March 2021 – Undergraduate Blog

Online learning – a new reality?

By Frankie Paterson, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

Reflecting back on 2020, I can confidently say it was a year of surprise, personal development and of course, the unexpected. By Christmas 2019 I had completed half of my placement year – one of the best opportunities I’ve had at university. Little did I know the world was about to undergo a complete change. Fortunately, I was equipped to tackle this environment because I was already working from home twice a week. Coming back to university would be a breeze, I thought.

It’s fair to say, I underestimated how challenging it would be to sit at a laptop for five days a week. However, there was plenty going on to keep me motivated and determined throughout this period, like going for a walk around Crookes Valley or Western Park with my friends. We usually do this twice or even three times a week to make sure we’re getting out of the house and hitting those 10,000 daily steps! It’s also nice to support small businesses here in Sheffield by buying a coffee and cake while we’re out.

I am adapting to online learning and have found many things easier. Online lectures give me the opportunity to pause, stop and reflect on what has been discussed. I feel I absorb a lot more information because my notes are detailed and meaningful. Normally, I’m frantically scribbling down the lecture slides and trying to listen to the lecturer at the same time. Now I can sit in the comfort of my bedroom and go through the material at my own pace.

Organising my day has become more manageable too. On the Business Management course, I have around 8-12 hours of classes per week so I’m able to participate in other activities. For example, I have various part time jobs through the university to provide some extra income. Therefore, I can commit to working half a day for a virtual applicant open day or have video calls with my mentees who need support with their placement search.

My work placement has taught me a very valuable lesson – use your Google calendar. With my university schedule I tend to create the next day’s ‘to do’ list, then set times for when I will work on tasks. I’ve found this keeps my motivation up as studying from home is a new concept for everyone. So, I would usually have a lecture scheduled on my timetable with the building and lecture theatre number. This is a lot different now as lectures are pre-recorded and uploaded to our university account for us to watch in our own time.

In terms of meeting people, I was worried about returning to university after a year on placement, especially as some of my friends had graduated. But It’s been refreshing to see societies hosting events online. Every Tuesday evening, I attend Sheffield’s Zumba classes to let off some steam! The only difference is learning the moves over Zoom, rather than in a studio. The Management Society had a great initiative to get people together virtually: ‘Tea for 2’ is a monthly pairing for two people on my course to chat over a cup of tea to get to know one another. It’s been brilliant to make new friends and feel less isolated during these times.

Here are some ways I’ve adjusted to online learning and kept motivated over the last year:

I love a routine! This is so important, especially as I come to the end of my degree. Small things like having my lunch and dinner at the same time really helps to take regular breaks and keep my studying on track after watching a two hour lecture. I like to go for a walk during my lunch break in Weston Park with a course mate. This is a great way for us to catch up, as we’re no longer seeing each other in lectures.
Studying in different places breaks the repetitiveness of sitting at my bedroom desk. Fortunately, the university has opened the libraries so I book a space three times a week. Social distancing is in place with desks being two metres apart. There’s hand gel stations on each floor and it’s mandatory to wear a mask. Overall, I’m content the university is following Government guidelines by making the library a safe place to study.
Utilise the support available to you. The Management School assigns every student a personal tutor. This is someone in the department who holds 1:1 meetings with us to check in and see how we’re getting on. By not having these catch ups in person, a friendly reminder to take a break from your screen is very welcomed.

My experience of moving to Sheffield

By Yijie Chen, BA Business Management

One year ago, I was dragging my luggage around Manchester Airport with a couple of new friends, ready for the intro week of my uni life. We were anxious, nervous and excited, and all of us were wondering if we chose the right university or not. At that moment, a gentleman wearing an orange t-shirt and holding a ‘Welcome to the University of Sheffield’ sign walked up to us. He introduced himself to us and helped us carry our luggage. That gentleman was a Student Ambassador of our university, responsible for the meet and greet service. To my surprise, he knew our names and flight numbers before we arrived there. At that moment and ever since we felt we belonged at The University of Sheffield.

I was born and bred in Xiamen, a fantastic coastal city in China. Before beginning a new era of going abroad, I successfully finished A-Level exams and IELTS tests. I used to think they are the most complicated challenges in my life, but now I gradually realised they are just the cornerstones of further education. I also spent the last high school summer holiday watching many videos about Sheffield and our university.

When I looked out of the bus window, the familiar and strange city view made me feel delighted and thrilled. We passed through Manchester and Peak District National Park. Honestly, the trip was always over hills. Sheffield was quite different from my hometown. I had been familiar with the ocean view, but I gradually fitted into the new environment. Currently, the city is my second hometown, which is a warm and ethnically diverse city.

After passing by Firth Court, Information Commons and the Diamond, I arrived at my accommodation, Allen Court. I met my flatmates from different countries such as Great Britain, India, Egypt and Malaysia. Welived in international surroundings, and we shared distinctive cultures that reflected the diverse surroundings of the entire campus.

Indeed, I did enjoy the intro week at the University of Sheffield. I took various lectures about modules chosen, SUMS and the university societies and clubs and planned hikes and trips with new friends.

Walking around Western Bank Park and Crookes Valley Park was my favourite activity after taking lectures. We went for trail walks around Hope Valley and Bamford. Also, we visited the famous Chatsworth House and Mayfield Alpacas Animal Park at the weekend. I do promise no one would ignore the attractiveness of the University of Sheffield and the city.

Why you should be considering a placement year

By Luke Garrity, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

During your time at University, you will likely have the option of undertaking a placement year, a voluntary year in industry between your second and final year. For the duration of your placement, you are still a student but will be working away from the University, possibly even in another country if you so choose! Don’t worry though, you will still have regular contact and support from the Management School. As you are a student, you do still pay tuition fees however these are massively reduced, however most UK students will still be eligible for a student loan and you will be earning a wage typically between £13,000 and £20,000.

Why should I complete a placement?

Naturally, the chance to earn a wage is very attractive, and will undoubtedly make things easier when you return to Sheffield for your final year. However, there are so many more reasons why completing a placement will benefit you!

Gain experience in the world of work

The job market is more competitive than ever before, and companies are looking for unique candidates who set themselves apart from everybody else. Relatively few students complete a year in industry, so having that experience will contribute to an outstanding CV that really grabs the attention of recruiters. In addition, throughout this year you will gain new transferable skills that you can take into both your final year and future workplaces, such as organising and prioritising tasks. You will also have an advantage when it comes to answering difficult interview questions- you will have lots of stories from your time on placement, providing anecdotal evidence to back up your claims.

Make connections and open new doors

Throughout your work experience you will undoubtedly meet many people in industry. Forming these connections will help you identify new opportunities and learn lots from those more experience than yourself. Furthermore, although there are no guarantees, many students are offered roles with their placement companies before they have graduated. Having the security of a grad job can really ease the pressure of final year and allow you to focus on making the most of your remaining time in Sheffield, both academically and socially.

Explore industries before committing after graduation

It often feels like there is so much pressure for you to know which industry you want to work in and have a comprehensive career plan to match. It is completely normal, however, to be unsure of the type of job you want, and a placement year will help guide you to the correct path. Having genuine experience within a particular industry or job role will help you decide if the job is for you or not. Sometimes, students fall in love with a particular industry, and other times, students can have a positive experience on placement, but know that it is not something they want to be doing after they graduate. For example, my placement was a general management role with a heavy emphasis on sales, I loved my year in industry however I know that a sales role is not for me. I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to dip my toe in the water, without having to commit to a full grad scheme!

It supports your Dean’s List Application

Since 2018, the University of Sheffield Management School (SUMS) has awarded select students a place on the Dean’s List. This prestigious award allows students to gain recognition for the impact they have made at University and rounds off the University experience nicely. Recipients are awarded a personal reference from the Dean of the Management School, as well as a plaque and networking opportunities with SUMS alumni. Completing a placement year looks fantastic on your Dean’s List applications, and many previous winners have completed an industrial placement.

Find out more about the Dean’s List here.

Completing a placement is a great opportunity for any student, regardless of their level of work experience, and I would personally recommend it to absolutely everyone. Applying for these roles is competitive, but the Management School’s Employability Hub can help you every step of the way, from CV guidance to interview and assessment centre tips. Make sure you give it serious thought and for everyone applying good luck, you won’t regret it!