Posted on

Working for Edge Hill University – Students working for Students

Image result for edge hill university

Working at Edge Hill university during your study is a rewarding experience with benifits for everyone. You provide a valuable service for the university, such as blogging, notetaking or even guiding prospective applicants. In return the univeristy will weigh your pockets down with the standard casual rate of £8.66 per hour. So for half a days work (12 Hours) you are looking at over £100 into your pocket. But there is many more reason for you to consider working for the univeristy, here are my top three.

Sense of involvement

Working with the university gives you the ability to infulence the university directly. With a sense of involvement you will feel that the university is suddenly alot smaller and the community will become tight knit. That involvement in the university will make your time here much more enjoyable, I know it has for me.

Great experience

Because the university has so many roles available you will always find something with transferable skills into your chosen course. Every role teaches professionalism and builds confidence. The supervisors are always there to help you no matter what, and the structure in the university is perfectly setup to encourage communication.

Make yourself stand out

I cant stress enough how much having job experience listed on my CV has helped me get jobs outside of the University. Listing your employeer is only half of making yourself stand out, having refrences from the University is the other. Having a job at Edge Hill University will make you stand out among any crowd.

If you want more free and great advice email think@edgehill.ac.uk or leave a comment below and I will get back to you. If you want to suggest something to write about or want to be interviewed leave a comment below also and I will get back to you personally!

Posted on

My Experience Working for Edge Hill

Hi guys, in my last blog which you can read here. Working at Edge Hill

I talked about the various job opportunities available on campus, following on from that I thought I would talk a bit about my experience working for the university and what you can generally expect.

At the start of my first year at Edge Hill I was looking for some basic part-time work which unfortunately wasn’t going very well, because of my want to go from home in Northern Ireland to Uni over various holidays it was difficult to find something this flexible to fit around that. While searching for roles I came across one being advertised by Edge Hill to become a student mentor, after a read of the role itself I submitted an application which involved giving some test answers. After this I received an email a few weeks later saying I had been successful!

Once I had received the email, a suitable date was arranged between me and the other applicants to attend a training session on campus, where I was trained on the role itself and it’s responsibilities as well as meeting the staff in charge of overseeing the work, and the other students who had also been chosen for the role. The training itself was really well explained and done in a relaxed atmosphere so there was nothing to worry about.

The role itself is one that is done online from your own phone or laptop and while it varies a bit, it generally involves you putting in a couple of hours a week. The best thing about this online work is that while you do have to make sure your checking up on it and doing what is required. You are allowed complete flexibility in when you want to work which is something that is really nice to have. The Edge Hill staff I have been in contact with when working for the university have also been really helpful and provide plenty  of information for me to make sure I know what I’m doing.

So, that’s my experience so far and I think if you are looking for a bit of extra work to compliment your studies then these roles are here to apply for when available if your interested. Thanks for reading and feel free to ask any questions.

https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/careers/students/part-time-jobs/

Jordan

Posted on

Working at Edge Hill

Hello everyone! For this blog I thought I would talk about working while studying and specifically, working for the university.

Throughout the Edge Hill campus, there are a variety of job’s available to students in different areas of the university. The town and surrounding areas are also obviously viable places to apply for jobs and you should apply to lot’s of places if you are looking, but Edge Hill is especially good because of the rapport between you as a student and the university. Working for Edge Hill as a student might mean less issues brought up by holiday’s or getting paid the wrong amount etc that might occur within other workplaces.

There are a variety of roles on campus from traditional part-time physical roles that would involve working at the location week by week at whatever the task entails. This could be work within the Library, the sports centre or the SU bar. There are also more flexible roles such as working as a student ambassador or a student guide for open days. These roles may only be over certain days or weeks and can function as a good extra on top of your studies or any work you already have. The university also offers mainly online roles to apply for such as vlogging, blogging and online mentoring. These roles are primarily ones you can work at on your own time whenever you see fit, and offer great flexibility in choosing when and how long you want to work for, they are also great ways to subsidise your studies or another job.

Edge Hill does post vacancies throughout the year through its vacancies service for students which I will link below so keep checking if you are interested, but around the start of the year is when more vacancies will be posted so if you are a current or prospective student, make sure you are looking around then if you are interested as jobs here and off campus are in really high demand. I will leave a link to more information on jobs and the vacancy service as well if you are interested, and any questions just let me know and thanks for reading!

https://careerhub.edgehill.ac.uk/students/login?ReturnUrl=%2fstudents%2fjobs

https://www.edgehill.ac.uk/careers/students/part-time-jobs/

Jordan

Posted on

Working at Edge Hill – Let’s get this bread.

Getting a job at University is important in more than the obvious ways. Sure you could look at it as just a means of getting cash but don’t. When you come to university it is important to make it worth your while and having a part time job can really help you ensure that you are getting the most out of your university experience. So here are three ways that working at Edge Hill University ensures that you are making the most out of your time.

Experience. 

You may have had a part time job before University and if so, that’s great. But if you haven’t that’s OK too. Getting out there and actually working is a great way to not only gain experience in the field of your work but in life. Its a common quote that ‘Everyone should work in retail for at least a month’  the idea being that when you’re on the other side of the angry person screaming about how they’re right you might appreciate the cashier the next time you walk into a shop annoyed about something you bought.

A Sense of Purpose

This one might sound silly, but hear me out. When you start university you will most likely have a lot of free time. You can fill a lot of this by meeting friends and going out but after a while you might start to find yourself looking for something to do. A job is the perfect way to fill this void. By having an outlet and a sense of purpose you will find your days go by much faster and you get all the other benefits of working.

The cash

Alright, can’t ignore it anymore. The cash. It’s the big one. Having that extra cash to do things like go on trips or maybe insure your car. Working is a great way to make that extra cash, and honestly there is nothing better than having your own money and your own independence. Knowing that you don’t have to rely on anyone and being able to spend your own money on what you want without feeling guilty is a great feeling, only topped by the feeling that your time is valuable to someone.

Hopefully this blog answered all your questions about parking on campus. If you want to read more you can check out the EHU careers center here.

If you want more free and great advice email think@edgehill.ac.uk or leave a comment below and I will get back to you. If you want to suggest something to write about or want to be interviewed leave a comment below also and I will get back to you personally!

Posted on

Budgeting as a student

Being able to budget and plan your money is incredibly important as a student. It may be your first time receiving money where you have specific things you’ve got to pay for such as rent, food, sports memberships as well as the extras such as going out with friends wherever that may be to.

You should start by working out how much money you have coming in. This could be through Student Finance or from a part-time job that you are currently working. You should then make a list of all essential outgoings such as rent, bills, travel costs, course materials, food, toiletries, clothes and insurance as well as any extra study expenses which are expected for your course.

The next step is to work out how much you can afford to spend on each of these areas. Remember to save some money for optional extras such as entertainment as well as unexpected expenses and future savings. There are also often bigger occasions to save for such as holidays, Christmas and birthdays.

You should then look for ways to make savings. This could include buying your food from a cheaper supermarket or bulk buying certain items with the other people you are living with. You could also try having no spend days which can help keep your costs down considerably. If you are paying bills, take a look to see if there is a cheaper provider for the services you are receiving. Student discounts such as student rail cards, bus passes and the NUS card can also help you to save a little extra.

Finally, you should always keep track of what you are spending and review this regularly. This will help you to know whether you can afford to make certain luxury purchases or whether you should wait. You could keep a list or use an app or programme such as Blackbullion.

If you aren’t currently working but need a little extra money, you should consider a part-time job. The careers centre at Edge Hill are incredibly friendly and helpful and can check over your application or CV to help you get a job which is suited to the skills and experience you already have. Working whilst at university helps to improve your skills such as time management and communication and can also be a great way to network with other professionals in the area you hope to study in after you graduate. The money advice team at Edge Hill are always happy to help with any questions you may have about budgeting or funding.

Posted on

Life as a Mature Student

Are you currently considering studying at Edge Hill University as a mature student? Deciding to go to university as a mature student was a decision willed with excitement and nerves for me. Part of me was worried what it would be like studying after years of being out of formal education, but I was also incredibly excited to start a new chapter of my life. I firmly believe that studying as a mature student is different than studying straight out of school/sixth form/college but it is possible and such an amazing experience!

Juggling your time:

As a mature student it is likely that you will have many responsibilities outside of university. From caring from a family, running your home, taking part in clubs or activities that you currently enjoy to having to work. Your time will inevitably be filled to the max! But this doesn’t have to mean it isn’t possible. I have fund using a diary, both on my phone and a paper version, as well as creating lists of what needs doing and when to be very helpful. It enables you to fit more into your days than you ever thought possible.

You will make new friends:

People of all ages study a multitude of courses at Edge Hill. You will make friends of all ages and find people who share your interests as well as others who will inspire you to try something new. There is so much to do and so many places to go both around campus and in Ormskirk too.

The environment is inspiring:

Edge Hill campus is a wonderful place. From my very first visit during an Open Day it felt welcoming, inviting and safe. There are many places to study around campus from the library to the Hub as well as specialist rooms such as those in Creative Edge. Then when it is time to relax there are loads of places to eat and spend time with friends, including a Subway! Being in an environment which is supportive and encouranging can be incredibly motivating too.

You’ll have a different perspective in lectures:

Having real life, often hands on, experience will mean you will be able to apply what you have learnt in the lectures to your real life experiences. This can give you a different perspective especially when completing assignments. As an Early Childhood Studies student, one of my first year module assignments was a reflective booklet. I found it very interesting being able to reflect on what I had learnt in my workplace and relate this to the skills I would need for future practice.

Posted on

Volunteering and Part-time Jobs

Hello again!

With the summer coming up in the not-so-distant future, I thought it would be a good chance to talk about summer jobs, part-time jobs and volunteering. With Primary Education, gaining work experience was an essential part of the application process, as with any course.

Update and prepare your CV 

My advice is to be pro-active and have your CV ready. This should include your information, qualifications, previous work experience or volunteering and achievements. There are many good examples online. Try to avoid rambling… but make sure to include all the relevant information. Personally, I would suggest adding a photograph of yourself to add the personal touch!

Do all the right research

Some ideas for work experience when doing a course in Education are as follows:a school, a museum, a zoo, an education centre, a youth centre, guides / scouts or a summer camp. Edge Hill’s careers centre can be a great help! When deciding where you want to apply, have a look at their websites and social media. Try to speak to people who are part of the team to understand the expectations and requirements for the job. You should also look into the locality of the work to ensure you will be able to travel there.

Do not give up!

If you have the determination and you put time into applying for a job, it will pay off! Regarding volunteering, sometimes certain companies or centres may not take on volunteers, but places that do will appreciate the interest and extra help!

Edge Hill often have careers fairs and part-time job vacancies of their own. You can find out more information about jobs at Edge Hill on their website.

 

Wishing you the best of luck! Anna 🙂

Posted on

Planning for an amazing summer!

With snow settled on the ground outside it feels like summer should be a million miles away but I know it’s never to early to start looking into what is available. Whether you are excitedly looking forward to September to begin your degree or if you’re a first or second year student thinking beyond your deadlines this blog is for you. I am a sun-lover and with second semester almost half way through and I’m already making plans for my summer break. There are so many amazing opportunities available during the break, here’s a quick look at what you could get up to!

1 – Volunteer

There are so many amazing volunteer opportunities out there that can provide so much more than just experience to put on your CV. Volunteering is a personal favourite of mine and I love supporting children and young people with a disability to access activity holidays over the summer. But there are volunteering opportunities from one day a week, daily and even residential available in a huge range of areas. Speak to someone at the careers centre or check out one of the national volunteering websites for more information.

2 – Try some part time paid work

Part time work can be a great way of getting some extra money before starting university or to get ahead for your next academic year. My advice would always be to find something you think you will enjoy and do your research first. Locally there are lots of jobs available which can be found on the careers website and the staff also provide a fantastic service when it comes to providing feedback on CV’s and application forms.

3 – Relax and spend time with your family and friends

Summer is also a time for you to catch up with friends and family members, relax and enjoy doing whatever it is that makes you happy. Whether that is days out shopping or going to the beach, relaxing in your room watching movies or playing games or going out with friends. This is the perfect time to de-stress and get yourself ready for the new year.

Remember – the best opportunities tend to get snapped up quickly so it is always a good idea to get in early with your application form or ask for feedback/references in advance of the deadlines so that you aren’t rushing.

What is your favourite thing to do in the summer? Please leave a comment as I’d love to hear all of your ideas!

Posted on

Applicant Visit Days Ahoy!

With the beginning of February comes the Applicant Visit Days, typically held between now and March/April, non-interviewing applicants will soon receive notice of these wonderful days – maybe you already have! Although I personally did not attend an applicant visit day for Biology, I have worked for the Biology Department as an Applicant Visit Day Helper, therefore I know a little something about what goes down on one of these visit days.

The Edge Hill University Biology Department is home to many sub-disciplines, from ecology to human biology – despite this, students from different courses will certainly overlap both in the common first year and in shared modules. In account of this, the Applicant Visit Day has an introductory talk given to the cohort as a whole, as well as area specific activities with a focus on either ecology, human biology, or genetics, for example. When I worked the Applicant Visit Day last year, I supervised the ecology taster session – and introduction to invertebrate ecology and identification, using keys and microscopes. Also part of the Biology section on Applicant Visit Days is the building tour, where you get a better look at the labs and equipment available to use once you begin studying with us. With the opening of the Tech Hub and the top floor lab, there’s even more space and equipment to use!

Facilities
The Biosciences building for Biology at Edge Hill

I have also worked for the Money Advice Team on applicant visit days, as a Money Buddy, positioned in The Hub. The Money Advice Team hold presentations on student finance, as well as budgeting – particularly from a student’s point of view (hence the Money Buddies). My role was to speak to potential future students about financial help offered by EHU as well as budgeting advice.

The Tech Hub

One of the pros of attending an Applicant Visit day (other than getting a better feel for your course and department) is getting to meet other students. If you’re worried about meeting new people at university, your course is the best place to start, and Applicant Visit days give you a head start. I hope you’re able to attend one and take advantage of this opportunity!

Posted on

Student Finance and the Money Advice Team

With Student Finance applications opening soon, money may be on the mind. Edge Hill University does a lot to help ease money woes and provides numerous services and opportunities. On such resource is the Money Matters website, which has useful information on loans (which I have briefly detailed below), grants, bursaries, scholarships, and more!

There are two loans available from the government for undergraduate university study:

Tuition Fee Loan:
This is something you largely don’t have to worry about. You can borrow enough to cover the tuition fee for your course and is not means tested. This will be paid directly to your university – I didn’t worry about it once I had applied.

Maintenance Loan:
To help with food, accommodation and travel, this loan will depend on a variety of factors: household income, whether you’re living at home or away, the exact location of your residence, and more. The maximum amount able to be received is £8,700, or £9,916 if you qualify for the increased Maintenance Loan. This will be received directly, usually in three instalments, to your bank account or building society.

Managing the money from your maintenance loan might seem like a challenge. Typically, you receive roughly a third per term and will have to budget your money to last appropriately, accounting for rent, food, other essentials and any left over for spending (i.e. social events, shopping).

This is where the Money Advice Team can help. Available for drop-ins Monday and Friday, 10am-1pm, and Tuesday and Thursday from 1pm-4pm, they can lend a hand in keeping your finances on track, providing budgeting tips and techniques as well as information about the Student Support Fund and part-time job opportunities.

Not only are there a number of jobs on campus available to Edge Hill students (such as open day helpers and library staff), the Money Advice Team can help you find jobs in the surrounding area such as St Helens, Preston, and Liverpool.