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So jump in the deep end of the pool,
take some risk, embrace the journey.
Spelling and grammar
are two of the things that people underestimate.
I think it's important to have as many transferable skills as possible.
Within our Optics Team, we have over 750 CVs
come through to us every year for our placements, so something
that is spelled correctly, got good grammar,
got good logical thought behind it - that would
get in the interview pile for us.
The advice I would give is speak to the careers advisers at Aston University - that's what I did.
They have brilliant careers advice.
They're absolutely brilliant at their job, they know what they're talking about.
You just need to give them the criteria, "look, this is what I've got experience in.
"This is the core subject and this is what I could see myself doing in the future."
So the beauty of Aston - remember - is this wonderful marriage of the applied
and the practical, to a really first-class education.
Have they got any work experience? It's always a key thing,
even if it's a voluntary role.
And in our stores, we want our people to
have great customer service skills, great team working, and they've got to have really good communication skills.
I think it's important to realize that it really is true that you learn a lot
more from life's failures than you do from life's successes.
We also say "don't be scared to say -
"well we don't do it that way now" - because some of our directors
went to university a long time ago. They're not as...
up-to-date with technology. And - at the end of the day - that's why
they want a graduate to actually come in and join their practice.
The one thing I would say is, have confidence in yourself. When you go for a job, think about your strengths.
You know you can achieve that goal, you know you can get that job because you've got
the skills, because you're an Aston University student.
It gives you a head start. Value that head start. Take advantage of it.
And move forward.