Emily Knowles is a media studies graduate working in PR and copywriting. After finishing my degree in 2011, my prospects of finding a decent entry-level job looked bleak.  My marks were all right, but not outstanding, and the last sports award I won was in senior school.  1.  Bleak prospects for job-hunting graduates The only [...]

I’ve recently been helping schools and colleges with their social media marketing. In May, I was invited to speak about social media at the 2012 AMDIS Conference – the annual conference of The Association for Marketing and Development in Independent Schools. I wrote about it in my blog here. What comes across time and time [...]

The real story of Prince Harry is – the photo.  Without that, there would not have been a story – and that is a lesson for employers and students. India Knight of the Sunday Times is spot on when she says today that “Harry has exposed our sins of the smartphone”.    And employers and students [...]

Have you ever looked at your Facebook or Twitter profile as if you were an employer?  Would you recruit yourself? Jobhunting eBook on social media for students We have just written an eBook, From Student to Salary with Social Media, to help students use social media in their job hunting (link to book).  Employers say [...]

A’ Level results are out.  Great excitement for some, disappointment for others – and uncertainty for large numbers.  Will their university of choice still accept them if they just missed a grade?  The hard work has started at both UCAS and in universities – answering thousands of queries and helping students through clearing.  Most businesses [...]

Guest blog by Sarah Larby The five Facebook faux pas that could cost you a job Like many people, I saw social media as a way of keeping in contact with friends, uploading photos and following trends and celebrities. However, having read Northern Light’s ebook ‘From Student to Salary’  I realise it can be used [...]

Are teachers and academics short changing our young people? In academic and educational circles, many have been slow to adopt social media – and there are still those who are dismissive of social media as a lot of silliness.  Perhaps an element of intellectual snobbery? Lecturers don’t have social media skills Whatever the reason, students [...]

Universities need to teach different employability skills to ensure their graduates get jobs. Blogging, Twitter and LinkedIn are essential, as are knowing how to network and ‘create’ their own job opportunities.

There is no doubt that most academic research has little value if it cannot be applied in the real world. With greater scrutiny of the public purse and increasing tuition fees, it is more important than ever that academics and universities demonstrate the value of their research to wider society and the business community. This [...]

by Mohammed Waheed Did the Northern Lights internship help me? Was it worth the time and career development? There is only one answer to this question and it is a big resounding, YES!! Is it going to be worthwhile? I was a bit sceptical when participating in the internship in regards to how it could [...]