Taking the SAT test

If you are planning to go to the USA to college of University next year then you should be looking to sit your SAT test in the next few months so that you have your score ready when you begin applying.

The coming test dates are: -

• May 5th (Register by April 6th)


• June 2nd (Register by May 8th)

These dates can be done in Cairo. See the link below to find out how to register, take practise tests and create your own study plan. There are SAT help guides in the careers library and you are welcome to come and see me for advice at any point.

http://sat.collegeboard.org/register;jsessionid=1y7LP3kVXXnRFXGnQTbnr2jVdLJqGLztXV6wkJCkT1LxgmGGJlVp!-316880982!1000547451

The state of engineering in the UK - what you should know

To be the one of the 2.2 million engineers needed in the UK alone over the next decade, Maths, Physics and an eye for opportunities are crucial. The engineering sector in Europe despie the recession is booming.

It generated 25% of UK business turnover in 2010 and the sector there employs 5.6 million people currently.

Engineering is central to ensuring economic growth and plays a major role in tackling global challenges including climate change, health, food security, biodiversity, population growth and water and energy security.

UK National average starting salary for graduates = 22,000 GBP

UK National average starting salary for engineers = 26,000 GBP

For more information on the state of engineering in the UK go to:

http://careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/engineering-sector-jobs-graduates

Spotlight on newspaper and magazine editors

What does the job involve?

Newspaper and magazine editors manage the style and content of printed publications. They may oversee the overall editorial directin of a publication or be responsible for a particular section. As an editor you will work with sub editors, designers, production staff and printers to: -

• Ensure deadlines are met



• Decide which articles will feature



• Decide the layout of the publication



• Commission articles

What hours can I expect?

The hours can be quite irregular including evenings and weekends often. If you work for a reguar monthly or weekly publication then it will involve more regular office hours with extra hours leading up to deadlines. You will mainly be office based in this job.

Income

In the UK, editors usually earn between 30,000 and 80,000 sterling a year.

Entry requirements

A degree is usually required. Common subjects include English, publishing and journalism.

The biggest requirement for any career in journalism is experience. Get writing voluntarily as much as you can for local papers, magazines, school publications etc..

30 seconds to grab an employers attention

Almost 9 years ago, I left university and started my first graduate teaching job within a couple of jobs. For one geography teacher's job there were 30 applicants. Just two months ago, my friend Lucy reeled at the shock that there were almost 300 applicants for one geography job in her school.

Things are changing dramatically in the job market and the competition is significantly tougher. So with that many applications,of course no employer has the time to go through each CV in detail. If you want to stand a chance of being shortlisted for interview, you have to make a fast impact.

It takes the average person around 30 seconds to scan a CV and make a judegement on whether you are what they want or not. Read the article link below to find out the most important things you can do to make your CV stand out. This article is based on advice from professionals.

http://careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/cv-advice-grab-employers-attention

Getting the feel for a university

If you are going to study your degree in another country, then getting the 'feel' for a university can be very difficult. Understanding what a university and town will be like is an important part of the decision making process and therefore collecting as much information as possible is vital.

How do I get the feel for a place?

OPEN DAYS: If you are traveling overseas to your University destination country at Easter or in the summer then try to get booked on to an open day. Watch this link to find out how to get the most out of an open day.

http://http//www.ucas.tv/ucas/video/XKPKL

VISITS DURING HOLIDAYS: If you cannot get booked on to a scheduled open day then simply visit the university and town in the holidays. You can still get a very good feel for a place without an organised tour.

VIRTUAL TOURS: If a visit is not possible at all, then check to see if the university has a virtual tour. Most of them do now, these are video tours around the main campus. The weblink below has great virtual tours of US colleges.

http://http//www.campustours.com/

Kings College London Summer School

Kings College, London is a leading world class university. It is ranked in the top 30 universities in the world. Their summer school is designed to help you to prepare for your future. The programme and courses aim to challenge and inspire as well as broaden your knowledge and grow your skills.

If you would like to find out more information about the Kings College Summer School then either see Mrs Chambers or go to http://http//www.kcl.ac.uk/study/summerschool/index.aspx

Heritage Summers at Cambridge University

Heritage summers hosts 16 - 19 year old students at Cambridge University for three weeks in July. Apply now and experience the life of a university student - benefit from a rich learning experience, lots of fun and a wealth of intellect seeped in the history of the quaint and beautiful city of Cambridge in the UK.

Courses on offer include anthropology, art history, biology, physics, psychology, economics, maths, history, literature, politics and many more.

To find out more about this summer opportunity check out http://www.heritagesummers.com

UK universities coming to NCBIS

On March 13th during PSHE, 4 UK universities will be visiting the UK. We will also be visited by AMIDEAST who are an excellent careers advisory service for the USA and have details of scholarships and admissions. During this 40 minute slot, our Year 12 students will have the opportunity to ask questions and gather information from these institutions.

The 4 universities attending include:

• Hertfordshire University


• Queen Mary University, London


• University of Essex


• University of West England, Bristol

If any of these Year 11 students are interested in speaking to representatives from these specific universities, then they will be present at an exibition on 12th and 13th March at Intercontinental hotel in City stars from 5.30pm until 9.30pm. See Mrs Chambers for more inforamtion about this and a flyer.

Spotlight on architecture

In this article from the Guardian newspaper, architect Philip Graham reveals what architecture practices are looking for from new recruity and shares personal advice for those thinking of joining the industry.

In his article he highlights the importance of:

1. Choosing which university to study architecture at.


2. Making the most of international opportunities.


3. Standing out an an architecture interview.

To read the full article go to http://http//careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/architecture-careers

Gordonstoun International Summer School

Last week, we were visited by Jenny Needham from Gordonstoun school, a prestigious boarding school located in Scotland in the UK.

Gordonstoun hosts its International summer school in July and August each year. The course lasts for approximately 3 weeks for boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 16 years. Students follow courses appropriate to their ages group and can choose from courses such as French, ICT or English Literature.

After watching the summer school DVD last week, it became very clear that this summer school is not all about work. There are adventure activities each day such as kayaking, gorge walking, abseiling and mountain biking. The students also spend three days on board one of Gordonstoun's yachts sailing around the stunning coastline.

For more information and to watch the video link (which sums everything up brilliantly) go to www.giss.org.uk.

Global Study international student fair

What?
This is a higher education fair which will be attended by numerous universities particularly from the UK. UCL, Kings College London, Brunel University are just some of the many universities attending.

When?
Wednesday 7th March 4pm - 8pm
Thusday 8th March 5pm - 8.30pm
Friday 9th March 3pm - 8pm

Where?
The Fairmont Hotel, Heliopolis

For more information and a leaflet, see me (Mrs Chambers) in my office.

Welcome to the NCBIS careers blog

Welcome to the NCBIS careers blog. This blog is designed for all students at NCBIS secondary school, however will be particularly useful for students in Year 10 and above. The blog will update you regularly with information on universities, careers related news and things coming up that you might be interested in.

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