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3 Ways to Gain that All-Important Work Experience

‘Experience' is an essential yet sometimes equally elusive part of the working world. Many graduates are repeatedly saddened and frustrated to find out that they can have the best academic record but without relevant experience in the field that they're interested in, they are often turned away from job after job. When most companies are asking for experience but no company will give you any then it can be an endless dark loophole. But it's not all doom and gloom. If no one will give you it then you have to go out and get it! Here are three simple ways that you can get that all-important experience for the job you want and nail the next interview.

How to be a Successful Student Landlord

Becoming a student landlord can be both a positive and a profitable venture, but only if you do it properly. When you're planning on renting to students, it pays to be prepared. If you're a landlord new to student lets, and you want to ensure that your newest endeavour is a success, here is some essential advice to help you on your journey, from tips on purchasing a suitable property to advice for finding your first tenants.

Do Your Research First

It's important to contemplate the complexity and hard work involved in managing a property business. Like any commercial endeavour, the general rules of running and marketing an enterprise apply. You will be required to invest time and capital in coming to understand your customers and then providing them with the products and services they desire at a viable price. Managing a profitable student letting business is a yellow brick road to riches: uncertain; fraught with dangers; and a lot harder to travel than it might first look. After hours, you'll need to familiarise yourself over and over with the ever mutable laws on tenancies and letting, and complete your accounts and tax returns. 

How to Choose the Right Place to Live At University

Apart from figuring out finances, worrying about fitting in and stopping your mum from buying all the unnecessary kitchen utensils under the sun, finding the right place to live while at university can be an equally confusing and daunting task. There are a couple of different options available but it's important to consider them early and arrange them as soon as possible in order to get your first pick. Here are four of the main types and some key details that will help you to choose which place is right for you.

1. University Student Halls

One of the most popular choices for many students, university halls offer a great transition from home to independent living. All the costs of bills, internet and sometimes food if you choose the catered option, are included in a complete fee each term. However you'll still have to do your own laundry, wash your dishes and look after your room. Some rooms are en-suite, but many include shared bathrooms. It can be unnerving if you're moving in with five to ten other people that you don't know, but halls are a great way to make friends quickly and settle into your university together as everyone is in the same boat and you're likely to be quite close to campus.

The Foreign Students’ Guide to London

If you've just arrived in the Big Smoke ready to get studying in September, why not make the most of your summer with these wonderful events going on throughout the capital?

Wimbledon

Great British traditions don't come much bigger than Wimbledon, the fourth annual grand slam tennis event that's been going on since 1877. While you're watching some of our most famous tennis players such as Andy Murray battle it out for that all important championship prize, why not hedge your bets to make the games even more exciting?

Another tradition that you can't miss out on while you're at Wimbledon is strawberries and cream. It's estimated that approximately 28,000 kg of strawberries are sold over the Wimbledon fortnight, with over 7,000 litres of cream, so make sure you're one of the lucky ones who gets to indulge.

Wimbledon is also a hotspot for celebrity visitors, including our very own Royal Family - indeed, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge attend without fail every year. If you're a royals fan, make sure you take your camera to this prestigious event, which takes place this year from Monday 23rd June until Sunday 6th July.

Graduate Career Prospects: How to Get ahead of the Game

The percentage of graduates in the UK population is going up every year according to the Office for National Statistics. A record 38% of people in the UK possessed a degree in 2013 compared to 17% in 1992. The recession has had an obvious effect on the job market and an increasing number of graduates are entering jobs in Scotland and throughout the rest of the UK that don't require a degree. There are still plenty of graduate opportunities out there, though, and a number of ways that you can get ahead of the game when job hunting. Here are some tips to help you on your way.

Work Experience Pays Off

Since so many people now have degrees, employers are often looking for people who have practical as well as academic experience. While you're still at university, search for work experience within a relevant sector. If you're undecided between two different career paths it won't hurt to gain experience in both. Not only will it look great on your CV, but the work will help you decide whether that career path really is for you.

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