Every year the uni runs a ‘weekend’ away at Gregynog for those students who are looking to do an industrial year. The idea is to help open student’s eyes as to what employers are looking for. It was a really useful weekend, and it really made you think hard. Many interview questions are quite challenging and it can be very hard to feel like you’ve nailed an impressive answer when there is so many things you could say. I found myself enjoying the interview stage quite a lot! It might seem unusual but I liked the pressure of trying to answer these hard questions, plus trying to account for things where the interviewer thinks they can catch you out. At times it feels like you are just trying to outwit each other! I should add, I do of course realise it is about a matching process, for both sides to find out if they are interested in and could work with each other.

My CV is very honest, so I didn’t have any problems with that. Certainly a few other students will have learnt not to claim themselves as an ‘expert’ or ‘have very good knowledge of’ when in fact they know little. The format in which the interviews took place was also good, we were able to hear everyone else’s questions and their answers. I took the whole thing as a long interview and decided to answer everyone else’s questions in my head too. I think at times it will have looked like I was itching to answer the questions when it wasn’t even my go, I got the opportunity at one point too (and I was right, always a bonus)!

It was also a reminder about our web presences. I realised that my LinkedIn was slightly out of date, and could have been better filled in. I felt glad the interviewers didn’t have time to look into that kind of thing as it can show a lack of effort, even if I have actually bothered to make one in the first place! I’ve updated it tonight and am trying to gain connections, so if you know me, add me! Twitter is also something I’ve been doing for a while now. Initially I hated, now I actually like it quite a lot. It’s like a mini news source. I find out things I wouldn’t otherwise and then captilise on them. I was always been a bit baffled about gaining followers, but learnt that you really need to interact with anyone you can find. Talk to them, help them, whatever you can. If they have a conversation with you that’s likely a follower gained, and perhaps some of their friends too. Simple stuff when you realise. I also found out about about.me, it’s a dead simple profile website where by people can place links to all their relevant stuff. I’m a bit peeved I didn’t have the idea myself, because I think it’s fricking awesome!

There may be a lack of updates from now, I have 3 assignments to be getting on with, plus numerous industrial year applications. It might be very close to Christmas before I’m back to the blog again. I will still be frequenting Twitter of course!

See you soon.

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