Many of us might remember learning about metaphors in school mainly as a poetic or linguistic device which we were encouraged to identify and discuss when analysing literary texts. Metaphors can help us understand complex ideas and systems by simplifying them; equally, they can confuse or constrain our thinking by…>
Academic
Networking: How to Maximize Opportunities and Boost Your Career Connections
This article considers a few key points about different forms of networking, the challenges as well as the benefits. Whether you are employed, looking for your first job, or aiming to set up your own business, maximising networking opportunities can bring rewards. Let’s start with a question: What images come…>
PowerPoint – Has ‘Click and Talk’ Replaced ‘Chalk and Talk’?
PowerPoint was conceived and developed as presentation software. Even though it was not originally designed for use in teaching, PowerPoint has become ubiquitous in all levels of education. Excessive reliance on this program can have a ‘distancing’ effect and, in the worst instances, teachers stop being teachers and simply become…>
Making A Five Year Research Plan
Many academics will be asked by their institutions to produce a research plan that will take them up to the date of the next REF-style audit. In this exercise universities want their researchers to conduct ‘blue skies’ thinking that will fulfil their institutional strategic needs. However, scholars have their own…>
6 Things to Avoid Putting in your CV
When it comes to your CV, first impressions count. You have limited space to prove your value to recruiters. And anything that gives them a bad impression of you could cause your CV to get rejected. So, to impress, you need to pack your CV with selling points. Ditch the…>
Getting Published
There has been a proliferation of options for would-be writers to be published in recent years due to the development of digital technology and social media platforms. Many publications are now both online as well as in hard copy, with others only accessible online. Whilst this offers more choice for…>
Skills CV Template
Either of the Classic CV or Skills CV formats can be used for any application for many jobs including managerial, professional, administration and any other non-academic job. In general the chronological format tends to be used by new graduates or those with less work experience. You need to choose which…>
Top Ten Tips on Note-taking
Note-taking is a skill that we use in many walks of life: at school, university and in the world of work. However, it will be obvious to many people that they have not honed the skills needed to get maximum potential from their note-taking, so here are 10 tips on…>