Author: Linsey Chaplin

The best parks in Sheffield

By Wenxi Jiang, MSc International Management and Marketing

Whilst living in the city centre of Sheffield, especially in the past year during the pandemic, visiting different parks has been one of my biggest events and joy in life. The fresh air, the greenness, and the chill atmosphere among people is lovely – even with masks on. I would like to show you my experience through four seasons and spread the joy!

Weston Park and Crookes Valley Park

Weston Park is one of the most iconic parks in Sheffield. My first visit was when I was taking part in a city tour by international school staff as a new student. In this park, you can see Weston Park Museum, very beautiful architecture and a small lake with ducks and swans swimming and resting. If you are lucky, you can even see and feed the squirrels! Usually on sunny days, people will just sit or lie on the grass, either chatting or reading a book. This park was one of the first things I saw of Sheffield, and gave a great first impression.

Crookes Valley Park is next to Weston Park, and only around two minutes away from the Management School. The most famous thing about Crookes Valley Park is the cherry blossom trees. With the huge lake and animals, it is always the best place to bring kids, walk dogs and appreciate the beauty of the scenery.

Spring

From late March, England will wake up from the cold and rainy days. At this time, you can change to wear some colourful and lightweight clothes, which immediately makes you feel better! With the warm breeze gently blowing, the cherry blossom flickers and falls down like snow.

Summer

Summer is an ebullient season. The sky is vast, the sun is strong and the nature is flourishing. People also become more active and open. They come to the park to experience the joy of sports and do some sunbathing.

Autumn

Autumn is short. And I think this is another way to say autumn is precious. Every corner in Sheffield is covered with golden leaves and that’s the time you know you should go to the park. Even watching the sunset going down gives you a little bit sense of sadness and homesick, you know the view is worth it.

Winter

The white winter is so special. I stayed up late the night before the first snow in Sheffield in 2021. In the morning when I open the curtain, I was shocked by the snow that totally changed the view. Everything looked clean and clear under the whiteness. When I got to the park, there are kids and teenagers already started to play. They built snowmen and sledged down the slope by skate, or even just a plastic bag. It’s easy to be happy when it’s snowy!

Parkwood Springs

Another place I would like to recommend is called Parkwood Springs. It is up on the hills and little bit away from the city center. You can search “Spirit of Parkwood” in Google Maps and Uber there. It takes about 7 minutes to drive from the city center and about 35 minutes to walk. It is a park or maybe simply a playground for the nearby neighbourhood. It has a wildly-growing lawn that can be used to play football and have picnics. And the best part is that you can overlook the whole city from the hill. But the experience is only good in summer after several sunny days in a row, because it can become very muddy and slippery after rain.

Working 9 to 5 – My placement experience at PwC

By Frankie Paterson, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

My first interaction with PwC was at a networking evening during semester one in second year at the Diamond. To this day, I still remember smiles on Associates and Managers’ faces when speaking about the firm. ‘They love their job’, I thought. Little did I know, the recruitment team running the event were people I would be working with on placement.

Looking around the room, I was taken aback by students talking to recruiters with a glass of wine in hand! Surely they can’t work for a prestigious company like PwC if their focus is on the free alcohol? So what did I do? My shy self built up the courage to join them, as I was unsure whether to apply for the HR or Marketing role. Turns out it was the best decision to throw myself into networking, as I gained advice on the application process and psychometric tests.

Fast forward a couple of months, my assessment centre was successful! In January 2019, I was made an offer of a 11-month placement in the Student Recruitment team in Birmingham. I was thrilled! All the hours spent writing cover letters and practicing maths questions was worth it. Great, I’m all ready to go and complete my year in industry in September … or maybe not.

It’s a funny time between accepting and starting your placement. My self-consciousness returned and I started doubting my ability. Would I be good enough for a company like PwC? Was I the right person for the role? Fortunately, all these worries were soon gone after my predecessor Sophie took me out for lunch to meet the team. It is a day I will never forget, mainly because I turned up in smart trousers and a blazer whilst everyone wore jeans and trainers! Yes, my manager included.

Needless to say, the team were all friendly, welcoming and supportive throughout. Here are some of my placement highlights:

  1. One Chamberlain Square – or ‘the new, fancy office’ as everyone called it! The pictures below really don’t do it justice but it was such a fresh, quirky place to work.
  2. Support. As the ‘newbie’ it’s comforting having a group of people you can talk to when you want to ask those silly questions!
  3. The PwC culture. This still resonates with me even now. Matt Hammond (Senior Partner) gave everyone a Friday off work to participate in Sports Day! This was great fun as Senior Managers through to Interns were competing over tug of war.
  4. The perks. Staying at the Park Plaza hotel on Westminster Bridge with a king size bed and room service wasn’t a bad way to end the Christmas party!

As fantastic as these were, the most important part is I thoroughly enjoyed my placement year and can’t recommend one enough. The biggest takeaway was learning a 9-5 desk job isn’t for me. This is because I loved moving around, hosting assessment centres in Bristol or attending a careers fair at Nottingham university. Before I left in July, I had the opportunity to speak to graduates across various departments to discover which graduate programme I would be interested in. As my manager was pleased with the impact I had on the team, I’m delighted to be going back in September (COVID permitting) to join the Risk Assurance practice.

Four tips to help you ace exam season

By Temi Karim, BA Business Management

The dreaded time is upon us. Lockdown has eased and the sun is finally out, but we still have work to do. With time running out, we need to find ways to take advantage of the time we do have to put us one step closer to getting our degrees. Luckily for you, I’ve spent my time at uni testing out different study methods so you don’t have to. I’m here to share with you the top four things that have made studying WAY easier for me. You may have already heard a couple of these tips, but I’m hoping some of them can really help change studying for you.

#1 – ‘They Say, I Say’ by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein

Studying a course with a lot of analytical writing? Have no idea WHAT analytical writing even is? Well, this book has got your back. ‘They Say, I Say’ tackles the mysterious topic of analytical writing and teaches you how to approach different subjects without feeling like you’re saying the same sentence over and over again.

And the best part about it? It’s got writing templates to practice with! It’s one thing to understand what to do, but it’s another to know how to do it, and this book teaches you both.

It’s definitely an investment, but it’s one that I have not regretted.

#2 – Plan Backwards

I can’t tell you the number of times I think I’ve done about 80% of an essay, then had to do an all-nighter to finish what I thought was 20% left. That’s why it’s extremely important to not just create a plan, but to plan backwards from the deadline. After breaking down the task into smaller sections and prioritising which ones are the most important, planning backwards from the deadline helps you identify when you need to finish each task, and you can set mini-deadlines for yourself. You can also build in some extra cushion and proof-reading time, so that all-nighters can finally become a thing of the past!

#3 – No Library? Use Focusmate

Chances are, going to the library isn’t the best option right now. Spaces are hard to find, and not a lot of people want to wear a stuffy mask while studying all day long. But it can also be extremely hard to work alone without a study environment. That’s where Focusmate comes in. Focusmate pairs you up with a random person around the world and the two of you study together for 50 minutes. I’ve found this to be perfect for getting work done, because otherwise it’s kind of embarrassing to say to your partner that you got nothing done the entire hour!

You get 3 free sessions a week, but for about $5 (roughly £3) a month, you can book as many sessions as you’d like. I’ll admit, at the start, I was a bit concerned about running into some creeps, but I haven’t really met any. Probably the weirdest person I came across did yoga the entire session, which was definitely a bit uncomfortable, but I’ve met way more people with cats than I’ve met creeps.

I’ve completed nearly 200 sessions since January, and I can definitely say that this helped me get through exam season at home.

#4 – The Pomodoro technique

If you struggle with focusing for long periods of time, or just don’t want to work with a stranger online, the Pomodoro technique can be great for helping you work without feeling burnt out. It breaks down work time and break time into short intervals, usually 25 minutes of work to a 5-minute break, but how you break it up is entirely up to you. The best apps I’ve found for this are Tide and Flora.

Tide has an entire catalogue of calming music to help you really zone into your work. On the other hand, a session on Flora grows a cute little plant which you can add to your garden for the week. Here’s one of my gardens!

I’ve tried and tested all of these tips, and can say for sure that each one has helped me study better in more ways than I can imagine. I know that this exam season is going to be a tough one for all of us, but I hope that some of these tips make it a little bit easier to get through it. Good luck!

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!

  1. 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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!

  1. 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!

My first Christmas in the UK

By Serena Wong, BA International Business Management with Study Abroad

The holiday season is finally here- which means it’s time for all things red, green, merry and bright. However, that’s not all there is to this wondrous season of the year. Christmas is not only the perfect excuse to sate your appetite with mulled wine, honey-glazed gammon, and all the dessert one can possibly eat, it is also the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with your friends and family.

As an international student who’s not going home this Christmas holiday, I knew that this season of joy and giving can be equally lonesome if not for having friends to celebrate with! I am incredibly grateful to have commenced my winter break with a Christmas dinner together with my flatmates.

However close you are with your flatmates, it’s always a brilliant idea to gather everyone for a Christmas dinner. Since none of my flat mates mentioned having one, I decided to propose the idea. Lo and behold, everyone was so excited in the preparation for our dinner. We went grocery shopping, cooked, played some games, had some drinks and ate until we felt like throwing up!

Amidst the preparation, I had learned a little more about how cherished the Christmas spirit is in the UK. My friend and flat mate, Nicole, guided us in making many traditional English Christmas delicacies such as roast gammon, Yorkshire pudding and pigs-in-blankets. She taught us local games and traditions which everyone enjoyed learning. My highlight of the evening was seeing all our international friends embrace new delicacies and traditions because our first Christmas in the UK will forever be remembered.

If this is your first Christmas in the UK, I hope you will fill this time with new experiences, good food, and good company. It’s perfectly normal to miss home – more so if you’re an international student who’s not going home (like myself). But I truly believe, if you treat yourself to a good cup of hot chocolate at Sheffield’s Christmas Market or take a short trip to a different city, you’ll start feeling the Christmas spirit (and dance to Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You).

During this festive season of giving, let us take time to slow down and enjoy the simple things. May this wonderful time of the year touch your heart in a special way. Wishing you much happiness not just today, but throughout the New Year!

 

How to survive exam period

By Eloise Howard, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

When starting university, exam period can seem daunting, as it may be different to what you have experienced previously at school or college. However, there is a lot of support and guidance at the University and if you are organised and work hard you will succeed!

A few important things to bear in mind that you may not have considered include:

  • If your exam requires a calculator you need to get your calculator approvedat the Students’ Services Information Desk (SSiD) in the Students’ Union beforehand
  • There are multiple different exam venues but there is a helpful guide on the University website to help you with directions!
  • You must bring your UCard to any exam as proof of ID
  • A draft and final exam timetable are released so make sure to check the final version as changes can be made to the date or venue of the exam

In terms of revision, my main piece of advice would be to manage your time in the best way possible. Give yourself plenty of time to do your revision – personally, I found that revising 4-6 weeks before an exam was the best method for me! This may seem like a lot of time but often you need to balance revision with writing coursework, other activities and part-time work so I’ve found it’s best to have lots of time and not leave anything to the last minute! What’s great about Sheffield University is that there are so many resources available and the Information Commons (one of the main libraries) is open 24/7. This means that you can find a routine that works best for you – some people may prefer to do a 9-5pm day whilst others work better very early or very late. Writing your own revision timetable can also help you to manage your time. However, don’t forget to factor in some downtime with friends and family, as it’s important to have a break and take time out too!

In addition, it is really important to ensure you stay healthy during exams. It can be tempting to live off library snacks all day but try to eat nutritious food to ensure you have energy! Also, exercise is a great stress relief and fitting in the gym or a jog can help you to clear your mind after a day of revision – it’s great too if you’ve been sat at the same desk all day! Finally, sleep is essential during exam period, I would recommend getting your normal hours of sleep as revision can be tiring and you need to be refreshed!

Follow this link for any additional information regarding exams, timetables, venues and general advice https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/exams/notes

Tips for finding accommodation in second and third year

By James Dylag, BA Business Management

When you’re in first year, you will live in University owned halls, which makes moving a lot simpler. However, in both your second and third years it is up to you to find your own accommodation. which sounds like a daunting task! Follow this guide to make the process as easy as possible!

Firstly, you need to decide who you’re living with. I lived in Endcliffe in my first year along with nine others. As a flat, we decided to split into a group of six and four – as finding a house large enough for everyone was quite the task (it is possible to find ten bed houses, but you have to be quick!). The ideal time to start thinking about this is late October/early November. This seems really early, but it allows time for changes if anyone decides they want to live with another group, or you end up recruiting a new housemate.

Once you’ve split into your groups, the next thing to do is to start looking. The majority of people live in an area called Crookesmoor (Crookes), which is a short walk away from Broomhill and conveniently located 10-15 minutes away from Uni. Crookes is scattered with shops, cafes and pubs – most notably Alyssum, a green grocer, and the Dam House – all of which help to make Crookes a perfect area for students. There are other areas to consider such as: Broomhall, City Centre, and along Ecclesall Road – however Crookes is the most popular.

Now you’ve decided on an area, it’s time to start viewing houses! You can start doing this as early as November, or after the Christmas break. However, the best houses tend to go first, and after the Christmas break you also have revision to contend with. In my opinion, its best to do this sooner rather than later. Sheffield has loads of estate agents which offer properties specifically tailored to students. The University has an agent inside of the Students Union called Smart Move. This is a good place to start your search. However, there are several other agents – for example: Fit Property, Home Accommodation and Broomhill Property Shop. All of these agents will have a variety of options for students and specialise in this area.

When you start viewing houses there are some key things you might want to think about asking the estate agent/tenants, it’s worth noting these down as a group beforehand so you don’t forget anything. For me, the key question is – are the neighbours’ students? Having another group of students next door is the ideal situation, because both you and them should (hopefully) be quite relaxed about noise to a certain extent. You might find that neighbours who are not students will be less tolerant of noise, which is understandable.

Hopefully this has been a useful blog, and you’re armed with some tips to go and find your perfect student house! Happy hunting!

Balancing university and part-time work

By Eloise Howard, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

Where do I work?

In the summer before I started at the University of Sheffield, I applied for a part-time role at the Students’ Union and was lucky enough to get the role! My role included working in Pearls Bubble Tea and Coffee Revolution in the SU. My experience of working in the SU could not have been better – I wouldrecommend it to anyone, as it means that you meet loads of other students and I made loads of friends in first year this way. It’s also really flexible and they understand that students have other commitments – by having a zero hours contract, you’re able to put in your availability for each week. For example, if you have exams coming up you may only work 6 hours a week, but at a quieter time in the year you could be working up to 16 hours a week.

How do I balance work with my studies?

Doing part-time work at the Students’ Union has definitely taught me how to manage my time effectively. One of the key things you learn is how to prioritise your tasks and understand when your studies need to take priority or when you can be more flexible with your time. Although I sometimes found this hard, I understand now that it is much better to sacrifice a week’s wages during exam period and have enough time to properly do my work, rather than try to squeeze everything in! Having said that, there is a maximum of 16 hours a week that students can work at the Union, so most of the time this isn’t too demanding and fits quite nicely around my work. Also, my hours are typically Monday to Friday so I always have the weekend to catch up on work if I need to and it is only term time so I still get all the same holidays as everyone else!

How does working benefit me?

One of the obvious benefits is that I am getting some extra income whilst being a student, which is always helpful! For me, I really like being independent and paying my own way – it also means I have enough money to enjoy myself the whole year and not have the worry of all my student finance running out after a month! However, there are many other positives to working, such as the experience it has given me. It looks excellent on your CV and I believe it truly helped me to get my placement year at GSK, because I had lots of examples and skills to talk about in my interview.