Now that you've graduated there's a chance you're going to have to prepare for a competency based interview during your job hunt. This style of interview is seen as a good way to assess graduates; many of us don't have direct experience of what we may be going into, so a competency based interview tests whether or not you actually have the ability to do the tasks expected of you. They're not just used for graduate interviews though as they're a good way of getting to know a person!

So, what can you expect from this type of interview?

You'll be asked questions that require a response based on past experiences. This can be previous jobs, university experience or simply examples from your personal life. The important thing here is to really wrack your brains, initially you may not think you have examples for every little competency under the sun, but you'll be surprised. 

The questions may well be broken down into what is called the CAR or STAR approach where the interviewer will separately ask you to provide the context of a situation, then how you responded to this and then the outcome of it. Other interviewers may just simply ask you the question, and the breaking down of this into the CAR or STAR approach is all down to you. 

What are these approaches I'm rambling on about?

S - situation               C - context

T - task                      A - action

A - action taken         R - result

R - result

It's basically like mini essay prep, the whole PEE on your work shabang that school taught us...but don't pee on the interviewer. Instead, follow these to tighten up your answer and stop yourself from rambling. 

My advice is, in case you don't know what approach they'll take - whether they'll break it down into separate questions or simply ask you the one (the latter I believe is less likely and it's a lot easier to make notes if they ask it separately) - kick off your first answer by using either of the above techniques (they're basically the same) to demonstrate that you understand what is being asked of you, unless of course they say otherwise. 

In my case only 6 questions - that were broken down - were asked and therefore six competencies were tested, alongside a seventh one which focused on my ability to communicate well in writing. Though, it's really down to what's in the job description and person spec when it comes to how many you can expect.

Which leads me on to, preparation. 

Keep your person spec (if one is provided) and job description close at hand, don't lose it because this will help give you a pretty good idea of what kind of competency questions will be asked. I outlined mine and figured out what would be focused on within my interview, and therefore had answers ready and prepared. Don't rely on this alone though, because focusing solely on it may leave you unprepared for other possible questions.

What competencies should you expect?

So these were the ones I came across consistently when researching what to expect, though there are many many others. The person spec and job description is unlikely to just slap these in, so you'll have to go through with a fine tooth comb to pull out what's expected of you.

I decided, despite the fact that there was little chance all would be asked, to consider how my experiences demonstrated all of these competencies, and came up with examples - not full blown ones, just the basic answer that I could elaborate on if asked the relevant competency based question during the interview. Doing this really helped me get into the swing of things, and I was able to roll examples off pretty quickly.

This page was incredibly helpful because it linked to each competency and broke down possible questions. Never expect the exact same wording, but be prepared to hear something similar. 

My advice for a competency based interview is to go in prepared with good TRUE examples from your experiences. Cover a wide range of examples, utilising your personal life experiences, events that occurred at university and if you have previous work experience, think of examples from that too. Whatever you do, DON'T LIE. You may think you're a good actor but the stress of the day will start to shake the foundations of your made up example, and many interviewers will be able to tell. 

For interviews in general, smile, keep eye contact, dress appropriately, have a strong handshake and go prepared. Research the company, show that you know who you're interviewing to work for and what they stand for as a company. Dropping little tip bits of info that may seem pointless to research will actually earn you extra consideration when it comes to who gets the job.

Good luck to all my fellow graduates on the job hunt!

So, I've been living with my boyfriend's parents for around 3 weeks now and it's safe to say I've settled myself in. Now we've gone past the point of the initial move, I thought I'd share my tips on how to remain sane, and stay well liked within your new household, or how to keep your partner welcomed rather than simply seen another mouth to feed. 

Cook, clean and do all things helpful

Okay, not all things but here and there helping out is a way to earn your keep. If you're currently unemployed or awaiting to begin your job like my boyfriend and I then you're more than likely to have the time, now your studies are over, to help out a bit. If your partner's parents work long days, the last thing they'll want to come home to is a messy house. Try and be considerate. 

Show gratitude 

It's both good and important to show that you're grateful for the fact they're putting you up - whether they're your parents or not. You're more than likely to pay rent when you have a bit of cash flow, so whilst that isn't the case it's important to just slip in your please's and thank you's. I think this goes for living with you own parents too! Helping out shows you're grateful, but after every meal I always thank my boyfriend's mum for dinner (like I do my mum too, even when I've cooked it for that matter!) because I simply appreciate it. 

Keep things tidy

A messy room doesn't become as acceptable when you're in your twenties, and it may be hard to keep it clean now there's two of your stuffed into a room but who really wants to be told to tidy their room at 21? Because even though you're an adult, you're still living with parents. 

Find things to do

In between job hunting or waiting around for your job to commence it's good to find things to do beside pottering around the house. We go to the gym everyday and then often go somewhere for a walk. It's great for me too because it means I get to explore the area I'm now living in! The longer you lock yourself up inside, the more likely you'll start to find the place a little suffocating.

Do food shops and cook 

I've mentioned cooking but helping out here and there sometimes doesn't sate those cravings for independence. I love food shopping, and my boyfriend's mum is always extremely busy on the weekends doing various odds and ends that she finds it a chore, so we offer to go instead. Cooking is a similar situation so most nights I help out doing little bits or at least offer, or some nights we just do the dinner for everyone!

Don't be afraid of doing meals just for the two of you

My boyfriend's family eat much later than I'm used to so on occaisions we have cooked our dinner earlier, because no one else wanted theirs at that time. Other times we've had evening plans so just got on with ours. It's no harm to get on with it, you're adults and whilst some parents might enjoy treating you like children, for your own sanity and so you remember how to live independently it's good for you to do things just for the two of you on occasions.

Help out other members of the family

My boyfriend's family all live relatively near by and aren't absolutely huge in numbers like mine, so when someone calls for a helping hand we're there to offer it. Today we had the gruelling task (obviously joking, I can't express how in love I am with these boys) of checking in on these two critters whilst his Grandma went to lunch. Personally I find it a good way of getting to know the family and proving what a catch you are for their son/daughter etc. 

Meet Elvis and Billy, my new best friends.

I think that the most important thing when it comes to moving back in with your parents or moving in with someone else's is to just appreciate the money you're saving by doing so. It can drive you a little mad at times; the house may not be the way you want it, dinner might not be what you fancy that night, and you may not yet feel comfortable enough to slob out on the sofa for the entire weekend in your pj's with Netflix but really it's all a case of getting used to it, appreciating it and using it as an incentive to save up your money and move out. Let's be honest, parents like you around for a little while but often they quite enjoy the peace and quiet too! 

MissIsGoode

You feel me? Students will do anything they can to avoid doing work. I've yet to meet anyone who has actually climbed a mountain to avoid writing an essay, but it really wouldn't surprise me if someone has.  

MissIsGoode

Since leaving university I have been living the life of the aggravating and often entertaining BBC Three show The Hotel of Mum and Dad. Although, my boyfriend and I aren't half as lazy and clueless as the couples often portrayed on that show are, but we are currently living for free under the roof of my boyfriend's parents and if you've ever experienced this I'm sure you can relate. If you're about to or planning to in the future move in with your partner and their family, this will probably help you know what to expect! Though, as everything, it's different for everyone. And keep a look out for the other side of the story, the experience from my boyfriend's eyes!

Living with my boyfriend's family - my side of the experience so far

At first, it constantly felt like a break away from uni or a stop off during the holidays, but I had to keep reminding myself it's now my home. Fortunately, I get on with his family well. But I also feel a little like I've digressed to my teenage years. Our meals are cooked for us, our laundry is done for us and we always have to let someone know where we're going when we pop out. As much as I appreciate all the things that are done for us, I can't help but find it a little frustrating. 

Do I sound like a brat?

If you've been to university you'll experience one or two of these feelings: get so fed up of doing things for yourself that you feel blessed to have it all done for you again, get a little tired of doing things independently and appreciate all that's being done for you for a period of time or feel like a complete spare part when returning home or moving into someone else's home. Personally, I feel a little babied and always want to help out, but my boyfriend's mum is superwoman and doesn't often accept help when offered. I should bask in the freedom but when you've been independent for three years you get pretty used to it. 

I think there's something easier about moving back into your own parental home. I feel like your parents can be a little more accepting of your desire to continue your independence, whereas when you move in with someone else's you're trying to be as polite as possible, especially if you've only met them a handful of times. Personally my parents are happy for me to make my own dinner whenever or cook dinner for everyone. But here, I get slight palpitations over the thought of cooking for a family that isn't my own. I just worry about any criticism, people wanting to take over, impatience or just constant eyes upon me. 

I really appreciate my boyfriend's family opening their home to me, and once we're both working (my boyfriend has a job lined up and I'm applying) we have already said we'll pay rent and agreed on a price. 

All I'd say to anyone in the situation or about to be is to remember that it will take time. It's also important to have an understanding partner/an understanding for your partner; my boyfriend said 'cheer up' a few times when I looked down during my first day here, but it wasn't that simple because it felt extraordinarily weird and I guess it was hard for him to know exactly how I was feeling. Now, my fairy lights have gone up, we've somehow managed to squeeze my clothes into his much too small wardrobe and I'm sure when the bed needs changing I'll sneak on my blue bird print duvet covers and bring my white fluffy blanket into the room. 

So what can you do to make the transition easier?

• Talk to yours or your partners parents about it, don't just move your partner in (it's awkward for them if either parent asks how long you're staying for, and it's unfair to be dishonest)
• Agree on how to make you/your partner feel more at home
• Make some space for them in your room i.e wardrobe space, a drawer or two
• Consider minor redecorations - of course it's only a temporary living situation in many cases, but what was once your room/their room is now shared, so it's nice to consider updating the décor to reflect the new situation
• Keep busy if you're/they're feeling homesick
• Show them around the area if they haven't visited often - it's nice to know your bearings, and know that if you wanted/needed to you could easily get around on your own 
• Offer to help out around the house - it helps his/her parents out and it let's you feel like you're still independent 

As of late, I haven't been going to the gym due to my final deadlines at university and making a move to Nottingham, but what better way to get me back into it than a new batch of protein? 

I've never strayed from the protein almost everyone I know buys, I won't mention any names because that's not who I'm here to talk about, but for my time at university said brand has always had awesome deals and a cheeky 10% student discount. But now, I'm a big grown up graduate, and Monkey Nutrition seems like a good place to start on my mission to find a delicious protein packed powder. 

So here's the first things you should know about Primal26 Whey Protein Isolate:

Serving size: 1 scoop = 30g

Servings per container: 14

Nutrional Information

Calories: 110                       Vitamin A: <1%

Total fat: 0g                         Vitamin C: <1%

     Saturated: 0g                   Calcium: 4%

     Trans: 0g                         Iron: <1%

Cholesterol: 0g

Sodium: 150mg                    Ingredients:

Potassium: 380mg                Whey protein isolate, natural and artificial flavours, xanthan gum, stevia 

Total carbs: 1g                      and soy lecithin.

Dietary fiber: 0g

Sugars: 0g

Protein: 26g

If you hadn't noticed, this product is packed with protein! In my opinion, it makes it pretty guilt free especially if you're cutting fat and sugar! And it's a whole lot of protein compared to others on the market. 

Taste: I had the French Vanilla flavour and it's quite sweet for my tastes but if you have a sweet tooth and you're looking to cut out sugar than this is sure to help your cravings! There's a total of three flavours: Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry. So if you're looking for some fun and adventurous flavours, this probably isn't the one for you. But if you're looking for a tasty and protein filled shake, you're sure to enjoy Primal26. 

It recommends to mix the powder with 250-325ml of water, in my opinion this made the taste even sweeter so I tried it with milk and it had a better flavour that wasn't as sickly sweet. I also tried it with 150ml of water which had a similar affect as the milk. 

Mixability: No one wants a lumpy shake and, using the Monkey Nutrition shaker, I found it mixed incredibly well. Using a different shaker still produced a smooth shake, and I've never had one that's as smooth and easy to mix as Primal26.

Cost: £17.95 for 420g/14 scoops. So by no means is this the cheapest protein out there, but for 26g protein, zero fat and zero sugars as well as only 1g of carbs, it's well worth it if you're focusing on only looking to get more protein, without everything else, into your diet. It recommends to take one shake daily, so it may cost more than your gym membership a month, but in my opinion, if you've got the money to spend on a good quality protein packed product, I'd definitely buy it. 

£17.95 - 420g

£32.95 - 840g

£74.95 - 2270g

The one thing I love about this product is the source of BCAA's and essential amino acids which many whey protein shakes lack, often meaning if you want more in your diet, you have to buy these separately therefore costing you more money in many cases. 

I'm no pro on health and fitness, but as a consumer I recognise that this product is better than what I have previously used and considering its protein content, the source of BCAA's and essential amino acids as well as its nutritional values overall, I can really see the benefits of spending £17.95 Primal26. 

Because I am by no means a pro, have a read of this article to nerd up on whey protein and why Primal26 stands out from the crowd. Overall though, I would recommend this product and despite its price, it's really impressed me!

MissIsGoode

*I was given the Monkey Nutrition shaker and 420g of French Vanilla Primal26 in return for this review

Whether you've spent hours, days, weeks or even months searching and applying for jobs, job hunting can make you feel pretty downhearted in no time at all. Many of us chose to go to university because someone or a handful of people told us we needed a degree to get anywhere in life, and now, with that degree almost in hand, many of the jobs we look at state the dreaded words 'experience required'. 

The first thoughts are, why did I bother going to university in the first place? But it's important not to think like that! It's much easier to say stay positive than it is to actually stay positive so here are a few tips to help stop you going down the road of negativity whilst job hunting. 

Don't apply for too many in a day

It's important not to overload yourself. Writing out cover letters, altering your CV and filling in applications forms is very time consuming - alongside that you actually have to search through the abundance of available jobs in the first place. So don't shut yourself away each and every waking hour of your day glued to your laptop. Try to aim for a certain amount of job applications a day, whether you spread them out or do them all in the morning, just don't use all your waking hours for job applications. 

Take breaks

Remember all those hours you spent in the library or studying at home? And remember how important it was during those hours just to take a short break or one a little longer to help you get through it? It's the same when on the job hunt. It can get repetitive and you'll start to notice a drop in your attention to detail and your actual interest in the jobs you're applying for, and both will begin to show in your application. The most important thing you can do is take breaks between applications, simply to clear your head. 

Remember you'll get there eventually

No matter how many jobs you've applied for, a rejection can really knock you back, but try not to let it. Remind yourself how many jobs are actually out there, and that you do have something to offer. 

Consider gaining experience in the field you want to go in

If you haven't already got experience of the job you're looking to start in, it's a good idea to find some. It'll have a huge impact on your applications and help you feel more positive and confident about the jobs you're applying for. Not only that, it'll also help to bust the boredom of sitting around the house. Of course, double edged sword moment of having to find the experience first! 

Get outside

Getting some fresh air can do wonders, and whilst sitting at a laptop for god knows how many hours it's really important to take a complete step back from technology and all the applications. 

Get some exercise

Whether it's a short walk, a session at the gym or some yoga, exercise can do wonders for your mood. So, if the applications have got you drowning it'll really help you release some stress. 

How do you stay positive when job hunting? 

MissIsGoode

So, my third year is at an end with the parties and celebrations over for the most part but my results and graduation are still to come. I've now left Keele University - my place of study and, more importantly, my home, for the past three years of my life. 

Most people still respond with a perplexed look when I tell them where I study, and I bet if you haven't purposefully searched for an opinion of Keele University and have come here just out of curiosity, you're going to have to Google the place, so instead let me save you some time...

So as there's so much to say about my experience at Keele, I thought I'd break it down and kick things off with my accommodation in first year - it's a little lengthy, so everything in bold is a summary of the important things. A further post will be made concerning all the accommodation on campus, but I only have experience with two of the halls so I'll be turning to other students from Keele to help me give you an idea of where you'll be living! I'd also like to clarify that this post is focused on the blocks within Hawthorns Hall, though there are also flats!

My experience with on campus accommodation...

I spent only my first year on campus, and to begin with the greatest thing about it was the atmosphere. Some blocks are bigger than others, but I was in one with around a little less than 30 students - I think in total it was 26, but people came and went. I was in Hawthorns Hall Block M, room 26 (have fun whoever lives there next year, it has a weird smell to it that was there before I arrived!). Mine was a mixed sex hall, though there are single sex ones too. The first night, I lined bottles along the kitchen surface and told everyone to help themselves. It worked a treat at getting everyone mingling. Freshers' week is such a key moment in the process of settling into university. You may not meet your best friends in this first week, but you're likely to meet a few fun characters.

As for the actual accommodation, as I said my room was smelly. To keep it smelling fresh I had to have my window open constantly. I had a washbasin in my room which was handy. The bathroom was shared between about 14 +/- girls and had one shower, a bath and two toilets, and down two floors there was a boys bathroom with the same. It wasn't often that you had to queue, though when you did it was freezing bloody cold. It sounds a lot worse than it was, I never had to wait to use the toilet, it was never really dirty, just a bit unclean at times but what would you expect with so many people using it?

The kitchen had a decent amount of cupboard space for everyone to get at least a shelf for food and a shelf for crockery/pans to yourself as well as a shared drawer for cutlery. Though there are those that decide they deserve a whole cupboard. The only cupboard I'd recommend avoiding is the one beneath the sink, because there is a chance of it leaking. There were 5 fridge freezers, with plenty of room for big food shops, but as the semester wears on people get poorer and the fridges get emptier. Everyone sort of claims their spot in the fridge, I was first fridge freezer on the right, middle shelf, left side - just in case you wanted to know. There were 3 ovens, two microwaves, a kettle and no toaster. You'll find that someone in the hall will have bought a toaster already, so just wait for it to appear. One of our microwaves broke from what I can remember, don't expect it to ever be replaced whilst you're there. There was also a small table with FOUR seats. Yes, there were nearly 30 of us living there and we had four seats.

There are cleaners! But some are better than others. Everyone says be friendly to your cleaners and they'll be nice and keep it cleaner - in my opinion, you should be nice, but it shouldn't affect how hard they work. Our cleaner was a gentleman maybe between his 50s-60s. He kept our kitchen spotless in the first week, and gave us the impression that the kitchen was cleaned daily. It is not, apparently he kept it tidy just to be nice. Which was sweet of him, but it lulled us into a false sense of security. After freshers' week, you were more likely to find him sitting at the kitchen table asking people for a cup of tea than actually cleaning. And when he was off, two female cleaners would come by, sit on the stairs and loudly, very loudly, bitch about how filthy students were. Many of us hid out in our rooms until the cleaners left, they made things a little uncomfortable. But fear not, because they clean and that's the important thing!

They come daily in Hawthorns Hall, though I think it can be different for other halls such as Barnes. They empty your bins and recycling, except on weekends in which case they leave bin bags, and clean your kitchen and bathrooms once a week (though this may have changed now). Your room is cleaned fortnightly, on a rota that can be found in usually the downstairs corridor near the door. You'll get a notice on your door the day before your room will be cleaned, but you can stick a notice next to it if you don't want your room cleaning for whatever reason.

The absolute worst thing about halls and the cleaners was the loss of crockery and cutlery. Now, not every cleaner does this, and I'm not sure if it's actually a policy the university has, or just something our cleaner did to make a point. When the kitchen is cleaned, any thing dirty OR clean left by the sink, is moved to the table for people to clean, collect and put away. However, if people don't collect it, it's moved to a clear bin bag and put to the side of the room. Fair enough right, people aren't cleaning up? It's then locked away in the cleaners cupboard if it's not claimed. Yeah, that's all cool. But our cleaner stopped doing this process after a few weeks and just started throwing it straight in a bin bag and locking it away. Meaning, if some bugger had used your stuff to cook and eat their dinner, then not washed up, your stuff was lost, not even because of you. This my dear friends, is why I have no cutlery or crockery. And also why I refused to buy anymore when I moved into my house in second year.

As for security, you'll feel safe in halls and around campus in general. Your Keele card is your key to get into the block, and you can only use it on your block, and then you have your own room key. Make sure the door to the block is shut tightly, they're pretty heavy doors so it's not hard to keep it locked. One night someone didn't close the door properly and some random people (most likely still students) got in, went and sat in our kitchen and drank anything they could find and banged on peoples doors. Security are pretty diligent too so if there is anything concerning you, give them a ring and they'll come straight out. 

A quick final summary of all the little things:

Cost - It's gone up since my first year and now stands at £85.68 - £158.40 dependent on room type, which is paid in 3 instalments. In total the lower band you'll be paying for a 37 week contract is £3,170.16 with the higher band for 37 weeks at £5,860.80. Don't use my word for it though! The rooms and weeks you can occupy them for vary, so follow the link below for more info!

Beds - basic, a bit springy, different in every room, small single. Bring your own duvet and use the one they provide as an extra bit of padding to go under your sheet.

Washing - laundrettes are provided for each hall, they say they're constantly trying to improve them but as I haven't visited one since first year I can say that they were average. Sometimes they eat your money, sometimes you have no problems. Luck of the draw! It's within close walking distance of most of the blocks at Hawthorns.

Wardrobes - you get one wardrobe with compartments and hanging space, if you have a lot of clothes, try not to bring them all because there simply won't be space for it all.

Bookshelves - there's an absolutely huge bookshelf in most rooms, though some are unlucky enough to get smaller ones. My one was floor to ceiling and I forget now how many shelves there were. I kept a lot of my food on these shelves, such as tins, cereals and jars.

Carpets - are old and ugly. It's not important, I just wanted to share that.

Mirrors - most blocks have a full length mirror on each floor. Rooms which have a washbasin also have a mirror.

Storage/work space - you get a desk with drawers, a telephone and a desk chair - mine was super comfy but others had rubbish ones. Once again it's just luck of the draw. You also get a side table with cupboard space, a cupboard above the wardrobe useful for suitcases/bags, and another above the sink if you have a room with a washbasin.

Social - there's a bar in the centre of the halls called Hawthorns Bar which you can visit any night of the week from what I recall. You're also about a 15 minute walk or a 3 minute bus ride from campus and therefore the SU, which is completely free with a bus pass provided by the university! I'd also recommend taking a 5 or so minute walk to the local pub, The Sneyd Arms, which is a nice place to relax in and the food is always delcious from my experience!

If there's anything more you'd like to know that I haven't covered, just leave a comment or drop me an email - missisgoode@gmail.com! In the meantime you'll probably find it helpful to have a look through the Keele Hawthorns Hall page, which gives further details on the costs, types of rooms and even a little 360 view of the area - all of which are more up to date than my experience 3 years ago!

MissIsGoode

In a nod to both my childhood growing up with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and the song every teenager used to cope when the end came to their 2-month (it was supposed be forever) relationship, I thought I'd tell you how so many of us are feeling now graduation is almost upon us. 

So you've read no books, but you've watched all the Netflix shows...what's the best way to go, no one knows...

You hit the drink, you take a toke, watch the past three years go up in smoke. Fake a smile, yeah, lie and say that you're better now you're graduating and your life's okay, well it's not, no, never again will you have a 10 week summer vacation...

You're going through six degrees of graduation. 

First, you think it's amazing that that you've come this far

What's gonna kill is no longer drinking at your student bar

And the third, is when you realise you're non-committal 

And fourth, you're gonna think that you've got a job 

Fifth, you find out experience is what they want

And the sixth is when you admit drinking too much may have f***ed you up a little

You cry with your friends, yeah, strangers too, anyone who'll sympathise with you. Tarot cards, gems and stones, believing all that sh*t will stop you from having to move back home. Well it's not, no. 

You're only applying for any job out of desperation, ohhh no, you're going through six degrees of graduation.

No there's no starting over, because no one will fund ya, you'd go back, no hesitation. That's when you know you've reached the sixth degree of graduation

No no there ain't no help, it's every graduate for themself, you're goin' through six degrees of graduation...

I have to be honest and say that now I've officially moved out of my university home, reality has hit. And the reality is that I'm just like every other graduate out there, who has possibly a 2:1 degree, no experience, plenty of ambition, but no certainty of what I want to do. It's life, it's graduate life.

Congratulations to all those soon to be graduates who already have jobs lined up, and good luck to those with interviews or still searching! We'll all get something eventually!

MissIsGoode