The Summer Edit: Europe vs. SE Asia vs. Festivals

Posted on by Jessica Cullimore
Summer
Swap textbooks and laptops for maps and cameras. It’s time to start planning!

Yes! Summer is coming around again…

Exams are nearly over and term is ending, it’s time to start discussions on the group chat about what adventures you want to go on during your ridiculously long summer holiday. Some of the main ideas that get thrown around are inter-railing Europe, backpacking South East Asia or heading to a festival or two. Check out our handy list to see what takes your fancy this year!

Europe

Pros

  • You get to see some of the world’s most famous landmarks.
  • Trains are super easy, fast and much cheaper than they are here – but you need to make sure you get a pass beforehand.
  • Hostels are well developed and a great, cheap form of accommodation.
  • You won’t have to worry about Visas.

Cons

  • Eating out can be expensive so brush up on your hostel cooking skills.
  • Most excursions are also pretty expensive for tourists, so make sure you do your research and try things off the beaten track.
  • The weather isn’t guaranteed to be amazing.

South East Asia

Pros

  • You’ll experience a real adventure far away from civilisation.
  • You can eat out for every meal – it’s so cheap!
  • People travelling in the area tend to be carefree and adventurous, although this may be to do with the necessity to improvise!
  • Guesthouses are cheap and friendly – but make sure you have a mosquito net!
  • Whether it’s wet or dry season the sun will be shining and you’ll get an amazing tan.

Cons

  • You will have to pre-arrange Visas for some areas so some planning is required!
  • Getting around can be a bit difficult, using buses or hitchhiking is usually your best bet.
  • Always check foreign office travel advice before travelling abroad – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel- advice

Festivals

Pros

  • You get to see an amazing line up of your favourite bands and musicians.
  • The thrill of being in the centre of a crowd dancing as hard as you can to your favourite song.
  • FINALLY an occasion to wear that crochet top/bucket hat.
  • A lot cheaper than going abroad.
  • Why not combine a festival with a Europe trip? – try Meadows in the Mountains in Bulgaria, Sziget in Budapest or Mysteryland in Amsterdam.

Cons

  • There is no such thing as personal space!
  • The food is annoyingly expensive.
  • You somehow need to make a pac-a-mac look cool.
  • How do you put up a tent again…?
  • Mud.

You could, of course, inter-rail to a European festival and then hop on a plane to South East Asia; now that would be a good summer!

An Internship: Why Is It Important And How To Get One

Posted on by Jessica Cullimore
Internship Coffee
Hopefully, you will be doing more than just making coffee – even if it does look this good!

Our top tips for securing that Internship

It’s that time of year again, summer is just around the corner. But, before you start thinking about which holiday destination you might be hitting, have you thought about using this break to get ahead of the game and find an internship?

Completing some form of work experience is a great way to see if a certain sector suits you, it can also help you decide which career path you want to take. Furthermore, experience is also one of the main factors employers cite when asked what sets candidates apart. Working at a company as part of an internship is a great way to get your foot in the door, with 61% of graduates going on to secure permanent positions with companies they interned for after they graduated.

Getting plenty of work experience will increase your chances of getting a great job you love once you graduate! Here are some tips on how to secure an internship:

Research, research, research!

It’s the only way you’ll be able to work out which companies you want to apply to. Research is also a great way of making sure your application stands out from the crowd. You can use your research to demonstrate your understanding of the industry and the company. This will impress!

Quality not quantity

You’re far more likely to secure a great internship if you limit the number of applications but spend more time to make sure you’re proud of each one.

Apply early

This shows you’re on the ball, keen to be noticed and avoids missing the boat.

Tailor your application to each placement

There’s nothing worse than sending standard applications to loads of firms, they will notice you haven’t done your research (see above). Quote their website and mission statements back to them!

Knowledge is King

Use campus events and social networking sites such as LinkedIn and Twitter to connect with employers and get insider knowledge.

Don’t be afraid of rejection

It’ll take a few applications to get the hang of it, just learn from your mistakes and stay motivated.

Be passionate

If you get to the interview stage, showing your passion and commercial awareness is essential to securing the job! Revise that research you did, and surprise them with some industry knowledge.

Spelling and Grammar!

Four gods sake dont get this wrong! Theirs nothing quiet like it too put of potential employers? 🙂 If in doubt, run it through www.grammarly.com. Probably give the emoticons a miss too!