Why Graduates Fail in Job Interviews

It wasn’t so long ago when a graduate could be guaranteed a job. More recently, a graduate applying for work may be unsuccessful in the job interview process because of how an employer perceives the graduate compared to an experienced career professional.

This article will look at the reasons why some graduates are failing job interviews and what current students can do to give themselves a helping hand to advance their career prospects.

Suitable or Unsuitable?

Data shows that the average number of applications for each job role is around 250.

The number of applications per role does very depending on the job position and location, but 250 applicants per advertise job seems correct with previous research. From the 250 applications only 6 candidates, on average, will be offered a job interview.

If a graduate is offered a job interview, they are deemed to be more suitable then 244 other applicants. What this explains, is a graduate who can secure job interviews but not a job offer is doing something wrong in the interview itself.

An alternative viewpoint is the graduate interviews well, but other interviewees, who could also be a graduate but maybe an experience career professional, are better skilled at job interviews.

Either way, if a graduate can secure job interviews but not job offers something needs to change.

From an employers perspective, the job interview is designed to predict the job performance of each applicant. The best perceived performer is offer the job role.

Employers, in the main, use a structured job interview process as research proves that a structured approach is the best way to predict job performance.

What is important, is how a graduate is perceived during the recruitment process.

How Graduates are Perceived in Job Interviews.

A part of perception is comparison.

If for example, a graduate applies for a graduate scheme, all the other applicants will also be graduates creating a level playing field.

For none-graduate roles, applicants are likely to be a mixed bunch of career professionals. This group of candidates may include graduates with no work experience, graduates with work experience, experienced staff with no degree level qualifications.

In this scenario, it is hard for the employer to compare one applicant against the other, as two many completing factors make the logical decision making process a difficult task.

It is the same when purchasing a house. Two houses seem suitable but each have completing factors. One is cheaper but further away from work. One is a 3 bed house with a small garden, the other a 2 bed house with a larger garden in a cul-de-sac. One is in an area with great schools but a high crime rate and the other in an area with a low crime rate but poor schools.

Having a high number of factors to consider is taxing. Instead, the logical mind turns off and the emotion brain gives you a gut re-action: I don’t know why but I prefer house one.

This same process happens with hiring managers, When they initial met the candidates there is an overload of information. One candidate has a degree but the other has 10 years work experience. One candidate has people skills, the other an eye for detail. One candidate is skilled at completing a certain task, the other is an expert in (add criteria). and so on. Again the logical part of the brain closes down and the emotional mind creates a gut reaction: Applicant one seems most suitable for the position.

As the git-reaction decision making process happens at the interview start, the applicants forthcoming job interview answers are filtered through the initial interview identity.

Research shows how people look for evidence to back up their choices. If an employer favors one applicant over another, they will subconsciously look for the positives in the answers of there preferred choice, and look for any negatives in the least preferred choice applicant.

The number of people with a degree is on the rise.

Data shows how the number of higher education applications and starts is on the increase, with 2020 seeing over 720,000 applicants looking to start in a course in 2020.

UCAS recently shared data, showing that there were over 616,000 applicants for 2021 (January deadline analyses)

Prior to the rise of degree-level interviewees, having a degree was viewed as an exceptional attribute. The rule of scarcity says the more common something is, the less value we see in it.

A 2017 Harvard Business School study stated that between 2007-2010 job adverts requiring a bachelor’s degree increased by 10%. The study also found that 37% of employers rank experience as more important then a qualification.

This shows how each employer have different viewpoints on what they believe is important when its comes to recruiting new staff members. The job sector also influences the essential criteria for each job role. In medicine, as an example, applicants will never receive a job offer washout first possessing the required qualifications.

In other sectors, that have previously required a qualification as an entry requirement, we are starting to see a move away from the qualification entry requirement. The tech sector, companies like Google and Apple are focusing on ‘hands-on’ experience.

Where does this leave the graduate?

Don’t be confused here. Having a degree is still viewed as a positive, as a higher educational qualification shows academic ability. And a qualification relevant to the advertised job role infers industry level knowledge.

What employers are now saying is that industry knowledge and skills can be gained just as easily from possessing a number of years working within the industry. Again, job hiring comes down to how an employer perceives an applicant – there predicted job performance.

A buyer’s market.


Data has shown how more people are now progressing into higher education. Graduates, therefore, are at a disadvantage when applying for entry level positions as competition for these roles are high.

In addition to graduate competition, employers, now more than ever before, compare industry experience against the graduates qualification and skill set – their whole package.

Now that job recruitments have changed, employers not stating a qualification as essential, the competition for jobs is increasing. Even is a qualification is essential, in sectors such as medicine, the evidence suggest that more people have a degree then ever before.

The power is truly in the employers hands. Employers, knowing they will receive a large number of applications, can demand more from the applicants. Previously, for entry level jobs roles, a degree was the only requirement. Now, employers can ask for more because they know the number of applications for these positions will be in there hundreds.

Therefore, when in education it is virtual to gain new skills and experiences to help create a positive job interview identity. This can be achieved in various ways:

  • Having a side hustle shows business acumen
  • Volunteering increases skills and shows work ethic
  • Being a graduate mentor helps to develop essential skills; listening, communication and planning
  • Work experience, which can include first aid for a medical student or putting on a fringe play for a performance art student, can be used as examples during the job interview question and answer process
  • A part-time job brings in an income but also helps to shape your character
  • Increase personal skills by joining debate clubs, public speaking classes, being the student union president or taking an active part in the universities board meetings

How to be successful in the job interview

A graduate gaining skills or experiences from one or more of the above ideas can stand out against other graduates with similar qualifications.

Against experienced career professionals, who will often be able to give work-related examples to job interview questions, the graduate needs to prepare their interview answers.

The key to being offered the job role is to be seen as being more suitable then the other applicants.

Often an experienced career professional who hasn’t undertaken a industry related qualification maybe an expert in a particular niche, as they may have only worked in one position/role, which limits their knowledge base.

On the other hand, a graduate during there three year degree will have gain knowledge relevant to the whole job sector. It is this level of knowledge, if communicated confidently, along with skills and experiences gained through volunteering, work experience and side hustles can create a self-assured job interview identity.

Evolve the mind book on Amazon

To pass the job interview graduates shoud:

  • Describe industry related models and theories learnt on higher educational course
  • Give situational interview answers by explaining what steps would you take to overcome a potential barrier or to achieve a company objective
  • Explain how skills and experiences gained from work experience, voluntary work and side hustles are relevant to the job role
  • Use communication skills gained from attending debate clubs or public speaking classes to deliver high-scoring interview answers

In addition, all applicants can stand out in job interviews by:

Aristotles Teaches How To Persuasion in a Job Interview

Aristotle’s Persuasion Technique

Persuasion is the goal of the job interview.

In the job interview, you need to influence, persuade and motivate through the answers of your job interview answers. You naturally persuade all the time, through the words you say and how you say these words. The problem is you may persuade people not to recruit rather than persuade them to offer you the desired job position.

Aristotle was a master of the persuasive language. We have taken the leanings of Aristotle’s rhetoric and made it relevant to the job interview.

Ethos, Pathos, Logos

Ethos is your character, how you come across to the interviewer. In a job interview, you need to be seen as credible, an authority. If the job interviewer believes in you, they will listen to you, if they listen to you, they will want to buy you (offer you the position) Aristotle said “We believe good men more fully and more readily than others.”

An example of an ethical appeal: “What I have learned from working in this industry for over 28 years is…” Your duration of experience has a direct path to your Ethos.

Pathos creates an emotional response from the interview panel. In the job interview situation, you need to appeal directly to the interviewer’s emotions. The great interviewee controllers the employer’s emotions throughout the job interview, taking them on an emotional roller coaster.

An example of an emotional interview answer is “have you ever been in a situation when a multi-pound deal was just about to be lost….what I did to turn things around was…” By getting an employer to imagine/remember a negative situation stirs up their negative emotions, before you create a positive emotional pull, by explaining your positive outcome.

 

Logos is a way to use logic; reasoning, data, statistics and even debates and arguments. Imagery creates an emotional pull, logos allows you to give the facts to back up the story. “This technique increased profit by 35%..” “9 out of 10 people benefited from X”

Interview Test

Job Interview Questions for a Job at Rise in Manchester

Job Interview Questions for a Job at Rise in Manchester

 

Rise Manchester offers a tailor-made space for the FinTech community, drawing together the city’s vibrant startup culture and its rich industrial past. In staff they are looking for friendly and fun staff who know there coffee and who can improve their customers experience.

 

If you want a job at rise, here is some questions you will need to answer

 

Below you can also access 101 Interview Questions and techniques to Influence the Job Interview. Good luck with your next job interview.

 

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Job Interview Questions for a Job at Rise in Manchester

 

Job Interview Question 1: 

 

“Tell me about your customer service experience?”

 

The opening question at Rise, will be a generic interview question to gain an insight into your customer service and barista experience.  Summarise your experience and have a focus on the key skills required for this position; how you welcome customers, how you promote the rise philosophy and how you go above and beyond

 

Ensure you mention

 

  • customer service skills
  • strong written and spoken communication skills
  • the ability to solve problems
  • the ability to deal tactfully with customers
  • your friendliness and rapport building skills  

 

 

Job Interview Question 2: 

 

“How do you handle difficult customers?”

 

For situational job interview questions, answer using a real life story or example

  • state the situation – why the customer was angry/difficult 
  • explain how you remain calm and how this calmed down the customer
  • discuss what you did to support the customer while following processes and procedure 
  • explain the outcome of the situation ***ensure this is positive 

 

 

Job Interview Question 3: 

 

“When have you gone and beyond to help a customer?” 

 

Rise isn’t just a coffee shop, its an experience. In an employee Rise are looking for staff members who go that extra mile. Answer this interview question by first stating your work ethic and your temperament. Second give a real life example of when you went above and beyond to help a customer. Remember at Rise the customer base isn’t just shoppers, in fact the percentage of customer are entrepreneurs who spend their day at Rise working

 

   

Job Interview Question 4: 

“What questions do you need when booking a room for a customer?”

 

Many customers book rooms and the stage area. This task requires a level of organisation. When answering this questions explain your strategy for   keeping the administration side of things on point. How do you ensure that you have the correct details; customer detailsl, booking details

 

 

Job Interview Question 5: 

 

“Why do you want to work at Rise?”

 

Be honest when answering this question – Rise has to be the right fit for you, and you need to be the right fit for Rise. What made you apply for this role? Why do you like the environment? To answer this question, start with “The three reasons I want to work at Rise are…” and then give 3 real reasons.

 

 

 

 

Interview questions and answers

 

 

 

 

 

Job Interview Question 6:

“Do you have any questions for me?”

 

Good interview questions to ask interviewers at the end of the job interview include questions on the company growth or expansion, questions on personal development and training and questions on company values, staff retention and company achievements.

 

Conclusion 

 

Many people are afraid of job interviews. The truth is if you prepare for your job interview, by predicting the job interview questions, you can easily prepare your job interview answers. If your job interview answers highlight your unique selling point, are stated in the positive and are said in a confident manner, then you can influence the job interview to increase job offer.

 

Interview Preparation Resources

 

Other People Who Read This Article Also Read:

 

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How Part-Time MBA Program Can Increase Your Career Prospects?

Management education is now becoming widely popular in the growth of career prospects. MBA degree along with any qualification increases your job opportunities to a great extent.

In fact, having an MBA degree from a reputable institute will leave you in an advantageous position.

Young professionals mostly, therefore, opt for the degree to seek better job opportunities.

In the race, even mid-career professionals are seen to choose MBA degree to boost their career but not keeping their job at stake.

You can check on the MET’s guide on PGDM to gain more information about the part-time courses.

Career Opportunities after Doing Part-Time MBA

Boost to Existing Career

Yes, you are already designated on a very good post in a reputed company. However, you definitely would desire to see yourself in a higher-level 5 years down the line, isn’t it? For this reason mainly, many executives, managers and even other professionals in the industry enroll themselves into the course to improve their current skills and look forward to be promoted in higher designation. It further opens up the path for new job offers from different well-known companies.

Core Areas in a Part-Time MBA Program

Similar to full-time MBA program, part-time course gives you opportunity to pick up your area of interest in the field. The areas in which you can build up your career after completion of part-time course are stated below:

   

Operations

Being selected as operations manager, you will be handling every activity i.e. needed to create as well as deliver a service or product. From the selection of suppliers to management & distribution of supply chain, everything you will have to take care of.

Sales & Marketing

The job responsibilities that you will be in charge of as a sales and marketing manager are research and develop marketing plans as well as opportunities, executing sales plans and managing staff as well.

Finance

Have to manage the funds in a way that it maximizes ROI thereby reducing the risk factor and guaranteeing adequate control over the fund investment and transfer. You will also be focusing on key areas such as predicting, budgeting, analyzing on cost reduction and also assessing operational performance.

Human Resources

Human Resources (HR) has the primary function to be carried out in an organization. Right from conducting interviews of candidates to placing them in the right position and even deciding on their pay scale is what you ought to do as a HR manager.

Retail

As a retail manager, you will be looking into daily affairs of the departments or stores. Your aim would be to maximize profits thereby reducing costs.

Accounting

Here your primary task would be to prepare as well as examine the financial records accurately. Even you will have to be sure that taxes are being paid on time. Other services will be like auditing, improving profits and revenues, improving business efficiency and inspect on the accounting systems and books as well.

So, you see there are a number of career opportunities awaiting your path even if you consider doing part-time MBA course.

Career Prospects

Even seeking a part-time MBA degree will give your CV an added weightage. You not only will be eligible for promotions in your current company but also can register with the employment consultancies to get calls on promising and attractive job opportunities.

Author Bio

Jenny Richards is a regular blogger and also a career consultant. She wrote the latest blog on career prospects you can have enrolled into a part-time MBA course from a recognized institute.

Ease Your Admission into a Post-Graduation College with these Interview Questions

Most of the post-graduation colleges admit students by testing their capabilities through different procedures.

One of these hurdles that the students face is the interview round that takes place mostly as a final test before starting the curriculum. So, it is important to prepare yourself with the common interview questions and tackle them in a way that makes your way smooth inside the institute.

Read the following article to get a hang of the interview questions and how to deal with them.

Getting to the interview in itself means that your application has displayed your abilities to an extent. The interviewer further wants to test your skills and commitment. Interviewers also want to see how you will fit into the institution or a research group. These questions have a specific meaning and the interviewer exactly know what to ask.

The questions would definitely depend on the course that you are getting into but some of the typical questions with not so typical answers are listed here. Having a look at them once before you are appearing for the course will ease your process of admission to the course and getting to know what is the interviewer expecting out of them.

 

Let’s take a look:

Why do you want to take up this program/course?

With this question the interviewer wants to understand how passionate you are for the course or the program that you want to pursue. Referring here to modules and projects about or a paper from your undergraduate course that further developed your interest. Explain to the interviewer that why this course is important in order to achieve your career aim.

Take for example you are seeking admissions to MS courses in UK or an M.Tech course in US, or a M.Com degree in India you will have to know that how a particular course will draft your career. It is possible that you may need to discuss your plan in detail, so you should better be prepared for it.

Why do you choose this University?

Another hurdle that you may need to clear is to make the interviewer believe that you have chosen the best university for you. The familiarity with the departments related to your research and how well it is known in the academic community should be your main focus. Do not try to butter them, just simply tell them how being here will help you tailor your career path.

Secondly, highlight the research aspects of the course that you find attractive, the methods, the structure of the program and display your firm believe in the college.

For example picking one of the above mentioned examples, MS colleges in UK would like to know what search do you have about the college you have chosen and what about the other colleges offering same course in UK.

What are your five years goal?

You may think that once you are out of the room, the interviewer may not even remember what you said. Still, you have to be prepared to the fullest because they are not interested in your five year plans, rather they are interested to know about your organizing skills, planning skills etc.

Not only do they test the skills but also become sure that you will be committed to the course for the entire tenure and have plans to take it further.

How will you be beneficial to us?

To ensure success, do not list your skills. Rather give examples of your achievements in the past. Research about the competencies that the universities are looking out and try linking your skills to the competencies required. What they want to know is:

  • Your achievements weather from earlier courses or work if any
  • How are you a performer?
  • Will your skills benefit the course in some way

Which part of the course were you the most interested?

The question is designed to understand weather you have a genuine enthusiasm for the study or not. Again explain your career path and how important this course is to you. Even you do not have a set plan, display interests that make you a serious student. 

What are you as a person?

Getting to know about your interests and future plans, the interviewer now will shift the focus on if you are going to be a healthy part of the system. In other words, he will want to know if you will be able to adjust to the environment that the university offers to the students. You may offer your strengths and weaknesses here. You may talk about:

  • Your accomplishments in extracurricular activities
  • Contributions made in previous academic session or work (if any)
  • What do you like

You can talk about yourself as much as you wish to do, just remember you have to leave a positive impact when you leave.

Final Words

Your goals will define your career path and will help you answer most of the questions, some listed here; some may come up randomly. You never know what the interviewer can think!

Also, keep in mind a formal attire when appearing for an interview. The way you dress up ends half of the interview; in a positive or a negative manner depends on you.

AUTHOR BIO

Akansha Arora is a professional writer and blogger who loves to pen down her views on a number of topics that interest a reader. She writes keeping in mind the current scenarios and wishes to keep her readers well informed.

10 JOBS AFTER AN MBA DEGREE

The only reason why one studies is to be able to be financially stable in the future. This is the driving factor for most of our decisions. Getting a business degree is always a plus for a good start to a career.

MBA degrees have been attributed to be one of the most affluent of degrees. Even in the current job market, companies still revere a business degree.

Global companies are always looking for well-educated business graduates who can take their business forward. Each of these companies are further divided into departments and each of them is in turn headed by a B-School Graduate. The possibility to reach to that level is higher if you are passed out from a top business school.

Here are some of the high profile jobs that an MBA graduate can get:

Accountant: An accountant compile, prepare and analyze financial records. Every company and organization has an accountant. They are highly paid and revered. They are the ones that determine the finances of a company. The average salary for an Accountant would be £16,429 – £50,733 per year.

Advertising Executive: An advertising executive primarily work in the advertising field. They manage client accounts, coordinate with them, handle campaigns, understand the integrities of marketing and their various concepts. And advertising executive would get an average of £16,642 – £33,825 pay per year.

Business Manager: As a business manager, you are liable for your business and your company. You are overlooking the planning, direction, operations and efficiency of the employees. It is your job to delegate work and see that it is done. They get an average of £21,060 – £70,150 per year as their pay package.

Sales Associate: As a sales person your main work is to market your product and in turn sell it. While in MBA you are taught thoroughly the various concepts of marketing and how to deal and persuade clients etc. A Sales Associate is entitled to £12,404 – £37,386 per year depending on their educational qualification.

Financial Manager: They mostly work in banks, credit unions and various other finance companies. They could be a loan officer, investment officer etc. An average salary for a Finance Manager would be £25,000 – £65,000 per year.

Corporate Recruiter: These are people who are more widely known as Headhunters. They are those who hire CEO’s and CFO’s of a company for a company. Many top notch business let these people handle the recruiting and the salary negotiations. A corporate recruiter is entitled to an average of £17,187 – £35,869 per year.

Corporate Communications Officer: Every company has its own corporate communications department. They are the one that create implement and oversee communications programs. They are a common bridging gap between the company head and the employees and also a communication channel between the company and the outside world. They can ask upto £17,365 – £31,193 pay per annum

Human Resources Director or Manager: An HR personnel is the one whose main call of duty is to hire, retain and fire employees. They are the ones that determine the company codes and policies. They supervise every aspect of employee relation. £24,465 – £52,207 is the average salary of a Human Resource Manager.

Management or Business Analyst:  They analyze and evaluate operating procedures and in turn make recommendations based on their findings. They are often hired as a consultant to solve a specific problem in the company. A Business analyst can take up to £25,046 – £61,171 salary per annum.

Product Manager: They plan, develop and execute a plan for a particular brand or product or services. They deal with various aspects of the business and manage production, sale, advertising, promotion, research, development, purchasing, and distribution etc. of a product or services. A senior product manager could take upto £38,912 – £80,876 per annum

As the current job market goes, companies are using quite strenuous hiring strategies. They just don’t want anyone. They are making sure that they hire the best possible candidate for the job. If you are one of those dreamers who aspire to have a great start to a booming career – an MBA degree definitely helps you. Plus if as a business grad you salary is also higher than your peers who are not and if you grow in your company the opportunity to becoming the CEO is also available to you.

Author Bio:

Trisha is a professional writer and has been writing on a variety of topics. She is an ardent reader, a traveler and a passionate photographer. She wants to explore the world and write about whatever comes across her way | LinkedIn

Source for salaries: http://www.payscale.com/

Overcome the Lack of Experience and Secure a Job After Graduation

Fresh graduates nowadays are nowhere as optimistic as they used to be. The job market is getting more competitive, student loan rates are going up and every job post seems to require years of experience.

Many college graduates find themselves stuck in a circle: they cannot get a job because they don’t have the experience, and they cannot get experience because they don’t have a job.

The truth is, there are many things you can do to overcome the lack of experience. Hiring managers need to know that you have the skillset and commitment they need. Often, working experience and past references are the easiest ways to show off those qualities. However, they are not the only means available. You can prove your worth in many other ways. Here a few things you can do to prove yourself to potential employers:

1.       Internships

Internships are often reserved for college students and newly graduate, so there is usually no working experience required. While working as an intern, you will naturally gain real-life experience and get connected to professionals in your fields.

Here is a quick fact: 85% of companies use internships as a way to recruit for full-time positions. Therefore, besides gaining experience, there is a chance that you will be able to score a job offer before even getting your diploma.

2.       Volunteering experience

If internship opportunities are hard to find in your area, look for volunteering experience as well. Most non-profit organizations, and sometimes even businesses, depend on volunteers during the busy season. Major in accounting? Check with your local library or Chamber of Commerce and see if they have a volunteering tax support program during tax season. Education major? Look for after-school programs and tutoring opportunities.

Do not worry either if your volunteering experience isn’t too relevant to your field. Most volunteering positions require commitment, leadership, and teamwork, which are always beneficial in the eyes of hiring managers.

3.       Professional Networks

While still in school, students can easily find student groups or associations on campus that are focused on their fields. Joining these groups is a great way to expand your network and learn more about the career you chose. Plus, membership in a professional network will look good on your resume, and can also be a great conversation starter during an interview.

4.       Professional Certificates

While your diploma is worthy proof of your academic abilities, having professional qualifications or certificates show your interest in the field. Advanced certifications also show your willingness to learn, which is a major plus if the employer is looking to give further training on the job. You can also use these certificates to steer the conversation away from your lack of experience and focus on your ambition and learning capabilities instead.

In the end, what employers are looking for is how well you will meet their needs in the business operation. By being creative and showing your capabilities in different ways other than working experience, you can certainly overcome the lack of experience. If you have any of the qualifications or experience above, be sure to highlight them in your resume and during the interview. Remember, it’s not only about what you have done, but also about what you will be able to do for your new employer.

Author bio:

Vanessa is a professional blogger and copywriter, who is passionate about education, lifestyles and travel topics. Currently, she is working with Interesting Facts, an online collection of random facts on different topics.

Know the Effective Tips to Decide the Career Option After 12th

 

Are you confused about your career goals and what to do after 12th?

You need to start planning from now as there are plenty of attractive options present in front of you. There are various institutes and colleges calling you for various courses. But you need to choose your subject as well as your institute very carefully. You need to plan stepwise like this:

Higher Education in the Same Stream:

You may select higher education in the same stream which you have gone through in your 12th. If you have dealt with pure science including Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, you can take chances for the professional courses like Information Technology, Engineering, and Design etc or opt for some pure science degrees in Physics, Statistics, Maths and Chemistry.

If Biology was one of your subjects in science during 12th, you can go for various medical degrees. You can exhibit your skills in the financial sector if you are from a commerce background. Specializing in your favorite subject with Humanities in your background will also help you to proceed into the educational sector in the future.

Entrance Exam:

After 12th, you become eligible for various entrance exams. Various colleges and institutes conduct their own admission procedure. You need to prepare yourself well and appear for those exams. The registration process takes place both in online and offline mode. You have to select the one which is better suitable for you.

 

Higher Education in Different Stream:

You can switch your stream at this point. According to your interest and aptitude, you should select your option at the right time. Sometimes you may be forced to take one or the other subjects in your 12th to keep your options open. But after the exam, it is the high time that you choose your career path very consciously.

Professional Course:

The medical and engineering courses are two of the well known professional courses after the 12th. Besides these, you may also choose Hotel Management, Journalism and Mass communication, Web or Fashion Design, Management or Law. You need to choose your subject according to your strength and personality and not by any social pressure.

Vocational Course:

When you see different workplaces, you will observe that 80 % of the employees are not satisfied and happy with their work. This is all because of wrong career decisions. You can opt for vocational courses like travel and tourism or office administration. Though they are not in line with your regular stream of study, they can be a lucrative career in future.

Alternate Options:

You need to plan well in advance about the alternative options if you do not get the subjects of your choice.

If you are not able to confirm your seats in the undergraduate course, you can study some related course for the time being and take up your subjects of interest during your post-graduation. For example, if you are interested in Media but could not pursue the journalism course during Bachelors, you can take up journalism in your Post graduate level of course.

If you are unsure about your talent and aptitude, you may take up the Psychometric assessment test to identify them easily.

This test will not only reveal your talent but also your personality. It will help you to map exactly where you stand. If you are still in a dilemma, you can consult a good career counselor to help you decide the right course for you.

They are professional experts who will guide you in the right path at the right time. Above all, you always need to believe in your strengths for achieving success.

Author Bio: Emma Stevenson is a well-known career guide and she shows the right career paths to all the young students. If you are in a dilemma about what to do after 12th, this article will definitely help you in your future endeavors.

Passing University Interviews Using a Unique Approach

It’s a norm for many of the top universities to conduct interviews for potential candidates before giving admissions.

For few of these universities, the interview may just be a formality since the decision would depend on the report of their college tutors, though for the other high profile universities, the interview is the decisive factor that plays a crucial role in the entry of students.

So, when attending such university interviews students need to be well-prepared for whatever lies ahead. This article intends to present an insight into the process of passing university interviews successfully using a unique approach.

Show Your Enthusiasm

When attending any university interview, it is important to show that you are enthusiastic about the course. The interviewers are more likely to see your enthusiasm as a positive sign. At the same time, maintain a voice that is clear when answering their questions. If you are not giving clear answers or just mumbling, this can create a bad impression.

Research about the University and Specific Course

Before going to an interview, research about the course you’ve chosen and the university as much as possible. Demonstrating your knowledge in these aspects can impress the interviewers. If you’ve met any of the course tutors, you can mention their names and if you’ve attended any open days you can mention that too. Make it clear through your speech that this is the right place for you. Take advantage of any opportunity that you get to praise the university. For instance, you can say something like “I have come across several positive reviews about your university, and really liked this course too!”

Avoid Long and Complicated Answers

As far as your way of talking goes, avoid answering in long rambling sentences and also never give answers in one word. You need to talk in such a way that there’s a relaxed 2-way discussion between the interviewer and you. Consider what you should reply before answering.

Be Prepared to Answer the Basic Questions

As for the preparation from your end, be well-prepared for the most obvious personal questions and questions like why you chose the subject or university. Have few questions ready from your end in advance just in case the interviewer asks you if you have anything to ask them.

Mock InterviewsCan Help!

Mock interviews can also help to a large extent. So, stage mock sessions along with a friend so that you get the real experience of how the situation is likely to be.

These tips are sure to help you crack a university interview successfully.

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Can You Afford To Go To University?

Going to university is one of the biggest decisions you will make.

For me, as a careers advisor, I highly recommend being sure about your career choice, as there are over 2000 potential career choices, but most people pick the general job roles (or university course) for bizarre reasons such as “their parents told them to pick that career” or “because my friend has picked that course”

Remember you spend over a third of your life in employment and you need to be happy about your career choice.

Some courses cost up to £9000, you don’t want to be spending that type of money only to leave halfway through the course, or to graduate only to decide that you want to do something different.

Discussing and planning your career goals, can not only save you money in the long term but can also make you feel excited about your future.

Once you have decided on the university and course that you are interested in, you need to know some key facts about university finances, because many believe, due to the rise in tuition fees that they can’t afford to go to university.

  1. No one has to pay fees upfront. You can apply for loans to pay for your university fees, and once you graduate you don’t have to pay the loan back until you earn over £27295 a year. If you never earn this amount, you won’t have to pay your loan back.
  2. Some eligible students can also apply for maintenance loans to help pay for rent, food, bills, etc.
  3. After 30 years whatever is left to pay off your student loan is wiped out – you won’t owe any more money.
  4. If you have the money to pay for your course upfront, you can do it. This way once you leave university the money you earn is yours. Remember though depending on your salary depends on how much you pay back. For some people, they may have only paid 50% of their loan back before the 30 years is up and they automatically have their debt wiped out.
  5. Also, look for extra funding. In some instances, students may be given  a Bursary or Scholarship (from a business or charity)
  6. You back around 9% of your loan. So if in your first job you earn £2310 per month you only pay back £3 per month.
  7. The money automatically comes out of your pay packet, under the heading ‘payroll deductions’ the same way tax is deducted from your pay. Which, as the employee, means you don’t need to worry about paying anything back, it’s all automatic.
  8. You will be charged interest on your loan (at the rate of inflation). Depending on what you earn depends on what you pay. If you earn £21,000 you will pay interest at the rate of inflation, when you earn over £41,000 you will pay interest at the rate of inflation plus 3%
  9. The interest rate is only paid at the end of your loan, so if you don’t pay your whole loan (IE after the 30 years is up) you won’t pay any interest.
  10. If you ever lose your job as an example due to redundancies, your repayments will stop