Wafa is studying MSc Business and Management here at Aston. She also recently secured a postgraduate placement with Vitabonna Development. Congratulations, Wafa! We asked Wafa to tell us a bit more about the role and how she remained motivated during the search. What role have you secured and with which organisation?Business Strategist and Development Analyst with Vitabonna Development How did you find this placement?What gives Aston University the distinctive edge I believe among other universities is how much they care about the student and the full support that is given to us. I was able to secure this internship through … Read More
Postgraduate Placement Success Story: Dipti Rathi
Dipti is studying MSc Information Systems and Business Analysis here at Aston. She also recently secured a postgraduate placement with the Terex Corporation retained by ASG. Congratulations, Dipti! We asked her to tell us a bit more about the role and how she remained motivated during the search. What role have you secured and with which organisation?Capacity Planning Tool Development Placement with Terex Corporation (retained by The Advanced Services Group at Aston University). How did you find this placement?I found it through Iwan (Careers Consultant) by getting in touch with Alumni on LinkedIn who suggested me to connect with Professors … Read More
11 tips for staying productive while studying from home
With social distancing comes the challenge of studying and preparing for your assessments from home. If you’re used to doing the majority of your studying with your friends or in the library, it can be tricky to get into the right headspace to carry out all your work from home now. To help you out, we’ve pulled together these tips to ensure you can still cross out everything on your to-do list. Dress for success Now we are all spending more time at home, it can be tempting to just sit around in your PJs. However, you’re more likely to … Read More
Digital resources to help you keep on top of your job search
It’s a strange world we’re living in right now, isn’t it? What with everything going on, we totally understand searching for a placement or graduate job might be the last thing on your mind. If you do want to keep up the search though, you’ll be pleased to know there are lots of things you can do to help boost your chances of being successful in applications*, all from the comfort of your own home (changing out of your PJs is optional). *Despite the unfolding situation with COVID-19, we recommend you still continue with your job search, but please be … Read More
How to make a good impression on placement
The transition from turning up to lectures in outfits resembling pyjamas with a large coffee to get you through the two hours, to thinking about how to present yourself in a professional environment can be daunting. We get very comfortable in our student bubble and can afford to let some standards slip (I know you’re not changing your bed sheets weekly!), as long as we’re getting our work done. However, in the world of work, success in your career comes from more than just a good work ethic and it’s important to consider how others perceive you whilst making those … Read More
Graduate in Focus: Harriet Main
Full name: Harriet Main Degree title: BSc Politics and Sociology Year of graduation: 2018 Name of the organisation where you work: Houses of Parliament Job title: Parliamentary Assistant What does a typical day in your job look like? My typical day is so varied depending on Parliamentary business of the day. However, on a daily basis I will usually make sure that my boss’ diary is up-to-date, organise meetings and events, and attend meetings with my boss. I also respond to constituent enquiries by telephone, email and letter. What has been the highlight of your job so far? I have … Read More
How work experience gave me valuable industry insights
Work experience during university can not only be an effective way of building up your CV for that future graduate job, but also an excellent opportunity to gain insights into the types of industries you might want to pursue your dream career in. This is why short-term experiences can be great stepping stones towards longer-term goals. Most degree programmes today open doors to multiple career routes across various industries. This was certainly the case for me. As an undergraduate chemical engineer, I soon realised the breadth of my programme. With so many different specialisations available, I initially found it difficult … Read More
The skills I’ve developed through work experience
After learning from a recent survey that two thirds of employers look for graduates with relevant work experience, it’s now more important than ever to develop your job-specific skills – whilst discovering what you truly enjoy! Personally, during my first year at university I had no idea what industry or job I wanted to go into – and that’s ok. Hence, I decided to immerse myself in societies like Enactus where I not only developed my personal skills through entrepreneurial projects, but also expanded my professional network. Within Enactus, I would work with local refugees in Birmingham, developing workshops to aid … Read More
How work experience helped me in placement and graduate interviews
Whether you’re a second year looking for a placement opportunity or a final year looking for a brilliant graduate scheme, it’s safe to say you will be filling out a lot of application forms. Alongside your academic achievements, employers are really interested to hear all about your work experiences (in all shapes and sizes). Work experience could come in a variety of forms: Work placement Summer internship Part-time job Self-employment Charity work and volunteering. If you have done one or a combination of the above, you are far more likely to have an abundance of experiences to share with potential … Read More
My journey from Aston University to my first graduate job in the UK
During the 2nd and 3rd year of my Chemical Engineering degree at Aston University graduating in July 2017, I was working a part-time job at Reiss in the Bullring. Here, I often tailored suits for my customers and advised them on the various items to purchase for holidays, weddings and more. Due to the nature of the job, I often built fantastic customer relationships resulting in many customers specifically requesting to be served by me in store (a great feeling if you have ever worked in retail!). During the 2nd and 3rd year of my Chemical Engineering degree at Aston … Read More