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Job hunting: Stay safe online

It’s important to be able to spot the warning signs when a job opportunity is not legitimate when searching for jobs online.

Our Careers and Employability team review each job advertisement published on CareerHub to ensure, where possible, that jobs are genuine, lawful and non-discriminatory. Occasionally, however, a job may get through our rigorous checks or you might find something through a different website that you wish to apply for. So, it’s important to be vigilant when deciding whether to apply for a specific role or not.

Resist the pressure to apply quickly

Almost all vacancies which are advertised will have a closing date and you will need to apply before that date for your application to be considered. It’s important to note that some job advertisements may even close early if an organisation receives enough applications.

However, if you are feeling pressured to apply immediately, or there is perceived pressure to sign paperwork without the chance to read and consider it properly, this should be a warning sign. Look at the company website to check their advertised vacancies, calling them to confirm anything you may be unsure of if necessary.

Protect your identity

Be aware of the information that you are sharing with a third party. This could include an employer, a recruitment agency or even uploading your information onto a website. Your CV should always include basic contact information – your email address and telephone number; but it doesn’t need to include your address (although you may wish to add a general area e.g. Chester).

DO NOT include details such as your National Insurance number, passport number, date of birth or bank details in your CV. Genuine employers won’t ask for this information until you have a formal job offer and you shouldn’t disclose this information until you’re sure that the opportunity is genuine.

Avoid paying upfront costs

Don’t get tricked into paying any upfront costs for fake security checks, certification or training, or sending money in advance for interview travel, software or equipment. Genuine companies won’t ask you to pay in advance for any part of the recruitment process, although there may be instances where you are required to pay for your travel to attend an interview or assessment centre (some companies, and especially larger companies, may reimburse your travel expenses).

If a premium rate or international phone number is the only way to respond to a job advertisement, or you’re asked to call a premium rate number for a phone interview (usually starting with 0070 or 09), the job may not exist and the charge for the phone call can be very expensive. It is normal practice for employers to provide you with a landline number that you can call.

Check emails carefully

Fake email addresses can look convincing, so make sure to check the details carefully. It might look like an official email address but check for anything that doesn’t seem right – this could include a missing letter, slight changes to the name, spelling mistakes and poor grammar.

If a personal email address is being used rather than a company email address, you may want to check this out further. If you’re not sure whether it’s genuine, look at the company website or contact the employer to ensure it’s genuine.

If you receive emails about a job that you haven’t applied for then you should immediately be suspicious, especially if they ask for any personal information or bank details.

Be realistic – if it seems too good to be true then it probably is!

If the opportunity being advertised seems to be paying way above the market average, offering far more benefits than you would expect for the level of work or a large salary with “no experience needed”, then be on alert. We’d advise you to be careful and conduct some additional checks.

If you’re offered a role without any sort of application process, particularly if the next step is to pay for something in advance to be able to do the job, it’s likely to be a scam so do not apply!

Examples of scam jobs include (but sadly aren’t limited to) the following:

  • Any job that requires you to supply bank or financial information, passport or similar identification at the first stage of application is probably phishing. A legitimate employer might require these details, but only after a formal job offer is made to you.
  • Roles offering high pay for minimal work can sometimes use your bank account for money laundering scams so do not apply! There are serious legal consequences for employers for this type of activity.
  • Pyramid selling – these include roles where you’re recruited by a seller above you to buy stock with the intention of selling it on. Roles like this also expect you to make money by signing up new members to sell for you. 
  • Roles where you’re required to sell services or goods directly to all your personal contacts – the organisation may be after your sales leads and not your experience specifically.
  • Any job that expects you to pay for training. The small print may say that you pay for the course but there may be no guarantee of work at the end of it.

If in doubt…

  • Don’t apply for the job
  • Don’t sign anything
  • Don’t pay for any services on offer
  • Don’t reply to any contact made to you by the organisation
  • Don’t be reassured just because you see similar adverts across multiple websites. Some of these sites are connected or they make so much money quickly that they can afford to advertise widely before disappearing
  • Check it is a legitimate business by seeing if the organisation is listed on Companies House
  • Ask the Careers Service for a second opinion: careers@chester.ac.uk

Further help

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University of Chester Student Nurse choir performance

Start Date: 1 February 2024 10:00 am

End Date: 1 February 2024 11:00 am

Location: Chester Cathedral, St Werburgh Street, Chester CH1 2DY

Join our first year Pre-registration Nursing students for their Creative Health Choir performance at Chester Cathedral:

  • Thursday 1 February
  • 10am-11am
  • Chester Cathedral, St Werburgh Street, Chester CH1 2DY

Everyone is welcome and no booking is required. Refreshments are also available.

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Chester Students’ Union AGM

Start Date: 12 February 2024 4:00 pm

End Date: 12 February 2024 6:00 pm

Location: Binks CBK107, Exton Park or online

CSU’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) is your chance to vote on different agenda items for us as a charitable membership organisation.

To join online, please click here, and use the Meeting ID: 354 516 271 266 and Passcode: 4ZiBsX.

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How to: claim your lost property

Lost something at one of our sites?

You can easily claim your lost property by popping to one of our lost property collection points.

We keep all lost property for a month – so if you’ve misplaced something, it’s definitely worth popping to one of our collection points during University open hours to see if it’s been handed in.

Exton Park

  • Collection point: Seaborne Library helpdesk
  • Staffed hours: Monday-Friday, 8.30am-8pm, Weekend: 11.45am-6pm

Wheeler

  • Collection point: Main Reception desk

Queen’s Park

  • Collection point: Churchill House Reception desk

Creative Campus, Kingsway

  • Collection point: Security Office at Reception

University Centre Warrington

  • Collection point: Remond House Reception

University Centre Shrewsbury

  • Collection point: Security Office at Reception

University Centre Birkenhead

  • Collection point: Security Office, Ground Floor Foyer
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LGBTQ+ Student Support Network: Healthy Relationships

Start Date: 25 January 2024 2:30 pm

End Date: 25 January 2024 3:30 pm

Location: Online

This session will look at what is a healthy relationship. It will cover the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship; boundaries and their role in relationships; communication skills; keeping up with the fun stuff and self-care; as well as how to access support and support resources.

To attend this session please join our LGBTQ+ Student Support Network, which is live on Teams – click to join or email studentservices@chester.ac.uk 

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Give it go- Post pals card writing

Start Date: 26 January 2024 12:00 pm

End Date: 26 January 2024 2:00 pm

Location: Community Hub, Exton Park

As part of the Wellbeing Fest, join the Volunteering Team for a Give it a go to bring joy to seriously ill children and their siblings by writing them letters via the charity Postpals. Drop into the Community Hub to design some cards – we’ll bring the craft supplies!

Booking not required, just drop in! For more information though, please see our listing on the Volunteer Hub.

Any queries please contact the team on volunteering@chester.ac.uk

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Volunteer pop-up

Start Date: 24 January 2024 11:00 am

End Date: 24 January 2024 1:00 pm

Location: Binks Foyer, Exton Park

Would you like to volunteer but not sure where to start? Are you already volunteering but would like to learn more about our volunteer award scheme?

Come along for a chat with the Volunteering and Mentoring Team to learn more about volunteering and how you can get involved during your time at University, including:

  • Volunteer Hub
  • UCV awards
  • Student-led projects
  • Give it a go activities

We hope to see you there! For any queries contact the team on volunteering@chester.ac.uk

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Pandora’s Box: Open mic night

Start Date: 7 February 2024 6:00 pm

End Date: 7 February 2024 8:00 pm

Location: Vicarage Lecture Theatre, CVC008.

Pandora’s Box runs popular open-mic nights on the Exton Park Campus, hosted by the latest student editors. The nights are for current students (in any department) who want to read out and listen to contemporary creative writing.

Read out your latest poems, flash fictions or play extracts. Or just listen to what other students have written.

The nights are informal and fun. Bring along whatever you want to drink and nibble.

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Self-care when studying abroad

Whether you’re an international student who’s just joined the University, or you’re a home student who’s preparing to study abroad, studying abroad is one of the most exciting and beneficial experiences you can have as a student.

But adjusting to a new country can be scary. It’s natural and healthy to be wary when entering a new place, but it can sometimes go from caution to fear in such an unfamiliar environment, especially if it’s your first time abroad or if you’re alone.

Practising self-care during your study abroad is very important. In between the whirlwind of new experiences, make sure to find the time to check in with yourself and evaluate your wellbeing.

Here are some self-care tips to help you cope with the inevitable ups and downs of studying abroad:

Invest in mental health days

Everyone has different self-care needs and different ways of expressing themselves when things get tough. Take at least one day a week to practice self-care. This could be meditation, journalling, going on a long walk in nature, or trying online therapy – there are many ways to decompress and make sense of things.

All students have access to our Student Assistance Programme which offers 24/7 support. You can also access support and great additional wellbeing features on the Wisdom app.


Find a community

Although the initial weeks can be hectic and may feel like Welcome Week all over again, be brave! You’ve made it this far, maybe you can go a little further. Most people will be feeling the same way and will appreciate you reaching out to them.

Making friends is arguably the best way to make a place feel like home. When you’re so far away from family and friends back home, the new friends you make will inevitably become your family. Join a CSU society or AU Club.


Exercise

The mental and physical benefits of exercise are well-known, but it’s one of those things that’s difficult to keep up at the best of times – even harder when you’re halfway around the world and you understandably forgot to pack the tennis racket.

Regular exercise, even for short spells, will help reduce stress and help you feel more relaxed in your new surroundings. At UoC, we run free Active Campus sessions and free fitness classes for all students.


Go outside and explore

You didn’t travel all this way to experience studying abroad from your bedroom. One of the best ways to reduce stress is to get away from the busy campus and find solace in nature.

In Chester and the surrounding areas, there are beautiful parks, landscapes, and scenery within travelling distance that you’ve never seen before. Explore those places with your new community or by yourself and see how your mental health begins to improve.

Be kind to yourself

We’re often kind to those around us, but sometimes it can be easy to forget to be kind to ourselves. Self-compassion is the ability to show ourselves kindness, particularly when things don’t go as we might have planned. Speak to yourself with a warm and encouraging voice, as you might do to a friend if they needed support.

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Top tips: How to avoid scams

Scams can come in many forms and the majority are designed to steal your money or your identity.

This is commonly done by getting you to reveal your personal details, stealing your information, or even tricking you into willingly handing over the cash.

It’s important to know how to recognise a scam, and what actions to take if you fall victim to them.

Here are our top tips:

Beware of email and online scams

Be cautious when scanning your inbox, especially those emails which promise incredible deals, or say urgent action is required. Avoid clicking on suspicious links, and never provide personal information such as credit card details or passwords through emails.

Make sure your online shopping is secure

If you’re shopping online, make sure the website is secure. Only use reputable online retailers and avoid making purchases through public wi-fi networks which might not be secure.

Use strong passwords

Strengthen your online security by using unique and strong passwords for your accounts. Struggle to keep track of them? Use a password manager to keep them secure.

Update your software

Make sure your devices have the latest software. If your devices aren’t up to date, they risk not being totally secure.

Check your banking apps frequently

Make sure you’re keeping an eye out for any unauthorised or suspicious transactions on your bank statements. Many of us avoid our bank accounts when we’re worried about money, but doing this means you might not notice money going out of your account.

Trust your instincts

If something feels off or too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers often rely on a sense of urgency or incredible offers to lure you in. Take the time to investigate before making any decisions.

Head over to your bank’s website to read more on spotting frauds and scams, and also what to do if you fall victim to them.

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