Revealed The best city to go to university in 2019

Revealed The best city to go to university in 2019 by Michael Cheary Cardiff is the most affordable city to go to universityStudents in Scotland are working the most whilst studyingThe Bank of Mum and Dad the biggest source of income, after student loansOne in three students have no budget at all whilst at universityCardiff has been named the most cost-effective city to attend university in the UK, as part of the NatWest Student Living Index 2019.However, only three percent of students choose where to attend based on affordability â€" with the majority (48%) calling subject choice their number one concern.More money in the Valleys    If you’re attending university in Cardiff, you’re in luck â€" the Welsh capital has been declared the most cost effective city for higher education in the whole of the UK, overtaking last year’s winner, Hull.Not only are students in Cardiff likely to spend well below the average amount on their accommodation, they also receive more by the way of student loan payments ( £603 per month) and b ursary/scholarship money ( £120 per month).And with the money spent on alcohol just below the UK student average of £27.20 per week, it seems as if all that extra income isn’t necessarily going to waste.Term time income Cardiff may be most affordable city when it comes to living and accommodation costs but, perhaps surprisingly, students in  Bristol came out on top for total term time income.Based on all sources of income, students in the West Country stand to make £1,387 per month. Manchester, Cardiff, Leicester and Southampton  rounded out the top five.But things arent quite so positive in London, with term time income in the capital dropping by almost £200 despite topping the table last year.Students in London also spend the most on rent, at £700 â€" a massive 69% more than the national average.Students in Scotland work the most hours whilst at uni, with those in Stirling spending around 27 hours every month concentrating on their part-time jobs. Edinburgh and Aberdeen als o featured in the top five.The Bank vs The Bank of Mum and DadPerhaps unsurprisingly, loans provide the highest monthly monetary contribution across the board â€" making up a massive 45% of student savings.Other forms of income included money from parents or family (20%), part-time work, personal savings, and bursaries/scholarships (around 9% each).According to the research, Oxford students receive the most from their parents every month, followed by those in St Andrews, Durham and Southampton.Those based in Belfast get the least from their families, and students in Cambridge  top the pile for bursaries and scholarships.Big spenders Aside from household bills, students have two main outgoings: supermarkets and socialising.Food shopping, toiletries and household items were the clear priorities â€" with the average student spending £83.50 every month on the necessities, up almost £10 from last year.Eating out was the next expenditure ( £38.20), followed by clothes shopping ( £29.90) , and alcohol ( £27.20), a surprising distant third.However, it does seem like spending varies across the country. Students in Liverpool easily spend the most on a night out, with 22% of those admitting they spent more than £30 the last time they went out.Students in Cambridge saved the most when it came to social spending.Stress and mental health awareness  Despite the social aspect, many students admitted theyve struggled with stress both during and after university.42% of UK students confessed they feel concerned about their financial situation after the completion of their degree.45% of students rate studying for university as being very stressful, especially for university cities with bigger reputations such as Cambridge, Durham Oxford.Students in Aberystwyth are the happiest overall when studying.Mental health awareness is also a growing concern for some students. Just 1 in 4 said they were satisfied with their universitys mental health support offering with students in St . Andrews happiest in this area.  Subject the biggest factor Finally, although affordability is undoubtedly important, it has almost no impact on the decision of where to study.Half of the students surveyed based their choice on what subjects were on offer, with university reputation (23%), close proximity to their home (13%), and social life (5%) all coming above cost of living (3%).But with one in three admitting they don’t budget at all whilst at uni, it’s not surprising that cost of living isn’t a key deciding factor for picking the perfect place to study.  The NatWest Student Living Index is made up of answers from 3,604 students across 35 popular university cities. Affordability is calculated by taking monthly living and accommodation costs, and dividing them by the average monthly income for that city. For the full results, visit NatWest Life Moments.   Find a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a vali d email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Features Graduate advice School leaver advice

Whats Your Purpose

Whats Your Purpose For years everyone has talked about passion. What gets you going? What stokes your fire? What moves you? But passion is only part of the picture. Passion is your drive. Pair passion with what you’re good at (vocation), your dream job (profession), and calling (mission), and youve found your purpose. What is purpose? Purpose is your reason for existing. Its the accumulation of all the parts of yourself â€" all the things that make you who you are â€" put together in the form of something that impacts not just yourself, but others around you, your community, and the world. How Do I Find Mine? It is too easy to get caught up with us, to think about how the actions of others impact only ourselves, to do things solely for our own benefit. Finding your purpose requires you to step outside of yourself, to look at those around you and to think about the impact you truly wish to leave. What will your footprint be? Ask yourself these questions: What talents do I possess that I can share with others? What kind of person am I right now? What kind of person do I want to become? What am I doing to make the world a better place? I know these arent easy questions. Take your time. Truly explore yourself as a person. What is your niche? Where do you fit in to the bigger picture?  It is okay for your goals and desires may change over time. You should, ultimately, be able to express your purpose in a short sentence. What Do I Do With It? Once youve determined your purpose, you need to take action. What you are you doing in your life to provide meaningfulness? Are you doing anything that contradicts your purpose? Are you in a job that doesnt align with what youve determined to be your lifes work? Do you need to learn a new skill to enhance the impact you wish to leave on the world? To put your purpose into action you need to be with the right people in the right setting using your life’s work to make an impact. Looking inside yourself to find your purpose and then taking the steps to make your purpose the work you do to impact the world is not simply one and done. Revisit the questions asked here. Think about who you used to be, who you are now, and who you want to be. How are you influencing  the world? In the words of Michael Jackson:  Heal the world.

The Art of Reciprocity in Interviewing - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

The Art of Reciprocity in Interviewing - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Interviews should be a dialogue. Interviews should be a conversation. Interviews should be a chance for each party to get a feel for the other. Fortunately, smart companies have changed interviews from what they were in the past. Interviews are no longer just about the needs of a company to fill a role. They have morphed to allow the person looking to fill that role into becoming an active agent in the process. The reciprocity in interviewing involves two or more people in a dialogue to determine if the person is a fit for the company AND if the company is a fit for the person. Anything less is a disservice to each. I am not suggesting that each party has a 50-50 split in who does the talking. There are times when the prospective employee needs to provide detail. After all, the person knows what they know and the company wants to find out what they know. Smart companies hire thinkers. Because, in theory, the person doing the interviewing already knows a lot about the company. This is not always the case, but its a good theory. Its also a great reason for interviewee to do their own research. There are also times where the interviewee should expect detailed responses from the prospective employer to their questions. However, Never Forget! It’s up to the interviewee to be prepared. Do the Work Interviewees need to do their own homework so they can ask intelligent questions. Why? Because the interviewee needs to know if this place is a place where they can work. Not just work … but do their Best Work. Interviews are NOT supposed to be monologues. Interviews are conversations for the job seeker AND the job creator. Modern and Smart Companies look for thinkers Not automatons Even in roles where mundane tasks are the norm. There are always ways to improve a process and provide a better customer experience. Companies Pay for Experience This is obvious, but most people do not start at the top of the organization. There are exceptions, but thats usually what they are exceptions. Everyone else has to pay their dues. Those dues will involve both positive and negative experiences. That’s part of life. Those experiences expose flaws and pitfalls in plans and these are often the most powerful teaching experiences. Everyone has at least a few of these. Some have many more. The good news for potential new hires always have a few too. Even Newbies have Something to Offer Newly minted college graduates have skills and experiences too. Everything they have done plays a role in what they know and in what they can bring to the organization. These experiences should not be discounted and when possible should be leveraged to extend the company into new ways of thinking. While it will not be common for new hires to start at the top there is nothing preventing a new hire from making an impact. Smart companies know this and they setup a nurturing environment to insure new hires can learn, grow and share. Whether they are straight out of school or whether they are transferring in from another department or company. Everyone has their own experiences and can make an impact. The smart companies are making it easy to utilize these experiences and grow their business. Smart Businesses practice and perfect the art of Reciprocity in Interviewing. What do you think? Are there any cases where monologue-only interviews work? Should interviews be a reciprocal process? What are your tips to insure interviews are a dialogue? Author: Jeff   is a veteran in the Enterprise Content Management industry. Over the past 20 years he has worked with customers and partners to design, develop and deploy solutions around the world. Jeff is currently the Director of Strategic Alliances at Winshuttle. He has worked for Microsoft, FileNet (IBM), K2, Captaris, Open Text, Kofax and Kodak. He speaks and blogs about ECM and the Intersection between Social, Mobile and Cloud Computing.

How to Ace Your First Annual Review

How to Ace Your First Annual Review Todays post is by Sara Gallagher of gearsandshifts.com. Im always surprised when I hear that a recent college graduate has failed to earn a raise at her first annual review. Getting a raise after your first year on the job should be easy. After all, as an entry-level employee, youre not yet earning a substantial salary; raising it shouldnt put an undue financial burden on your employer. Additionally, your learning curve the first year on the job is extraordinarily high. By the time you sit down with your boss for your first review, you will probably have learned many skills you didnt know the day you interviewed. Nonetheless, some supervisors are just tough negotiatorsand in this economy, budgets are tight and competition is fierce. Here is an action plan to help you succeed where others have failed: Learn to manage projects. You probably wont be managing many people during your first year on the job, but you will be managing tasks and projects. In my experience, the hardest thing to learn as a newbie career woman is how to get started. Fresh out of college, I found myself waiting for my boss to give me assignments. I didnt understand yet that in many companies, the only assignment youre ever going to get is your job description. While some supervisors will give you things to work on here and there, youre responsible for meeting the objectives of your position whether or not your boss gives you step-by-step instructions on how to do so. The great thing about project management is that unlike people management, the results of projects are easier to quantify and communicate on a self-evaluation. Dont press your luck. Gen Y has a reputation for self-entitlement and assertive office behavior. Understand that you have a lot to learn, and be careful about suggesting too many changes. Ideas show you have energy and initiative, but constant, unsolicited criticism of your companys current systems and policies can sever important working relationships. Remember, getting a raise during your first annual review is easybut so is getting canned before you get the chance to argue your case. Document your success. Remember that compensation should be a reflection of your contribution to the companys bottom line. While contribution can be measured in many ways, it does need to be measured in order to justify increased pay and responsibility. Dont wait until youre filling out your self-evaluation to try to remember what youve accomplished. Keep a file on your computer with customer testimonials, sales accomplishments, project completions, and other documents that will help you describe your contribution to the company in tangible terms. Cross-train. Learn as much about your businessand business in generalas you can. Learn from those above you and from peers you respect. Learn from friends working in other industries. Read trade journals, blogs, company newsletters, and any company information you have permission to access. Often, a raise is easier to justify if youre also being considered for a promotion or increase in responsibilities. To spread your wings, youre going to have to prove to those around you that you can handle it. Prepare your replacement. Sometimes, the greatest barrier to earning a raise or promotion is the fact that you do your job so well your employer fears that no one else can do your job adequately. Ive noticed this happens the most often when you start out as an administrative or customer service professional. The best way to combat this is to proactively train others to perform aspects of your position.   Tread carefully; the goal behind training your replacement isnt to shirk your duties, its to make you easier to promote. Build connections. To be successful in academics, the only person you really needed to worry about pleasing was your professor. Not so at the office. Its important to forge mutually beneficial professional relationships where possible. Do your best to get along with everyone, and when you do run across someone you dont like, do your best to change your opinion. Later in life, you can be a little bit more nuanced in your relational dealings; for now, you need all the friends you can get. Treat your annual review like a job interview. Its likely that you practiced your answers to possible questions before going in for the job interview. It doesnt hurt to do the same before meeting with your boss at your annual review. By all means, keep it real and dont spout off canned answers. On the other hand, do come prepared with talking points. These can be accomplishments, observations about your department, ideas for improvement, or questions youd like to ask of your more experienced manager. Your supervisor will appreciate your proactive attitude. Complete your self-evaluation early. Remember that your supervisor has most likely decided whether to recommend you for a raise before calling you into the office for your review. That means that you should complete a detailed, thoughtful self-evaluation at least two weeks prior to your appointment.

How to Effectively Prepare for a Job Interview - CareerMetis.com

How to Effectively Prepare for a Job Interview Source â€" cheatsheet.comJob interviews can be difficult; many people feel nervous and unsure about how to approach them. They want to impress the recruiters but they just aren’t sure how to.Preparing properly for an interview can dramatically improve your chances of success and in this article we will explore 6 specific things you can do to wow the panel.1. Check out the organizationMake sure that you are really familiar with the organisation you are applying for. It is important that you know what the organisation does, what their major challenges are likely to be, and who their main competitors are.evalRead their website and look for articles about them in the press. Think about how the role you are applying for can help the organisation be successful in the future.The more senior the role in the organisation, the more you should be able to talk with authority about why you want to join the organisation and how you can contribute to their future success.The best candidates won†™t wait to be asked about the organisation. They will talk about the organisation with enthusiasm, and weave relevant insights into their responses during the interview.Pay particular attention to the vision, mission and values of the organisation, and look for ways of showing you are a good fit with the organisational values in your interview.2. Get really familiar with the role you are applying forInterviews should be tailored to the requirements of the role, and these should be set out in the Job Description and Person Specification. This is good news because it means you should have a rough idea of the areas the interview will focus on.Broadly speaking interviews tend to be technical Make sure you can explain how you meet each of these requirements. Identify where you feel you are likely to face challenges or any development areas and think about how you will position these if asked â€" it is particularly useful to have in mind any development activities that would be beneficial .3. Map out your experiencesSometimes candidates can just ‘go blank’ in interviews; they know that they have lots of good examples they could share, they just can’t bring any to mind when they are put on the spot, or they share examples that are not their best examples.Avoid this by writing out a list of your main achievements and successes.The best examples are ones where you were instrumental in making something happen, where you went above and beyond what was necessary, where the situation has finished and you know what the outcome was. Cross reference these to the requirements of the role set out in the job description.evalFor example, if the job requires you to have strong attention to detail, make sure that you have an example of a time when you have shown strong attention to detail that you can share.Prepare your examples by using the STAR acronym.This provides a useful framework for organising your thoughts and delivering a concise and easy to follow description of wha t you did. STAR stands for Situation Think about the logistics of the interview in advance and make sure that you are well prepared.For example, find out where the interview will take place and visit it in beforehand so that you don’t have to worry about getting lost or not finding the venue. Check how long it will take you to travel to the venue, do a practice run, and then add in contingency so that you are not late.Make sure that you have all of the necessary documents and paperwork with you, for example, most employers will need to see a passport or visa proving your right to work in the country and you should bring that along. If you need to give a presentation, then ensure you have hard copies printed out as well as a soft copy on a pen-drive.Set yourself up for success by thinking about the things that could go wrong logistically, and how you can overcome these. This will ensure that you will arrive at the interview on time, being well prepared, being calm and collected and ready to perform at your best.

How to write thank you email after interview - Margaret Buj - Interview Coach

How to write thank you email after interview A thank-you email is a message sent to a potential employer as soon as possible via email after a job interview to show gratitude. The letter is personalized to show appreciation of the potential for the interview experience to create a positive impression before the employer can make a decision. A thank you. The email also emphasizes the employee’s interest which proves to the employer your appropriateness as an employee. Benefits of a thank you email A form of appreciation after getting an opportunity of an interview not only shows courtesy but also creates a rapport with a potential employer. A thank you mail may be simple and casual, but it has immense power to influence the employer positively on your candidacy. Additionally, sending a thank you note via email gives the job seeker an added advantage compared to a hardcopy letter. By submitting through an email, you can include a link to your online portfolio which provides the employer with more information. Another benefit is that an email is faster compared to physical mailing because an email reaches the employer immediately. A postal service takes a longer time to deliver a message that is needed as soon as possible. In fact, with a thank you email, one can send the mail on the same day that the interview was conducted. “This is essential especially if you have interviewed an opportunity that requires the human resource team to make a decision soon; it is vital that you send the letter soonest when the interviewers have a fresh impression of your portfolio in their mind.” â€" says Alfred Coral, the writer of Resumesarea.com company. Moreover, the letter can have some additional information that you would want the interviewer to know before deciding on a candidate. For the latter reason, the mail should get sent within the first of your interview. What to include in a thank you mail Apart from sending your appreciation for the chance to get an interview, the thank mail should strengthen the fact that you passionately want the employment. As a potential employee, you should see the thank letter as a chance to ‘sell’ yourself more to the interviewer. Therefore, make sure that you restate why you applied, your qualifications, as well as the contributions you may impact on the business. Take the opportunity to include in the thank mail the points that the interviewer forgot to ask. For instance, you may include why you feel that you are the perfect match for the vacancy the company advertised. Post advises that if you fit well with the company vision, culture as well as objectives, it is crucial to address these issues in the mail. Finally, you can include in the mail some of the emerging issues and concerns that you encountered in the interview. You can take the opportunity to state the agendas you felt you did not comprehensively answer. For example, if you thought that you vaguely answered an interview question, you have the opportunity to explain further and provide details in the thank you mail. Points to remember Remember the mail should be sent within 24 hours when your interview was conducted. It is crucial that you include the names of the panel that interviewed d you. Avoid sending a mail to each member of the interviewing panel since it appears desperate. For this to be possible, it is essential that you remember your interviewers’ names because it shows you have listening skills. When writing the subject line, remember to include the job position you interviewed. It assists the human resource office to note your response and understand the importance of the mail. Ensure that you include necessary links that provide information to your online portfolios including other sites that give your professional data and information. Be professional in your words when addressing your details. Mistakes to avoid A thank you letter is sufficient to show your interest in the job you interviewed. Constant letters and follow-ups only exert stress and unnecessary pressure to the hiring team. Your sole agenda should be a show your suitability and qualifications. However, repeated follow-up shows desperation which annoys the hiring manager and distorts your case. Also, do not send an online link that sabotages your job opportunity, for instance, a social media link that may have unprofessional photos and messages. You might not find it offensive, but the hiring manager might have a differing opinion. Do not send emails that have grammatical errors or other syntax mistakes. Remember your thank you mail speaks volumes to your potential employer and mistakes will reduce your chances of getting a job. The candidate should understand that the mail should be straight to the point and brief. It is vital to incorporate brief paragraphs that have precise details. The following are additional points to note if you want to have a proper thank you letter. Write a professional subject line, e.g., Thank You â€" First name Ensure the letter is brief and precise Proofread and correct any mistake Short Example Subject: Thank You Letter Dear Mr./Ms , Thank you so much for time and for interviewing me today for the accountant position that is open now. It was great opportunity for me to learn so much more about the company during our interview. I really want to work in accounting department at your company. I hope that I will fit for this position. I worked at the similar position for 2 years so I have all basic skills and experience make me ideal person for this position. I will bring enthusiasm and attention to all details at anything I do. If you need more information, please contact me at any time. Thank you again for the interview. Looking forward for your answer Sincerely, Your Name Conclusion By sending a thank you mail to a potential employer, you affirm a rapport that you created doing the interview. A thank you mail promotes your chances of getting a job since many people hardly bother to send one. It gives you an added advantage over other competing job seekers. About the author: Jane Williams is a student majoring in Human Resources Management. She currently works as an HR consultant for an IT startup, as well as a freelance writer. Jane follows the latest trends in the job market and enjoys using her expertise to help people land their ideal jobs. Here are links to her social media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-williams-6a7797174/ https://www.quora.com/profile/Jane-Williams-225

What Do You Need For Writing a Resume?

What Do You Need For Writing a Resume?There are several factors to consider when writing a resume. These include your goals, education, and experience. A professional resume is the first step in the job search. Knowing what to include is necessary to getting the interview you want.The first thing to consider when writing a professional resume is your goals. What do you want to achieve in the working world? With so many opportunities available in your field, what is your vision for the future?Education can also be an important factor in the creation of a resume. If you have completed a post-secondary education, it is recommended that you include a summary of your educational background. For example, if you have completed a Bachelor's degree, you should be able to provide a one-page resume with your major. You should include course information, statistics, grade point average, and your instructors' names. The objective for your degree may help you decide on the format you want to use.W ork history is another factor to consider when creating a resume. Include work experience and the types of jobs you held in your resumes. It is also important to mention any special skills or training you gained from your previous jobs. Additionally, include any training or certifications you may have received.Experience is a very important factor in what to include on a resume. It will help the employer to get a good idea of how long you have been in the position you are applying for. If you worked in management positions, listing the number of years in each role would be helpful. Including details about the experiences is a great way to put your best foot forward.Writing resumes is one of the most difficult things for many people. However, it is an essential part of your job search. It will give you the opportunity to impress the hiring manager and provide him or her with a concise and detailed description of your qualifications.If you still have questions about what to include in your resume, don't hesitate to ask. You may want to speak with a professional resume writer. They can help you by providing the structure and details you need.Writing a resume is not difficult to do if you know what to include. Whether you need a basic resume for a local job, or a more professional one for an executive position, there are various styles to choose from. Remember, the person being interviewed will appreciate knowing all the details about you, so it is important to cover the basics as best as possible.