Happy International Students Day

To celebrate International Students Day, we asked for a guest blog from one of our International Students, to tell our readers about their experience of studying and working at UWS…

I have been a full-time Mechanical Engineering student at UWS since last four years and as a non-European international student, I have enjoyed every day of it. I have lived in the University’s accommodation and the staff and faculty couldn’t have been more helpful from the very first day. It also helped me enhance some of my skills like being able to do tasks at my own initiative, have met and socialised with people with almost all corners of the world and have learnt about different cultures and countries.

I am also a part of the amazing Student Ambassador team of the University. The job provides me opportunity to develop my communication skills and a chance to help others every day. Also, since I’m passionate about UWS, it allows me to do something beneficial for the University and fits perfectly around classes.

This year as an undergraduate student, I have got a chance to do a fairly costly research project which is funded by The Royal Society of London under the supervision of University’s very experienced Lecturers. We have done a lot of practical work at UWS and I can see myself applying the knowledge from them in my near future.

Hence, I am very proud that I chose University of the West of Scotland a place for my higher Education.

Ramender Kwatra

 

Make the most of your time at university

It’s extremely important to make the most of your time at university, not just because you will want to leave with a good degree, but because when you graduate and are looking for a job, employers will be looking for well-rounded candidates with a set of transferable skills, such as:

• communication
• team work
• absorbing and analysing information
• organisation, planning and time management
• working under pressure and meeting deadlines
• problem solving

So, while it’s important to do as well as you can academically, being at university isn’t just about getting a degree. Employers are also interested in the variety of skills you can pick up in other areas, such as:

• taking part in student activities
• getting involved in clubs or societies, the student association, or becoming a class rep
• work experience
• volunteering

Make sure you get involved in as much as you can and remember that in these competitive times it is vital to get some work experience during your time at university, related or unrelated to your course, through paid work or volunteering.

Register with our Vacancies and Events site here: www.uws.prospects.ac.uk

Find out about getting involved with the Student Association here: www.sauws.org.uk

For more information and ideas, check out the National Union of Students Guide: Working Towards Your Future

How to Kick Start your Career: Job Hunting Tips for Students by Lauren Knowles

Are you keen to land a job before or soon after graduation?

Read our top tips on how to lay strong foundations for your career while finishing your final year.

How to lay strong foundations for your career right now

Job hunting for a full-time role after university can seem quite daunting to final year students. But there is no reason to worry. By remaining proactive and dedicated throughout the search, making full use of the methods available to you, standing out from the crowd and getting your foot on the career ladder is completely within your capabilities.

This handy guide outlines the steps we recommend that you take in order to give yourself the best opportunity of ensuring a smooth transition from university to employment.

Do your homework

Before you do anything else, take the time to think about your future and what you want from your career.

Carry out research into the industries, organisations and roles you would like to work in, to determine whether the skills and knowledge gained from your education coincide with your future aspirations. Be practical in your choices and realistic about your future, but don’t worry if your career goals and degree don’t perfectly match. Many employers offer training as part of graduate level positions, as they expect you to grow and develop in these roles.

Also look into the different graduate positions available, their average starting salaries and whether you need any additional skills to break into particular industries. This can help you to gain a full understanding of what to expect from your job search, while also giving you the opportunity to pinpoint areas you need improve on.

Boost your contacts

Building up a strong bank of professional contacts and getting your foot in the door at businesses can also be highly advantageous

Attend events or talks organised through the university, and look out for any workshops or conferences put on by organisations you would like to work for. When networking with attendees, try to discuss your current situation and career goals as you may find out about opportunities you wouldn’t have otherwise known about.

Ongoing interaction through social media, email or face-to-face meetings with anyone you meet is then recommended, as this can help you to develop trusted relationships and also find out about opportunities that become available in the future

Work experience and internships

Building relationships with a bank of contacts can provide you with a chance to enquire  about work experience or internships.

These roles can be a great addition to your CV, as they allow you to gain first-hand experience and further your industry knowledge. You also have a chance to demonstrate your commitment, work ethic and passion to the organisation you are interning at, which can give you up an upper hand should they go onto advertise any graduate roles.

Securing a place on a relevant graduate scheme can also strengthen your CV. While these programmes are competitive, they offer training and development opportunities, a good level of support and a chance to gain qualifications, so it is well worth making every effort to get on a scheme. Completing work experience beforehand can help to set you apart from the thousands of other candidates who apply for these training schemes every year.

Getting the right support as you job hunt

When job hunting, make full use of the support that is available to you. The university careers service can offer valuable information on vacancies, work experience and internships, while providing one-to-one sessions for specific advice and support

Getting in contact with a recruitment firm specialising in your chosen industry can also prove beneficial. With a strong network of contacts, an understanding of graduate vacancies and insider knowledge of employer expectations, they can inform you of upcoming job openings, offer CV support and use their understanding of clients to help you present your skills, experience and knowledge well to prospective employers

While the graduate jobs market is known for being competitive, by being proactive and using these methods to improve your opportunities, you can really start to stand out from all other competition and put yourself in a strong position for landing your first full-time role after university

Author Bio: Lauren Knowles is a digital content writer with Portfolio Credit control http://www.portfoliocreditcontrol.com/, a recruitment firm specialising in selecting quality candidates for credit control vacancies at reputable firms throughout the UK.

Third Sector Internships Scotland – 20 New Part-Time Internships launched 8th October

Third Sector Internships Scotland helps any student currently studying at a Scottish University find paid work experience in the third sector. The latest set of TSIS part-time internships is now open for applications on the TSIS website.  There are 20 positions across Scotland, with a closing date of Friday 19^th October – please note each  internship has a specific closing time on the day.

TSIS will also be launching a further 21 part-time internships on Monday 15^th October, with a closing date of Friday 26^th October.

https://www.3rdsectorintern.com/internships/

Please note: Ed Blackburn from TSIS will be at the student Link on Paisley Campus on Friday 12^th to answer any student enquiries.

For help with completing your application or with interview skills contact the Careers and Employability Service on your Campus.

The importance of work experience

A new research report has hit the news this morning that emphasises the importance of work experience.

The report from High Fliers Research shows that employers are recruiting more graduates – but also that there are record numbers of graduates chasing these jobs. The report also warns that graduates from the ‘Class of 2012’ who’ve had no work experience at all whilst at university stand little or no chance of getting a job offer from the country’s most prestigious graduate employers – and that a record 36% of this year’s graduate vacancies are expected to be filled by applicants who have already worked for the organisation during their studies.

Media Reports:

BBC – Graduate jobs ‘taken by work experience students’

Guardian – Graduates without work experience face struggle to secure jobs, report says

Mail Online – ‘Jobs bottleneck’ as graduates struggling to find work creates backlog

The full report can be downloaded from the High Fliers Website

The Careers Service and Placement Support Service can help our students and recent graduates to secure relevant work experience opportunities. Visit us on Campus or Online

Competition: Fancy a weekend as a marketing assistant at an Ibiza super club?

World-renowned super club Amnesia has been at the forefront of the Ibiza club scene since it first opened in the 1970s.

Amnesia’s Marketing Manager Valentino needs an Assistant for the weekend of 3rd – 4th September 2011. The Assistant’s duties will include assisting Valentino with sponsor liaison, social media, customer engagement. You will also be helping with talent meet and greets, ensuring rehearsals run on time and liaising with the set, lighting and sound teams!

Open to entrants aged 18-24 years old. The closing date for all entries is Friday 19 August 2011. You must be available to travel and redeem your prize between Thursday 1 September and Tuesday 6 September 2011.

Click here for more information