compensation in the context of the overall role: This role sounds exciting and clearly a priority for the company. When are you looking to fill it? Has the budget been approved? What is the budget for the role? This way, you maintain your interest but you also put them on notice that you are confirming the viability of the role. You don’t just want to have informational meetings and brainstorm â€" you’re too busy for that. You need to confirm there is indeed an opening and that the opening will meet your expectations. When a company says they want you but cannot pay It could happen that the company shares a lower salary than expected, or you mention your salary and they counter immediately that it’s too high. This money talk is tricky because you want to continue discussions but you don’t want your continued participation to be construed as accepting a lower salary. In this case, bring the conversation back to the role and table the money issue for later: Thanks for letting me know about your budget for this role. Based on the role, I don’t know that you will get what you need from that budget. Why don’t we continue discussing the role, and we can sort it all out, or at the very least I can make a recommendation for someone in my network who is a better fit? This way, you continue discussions and have more time to negotiate on compensation. Or if you see that the salary really won’t move, you can refer others or share ideas and can bow out gracefully. Either way, it’s not a waste of time because you will have deepened the relationship.