Studying

How you study will affect your ability to understand and learn and ultimately how you perform in tests. If you develop good study skills and habits, you will find learning easier.

Uses these tips as a starting point to see if it helps:

Have a study space
A desk or table is best but if that isn’t available make sure you have a comfortable place to settle down to study. If you have a dedicated space it is much easier to get started and not get distracted.

Avoid distractions
Turn the tv off and put your phone on silent. Some people need complete silence to study but others like to have some music playing at a low volume in the background. Find what works for you but avoid anything that would distract your attention.

Get organised
Gather all the materials you need so you do not have to break your studies. Make sure your notes are up to date and you have any books etc you need.

Study regularly
If you do a small amount every day you will be continually revising information in your mind. This is much better than trying to cram a large amount of information in one go.

Make a plan
Planning your study time will make sure you are able to cover all the work needed and you will be able to keep on track if you need to make any changes to add time in prior to tests or project deadlines. Being organised will reduce anxiety and stress of last minute preparations. Click here for a study planner. (Insert link to a study planner template)

Take regular breaks
It is important to take breaks whilst studying. Spending too much time in one sitting can be counterproductive. It is also important to have other activities away from studying to help you relax so do keep some regular hobbies.

Eat and drink well
It is important to maintain a healthy diet and drink plenty (preferably water). Your body and brain need nutrients and hydration to be able to function at its best

Get enough sleep
Being tired will stop you from being able to learn properly so sleep is very important.

Ask for help if needed
If there is information you don’t understand ask a teacher for clarification. Or if you find you’re becoming excessively stressed and following these tips aren’t enough to help then ask for help. A parent, teacher or youth worker may be able to help you get organised. Also check out the mental health area of the app to find relaxation tips.

Employability

Looking for employment can be one of the most difficult and frustrating times, everyone seems to be looking for someone with 5 years’ experience and a bag full of qualifications.

If you’re currently struggling to find employment, have a read at some of our helpful tips below.

CV’s
There are a lot of CV templates online or they are easy to make your own. If you are using a template remember there may be paragraphs or information on it that is not applicable to you. Delete anything that is not relevant.

What you will need to include:

• Your name
• Contact details
• A short personal statement - This is really a snapshot to let any future employers know a little bit about you and your motivation, background and education. Keep it brief as you will have any education and work detailed further down.
• List any qualifications you have – put the exam level, grade achieved and date taken.
• List your work experience – list the organisation name, address, job title and a brief list of duties.

Interview Prep

Preparing for an interview properly can be the difference between getting the job, or losing out to someone else. These tips below will hopefully help you get over the finish line.

Practice
Ask your youth worker or careers teacher to organise a practice interview. This idea may terrify you at the beginning, but it is a great way to prepare for the real thing. Going through a practice interview allows you to straighten out what you will say, practice how you will answer the questions, and will make you more relaxed during the real thing as you will have already gone through the process.

Research
Research potential interview questions related to the specific role that you have applied for, and make note of how you would answer each of these, even practice answering them out loud. Some of the generalised questions will usually include;

• Tell us about any relevant experience that you have?
• What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?
• Why do you want this position?
• Tell us about a time where you worked effectively as part of a team?

Also, research the organisation that you are applying for, often they will ask you what you know about them, it will always leave a good impression if you can share a bit about the organisation, it shows that you are interested in working for them.

Make me more employable

When employers are looking for the perfect employee, there is more than just previous work experience and qualifications that can get someone the job. And, when you’re just starting out, it can be difficult to get a paid job without any previous experience. Below are some tips that will help you stand out from the crowd.

Volunteering
Volunteering for an organisation or charity is a great way of showing future employers that you are motivated and hard working. Willing to take on a job without the motivation of money shows that you are determined to learn and develop, skills that the majority of employers will be looking for. Volunteering is also a great way of getting your foot in the door within an organisation, this may lead to potential employment further down the line.

Extra-curricular activities
Becoming part of a team or group shows employers that you have a desire to grow and develop. Joining the choir, theatre or local sports team will also help you develop your communication and team works skills, further enhancing your potential of employment.

Resources

CV Template

Check out this super straight forward CV template to help you provide all of the necessary info when you're applying for a job. Simply follow this layout on Word and fill out all of the information.  If you have any problems or questions, you can always send a message to Streetbeat and one of the Staff members should be able to help you!

Skills & Qualities

Whether it's for a CV, application form or job interview, it's always a great idea to know your skills and qualities! Have a look at these two lists and add any of your own that are missing!

Revision Checklist

Use this checklist to make sure you get the most of your revision time! Remember, everybody is different so these are just some suggestions!

Study Planner

Here's an example study planner that you can easily download and either print it out or just edit it from your phone! It breaks down the week giving you a chance to dedicate each day to different subjects around what suits you.

The Mix Define Me CV Maker

Use this helpful link if you need a little inspiration when creating your CV.  Streetbeat isn't affiliated to The Mix, we just think this is a really good tool to help get your CV started!

The Mix Define Me CV maker

Studying Tips From Streetbeat Volunteers

That time of year again!

Hello May! Hello exam season! Exam season can mean lots of different things to different people, but it's very common to feel stressed, under pressure and overwhelmed during this time.

So whether you're revising for class tests, GCSEs, A-Levels, doing coursework, university exams or anything else, our volunteer team have put together some useful tips for looking after your wellbeing during this time!

You can check out our downloadable study planner under the 'resources' section. Good luck!

How do you organise your revision?

"Make a timetable/schedule to give yourself enough time to learn everything and include breaks/walks to help stay focused."