While some folk ponder how a photo of a single egg has become the most liked Instagram post ever, Bablake students sitting public examinations in the summer start a term dominated by serious business like Mocks, decisions on options and meeting deadlines. NB JLR closes its summer work experience application for L6 pupils on Feb 4 - see https://bit.ly/2FxfSXX for more information.
10 SKILLS EMPLOYERS WANT FOR 2019
Once the retrospectives are over in December, January always sees exciting predictions and lists for the new year. An article on the top 10 skills employers will be seeking in 2019 particularly caught our eye. The list, compiled from analysis of hundreds of jobs posted on LinkedIn, was split into the most in-demand soft and hard skills:
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Consider this list! What evidence could you present to prove you possess each of the five skills? We reckon every Bablake pupil could definitely do so!
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Commentators suggest these lists show a change in employers’ priorities. Human traits (people management, creativity and adaptability) were listed for the first time, suggesting employers will be placing a greater focus in 2019 on skills and potential than experience alone.
“The emergence of these 3 new skills suggests employers recognise the importance of embracing modern technologies as well as recognising those things technology can't do: connect with other people, engage in out-of-the-box thinking and quickly adapt to new priorities or problems.” (Paul Petrone, LinkedIn Learning editor)
[For more, see: https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2019/01/04/the-30-most-in-demandskills-in-2019-according-to-linkedin-.html.]
Former pupils Kiran Ladva (2nd year English Literature & Politics undergrad) and Emily Robinson (in her final year studying International Business & Modern Languages – German) each kindly compiled 18 reasons for recommending Aston University.
18 REASONS WHY ASTON… Emily says:
1 Clubs and Societies – there are so many sports clubs and random cool societies like Coffee Soc and awesome sports ones like Women’s Rugby.
2 Aunties – in Freshers’ Week, your flat is assigned an aunty (a 2nd, 3rd or 4th year) who helps you with moving in, getting settled, answering all questions and most importantly helping you meet other flats and teaching you games to play at Sesh – see no 17!
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Aston Futures – a Careers portal where most of the employers are looking to employ Aston grads; especially good for STEM subjects and business
4 Careers and Placements department – fab; always arranging graduate and placement fairs.
5 Compulsory Placement Year (for most courses) – an excellent year in industry; lots of people grab their grad job offers through this.
6 Recorded Lectures - all my lectures are recorded, so I can replay them for revision or if I’m sick and miss one.
7 Free Printing - for the remainder of this academic year; organised by our Student Union President
8 Student Union – the committee is amazing, always listening to students and looking at how the uni can improve to raise student satisfaction.
9 Tesco Express – massive, on campus and a godsend in Freshers’ Week as it was easy to go and do almost a full week’s shop there without having to travel miles
10 Sports Facilities - a pool, massive gym (just refurbished), sports hall and Astro on campus; sports fields about 15 mins drive away (The Rec) with football, rugby & hockey pitches
11 Campus Pubs - there are 3 that always have quizzes and live sport on TV Gosta Green has an almost completely vegan menu too which is awesome for loads of my friends and has a super cool beer garden which is great to hang out in in the summer; it also has cheap dining offers like Wing Wednesday (25p a chicken wing – heaven!).
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Location - A stone’s throw from the train station, so really, really easy to get all around the country to visit places and friends in other cities. Also so easy to walk into town and not rely on public transport. Not far from Broad Street, so nights out don’t mean really expensive taxis.
18 REASONS WHY ASTON… Kiran writes:
Lecturers – so informal and approachable with any issues, whether personal, social or work related.
WASS (Web Appointment Scheduling System) – Aston’s way of allowing students to book appointments with lecturers easily without overlapping with other students
Aston Blackboard - a portal where our lecture slides and video recordings are uploaded, to make everything accessible at home
Placement Fairs – excellent support helping future careers
Study Areas – lots of quiet areas in the main building for private study.
Location - being so close to the Bullring and rail station, Aston is easily commutable and also allows you so many things to do
Canteen – with a Costa inside which is cheaper than the usual ones; it has really nice food and is a lovely place to socialise.
The People – mixing with so many different people is a great experience and you find friends for life
Gosta Green – the campus pub with a pool table; over 100 years old and honestly, it’s really lovely!
Careers Portal – for excellent access to any available jobs and placements
Aston Webmail – the lecturers reply instantly with any support you need
Academic Links - Birmingham City University and the University of Birmingham are so well interlinked that you meet even more people 13 Teaching Quality – my lecturers have been brilliant; lots of guest lecturers too
Accommodation – so close, only really walking distance. 14 Plug Sockets – literally everywhere, so super easy to charge my phone and laptop in lectures
15 Study Spaces – apart from the library, these are dotted in all the different schools/ on all floors in the main building; also loads of little pods in empty spaces in corridors, so there are lots of places to work.
16 New Student Union – this is pending, but from all the pictures I’ve seen, it’s going to be amazing!
17 Sesh – every Wednesday night in the Student Union. Great social event for all the clubs.
18 Campus – it is really pretty considering it’s in the middle of a city; there’s a big green space and a ‘lake’ which are super nice to sit around in summer
Night Life – honestly, it is the best nightlife in the country!
Lifts – so many lifts in the Aston building, so you don’t have to trek up 10 flights of stairs!
New Student Union – this development looks really lovely so far.
Lecturers - my English lecturers organise movie nights, food days and cinema and pub trips, so we’ve all become a really close group.
Positivity and Happiness – honestly the best thing about Aston is this positivity and happiness vibe it produces. It is a secure, small university in a city and I think it’s a wonderful university to study at
In Issue 8, the Careers department will report on 18 aspects that stood out about Aston University, when it visited for the university excellent 24th Annual Careers Conference.
This outstanding checklist for prospective apprentices is an excellent tool for any competitive interview. We would love to see your completed versions or work with students on how to fill it in.
(Source: Edition 3 - December ’18 – of the National Apprenticeship Service’s Parents’ Pack.)
MOOC OF THE FORTNIGHT (7)
‘Jane Austen: Myth, Reality and Global Celebrity’
Discover the fascinating story of author Jane Austen, from her life in Hampshire to what she means to a global audience today
Available via www.futurelearn.com/courses/ja ne-austen.
Course developed by the University of Southampton
3RD YEAR
We will be revealing our suggested #18Before18 activities for 3rd Year pupils on Monday 21 January in our presentation to parents. (EDM from 7pm)
We would advise pupils to consider interest, necessity and ability when looking to make their GCSE choices.
