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Hey, Julie here 👋

It’s that time of year where some of you may be wondering whether or not to apply to university before the January deadline.

It’s a tough decision, and one that you shouldn’t take lightly. University can be a great option, but many people go for the wrong reasons.

Wrong reasons to go to university

👉Because your friends are going

👉Because it’s the done thing

👉Because you think a degree will automatically land you a high-paying job

👉Because you want to move out

Let’s explore some pros and cons…

✅3 pros of university

• Develops your knowledge
• Internationally recognised qualification
• Necessary for certain roles

❌3 cons of university

• Costly (average of £40,000 debt)
• Usually takes 3 years to complete
• Doesn’t always pay off

Questions to ask yourself when considering university

1️⃣Am I applying to university in order to get a certain job? If so, what job?

2️⃣Is a degree necessary for me to land that job?

3️⃣Are there any other courses I could do instead?

Alternatives to university

Online courses: Sometimes all you need to do to get your foot in the door is show you’re capable of a certain skill. This method can be quick and effective!

Volunteering: A great way to gain experience for your CV and to demonstrate your enthusiasm!

Apprenticeships: You’ll still gain a formal qualification, but you’ll also gain hands on experience and be presented with a job at the end of it.

📲Why not browse our graduate jobs to see what opportunities would be available to you?

With love,

Julie💜

Hello and welcome to chapter 4 of the Level Up course: Body language!

Did you know that 55% of your message is communicated via body language?! Only 7% is by what you actually say 🤯 Crazy, right?

Despite this, there’s nowhere near enough emphasis placed on using your body language in an interview setting.

Although you might not have an upcoming interview, make a conscious effort to improve these 3 aspects of your body language over the next 30 days, ready to engage the heck out of your interviewers when the time comes!

1️⃣Not smiling VS smiling

Smiling when you talk is possibly the most important habit to cultivate! When you don’t smile, it suggests you’re a very serious person who struggles to engage others.

Smiling radiates positive energy and shows that you’re a confident person who feels comfortable in yourself.

2️⃣Slouched VS upright 

Slouching gives the impression that you’re quite a lazy person and are lacking confidence.

Sitting upright gives you a stronger presence and shows you’re a proactive, ambitious person – exactly what employers want!

3️⃣No eye contact VS eye contact

Avoiding eye contact is another indicator that you lack confidence and are potentially difficult to get along with. 

Studies show that we should make eye contact for 60-70% of the time in order to create an emotional connection and invite people in.

Using open body language might not come easy to you, but I guarantee that if you make a conscious effort to implement it into your daily life, it WILL come more naturally.

Struggle with body language? Let us know below👇

Take care for now,

Julie 💜

Hey there, it’s Julie 👋 Feeling anxious or down about the latest lockdown? I don’t blame you! In the first lockdown, it was reported that as many as 69% of adults in the UK felt worried or anxious about the pandemic.

To help you through this time, here are 5 ways to transform your time at home with self-care:

1️⃣Declutter

Neat spaces are proven to help you to feel lighter, more relaxed and more inspired. So now’s the time to clear out your wardrobe, declutter your shelves, and transform your living space into a zen sanctuary.

2️⃣Get creative

“But I’m not creative” – I hear you say?! That’s not true … you just haven’t found a way to unleash your creativity yet. Creativity comes in many forms such as writing, podcasting, drawing, vlogging, crafting, or even cooking!

3️⃣Take a media break

It’s super important not to get overwhelmed by all the noise on the news and on social media as feeling negative can cause a weakened immune system. Try switching off from the news and socials for a few days and feel the difference!

4️⃣Go on a health kick

Wouldn’t it be great if, by the end of lockdown, you’ve completely transformed your health through diet and exercise? Not only is this great for boosting your immune system, but exercise and a healthy diet also release feel-good hormones.

5️⃣Learn a new skill

Whether it’s to boost your career or just for your personal interest, there are thousands of free online courses just waiting for you to sign up.

In what ways are you practising self-care during lockdown? Let me know below 👇

Sending love,

Julie💜

Welcome to chapter 3 of the Level Up course: impostor syndrome.

Now be honest … How many of you have felt unworthy of your career status, or have attributed your success to luck?

If that sounds like you, then you may be battling impostor syndrome.

What are the symptoms of impostor syndrome?

😖Negative self-talk

😖Perfectionism

😖Being overly critical of your ability and performance

😖Attributing your success to others

😖A reluctance to recognise your skills and strengths

😖Feeling like a fraud and unworthy of the position you hold

😖Constantly living in fear of failure

So how can this interfere with your career? It may:

👉Cause you to self-sabotage

👉Prevent you from going for a promotion

👉Cause you to overwork to the point of exhaustion

👉Cause you to belittle yourself in an interview

How can you overcome impostor syndrome?

Impostor syndrome is a mental problem, so the solution is all in the mind🧠

🤩Write down your skills and achievements

🤩Take it seriously when people pay you a compliment

🤩Understand that making mistakes is normal and inevitable – even CEOs make mistakes!

🤩Repeat positive affirmations daily

🤩Release perfectionism

🤩Surround yourself with empowering content like podcasts and personal development books

It’s estimated that over 70% of people experience impostor syndrome at least once in their life, so you’re not alone. The important thing is to recognise when it’s affecting you, and take steps to stop it from going any further.

See you in the next chapter where we’ll be working on body language!

Take care,

Julie💜
PS. Seen a job you like but no time to apply? Don’t lose it – you can now save jobs for later 📲

Hey guys, Julie here 👋 When it comes to interviewing, there’s a certain etiquette you should follow. To put it bluntly, there are certain things you should ask, and certain things you should definitely not ask!

Let’s take a look…

❌Questions to avoid asking:

👉How long does it take to get promoted?

This can be off-putting for employers because it can indicate that you’re looking to run before you can walk. Employers want to see you master the basics before looking for a promotion.

👉What are the company benefits?

Any questions regarding salary or other perks should be avoided. Sometimes asking this question can give employers the impression that you’re too preoccupied with the benefits rather than the content of the role.

👉What are the break times?

This is a small detail and shouldn’t impact your interest in the position. Employers want to see you focus your questions more on the role, responsibilities and company culture.

✅Questions to ask:

👉What does the training entail?

Employers like to know that you’re keen to develop your skills and integrate into the company’s way of doing things. This question shows you’re on the right track!

👉How would you like to see me progress over the next 30 / 60 / 90 days?

By asking this, you’re getting to understand the employer’s expectations of you and developing a deeper understanding of the position. 

👉What do you enjoy most about working here?

This is a personable question and really shows that you’re keen to understand, from an employee’s perspective, why it’s good to work there instead of just reading the job advert.

What examples of good interview questions do you have? Share them in the comments below 👇

Take care for now!

Love Julie 💜

Hey guys🙋‍♀️ Welcome to chapter 2 of the Level Up career series: SMART goals.

So, in the last chapter you established your long-term career aims. Today is all about creating a plan to ensure you achieve those aims (using SMART goals).

SMART goals are:

👉Specific – What is your long-term career aim? Don’t just name a field like Marketing… specify exactly what type of Marketing positions you want to apply for.

👉Measurable – Numbers are key here. How many interviews do you want to attend each month? How many job applications per day will you commit to? 

👉Achievable – If you’re lacking experience, you may have to factor in some time to complete a course or a certification. Equally, it may be more achievable to aim for less experienced positions if you’re entering into a new field.

👉Relevant – Is your overall goal relevant to where you want to go in the long-term? Remember, this is all about ensuring you’re still working towards your long-term career aims ready for when the job market picks up.

👉Time-specific – When do you want to achieve this long-term career aim? Be sure to factor in any courses you’ll need to complete too!

Once you’ve finished your SMART goal, you might end up with something like this:

‘By December 2021, I will have a new job as a Marketing Assistant for the tech industry. In order to achieve that, I will complete a course in Adobe Photoshop and digital marketing by February 2021. I will also attend 2 interviews per month and apply for 10 jobs everyday.’

What are your long-term career aims? Share them in the comments below👇

Love Julie 💜

Hey guys 👋 Have you got a virtual interview coming up? I’ve put together 7 essential steps to follow to help you prepare and succeed!

We have a lot to cover, so let’s jump straight in…

1️⃣ Test your IT

The last thing you want is to lose connection or have a blurry screen. Make sure you’re using a reliable internet connection and buy a webcam and microphone if your laptop quality isn’t clear.

2️⃣ Create a neat background

A plain background is best as it’s not too distracting. Make sure that whatever is in the background is neat, clean and tidy to show that you have good attention to detail.

3️⃣ Find the right lighting

Don’t sit with your back to the window… you’ll end up looking like a silhouette. Either sit facing a window, or use lights and lamps to brighten you up.

4️⃣ Silence your laptop’s notifications

Silence your emails, calendar notifications, and any social media notifications that pop up so this doesn’t interfere with your interview.

5️⃣ Dress to impress

Although you’re interviewing from home, dress as though you’re interviewing at the company office. Virtual interviews hold just as much importance on looking presentable and professional!

6️⃣Use your body language

A survey showed that 55% of any message is communicated nonverbally through your body language, gestures, and facial expressions. So be sure to speak with your hands and smile throughout!

7️⃣Look into the camera

Avoid the temptation to look at the screen. Instead, talk straight into the camera so your interviewers feel more connected to you.

Have you had a virtual interview? Share your experience with the Sonic community below 👇

Take care for now,

Julie 💜

Hey Sonic people 👋 Are you ready to fly? Although the job market is tough right now, we want to make sure you’re still working towards your long-term career aims, even if you’re still applying for ‘go-between’ jobs. 

To skyrocket your career, firstly define what you’re aiming for. So grab a pen and a pad as we prepare for take-off… 🚀

1️⃣What are you passionate about?

Ensure your long-term career aim is something you’re passionate about. Reflect on your hobbies, interests, and how you spend your free time.

2️⃣List 3 industries that interest you.

Think of industries that relate to your passions. This task is all about opening up new doors and building for your future. Examples: IT, healthcare, education

3️⃣What are your strengths?

Reflect on your qualifications, any courses you’ve completed, and any skills you’ve gained from past jobs.

4️⃣What did you like / dislike about your past jobs?

Use these points to help define what you want (or don’t want) from your future career.

5️⃣List 3 different professions that interest you.

Consider your skills, qualifications, and past job experiences to help define potential career paths. But don’t worry if you’re lacking experience, you can always gain that! Examples: Project management, marketing, accountancy

6️⃣What courses could you complete?

Browse the SonicJobs vacancies to research the popular skills in your chosen professions, and then find courses to complete. Investing in yourself is a great way to stand out from the crowd.

Defining your aims is the first step to success. I’ll see you in the next chapter where we establish how you’re going to achieve your aims using SMART objectives.

See you there 👋

Julie 💜

Hey Sonic people🙋‍♀️ I hear you – many of you’re worried about being made redundant and, unfortunately, some of you have already been laid off.

Whilst we can’t control what happens to your job, we want to make sure we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Here are 7️⃣ actionable steps to help you out of redundancy:

1️⃣Be gentle with yourself: Try not to blame yourself for what’s happened. It’s not a reflection of your work or ability, and the same thing is happening to thousands of others across the UK.

2️⃣Reference: Before leaving your job, be sure to ask your boss if they’ll support you in providing a detailed reference when the time comes, or even a LinkedIn recommendation.

3️⃣Apply for universal credit: If ever there’s a time to lean on the government for support, it’s when you’ve been made redundant.

4️⃣Create a budget: There’s no telling how long it will be until you find your next job. So be responsible with your finances and create a weekly budget.

5️⃣Revamp your CV: Use the SonicJobs app to create a downloadable CV in minutes when you apply for one of our jobs.

6️⃣Complete your SonicJobs profile: Make sure you’ve filled out all the fields on your SonicJobs profile, including a presentable profile picture. Users that have a profile picture gain more traction.

7️⃣Apply for new jobs daily: The quickest way to land your new role is by getting into the habit of applying daily.

Remember, people are still getting hired everyday through the SonicJobs app so keep applying! 💪

As Jimmy Dean once said, you can’t change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails to always reach your destination⛵️

Love Julie 💜

Welcome to chapter 4 of the Becoming a carer series: FAQs.

THANK YOU all for your interest in our care worker vacancies. Today’s chapter will be answering all your questions!

👉How much do care workers get paid?

The average salary for UK care workers is £19,399 or an average hourly rate of £8.49/hour.

👉What training or qualifications will I gain?

Different care companies provide different training and qualifications. You might expect to gain the following training:

• Qualification in Health & Social Care
• Safeguarding
• Equality, diversity & human rights
• Manual handling
• Food hygiene / Food safety awareness

👉Do I need experience?

Most care worker jobs don’t look for any experience. Instead, they look for people who are kind, caring, compassionate and reliable.

👉Do I need a driving licence?

It depends if you’re working for a care home with residents, or if you’re doing home visits. If you’re doing home visits, you’ll need a driving licence and vehicle. The care company will pay for your mileage.

👉What sort of personal care would I need to do?

Personal care might involve helping people with toileting, washing, intimate care, or getting dressed.

👉What hours do care workers work?

The great thing about care work is that most companies let you decide the hours and days you work. You could decide to start as early as 6am helping people to get out of bed, or perhaps you’ll want to work as late as 10pm helping people to get ready for bed.

Ready to start your career in care? Run a search in the SonicJobs app today to view our care worker vacancies near you. Your new career is 1 tap away 📲💫

See you guys in the next course!

Julie 💜