Eluceo Bloggers

21st Jul 2020

How to write a career change cover letter

The hardest thing to get right when changing careers is the cover letter, as it’s the first experience the company will see of you. Why would they hire you over someone who has been doing the same job for the last ten years and has all the right experience?

21st Jul 2020

How to approach an interview when changing careers

With more redundancies on the cards this Autumn, and some industries unlikely to reach pre-pandemic employment levels, many of you will be thinking about how to navigate a career change.

13th Jul 2020

How to use recruitment agencies to find work

A recruitment agency is a company that helps a company find the right talent when they’ve a vacancy. The agency will look for the right candidates to interview, and work with these candidates to help them prepare for the interview process.

13th Jul 2020

How to approach the invisible jobs market

Most vacancies aren’t filled as a result advertising, and instead employers use range recruitment methods which collectively make up what is known as the "invisible market". The invisible market includes:

1st Jun 2020

6 tips to help you start your new job remotely

Believe it or not, some companies are still hiring, many of whom started the process before we went into lockdown and all started working from home. If you are one of the lucky ones to be starting a new job now, it’s likely that you will be working from the confines of your flat and the onboarding process will happen virtually. 

22nd May 2020

Is my Career Safe?

For the past ten years (or even longer!) we’ve been told that technology such as robots, automation, digitisation and IT are going to take over our jobs and leave us with nothing.

22nd May 2020

5 Skills you’ll need post COVID19

Post COVID19, many businesses. will be looking to pivot or refocus their business, and this means that they will want employees who can best help them do this. 

22nd May 2020

7 Tips to Improve your Chances of a Graduate Job

With a survey by Prospects on the effects of COVID19 on graduate recruitment finding that, of final-year university students, 26% had lost their work placement/internship, 29% had lost their job offer and 28% had had their job offer deferred or cancelled, it’s no wonder that this year’s graduates are worried about their future.

20th May 2020

6 Tips to avoid WFH Burnout

WFH burnout is certainly real and we are all now starting to feel the pressure. Because our days blur into one another - we don’t know our morning from our afternoon from our evening - and we are constantly receiving notifications from work, whether it’s emails, Slack, Teams or Whatsapp messages and phone calls, it can be hard to switch from work to home life or even switch off at all...

20th May 2020

7 Ways to Ace your Zoom Interview

With working from home here to stay, and everyone scrambling to find work, it’s likely that you will encounter some or all of your job interviews over Zoom or other video sites in the near future. They may feel different, but the end result of a job is still up for grabs and you want to make the most of them. Here’s how:

20th May 2020

Alternatives to your 2020 Summer

Unlike previous years, this summer’s graduates, university students, and college students will not have the chance to celebrate in the same way, and won’t have the same job opportunities as previous cohorts. 

19th May 2020

What’s the future world of work going to look like?

With COVID19 likely to change the way people work - primarily that more people will work from home - while business have also had to restructure, pivot or refocus to make sure that they stay afloat, many aspects of working life will change. 

19th May 2020

Adaptability is THE transferable skill you need

Adaptability, or agility, is the ability to change, reinvent and improve the way in which you are doing things based on the environment you are in. In a day-to-day context, this might involve taking on aspects of a project you are less familiar with or working in a way that suits other team members rather than yourself. In the long term, adaptability is the ability to make career decision...

15th May 2020

8 Things you have Achieved in Lockdown

With the prospect of going back to the office slowly approaching, there will have been lots of skills you will have developed from the fire fighting you’ve had to do in your home and work life. Some will be especially useful to employers as they will also have encountered some of the same scenarios and will need extra ideas if their business is going to stay afloat. 

12th May 2020

How to Evaluate your Transferable Skills

Before thinking about an alternative career path, it’s a good idea to think about what skills you currently have. This can help you understand whether there are some gaping holes that need to be addressed and what careers you might be suitable for that you hadn’t really thought about. 

12th May 2020

NOW is the Best Time to Reflect on your Career

With Covid-19 in full swing, it’s more than likely that you are worried about whether your company is going to keep you on past the next few months or whether they are going to go bust and take you with it.

12th May 2020

How will Working Change Post-COVID19?

As Boris announced this week that people should start returning to work - firstly people who can’t work from home, and eventually everyone else, here are our predictions for how working life is going to change. 

10th May 2020

How are industries going to change post-COVID19?

On returning to work, our careers might never be the same again, and now that you are either working from home or furloughed, it’s a good idea to think about how your industry might change once COVID19 is completely over, for better or for worse, and in what direction. This way you can start to plan the next steps in your career, whether you think you need to pivot completely or learn s...

8th May 2020

4 ways to stand out when remote working

With lots of us now working from home, and it likely to continue, you'll want to make sure that you are your best working self in your home office. By being your best working self you'll be able to move forward with your career, or let's face it, at the moment keep you current position without being first in line for redundancy. Here's our top tips to help you stand out while working from...

8th May 2020

Top employability skills that everyone should possess

With there likely to be fewer jobs on offer in the next few months (or even year!?) you need to make sure that your transferable skills are tip top. Here are those that all employers will be looking for and that you need to have accomplished. 

8th May 2020

What careers are available in the NHS?

If you were an NHS Volunteer responder during COVID19 and have caught the volunteering bug, now is the time to think about a career change. Where in the NHS can you put your skills and talents to good use? Luckily for you, they provide a whole range of opportunities and are in need of people like you!

7th May 2020

What are unis doing to currently help you?

You may be itching for uni to restart, as well as being able to see your friends and getting back to your job, but we’ve still got a way to go for everything to return to normal. Because you won’t have access to the extra money your part-time job gives you but still have to pay bills, some universities are offering extra support in this difficult time.

4th May 2020

How to Survive the End of Lockdown as a Student

It’s been six weeks since we last set foot in a bar, restaurant or gym, or saw anyone socially, and for lots of you the motivation might well be dipping. It certainly has with me!

4th May 2020

4 Tips to Help you Stay Sane at the End of Lockdown

Finally, we are seeing light at the end of the tunnel and should be out of lockdown in the next few weeks. However, you still have the next couple of weeks to get through and you are probably at the end of your tether having been in the house for 6 WHOLE WEEKS. 

28th Apr 2020

NOW is the Time to Think About your Workplace Skills

If you are not working in the front line for the foreseeable future, I’ll bet that you’ve too much time on your hands. Perhaps that DIY list that you’ve had for too long has been ticked off, the entirety of the Sopranos has been rewatched, and there is only so much banana bread you can bake, and eat.

20th Apr 2020

What is my Vocational Personality?

If you think you might have to do a career 180 post-COVID, now is the time to think about what else you might excel in. One aspect you can think about is what’s known as your ‘vocational personality’. In the 1950s, an American psychologist called Dr Holland, came up with a way of describing what people’s work preferences are. 

20th Apr 2020

What do I like about my current job?

If COVID-19 has made you consider whether you have a future in the career you are currently in, there’s no time like the present to think about what else you might excel at.

20th Apr 2020

What skills will you gain as a NHS Volunteer Responder?

As 750,000 of you have already signed up for the Government’s NHS Volunteer Responders call, you may well be one of them. As well as doing something of value to your local community, and directly affecting the individuals you will be helping, you’ll also gain some sought after skills to take with you when you are looking for future work.  

17th Mar 2020

Why you need a personal brand

Personal branding is the process of optimising and managing the way you are presented to others. With qualifications becoming less valuable, and more and more applicants for every job developing a personal brand, primarily through the internet and social media, is more important than ever.

17th Mar 2020

How to Build your Personal Brand

With the chance that you will have more than one career over your lifetime and your education and qualifications counting for far less than they used to, a personal brand is a great way to show people what you are about, tying in all the experiences you’ve had, and promote yourself to potential employers and customers.

17th Mar 2020

The Pros and Cons of a Freelance Career

With 2 million freelancers in the UK (16% of the working population) contributing £119 billion to the economy, there’s no time like the present to join in their lot. Before you decide though, it’s a good idea to understand more about what the pros and cons of a freelance career are before you determine whether it is the right decision for you. 

16th Mar 2020

How to Stay Happy as a Freelancer

Freelancing sounds like the perfect life, right? You get to decide what work you do, who you work for, and when you work. But once you start, you realise it's not all fun and games. To make sure your experience goes smoothly, here are some top tips:

13th Mar 2020

How to use the STAR method to ace your interviews

The STAR interview technique is a great method to help you format answers to behavioural interview questions, i.e. questions that prompt you to provide a real-life example of how you handled a certain kind of situation in the past.

13th Mar 2020

How to Write Better Emails

In his book, Deep Work, author and professor Cal Newport suggests that we should stop emails taking over our lives by changing the way we write them.

13th Mar 2020

How to Make the Most of Working from Home

With coronavirus likely to hit our working life in the next few weeks, it’s a good idea to be prepared for the fact that, if we can, we will be tied to indoor living. To some, that might mean, going crazy with little exercise and a hell of a lot of cabin fever, but with a little preparation, it could be the break that you always wanted.

6th Mar 2020

How to Discover what Core Values you should Live By

Your core values are the beliefs that are most essential to how you view the world. Articulating your core values is a great way to help you understand yourself better, lead you to make better decisions, and give your work and home life direction. Specifically in the workplace, they can help you answer difficult questions such as:

4th Mar 2020

200+ Core Values to Live & Work By

Unsure of what your core values are? Here are more than 200 to give you some ideas as to how you lead your life and formulate your career path are:

4th Mar 2020

7 Tips to Create the Perfect Career Mission Statement

So you've decided to create a career mission statement so you've a way of working towards your goals over the short and long term. Here are a few tips you help you create the best one for you and your career future:

4th Mar 2020

5 Steps to the Perfect Career Mission Statement

A Career Mission Statement is a way of helping you identify what you want most from your working life. With this clarification, you can focus your attention in pursuing your aims and make decisions pertinent to your overall goal. It can help you meet your long-term goals, by staying on track and not losing sight of what you want to achieve.

13th Feb 2020

How to Make the Most out of Volunteering

If you are thinking about volunteering in your local community, before you jump into the next available opportunity, think about how you can make the most of it. Here are a few pointers:

13th Feb 2020

6 Ways Volunteering will help you in your Career

Alongside making a difference to those you are working with, volunteering can also give you a boost, whether it’s to your confidence or your professional reputation. Here are six great ways that volunteering can play an important role in your career: 

13th Feb 2020

The ABZ Career Plan

In LinkedIn founder, Reid Hoffman’s, book, The Start-Up of You: Adapt to the Future, Invest in Yourself, and Transform Your Career, written alongside Ben Casnocha, he advocates why you need to think of your career as a startup. Startup founders have a broad vision for their company, but whilst developing and building it they face lots of obstacles and uncertainties. To overcome this, th...

13th Feb 2020

How to Create a Career Plan

Having goals for your working future is important - if you don’t it’s likely that you’ll spend time drifting and won’t know how you’ve spent your time when you look back. You also want to make sure that you are prepared for changes in the workplace, which may involve adding additional skills to your arsenal or pivoting to a new career entirely. 

7th Feb 2020

4 Skills You Gain Volunteering

As well as offering you that feel good factor, volunteering gives you the chance to develop a number of skills that are useful in both your everyday life and your career, as well as being a great way to meet new people and perhaps find your passion. 

7th Feb 2020

What Skills Should you have in 2020?

In 2016 the World Economic Forum listed 10 skills that we should all have by 2020 to thrive in the workplace in their report The Future of Jobs. They claimed that the Fourth Industrial Revolution will have brought us advanced robotics and autonomous transport, artificial intelligence and machine learning, advanced materials, biotechnology and genomics.

4th Feb 2020

How to use BATNA to negotiate your salary

Congratulations on your job offer! Now it’s time to make sure employers really know what you are worth and ace the negotiation process, and the best way to do this is to understand your BATNA. The reason for this is that it ensures that you walk away with an agreement that’s beneficial to you and the company.

3rd Feb 2020

Why you need a f*** off work fund!

We are often told about the rainy day funds we should be saving up for, you know for the time your landlord wants his flat back and you need to cough up £1,500 to move. But what about a ‘f*** off work fund’? Why do we need one of those?

3rd Feb 2020

4 Steps to Help you to Handle Job Rejection

Job rejection is something that we’ve all encountered, but knowing this doesn’t make it any easier, especially if you are really ready for a career move. However there are a few ways that you can make the most of your job rejections so that you can both bounce back and land that dream job quicker!

3rd Feb 2020

6 Tips to Help you Ace your Skype Interview

Congratulations on your Skype interview and being one step closer to your dream job! A Skype interview or video call is a great way to show your personality and let the interviewer get to know you even better than he or she would over the phone.

31st Jan 2020

What should you do after a year in your job?

Congratulations for sticking it out! A year’s anniversary is a great time to think about what you want from your job and your career as a whole, and get a plan together to make the most of your time in the company. After a year, your company will start to recognise you for you, understand what makes you tick, what you enjoy outside work and your personality much better. ...

29th Jan 2020

Should you Adopt Fixed-Schedule Productivity?

Do you want to be the most productive person in your office and still leave work at 5.30pm? In his book Deep Work, Cal Newport suggests an approach that lets you do this. The idea is that if you only give yourself a fixed amount of time to complete tasks that are required to be done you’ll get them done in the time. 

29th Jan 2020

5 ways to Avoid Task Creep in your Working Life

In Tim Ferriss’ now famous book The Four Hour Work Week, he introduces the reader to the notion of task creep, the notion that we are doing more to feel productive well we are actually accomplishing less. You know, the day where you've been to 5 meetings on the trot, eating lunch at your desk and answering emails at the same time.

29th Jan 2020

4 To Do List Methods to Ace your Productivity

To Do lists are a great way to help you increase your productivity for the day, especially if you are in a career where you have to manage your own time or where your work and home life seep into one another. As you will already know, sometimes you can find yourself having been busy the whole day, but when you’ve asked yourself what you’ve achieved, you’ve very little to show for it...

28th Jan 2020

Everything you need to know about In-Tray Exercises

In-tray exercises simulate a fast-paced office environment where you are required to make a number of judgements and decisions quickly. You’ll be presented with a fictitious workplace scenario, such as a return from a holiday or an imminent merger, and you’ll have a number of different tasks coming in at different times from different sources to juggle.

28th Jan 2020

How to Excel at Graduate Scheme Social Events

Alongside formal assessment, graduate schemes may also involve social events, especially if you’ve travelled and are staying overnight in an unfamiliar city. They offer you the chance to meet other people applying for the job, help you get to know the company culture better and whether it's right for you, and see what staff say about the organisation. 

31st Aug 2019

Assessing your skills

Especially when you are at university, it’s great to spend some time at the beginning of each year assessing what skills you’ve got and where you can improve. Use our blog ‘What skills do I need as a graduate?’ to help you understand the skills that you need and what you’ve got. 

31st Aug 2019

Developing a uni career action plan

Developing an action plan is a great way to help you focus your ideas and to decide what steps you need to take to achieve particular goals that you may have. As university is three or four years of your life, it’s a good way to achieve your ultimate aim through little steps. At the beginning of every year, it’s a good idea to create an action plan for that year. Here we’ve focused ...

30th Aug 2019

What skills do you gain at uni?

With 26% of graduates now earning a first class degree alongside another 49% achieving a 2.1, it’s very difficult to stand out from the crowd. This means that alongside your academic success, you need to demonstrate to employers that you are suitable for the role you are applying for through the skills that you’ve got. (Please see our blog ‘What skills do you need as a graduate’ f...

29th Aug 2019

What happens if you don't get onto a grad scheme?

In 2017 414,340 UK and EU students graduated from university whilst 19,133 of them were employed into graduates schemes by the top 100 UK employers. As there’s even more competition from those who graduated a year or two before this, it’s stiff competition, so don’t beat yourself up about the fact that you didn’t gain a place. 

29th Aug 2019

What skills do you need as a graduate?

University is a great way for you to build your skills (both soft skills and more specific ones) and set you apart from your peers. But how do you know what skills you need? In 2011, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) released a ‘7 point framework for employability skills’ that were important for people to have to do well in their career and employers spoken about what skills...

28th Aug 2019

How to make the most of your uni careers service

One of the great aspects of university life is the brilliant careers service they offer. There will be no other time in your life when you can access everything you need in one place to help you think about careers that suit you, work towards a career and get that dream job, so make the most of it while you can. Your university careers service will be run by experienced professionals who ...

24th Jun 2019

5 podcasts to help you be your best working self

With podcasts being all the rage at the moment, I asked myself whether there were any that would be useful to any of our readers; those navigating their complex working lives or looking for new opportunities. While there's not a wealth of them out there, some of them will get you in the mood to be your most productive self, or ace that presentation like nobody's business, and he...

20th Jun 2019

How to Write a Perfect Summary Statement

A Summary Statement is a short introduction of yourself to open your CV with that makes it easier for the hiring manager to quickly understand your experience and qualifications and cut through the noise. 

16th May 2019

Why you should keep a running master CV

When applying for a job you need to tailor your CV to the application every time, so one way you can save time is to keep a running master CV. Even with positions with the same titles, employers are looking for slightly different skills and experience and you’ll need to make sure that you display these.

14th May 2019

Understanding company culture & where you fit in

As well as having the skills and experience you need for the job, you also need to fit into the company’s vision and work well with the its employees.

13th May 2019

How should you structure your CV?

Depending on where you are in your working life, and what you want to highlight to employers, you’ll want to structure your CV in different ways. In this article, we’ll look at the different ways in which you can structure your CV and what would be most suitable for you.

13th May 2019

How to follow up a job application

After you’ve sent in a job application, it’s a good idea to make sure that they have received it and keep your name in their mind. The main way that you can do this is through email, but you need to make sure you tread carefully as there's a fine line between reminding a potential employer about who you are and bothering them.

5th Apr 2019

How to use LinkedIn to help you find a job

87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find job candidates, more than all other major social media networks combined. Furthermore, as there are more than 10 million active job listings, LinkedIn is a good place to start your job search.

3rd Apr 2019

What should you look for in your mentor?

A mentor someone who can support you in your career, alongside giving you feedback, knowledge and guidance. They may be someone who has gone through the same experience as you, has made mistakes and learnt from them, and can advise you in not making the same mistakes.

3rd Apr 2019

The Pros and Cons of a Portfolio Career

A portfolio career is about using the skills and passions you have to make a freelance living, through a number of different avenues. It’s a trend that’s on the rise, as it’s rewarding and interesting, and enables you to create work that works for just for you. 

2nd Apr 2019

How to apply for a job when you don't meet all the requirements

Ever managed to find a job description that fits you, your skills and your experience completely? Unless you have been very lucky, the likely answer is no. It’s often stated that women only apply for a job vacancy if they meet 100% of the skills listed, while men apply if they meet 60% of the skills listed, so if you feel that a job is a good match and you would enjoy it and could grow ...

2nd Apr 2019

6 Tips to help Employers find you on LinkedIn

87% of recruiters use LinkedIn to find job candidates, more than all other major social media networks combined, so it's a great place to get your name out there. However, with more than 260 million active users, how do you stand out? How can companies and recruitment agencies find you? We look at a few ways in which you can make your LinkedIn profile work for you so that you can land you...

19th Mar 2019

How to make the most of a university careers fair

A careers fair is a highly effective way for you to speak to employees about their industry, employer, job roles available, vacancies and their application processes. 

5th Feb 2019

In what career are people happiest?

City & Guilds' Career Happiness Index asks what people in the UK consider to be the most important factors contributing to their happiness at work. Of the 2,200 workers surveyed, gardeners and florists topped the list of happiest workers, followed by hairdressers and plumbers. Meanwhile, bankers, IT professionals and HR workers are the least happy.

5th Feb 2019

4 tips on how to procrastinate less

We've all been there... A deadline is just around the corner, and instead of getting it done, we are busy cleaning the kitchen, making the beds and anything else that will distract us from the job at hand. So how do you force yourself to start earlier and make sure the result is as good as you aspired to? Here are a few tips to help you on your procrastination journey as can be found in P...

31st Jan 2019

Making the most of a career downshift

Downshifting is moving into a career with less hassle, fewer working hours and most probably lower pay. It's great for those who want to make more time for their hobbies, volunteering or caring responsibilities or for those who want a slower pace of life. In this blog we'll have a look some of the issues facing you if you choose to downshift your career and what you need to think about.&n...

31st Jan 2019

How to face a forced career change?

Unfortunately, in the current climate, it's more and more possible to face what's known as a 'forced career change', that is, one where you industry is moving forward in a way that there are now fewer opportunities for your skillset due to either advances in technology or shifts in the global markets. Another reason for a forced career change may be due to the devlopment of a me...

31st Jan 2019

How to approach the external jobs market?

In changing careers you may have to look at where you could get a job. Even more so than non-career change jobs seekers, you'll need to convince employers that you:

31st Jan 2019

How to change careers within your company

If you work for a medium to large size organisation, one of the ways that you could make your career change is through your employer. Just think of the range of jobs that your collegues do! Getting your employer to help you change careers within the company can have numerous advantages. These include:

30th Jan 2019

How to plan your career change

Know what career you want to enter into next but don't know how do you realise your dream? Make sure that you are ready to turn this into reality by asking yourself whether anything is going to get in the way of realising your ambitions. You need to ask yourself:

30th Jan 2019

What risks are involved in changing career?

If you've a career change in mind, before you start it's a good idea to come up with a plan. How long is your career change going to take, and how much money and time (if any) are needed to get you to a place where you can start applying for jobs? Will the career offer you what you want it to and what are the trade offs associated with this?

24th Jan 2019

5 ways to stay happy when looking for work

According to Behavioural Scientist Paul Dolan, in his book Happiness by Design, happiness is the experience of both pleasure and purpose over time. In this way, we should be devoting equal time to these two things, for example both the everyday enjoyment of going to dinner with a friend, and working as a nutritionist helping people become healthier. 

24th Jan 2019

5 ways to make yourself happier at work

According to Behavioural Scientist Paul Dolan, in his book Happiness by Design, happiness is the experience of both pleasure and purpose over time. In this way, we should be devoting equal time to these two things, for example both the everyday enjoyment of going to dinner with a friend, and working as a nutritionist helping people become healthier.

3rd Jan 2019

What is a Branching Project?

In order to find a new career you enjoy, you don’t have to step down from your role immediately and start all over again, instead your time can be used wisely in researching the best career for you. One of the ways that you can do this is to take on a ‘branching project’. This is a project which can be taken on either inside or outside of work (or studying) which offers you the abil...

3rd Jan 2019

Why is Choosing a Career So Difficult?

On the TED stage, Psychologist Barry Schwartz argues that the freedom of choice has not made us freer but more paralysed, and that too much choice can reduce overall happiness.

3rd Jan 2019

What is Flow & Why it's Crucial in your Working Life

Flow is a theory proposed by psychologist Mihály Csíkszentmihályi when he asked people where in everyday life do we feel really happy? He interviewed creative people asking what made their work lives which made their life meaningful and worth doing when they were essentially spending their life doing things for which many of them didn’t expect either fame or fortune.

3rd Jan 2019

Why focus on regret when looking for work?

Research has suggested that more people regret things they didn't do than the things they did, even if things didn’t go the way they’d hoped. After all, you can only fix things that you’ve done not things that you’ve failed to do.

18th Dec 2018

7 career-related goals for 2019

As Christmas and New Year come upon us, now’s the time to be thinking about what we’d like to achieve in 2019 in our careers and working lives. It’s so exciting set new goals and work towards them and to make sure that they are not broken before January is up, let’s begin with a couple of tips:

11th Dec 2018

How to make the most of an Informational Interview

An informational interview is a 15-20 minute one-to-one meeting with someone who can give you information about an industry, a job, an organisation or a career you are interested in. They’ll help you gain valuable insight and information that can help you plot out a career path that’s suitable for your skills, experience and interests. 

11th Dec 2018

6 Christmas Gift Ideas for University Students

Christmas is fast approaching and now is the time to be finalising your present buying plans! Here are a few ideas for your niece, nephew, next door neighbour or anyone else that's popping over during the Christmas period and you'll be giving gifts to.

28th Feb 2018

How to cope with job rejections after uni

They say that finding a position after university is the hardest job a graduate can do and if this is you right now remember that you are not alone! You’ve sent off hundreds of applications to no avail, and have not received any replies. And to make it worse you've your parents nagging you to get a job, any job. What on earth do you do now?

27th Feb 2018

What job suits your personality?

Based on international data, we've devised a quick quiz to identify which personality type you are and therefore what type of career you'd be best suited to. Just answer these questions to find out your personality type!

13th Oct 2017

Writing that winning returning to work CV

You’ve taken time out to care for an elderly loved one or child, and now dread writing that CV to return to work. How do you make sure that you look like an ideal candidate? How do you sell yourself? How to you boost your confidence and get motivated to start looking for a job?

11th Oct 2017

Skills you’ve acquired looking after children

You might feel you’ve wasted your time in terms of career progression whilst looking after your children, that once you get back in the rat race you’ll be at the bottom of the pile. But don’t worry, there are plenty of skills you can demonstrate from your time off work and it’s essential that you don’t overlook them.

18th Sep 2017

Assessment Days

After initial assessments and interviews, an assessment day is the next, and often last, step in any graduate recruitment journey. On an assessment day you’ll be brought together with fellow candidates and complete a series of exercises, tests and interviews that are designed to evaluate your suitability within the organisation.

14th Sep 2017

Group Exercises

Group exercises are a common selection technique for graduate recruiters, especially for positions requiring collaboration and team work such as management consulting, finance and IT. You’ll be placed in a small group of candidates (usually 8-10 people), and given a task to solve in approximately 10 minutes.

17th Aug 2017

All About Psychometric Tests

Many graduate employers use psychometric tests as part of the selection process for their graduate schemes. They are often used as a filtering mechanism at an early stage in the recruitment process, and employers like them because they are an objective way of comparing different candidates’ strengths regardless of educational background.

16th Aug 2017

How to add online courses to your CV

Completed an online course and want to tell future employers about it? One great way to show off your skills is to put it on your CV, but what’s the best way to do this?

2nd Jun 2017

Education in the Election

With the General Election only a week away, here's all you need to know about the different party's thoughts on education, skills and training:

11th May 2017

Acing Interview Presentations

As part of a graduate job interview you’re often asked to deliver a short presentation either to the interview group or to a panel. You’ll either be given a specific topic to prepare, either addressing a current issue, something related to the job you are applying for or something you are interested in. Being able to communicate with clarity directly impacts your career and incom...

9th May 2017

What Employers want from Graduates

The latest Global University Employability Ranking has been released with the most predictive factor of graduate employability being professional experience alongside a high degree of specialisation.

3rd May 2017

What to do when receiving more than one job offer!

You may gasp at the prospect (who would have thought it?!) but when looking for a new job it’s often the case that you receive more than one job offer at once. Although an exciting prospect, it can be overwhelming as there’s lots to juggle and the stakes can be quite high. Which one should you take? How do you make the best decision? How do you manage the process? Do you tell the comp...

18th Apr 2017

What can online courses do for your CV?

Online courses are a great way to show that you’ve extra talents on your CV and in interviews, and if you’ve done some in your lifetime, let employers know about it. It's often difficult for employers to gauge you soft skill qualities, and massive open online courses (MOOCs) demonstrate that you've personal drive, discipline and a willingness to learn, so use them to shout all about i...

10th Apr 2017

5 tips to help you make the most of online learning

Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are a great resource for anybody wanting to learn something new and it’s easy to sign up to one, but it can be hard to make the most of them, as it’s you who has got to put in the effort, stay focused and keep learning. With all this in mind, how to you stay on track to make the most of your time?

7th Apr 2017

How to find your passion & a career you love

In The Bell Jar, Esther Greenwood imagines her life as a fig tree, with each fig representing a career and future alternatives. She dreams of being a poet, a professor, an editor, travelling, an Olympian or a housewife, but the more than she doesn’t make her mind up which fig and branch to choose the more she loses them all. 

10th Mar 2017

What can you do with a Psychology degree?

The short answer: absolutely anything. Psychology is an interesting mix of essays, numbers and people, which can be useful in many fields and industries. On the face of it (what everyone else thinks it is) it’s about understanding human behaviour, but that doesn’t mean that we ever really touch the surface of what it means to… and no, it certainly doesn’t involve reading minds.&nb...

26th Jan 2017

6 skills millennials need to bag that dream job

With so much at stake when if comes to looking for a job, especially your first real job you really need to show off your soft skills to employers, both on your CV and at interviews. As everyone has the grades nowadays, experience and personality are more and more important, and employers want to see this. Here are 6 skills you'll need to show off to employers to bag that dream job. Some ...

19th Jan 2017

Why you should study Engineering

If you are at the age where you’ve got to decide what career you might like to do in the future, what about engineering? There are plenty of options, through apprenticeship and degree routes, although as you probably need convincing, here are a few good reasons:

13th Jan 2017

6 ways to combat that pesky procrastination!

We’ve all been there, Googling images of cats when we should be working (or as I’m prone to, adding more and more books to my Amazon Wish List or looking up properties to see if any in the local are are ever going to be affordable). But just think about how much time we waste (I can’t read those books quicker than they get added to my wish list, nor are house prices going to vary th...

12th Jan 2017

Swapping school with Korean kids

Did you catch School Swap: Korea Style on the BBC last Sunday? It was a typical education-swap programme where three teenagers from the UK go out to South Korea and attempt to spend three school days (yes, not long enough for a real analysis!) with Korean students and live with their families.

4th Jan 2017

How on earth do we get more girls into engineering?

The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics show that women make up around just 8% of engineers in the UK. At the same time, Britain produces 12,000 engineering graduates a year, while there are currently 54,000 vacancies; a shortage so large that inventor, Sir James Dyson, is in the process of opening his own institute to address this skills shortage.

22nd Dec 2016

7 things to remember to do in your last year of uni

With graduation on the horizon, there’s no time like your final year to make the most of university. Before you know it, it will be summer, you will have graduated and you’ll be a proper functioning adult, don’t you know.

22nd Dec 2016

How to get a fresh start in your second semester

Now that you’ve had your first term away from home, returning to university should be a breeze. You’ll know your way around the town, have made some friends, know what’s entailed in lectures and what’s expected of you in your essays. Hopefully you’ll have learnt to cook a few basic meals, and how to work the washing machine. And hopefully you won’t feel quite as homesick as la...

20th Dec 2016

7 ways to start this semester afresh

Januaries are all about fresh starts, and where better place for a fresh start than at uni? How do you plan to make this semester better than the last? You might have already set yourself goals and New Year’s resolutions for 2017, but if you haven’t here are a few ideas:

19th Dec 2016

How to make the most of your last year at college

With only a few months left before you find yourself in the working world, off to uni or travelling the world, now’s the time to think about how to make the most of these last few months of college. With thoughts about whether you’ll get a place at uni, whether you’ll get the grades you need for your apprenticeship, and whether you’ll cope away from home, emotions may be running h...

19th Dec 2016

Changing your UCAS options

Made that stupid mistake of sending off your UCAS form and decided that you’ve applied for the wrong uni, the wrong course? Perhaps you’ve found out about a new course that you didn’t know existed that suits you down to the ground, or perhaps your uni choices are all that bit close to home.

16th Dec 2016

How to not get distracted this Xmas & actually study!

Christmas is perhaps one of the most distracting times of the year. There are films on galore, parties to attend, and you tell yourself there’s no better time to sit and watch Die Hard 2 for the fifteenth time! But for most of you students, whether you are at college, school or uni, there’s work to be done and examiners don’t think about the fact that you might want a Christmas brea...

16th Dec 2016

How to study when you have absolutely no motivation

When you think about all the things you have to do in the next few months, life can often feel overwhelming. Instead of being able to face all these tasks, it’s much easier to retreat and not do anything, but instead wake up and sit in front of the TV and watch the cricket. Or, if you are like me, pick up a book and spend the afternoon reading.

9th Dec 2016

Switching degrees in the midst of uni

Started your Anthropology degree and, finding that it’s not what you expected want to switch to your favourite subject at school, English, and something you know very well? Perhaps you are asking whether this is possible, and here are a few answers to your likely concerns.

9th Dec 2016

Not enjoying uni? How to decide whether to drop out

Do you struggle to get out of bed in the morning in dreaded anticipation of an uninspiring lecture and a long stint in the library? We’ve all had tortuous tutorials and evenings fighting essays, however for some the urge to leave university is even greater, and if you’re one of those who are contemplating dropping out, here are some ways to deal with your troubles:

9th Dec 2016

Why are so many students dropping out of university?

Reported in an insightful paper published by think-tank Social Market Foundation nearly 6% of university students drop out after their first year with 20 institutions reporting a figure of 10%. At universities such as the London Metropolitan University, the number rises to one in five (20%).

27th Nov 2016

How do I read the university league tables?

With so many league tables out there nowadays, and since most of them don’t agree with one another, how should you (and should you!) use them about making your decision of where to apply to university? Are they really that useful are they really when it comes to choosing a course?

27th Nov 2016

How important is the Russell Group?

Now that you are in the midsts of you UCAS applications, your teachers might well be telling you that the only way to do well in life is to attend a Russell Group university. But what the hell is a Russell Group university anyway and why on earth does it matter?

27th Nov 2016

What do university league tables tell you?

With a plethora of league tables out there, from national and international ones to independent guides, it can feel more than overwhelming having to understand all their intricacies and why they even exist.

25th Nov 2016

London student life? Considering the pros and cons

With approximately 400,000 students, London certainly has an appeal and you may have some or all of your university choices based in London. However, there are definitely cons to studying in the Big Smoke, and here are some things to consider when making your decision:

22nd Nov 2016

Interesting alternatives to the UK's most popular degrees

Based on the Complete University Guide’s most popular courses we've come up with a list of alternatives. You might be worried that you might not gain the right grades to get on the course, or want to explore something new and different that might be equally as interesting. Here goes...it's a long list!

21st Nov 2016

How to get more young people into engineering?

With Facebook set to announce this week that it will expand its presence in the UK by 50% when it opens its new London headquarters in 2017, employing an additional 500 employees, many of these new roles will be high-skilled engineering jobs as the UK is home to Facebook’s largest engineering base outside of the US. And only last week did Google announce a £1bn investment in a new Lond...

17th Nov 2016

11 alternative interesting degrees

As it's that time of year when students are deciding what degrees they might like to invest the next three years in, there are many you might not think possible, from grape growing and wine making, to embroidery and blacksmithing. Here are some that piqued our fancy, and may pique yours too:

10th Nov 2016

How to prepare for jobs that don’t exist yet?

It’s a well-known fact that 65% of today’s school children may end up doing work that hasn’t been invented yet, and if society has no idea what jobs are going to be out there when they finish college or university, how on earth are they going to prepare? How can we plan for our careers when we have no idea what we are planning for?!

6th Nov 2016

The pros and cons of living at home while at uni

In 2014, 24% of uni students opted to stay at home living with parents compared with 12% in 1996, and if you’ve got a uni near you that you like the look of it’s likely to be something you’ve considered.

30th Oct 2016

Are robots going to steal your job?

The rise of robots and artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace is a hot topic at the moment, with the World Economics Forum naming it “The Fourth Industrial Revolution”. As someone that’s still got your whole working life ahead of you, how is the rise in technology going to affect your job and your career path?

30th Oct 2016

12 exciting future job opportunities

Due primarily to globalisation, the rise of the internet, technological advances, and an increasing and raging population, there’ll be plenty of future jobs that don’t already exist yet that you might be interested learn more about. Here are a few ideas of what might be out there:

28th Oct 2016

10 technology-based careers for the future

With technology changing so fast and many new jobs yet to be created here are a few ideas as to what society might be looking forward to and what your future career might look like:

25th Oct 2016

BBC's The School that got Teens Reading

As part of the BBC’s LovetoRead campaign, comedian and actor Javone Prince (whom I have never heard of but, then again, I’m not exactly down with the kids) was put to the task of getting some reluctant teens to start reading. 

21st Oct 2016

8 student job ideas to keep the cash flowing

It's hard juggling university work with earning enough money to pay for your rent and stay afloat, however here are some that you can do in your spare time. They are all freelance jobs, great for your CV as you'll gain lots of soft skills and perhaps portfolio pieces, while you might also get the bug for freelancing and continue to do it after you graduate. 

20th Oct 2016

8 career paths robots are destined to take over

We’ve seen self-service machines introduced to our supermarkets and robots on our factory floors, and but what’s next for automation and where will we find our current skills outdated?

17th Oct 2016

8 things you should do when your internship ends

With only a few weeks left until the end of your internship, here's a few suggestions to make sure that you end on a positive note.

15th Sep 2016

The UK's top fashion unis

As London fashion week is upon us, and many of you will be looking to apply to uni this year, here is a brief look at the UK's top universities to study fashion, which we do very well in. For more information on the best fashion universities in the UK and across the world, please see UK Fashion Schools Dominating the World. 

15th Sep 2016

What do students struggle with at uni?

Having been at school for sixteen years, it’s very hard to get out of the ways in which you were taught and you learn when coming to uni. However the expectations of university students are different and often students struggle to understand how to perform well. 

7th Sep 2016

Fashionable alternatives to a Fashion Design degree

With London Fashion Week upon us, here's a look at alternative university courses beyond Fashion Design for all you fashionistas out there. It may be that you aren't the best at drawing or art, but love the idea of working in the fashion industry, or you like the idea of combining two of your loves, for example Journalism and Fashion. You might also want to go into the business, reta...

7th Sep 2016

Vlogs: what to expect at uni?

Some people find it really hard to settle in in first year, and some find it really easy and make lots of friends. Some people love it and some people feel as though they have to muddle through. Here are a few different and realistic views of people's experience first year and what you can expect. 

5th Sep 2016

What you actually learn at uni

For all of you trawling through university prospectuses at the moment, there’s always a course section showing you about the topics you’ll learn and what topics you can choose to take further. However, university is not all about learning specific information and specific skills, and there are tons of other things you’ll learn along the way. Here’s an alternative guide to all the ...

1st Sep 2016

What on earth is Freshers' week?

You may have heard would-be uni goers discussing Freshers’ week for years now and what carnage goes on, and secretly wonder what the hell it is. Well, here’s your chance to learn all about it. 

1st Sep 2016

5 tips to help you survive Freshers' week

Every year in September new stories about Freshers' week antics arrive in our laps. If you're just starting university this year, and the thought all that partying and socialising sounds a bit too much here's a few ways in which how you can get out the other end alive, and ideally on a high! 

30th Aug 2016

A gap year is more than just a holiday

For many, the opportunity to go away is invaluable - it’s the first time you are away from your family, you have to fend for yourself and you have to learn how to do your own washing, cooking, meet your own friends from outside your social circle, manage your money and work for yourself. 

15th Aug 2016

What if your A-level results aren’t good enough?

It’s that time of year again and, when all your friends are celebrating, it can be hard to watch them all and feel proud of them when you didn’t do as well as you had hoped. Perhaps you knew that you hadn’t done as well as you had expected, or perhaps it was a shock, but either way it's tough to face.

13th Aug 2016

How to make the most of a Gap Year

With many of you finishing college Summer and looking to take a gap year, now’s the time to start planning! A year may seem like a long time, but it will over quickly, and without proper organisation you might not get round to everything you set out to do, see and achieve. Here are a few pointers to get you started to make out that perfect year:

13th Aug 2016

Clearing open days

If you’ve gone through Clearing and been offered a place at a university you quite like the look of, you might want to think about visiting at an Open Day. Most universities hold Open Days the week after A-level results come in, to give you the opportunity to see what they are all about and help you make your mind up.

2nd Aug 2016

Student banking: what it all means

Looking for a student bank account can be confusing, so if you are unsure of the terminology, here you are:

2nd Aug 2016

Choosing your student bank account

If you are off to uni this year, one of the things you might like to consider - and you might never have thought of before - is opening a student bank account. Compared to the bank account that you might already have, student bank accounts often offer you a number of benefits, such as a free railcard, alongside a student overdraft. You can only have one student account open at a time.&nbs...

18th Jul 2016

What skills can you take to employers after a gap year?

As elite universities such as Harvard are encouraging their students to take a gap year building up their CV and work experience, we look at how you can use your gap year to the best of your advantage.

18th Jul 2016

How to make the most of a disappointing internship

You’re half way through your internship and, well, it’s not exactly going the way you hoped when you filled in your application form sixth months ago. You’re not excited about coming into work every day, in fact you can barely wake up at 7am when your alarm goes off and sitting at a desk for eight hours a day fills you with dread. 

7th Jul 2016

9 things to do to get the most out of your internship

So you've got that internship you dreamed of all lined up, but what should you do to get the most out of it? The more you get out of it the more connections you'll make and more likely you'll will to get hired from the company in the future, and the more skills and experience you'll take away from the position. Here are a few ideas you could try for size:

7th Jul 2016

7 things to do on the first day of your internship

If you’re starting an internship this summer it’s important to make a good impression on your first day. Start the internship as you mean to go on, with an early night with plenty of sleep, and eat a good breakfast in the morning. Our 9 things to do before you start your internship blog can help you with getting ready ahead of time, such as deciding what you need to wear and how you a...

6th Jul 2016

College Online Courses: Social Sciences

At college and started your summer holidays yet? If you've got any free time to spare and want to get ahead what about taking some online social science courses to help you understand what you might be taught at university, the way in which you are taught at university, and whether you actually enjoy it and want to go to uni! It will also give something to talk about on your UCAS for...

6th Jul 2016

College Online Courses: Humanities & Languages

If you find you are studying at college and finding that you're spending most of your summer holiday twiddling your thumbs how about thinking about what to do next, here are some humanities and languages courses to help you understand what you might be taught at university, the way in which you are taught at university, and whether you actually enjoy it and want to go to uni! It...

6th Jul 2016

College Online Courses: Science

Lots of time to spare this summer holiday and nothing to do? It does seem to be raining a lot outside. If you're currently studying college and thinking about what to do next, here are some science-based courses to help you understand what you might be taught at university, the way in which you are taught at university, and whether you actually enjoy it and want to go to uni! It will also...

6th Jul 2016

College online courses: Art & Design

Ever wondered what it was like to get into one of the creative industries? Our pick of courses answers some of these questions and gives you a clearer idea of what you might look forward to at university or in your first job, and what part of an industry you might enjoy being involved in. You can take the knowledge you gain from these courses, and the drive and ambitio...

6th Jul 2016

Online courses: Getting ahead at College

At college and don't know what to do next? We've listed a few online courses that can help you with your transition from college into the wider world of work or university, and to help you with your current studies, whether it's overcoming the stress of exams or developing your IB research project. 

4th Jul 2016

Online Courses: Finding your way into work

If you've just graduated from uni or have just finished an internship or apprenticeship and are finding yourself twiddling your thumbs and facing rejection, one idea might be to undertake are a few online courses to help you get closer to your goals. All courses are free with those offered by Future Learn dedicated to a UK audience and workplace. They take place over a few weeks for ...

30th Jun 2016

Graduated with a 2.2? It’s not the end of the world!

Graduation is upon us, and with our Facebook and Twitter feeds strewn with pride, joy and surprise it can be a little demoralising if you failed to achieve the grade.

29th Jun 2016

9 Ways to add value to your internship

Adding value to your internship means that you'll take more from it when you leave. You'll learn more skills and hopefully taking the initiative means that the business will be more likely to employ you or contact you when they've a job vacancy that's suitable. showing yourself off in a good light.

27th Jun 2016

9 things to do before you start your internship

You’ve bagged that all-important internship and are raring to go. The nerves are slowly setting in and all the scenarios in how things might go wrong are coming into your mind. Here’s how you can make your big first day run smoothly, before you even set foot in the office. 

22nd Jun 2016

What subject to take at uni to get a good graduate job

 I’m often asked by graduates why they are not capable of getting either any job or a graduate job after university. Unfortunately there are a few mis-matches along the way, which hopefully this post will clarify. Firstly, there's a mis-match between what graduates think they can achieve and the skills they've got and what employers want in terms of skills. There's also a mis-match...

14th Jun 2016

Five things I wish I knew when I left school

Dear class of 2016, Finishing school can be a daunting experience but you are young, bright and have your future ahead of you — easy for me to say, you might think.

14th Jun 2016

Helping your employees face their 100-year life

As mentioned in a previous post, Living to 100: the changing world of work, the majority of children born in rich countries today can expect to live to more than 100. We are currently still living our lives in the same way that our parents and even grandparents did, but this approach can’t last forever. 

14th Jun 2016

Creating a 100-year life mindset

As mentioned in a previous post, Living to 100: the changing world of work, the majority of children born in rich countries today can expect to live to more than 100. We are currently still living our lives in the same way that our parents and even grandparents did, but this approach can’t last forever.

13th Jun 2016

Should we stay or should we go? A university viewpoint

Compared to other industries and sectors of society which are split evenly between staying and leaving the EU, the UK university sector is unusual in its cry to remain. Indeed a poll of nearly 2,000 UK researchers in March found that a staggering 83% were in favour of remaining in the EU. 

7th Jun 2016

Living to 100: the changing world of work

Yesterday members of Eluceo attended a debate entitled The Changing World of Work at King’s College London which focused on the development of robotics in the workplace and the fact that we are all going to be living and working longer, and the impact that these have on our wellbeing. 

7th Jun 2016

Camping out in Dunkirk

Last week a couple of members of the Eluceo team went to the Grande-Synthe refugee camp in Dunkirk for the day. The camp, nestled between a motorway and the railway line, has had a makeover in recent months, with 300 purpose-built heated shelters and communal toilets and showers.

6th Jun 2016

Going to university as a young carer

Taking the time out to study something you love can be hard for anyone, but for those of your that care for a close friend or family member the dream is unreachable. 

1st Jun 2016

Girls: how to stay motivated in science

Research at Accenture has revealed that half of 12-year-old school girls perceive STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) as more suited to boys and more than half of parents say they feel ill-informed of the benefits of STEM subjects specifically. In fact, with the UK’s digital economy growing by 50% in five years and contributing 12.4% of GDP in 2016, STEM ...

17th May 2016

How to avoid the post-uni blues

When you started uni you probably didn’t think further than graduation, and now it’s come around faster than you could ever have imagined. If you are one of those who has been concentrating solely on studying and have yet to think of any future plans, sitting on the sofa watching box sets will soon become boring, as much as you might think they’d be the perfect antidote to three yea...

16th May 2016

Mental Health Support at Uni

Going to university is a big step and for lots of people it’s not an easy environment in which to settle down in and feel comfortable in. And there are more of you out there; in recent years, counselling services have found an annual rise in demand of about 10% which the number of students using counselling ranging from between 5% to 10% of the student population. With the increase in c...

16th May 2016

Graduation: What the hell next?

It’s May, and once again there are swathes of people up and down the country excited about their graduation, spending their time and energy getting their outfits ready for the big day. But once you graduate, what does happen next? Moving back home and living with your parents or taking a job in a pub and using all you money to pay your rent may seem like a step backwards but it’s...

13th May 2016

7 tips to help you stay motivated in a job you hate

We’ve all been there, countdowning the time when work ends, and you can leave the office, looking forward to the weekends and dreading the weeks, but unfortunately we all need and job to pay our bills.  If only there was another way!

13th May 2016

Exam time: How to face your paper

Does starting your exam make you nervous? If so, it's a good idea to walk through entering the exam the night before, undestanding how you are going to approach your exam paper and imagining yourself entering the exam hall to calm your nerves. Understanding what to expect will calm your nerves and help you relax before you go to bed.

10th May 2016

Easy ways to get rid of your exam nerves

However hard you’ve revised, and how well you know the material, there’s always the possibility that you’ll get nervous. Nervousness is all part and parcel of exams. A certain amount of stress keeps us motivated to revise and be organised, however when we are anxious we produce a hormone called adrenalin and if we’ve too much of it and can’t get rid of it it causes us to panic, ...

9th May 2016

How to get in that last minute exam prep

If you’ve got this far and have found yourself not really revising over these last few months you might be starting to panic. Here are a few tips to help you cram some of that information in before it’s too late!

9th May 2016

How to survive an afternoon exam?

For many of you who have a bit of a come down of an afternoon, waiting for an an afternoon exam and having to perform well is something close to torture. Here’s a few ways you can feel perked up and ready for the exam, and full of adrenalin to face it.

6th May 2016

6 online courses for the digitally savvy

Are you looking to develop your digital skills in or out the workplace, or start a new hobby, or even learn something new? Here are some of the most interesting online courses from around the web to delve into and satiate your appetite! If you want a full list of online courses you can take, and even gain credit for, we've a full list for you to search. Enjoy learning!

5th May 2016

Coping with the stress of A-levels

I know I haven't posted in over a month, which is particularly bad when trying to start up a new blog but the stress of a-levels recently has become extremely real and my motivation has gone from high to extremely low. I often just sit and stare at my school planner looking at all the work I need to complete with 0% motivation to do it. So i thought I'd write a blog post that may help mys...

28th Apr 2016

Helping your kids through their exams

Revising season is upon us and, as a parent you may have been wondering what you can do to help your child revise, stay motivated, and not get too stressed. Your main role in your child’s studying life is to make sure they have an ideal environment to work in, with a home life as calm as possible, and their own space and desk away from the hum-drum of everyday life. 

28th Apr 2016

On your own? Find your perfect flatmates

Have you found yourself stranded this year for people to live with or are there two of you wanting to live with more people? It may be a daunting prospect, but don’t worry there are plenty of ways to find your perfect accommodation and make new friends along the way!

28th Apr 2016

Rented house shares: the legal part

Congratulations on having found that perfect student house or flat to share with your friends. Now it’s down to the nitty gritty of sorting it all out!

27th Apr 2016

Skills millennials need when looking for work

There are currently five generations in one workplace, with the baby boomers running the show. Baby boomers are those in their fifties and sixties who are the workplace managers, directors and CEOs; idealistic, optimistic and thinking primarily about their retirement. The modern workplace was designed by these people, where the most important factors are time-keeping, organisation and sho...

25th Apr 2016

9 ways to keep motivated during your job search

It’s 7am on Monday and another dreaded day in the office. You’ve been applying for work, up-dated your CV, filled in application after application, but seemingly getting no where. We tell ourselves that every employer will be clawing their way to interview us and gain our expertise, when in reality most job hunting involves a continued stream of rejection letters and radio silence.&nb...

21st Apr 2016

8 productivity apps to keep your revision going

Are you stuck in the midst of revision not knowing what to do next or spending too much time checking the internet? If you are then look no further. Here are eight productivity apps to get you back on track and focused. Come on the A*s!!

21st Apr 2016

5 revision apps to use on-the-go

Instead of creating notes on paper, there are now plenty of ways to create them electronically either on your computer or on your phone. This means that you can revise when you are out and about, sneaking revision into whatever free time you might find, whilst the act of making the notes will also help you revise. 

20th Apr 2016

10 subject-based revision apps to get you through exams

With GCSEs and A-levels looming there are plenty of apps to help with your revision and test your knowledge in your subjects. You might be more attuned to paper notes, but if you are on the go or revision method is just not working, then try a few of these for size. 

20th Apr 2016

Managed Student Halls

Managed student halls are a popular choice for both first and continuing students. Managed student halls are privately owned halls which you can gain a place through either your university (especially in first year) or independently. Bedrooms are often clustered into flats of different sizes (between four to eight students) and each flat contains a communal living area, bathrooms (if they...

19th Apr 2016

Starting your student accommodation search

As first year is drawing to a close (eek!) you may be thinking about moving into a rented flat with your friends. If you haven't already, and aren't too bogged down with revision, now's the time to get started!

18th Apr 2016

8 tips to help motivate yourself to revise

As the revising period is so long it’s hard to keep motivated at all times. If you’re falling foul of this, don’t worry, it happens to the best of us, but here are a few motivational tips to help if you’re starting to flounder:

15th Apr 2016

Exams: The importance of naps

Research from the University of California, Berkeley has found that an hour’s nap can dramatically boost and restore your brain power. Even more, the nap not only refreshes the mind, but can even make you smarter. As a great believer in and enjoyer of naps, this research is perfect for me. And for any of you trying to revise this Spring, you can also take a leaf out of the university's ...

13th Apr 2016

Uni accommodation: things to consider

Universities offer a wealth of different options for new students, and here are some of the things you might like to consider when choosing the right halls for you:

13th Apr 2016

Sorting out uni accommodation

By now, many of you will be thinking about where you would like to go to university, and clicking the ‘firm choice’ box in your UCAS application. One you’ve decided where you’d like to go, you can start to think about applying for where you’d like to live. 

12th Apr 2016

Consolidate, learn, practice, exams: the 4 phases of revision

Fingers crossed, by now you’ll be firmly stuck into your revision and starting to make some headway. Here, are the four phases you’ll have to go through to get the best results before you finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!

6th Apr 2016

The two-year degree option

Pressed for time and money? A few universities in the UK now offer so-called accelerated degrees. These are Bachelor’s programmes that allow you to gain an honours degree over two years rather than the conventional three. For the Autumn and Winter terms you'll learn alongside other students, however you stay on during the Summer to take an additional term each year. In this way, you hav...

1st Apr 2016

Revising via video? What's out there.

As you're lucky enough to live in the modern age, one way in which you can revise is using videos. Plenty of teachers and schools post revision videos on the internet and here are some of the best out there. You might not find them all useful or appealing, but having a quick flick through may work wonders. If you are someone that finds it easy to learn when listening and watching someone,...

30th Mar 2016

Revision Techniques

Run out of ideas on how to make your revision more fun, as well getting it all into your brain along the way? Here are a few techniques, some of which you will already have heard about, but some of which will be new to you. Remember to study for your learning style, so if you try a technique and find it doesn't work for you, then give up on it!

30th Mar 2016

Revising for your learning style

As Easter is over, and hopefully you were able to relax and eat lots of chocolate(!), it’s likely that you’re starting to get your head down and learn all that information that’s been given to you over the past couple of years. 

29th Mar 2016

7 university libraries to inspire you

The British Library of Political and Economic Science, LSE

24th Mar 2016

Creating the right revision environment

Creating an ideal revision environment is key to studying well, getting everything you need to know into your brain and avoiding procrastination. 

23rd Mar 2016

It's time to formulate a revision plan!

It’s only another day until Spring term ends and Easter begins, and for many of you, that can only mean one thing. Revision!

14th Mar 2016

8 apprenticeship myths busted

Are apprenticeships really the way to a well-paid, fulfilling career? Despite communities helping to spread awareness of alternative routes to employment, there still remains a cloud of uncertainty about apprenticeships as an alternative to university. 

14th Mar 2016

Finished an apprenticeship? - What's next?

Time goes quickly and, depending on the level of your apprenticeship, it can take anything between one and four years to complete. When you applied for it, you probably weren’t thinking too much about what you wanted to do next, and the prospect of not working or not having something to work towards may seem quite daunting. If you are one of the lucky ones there may be a job waiting for...

9th Mar 2016

7 Interesting Apprenticeships to consider

Are you currently looking for an apprenticeships? There are opportunities in business, retail and construction, right? These might well be some of your options, but there are plenty more career paths to choose from, and here we've picked some of the more interesting ones you might not have heard about... 

9th Mar 2016

All you need to know about PG Student Loans

From September 2016, you will be able to access a government-backed non means-tested student loan of up to £10,000 to help pay for your Master’s degree.

8th Mar 2016

Celebrating Women in Education

As today is International Women's Day, we are celebrating some of those women who are either in education and adovcating education as a human right. Some of them you may be familiar with, but others may be an interesting and novel read. 

3rd Mar 2016

You’ve sent off your UCAS form, what’s next?

For most of you, offers to your chosen universities will be coming in thick and fast. If you’re lucky enough to have received all five offers, or have enough to choose a firm and insurance choice, now is the time to start making your decisions and replying. If you receive all your offers by 31st March you’ll have until 4th May to reply to your offers. 

26th Jan 2016

What happens if you miss the 15th January UCAS deadline?

If you’re not one of those inherently organised individuals who sent of their UCAS form some time before Christmas, there’s no need to panic. Luckily for you, it’s not too late and you can still apply for university starting in the Autumn. Disaster averted. 

29th Oct 2015

Why you should be upskilling your workforce

In order for your company to be successful, you need to make sure your staff are up-to-date in the latest techniques, technology and skills. By motivating them to develop themselves and increase their knowledge you can up-skill your workforce and increase your business success at the same time. 

14th Oct 2015

What kind of Fresher are you?

A few weeks into your first term at uni and you'll surely have found your feet. But do people love you or hate you? That's the ultimate question. Take our quiz to find out what type of student you really are. 

18th Aug 2015

Budgeting at university

Before you set off to university you will need a bit of financial planning in the hope that you  avoid spending all of your student loan in Freshers’ Week and therefore can’t afford the train fare home at Christmas.

18th Aug 2015

Choosing your A-levels: a few tips

Choosing your A-levels can be a daunting experience. Here are a few pointers to help you along the way. 

17th Aug 2015

A Parent’s Guide to GCSE choosing

You probably still remember your child’s first day at school like it was yesterday, and now, here they are, all grown up, and having to select the subjects they want to do for GCSE. If you’ve no idea where to start in what sorts of subjects your child needs to choose, or how to help them, here are a few pointers:

14th Aug 2015

Awaiting GCSE results day

Good luck to all of you waiting in anticipation for your GCSE results this Thursday (23rd August). You can choose to receive them in the post or via text or e-mail, but you can also go into school to receive them and share the day with your friends. Check when your school will be open for you to collect them. 

11th Aug 2015

Finding Accommodation in Clearing

10th Aug 2015

A Parents' Guide to A-Level Results Day

A-level results day and it’s build up can be a daunting time for your child, so here’s a few handy hints on how the day works and how you can help them get through it. As you will probably already know, A-Level results day this year is Thursday 18th August. 

7th Aug 2015

Choosing your GCSEs

3rd Aug 2015

Apprenticeships Vs. College

For many of you, the big question when you leave school is whether you should go to college and study full-time, or apply for an apprenticeship. The choice is all yours - there are pros and cons to both, but don’t let those around you tell you that one option is definitely preferable to another - find out what best suits your needs and that’s the path to go down!

30th Jul 2015

Retaking your A-Levels

If you didn’t do well enough in your A-Levels to get into the university of your choice, and don’t want to go through Clearing and accept a place at a university with lower entry requirements, or have the rush of finding a place you might not like 100%, you may want to consider retaking some or all modules of your A-Levels. 

28th Jul 2015

A-Level results day: now is the time to prepare!

As you very well know, A-Levels are released on Thursday (15th August) next week, Good Luck! And, while I'm all sure you're keeping your fingers crossed and hoping for the best, it’s good to have a plan in place for all result eventualities. 

27th Jul 2015

Scottish students - get ready for results day

If you’re a Scottish student and are receiving your highers/advanced highers results on 6th August, Good Luck! And, while I'm all sure you're keeping your fingers crossed and hoping for the best, it’s good to have a plan in place for all result eventualities. 

20th Jul 2015

How are GCSEs changing?

From September this year, new GCSEs in English (language and literature) and maths will be taught in schools in England, culminating in a final exam in the summer of 2017 which will be assessed and graded differently. 

20th Jul 2015

The new A-levels - there's no need to be confused!

If your child is starting his or her A-Levels this September in England, you may have heard that some radical changes have taken place.

13th Jul 2015

Introducing teaching assessment in universities

The 2015 Budget last week, announced by the Conservative Chancellor, George Osborne, confirmed that universities with “high-quality teaching” will be allowed to raise tuition fees in line with inflation from 2017-18. In turn, this announcement means that a new measure for teaching quality at universities will be put in place to assess those of high-quality.

8th Jul 2015

How do student loans work?

Congratulations if you've just finished your A-levels and congratuations to those who picked up their IB results the other day! Good luck to everyone else who's waiting patiently and anxiously for August to come around. 

8th Jul 2015

Why Volunteer?

Whether you’ve just finished your GCSEs or A-levels and are looking forward to the long summer, or are in between studying and employment, there’s always an opportunity to think about volunteering. You may think that volunteering is just grannies sitting in Oxfam, however there’s far more to. 

7th Jul 2015

What do employers want from young people?

As a 16-19-year-old, you might be looking for your first job, perhaps it’s a part-time apprenticeship to work alongside your qualifications, or your first foray into the world of full-time employment. Here are the five qualities that, time and time again, employers say that they value the most when recruiting young people:

6th Jul 2015

Can’t offer work experience?: here are a few alternative ideas

Between the ages of 16-19, students in England must take part in the 16-19 study programme with one of its main three elements involving work experience. There are three patterns that work experience at this age may follow, as described by the Department for Education:

6th Jul 2015

How can offering work experience help my company?

Work experience is vital to young people at school, college and as they enter the labour market. It helps young people to make the transition from education into working life by giving them:

19th Jun 2015

What are Higher Apprenticeships?

Higher apprentices were launched in 2009 and they are the only apprenticeship that lead to a Level 4 qualification or above. As with other apprenticeships, they offer you a mix of on and off-the-job training, however they are designed to delve deeper into your specialisation, equipping you with more advanced level skills and qualifications. In many cases, they offer another (albeit someti...

19th Jun 2015

It’s time to choose: types of accommodation for your first year

Choosing where you want to live in your first year of university can impact your enjoyment of your time at university, and the friends you make (perhaps for life!), so consider your options carefully. We mention the three most common options for first year students. 

19th Jun 2015

Uni Accommodation: how to choose your perfect halls

Having received your university offers and chosen your first and second choice, your accommodation letters will be coming through thick and fast. Hopefully, when you attended an open day you saw the accommodation on offer and have a few ideas about where you want to live. Most people in the first year choose university halls, so here we will concentrate on these. 

17th Jun 2015

Traineeships: How will they help my company?

What is a traineeship?A traineeship is an education and training programme with work experience that is focused on giving young people the skills and experience that employers are looking for. Traineeships are very flexible, and by working closely with an eligible training organisation, you can design a programme which suits your needs and those of the trainee. 

10th Jun 2015

How can hiring an apprentice help your company?

What is an apprenticeship?An apprenticeship offers young people and adult learners the ability to learn a real trade or skill, whilst gaining a nationally recognised qualification - these work-based training programmes are designed around the needs of you, the employer. 

3rd Jun 2015

The increasing gulf between school and skills

A report published by the organisation which represents the leading Western economies, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), has suggested that the gap between school and work is increasing, with more and more young people leaving education without basic literacy and numeracy skills, and with little or no experience of the world of work. 

19th May 2015

How to prepare for apprenticeship interview questions

As you’ve just come out of school or college, or are at least young in life, apprenticeship interviews are going to be based around the skills (sometimes called competencies) that you have acquired. Questions that might be asked will go something along the lines of: ‘tell me about a time when you had to work with a team’.

18th May 2015

Finished your GCSEs? Four ways to spend your summer

Once you finish school, and either go into employment or off to university, there’ll be no more long summer holidays for you to while away, and you’ll soon come to regret having wasted all that time. Here are some ideas for what you can do, that might be fun, novel, and help your CV/personal statement along the way.

18th May 2015

What happens if I've not got into uni?

Firstly, don’t panic! It’s only March and if you’ve applied to five choices and haven’t received any offers or you have declined all your decisions you may be able to use UCAS extra. UCAS extra let you apply for a further course between the end of February and the beginning of July and if you are eligible a button will appear on the choices section of your UCAS track page.&nb...

18th May 2015

How should I prepare for an apprenticeship interview?

What is an interview?Having read your CV and cover letter, employers will have already filtered out the potential candidates they didn’t thing suitable for the role, and an interview offers them the chance to meet you face-to-face and vice versa. This means that they like you, and want to see how well you might fit into the company and how well you fit the descriptio...

21st Apr 2015

Uni students: how are they going to vote?

14th Apr 2015

World Book Day: get your kids reading!

It’s World Book Day today, and hopefully you’ve helped your child organise their outfit for school. 

9th Apr 2015

Study leave: where on earth do I start?

With the Easter holidays finally over, study leave starting for many and exams looming, this may be the first time that you are left to your own devices and you probably don’t know where to start. Luckily, revision needn’t be so daunting, and we’ve put a few pointers together to help you out. 

31st Mar 2015

UCAS offers: How to reply

Hopefully by now your university offers are coming in thick and fast from your chosen universities. Once you’ve received all your decisions, you have to reply to UCAS telling them where you'd like to attend, and the dates that UCAS requires you apply by depend on when you received your decisions from universities and when you applied. Track will inform you of your deadline, and they are...

25th Mar 2015

Visit Days: What to Expect

Congratulations! You’ve received your university offers and now have the tricky choice of narrowing them down to two (unless you’re lucky enough to gain a conditional offer you’ll have to choose one firm place and one back-up place in case you don’t make the grades for your firm choice). 

20th Mar 2015

The Election 2015: where the parties stand

With the general election only 36 days away and the parties starting to prepare for their upcoming debates, here's all you need to know on each party's policies on education, training, schooling, universities, apprenticeships, tax and benefits as a young person. 

19th Nov 2014

The case for free higher education

This week, the Higher Education Commission’s report Too Good To Fail has claimed that England’s current university funding system is unsustainable due to the high number of students who will never be able to afford to pay of their loans after graduating. The study has examined the sustainability of the financial arrangements for England's universities, taking evidence from 60 exper...

12th Sep 2014

What independence might mean for Scottish universities

At the rate we’re going, this week might well be the last week of the UK as we know it. At a time when we can’t help but remember that the BBC is definitely biased and deeply pro-union, for the most part, universities in Scotland are too.

29th Aug 2014

The case for international students

Student immigration is once again in the press, with the Tories pledging to reduce net immigration from the low hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands by 2015. Emigration is not something the government can do very much about and the same goes for the entry of EU citizens, so the buck has to fall with reducing the non-EU immigration number. Non-EU immigration falls into three broad ca...

22nd Aug 2014

GCSEs, GCSEs, GCSEs

GCSEs are out, and once again, and overall, there’s little change - just a slight rise in the number of A*-C grades with 68.8% of entries gaining an A*-C compared to 68.1% last year.

31st Jul 2014

Should universities be allowed to take on students’ debt?

Prior to David Willetts’ shuffle off the frontbench, the former universities and science minister proposed that universities could benefit from buying up their students’ debts. He commissioned a preliminary report on the idea which has more recently been drawn up by officials at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and sent to Greg Clark, the now minister for unive...

23rd Jul 2014

Bringing Financial Education to Schools

From September this year, children aged 11 to 16 in England will see financial education embedded into both maths and “citizenship” education. Personal finance is already taught in schools in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

14th Jul 2014

Why are teachers striking?

On 10th July teachers across England and Wales went on strike along with other public sector workers for the second time this year following a strike in March. Approximately 6,000 schools in England closed while in Wales 912 schools closed.

30th May 2014

How to increase the UK's postgraduate intake?

Universities UK have released a report this week asking how we can increase the number of students undertaking postgraduate taught courses.

15th Apr 2014

Trends in English education in 2014

The HEFCE released Higher Education in England 2014: Analysis of latest shifts and trends last week with the news that, despite the tuition fee increase, the overall financial health of universities in England is good.

30th Mar 2014

“Centres for shaping the thoughts of the future elite in the world”

Persuasion and Power in the Modern World, a report issued by a House of Lords Select Committee, stressing how higher education boosts the “soft power” of Britain globally, has stated that UK universities are “centres for shaping the thoughts of the future elite in the world”.

20th Mar 2014

Cyber security as the latest profession?

Announced in the publication of Cyber Security Skills: Business Perspectives and Government’s Next Steps the government are trying to tackle the severe shortage of cyber security specialists. 

10th Mar 2014

Reputation Rankings 2014

The Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings, now in their fourth year, were released this week. The invitation-only survey asks approximately 60,000 experienced scholars their academic opinion of institutions and is administered by Ipsos MediaCT.

11th Feb 2014

Britain's Year of Code

Last week, (Tuesday 4th February) the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Education Secretary announced a new £500,000 fund to train teachers software coding, with the aim of inspiring the next generation of technology entrepreneurs. 

30th Jan 2014

Have you been watching Tough Young Teachers?

The BBC have been quick to jump on the bandwagon of Channel 4’s successful school-set fly-on-the-wall documentaries.

15th Jan 2014

What would Scottish independence mean for HE?

With only 8 months until the Scottish referendum, we look at how Scotland’s vision for higher education will work if granted independence.

7th Jan 2014

My MOOC Experience

Eluceo helps students of all ages attain their full potential through education and one way they can achieve this is through the use of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCS). Join me in assessing the world of MOOCs through my first-hand personal experience.

18th Dec 2013

The Ongoing Gender Segregation Debate

If you are unclear of the ongoing gender segregation debate then here's all you need to know! It’s been in the press a lot recently - if you’ve missed it, here’s how the gender segregation debate has panned out so far.

31st Oct 2013

In Praise of the Social Sciences

The Campaign for Social Sciences investigates what social science graduates do and the skills they gain during their time at university.

5th Jun 2013

The Changing Face of Global Education: Part 3

The third part in this special about the future of our universities deals with how they can deal with the competition in question, and evolve and transform. This competition includes not just traditional rivals, but entirely new kinds of competitors. Initially, the new competition was due to globalisation, with universities competing for international students and international research f...

13th May 2013

The Changing Face of Global Education: Part 2

In the second part of The Changing Face of Global Education blog, I look at the way in which universities currently operate. An Avalanche is Coming proposes that there are three features of the modern university which creates its identity; outputs (research, degrees, city prosperity); people (faculty, students, government and administration); and programme (curriculum, teaching and learni...

24th Apr 2013

The Changing Face of Global Education

Over the next few weeks I will be looking into the current changing face of education and its implications for the future. The blog is in part a summary of An Avalanche is Coming, a paper published in March of this year by the Institute for Public Policy Research, where they argue that over the next 50 years we could see a golden age for higher education, but only if all the players in th...

7th Apr 2013

Teachers' Favourite 100 Books

In the latest edition of the Times Educational Supplement, teachers voted their top 100 favourites novels. Whether they are implying that these are actually their favourite novels, or their favourite novels to teach students, I am unsure. Let's go with the latter. Anyway, the top ten were:

3rd Sep 2012

Advice for those with Disabilities

With the Paralympics taking place this week, Eluceo thought it would be interesting to look at the best universities for students with disabilities.

27th Aug 2012

University Focus: Sport (Part 2)

It is very easy to forget that sport is not just made up of the individual athlete, and their training schedule, but also the ground breaking research to aid everything from nutrition, health, equipment, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and performance. I wouldn’t want to criticize any of our athletes, but I’m pretty sure that generally Britain is good at sports where athletes get to sit...

20th Aug 2012

University Focus: Sport (Part 1)

In light of recent events this summer Eluceo’s VERY FIRST blog will be a two part special focusing on sport in British Universities.