Writing 500 words about me

Applying for jobs is difficult at times, knowing what information to put on the form or what to list on the covering letter to make you look as great as you are is taxing at times. It’s never purely about you, it’s about the skills you have learnt the people you have worked for and the job you are going for.

Writing 500 words purely on my achievements over the past 12 months is like trying to list every file on the computer. I tend to remember the ones I use most and forget the files that although are important just do not register as vital to my computer.

Looking back over the past 12 months though, there has been a lot of stuff I have been involved with, from competitions to internships, photography opportunities and helping people develop their skills.

Getting this into a document is more difficult though, as if I use all the achievements on my cv I miss out on some bits of work I have done but are not fitting with my preferred career path.

Once the document is finished I will post up my 500 words to see your thoughts and comments on not only the content but the structure as well.

That’s All For Now

Amy

A Fresh Start for Cinderella

Morning!

The clocks have sprung forward and the sun is out to explain why. For some reason this time change I always react better too. Maybe its the fact that as the sunrise get earlier and brighter I get to wake up more naturally opposed to the horrid high-pitched beep of the alarm.

After yesterdays fun of clearing out and cleaning up a couple of rooms, my attention now moves to updating the books and creating notes for tomorrows presentation.

But why cinderella for the title?

For me Cinderella is not purely about how the pretty sister will get the prince she wants but also the fresh start she gets gives after the fairy godmother allows her to experience a life she wouldn’t normally get chance to due to her evil stepmother. So once the clock strikes midnight and everything goes back to how it was. Instead of being disheartened, Cinderella still has the memory of how joyful the night was and it gives her a new spring in her step.

The clock change is nowhere near as Disney, but every year as it gets warmer. I feel more positive about my choices. This year the summer means graduation and the end of 3 years of studying as well as the excitement of finding a job.

Last summer I had the opportunity to work for a charity called SEED/Breathe in Preston. Working full-time was much more enjoyable than lectures full-time, a chance to interact with others who have the same positive ideas for what the charity can achieve and how many people it could help.

This academic year I have been focused more on my job hunt and getting the best result possible for my degree. So I am hoping my Cinderella moment will happen sometime around 18th May when all is said and done.

Wish me luck and Hope that my prince charming of a job will find me soon

That’s All For Now

Amy

But it’s sunny outside

It’s near that time again, where the sun starts to show his face.

I often get distracted by many tasks and ideas that are buzzing around my head. Never mind being distracted by the weather as well!

The positive to this Glorious sunshine is the warmth and light it provides for my many seedlings that are growing stronger by the day. The chair I have painted has dried a lot quicker and the weather seems to have put many people into a better mood.

The negative is that my essay research is somewhat lacking, my journal articles and case studies collected by I haven’t even started on my books to figure out which ethical theories I will look at.

It has always amazed me how in winter as a nations we huddle up and try staying warm in a duvet and avoid all outside (and inside) chores because it’s miserable outside. Yet in the spring summer we spend our time outside basking in the warmth and looking at all the greenery, still ignoring all the chores. What season and weather would inspire work to be done? Maybe it’s just me but the fact that my outlook on the amount of work I have to do changes dramatically depending on what the weather does. What seems like  a mountain when it’s raining, seems to only take a few hours on a sunny day.

At least my plants are focus on developing no matter what the weather is like.

That’s All For Now

Amy

Keeping Accounts

Those who know me well, will have seen my desk.

It tends to be FULL of paperwork and bits and bobs that have just landed there.

Majority of it useful, although as I look at my almost clear desk and see a toothbrush next to some stamps.

Some questions are best left unasked.

When it comes to my online “desktop” so to speak.

I’m pretty neat, I know all my passwords, which websites I am signed up to, which ones I’ve unsubscribed to and which ones I will never use.

In my current venture of becoming a photographer for hire, I have been using 3 email accounts, 1 payment account, 1 photo hosting site and additional promotion through Facebook and twitter.

Now I find myself coming to the point of transferring all this data into actual hard copy paperwork.

Time to evaluate whether what I have started is profitable or ever will be profitable for that fact.

Reflection was a curse word in my first and second year, now I am starting to understand the value of looking back on the work you have done before you go any further just to see if it is worth the effort you are putting in.

For the time being I am feeling positive about the way I have managed this new venture and the platforms is spreads across.

Only time will tell if the paperwork reflects the same positivity.

 

That’s All For Now

Amy

UCLan Sports Ball Photos 2012

I have recently looked into developing my photography skills, purchasing equipment and re-reading all my old notes from college. Having the fantastic opportunity to photograph an event such as the sports ball was something I would never turn down.

Little did I know how many people would be there, how temperamental my stand would be and that lots of duct tape would be involved (for health and safety reasons of course).

The pictures are viewable through the link below

http://www.flickr.com/photos/missajburton/sets/72157629080657896/with/6836104662/

I would definitely look into doing a shoot like this again, although I am looking into a heavier backdrop and a bigger stand as for groups my stand/backdrop was not quite good enough.

I’m not looking at courses that would benefit my photography skills and the potential business I could set up

That’s All for Now

Amy

#RedRoses at CIM Pitch Final

On 8th March 2012, Myself, Emma and Stacey started preparing for our pitch presentation for the CIM Final. The presentation itself had been sent on 24th February, so at this point we were trying our best to time our notes and ensure that all the information was clear.

We had woken up in Glasgow, after a few hours we were ready to head to the SECC full of nerves and excitement. With our props being very delicately held, astate does not enjoy being printed on, no matter how much hairspray is used. So smudge free we headed round the centre to find out where to sign in. After a few minutes we bumped into the Huddersfield Team (Who came first in the Northern CIM Pitch Heat) and not long after we signed in did we meet the other 2 teams who had made it to the final these teams were Brighton and Leeds .

It was great to have the support of so many, as a team we worked very hard to make sure that we had a presentation of the highest standard. We have been using #redroses since november the responses through twitter were very positive.

Whilst we were presenting having pictures sent out showing our “fabulous” dresses as well as showing how nervous we were (or at least how nervous I was!). After each presentation the microphone was offered up to the audience for full participation. We were very lucky to be asked 2 questions, which were answered in full to the best of our knowledge.

Unfortunately #RedRoses did not win this years CIM Pitch 2012, Team Envision from Huddersfield took the award which was well deserved with their clear idea for raising awareness with posters in specific areas. The experience was worth every second of research and wanting to just throw the laptop across the room! Developing presentation skills further in a more competitive environment outside of a University campus or classroom is of the highest value as graduation gets closer and the job applications increase. Being different from the student next to you can get quite cut throat with jobs being so scarce. Being a Member of a Team that got to the national final out of 45 teams that entered in total is something that went straight onto the cv and linkedin profile.

Below is our final presentation minus notes

CIM Pitch 2012 – #RedRoses University of Central Lancashire Team

View more PowerPoint from MissAJBurton

For me the opportunity to present at Diabetes UK Conference at the SECC was not only great for the cv but a chance to understand more about diabetes. My younger sister is a Type 1 Diabetic, as I am in Preston most of the year I get very little opportunity to find out about glucose monitors and technology to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Although my medical knowledge is limited and I am not a diabetic myself so it’s mainly a case of what I have seen is what I know.

Opposite the arena where the Pitch presentation was held was the Nipro Europe stand which was promoting the True Result Twist monitor, one of the staff explained the monitor in full and helped me to understand the advantages and disadvantages of the monitor. It’s size was the first thing that caught my eye, closely followed by the colour. Having a demonstration of it with test liquid was enough for me to try find out the cost, to which I was told I could take one home with me for a trial. It’s rare I take advantage of a freebie, more often than not it leads to TONS of paperwork and a weekly email reminder to review the product. As with many of the stands, most people took time to explain what the product was, how it worked and what their stand was about. It was incredible to see so many people in once place who are working to help those with diabetes any way they can.

I would recommend any Marketing or Business student to enter CIM Pitch competition, the experience you gain and the people you meet is worth the time you put into it. I would also love to go to the Diabetes UK Conference again, the information provided is excellent and everyone there was so friendly even when they did find out that #RedRoses were not medical students or diabetics.

I look forward to more events and opportunities like this once I am working within Marketing.

That’s All For Now

Amy

#RedRoses Dressed to present

Although the team LOVE the dress we presented in at the northwest heat of the CIM Pitch. We decided it was best to say goodbye to the dresses that looked more suited to a window than a girl’s body. With the success of not only finding a dress within a few hours of looking. Last dress hunt took 3 days and we were less than satisfied with the result. There is a dress we are all happy with and looks professional.

The idea of presenting in the same dress is one that made us stand out from the crowd, or look like we should have chatted before meeting up on the day. Whichever way you look at it, a statement is made. Now to prepare for tomorrows dress rehearsal.

Watch this space for feedback and the results of thursday’s competition.

That’s All For Now

Amy

The things that make it feel like home

To me home is seeing shoes littered by the front door, the smell of food cooking in the oven or more often than not the smell of a freshly lit fire.

Trying to make somewhere else feel like home is very difficult, from putting posters up in halls and baking cakes all times of day (and night). It is hard to re-create the feeling of being at home. Although like many others, you adapt to the new environment. Learning what things you like opposed to what you were brought up with.

For me it was buying fairy lights, growing plants and listening to music….oddly enough with my headphones on.In my current house I am looking to update some old pieces of furniture to make them feel like new. Which includes the trial of paint colours and hanging up pictures.

A while back I would always wonder why people spent hours deciding between two paints which looked exactly the same and often a pale shade. Now when looking at paints myself I see exactly why. There are so many variations, it’s not just a question of white its rodeo drive, snowfall, ash and so many other descriptive words which give no real hint to the tint or shade.

In regards to plants, currently there are 31 chilli seedlings upstairs. 12 still needing to be planted out and a whole load of aubergines waiting to get out the propagator too.

Yet another relaxing sunday pottering around the house

That’s All For Now

Amy

Honey Roasted Vegetable Soup

As an experiment I pre-roasted my vegetables before creating my normal vegetable soup.

Using a variety of root vegetables, a blood orange and an apple I roasted them together.

Once blitzed it was sweet so a little chilli and lea and perrins Worcester sauce was added to provide additional flavour.

That’s this week’s food experiment.

Amy

Here take my card

As an experiment I am trying my hand at freelance photography work, this is my business card which will be used at up coming events.

I hope it’s simple enough to give details across without being too simple that it is forgotten.

It gives details of the email address and a way to view the images post event without having to arrange a meeting with me directly.

That’s All For Now

Amy