News
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What are soft skills and why are they important?Research led by Harvard University shows that 85% of job success comes from having well-developed soft skills, while only 15% of success is based on technical skills. But what exactly are soft skills? Soft skills can be defined as personal qualities or traits that allow the individual to interact harmoniously and effectively with other people. […]READ MORE
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Tips for internship successEven without the extra pressure from the pandemic, there’s no denying that today’s job market is competitive. The average ratio of job applications to getting invited to an interview is twenty-to-one, according to graduate-jobs.com. Their research also found that “graduate job seekers fail to hear anything at all in response to three out of five of their applications.” Clearly, whether […]READ MORE
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Blogging for your business (An introductory guide)Want more visitors to your website? Of course you do! Including a blog on your website is an extremely effective way to increase visits. Let’s start with the basics. What is a blog, really? ‘Blog’ is an abbreviation of ‘web-log.’ It’s a chronological series of web posts, similar to an online diary. If you’re using […]READ MORE
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It’s time to stop stereotyping older jobseekersAre you worried you might be missing out on job opportunities because of your age? Don’t be. According to the most recent government employment statistics, “The number of people aged 50 and over in employment has grown strongly in recent years,” increasing by 30% since 1984. Yet against this background, ageism is still alive and present in today’s […]READ MORE
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How to be more productive in work or studySince the advent of the smartphone, our attention span has rapidly decreased. A study by Microsoft concluded that our average attention span has decreased from twelve seconds to eight seconds since 2000. That’s officially shorter than goldfish that come in at nine seconds. So, what does this mean for our productivity? Concentrating is harder than ever, but we don’t want that […]READ MORE
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Surviving your probationary period and first appraisalThe prospect of a probation period in a new job can be daunting, as can a first appraisal. So, what are the key things you should know about these two? Firstly – both are in place for your benefit as much as your employer’s. “Probation periods work both ways,” explain Jobsite.co.uk. “For one, both employer and employee […]READ MORE
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The benefits of learning for pleasureWhat is learning for pleasure? To those of you who feel like your mind is about to explode with information – don’t look away yet, this could help you significantly. In the digital age we live in, we’re utterly overloaded with information. We’re bombarded daily and can sometimes become overwhelmed with burned out brains. When […]READ MORE
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Franchises… an alternative to starting your own business?If you’re seeking the potential rewards that come with setting up your own business but are also worried about the risks, you could consider investing in a franchise instead. Franchises come with many of the benefits of owning your own business, but with more security. In their latest survey, the British Franchise Association and NatWest […]READ MORE
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Professional Networking Like a ProEver heard the phrase ‘It’s not what you know, it’s who you know?’ Professional networking dispels this myth, as the purpose of professional networking is not only forging mutually beneficial relationships with other people in business, but also about sharing knowledge and expertise. Professional networking can seem like a daunting two words if you haven’t […]READ MORE
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Essential apps for getting things doneThere’s way more to office life than email and Excel these days. The explosion of the app economy that came with the advent of modern smartphones has meant that there are hardly any tasks that aren’t being made easier with technology. With all this choice, sorting the productivity gold from the distracting dross isn’t easy, […]READ MORE
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The dreaded interview question: What are your weaknesses?Not ready to spill the beans on your biggest flaws at your next important job interview? Unsurprisingly, we at the Alumni Association don’t recommend it either. ‘What are your biggest weaknesses’ is a clichéd question that has been the downfall of even the savviest and most prepared job candidates. But worry not, there is a […]READ MORE
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Changing career could be easier than you thinkChanging your career can be a daunting prospect, but if you want to do something new, develop your existing role into something else or just fancy a challenge, then it may be the right decision for you. Many of our alumni have come to learn that making the decision to change your career is often […]READ MORE