StudentGems blog

Car insurance for students - does it make car ownership worth it?

2012-05-14T12:18:00.000+01:00

Many students want to take driving lessons as soon as they reach 17; indeed, many of them want to pass and get a car straight away, as well as the luxury of freedom that it offers them. However, with statistics largely pointing to the demographic as one of the worst (if not the worst outright) for road traffic accidents, the insurance necessary to drive is not only expensive - it's outright prohibitive.

The Daily Telegraph recently revealed that the average car insurance policy was just under £1,000 at £973, while men under 22 - the usual age band for students looking to cover their car - were expected to pay a whopping £3,100+ just to get their car on the road. Clearly, this is clearly becoming a major issue for individuals looking to commute to university or other further education commitments away from where they're living.
So, what do you do if you're facing this kind of bill as a student? Well, here are some cracking tips that should get you well on your way to lower insurance costs and safer driving.

Pay yearly, not monthly
If you're going to get a car, there's a good chance that you'll have it for a few months. After all, you're a student - you probably won't upgrade any time soon! If you can afford to, pay for your car insurance in one lump sum. When prices are as high as they seem, this may seem impossible in one charge alone, yet you could save two or three months' worth of costs down the line.

Go with a specialist insurer
If you were a landlord, you wouldn't get any home insurance policy; if you're protecting your valuables in your home, you wouldn't get cover that just safeguarded a fixed amount; indeed, you'd tailor your investment to your specifications. This is why many people are looking at specific student car insurance deals from providers like Can Can Cover, who have opted to work creatively and fairly with their target.

Get a car with a small engine
Smaller-engine cars are not perceived as a particular threat to insurers, given they are not particularly fast or prone to speed-related collisions (though usually, this is more about the driver's requirements from their car). If you opt for a tiny engine - even a 0.9 or 1.0 - you could save a small fortune.

Opt for a vehicle with a good safety record
If you end up getting a car that performed well in its Euro NCAP tests, chances are that you'll have access to the best premiums possible. After all, if it can withstand an accident and keep you safe, there'll be less to pay.

Standing out from the crowd

2012-03-30T09:54:00.003+01:00

How is your application going to stand out from the crowd? Not by using incorrect spelling, grammar and punctuation.

You’ve seen a job that you would like to apply for and now you are going to make your application.

Stop. Think about what the employer is looking for in a successful applicant before making your submission. Fast forward, and they now have an inbox brimming with applications. How is yours going to stand out from the crowd?

Employers are busy people and you need to grab their attention for the right reason. Your written application is probably the very first contact they have had from you. It only takes them a second to eliminate you and something as simple as one spelling mistake will consign you to the trash.

At StudentGems, we continue to emphasise the importance of checking and re-checking job applications. According to the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), more than half of all CVs received by recruiters contain spelling or grammatical errors, and the REC report that ‘graduates are twice as likely to make such mistakes as non-graduates.’

Let’s take a couple of recent examples from applications made through StudentGems for copywriting jobs.

1. ‘my names is [fred blogs] and im interested in becoming a writter’

2. ‘Hi I would like to apply for this job, as i feel not only my self, but your self would benifit as I am competant with my writing, research quickly and come up with origanal content’.

How did the applicants ever expect to get even an acknowledgement let alone an interview?

It doesn’t matter if the job is temporary, a one-off project, part-time or a full-time graduate job; the same rules apply. Our employers highlight poor spelling and grammar as the key cause of rejection.

An application must be immaculate, relevant and the perfect example of correctly written grammar, punctuation and spelling. Employers are looking for people who can represent their businesses. If you send in some half-hearted, sloppy and badly constructed application, you have just successfully consigned yourself to the 'reject without interview' pile.

A career in hospitality

2012-03-28T16:59:00.004+01:00

Ever thought of a career in hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism?

Eating and drinking is never going to go out of fashion so it has to be a good bet particularly if you are a people person. The hospitality industry already employs over two million people nationwide, which means that 1 in 14 jobs throughout the United Kingdom are in this sector. This is expected to grow so it’s got to be worth looking into it as a career option.

It was only when looking at www.uksp.co.uk that you realise just how many varied roles and career paths exist within the hospitality industry. The website states that they are “the ultimate resource for anyone interested in the dynamic hospitality, leisure, travel and tourism industry”. On first sight, it certainly seems very comprehensive.

The resource section of the website shows you how many diverse opportunities there are within this this sector. There is so much succinct information on each of the 14 career areas, which encompasses all manor of options such as coffee shops, holiday centres, visitor attractions, tourism, travel, youth hostels, events, fast food, hotels, pubs & nightclubs, restaurants, gaming, membership clubs and food service management.

It is packed with case studies ranging from apprenticeships to activity instructors, bar managers to baristas, chefs to caterers and room service managers to travel writers plus so much more. It offers an excellent insight into all manner of real life experiences within the industry. The size of the businesses range from one-off restaurants to a small chain to massive global brands so there is plenty of choice on the size of business that you might want to join

The industry also takes training seriously so skills can be improved all the time, particularly in the areas of management and customer service. We all enjoy good customer service and are far more likely to recommend a place where we feel that we have been looked after properly. It’s good to know that an industry such as this offers the opportunity to personally improve all the time.

Plus there is a great opportunity to win a week’s work experience on the Orient-Express right now!

Cobham crowned apprentice team of the year

2012-03-21T13:28:00.000Z

Eight young people from aerospace firm Cobham in Dorset have been named ‘apprentice team of the year’ following a six week contest against other teams from some of the country’s leading employers.

The Brathay Apprentice Challenge pitted eight teams of apprentices against each other in a range of challenges designed to test young people’s business acumen, team working and even physical endurance.

The finals, at the Brathay Trust’s Cumbrian HQ, saw the Cobham team narrowly beat seven other teams from Balfour Beatty, Bentley Motors, the Co-operative, MBDA Missile Systems, the National Apprenticeship Service, Rolls-Royce and Virgin Media.

The two-day event in Cumbria tested teams’ problem solving and physical endurance, culminating in a 10-mile whaler boat race across Lake Windermere and built on six weeks of fundraising and communications challenges.

The Cobham team raised almost £4,000 for the Make A Wish Foundation by cycling around the Isle of Wight, hitchhiking from Dorset to Cumbria and other fundraising activities. In addition, the team secured support from celebrities, including Matt Cardle, conducted talks in schools and raised the profile of the competition on Twitter and Facebook.

Team captain, Nick Shipp, said:
“It’s a real honour to have won the Brathay Apprentice Challenge. It’s been a tough competition, with the other teams really pushing us to the limit. We’re really proud of our achievement, not only at the finals in Cumbria, but also in raising £4,000 for the Make A Wish Foundation.”

Gerry Bishop MBE, Employee Development Manager, congratulated their apprentices and said:
“Our apprentices are an integral part of our talent pipeline and the future of our company and indeed the whole industry. We’re thrilled to have come away with the top prize against formidable opposition – it’s a hugely positive sign for the future of Cobham that our apprentices are already showing they’re the best in the country.”

Jaine Bolton, Director of the National Apprenticeship Service, presented the awards to the winning team and said:
“Team Cobham are an example of how, in this new era of higher quality Apprenticeships, young people can really help the nation’s businesses grow. The winners are a real asset to their company and the Brathay Apprentice Challenge has been a fantastic way to recognise the incredible talent and success of the nation’s apprentices.”

Jez Anderson from the Brathay Trust, commented:

“The Challenge has recognised the vital role apprentices play at their firms and also helped the competitors’ personal development. The search for the apprentice team of the year has not only demonstrated the formidable skills of the nation’s apprentices, but helped demonstrate the range of careers available to young people.”

Dealing with difficult interviews

2012-03-15T16:57:00.009Z

Guest post from Edward Mellett of the graduate jobs website Wikijob.co.uk

I hope this article will be useful for everyone looking for graduate jobs and worrying about how to deal with difficult interviews.

For anyone going to an interview they can be quite a nerve-racking experience! Whether it’s your first ever interview or your twentieth, every interview is different from one another. The interview process varies from company to company as every business has its own way of carrying out candidate assessments.

Some of the basic things to do before going to any interview are:

Thoroughly research the company and assessors who will be interviewing you.
Have questions prepared to ask about the role/company.
Aim to get to the location of the interview early in case there are. problems/traffic while travelling.
Be dressed in smart office wear (suit).
Take a copy of your CV and any other documentation you feel is relevant with you to the interview.

Something increasingly likely with both large and small companies alike, is that their interview process for graduate level jobs tends to begin with an assessment centre. An assessment centre allows companies to assess numerous candidates at once with a number of job related tasks to find the most suitable candidates for their workplace.

These assessment centres can be difficult if candidates do not prepare for them. But if you do not know much about this type of interview, there are a number of graduate job preparation websites designed to help you out, such as WikiJob.co.uk. There is a large amount of great advice and tools on WikiJob, designed to help you prepare for the diverse range of tasks and tests found at assessment centres, from psychometric tests, to group and scenario exercises to verbal and numerical reasoning tests.

I once had to go to an assessment centre for a graduate job and I had no idea what to expect. As you can imagine I didn’t do very well. At the end of the assessment, I was talking to a couple of the successful candidates and they said they prepared for this difficult interview process by practicing verbal, numerical reasoning tests and so on, for days and even weeks in the run up to the interview process. So for the next assessment centre I was invited to, I made sure I prepared well for the tests and tasks that I would encounter.

One of the worst things about group assessment centres can be suffering from nerves! To help with this, I always make sure I’m hydrated (which helps me avoid the dreaded “dry mouth” situation) and take a bottle of water with me to interviews. I also take my time and don’t rush when answering questions – I try to speak as clearly and slowly as possible. Well not too slowly, but I know that when I’m nervous I can talk quickly! This also helps me not to ‘umm’ and ‘err’ too much. I also try to keep eye contact with my interviewer and remember to always shake their hand at the end of the interview, no matter how rattled I may be!

Freelancing is the future

2012-03-01T13:53:00.001Z

Julie Meyer has written a particularly interesting guest blog article on the KashFlow blog entitled ‘Where are the Jobs’ looking at the thorny issue of reducing youth unemployment.

Julie is well-known for founding First Tuesday, the largest global network of entrepreneurs, which many credit for igniting the Internet generation in Europe. As well as being CEO of Ariadne Capital,and Founder of Entrepreneur Country, Julie is also one of the two dragons on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den online, a columnist for City A.M.and regular contributor to The Daily Telegraph’s business pages.

She sums up her blog post by saying “The world of 2012 will force you as a job seeker or employer to be more creative, more sales and marketing-focused, more curious about the world, and more of a business person than ever before.”

How very true.

By acknowledging that the government is no longer in a position to help (there’s no money left in the pot) and that the world of work has changed out of all recognition, she quite rightly points out that job seekers must make the effort to sell themselves into a job. Effective communication has never been so easy and connecting with like-minded people and organisations can be instant. She goes on to say: “Many of those who are unemployed will end up working for themselves. We used to call this freelancing, but it’s become rather fashionable, and many find that the flexibility and freedom outweigh the unpredictability of personal income.”

Her three steps to creating more employment are:
1. Be patriotic
2. Leverage the digital native skills of the UK’s young people
3. Seek out your natural allies

Of course, it was Number 2 that really struck a chord. StudentGems has been doing that since 2007!

We’ve noticed a shift though. We now have more graduates registered with us than ever before. Many are following the freelancing path and it’s great that we can help them build their portfolios of freelance projects. It’s also great to get comments like this on twitter from @Slozbabble: "@studentgems Just want to say, you're responsible for most of the money I've made in the past few months! Thank you so much :)”

So whether you’re an employer, a graduate, a student or just someone concerned about the level of youth unemployment, please read Julie’s blog. Following her three steps is also highly recommended!

A Student Guide to Leeds

2011-11-17T13:27:00.001Z

With six universities in the city and its surroundings, Leeds has a vibrant student community and a great place to get a city centre apartment. Many local businesses are aware of the value of the 'student pound', leading to a whole host of offers and tailored student experiences. Students who take up courses in Leeds have a wealth of choices available for nightlife, other recreation, and the day-to-day necessities involved in student life.

When it comes to socialising and night-life all Leeds students would agree that Leeds offers a huge variety of top-notch venues. Popular drinking spots include Fab Café, a television and movie themed bar; the Dry Dock, where students can enjoy a wide range of beers and other beverages in the unique surroundings of a landlocked boat; Oceana, a late-night club; Tiger Tiger, an 'all-in-one' venue which offers five separate rooms; and Mojos, a rock and roll cocktail bar.

That is not to say that you can't have a good time in Leeds unless you are out drinking for the night. The city offers a whole host of other recreational activities. The city streets are packed with clothes shops and there is a range of cinemas and theatres. The city also offers some amazing museums and galleries for those who want a bit of education with their recreation. The Leeds Art Gallery boasts a renowned collection of British art as well as various temporary exhibitions. The collections on display in the Leeds City Museum run the gamut from 'Ancient Worlds' and 'Life on Earth' to 'Out of Africa' and 'The Leeds Story'. The Royal Armouries Museum has five galleries and a massive 'Hall of Steel' with over 2,500 artefacts on display, while the Thackray Medical Museum tells the story of medicine throughout the ages. All of these museums put on special events and exhibitions throughout the year, so that one visit is never enough.

Of course, the life of a student isn't all fun and games, and Leeds City Centre is packed with all the shops that a student needs to provide them with the necessities of academic life. There is a large Waterstones for the purchase of textbooks, while those who are looking to save money can head to the University of Leeds where there is a second hand book store that allows students to sell their old books and buy second-hand copies of the texts that they require.

Lexmark winner!

2011-11-08T11:52:00.003Z

We have another winner to announce….

We had an amazing number of entries for our Lexmark Genesis Printer competition but sadly there could only be one winner.

That lucky person is Esmee Carre, a student at Winchester Uni. Well done Esmee, your awesome new printer is on its way!

Watch this space for more exciting competitions.

WKD Winner!

2011-11-02T15:28:00.001Z

Well done to everyone who entered the WKD Purple competition, not surprisingly everyone got the answer right!

Sadly we only had one case of WKD Purple to give away, and the lucky winner is Charlie Moreland, a student at Heriot-Watt Uni.

Enjoy your prize Charlie.

A great WKD giveaway!

2011-10-07T10:02:00.000+01:00

WKD Purple – Staying by Purpler demand!

WKD Purple is here to stay! Yep, you loved their Ltd Edition purple one so much it’s going to stick around.
By Purpler demand WKD Purple will be joining Iron Brew, Blue and Red as a permanent member of the WKD squad. With Fresher’s week upon us it seemed the perfect time to celebrate Purple’s good news.

WKD are offering you the opportunity to win a case of WKD Purple to enjoy with your new mates and this competition question will put your brains to the ultimate test.

What colour is WKD Purple?

Get cracking guys!

To enter, head over to the StudentGems facebook page and leave your answer – one lucky winner will be drawn at random and have a case of WKD Purple to enjoy and prolong that Freshers' party feeling.

www.facebook.com/WKD

Win a state-of-the-art Lexmark printer!

2011-09-27T12:14:00.000+01:00

It’s back! Our latest competition to win a printer, very kindly donated by the nice people at Lexmark International, has just launched.

It’s so easy to enter, there’s really no excuse. Just go to our competition page, fill in your details, and tell us why you should win. That's it!

The printer is the latest up-to-datest vertical all-in-one printer and it looks cool too. You can set it up just how you want it and use it to download apps like Facebook, to make life easy.

No more rushing to the library to get your printing done, an end to begging friends to do your printing… get your very own smart printer, with a supply of ink… enter now!

Application forms part two: Preparation, research and answering long questions

2011-09-22T12:45:00.004+01:00

Preparation, preparation, preparation – the key to a successful application form. In order to do yourself justice you will need to put in a good deal of effort. You will also need to show that you have researched and understand the role you are applying for.

Research the role

Use the company’s job description and person spec to learn about the job. You can also have a look at their website to see if they offer any sort of advice to potential employees or further information on jobs and graduate schemes. Try reading the ‘about us’ section to see what information you can gather about the company values and look for phrases such as ‘fast moving’ or ‘high expectations’ which may help to indicate the true demands of the job.

Research the company
Not only will this help to identify relevant information to include in the application form, but it will also give you an idea of what it might be like to work there. Try and find its mission statement or marketing slogan, and look for information on its customer service standards. What is the company culture like? Is there anything you need to know about working hours etc.?

This will all help with answering some of the longer questions on the form, such as: “What do you think are the main challenges facing our company over the next three years? Please answer with specific reference to your chosen function.”

It’s also worth seeing what articles have been in the news recently, both about the company specifically and also the sector in which they operate.

Excellent – you’re now much better informed!

Filling in the form
As you are working on a copy, rather than the original (see Part 1 of this blog) you can make sure all of your information fits neatly. Above all else you must be honest and truthful in all of your answers – stretching the truth (is lying!) is not acceptable, and will do you more harm than good in the long run. Also make sure you have read through all of the instructions, so you know which parts of the form are applicable to you, whether or not to attach a CV, application deadline, etc.

After you have completed all of the basic info about yourself, you will probably be left with a few ‘long questions’ which are more concerned with your skills and experience. What they are really asking is ‘Can you do the job?’ Got no skills? Wrong! Have a look here to see why.

You can also use examples of your time at uni to demonstrate your skills. Throughout your studies you will most likely have developed skills in communication, teamwork, organisation, research and problem solving. As a student/recent graduate it is perfectly acceptable to use examples from your studies to demonstrate how you have developed these skills.

A blank box
What you may view as the most daunting part of an application form should actually be the best bit. You know, that part that says ‘Any other information in support of your application.’ What better than the chance to tell them exactly why you passionately want this job and why you are a good fit? This is where you can really demonstrate how you have done your homework, you know just what they are looking for, and why you’re the best person for the job.

Keep your answer structured and in a logical order and include as many relevant examples as evidence of your claims. Think about including:

Your interest in this job/company and why it fits with your career plans
What skills and experience you have and why/how they are relevant, with examples
IT and technical skills, if relevant
Your personal attributes and values

Keep all of this information balanced and never assume that the employer will know you have 'xyz' skills because of the degree you have studied. Spell it out for them very clearly!

Remember, employers are looking for the person who:
Can do the job...
Will do the job...
Will fit in!

Good luck!

The New Gap Year

2011-09-21T16:15:00.009+01:00

With tuition fees on the rise, gap years are set to transform from the fun-filled 12 month break that we have got to know and love, crammed full of excitement, adventure and travel, into a more practical and financial affair. In the academic year beginning 2012, fees will jump to up to £9000 per year, meaning that the gap year is likely to be undertaken by those students who wish to use this extra time to build themselves a handy stash of savings. If you are thinking about taking a year before heading off to uni in order to improve your own financial prospects, we’ve compiled a few tips to help you maximise your savings potential:

If you are going to be accumulating extra cash it is important to have somewhere safe to stash it. Check out the savings rates of the major banks and building societies. Most banking websites, such as that of Santander, will publish this information, taking some of the time out of the task. You are likely to be presented with a range of savings solutions, from fixed rate, fixed term accounts, through to e-Savings options or, for those who like to speculate, corporate investments.

Try not to see your money making gap year in terms of financial benefit alone. This year could be full of potentially enriching employment experience. Many of the biggest challenges facing graduates in the post university hunt for work are related to a lack of hands on experience in the workplace. If you’ve managed to fill this gap in your CV before you even start your studies you will be putting yourself in a much stronger position ahead of the postgraduate job search.If your career ambitions don’t collide with your money making opportunities throughout the year, you might like to use a little of your time to engage in a community project or volunteering scheme that will help you to garner more relevant skills. If you are living with your parents, make the very most of your rent free accommodation by using it to your advantage and giving your future employment prospects a boost.

Application forms part one: Easier than writing a CV?

2011-09-19T14:34:00.000+01:00

What does September mean to you? A new term and a week or two of fresher’s parties? Fond memories of returning to uni when you were still a student? Or maybe it brings the excitement of moving on to the next stage in your career.

Whatever you are planning this Autumn, if it involves looking for a job (of any sort) then it may well mean filling in an application form. Yippee, that means you don’t need to bother updating your CV, that’s good news, right?

Actually it may not be the good news you first think. The advantages of an application form are:

No need to write/rewrite/tailor your CV.
No need to think about key points, just answer the questions they give you.

But what about the downside:

Everyone becomes standardised by completing the same form, so you have less chance to stand out from the crowd.
You have to answer the questions asked on the form, even if that means talking about something you’d rather not.
The order of the questions is dictated by the form – whereas on your CV you can change the order around to suit you and your personal strengths.
You can’t always see all of the questions on an online application form, so planning your answers is not always easy.

If you are faced with completing any sort of application form, here are a few tips to help you:

1. Take a copy of the blank form and keep the original safely for the final version. If it’s an online form, see if you can copy all of the headings into a Word document so you can work on the form in your own time before committing your answers.
2. Check the instructions carefully. If it says ‘complete with a black pen’ don’t use a blue one!!
3. Make sure you get the details right, especially if you are copying and pasting from a previous form – you don’t want to mention XYZ Ltd if this is an application form for ABC Ltd!
4. Write neatly or word process, depending on what the instructions say. Black ink is better than blue.
5. Answer all questions. If you think a question is definitely not relevant to you mark the section N/A. Use with caution!
6. Think about why a question is being asked before you leap right in and start answering.
7. Draft your answers first so you can be sure they will fit in the space provided or be the required number of words.
8. Write succinctly and formally, eg. write ‘did not’ rather than ‘didn’t’.
9. Check your grammar, spelling and punctuation. Yes, yes, we go on about that a lot, but it’s really important! Don’t trust a spell checker and always ask someone else to proofread your answers as an extra check.
10. Copy your draft answers on to the real form. Check again that you have followed all the instructions. If you are including any extra sheets they should be clearly marked with your name, job title and reference number.

Remember to keep a copy of the completed form, so if (when?!) the next stage is an interview, you can remember what you said!

Coming soon – Application forms part two: Preparation, research and answering long questions.

Skills? What skills?

2011-08-11T10:05:00.000+01:00

Work experience can help you to develop a range of marketable and transferable skills that employers will always want. Here are just a few:

Customer awareness
Problem solving and creative thinking
Commercial and business awareness
Leadership
Teamwork
Influencing and negotiating
Networking
Information communication and technology skills
Numeracy
Verbal and written communication
Time management

These skills do not reflect area of academic study, they are completely transferable and relevant across all sectors of the working world. Combine these practical/common sense skills with an academic degree and you become the desired employee!

Skills are developed through different types of work experience as well as through extracurricular activities. A substantial placement or internship will give you real depth of experience in a particular area but short periods of quality experience are also a great chance to learn new skills. Don't underestimate the value of your part time job. It may seem just a means to support yourself during your studies but you will be developing important skills such as time management and financial management, customer service and teamwork. But it’s boring? Fine – at least you have a very clear idea of the kind of job you don’t want to do for the rest of your life!

Employers today want new employees who can start to contribute to their organisation from the day they join. (‘Hit the ground running’ – awful phrase!) They want 'work ready' employees who can take responsibility and use their existing skills to make a difference to their businesses.

Why employers value work experience

Could you contribute to an organisation from the day you join? Make sure the skills you have developed through doing one-off jobs and projects are clear to any prospective employer so they have confidence in you from the start. Employers want 'work ready' employees who can take responsibility and use their existing skills to make a difference to their businesses. It’s not that employers won’t offer you training and support, but they do want people who can work independently and effectively and who really want to develop their skills further.

The working world is very different to the student world. Employers want people who understand the differences and have already shown they can bridge that gap. Make sure you are getting as much work experience as you can and develop those all important transferable skills.

Are you interesting?!

2011-07-25T16:56:00.000+01:00

Your interests and any activities that you took part in at university or college can provide you with great opportunities for demonstrating and illustrating skills that employers want.

Think about using your interests as evidence in two main ways:
1. To get across the kind of person you are (eg active, with diverse interests), on a CV. They might also indicate something of your values (eg if you do voluntary work).
2. To provide evidence for the competency based questions on some application forms and at interviews.
It’s harder than you might think to list of all your interests and hobbies. Start with a list of two or three things you really enjoy, but then you may find it gets more difficult! It is worth persisting to see what your interests tell you about yourself, and what they could tell an employer.

What counts as interests?

Interests and activities can be defined as anything that you have done outside the strict limitations of your course or paid work. Obvious examples include sport, leisure activities, hobbies and socialising. However you can also include voluntary work, care or other work within the family, membership of clubs and societies, including taking responsibility for organisation or committees within such clubs and positions of responsibility on committees at your university or college.

A list of your interests may tell someone else a little bit about you, but it is not until you think further about how and why you do things that you will begin to have some real evidence about yourself. This may help you identify jobs that you would be suited to or that you will enjoy.

Do employers really care?
Employers like to hear about the interests of people that they recruit, provided that the candidate presents the information in a meaningful way. With careful selection, analysis, and communication, interests can be a great resource for matching your past and present experience to skills which are required for a particular job.

Employers do care about your interests, but not for their own sake. They are looking for evidence that you will suit the post they are recruiting for, that you are a well rounded individual who has interests outside your education and studies and that you have acquired practical and transferrable skills from these non academic activities.

Your interests are concrete ways of demonstrating your preferred ways of working and behaving. They reveal your personality, your values, and your behaviour preferences. For example, if you apply for a busy sales job but all your interests are solitary activities, then a recruiter might wonder whether you could negotiate and communicate with others.

You may say that you would love to work in a team; this has far more weight if you can provide evidence. Give an example of your teamwork, even if it doesn't relate to a workplace team, so the employer can feel more confident about your assertion. Employers may sometimes want you to provide evidence of your interests. For example, if you want to be a financial adviser, how do you keep yourself informed?

Take time to improve your CV
It really is worth taking time out to think about your interests, work out which ones could really add value to your CV – and the ones that won’t!

Are your social networking profiles career friendly?

2011-06-01T10:51:00.000+01:00

This is a guest blog by Keredy Stott of Punch Communications PR Agency. Hear how employers really are checking your online profile...

Leaving behind the relative safety of education and heading to work can be a hugely exciting yet nerve-wracking time. Suddenly you’re out in the world alone and having to fend for yourselves.

It is now fairly standard practice, though perhaps a little unfair, for a potential employer to use a search engine to research a candidate. With 600million of us signed up to social networks it’s not hugely surprising that most of us will appear in those search results.

As you know, the job market is tougher than it has been for many years but because everyone deserves the very best chance to secure their dream job, Punch Communications, a social media, PR and SEO agency has written some tips so graduates won’t fall foul of their virtual best friends - Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Facebook
Everybody loves Facebook, and brilliant as it is for sharing graphic pictures of drunken nights staggering around campus wearing traffic cones on your head, if you leave your profile open for anyone to see, your potential employer could also see your antics.

Facebook’s privacy settings are fairly bulletproof but it’s worth taking the time to make sure you have them set as tightly as possible to restrict who can and can’t see your profile and picture albums until you trust them.
Another tip is to make sure that your public avatar is fairly inoffensive, nothing wrong with showing you having a good time but leave the traffic cone in the road for that one.

Finally, remember that your Facebook status is open to be viewed by anyone who looks at your page and as such you should think carefully about ‘what’s on your mind’.

Twitter
Twitter is slightly easier to control, for starters it is text based so there aren’t really the same sort of risks as there are with Facebook’s photograph albums. That said, as you may have seen in the news, it’s really very easy to come unstuck with a comment that you might have thought was innocent but others might not.
As a general rule, if your Twitter ID represents your actual identity, think twice before you hit send – firstly, do you really need to swear. If you need to rant away then we’d suggest adopting a pseudonym and keeping it to yourself and those you trust.

Twitter has the option to protect your tweets unless you approve the viewers, depending on how you use it this may be a good option, particularly whilst job hunting.

If you do choose to have a publicly viewable profile, as well as what you Tweet, be mindful of who you follow and retweet as this could also reflect on you as a person.

LinkedIn
You may not yet have a LinkedIn profile but I suggest you sign up; it’s essentially the number one business to business social networking platform. It’s used mainly to connect with colleagues and people you have done business with as well as others in your industry but it’s used by some agencies to headhunt new staff.
LinkedIn follows a fairly rigid structure so it’s not particularly easy to make the same mistakes as with Facebook and Twitter, however because it’s a means to further your careers it’s worth double checking spelling, grammar and format of your profile just to make sure it’s as it should be.

Nevertheless, a feature on LinkedIn is the ability to link it to your Twitter feed, so if you choose to connect the two networks be aware both audiences will be viewing your tweets. You can selectively choose which content goes into your LinkedIn feed when you connect it to your LinkedIn account but do be careful on those payday nights out!

General advice
For any social network, you could run a ‘personal’ and ‘professional’ account, this is very common and it does eliminate some of the risks associated with a ‘one for all’ approach. If you choose this route it’s probably a good idea to include your professional social profile details in your CV. A potential employer is less likely to search for you online if you provide them with the information. This also shows an understanding of the growing importance of social media in the workplace.

Social networks are the place to share so do so with snippets of information that interest you, such as news stories or articles, particularly ones that are applicable to the field you are hoping to enter. Doing so will display a dedication and enthusiasm to your pending career that could stand you in good stead above other candidates.

Most companies will have an ‘acceptable use policy’ for the internet or social networking sites during the working day. At an interview, a pertinent question might be ‘What is your position on social networking as a way of communicating with your customers and promoting the brand?’. You should get a fairly conclusive answer, and if it’s a ‘no-no’ then resist the temptation to log on during the day when you should be doing other things. If you do have access, show your propensity to become a social brand ambassador and don’t become the latest ‘I hate my job’ Facebook status statistic.

Don’t let the world of work put you off social networking as it can be hugely advantageous, particularly when colleagues and business associates connect with you outside of work. The Golden Rule is to think twice before you hit ‘send’ or ‘upload’ a picture. Ask yourself what would a potential employer make of it?
Stick to that and you’ll have long and prosperous careers, and we at Punch Communications wish you the very best of luck with them. If you’re looking for jobs in PR, social media or SEO, visit our site; you might be just what we’re looking for but make sure your social profiles are career friendly first!

The Advantages of Temping

2011-05-31T12:56:00.000+01:00

Flexible, local, experience for your CV, learning new skills… just some of the advantages of temping.

It’s a bit of a catch 22 though, temping agencies like to use people who have experience of temping, so how can you get experience in the first place?! This is where any experience that you have gained through StudentGems ad hoc projects can be invaluable. Add it to your CV so you can demonstrate your skills and knowledge to temping agencies.

There are obvious parallels. StudentGems jobs are temporary. They are paid. They require you to have good business standards and commercial awareness. These are all the things temping agencies will be looking for.
As soon as the summer exams are over, go to a couple of agencies and see which ones you like best. Sign up early so they know they can count on you over all those long summer holidays. The great thing is you can be available when all the regular office workers are flying off for 2 weeks in the sun!

Office Angels have some guides to temping here.

And the winner is…

2011-05-25T15:25:00.000+01:00

Congratulations to Janine Johnson, a 2010 graduate of Liverpool John Moores University, for winning our competition. She will very soon be the proud owner of a shiny new Lexmark Genesis S815 printer. In the opinion of the judges, Janine’s 140 character entry was the best.

Competition winner Janine

It’s so nice being able to deliver good news, so on a lovely sunny day telling someone they have just won a great prize is a very positive way to spend part of the afternoon!

Janine is absolutely thrilled to have won and said: “I would just like to say thank you to everyone at StudentGems and Lexmark, when I first saw the competition I thought it was an amazing prize and knew I had to enter. I never actually expected to win so I am absolutely over the moon and so shocked. I can't wait to use this fantastic printer, it is going to make such a difference to me since I am just starting out as a freelance writer and this will make my work look very professional. Thank you to everyone who judged this competition it really means a lot to me.”

Well done Janine and best of luck with your career.

HR Departments Need to Manage Talent

2011-05-23T14:24:00.000+01:00

HR needs to be more innovative in its management of talent, according to UK HR professionals. A better approach is needed to both retain and attract talent. By being more effective at identifying and managing talent, organisations will build a strong foundation for future development.

This was the opinion expressed by top HR professionals , when they came together to discuss the future of the profession in a series of roundtable events held by specialist recruiters Badenoch & Clark.

That’s not news to us here at StudentGems – we see the level of talent of our students and graduates on a daily basis and it is pretty impressive. We would like all HR departments to consider using students and graduates for projects to see what they could be missing.

If you know any HR managers, point them in our direction please!

2012 Olympics are fast approaching… are you involved?

2011-05-16T09:59:00.000+01:00

It seemed such a long way off when, in 2005, London was confirmed as the host city for the 2012 Olympic Games. Now, six years later they are just around the corner. Have you bought your tickets?

If not, maybe you can still go. Have you thought about working at the games? Adecco has been named the official recruitment service provider for the 2012 Olympics in London and have said that the total workforce needed for the London Games will reach 100,000. With an on-site team of 13 already working on 269 permanent roles and 129 Games time roles, Adecco are set to grow their team as they build a diverse workforce of 6,000 temporary and permanent roles.

Additionally, a new scheme was launched last week to encourage at least 20,000 college and university students across the UK to participate in activities related to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Podium, the FE and HE unit for the 2012 Games, joined forces with the NUS to launch the 'Be a Champion' scheme, which is being funded by Olympic sponsor Coca-Cola and the Higher Education Funding Council For England (HEFCE).

More than 100 students' unions are expected to appoint a Student Ambassador under the programme to highlight the opportunities available to learners, ranging from sport volunteering, to culture and community participation.

We think these opportunities will be snapped up, so if you are interested act now!

Make Work Experience Work

2011-05-12T14:07:00.000+01:00

Work experience, internships and placements are essential for securing a graduate career. They are the must-have CV item for every graduate application.

But just having them listed on your CV isn’t quite good enough. Now you must prove to your prospective employers that you’re not simply just ‘good on paper’, but that you’ve actually gained something from these experiences.

You know you’ve learned a lot, you have had some great hands-on experience – but how do you get across in an interview all the good stuff that’s rushing round your head? Don’t just blurt it out in a muddled heap, that’s not impressive. Firstly it will not say much about your communication skills and secondly you will probably miss out something crucial. You need to adopt a structure which will help you to get across the key points and, more importantly, make sure the interviewer is left in do doubt about your skills.

Try being a STAR!

Situation: What was the background? Where were you and what were you doing?

Task: What was the job, task, problem or challenge?What goal did you set yourself?

Action: What did you actually do? Be explicit about your role. Speak in the first person – “I did xyz, I made abc happen.”

Result: What was the outcome? Make it positive if possible. What would you do differently another time?

Using this very simple mnemonic, your interview answers will have a logical shape and are therefore likely to be easily understood by your interviewers. Once you have answered the first question immaculately moving on to the next becomes easier and your confidence will grow.

These interviews are known as Competency Based Interviews (CBI) and answers can also be structured in CBI format:
Circumstances - combination of Situation and Task above
Behaviour - same as Action
Impact - same as Result

So whether you want to remember STAR or CBI it's up to you, the positive result should be just the same!

Top 10 Tips for Completing an Application Form

2011-05-11T10:21:00.000+01:00

Sounds easy huh? You might be surprised at how many basic mistakes are made when completing job application forms. When employers are looking at a pile of forms they will instantly dismiss those which are incorrectly completed. Make sure yours is not one that heads straight for the bin by following our top tips.

1. Take a Photocopy of the Blank Application Form
Keep the original safe and clean (no coffee cup rings or creases) and use a photocopied form and a pencil. If the application form is online, write your draft in Word and then copy and paste it into the application from.

2. Read the Form First!
Read the instructions thoroughly from start to finish before beginning your application and then follow them carefully. This will show the employer that you are able to follow instruction and that you pay great attention to detail. Many handwritten forms state ‘use black ink’ – so whatever you do, don’t use blue!

3. Eye for Detail?
Make sure you use the right company name and job title throughout your application, especially if this is one of many applications you are submitting. Copying and pasting can be dangerous!

4. Provide Evidence
Employers often say exactly what they look for when finding a candidate for a specific role but don't just repeat these requirements. Make sure you know what is needed in each question, identify which of your skills is relevant and then back up your answer with evidence or examples.

5. Answer All Questions
Sounds simple, but check that you haven’t missed out any questions. You should answer all questions, unless instructed otherwise. If a question really does not apply to you, write n/a (not applicable) clearly in the box.

6. Why Are They Asking Me This?
It is very tempting to dive straight in and answer a question at face value but this may result in superficial answers. You will be more convincing if you relate the question to the job tasks, your skills and what you know the company requires.

7. Write Legibly or Word Process
Use block capitals, black ink, or type: whatever the employers want. Word processed applications look much smarter and most are completed this way but beware – is this a test of your handwriting skills?

8. Write Formally
Avoid abbreviations, acronyms and write in full, for example, write wouldn’t as would not and don’t as do not.

9. Check Your Completed Form Thoroughly
First impressions count and no matter how brilliant the content, grammar, spelling and punctuation errors can result in your application landing in the bin. Beware of computer spell checkers - get someone else to proof-read your document. Actually, get two or three people to proof-read it if you can.

10. Keep a Copy of the Completed Form
As part of your job hunting process you will probably fill in numerous application forms, so you need to methodically keep copies of each one. Then when you get an interview you can easily look back at what you told that particular employer.

Good luck!

When do you first need a CV?

2011-05-04T11:35:00.000+01:00

We recently conducted a survey to find out when students put together their first CV. The results were very clear with more than three-quarters preparing a CV whilst still at school/sixth form and a further 10% during their first year at university.

That’s really great to know, because it clearly shows how keen students are to embrace the world of work and that they realise the importance of self marketing with a CV. Although many job applications ask for some sort of application form to be completed, either online or offline, at some point in the recruitment process most employers will ask to see a CV.

What is really important, however, is to keep your CV up to date. It isn’t a document that you can think ‘Yes, done that, tick the box, don’t need to do it again’. Try to keep it updated regularly, particularly after you have done any kind of work experience or project which has highlighted your skills.

You might think you will always remember what you did in that short stint at Widgets Incorporated, but in six months time will you really remember the detail of the responsibilities you were given? Will the precise dates of your last few jobs all merge into one?

As much as anything, keeping your CV up to date will help when you come to complete full-time job applications when you graduate and also with any internship applications for summer jobs. These days the process for internship applications is as time consuming and lengthy as for a full-time job. Having all the information you need on your CV can really help with completing the details.

Then there are all the ‘competency based’ questions which are all over application forms. They’re the ones which are styled something like ‘tell me about a time when you…’ These are crucial. If you have kept your CV current with all your achievements, training and development, the basis for the answers to those tough questions will be right there in front of you.

That’s not to say that your CV needs updating every week, or even every month, but don’t make the mistake of writing it while you’re in the sixth form and thinking it will still be acceptable a couple of years later!

Not sure what format a CV should take? Have a look at our advice pages for more info.

Work experience during studies - getting ahead of the pack

2011-04-21T15:43:00.001+01:00

This is a guest blog on behalf of Middlesex University.
With record unemployment figures facing the country and the number of young people out of work between 16 and 24 now nearing one million, the jobs market is becoming increasingly competitive in the UK. To stay ahead of the pack, graduates in particular are faced with extra demands in order to secure a position after university because employers are asking for more understanding and expertise than ever.

In order to learn more about a chosen industry, many people are utilising the internet to network with contemporaries and learn more about their trade from the people who make headlines in the industry. Others, meanwhile, feel the need to extend their skillset through education at postgraduate courses at Middlesex University in London or other institutions. However, there's nothing better than some hands-on experience, particularly if it can be done in conjunction with studies.

Work experience not only provides you with a great understanding of your future; it also gives you lots of practical experience to boost your CV. Without directly involving yourself in employment, it's often tough to truly understand what you're good at. Particularly when you're a student, it seems only right to give yourself the opportunity to try it out because you may find that you're better at something else or simply don't like the job you're trying for. After so much hard work, as well as money spent on associated courses, you could find your choices to be a wasted investment.

Of course, the biggest bonus of working while you're a student is that it helps you meet experts in the field and will give you the opportunity to build up a network of contacts that may be able to give you career guidance. Furthermore, if jobs come up in your sector with businesses you've worked with, your previous commitments could see you shortlisted for such roles without having to go through what are often lengthy application processes.

Naturally, a major pay-off with work as a student is the money you'll make directly from the experience. After all, student fees are rising; three out of every four universities are now charging the full £9,000 for one year of studies. Getting a job, could therefore be the best way to balance career progression and also lower your debts following undergraduate degree. Even better, it could help pay for your next step, such as a postgraduate course.