REBLOGGED: A Student’s Guide to Job Hunting on Social Media

Love connecting with your friends online? How about improving your career prospects?

The average student in the UK spends 11.4 hours per week logged on to social networking sites. Now imagine if you used some of that time to boost your profile on LinkedIn, or looking out for internships and job opportunities on Twitter…

Whether you’ve just started your studies or you’re about to graduate, these simple tips could give you the edge when it comes to job hunting.

Step 1: Analyse your online presence

Google yourself! This is likely to be the first thing employers do, too.

Google has a handy feature which allows you to keep up-to-date with what is published on the internet about you, called Me on the Web.

The next thing you should check is Facebook. Make sure you keep your privacy settings high and that your profile and cover picture are appropriate in a professional context. It can also be good to add information to your ‘About me’ section – this is a chance to show off how many languages you speak, the subject you study and what your interests are.

Step 2: Create an account on LinkedIn

To get noticed on LinkedIn, follow these five steps:

1. Create a profile, with a professional-looking photo
2. Build a solid network of contacts
3. Join relevant groups
4. Gather recommendations and endorsements
5. Keep your profile up-to-date – add any new skills you’ve learnt and work experience you’ve gained.

For more advice – including tips from LinkedIn's own experts – read our full article about LinkedIn here.

Step 3: Get tweeting

If you’re not familiar with Twitter, it’s a good idea to keep your profile simple.

Start with the basics: you might want to put your job pitch in your bio (for example: ‘Highly-skilled engineering graduate looking for new opportunities’), and you should have a good, clear photo. You can also include a link to an online CV or your LinkedIn profile.

Some people like to have several separate profiles on Twitter: for example, a more serious ‘professional’ account as well as a personal account with a pseudonym (a pen name) which you use to chat with friends. This can be a good way of controlling your image online.

Once your profile looks good, start following others: companies you might be interested in working for, people in those companies, recruitment agencies, job websites and people who inspire you. Twitter is about conversations, so don’t be afraid to engage people and share your thoughts about trends and developments in your industry.

You can even tweet about your job search by asking, ‘any graduate openings coming up?’ or ‘any internships on offer at the moment?’. The idea of ‘following’ people and ‘being followed’ is to build a network which you can use to help you locate opportunities.

Twitter pages that advertise jobs often make it clear in the name – for example, '@companynamejobs'

Step 4: Have a passion? Blog about it!

Blogs can be a fantastic way to show off your personality, interests and skills. If you post regularly, employers will see that you’re dedicated and that you have good communication skills. Just make sure the content on your blog is polished and coherent – always proofread, or ask a trusted friend to proofread, to check your spelling and grammar.

Blogs can be used to talk about pretty much any subject and can also be a good way of showing employers that you keep up-to-date with innovations and changes in your fields of interest – for example, if you write about technology, the media, economics, the environment or the arts.

Step 5: The web is your oyster

If you don’t enjoy writing but you’re good at design, photography, art, crafts or film making, there are dozens of websites you can use to demonstrate your skills: Pinterest, Instagram, Flickr, YouTube or Vimeo are some of the better-known sites. But be selective! Don’t clutter your account with anything and everything you find interesting – always think about what message or impression you want to give to people landing on your profile.

Even if you’re not ‘artsy’, it’s still a good idea to document what you do. Having photographs of group projects, your student life, travels or extracurricular activities online will show employers that you’re active, sociable and hard-working. You know what they say… a picture is worth a thousand words!


Written by Education UK

REBLOGGED: 14 of the Best Cups of Coffee in Liverpool

I love this run-down of Liverpool coffee and already know just how good some of these are or they're already on my list of places to go. I definitely think there's a number 15 missing from this list though - Camp and Furnace!

In the modern world we guzzle oil and coffee in similar amounts and depending on where you go for a cup of the good stuff, those two might end up akin to one another.

Contemporary society runs off it, we meet up with friends over it and it is arguably the most important meal of the day. Liverpool isn’t short of coffee shops, that isn’t a debate, but, how many are serving it to its potential and giving the humble coffee bean the utmost respect? Risking our levels of anxiety skyrocketing through the roof, we took to the city in a caffeine-fuelled search of the best cups of joe the city has to offer. Well, it is all part of the daily grind. Get it? Because you grind coffee beans? Anyway, to the list.

BOLD STREET COFFEE

No surprises here. Arguably and impartially, you’ll struggle to find a better cup of coffee in Liverpool, just as much as you might struggle to find a seat. It’s busy for a reason and the people of Liverpool flock in their thousands every week in search of their morning fuel, their afternoon boost and their post-work resurgence. Bold St Coffee are arguably the centre of Liverpool’s coffee speciality scene and must be one of the most popular destinations for dates, business rendezvous and catch-ups in Liverpool. They’re single handedly making the world turn round, one delicious cup at a time. Warning: no matter how many tutorials you watch on YouTube, you’ll never be able to recreate the latte art at Bold Street Coffee.

Address: 89 Bold Street, L1 4HF

92 DEGREES COFFEE

The namesake is inspired by the optimum heat they believe coffee extraction is best and if you’ve left your pocket thermometer at home, you’ll have to take their word for it. Based in the Neo-Classical Old Blind School building on Hardman St, the coffee shop brings a much appreciated rest bite amongst the area. They’re the only coffee shop in Liverpool to roast their beans on site, adding a rather personal and special touch to proceedings. The building is as grand and timeless as you can imagine, high ceilings and boho-chic make for a perfect place to grab a cup of coffee. The centrepiece is a communal bench cut from a healthy slab of wood where the line between friends and strangers becomes lost and it is a must visit.

Address: 24 Hardman Street, L1 9AX

GOLDEN SQUARE COFFEE

Believe it or not, there is more to Wood Street than drunkenly putting your head through a poster with 4 other friends at Pop World in an attempt to reunite the Spice Girls. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Located above Django’s Riff on Wood Street, this new establishment radiates potential. It’s a mere four weeks old but already feels like a city centrepiece in-waiting. At its heart is a passion for quality and a precision-engineered approach to creating the perfect cup and on entering there are all the reassuring hallmarks of a place designed out of love. Next time you’re in town, head towards the neon Au symbol, you won’t regret it.

Address: 28-32 Wood Street, L1 4QA

EAST AVENUE BAKEHOUSE

East Avenue Bakehouse oozes elegance. Much to the annoyance of customers trying to enter, you’re likely to block the front door by taking it all in when you first enter. The shop window is covered in a fantastic mural with racks of freshly baked bread and fresh herbs growing behind it with fresh flowers in slim vases on each table. There is also a flying bicycle that hangs from the roof that is in desperate need of an ET teddy attached to it. Whilst being well known for their bread, their coffee is not to be underestimated. This isn’t the kind of coffee you rush and burn your tongue with, it is a cup of stopping and smelling the flowers and relaxing in good company.

Address: 112 Bold Street, L1 4HY

OOMOO

If you fancy something out of the city, we recommend Oomoo – a people’s champ amongst students and young professionals on Smithdown Road. Inspired by the owner’s travels around New Zealand, Oomoo is fun environment where conversations range from latest thesis’ to the colour of ‘the dress’. It is clearly black and blue, by the way. The latte’s are great at Oomoo, we’ve speculated but never concluded how they get it to that consistency. It is velvety smooth with a silky top that coats the tongue and it is a delightful way to gain motivation for life again. The paradox of the busyness outside in comparison to the calmness inside is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

Address: 349-351 Smithdown Road, L15 3JJ

MOOSE COFFEE

As soon as you walk in to Moose you are instantly captivated by the chandeliers made out of antlers and can’t help but crack a smile upon noticing the paintings of famoose (we had to) historical figures with a moose’s head in the place of these notable character’s heads. Moose’s interior may be all fun and games but their coffee isn’t a laughing matter. Moose is one of the most popular breakfast and brunch spots in Liverpool for early birds and late bloomers and it’s for very good reason. Whilst we could go on about the food, we’d rather talk about how good their coffee is and it sure as hell looks and tastes good right next to a skyscraper stack of pancakes drenched in maple syrup. There’s a reason why there are queues out the door near enough every day, it is well worth disregarding the snooze button and actually getting up for once. You’ll thank us when the aroma of the coffee beans hits you when you walk in.

Address: 6 Dale Street, L2 4TQ

COFFEE & FANDISHA

Coffee & Fandisha have travelled to the place where coffee was discovered and brought it back in an attempt to help you discover something new. We’ll save you the Google, Fandisha translates to popcorn and the whole space is inspired by the history of coffee and the ceremonies and rituals deeply embedded within Ethiopian culture. The coffees aren’t just pretty to look at that, they’re delicious and the beans are first origin so you know it is good. Surrounded by once thriving but derelict buildings, Coffee and Fandisha is the metaphorical bottle of water in an industrial dessert, the saviour, glimpse and insight into what makes the Baltic Triangle’s resurgence so important.

Address: 5 Brick Street, L1 0BL 

UNIT 51

Where the most articulate of workers congregate, it only seems logical that a coffee shop would enter by its side to replenish the grafters. Unit 51 has been supplying the means for the multifarious Baltic Creative for some time now and there’s a strong case the success is down to the coffee. The building boasts sheds of intellect, quite literally, as the office spaces are sheds and are filled with marketeers, drone flyers, filmmakers and lots more. Unit 51 is a bright, clean and welcoming accompaniment and they make a mean cup of coffee. It still has an industrial-like feel to it, in a nice way. Ornate objects find their way into the nooks and crannies of just about everywhere and the space reflects the creativity that the area has managed to harness.

Address: Baltic Creative, Jamaica Street, L1 0AF

ROCOCO

Rococo gets its name and inspiration from the 18th century rococo movement but blink and you might miss it. Climb the Everest-like stairs to the top and be greeted by three grand rooms and a Victorian hallway. Intricate gold mirrors and chandeliers make for a classy affair and the coffee does not disappoint. They’ve developed their own blend of fair trade coffee that they serve daily to weary shoppers, white collars and labourers alike. Nestled amongst the retail giants, Rococo is a breath of fresh air in one of Liverpool’s oldest and grandest buildings and don’t even get us started on those leather couches. Go for the coffee, stay for the couch, just don’t blame us for any mini-sabbatical induced as a result.

Address: 61 Lord Street, L2 6PB

THE READER ORG CAFE

Calderstones Park is a picturesque and idyllic reminder of the natural beauty in Liverpool. The old cafe in the park was legendary: a freeze pop emporium that gave you enough E numbers to play games all day. The cafe is no longer the same, it has evolved into something quite special and the changes will shock you. It will send bookworms into a delirium with the volume of books cascading from the shelves and provides the perfect haven for parents playing hide and seek. The interior is a bric a brac of colourful chairs that find their own unison despite all being different, much like the people that go there. All profits made go back into the Reader Organisation, a charity set up next door in the stunning Caldies Mansion which uses group reading as a way of curing depression and helping people with dementia. The coffee is already delicious but that very news makes it all the sweeter.

Address: Calderstones Park, L18 3JB

PANNA

Panna is fun to say and even better to visit. Away from the humdrum of the business district there are a set of stairs that lead to a modest coffee shop that is ran by a Slovakian couple so nice that they’ll make you feel all gooey inside like one of their brownies. The space is inspired by the food they’ve eaten, the places they’ve been and the dreams they’ve had. It is modern, good-looking and minimalism shown off to its full potential. A cup of coffee here is a delightful haven away from the chaos happening just one story above and they have their own unique blend of bright redcurrant and sweet cherry against a backdrop of heavy, round milk chocolate. If the temperature of the coffee won’t warm you up, the service definitely will as Peter and Ivana treat every single person like family, no matter how busy it gets.

Address: Silkhouse Court, Tithebarn Street, Liverpool L2 2LZ

MOON AND PEA

Moon and Pea are one of the most beloved independents on the Lark Lane stretch; so much so you’ll be lucky to get a seat and don’t even think about getting on that elusive couch. We’re pretty certain people camp out for it. It manages to embody the vibe of the lane in one modest space and the cakes are worth breaking any diet for. The best word to describe Moon and Pea to anyone who hasn’t visited is “lovely”, it is full of lovely people, lovely things and the coffee is, you guessed it, lovely. Sometimes not getting a seat is a blessing in disguise as it’ll force you to get it to go and having Sefton Park just a stone’s throw away isn’t bad. Pop your headphones in, press play on a melancholic medley and walk around the park looking pensive, mysterious and vacant as you pretend you’re in a music video. Oh c’mon, don’t pretend you haven’t done it.

Address: 95 Lark Lane, L17 8UP

COW & CO CAFE

Slightly and proudly off the beaten track is Cow & Co Cafe, a design store offering unique gifts and well-designed products, all carefully hand selected. They stock unique magazines from all over the world and as a good cup of coffee compliments flicking through them all so well, they popped a machine in there and put some talented baristas behind it. You’ll honestly struggle to find a more beautiful space in Liverpool for a coffee, we thought places like this only existed on Tumblr. The design is bordering OCD with how perfect and elegant it is. They searched all over the UK for the perfect coffee and found it 355 miles away from the leafy square they call home. Any cup of coffee with that much effort behind it is worth trying.

Address: 15 Cleveland Square, L1 5BE

HOMEBAKED ANFIELD

Most people would have you believe that Anfield is nothing but the home to a ground where a football is kicked back and forth – how wrong. Homebaked Anfield is a hedonistic and peaceful protest and they make a bake a bloody good pie. Homebaked Anfield is a community run, cooperative bakery that opened its doors in late October last year. It was only right that they carry on the tradition of baking as the building itself has been a bakery for over a century. It is ran by a team of incredible volunteers who dedicate their days to the shop, not for personal gain, but for the gain for the local community. We could tell you how good the place is, how nice their coffee is but truth be told, this is one you have to find out for yourself.

Address: 197 Oakfield Road, L4 0UF


Written by Independent Liverpool

REBLOGGED: 5 Things Recruiters Look for on a Graduate’s CV

Applying for graduate jobs and wondering why you’re not getting shortlisted for interview? Competition for graduate jobs is fierce and with most job applicants being at a similar level of experience it’s important to give yourself a chance of standing out to employers.

So what are the 5 things that recruiters immediately look for on a graduate’s CV when dealing with a large quantity of potential candidates?

1. An ‘SEO-proof’ CV

When applying for different jobs, it’s integral to tailor your CV to suit the requirements of a specific role. However, if you’re listing your CV on a job board or revamping your LinkedIn profile it’s important to make your CV more ‘findable’.

For instance, if you’re a final year Computer Science graduate you might have checked out our infographic detailing the most in-demand skills in the IT industry (plug). If so, it’s important to detail how you have C# programming skills, using your keyword “C#” as much as possible.

Therefore if a recruiter is looking to fill a graduate job that requires a certain ability or skill, the more astute candidates will be able to ensure they appear near the top of the search results by including specific key terms relevant to their industry on their CV. More importantly however, candidates who simply list the name of their degree subject run the risk of not showing up altogether when a recruiter is performing a specific skills search.

Of course, this approach is also effective when tailoring your CV to meet a specific job description as recruiters will use similar techniques to sort the good applicants from the bad.

There’s a couple of things to bear in mind when ‘SEO-proofing’ your CV however. First of all, don’t over-do it. List your skills in a logical manner to avoid seeming repetitive. And secondly, resist the temptation to fill your CV with in demand skills if you don’t have them. The whole plot will unravel once you’re screened by a recruiter, or more embarrassingly when you’re attending an interview with a prospective employer. Not only will this be catastrophic to your chances of securing the job but the emotional impact might cause you to blush in front of a stern interviewer who can see through your treacherous lies. So bear that in mind.

2. Work Experience

Detailing any work experience you’ve picked up that is relevant to your chosen industry either before or after university, during your summer break or as part of a university placement is something recruiters value highly. This is especially the case if your experience relates specifically to the job you’re applying for.

Certainly something to consider if you’re a current student, so get enquiring about placement opportunities because in this instance, more is definitely more.

If you’re a graduate make sure you tell us all about your skills as it’s a great way of making yourself more appealing to graduate employers. Your work experience will show your commitment to a chosen career path whilst helping you stand out in a pool of applicants who are all at graduate-level.

If you decided against going down the route of a university placement it still remains important to mention any work experience you have. For example, your time working behind the counter of a greasy spoon might not be relevant to a job as a Laboratory Technician but nonetheless demonstrates your dependable and professional approach to work, something employers are looking for proof of when recruiting at entry-level.

3. A Graduate's Academic Track Record

Frustratingly for recruiters many graduates tend to exclude their academic results prior to university from their CV, yet just as many employers will be looking for graduates with a specific A-Level qualification.

Your grades at GCSE and A-Level is an important trump card to be played by graduates as recruiters will initially compare similarly matched candidates by their previous academic records. It’s also important to note how graduates who don’t disclose their grades are often viewed with suspicion by recruiters.

Ultimately your previous academic record remains significant and a track record of success will improve your job prospects. Make sure you detail it on your CV.

4. Minding the Gaps

Gaps on a graduate’s CV are also often treated with suspicion by recruiters. Be open about any periods of unemployment but phrase the details thoughtfully. For instance, we see many CVs with phrases like 'actively job searching' to explain gaps between university and employment.

Although this may be true, it's as useful as blank space on your CV. Instead, you could detail how you've been keeping up to date with current affairs in your chosen industry, partaking in activities and hobbies that have helped to sharpen some of the skills attained during university, or even that you've endeavoured to learn new skills that are relevant to your chosen industry during a period of unemployment.

All of which show how you are completely focused on deploying your existing skills within your chosen industry, despite not finding your ideal graduate job yet.

5. A Clear Format

The format of your CV is crucial. The document needs to have an easily readable, flowing structure. Avoid large blocks of text and ensure you write in a concise manner, utilising bullet points to list relevant skills. The length of your CV is also important, try not to exceed two pages and use a link to your LinkedIn profile as an appendix that backs up your skills and experience whilst also elaborating on any points you’d like put across to prospective employers.

A well thought out and informative CV will convey your ability to understand and fulfil the requirements of a specific task and is highly valued by recruiters.

Make sure you take a look at the Careers Advice section on the STEM Graduates website to guide you through other aspects of the graduate recruitment process such as interview techniques, timing your applications and working alongside a recruitment agency.

Any questions you might have regarding creating and amending your CV are also welcome, so please feel free to fire away on the comments section of this post.


Written by Mark Bradford
24th March 2015
STEM Graduates

REBLOGGED: 7 Tips on How to Make the Most Out of a Music Industry Conference

If you’re going to do some business in this industry we call music, then chances are you’ll be attending various music conferences at some point in the future. Love them or hate them, they’re pretty much essential for most of us (be you industry or artist) so you might as well ‘do them right’.

I’ve been frequenting various ones for the past ten years or so now and I remember my first In The City experience back in my tender youth; wide eyed and scared shitless at the idea of approaching Tony Wilson to ask him some meaningless question about “the true DIY approach”. In all fairness, it wasn’t until probably my third music conference where I actually had the proverbial testicles to approach who I previously saw as ‘the unapproachables’ to start a conversation about getting some business done.

It probably took me so long as I distinctly remember one incident during my inaugural conference where I was chatting to an Australian gentleman about a comment he made during one of the talks that I agreed with. It was late, we’d had a couple of shandys, I was listening to his gripes and general angst towards the music industry, all the while thinking to myself; LOOK AT ME! I’M NETWORKING IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY! I CAN’T WAIT TO TELL MY DAD! Finally, after venting for around an hour he caught himself chatting away and said; “Sorry, I’ve been chewing your ear off; so what do you do? Could you help me out?” To which I replied that I was a student at the time and before he let me go any further he simply said “Oh for f**ks sake” and walked off. My confidence was a tad knocked.

They can be costly affairs when you take into consideration travel, accommodation, ticket, booze, booze, food, booze etc, so if you’re new to the world of music conferences have a gander at these tip top tips as they may provide a bit of food for thought.

1) Pick the right one.

There are bloody loads of them so make sure you pick the one most relevant for your needs. Got a huge club banger you want to show off? The Amsterdam Dance Event is the one for you. Want to find the next buzz band? The Great Escape & Liverpool Sound City should be your ports of call. Want to do deals and expand your business whilst paying €15 for a glass of beer? Then Midem is your friend.

2) Avoid paying full price

We all like saving money, maybe me more so being a northern man and all, so only daft people ever pay the price on the door for all these events. Most conferences do an earlybird ticket usually before they’ve announced the full line up so there is an element of risk involved, but research their history to get an idea of who they’ve had there before. Most also do deals for members of organisations; PRS, PPL, MMF, AIM, MPA, MU etc so if you’re associated with one of those guys you can usually get a discount (don't know what those acronyms mean? then check out the BLOMIA - The Big List Of Music Industry Acronyms). The bigger the discount the more beer you can buy me to put your music on TV. FAIR DEAL.

3) Figure out what you want to achieve from attending

What’s the point in going if you don’t actually get something out of it? There’s an obvious and simple statement which is worth reiterating as I myself in the past have gone to conferences pretty much just for the sake of going. With hindsight that time might (read: would) have been better spent in the office actually doing work and whatnot. Imagine that. Before each conference I attend I set out some simple targets; make three new TV contacts, organise a meeting with that company to discuss sub-publishing, get four new bands on board at Sentric etc – that way at the end of the event I know that it cost me XXX to attend, but the new relationships I’ve made should make the business XXX.

4) Research who is going and approach them before the event

The vast majority of conferences these days require you to register online for the event and then you can usually see everyone else who is attending. Scrutinise this list, shortlist the people you want to meet and drop them an email a couple of weeks before the event so you can organise a time to rendezvous and also give them opportunity to suss you out online. Be sure to read this 10 tips on proper email etiquette; if you follow the tips in that post it will greatly increase your chances of a response.

5) Make plans, but prepared to ditch them

Fill your time from dusk till dawn with gigs, meetings, panels etc., but be prepared to drop nearly everything if something important comes up I.E. you land a meeting with someone who you didn’t expect would give you the time of day.

6) Have some business cards

You’d expect I wouldn’t have to put this in here would you? Every single conference I go to I come across people who haven’t got a business card on them. Push the boat out and get some nice ones done as well, you only live once eh? Saying that, don’t go mental; someone gave me a tiny metal one shaped like a razor blade once – at the time I thought it was awesome until I got it confiscated off me at airport security. I’m probably now a suspected terrorist on some government database somewhere. Marvellous.

7) Follow up after the event

As well as all the people you want to meet, no doubt you’re going to end up networking with a whole host of people you meet in a hotel bar at 4am (might be a cliché, but it’s true; a lot of contacts are made at this time during various degrees of inebriation) so when you return to daily office life be sure to email every single one of them with a simple ‘lovely to meet you’ email. You might have absolutely no need for them and their service/business/music at the moment, but you may very well do in the future (that tip comes via the lovely Marsha Shandur).

There you go, do the above and you’ll hopefully get something out of your music industry conference shenanigans. If you ever see me at any of these do come and say hello; I won’t tell you to f**k off like the Australian did to me.


Written by Simon Pursehouse
January 2014
Sentric Music Blog

Make Twitter Your Networking Essential

Pre-networking event advice usually consists of making sure you've got enough business cards with you. Now I love business cards, especially if they look (and feel) good, but once you hand your's over to the person you've just been networking with, what really is their 'shelf life'? Is it just until they hit the bottom of the other person's bag?

By all means take business cards with you but don't just rely on them alone. A great tool for making (lasting) connections when networking is Twitter. If I've been chatting to someone who I really want to be able to keep in touch with, I'll usually round off the conversation by asking "are you on Twitter?". Most events have got some form of free WiFi so make the most of it and 'follow' them there and then. Hopefully, they'll have their notifications switched on and will 'follow' you straight back. Anyone who I've ever asked has been only too happy to oblige if they are on there, with most of them returning the favour.

Through making connections on Twitter, it's easy to "remind" people you're there by simply 'retweeting' them or replying to something they've tweeted. With an e-mail you've actually got to have something worth saying before you can send them one. Then the person has to take the time to read it and respond - if you're lucky. Twitter's brief and doesn't take up a lot of time. Tweets were obviously designed with only 140 characters for  reason!

If you've got LinkedIn, great, but I wouldn't recommend using that over Twitter when face-to-face networking. You can always go and look someone up on there afterwards. Chances are, if you add someone on LinkedIn, you'll become one of their 500+ connections and end up back at the e-mail hitch again because essentially you're just giving them access to an online version of your CV. Twitter is much more interactive and sociable.

I remember having a look back once to my first ever tweet, it read something along the lines of; I'm not sure why I've got Twitter but we'll see how it goes. Now I know exactly why I've got Twitter! Thanks to the people I've met since, I now wouldn't be without it. Looking through my Twitter now, most of the people I'm following/are following me (minus companies) are people I've met through events and have 'networked' with and it's been really valuable for keeping in touch with many of them.

Next time you go somewhere where you'll be networking with people, take your business cards but don't forget to have your Twitter account to hand as well.

REBLOGGED: Notes From An Event Management Course: Work Experience

Last month I spoke about independent studying – I offered some tips on how to manage deadlines and gave advice on how to keep going (without going insane). In this post I’d like to discuss the value of gaining work experience whilst studying at university.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m presuming most of you have had those days when you’ve thought “Ok, I need to get a job!”- believe me I have. This may have hit you when you’ve been strolling down the aisles of your favourite supermarket about to pick something up but then realising – “dammit, I’ve hit my weekly budget!” (sigh).

Having a part-time job which can be carried out alongside your studies can be a challenge, because you’ll have to be even more efficient in how you balance your study, social and work commitments. However, it not only helps with the weekly food shop – but it also offers valuable experience where you can develop and acquire new skills.

One way I look at it is: University is like reading a book – it teaches you the essentials. However, working onsite at an event offers you the chance to learn the mechanics of how an event works by putting your ‘book’ skills into action. This may be through volunteering at events such as festivals; or finding a part-time internship at an events company; or finding a flexible part-time job where you can work at a variety of events.

Over a year ago, I started working for a recruitment agency which provides hospitality staff to work at a variety of events around London. It has opened my eyes to the various aspects undertaken pre-event, during and post- event. Additionally, I’ve also met some amazing people on the way!

Events are like massive jigsaw puzzles – every aspect is crucial for a successful delivery. For example, in hospitality: it all begins by booking staff onto shifts; the event manager organises the staff on the day; tech and production staff are hired for set up; chefs are hired to make and prepare the food; this is then delivered to the guests by the staff – which is cleared away by the porters; then the event is packed up; and then everyone goes home!

From an aspiring event manager’s perspective, I also seek to learn from any mistakes made at the event. Have you ever been at an event, maybe even as a guest (lucky you!) and thought, ‘If I was running this event, I would…?’ I try and make a note of anything that has interested me – whether they are things I would do differently, or things I admired.

If you are a first year student or hoping to start at university in September, my advice would be:

Step 1:

• Find a flexible job – your priority is your degree, so find something which fits around your timetable.
• Volunteer – when you’re in first year you can afford to apply to more volunteer work as you have more time! Here, you can get a taste of the types of event you are most drawn to.
• Internships – some people choose to carry out an internship alongside their studies. However, Summer or Winter internships also work well, because they don’t interrupt your studies.

Step 2:

• Remember to keep track of every job you do – write up everything, from; improvements you would make, to inspirations, and to the skills you learnt from the experience.
• Don’t neglect your CV – it’s an easy mistake to make, but you want it to be ready on hand if an opportunity comes your way, so keep it up to date.

Written by Harriet Adkin
31st March 2015
Eventbrite

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