Parent Motivators - A Parents Guide for your Graduate living at home

Even those who do successfully complete their studies at University and gain a degree might well return to home sometime in their career. This can be immediately after completing of the degree, or in case of being between jobs or work placements you are after. The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (DBIS) has joined forces with Denise Taylor, author of the popular book “How to Get a Job in a Recession”, to produce a guide for parents and family who want to know how to help support the graduate in their home. Some of its suggestions could be used for anyone who finds themselves at home, with a good listing of useful websites at the back of the document. If only they bottled motivation we would all have some.

http://www.bis.gov.uk/new-year-new-opportunities-for-graduates
http://www.direct.gov.uk/graduates

What makes a “Good Job” ?

Most of us need to work, if only to obtain money to enable us to live the life we desire. However money is not the only factor in what makes a good job. Indeed many people will talk about the jobs they have enjoyed, or careers they have experienced, without mentioning the money obtained. I though it would be worth balancing out the money focus by looking at the other factors which make up a “good job”, at least according to other people anyway. One report by the Work Foundation http://www.workfoundation.co.uk/assets/docs/publications/197_good_work_final2.pdf shows the following factors as valued :-



Characteristic of a Good Job (% identified as necessary)
Being valued/appreciated (getting credit for the work you do) 16%
Interesting/Fulfilling role/personally rewarding/Job satisfaction 16%
Autonomy/decision making/responsibility/Working conditions/environment (including location) 14%
Team working/staff morale 13%
Good management/management support/Training/staff development 11%
Enjoyable work 11%
Challenging/Variety 9%
Success/doing a good job/ achievement 8%
Meeting the needs of the customer/client 7%
Flexible (inc. working hours) 6%
Promotion prospects/advancement/Participate/contribution to decision making 5%
Skills/ability/equipment/tools to do the job/Other fringe benefits (eg healthcare) 3%
Clear objectives/goals/expectations/Good communication 2%


Another section lists 7 Key things that need to be in place to make up a “good job”
• Employment security;
• Work that is not characterised by monotony and repetition;
• Autonomy and control and task discretion;
• A balance between the efforts workers make and the rewards that they receive;
• Whether the workers have the skills they need to cope with periods of intense pressure;
• Workplace fairness;
• Strong workplace relationships (social capital).


Apart from the employment security aspect, (which is difficult to evaluate in many areas), how many of us consider the other aspects when looking at possible careers ? Something to ask when you are talking to anyone about their career and reflecting on whether it would be the right one for you. Of course in terms of job security the best investment is gaining skills, qualifications and knowledge which are in demand. This can involve lifelong learning and will enable you to change careers and explore new areas as you go though life. Adult & Graduate Guidance is key to this success and lifelong learning is already a part of many career areas though continuous professional development (CPD). Indeed some careers demand CPD as proof you can continue to do your job.


Some of these factors may change based on your age and interests, although getting and keeping a good job is always a challenge, it can be immensely rewarding. Of course it is not always possible to get exactly the job or career we want straight away, but as the saying goes “Until you find the work you enjoy, enjoy the work you find”. It will help you learn more about what you do want to do and help to pay the bills whilst you are searching

What does a Graduate earn ?

A common question asked by anyone embarking on a period of study is how much a graduate can expect to earn. Although this is a very complex question, as a lot does depend on the individual in some careers, you can get rough summaries from website such as prospects.ac.uk and hotcourses. One quick summary is available by clicking on http://www.scholarship-search.org.uk/pls/mon/hc_edufin.page_pls_user_wage_predict?x=16180339&y=&a=220707 and selecting the area that interests you. These range from Arts. Designs & Crafts to Scientific Services and are summarised in terms of salary. As they say in all the best adverts about Financial Advice these are examples only and not a guarantee that you could earn this much. In some cases the amount of money you could earn as a graduate may not seem a lot more than if you did not have a degree, but it is worth remembering that some careers are graduate entry only, such as teaching, or overwhelmingly recruit graduates although it is not a stated job requirement, such as media and publishing. As always do speak about this with your careers adviser/tutor to research the financial aspects of career choice, it is a big area !  Another side of this questions is what can a gradaute earn, a very different questions and another area to explore

8 sources of finance for University study.

As an adviser I’m often asked about what financial help is available for students wishing to study at University. Although the main resource is Student Finance England there are other sources which are often missed. So in the best tradition of top ten lists, (even though there are only 8 in this case), here are the top 8 sources of finance.

1. Loan for Maintenance
2. Maintenance Grant
3. Bursary
4. Scholarship
5. Job (both before you begin study and part-time whilst studying)
6. Family (often known as the Bank of Mum and Dad but can include other people)
7. Savings/Borrowings
8. Sponsorship


Even if you are aware of some of these resources it is always work checking how much you can get and the costs of paying any loan back. In recent research people commonly underestimate the maximum value of loan and overestimate future repayments. Bursarys and Scholarships are another area where many people are unaware of what is available. To find out what you could get go to http://www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinancecalculator where you can find out what each University could offer you.  However Sponsorships can be difficult to obtain and some companies now prefer to offer them to students after their first year of Uni study.  They also tend to be in certain areas, such as the Military, or in occupation fields such as Engineering. Packages on offer can be excellent and not just focused on money, (management training and career exploration can also be part of the package),  but do check out the committment involved and ensure you are happy with what will be required as your side of the deal. Check out http://www.everythingyouwantedtoknow.com/student-finance/sponsorship for more info on Sponsorships

Don’t Panic – about money for University !

A lot of people are looking at their options for higher education, and the issue of cost is sure to be on the top concern of many. It is important that you look at the range of support that may be available and don’t just look at one source, or indeed rely on what someone is saying who may not be aware of all the options. Do check both with the adviser/tutor and the university you are considering if you have any questions. Money worries shouldn’t stop you going to University, but like all things that are important in your life you need to devote some time to checking everything out. Concern about the cost of higher education is the number one reason that people who have applied to university do not enter HE, ask your support and advice staff to ensure this is not you ! For more info check out our website http://www.connexions-somerset.org.uk/education/university.html#University%20money%20matters

Receiving Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) and wondering about funding for University ?

If you are currently receiving EMA financial support and looking to go onto University you may be unsure how this financial support would carry on after you finish your level 3 studies. Originally the Government plan was that if you were already receiving EMA then you would automatically get a grant to study at University – this was the HESSG or Higher Education Student Support Grant. This policy has now been changed and although the government is committed to any student already receiving EMA progressing onto HE, you will need to go through the financial assessment again. This has been done to ensure that those people whose financial situation has improved since the original assessment are treated fairly as other people applying to Uni. If your circumstances are unchanged from the original EMA assessment then you will get a clear quote of the financial support you can expect. For more information contact your careers and skills adviser or Student Finance England http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/Gettingstarted/DG_171577

College Week in Somerset - 9th to 15th November

Next week is going to be the celebration of all that takes place in our local FE colleges called, surprisingly enough "College Week". It takes place from the 9th to the 15th of November and is a celebration of the opportunities colleges create for individuals. It aims to spotlight colleges who help people progress and nurture the talent in individuals.
Colleges Week is led by the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills in partnership with the Association of Colleges to celebrate the opportunities colleges create for individuals, businesses and Britain. In Somerset it heralds the launch of a new website which bring together all of FE Colleges in Somerset into one easily accessed resource. Check out http://www.somersetcolleges.co.uk to find out more