Now that we again face weeks of lockdown and being stuck at home, this is the perfect opportunity to capitalise on this free time to improve valuable skills to succeed in any workplace. In the modern age, it has never been easier to self-develop skills from the comfort of your own home, and there are many free resources to use.

Online resources available

LinkedIn Learning has thousands of free and paid courses that range from focusing on improving your productivity, digital marketing, excel to coding skills. These qualities come highly regarded in the workplace and the initiative demonstrated to develop them independently will be viewed extremely positively by any potential employer, even if the skills are not directly related to your profession.

The London School of Economics offers more specialised courses developing skills and in-depth knowledge of focused areas such as negotiation and data analysis. These modules run over the course of several weeks but can be done at your own pace and in your own time, starting from just 6 hours a week necessary. The courses look particularly impressive coming from a highly prestigious and respected institution, vastly improving your employability making you significantly more competitive in an already cutthroat market.

Volunteering

In addition to industry skills, of late there is an abundance of volunteering opportunities that are just an impactful on your CV. For example becoming a volunteer vaccinator at St John Ambulance is the perfect way to demonstrate community responsibility and play an essential part in thousands of lives. Requiring only 16 hours a month commitment there are few better ways to use your time.

Many more volunteering opportunities can be found at Prospects that provide information of varied schemes and organisations that only survive thanks to the goodwill of volunteers. This demonstrates and develops your communication and team-work skills that are, of course, viewed favourably by employers.

Languages

The UK leads the way in learning foreign languages online with UK based users on the free app Duolingo rocketing by 132% in 2020. As well as being enjoyable, the ability to speak, read or write foreign languages adds an extra edge to your CV, it has also been shown to improve memory and decision making skills. The benefits of which therefore speak for themselves in how it beneficial it is to any worker and why it is so coveted by potential employers.

It is particularly important during this difficult time to utilise and organise your time at home responsibly, so looking at even one of these sources will be immeasurably beneficial to your career prospects and will embolden your employability, critically needed with many employers struggling in this environment.

If you are looking for employment, or are an employer seeking to hire, send us an email at recruitment@thegraduateproject.co.uk or give us a call at 02070434629, it is our absolute pleasure to be of any help.

Tyler Cairns

Our economy is changing daily, and with it, the talents, skills and experience needed to be a part of that growth cycle are too.

The job market is a competitive one and often presents a tough learning curve for recent graduates. When it comes to securing that all-important graduate job offer, it’s no longer enough to just have a good degree. Relevant work experience via an internship is now just as important as exam results to your future career and is a key sought after attribute.

What does an internship involve?

An internship is a period of work experience within an organisation or company, usually undertaken by university students or recent graduates. They can either be full time or part-time, paid or unpaid and can last from a week to a year.

The main focus is on providing training and work experience for yourself and internships give students real-life experience of the workplace and field they hope to break into.

What are the benefits of an internship?

1. Develop critical work skills

Probably the main benefit of doing an internship is that it will give you the chance to gain experience in a real workplace, allowing you to hone and enhance your soft skills such as teamwork and communication, as well as learning new skills such as using Excel or various computer software.

2. Networking

One of the major benefits of undertaking an internship is that opportunity to build connections with professionals in the field you are trying to break into. Perform well and impress, and these connections can help you in a multitude of ways, from keeping you in mind for future opportunities to providing an important reference or letter.

Internships provide a great environment to meet professionals in the career field you want to pursue, as well as other interns who have similar interests.

3. Gain a competitive edge

Recruiters and hiring manager will be impressed to see you have gone the extra mile and have the passion and drive to acquire skills and experiences outside of the classroom.

To combat this, many clued-up graduates are undertaking not just one but multiple internships, giving them a wide range of skills and experience of multiple companies and departments, all of which appeals to potential recruiters.

4. Learn how a professional workplace operates

Nothing compares to living the actual experience. Internships help students learn all about workplace culture, employee relations, and leadership structure, which should help them onboard in their first professional job with more ease than if they haven’t had professional experience.

5. Explore unexpected avenues

There are internships in every industry imaginable, from HR to investment banking. If you’re undecided on the field you want to enter, internships can give you the chance to try out roles, departments and industries you’ve never considered, which may help narrow down your options, or even open up a whole new career path.  

6. Earn as you learn

Although unpaid internships remain a topic of much debate, paid internships do exist – and many internships simply offer an untaxed training allowance that cover expenses such as travel and food.

While every job offers transferable skills such as teamwork, problem-solving etc. paid internships give you the opportunity to earn money while learning vital skills for your future career.

We have an array of positions on our website, so please do visit https://www.thegraduateproject.co.uk/jobs/search

By Anirudh Nair

So, that’s it. After years of working towards your degree, university is over! The money is starting to run out and there aren’t any more student loans coming in to look forward to. So – you need a job.

Finding your first graduate job can be a daunting task, especially considering the present state of the global economy and current employment perspectives. This is why we have put together our 10 Survival Tips for New Graduates!

1. Don’t panic

The whole process of applying for jobs, writing your CV or going through multiple interviews on a daily basis may seem like more than you’re able to handle. Keep in mind that thousands of future professionals like you also experience high-stress levels while looking for their first jobs, so you’re not alone!

2. Start small

We would advise that you choose the three most critical tasks that you need to complete in the next few weeks. A strong start would be refining your CV to the type of jobs you’re applying too, write a motivating cover letter and choosing 5 companies you would like to work for.

A cover letter is essential – it’s your chance to put your personality across and tailor yourself to a specific role. Recruiters and hiring managers receive 100s of CV’s so a well set out cover letter can be a deciding factor.

3. Maintain your focus

Until you have secured a new position, looking for a job should be your full-time job. On average graduates allocate 2-3 hours a day to the task, hoping that this will get them there.

We think that you should be spending 40+ hours a week on sending application forms, looking for new openings, revising your CV and working on your interview skills.

4. Start building your network

Networking is an extremely important weapon in your arsenal. A social network can easily be transformed into a professional one if you maintain contact. A recent survey revealed that up to 85% of all jobs were filled through networking – strong connections in the industry are a must for your future career development.

5. Do your homework

It may seem obvious, but the more planning you do, the more it will benefit you in the long run. You can learn a lot about a company just from visiting their website and doing some research.

The more you do, the more you can make your CV and cover letter more relevant to the company and position they are hiring for – for example: you can use value statements to match yourself to their mission statement and goals.

6. Get yourself a hobby

Have a think about how to make you stand out from the thousands of other graduates looking for jobs at the moment. On your CV, include any relevant units or subjects you’ve studies which may make you an ideal candidate.

Have you done any voluntary work? Undertaken any relevant courses? If not, this would be a good time to do so.

The same goes for hobbies. Make the most of your new-found free time and do something which sets you apart from other candidates.

7. Get some experience

To get into your desired field or dream job, you will need experience. This could be at a basic entry level or even unpaid – many companies provide internships or graduate work experience opportunities.

8. Consider all the options

You might find that after your graduation you have absolutely no idea what kind of jobs you’re qualified for. Make sure you know all the options before you start writing yourself off.

Sometimes your degree can open more doors than you realise and take your career in a completely different direction – all for the better!

9. Don’t take it personally

Between April and September there were over 300,000 new graduates looking for jobs, it is inevitable that you will face rejection somewhere along the line.

If you’ve applied for some positions but not heard back, get in touch. Persevere and find out why, so you can improve for the next one.

10. Be confident, stay positive

This applies, not only to your attitude, but also to your language. When writing your CV, avoid common mistakes such as ‘I feel I have…’ or ‘I can be good at…’

Remember: you’re selling yourself to the employer. A little confidence can go a long way.

Recruiters seldom see ‘the perfect candidate’. Focus on what you can offer them, rather than what you can’t.

We have an array of positions on our website, so please do visit https://www.thegraduateproject.co.uk/jobs/search

By Anirudh Nair

From professional networking sites and job boards to online applicant systems, technology has revolutionised recruitment, profoundly changing how employers and recruiters find potential candidates. Here, we go over some of the most important ways technology has changed the way recruitment works today.

While applicant tracking systems might be the most obvious way technology has impacted recruitment, it has changed far more behind the scenes. Here are four ways technology has changed recruitment forever, and how the industry has had to adapt. 

Globalisation – global reach to find the candidates

Technology hasn't just made it easier to apply to jobs, it has also made it easier for businesses to find qualified candidates anywhere in the world. Recruiters can now scan job boards and professional network sites, like LinkedIn, for qualified candidates with the right skills - without the limits of geography.

Currently, almost every potential candidate is looking to work remotely, it makes it easier for recruiters to reach out to candidates they may have overlooked due to location. And it opens a recruiter's reach to find professionals with a specific skill set that they can't find locally.

Reduced bias – or increased?

Unconscious bias can skew the recruitment process, even if undertaken by fair and unbiased hiring staff. New technology has been developed to remove unconscious bias in the recruitment process.

"No matter how much a recruiter or HR rep tries to be unbiased and balanced, there often is some level of selection bias present. The AI-based systems, assuming there are no biases in the algorithm of course, doesn't suffer from the same tendencies.”

More flexibility – at the expense of control

Companies that can get comfortable with the new digital workforce stand to gain more in employee engagement. Allowing employees, the freedom to work however they work best - whether from home, in an office or from a coffee shop - creates a shift where employees start working from a position of desired duty instead of required duty.

Technology presents endless tools and resources for HR, and the best way to figure out how they can improve your hiring process is through trial and error.

This flexibility creates an overall sense of ownership; employees feel like they own their own career paths.

Data overload in Recruitment

Businesses can't get enough of big data - and it's certainly valuable in recruitment - but there is such a thing as too much data. 

More data means more confusion, allowing tiny details to skew process and drive people to take action on things that don't matter, while ignoring the real underlying problems with the recruiting function.

As these systems grow and evolve into more sophisticated platforms, they're only getting more complex to maintain. Top performing companies can explore hiring a data scientist or analyst to help make sense of the information, and to maintain the software and hardware used to collect and store the data. 

We have an array of positions on our website, so please do visit https://www.thegraduateproject.co.uk/jobs/search

By Anirudh Nair 

With the second lockdown already upon us, it presents uncertain times for us all, and with more than nine million of us expected to be placed on temporary leave or 'furloughed' due to COVID-19, this may create even greater challenges in relation to your mental health. 

It is important to take care of your wellbeing during this time with support from your employer.

What impact could being furloughed have on your wellbeing?

Being furloughed might represent an opportunity for taking a break from working in challenging conditions – but you may also face some challenges during this time.

The most common of these being feeling that daily life lacks structure or a routine – often which you would find while being at work. This could potentially lead to a decrease in your levels of self-esteem. In the short-term, you may have financial concerns due to your income being reduced or longer-term fears of being redundant.

Having too much time to think about the current situation may increase feelings of isolation and loneliness and may trigger new mental health problems or make existing ones worse.

Here are some steps you can take to cope with these potential changes:

1. Establish a routine/timetable

This is something that your employer may also be able to help you with – creating a routine plan or timetable can help plan your time while on furlough and provide structure to your work week. This well help you from feeling lost through the day and help you focus on any goals that you have.

2. Focus on your personal development

Online training courses to achieve personal goals or reach new heights professionally can help you feel more motivated and boost your self-esteem. There is an array of sources available for personal development online, such as YouTube, ‘The Skills Toolkit’ and ‘The Open University’ offers hundreds of free courses.

3. Collaborate with colleagues

Keeping in touch with your colleagues can help you feel more connected and less isolated. Having the same goals and working as a team can help build the sense of community with your colleagues as well as being fun to occupy your time. Think about setting a creative or physical challenge or starting a virtual book or film club.

4. Create a budget

Consider creating a budget, particularly if being furloughed means you have taken a cut in pay.

Financial concerns can seriously affect your mental health so a budget may enable you to manage both your money and your wellbeing.

5. Seek support from your employer

Your employer can help you stay connected to the organisation and support your wellbeing while you are furloughed. Consider asking about:

• Regular wellbeing check ins (1-1)
• Keeping you informed of any company developments
• Being available to discuss any work related concerns you may have.

We have an array of positions on our website, so please do visit https://www.thegraduateproject.co.uk/jobs/search

Written by Anirudh Nair

COVID-19 has many reassessing their career path and there a few options that are worth considering when making a decision on the next stage of your career. One of these options is a freelance career – while balancing a full-time job.

Freelance workers are self-employed and hired to work for different companies on particular assignments. Contrary to belief, it is possible to be employed and self-employed at the same time, but a question that often arises – what implications does working on the side have for your freelance tax liability?

How much Income Tax will I pay as sole trader freelancer?

Your income tax is always calculated on total earnings, so you have to pay tax on amounts above the Personal Allowance for your combined income from employment and sole trader profits.

You’ll pay income tax of 20% on all earnings above your personal allowance and below the upper limit of the basic rate, which is £37,500 for the 2020/21 tax year. You’ll pay income tax of 40% on all earnings above the basic rate limit until you reach the higher rate limit (which in the 2020/21 tax year is £100,000).

What about National Insurance?

The National Insurance you pay on your income from your employer won’t change, but it’ll be a bit different for your income from self-employed profits.

To begin with, if your self-employed profits exceed £6,475, you have to pay a flat rate of £3.05 per week. This is called Class 2 National Insurance and is paid directly to HMRC through a direct debit. If you find your profits to be between £9,500 - £50,000 you will be also be charged an additional 9% - this is known as Class 4 National Insurance.

Sole trader or limited company?

As a self-employed person, you can choose to operate as a sole trader or form your own limited company.

The basic difference is that if you’re a sole trader then there’s no legal separation between you and your business. You’re personally liable for all activities of the business, including debts.

If you form a limited company, you create a separate legal entity and you have no personal liability. 

What about expenses?

One of the main benefits of registering as self-employed as a sole trader is that you get to offset your business expenses against your income. You’re only taxed on your self-employed profits.

There’s a similar situation for limited companies – where Corporation Tax is only paid on company profits after allowable expenses. These can include salary and pension contributions as well as certain travel and subsistence expenses.

We have an array of positions on our website, so please do visit https://www.thegraduateproject.co.uk/jobs/search

By Anirudh Nair 

The cost of university is increasing year by year, and reports have found that the UK is one of the most expensive places to study in the world, so it’s not surprising that many university students find themselves in difficult financial situations a few months in to starting university.

Getting a part-time job while at university is an excellent way to help relieve any financial pressure you might be feeling, as well as providing you an opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and bolster your CV.

Below you can find our guide on part-time jobs at university.

Why get a Part-time job at University?

1. Earn extra money

Working part-time during your studies will allow you to gain extra money. This can be used to cover the cost of living or you can use this money on socialising. It is also a great way to learn how to budget and spend wisely.

2. Gain transferrable skills

Working a part-time job can allow you to develop many different workplace skills that can be used throughout your career. Examples include teamwork, communication, time management and initiative, which are all skills that can help you stand out in interviews in later life.

3. Networking opportunities

Having a part-time job allows you to network with colleagues and form new relationships, which may help with your graduate job hunt. Part-time jobs can sometimes lead to full-time positions in the company.

Types of Part-time Jobs available

There are a number of part time jobs available for students. Here are some industries where industries are most common:

1. Retail

Working in retail includes an array of places, such as clothing stores, supermarkets and other high-street retailers. Working in retail is a good idea because of the flexible shifts that you can arrange to work around your university timetable. Seasonal jobs are common too, in periods such as Christmas or the summer.

2. Hospitality

Hospitality includes working in bars, restaurants, pubs and cafes. This is good for those who can potentially commit to longer shifts and make a good amount of money, with the added bonus of tips.

3. Office work

Office work has recently become a popular type of employment, predominantly in admin type roles. It is a great way to make extra money and gain experience in an office environment, which is invaluable to your CV. Furthermore, the opportunities to learn are abundant.

Where to find Part-time jobs

1. Job boards and websites

Job boards and websites are a great way to find a part-time job. It is an easy process to apply to a wide range of jobs that take little time to carry out.

2. Give out your CV

Sometimes the best way to find part-time work is to print out copies of your CV and hand them into different places, asking if there is any part-time work available. This is a proactive way to find a job.

3. University support

Many universities will offer options and advice on how to gain part-time employment to fund your studies. There are many resources available, such as campus work, career websites and university organised networking events.

We have an array of positions on our website, so please do visit https://www.thegraduateproject.co.uk/jobs/search

Now that most professionals are working from home, being remote should not be a disadvantage come promotion time. The questions arise, how can you hope to get promoted if you aren’t in the office? What’s the best way to make your manager notice you?

Here are 5 ways you can actively promote your career even when you work from home:

1. Check in frequently

If you have a regular cadence for checking in, make sure its frequent enough now that you are both remote. It is possible your manager may not know how to manage remotely and communicating and collaborating with a dispersed team is different than managing a team in one place.

If you want to stay top-of-mind, you’ll need to check in more frequently than before.

2. Report your results

With the current economic downturn, many companies are trying to reduce costs and so managers are questioning all their resources – including their employee count. It is important that your contributions are clear and well-known, hence reporting your results and progress will help remind your manager what you bring to the table.

3. Align with company priorities – which may have changed

Make sure your work aligns with company priorities and re-confirm with your manager what the priorities are because they may have changed.

Being flexible is critical during unpredictable and changing times. Your day-to-day responsibilities may look very different. By aligning where the urgent work is, you stay busy where the need is greatest.

4. Build your connections

Your current employer is only one place to promote your career. With the current market uncertainty, the most proactive plan should include options outside your current employer.

Prioritise connecting with your broader network outside your company, so that you hear what is available elsewhere.

5. Stay positive

The current climate poses an unpredictable time. If you are positive and upbeat, you can add value to your team and act as a stabilising force. It also enhances your executive presence since you exude confidence.

We have an array of positions on our website, so please do visit https://www.thegraduateproject.co.uk/jobs/search

By Anirudh Nair

The Government has explained the rules of its new Kickstart Scheme to help Universal Credit claimants get a job.

The scheme aims to create hundreds of thousands of six-month work placements aimed at those aged 16 to 24 who are currently receiving the benefit. As of July, there were almost 538,000 young people aged 24 and under on Universal Credit.

Many young people who struggle to find jobs after graduating consider signing on for Jobseekers Allowance (JSA). JSA is a financial benefit provided by the government to people who are either not in employment or working a small number of hours.

There are two benefits that are available:

• ‘New Style’ JSA
• Universal Credit

New Style JSA

The New Style JSA is provided for up to 6 months to those who have been employed and paid enough Class 1 National Insurance over the past 2-3 years. Other eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Aged 18 or over
• Not in full-time education
• Unemployed or working less than 18 hours a week
• Actively searching for work
• Rights to work in the UK

JSA is usually paid every two weeks. The maximum amount you could receive per week is as follows:

• Aged 24 or under: £58.90
• Aged 25 or over: £74.35
• Couples over 18: £116.80 per couple

Universal Credit

Universal Credit was introduced in 2013 and is a payment provided to those over the age of 18 who are out of work or on a low income. To claim you must be:

• Aged 18 or over
• Out of work (or on a low income)
• Living in the UK
• Have less than £16,000 in personal savings

With Universal Credit there are no limits on the hours you can work, unlike JSA. However, the more you earn, the more your payment reduces.

Universal Credit is usually paid on a monthly basis. The maximum amount you can receive per month is:

• Under 25: £342.72
• Over 25: £409.89
• Couple under 25: £488.59 per couple
• Couple over 25: £594.04 per couple

There are both pros & cons when considering making a claim for either.

Pros:

• The extra money comes in handy
• Free prescriptions and free dental care through the NHS
• Discounted council tax
• Discounted travel
• National Insurance credits

Cons:

• It isn’t that much money
• You have to meet with a Job Centre coach every two weeks to sign on
• The stigma that might come with applying
• Pressure to apply for jobs outside your sector

The New Style JSA can be claimed alongside Universal Credit. If you apply for both, the JSA amount you are eligible for will be deducted from the Universal Credit amount you receive.

If you are a recent graduate and you haven’t worked a lot, you might not have enough Class 1 National Insurance contributions to make you eligible to claim. In this case you will have to claim Universal Credit.

If you are interested in applying for the Kickstart Scheme you must be on Universal Credit and not JSA.

We have positions available on our website, so please do visit https://www.thegraduateproject.co.uk/jobs/search

By Anirudh Nair