9 Weeks & 4 Days (but who's counting)

Hello there everyone!

It has been a whole 9 weeks and 4 days (but who’s counting) since I started my position here at the MARC department and it is still as great as ever. If you read my first post then you would have got a little background about me, what I like and what my aspirations are. I am happy to be back and writing a second post for this blog and no doubts I will ramble on again like last time. Since we spoke last I have had quite a lot going on in terms of work around the MARC department. I am attending regular team and departmental meetings, working hard on my tasks, getting involved in new campaigns and just generally settling more into the department.

What am I currently working on? Well, in my last post I mentioned I was given the opportunity to work on a numerous of different tasks. One of which is still updating a handful of subject guides for the new academic year and students arriving end of September beginning of October (not long now). These are still being worked on, altered and re-designed; however, they should be completed considerably soon. The road has been a little bumpy with some specific subject guides but who doesn’t like a bit of a challenge right?! I can almost see the finish line and the official DEADLINE for that matter so I really need to push to get these completed. I am on leave from Wednesday 24th and return Monday 29th so ideally I need to get them completed before my leave…fingers crossed!

The photo library! I have been working on the online photo library for a few weeks now and it is slowly but surely coming together nicely. This task has involved me scrolling though all images available on the internal server and updating captions, tags and deleting duplicates. This has been a great task to work on and jump in to between everything else I am working on at the moment. I consider myself quite an organised individual so I have really enjoyed re-organising it all (I am such a dork).

On the theme of pictures I was actually asked to contribute and take part in the new 2014 winter campaign. This involved me attending a nifty photoshoot and answering a few questions in a video. I am extremely excited to see the final results and everything should be going live Monday 22nd of this month so keep your eyes peeled. I have refused to watch my video takes back as yet as I don’t know what to expect…did I say the right thing? Did I miss anything out? Does my hair and makeup look decent? – Such a girly thing for me to say haha. The thing is I want to start making videos to progress my personal blog and start the whole Youtube vlogging thing so ideally I really need to get it down to a T. I mean, otherwise it might be a tad tricky editing a video and uploading them. Ohh nothing is ever easy with me.

Now for a task that I have completed! A few weeks ago I was told to copy over the 2015 Undergraduate and 2015 Postgraduate prospectuses into single file documents onto the W drive. Just like the above suggests I went through a copied and pasted each page throughout the prospectus into word documents and then re-formatted the layout ready for when we start work on the new 2016 ones! I found it very therapeutic and also very interesting as I got to obtain a full understanding of all of the subjects we offer here at the university.

A few weeks ago now I completed my Business Student blogging internship with the university. It was such a great experience to get involved in and I love how it developed into an online diary format documenting my final year at the university. It is something I can always look back on in the future and reminisce. This was actually the first year introducing the student blogs and I think there is talk in the works that they will be carrying on…yay! During a team meeting on Monday I was told that the team wanted me to help recruit and train the new student bloggers. This really excited me because blogging is a huge part of my life and being able to incorporate that into a job role seems like perfection to me. Blogging has become a huge part of my life and it is such a glorious tool that can be used throughout so many different marketing platforms…the possibilities are endless.

On the theme of Monday’s team meeting, I was told that the MARC department wanted to elongate my contract a keep me on board a little longer than initially planned. For a Business management graduate who only graduated two months ago this is a great opportunity for me. Hopefully I will be able to stay the duration the team want me, however, I did make a few plans and commitments prior to finding out about the new contract as I obviously thought my last day would be 3rd October…fingers crossed we can work everything out.

What would be a Sophia blog post without something a little personal?! In my last post I mentioned that my blog was nominated under two categories in the 2014 Cosmopolitan Blog Awards. Since writing that post the voting has now closed and we find out results during an awards ceremony on 7th October in London. I am extremely excited to head down, meet up with some blogging friends and also meet a whole load of new bloggers. I am a little nervous and anxious about it all but just to be going to the awards for me is an achievement in itself so we will see what else the night might bring. I am planning on bringing my nifty Canon 700D with me so I may or may not write a little post about it all to update you guys on here or on my student blog…eeeep! P.S my blog has had it's little makeover now so if you fancy a little peek you can do so by clicking here. 

Overall, it has been a great 9 weeks and I am looking forward to starting work on some new projects...one of which will be the new 2016 prospectuses! Rightio, I think that is everything that is going on at the moment. I hope you enjoyed reading my rambles once again. If you have made is this far then well done, you deserve a gold star!

Speak to you all soon!

Question Time!

Hello everyone,

I bet you were not expecting to hear from me so soon right? Especially after reading my goodbye and thank you post that went live a few weeks ago. Well, I have been asked to carry on blogging for a little longer so grab a cup of tea and sit back whilst I bring you tones of more rambles. I thought for today’s post I would go through and answer some typical graduate questions now that I have officially completed my degree and graduated from the university. If there is something I havent answered that you would like to know then please let me know and I will try my best to answer. Let's get straight into the questions...

The course:

Why did I choose to study my course?

Business in general had always been a passion of mine; especially growing up in a successful business environment I had always had my own desire to succeed.  I studied Business at GCSE and A Level so having the opportunity to extend my learning with a university degree seemed perfect for me. Business Management covered all aspect of business which I really liked as it at the time I thought it would offer me the most versatile advantages after student life.

Why did I choose to study at the University of Bedfordshire?

I chose to study at the University of Bedfordshire because it offered me everything I wanted from a university. It was close to home so I could still work alongside my degree and I felt extremely comfortable knowing I was in an environment I knew well.  Even though I decided to stay at home whilst completing my degree I still had a normal university experience just like anyone else who might have been living away from home or in halls. I joined the cheerleading society during my first and second years studying, I went out with friends, I dived into any activities I could and during my final year I had the opportunity to become a student representative…I did pretty much everything!

Did you study full or part-time, and why?

Coming straight out of sixth form and into university I felt I was capable to study full time. For me and my life right now full time is perfect, however, when I was contemplating a Master’s Degree I was thinking about doing that part-time, however, the thought of elongating my degree even more was not that appealing to me. I would just rather go in study and graduate.  

How did you juggle studying with your work commitments?

During studying at the university I was working a few jobs in between my studies. I kept working during my degree not necessarily because I needed to but I enjoy working and learning. Work always understood that I would be working part-time and that university was a priority. Whenever I got my new timetable through for the year we would sit down and discuss working hours, however, making sure to leave gabp for studying.

How did you find the course fit around other aspects of your life?

The course fit perfectly around my life. I think with the added bonus of studying at home it was even easier for me to still lead my normal everyday life. I started writing my personal blog during the first year of studying as a creative outlet for myself to ramble about everything I love in life. Business can be a heavy subject so I loved how I had an outlet to escape too when everything got a little too much.

What was the most challenging task you accomplished in your degree?

As cliché as it sounds my dissertation was the most challenging task I accomplished throughout my degree. During my final year I got a complete mental block where I actually couldn’t believe I was writing a dissertation…It had always been a scary thought to me. Never-the-less I pulled through wrote my 9,900 words and collected great primary research with a department store in London. Writing it really pushed my boundaries but I feel if I had to do it all again I would be more prepared. It was definitely a challenge for me; however, It has now given me beneficial insight for my future working life.  

How did the course prepare you for employment?

As I studied a Business Management BA (Hons) degree I always knew it would be a beneficial course for me to be able to slot into pretty much any working environment. However, what I really loved about the course was each of the specific units that were included; from marketing, law, accounting, operations management, strategy and change management, small business planning and entrepreneurship, human resource management, foundations of business management, e-business, project management, the dissertation and so much more; each unit has offered my knowledge and guidance that I will be able to utilise in a working environment.

Which practical aspect of the course did you enjoy the most, and why?

I had the opportunity to partake in a few practical aspects throughout my course; however, having the opportunity to plan and execute an event for our project management unit during final year was incredible. Yes, there were plenty of stressful times and having the university STEPS programme as our client were felt quite pressure but never-the-less we pulled through and executed an excellent event which the university thought was great also (always a plus). In a nutshell our event was a BABM battle which consistent of a dragons den experience, business quiz, SWOT analysis task and scavenger hunt. We executed our event to the first year business management students and everyone was interactive and felt they were learning and putting their knowledge to use with the added bonus of having some fun. To this day our lecturer states that it was one of the best practice weeks they have ever had on the course and they hope to keep the BABM battle going for future students.

Which areas of study did you enjoy, and why?

To be honest I really did enjoy studying everything within my course as I felt I was always learning something new and it was offering me more and more knowledge. If I had to choose a couple of my favourite areas of study I would probably say marketing, e-business, entrepreneurship and foundations of business management.

Why would you recommend this course to others?

I would recommend this course to others because it offers you everything you would want from a business course. You study all areas of business and I felt it offered everything and more in comparison to other mor generic business courses.

The Location:

What did you think about the locations of the University?

I studied at the Bedford Polhill Campus as I am from Bedford so I already knew quite a lot about the surrounding area. The location of the university is great and you are in a great area where you can access so much.

What did you like most about living and studying in Bedfordshire?

Already being from Bedford I already knew what I was getting myself in for staying local and studying at the university. I love how you have so much accessible to you from the university and the Bedford campus is so cosy and compact.

How easy was it to travel around?

As Bedford is located in the perfect spot it was extremely easy to travel around. If you get the fast train you are 45 minutes away from London, a small car journey away from Milton Keynes, Cambridge, London and more, plus if you hop on the X5 bus you can take a cheeky trip up to Oxfordshire to the Bicester Village designer outlet.

How easy was it to get to London and other cities?

Like I mentioned above it was so extremely easy to travel to London and other surrounding cities. You have the options to drive, take the bus or hop on a train.

The Teaching:

What do you think of the teaching quality at Bedfordshire?

The teaching quality at Bedfordshire is always second to none. The lectures and seminars were always interactive and the lecturers were always approachable. Don’t get me wrong there were some times when communication could have been better but that is life and we all learned from it. We just thought of it as a real life business situation…It was first had practice based learning!

How would you rate your lecturers?

I had a handful of lecturers that were always approachable and easy to talk to.

How was your subject taught?

My Business Management BA (Hons) degree was taught through a selection of different methods. We had lectures, seminars, online classes and practice based learning through practice weeks (these were introduced in my final year).

What did you enjoy the most about the way your course was taught?

I enjoyed how each lecturer would use different methods when teaching.

The Support:

What did you think of the support you received from your lecturers?

There was constant support from lecturers; however, sometimes you really did have to push for it as there are so many students on your course you can sometimes worry about constantly asking for guidance, however, at the end of the day that is what the lecturers are there for and you should utilise that. During my final year there was so much more support especially surrounding my dissertation.

What did you think of the support you received from other University departments / staff?

To be honest I never really ventured out past the business school as it was my first priority. However, I did and currently still am working within the MARC department at the university and I have received constant support from them during my current job role and the student business blog. I also had the opportunity to speak with some student union staff who were extremely helpful.

What support serviced did you make use of?

During my final year I and my friend Kirsty (also a student representative) had to go to the student union asking for some guidance for some issues we were facing within our student representative roles. A member from the students union (Josh) was there every step of the journey and even came and sat within a few of our student representative meetings. It was great knowing that there was a student’s union you could go to without the lecturers really getting involved etc.

How did the company you work for support you during your studies?

My job roles fitted in nicely around my studying and work were constantly supportive and accommodating to ensure that university came first.

The Facilities:

What did you think of the facilities that you used?

The facilities through the universities Bedford campus were great and perfect for what I needed for my course. The Bedford campus are currently building a new block and to know that I will never have the opportunity to utilise the facilities now I am a graduate is quite frustrating. Every time I finished school or something in general there would always be developments that I would never be able to use. Dang it!

Which university services did you use the most and why?

Through my degree and especially during my final year the library will become your best friend! I and my friends would set up camp in a corner of the library and just bash out your dissertation from 9am till sometime 1am. It was great knowing that the university has a 24 hours learning resource centre where you could escape to write an assignment or work on the next chapter of your dissertation. You always had plenty of books on hand to help you with the added bonus of the online library amongst computers and other technological facilities. Even though I always had a friend with me, there was 24 hour security on guard constantly to ensure all students were safe.

Social Experience:

Apart from studying, what else about the university did you enjoy? Did you join any clubs or societies, if so which ones, and what did you enjoy most about them?

I really enjoyed being part of a society throughout my first and second years at the university. First year was so incredible for me, making the cheerleading team, taking part in competitions and making new friends outside my business management course. Second year not so much, even though I was nominated to be part of the committee and be in charge of the accounts it just felt like the new cheerleading captain did not like me at all. As the only business student I was made to feel like the odd one out. Final year I always knew I would purely focus on my studies so leaving all of that behind was a little bitter sweet as I did enjoy it but I was glad to have no more stress and just focus on my degree. The  new 2013 / 2014 captain helped the squad achieve the best they ever had so it was so nice to hear that from the sidelines. So I guess a bitter sweet social experience but I am glad I had the opportunity to take part in something like this as I had always wanted to do so.

What is your favourite memory of being at the university?

I have so many cliché answers but I would have to say graduate day! Graduation day was just the icing on the top and the final hurdle to officially say I am a Business Management GRADUATE! Other than that I have a lovely memory of myself and my friends setting up a study revision session in the Bedford campus hub area. We literally compiled loads of yummy snacks together and revised all day long. It was great to have a study session as their is only so much you can learn from lecture / seminar slides. We always talk about it now we have finished and always say that it was the best revision we had ever done. It was such a good idea and in the end we did receive amazing exam results. It just proves that hard work does pay off.

Employability:

What skills do you think you have learnt as a result of your studies at the university?

I have had the opportunity to enhance skills I already had but also gain new knowledge and skills that would aid my future employability. To name a few, I have enhanced my communication, team working, and time management and so on.

What are your future career aspirations, and do you think the university has helped / is helping your to achieve this?

I have always been in a position where I have no idea what career path I wanted to take or what I wanted to do after university. Advertising and marketing has always been in my blood so I do feel strongly about that it could possibly be a great option for me. Other than that I find myself an entrepreneur; I run my own businesses and I also write my personal blog which has developed so much across the past few years, especially after being nominated in the 2013 and 2014 Cosmopolitan Blog Awards. I still am unsure what I want to do but whatever it is, it will be BIG and I am 100% sure the university has offered me insight that has or will prepare me. Studying my Business Management course gave me that extra push I needed to finally start some projects I had been meaning to do for so long so I am excited for what the future might hold.

What differences have you noticed in yourself and your skills set now you have completed your course?

I have definitely seen a huge difference in myself when it comes down to my confidence and self-belief.

The Funding:

Did you apply for a scholarship? If yes please give details about which one and the amount you received. Also how easy was it to apply?

As a self-funding student there were not a lot of options for me to obtain scholarships or bursaries as the majority of them were means tested. However, I did apply and receive two scholarships in the end after filling out many application forms and compiling proof of my A Level grades for the UCAS point proportion.

I applied for the ‘Academic Scholarship’ which was for a £1200 lump sum during the first year of university. The Academic Scholarship is automatically awarded to students who achieved academic excellence in their studies prior to entering the University of Bedfordshire. To qualify for the scholarship you had to achieve at least 280 UCAS points in one sitting, with at least 200 UCAS points at A2 level. I received over 400 UCAS points so I was so pleased to qualify for the scholarship! Since I received the scholarship it has changed slightly; I received my £1200 in three cheque instalments throughout the year, however, now you received £1100, the £1100 is still separated into three instalments, however, it can only be used on an Aspire card towards books and digital resources or a direct debit option towards accommodation, travel or childcare costs if you have any.

I also qualified for the self-funding bursary which I believe is similar to the ‘welcome package’ the university now offers. I am sure all students have the option to receive this even with student finance.  It is around £300+ PA which was broken up into three instalments through each year at university. The application process was similar to the academic scholarship in the sense that I had a huge form to fill out as the university had no student finance details on me.

Whenever I tell other students about the academic scholarship they never know what it is. It was hard work filling in to forms as the university had no student finance records for me but it was totally worth it receiving that extra money.

How did you spend the funds to support your studies?

If I was to apply for the scholarships today the university offers them in a direct way that you can only use them on your studies. Even though when I received mine I still used them wisely and placed them safely away for emergencies. As a home student I didn’t have many outgoings so it was nice to receive the money to put away and save up for a rainy day or an emergency. I did however, use some of it to pay for books every year (books are so expensive).

How did you find out about the scholarships?

I was just thinking about this and I actually cannot remember. I am pretty sure it was when representatives from the university came to my upper school and mentioned about all of the different scholarships we could apply for. IAs a self-funding student I ventured out and did some research myself as I thought there must be something for every student.

Miscellaneous:

Any advice for people thinking of studying at the University of Bedfordshire?

"Life is like a moving bicycle, to keep your balance you must keep moving"

Good luck if you are starting a business degree this year and remember there are going to be days where you just want to scream and possibly give up BUT there are also going to be amazing days where perhaps you have received an amazing grade on an assignment or have been personally selected on your academic abilities and hard work. The three years will fly by so enjoy every second of it and grab every opportunity that comes your way. Graduation was a day I will NEVER forget and you won't either...relax or be yourself because you have got this!

"Pressure is wonderful. Not only does it make popcorn and diamonds, but it forces us to perform, deliver, and to make wonderful things!"

How would you finish this sentence The University of Bedfordshire is…

The University of Bedfordshire is amazing and has offered me many incredible opportunities.

 

Speak soon!

Goodbye & Thank You

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are all doing great! Well here it is, this is going to be my final post for the business student blog. It has been an incredible year being able to merge my passion of blogging and business to create the ultimate business blog. I have loved being able to write this blog alongside my final year of studying at the university and in some sense it has almost developed into a diary that I will be able to look back on in the future.

I mentioned in my last post how I obtained the blogging position and if it wasn't for my lecturer Simon Reilly letting me know about the role I wouldn't be here today. It has been great being able to discuss business in general, some personal things and all about studying a business management degree at the University of Bedfordshire. I really hope that potential, new or even current students have stumbled across this blog and found or read something helpful that they could take away and utilise during their university experience. If I had known about the student blogs during my first year I would have loved to read advice from a student who is in my position and has gone through experiences that I will be going through also.

Looking back over my posts there have been some ups and downs but overall the past year has been amazing and I would not go back a change a single thing. So much has happened and writing this blog has opened doors for me and aided me in developing my writing skills for my personal blog. Writing this blog allowed me to obtain a summer internship at the University of Bedfordshire's MARC department and it has been amazing to be able to experience a working environment at the university rather than a student one...so much goes on behind the scenes that students would never know about. I have been working on some exciting projects and I was also asked to be part of the universities winter campaign alongside a selection of other graduates from the university. I am so looking forward to seeing what those are like and hopefully I will be able to post something on here for you all to see.

"Life is like a moving bicycle, to keep your balance you must keep moving" 

Good luck if you are starting a business degree this year and remember there are going to be days where you just want to scream and possibly give up BUT there are also going to be amazing days where perhaps you have received an amazing grade on an assignment or have been personally selected on your academic abilities and hard work. The three years will fly by so enjoy every second of it and grab every opportunity that comes your way. Graduation was a day I will NEVER forget and you won't either...relax and be yourself because you have got this!

"Pressure is wonderful. Not only does it make popcorn and diamonds, but it forces us to perform, deliver, and to make wonderful things!"

Hopefully speak to you all soon in the future!

Reflection: Business Blogger Internship

Hello Everyone!

Like I mentioned in my previous post I am sticking around until my exit interview in a few weeks time. Blogging is a huge part of my life so I think I am trying to hold onto it as long as possible. I thought before writing my penultimate post I would reflect on my internship and writing this blog throughout the past year.

I was first introduced to the internship through a lecturer who knew of my personal blog. I kept my personal blog quite quiet until being nominated in the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards last year and then everyone seemed to know about it haha. Either way so much has happened and I am so glad that this opportunity arose for me...It was something perfect for me to do amongst my studies. After my lecturer emailed me about the internship I eagerly filled in the application form and sent it off straight away. Being Bedford campus based it was so nerve-wrecking travelling up to Luton for my interviews and induction sessions...the long car journeys were great for reflecting on everything! The process was very straight forward and staff made you feel at ease but with everything in life I did have a few butterflies in my stomach about it all. Never-the-less I did it and here I am today writing this blog for you all!

After finding out I got the internship it was such an exciting opportunity for me as it was something to do amongst my studies. I thought what better way to combine my love for blogging and business than to write the business students blog?! Don't get me wrong, there has been a few hiccups along the way as my third and final year at university has been quite stressful but I am proud of everything I have achieved. I really hope I have offered some great insight into a business students life with the inclusion of some business news in the mix for good measure. If I could turn back the clock to my first year if I had known there was a business blog I would have read it. There is no better advice than from someone who has lived through what you are about to embark on.

It doesn't seem real that 10 months have flown by, I have completed my degree, I have graduated and I am moving on to my next venture. It has been an amazing experience writing this blog alongside my degree and it has opened offered me wider knowledge based writing that differs from my personal blog and also the opportunity to work a summer internship with the university's MARC department...but I will go in more depth about this in my final post. This internships has also offered me the opportunity to widen my CV and my blogging experiences.

Speak to you soon!

Where Have I Been? - Update

Hello Everyone,

So sorry for the lack of postings the last week, I am away on vacation at the moment and whenever I go to blog the Internet turn temperamental. Never-the-less I am here now and have a new post for you all. I am coming up to the end of my internship now but I am planning on posting up until my exit interview which is the week commencing 25th August...so you are not quite finished with me yet! I thought today I would share with you a post I wrote for the MARC department. I mentioned in a previous post that I am working as a Marketing Administrator until the beginning of October so it runs through everything that is going on with the role at the moment and a little introduction to myself...perhaps a few extra facts you might not have necessarily known about me.

I am Sophia, a newly graduated BA (Hons) Business Management student from the University of Bedfordshire itself (Bedford Campus) and newbie member of the MARC department. I graduated a few weeks ago (15th July) with a 2.1 and I couldn’t be happier. To be honest it still feels so surreal to be able to say I am a graduate and I am still in the process of deciding which routes to take after university life, whether going for a master’s degree or finding my dream job. In a nutshell I am your typical girly girl with an entrepreneurial edge. I have an obsession with rose gold and I can’t get enough of red velvet cake (yum)!

I always knew I had a passion for business and here I am today trying to pursue it. I decided to study a Business Management degree because it offered me everything I was interested in learning more about. My Dad has always been in business and has worked his way up to owning his own advertising and marketing company called ‘Big Marketing Ltd’. I guess you could say I am following in my Dad’s footsteps and I would definitely agree with you there. Growing up watching my Dad gave me my own desire to work hard and succeed in everything that I do. Amongst everything else, I also work for my Dad’s company as a ‘Digital Media Assistant’ and have worked on some incredible campaigns recently with Rolls Royce and Lotus Cars. I am such a busy bee these days haha! I bet you are all wondering why I am not working with my Dad’s company full time right?! Well, here’s the thing…as much as I would love to work with my Dad full time I think I would get too comfortable and eventually lose sight of all of the other opportunities that are out there for me. My Dad worked his way up from the bottom and I intend to do so also. 

I tend to ramble a bit so let’s move swiftly on. So, last week I started my new role at the University of Bedfordshire’s MARC department as ‘Marketing Administrator’. Some of you may know that I write the Business Students blog and I found out about the role because of my internship (yay!). Everything happened quite quickly, so here I am today being part of the MARC team until October. My role consists of assisting all areas of the MARC department from the marketing, admissions, recruitment and communications teams. I feel so proud knowing I was given this opportunity so close to graduating university and I think this is a great prospect for someone like me who has an obsession with all things marketing.

As I mentioned above I am currently writing the Business Students blog for the university, if you would like to read my most recent post you can do so my clicking here. Blogging is something that has become a huge part of my life and I couldn’t see myself not doing. I have actually been writing my own personal blog for over 2 years now and I have enjoyed every second of it. I officially started my blog during the first year at university as a creative outlet for myself, so I feel it has been something that has been with me throughout my student life journey. It is your typical girly girl blog which features beauty, fashion and lifestyle posts about everything else I love in life. If you would like to take a peek at that you can do so by clicking here...I am currently going through a blog re-design so please excuse the mess :). Last year I was extremely fortunate and lucky to have been shortlisted in the Cosmopolitan Magazine Blog Awards. It I still something I cannot believe actually happened and since being nominated last year I have been working alongside a London based PR agency and have had the opportunity to collaborate with well-known brands and attend some fabulous events that are mainly based in London. Recently I found out some even more amazing news, I was actually driving home from my MARC interview when I started receiving all of these tweets saying congratulations…I was so confused! I had forgotten that the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards 2014 shortlist was being released that day so I couldn’t think what it could have been. Eventually, after some investigating I found out I was shortlisted again this year! I never thought in my right mind that I would be here a year later talking about being nominated for a second year in a row and let alone for two awards! To be nominated with a magazine I read regularly feels like a complete dream. To be shortlisted and going to the awards is an achievement in itself; however, if I actually won it would just be the cherry on top...I don’t know what I would do! So here is where I lay out the cheesy ‘pretty please vote more me’ line! I am nominated under ‘Best Established Beauty Blog’ and ‘Best Use of Social Media’ so if you have a spare moment I would really appreciate a little vote. Thank you in advance :)

Now more of the personals are out of the way, let’s get back into talking about my new job role. At the moment I have been given the opportunity to work on numerous different tasks. The first being to update subject guides for the ‘Business, Finance and Tourism’, ‘Law’, ‘English Language and Communication’ and ‘Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations’ courses. It has been great to dive in and find all the information to give the guides a pick me up. Alongside this I have also been given the task of collating prospectus requests from potential students and issuing them prospectuses based on their specific requests. Being an alumnus it has been great to see how everything works behind the scenes. I remember when I received my prospectuses! My most recent task has been to update the photo library, this has involved me scrolling through all images available on the internal server and updating captions, tags and deleting duplicates. This is a great task to jump between everything else…especially if you get a creative mental block. Also, it helps that I am quite an organised person and love to re-organise things!

Amongst all of the above I have also had the opportunity to help out other parts of the department. I attended two graduations last week where I helped distribute leaflets about the Jubilee Scholarship and film students for some video projects. Being in my second week of my new role I think I am slowly but surely settling in more. I attended my first team meeting this week and it was great to hear about all of the projects that are going on at the moment and what is being planned for the future. So far I have really enjoyed working with the team and on the projects I have been assigned. Going straight from a university course into a full time job has been a leap but I feel I have used so many skills that I learnt across my university journey studying my degree. Being on the other side of the table it has really opened my eyes at how much works goes into every little thing…especially the prospectuses and subject guides! I am actually off away on vacation Saturday so I am really looking forward to escaping to some sunshine. Upon my return I will be working on some of the same tasks as above, also volunteering some time at a University of Bedfordshire clearing stand with some of the MARC team and helping with clearing! August is looking pretty good!

I hope you enjoyed todays post! Speak to you all soon! 

Reflection: My Final Year of Study

Hello everyone!

I hope you are all doing well. It is that time of the week again when I come to you with a brand new blog post! My previous post was a little more personal as I gave you a sneak peek into my graduation day. To be honest it stills feels so surreal to be able to say I am a graduate! I have mentioned many times on here that I was not sure what routes to take after university, weather going for a masters or finding my dream job. Amongst everything I have still got a few exciting things in the mix and I am still trying to figure everything else out...I am only human after all. I am so glad I have the opportunity to be able to work with the amazing MARC department at the university...it is something I am rather excited about and I feel so proud to have been given an opportunity so close to graduating.

I started my new job this week at the MARC department at the University of Bedfordshire. I am actually guest posting on their marketing blog next week some time so make sure to take a peek at that to see a full break down of everything that went down last week starting my new job role. I thought I would go back to my routs today and reflect on everything that has happened over my final year of studying, what I enjoyed most, what differences I have seen in myself and what I enjoyed most about my Business Management course.

University is a funny thing because I would say I enjoyed everything but the stress and anxiety that you feel when writing your dissertation or preparing yourself for a pitch or presentation is insanely crazy. Over the course of the three years studying my course we had to do plenty of these (mind the dissertation...one was just enough for me!) and doing them so much across the years has helped me to develop my skills and gain more confidence in myself. Sometimes we doubt ourselves but we all have it in us to achieve great things if we set our minds to it. That it a definite change I have seen in myself. My Business Management course offered all aspects of a real business life perspective, from marketing, law, accounting, operations, strategy, e-business and so much more. I really enjoyed that the course offered everything I could possibly need for the future.

Amongst everything I love the fact I had the opportunity to cheer for the university...It was something I have always wanted to get involved in (I blame Bring It On the Move). First year of cheerleading will be something I will always remember, from the amazing competitions, fun training sessions and our captain was so lovely! Second year not so much to be honest...I was voted in to monitor the accounting side of the club and was taken advantage of because of my business contacts. As the only Business student on the squad I wasn't really taken seriously by the club captain and she treated me differently to everyone else which was such a shame but C'est la vie! It really opened my eyes and made me want to focus on my final year even more and move away from cheerleading at the university.

I feel I have definitely developed and grown up so much more as a individual. University has been an experience with ups and downs but I have loved every second of it. I have made some incredible friendships that I know will be life long and I am so excited about what the future might bring. My personal blog is up for two Cosmopolitan Blog Awards, I have some incredible vacations lined up this year, I am currently temping in the MARC department at the university (marketing is something I would love to work in full time), I will be overcoming some personal demands during September and so much more.

I hope you enjoyed today's post!

Speak soon!

Graduation 2014

Hello Everyone,

The last three years has been leading up to this moment and I think the last year of writing this business blog has also been leading to this moment...my Graduation! I thought I would write a post this week about my graduation and also show you a few snaps from the day. I thought I would show you some photographs of my friends and I, one with out lecturer, a family shot of myself and my parents and finally the obligatory throwing your graduation cap in the air style photo.

I can't believe I can finally say I am a Business Management BA (Hons) graduate! I had the most amazing day graduating my degree with a 2.1 and I cannot thank everyone enough for making the day as special as it was. All of the cards, flowers and gifts will be cherished forever...I felt so incredibly spoilt and special. I am feeling so proud of everything I have achieved the last three years at university and the constant support from my family and friends has been incredible! A huge thank you to my amazing parents for being there every step of the way!

Walking up on stage collecting my degree felt so surreal and I must admit I even got a bit emotional. To think I even started my personal blog officially the first year of university and to see how far it has grown today is something I still can't believe. University has opened my eyes and offered me so many amazing opportunities...the last three years have literally flown by but I am so excited for what the future holds. I would like to think that my university journey has been pretty special. I have had the opportunity to do so many things along the way...a student representative and even a cheerleader. I realise I have had some ups and downs throughout my university journey with lots of tears and stress especially with dissertation but I would change anything. So soppy right?! 

Speak to you soon!

A Little Update | New Job, Cosmo Blog Awards, Masters Degree & Graduation

Hello Everyone,

It's Sunday which only means one thing…business blogging time! Although, keep your eyes peeled for some bonus posts this week. I have planned some posts to write up for you all. Before I head into todays post I thought I would update you on a few things that have been going on recently since I finished university. Instead of writing one gigantic story which you would probably find quite boring I've decided to split everything up into four sections.

New Job

Last week I was offered the opportunity to apply and interview for a temporary marketing assistant job at the University of Bedfordshire. It was a quick turn around as I had to submit my CV the next day so I was literally rushing all day to get my CV up to date and looking how I wanted it to. I then got an email the following day about coming down for an interview the Monday (7th July). It all happened so quick that I didn't have time to extremely stress myself out…always the best way! I went away feeling quite good in myself and they said they would get back to me about the job role. They did in fact get in contact and told me that…I GOT THE JOB! The job role is a Temporary Marketing Assistant and I will be assisting all areas of the marketing team at the university, it is only a summer role but it is still something to do and I feel proud to be able to say I am working so close to finishing university. It is a great opportunity for someone like me who is obsessed with marketing…as my Dad has his own advertising and marketing company so it's in my blood haha. I officially start on the 21st July so yet again I am feeling a little nervous about what to expect and I am also travelling to the town next to mine which is around 30 minutes. I am so excited to get going though and see what it might bring!

Cosmopolitan Blog Awards

Some of you may know that I also write a personal beauty, fashion and lifestyle blog. I have been blogging alongside my Business Management degree since my first year at the university and it has become a huge part of my life. Last year I was very fortunate and luck to be shortlisted in the Cosmopolitan Magazine blog awards. Well, whilst I was on my way back from my Interview at the university of Monday I found out something rather exciting….

I never thought in my right mind that I would be here a year later writing another post about being shortlisted in the #CosmoBlogAwards! I actually completely forgot about when the shortlist was being released! I was on my way back from my interview on Monday when I suddenly started getting all of these tweets saying congratulations with the #CosmoBlogAwards hashtag. I was literally laughing at myself thinking…nahh surely they've got this completely wrong.

I searched for Cosmopolitan and quickly went to read the shortlist myself only to find my name in the first category…Best Established Beauty Blog. There are so many amazing blogs nominated this year so I literally feel so privileged to be considered. Then to top that all off I kept scrolling through to have a little nose to see who else had been shortlisted and I saw some of my lovely blogger friends, found some new great reads and then I saw my name again…under Best Social Media Blog?! Ohh my goodness, at this point I was getting so incredibly emotional ( I have a tendency to cry at everything as you read above haha).

I am still in complete shock, so overwhelmed and feel so blessed. I remember last year when I got shortlisted for Best New Beauty Blog and the emotions I felt. I didn't place in my category last year but I still came away feeling so lucky, motivated and inspired to work even harder for my blog. If you nominated me then THANK YOU so much…it literally means the world that you took the time to do so and even considered me. I really do appreciate it and this means so much to me, my blog has become a major part of my life now and it wouldn't be where it is without all of your support. My blog is my little place on the Internet where I can ramble about all the things I love without being judged or anything. It has been my creative outlet to break away from the reality of everyday life, university, stress and everything else in between. I literally love you all! I really wish everyone the best of luck, getting shortlisted is a milestone in itself for me so anything else that happens along the way will be an added bonus.

I am under the first and last categories in the #CosmoBlogAwards for 'Best Established Beauty Blog' and 'Best Social Media Blog'. You can vote on the Cosmopolitan voting page and I am under my categories as 'Sophia Meola'. If you enjoy my blog then I would really appreciate it if you voted but I mean there are so many amazing blogs in my categories I know it'll be so hard to choose. It only takes a few minutes and a few clicks here and there. You can also click the #CosmoBlogAwards widgets and graphics dotted around my blog which will lead you to the voting page. If you do vote then pretty please let me know…I would love to thank you all for taking the time to do so! Voting closes on the 29th August 2014.

If by any chance you would like to vote for my little ol' blog in the Cosmopolitan Blog Awards you can do so by clicking the links below!

If you like my blog pretty please vote 'Sophia Meola' - 'Best Established Beauty Blog' & 'Best Social Media Blog' in the 2014 #CosmoBlogAwards! 

A Masters Degree

I have been doing a lot of thinking recently about doing a Masters Degree and I think I have finally made up my mind in terms of what niche area I would like to study on. I think Marketing has always been something I have been interested in, even from a young age and looking up to my Dad and his advertising and marketing company. No woth my blogging and keen interest to succeed I think studying a masters level degree in marketing is the way forward for me.

I have been doing a lot of research ont he courses based at the University of Bedfordshire Luton campus, however, it is trying to decided which course to take that is not similar to my Business Management course i just completed.

Graduation

Some of you may know that I have officially finished university. I studied a Business Management BA (Hons) degree and I will be officially graduating on the 15th July with a 2.1. I was literally points away from a 1st degree but that is basically the story of my life…always points away from something! Graduation is under two days away (omg) and I think all of the emotions have just started to sink in, I am super excited but I am also quite nervous. I mean we have to get up on stage and collect our degree and then do a lap of honour…I can be quite clumsy and I am praying I don't fall in my heels…or flats as I might change into my heels when it's a lot safer after the ceremony haha.

I am feeling very proud of myself with everything I have achieved over the last three years at university and the constant support from my family and friends has been incredible. I mean even when i was down in the dumps stressed out to the max I would always get such lovely tweets from you guys just motivating me. It hasn't been long since I finished university the end of May and I already have some exciting opportunities in the works and you will notice one in specific down below. I am just counting my blessing at the moment and keeping my fingers crossed…life is exciting!

I hope you all enjoyed this little update post, as you can see I have had a busy few weeks.

Speak soon!

Keep Calm and Study Hard

Hello Everyone,

I am actually in a position now where I can say that I have been there and done that when it comes to University. I have absolutely no regrets but a tone of advice to students who are going through final exams, assignments or assessments and I thought I would shed some light and wisdom to help you approach this busy and stressful time.

Below are some top tips...

1. Give yourself enough time to study

I think we have all been in that situation where you've put off revising for an exam and then 'poof' the exam miraculously is the next day! Don't leave it until the last minute. I mean if you have studied steadily throughout the year then last minute cramming might be ok for you but from experience breaking down the exam topic over a few weeks is the best way to go at revising. Set out some kind of timetable for studying and then organise yourself around that. I found in my final year making brightly coloured posters with notes worked great! You may want to give some exams more study time than others, so you have to find your own balance between everything!

2. Use charts and diagrams

I briefly touched on this in the paragraph above but it is such a great way to visually set out your work and study materials. At the start of your revision really challenge yourself to write down everything you already know about a topic and then highlight any gaps that might need a little more work. Closer to the final exam, condense your evasion notes into a one-page poster and try and use acronyms or funny phrases to help you memories more. Getting your ideas down in this particular way can really help you to quickly recall everything you need to know during the exam.

3. Organisation 

I am quite and organised person anyways but something I cannot stress enough also is keeping your study area organised and clear. You want to make sure you have enough room to have all your books out on your desk, your notes and posters (see above).

4. Past exam papers

One of the most effective ways to prepare for exams is to practise with past exam papers. This is something I have been utilising since my GCSE's back in middle school. This helps you obtain a fuller understanding on the type of questions, how many points they might be worth and also the format, whether they are essay type of multiple-choice questions. Something I always stubble with in exams is using my time efficiently...you always think 2 hours would be plenty of time but I can assure you now in most cases it is not enough!

5. Study groups

This is something I did with my University friends this year and we had an amazing time! We all said that our final year was one of the best revision we had ever done. You can get together with friends and study and test each others knowledge on the topic.

6. Take regular breaks

Studying for hours on end can be great but it can also have it's disadvantages and be counterproductive. Everyone is different. so develop a study routine that works for you. This year my friends and myself would study one topic up until lunch, then take a break for lunch and re-coop with some yummy food and then finish the afternoon with another topic. If we were feeling extra brainy one day we would do some extra studying at home that evening also.

7. Plan your exam day

Make sure you get everything read well in advanced for the exam. Do not leave it till the morning of the exam and suddenly discover you are missing something you were supposed to bring etc. Check all of the rules and requirements and please make sure to bring you university ID. First year I went to sit my Marketing exam and I forgot my ID. All was not lost as I managed to prove my identity with my driving licence and university athletics union card (cheerleader) but it could have all gone wrong.

8. Drink plenty of water

This is a no brainer to be honest and a total Mummy point but it is so true. Keeping well hydrated is essential for your brain to work at it's best. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids throughout the revision process and also the exam. If you do bring a water bottle into the exam, remember to take the label off the bottle!

9. Brain food

During exam revision sometimes all I would want to eat is easy and quick junk food but I felt so much better when I reached for something a lot healthier. At the moment I have been going to the gym every single day and I can honestly say that I can see a huge difference in my energy levels with getting up early and working out. The same applies with food! Keep your body and brain well-fuelled by choosing nutritious food that have been proven to aid concentration. The same applies on exam day - eat a good meal before the test, based on foods that will provide a slow release of energy throughout. Sugar may seem appealing, but it won't help when your energy levels crash an hour or so later.

10. Try your best & good luck! 

I hope you found these tips useful! I totally understand what you are going through with final exams and everything to do with university. Keep strong because you are almost at the finish line!

Speak to you soon!

Primania & Social Networking

Hello Everyone,

I thought I would write about something that you could say has become second nature to me as it is something I do when I blog on my personal beauty, fashion and lifestyle blog but also on here. I personally enjoy social media but it is also something we studied in my E-Business Management unit this year. Social networking and sharing your brand and websites has become the latest must-have for fashion retailers. Primark amongst other several high-street names are blurring the lines between publishing, shopping and social media in a bid to get closer to their customers.

Social media and networking has become such a vital marketing tool and it has become a huge part of the 'norms' of everyday life. I for one am signed up to many social networking sites from Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Youtube and so on and I can't get enough of them. 

Looking at Primark in particular, they do not have an online store but they also do not advertise. So how have they become such a well-known and successful company? Less than a year ago Primark developed a new kind of social media site called Primania and by doing this they have kicked things up a notch to utilise their own shoppers to help sell the brand to fellow fashion lovers. On the site you post photographs of yourself wearing your latest Primark finds. Primania is now coming up to it's first birthday and rakes in over 300,000 visitors a week.

Jason Bason, the Finance Director of Primarks parent company Asos mentioned:

"Primania took inspiration from other social media sites, like the Primark Haul of Youtubers and bloggers, which can attract more than a million viewers. Primania is owned by Primark consumers and it's crucial that it's customer-led. Part of the pull of the brand is that it is something 'owned by me'. Post-recession consumers want to hear (from) brands. They want to know what they think, where they stand and what their beliefs are. In a digital world, people no longer go into a shop, see something and decide to buy it. It is much more about buying into a lifestyle."

Some of the biggest high-street retailers – Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and John Lewis are making more effort to reach out to customers in a more modern way. Waitrose now utilise a TV channel on their website, with cooking ideas, "how-to" videos, celebrity interviews and cookery demos by famous chefs. Online recipes from the TV shows can be quickly converted into a shopping list of items that can be bought online. Marks & Spencer have also added a style and living section to their website, offering magazine-style content including editors' picks, trend suggestions and celebrity interviews. The marketing director of M&S, Patrick Bousquet Chavanne says style and living is the fastest-growing section of the website and accounts for close to half its traffic. He says shoppers are 24% more likely to make a purchase if they've read about it.

Dick, who used to be the online editor of Elle, reckons all retailers will have to adapt to the new world of digital sharing: "For a shop to become a brand, it has to have a relationship with its customers – and the best way to do that is through other customers."

Social media is a wonderful thing! What are your thoughts?

Speak soon!

British Airways Strikes Again

Hello Everyone,

I hope you have all had a great week!

I am still away on vacation but it all comes to an end on Wednesday when I get on an aeroplane back home to the UK. I thought I would talk to you about something that has propped up in the news recently because they are quite fun to add in the mix amongst university life. From next week I have a complete itinerary of posts that I will be writing for you so keep your eyes peeled for those...they are good'ns. One of which will be a graduation post as I graduate in four weeks!! Crazy I know!!

As you know I am away on vacation and I fly back on Wednesday. Well, it looks like their might be another British Airways strike on the cards and for me it's bitter sweet as I would love to stay out here for longer but I have reality to head home to. I thought this would be something relevant to discuss as throughout my 'Strategy and Change Management' unit this year we focused a lot on case studies but also around the airline industry. We had to purchase and use this airline simulation software and basically run our own airline and purchase everything from in-flight necessities, staff and the aeroplanes themselves! Overall, it was something really informative, different and quite fun to get involved in.

British Airways is facing the threat of renewed strikes after cabin crew said they were prepared to take industrial action after their pay claims were rebuffed. Like I mentioned above about the airline simulation software, this is something that propped up on a weekly basis for us and our 'fictional' airline as the computer generated problems for us for resolve. In a consultative ballot last week amongst members of the mixed fleet, 95% of the crew who voted said they would go on strike. In an airline industry or business in general you need to keep your employees satisfied and content to ensure they present the business in a motivational and professional manor. I am all for individuals striking to achieve something they believe in, however, these situations could be avoided if British Airways issued relevant Strategy and Change Management in place.

A British Airways spokesman mentioned: "Our cabin crew positions attract a high level of applicants due to the competitive package offered, our extensive route network and promotional opportunities. We are currently conducting pay talks with all parts of the airline and any talk of industrial action by one of four cabin crew groups is completely speculative."

British Airways have offered a pay rise in line with inflation to other cabin crew on pre-2010 contracts, who work exclusively either long-haul or short-haul in the worldwide or European fleets. All of the disputes are regarding wages as per usual as most things are these days. The new flexible crew has been hoping to close the wage gap with their better-paid colleagues but have made no progress...hence the next stage and the striking processes. Major stir was created when employees discovered that Willie Walsh who is a partner in the British Airways and Iberia had a 400% pay rise of £5million the end of 2013, while the British Airways boss Keith Williams was only paid £4million.

It seems that this has been an on-going situation and it doesn't look like anyone is going to make amends or try and solve the situation anytime soon. Apparently unions have announced that strikes will begin on 24th June 2014. Travellers (that's me) will be warned to expect heavy disruption during the period, with officials aiming to run at  least 50% of scheduled flights. Having issues travelling home would be the icing on the cake as we had issues flying out on our original date (6th June) due to  a British Airways clerk 'accidentally' damaging my Mum's passport but that is a complete other story. This will be fun...I will make sure to keep you posted!

What are your thoughts on the strikes?

Speak soon!