Volunteering: It’s Not All Bag Packing & Collection Buckets

When you’re at uni you’re always told volunteering looks great on your CV. Then the first thing that springs to mind is bag packing at the supermarket or volunteering in a charity shop. This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and it’s enough to put some people off. My flatmate volunteered at a charity shop and she got a lot out of it so it’s definitely not to be knocked if you want retail experience or that’s just what you want to do. But for those of you who cringe every time someone mentions the word “volunteering”, there’s so much more to it.

The one thing I’d seriously recommend is volunteering for events. There are so many different events out there that it’s easy to find one in something that interests you. I know event volunteering isn’t for everyone but I think it’s definitely worth having a go. It’s ok if afterwards you go “maybe that wasn’t for me”, but at least you’ve done it and can put it down on your CV as experience.

In my first year of uni, I applied to volunteer for a music conference and festival and ended up working on their expo. I was doing a media degree so I thought it would be a good way to get experience as a runner. I absolutely loved it! Second year of uni brought about another opportunity to volunteer for a different conference. It was then that someone suggested the idea of a career in events management to me. I haven’t looked back since.

Through volunteering I’ve found what it is I want to do and I’ve got so much out of it. For a start, you’re getting free entry in to an event and I certainly wouldn’t say no to a free wristband for a music festival - I’ve got to see some great bands because of it! It’s also a great way to meet people and make friends, as well as securing some good contacts in the industry. It’s given me quite a confidence boost as well. I’ve found I really come into my own working for an event; I’m not one for sitting still much so I really enjoy the busyness of it all. I’ve even managed to get a paid event out of my volunteering so it’s a good way to get other opportunities, including work experience or internships.

I’ve now done 9 events, taking on roles from runner through to venue manager, working across 4 different cities. I’ve got enough ‘volunteer’ t-shirts to fill a wardrobe on their own! If you’re willing to travel for an event then that’s credit to you, some will even be prepared to pay your travel expenses in return for you.

Whilst you’re a student it’s the perfect time to volunteer. You get to take a break from studying but at the same time still doing something proactive. Many events will take you on even if you’ve got no previous experience because events don’t work without volunteers. There are lots of transferable skills to be gained from events and you’ll learn a lot about yourself as well. What’s more, it’s a customer facing role so when you go for an interview and they say “tell us about a time when you’ve worked with customers/the general public”, you’ll have a good example to talk about.

I can’t encourage students enough to volunteer for events - it’s a great experience. So go find an event that interests you and get involved. It’s only for a few days and you never know, you might find you really enjoy it!

ARTICLE: UK’s First Official Vinyl Charts Launch as Vinyl Sales Soar in 2015

This is some really interesting news that broke yesterday from the Official Charts Company. It's good to see that vinyl is now being included in it's own chart. Vinyl used to make up the UK's official chart on a Sunday evening so it's a shame it' not still included in the main chart. It will be interesting, however, to see just how much the vinyl albums and singles charts differ from the charts we're used to hearing on Radio 1. (Original article can be accessed here)

We're excited to announce the launch of the UK’s first ever weekly Official Vinyl Charts, published exclusively right here on OfficialCharts.com, as new figures reveal the vinyl resurgence powers on strongly in 2015.

Kicking off Record Store Day week 2015, new proof arrives today that Britain’s renewed interest in music on vinyl shows little sign of slowing.

2014 witnessed vinyl LP sales reaching a 20-year high in the UK at 1.29 million, following seven years of unbroken growth, and now, new Official Charts Company data for the first quarter of 2015 reveals that this trend is continuing at pace, with vinyl album purchasing up yet again a staggering 69% versus the same period in 2014, and vinyl singles also up 23%.

So while it's quite clear that music fans and collectors alike can't get enough of the format, the Official Charts Company are pleased to introduce the UK’s first ever Official Vinyl Charts.

The Official Vinyl Albums Chart Top 40 and Official Vinyl Singles Chart Top 40 (combining sales of 7” and 12” singles) launch exclusively on the all-new OfficialCharts.com - the online home of the Official Charts.

Following a period of rapid audience growth hitting record traffic of 2.5 million monthly unique users, our newly revamped mobile-friendly site – which was awarded Site Of The Fortnight and a 5* review by Web User Magazine, as well as being shortlisted for Best Website at this summer’s Brand Republic Digital Awards - will become the exclusive home of the weekly rundown, with the charts published each week on Sundays, 7pm.

Martin Talbot, Chief Executive, Official Charts Company comments:

“We’re delighted to launch the UK’s first Official Vinyl Albums and Official Vinyl Singles charts on OfficialCharts.com, to coincide with Record Store Day this coming weekend. With vinyl album sales up by almost 70% already this year, vinyl junkies could well have snapped up 2 million units by the end of this year – an extraordinary number, if you consider sales were one-tenth of that just six years ago. This growth underlines the continuing resurgence of this much-loved format, whether you’re a fan of Arctic Monkeys, Noel Gallagher, Led Zeppelin or David Bowie.”

Kings of this week's main Official Albums Chart and also responsible for Britain's best-selling vinyl record of the week, All Time Low’s frontman Alex Gaskarth said:

“What’s been going on with vinyl at the moment is really cool. What I love is that there are different worlds of vinyl fans; there’s the audiophiles who swear by the sound of vinyl, the people for who like owning it as a collector’s piece, and then groups like our fans who buy a vinyl of our record simply so they can hang it on their wall.

“Back in Baltimore there’s this incredible record store called Sound Garden, which I can regularly be found in. What I love about vinyl is that it makes a real event out of music; you go into a record shop and have to search out what’s there. The world is in music overload at the moment, so it’s great to see more people honing in on certain artists by buying a vinyl and showing loyalty to their favourites. It makes the whole experience of listening to an album special.”

UK vinyl retailer Phil Barton of Sister Ray Records, Soho, London adds:

“The resurgence in vinyl sales has been a great boost for the independent trade. The launch of the Official Vinyl Charts tells the world that a format that is loved and revered is more relevant now than ever - far from being a curiosity, vinyl is the go-to format for many music fans.”

REBLOGGED: Opinion: Space...The Vinyl Frontier

The other day, I asked my Northern Quarter-dwelling friend if he’d heard the latest hipster joke; he replied “Yes, I have it on vinyl.” Over a million vinyl records were sold in the UK last year, the highest figure since 1996. Yet, for every vinyl record we buy, there will more than likely be someone sat at home wondering how to fit one in a laptop. Now enjoying a resurgence in popularity, vinyl records are no longer seen as antiquated relics of a bygone age. Oh, how the turntables have, well, turned.

It is important to point out that vinyl records make up only a marginal percentage of overall music sales, roughly 3 per cent, yet people are buying more vinyl than they have in previous decades. Why? Is it the experience of ownership? In my particular case, vinyl gives me a physical experience that feels more fulfilling; certainly a more fulfilling physical experience than a CD ever gave me, anyway. Owning a vinyl, much like owning a book, gives you that level of satisfaction that you just can’t get from a CD or a digital source.

Convenience certainly works in favour of the CD, yet for their convenience, they eliminate the interactive element of vinyl. You listen to a side, and then you flip it over. This may not sound the most arduous of tasks, yet it makes the listening experience something in which you are not only emotionally involved, but physically involved as well. There’s also something rather romantic and poetic about the hum of that needle on the record grooves. Add to that the occasional crackling noise, and you have yourself an omnidimensional sound experience to make any music aficionado’s heart melt.

Music brings people together. Record stores are spaces for those who share a similar passion for music, even if it is for different genres. I would choose to go out to buy a record over downloading a file on my computer any day of the week. We, the consumers, should reciprocate the effort
to get it. At least this way, you eliminate the fear of a clandestine virus coming along and draining the entire contents of your iTunes library. With vinyl, your only worry is scratching it, but only if you’re silly enough to treat it like a chew-toy.

The love we have, and have re-found, for vinyl does pose a growing, underlying issue. The music industry, it seems, has hit a brick wall with regards to finding new and innovative ways for us to consume music. Looking backwards to go forwards is no solution. How long until 19th-century wax phonograph cylinders make a comeback? In the pursuit for innovation, the music industry is constantly tripping over itself. Dr. Dre headphones, for example, are a clever marketing opportunity. But, an iPod can’t match the quality of the headphones when you’re listening to an MP3 that has an even worse sound quality than a CD. I’m as happy as anyone that vinyl is on the rise, but the question we should all be asking ourselves is: What’s next?

Written by Stephen Miller
2nd March 2015
The Mancunion

REBLOGGED: Top Tips for Mastering a Job Interview

If you're anything like me, you have a full time job. Yes I am a Miss 9 to 5 (what a way to make a living) and I have a very busy (and budding) career.

As much as I would love to blog for you guys on a full time basis, it isn't feasible and I have bills to pay plus if I am honest, I enjoy what I do. I remember the transitional period of leaving university and hunting for a full time job. It can be stressful and there are days where you will feel like you are useless and untalented. Do not fret! There are thousands of other people in the same situation that feel this way. You are not alone.

So, today I thought I would offer my advice on how to master a job interview. It's rather a random post for my blog, but I thought it sits well under my lifestyle posts. Plus, I have been asked frequently what I do for my day job, how I got my job, what my skills are and also whether I am a full time blogger. Now you all know I am a businesswoman (digital marketing champion) and a passionate blogger who enjoys offering my advice on a regular basis.

I cannot say that my suggestions will 100% get you the job you seek, but I hope it gives you more confidence in your interviews.

Here are my top tips:

RESEARCH THE COMPANY | Do not go to an interview unprepared. If you really want the job you have applied for, you will do you background research! Nothing looks worse than a prospective employee turning up with a blank face. Do your homework!!

READ THE JOB SPEC | I cannot put enough emphasis on how important it is that you know the job spec you have been provided with. What position are you applying for? How does your skills match up? Make sure you compare and highlight your strengths.

DRESS THE PART | I cannot press this issue any clearer. If you turn up to an interview looking scruffy, do not expect a call back. You need to look professional, you need to make a good first impression and you can do this by looking the part.

ARRIVE ON TIME | No, not 10 minutes late, not even a minute late. You should be at your interview at least 10 minutes prior. You then have those 10 minutes to compose yourself, go to the bathroom and flick through your notes. (Not on the toilet guys! Unless of course that works for you... very unhygienic)

FIRM HANDSHAKE | Introduce yourself with a good solid handshake, show you mean business. A good handshake shows that you're self-assured and confident.

EYE CONTACT | Keep eye contact and smile. Do not look around the room or seem distracted. Show that you're interested in what the recruiter has to say and look awake.

PREPARE YOUR ANSWERS | Many people get tongue tied when they are put under pressure or on the spot. Don't panic, take a deep breath and then answer. There are many websites that provide you with potential interview questions.

ASK QUESTIONS | If this is the job you want then make sure you ask as many questions as you can! You want to get a feel for the company that you could potentially be joining.

'What are the team like?'
'Is it a social work environment?'
'What are the average work hours?'
'What are the goals for the company?'
'Who would I be reporting to?'

WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP | Don't keep yourself in the dark. Ask what the next stage of the interview process is so you're aware. It shows that you're interested and eager to hear back from them.

I hope these help you! I am not the master of job interviews, but I am someone that is currently working and looking to progress within my career. This is the advice I would give myself.


Written by Roxanne
29th January 2015
Sprucenews