BOJANA NIKOLIC

CHEVENING SCHOLAR 2019

NETWORKING AND WORK EXPERIENCE

Advice on writing the essay and calculating your hours

 NETWORKING
- essay basics -

STAR* structure:

◦Situation – give details of the situation

◦Task – give insight into your responsibilities
◦Action – lead through the steps you have taken
◦Result – give the outcome

*usually used for interviews, if adjusted can be used for essays

 NETWORKING
- essay basics -

◦ Who is a part of your network?

organizations, groups, professors, respected professionals…

◦ To what extend do you interact with your network? / How do you use your network?
starting new projects, connecting them to each other…

◦ Where do you see Chevening in your network?

mutual influence, expanding, Alumni
 NETWORKING
- essay basics -

Example - My essay

◦Organizations I am a part of / details on why are they important, their impact

large international organization, large local organization, organization I have started

◦What do I do in those organizations? What is my role? / details on my impact

new member, associate, founder…

◦Expanding the network(s)

maintaining networks and building collaborations

◦Contribution to the Chevening network, Impact of the Chevening network

 NETWORKING
- essay basics -

Important to remember

◦STAR structure

◦Impact, contribution and influence

◦It is NOT ABOUT YOU as an individual,

it is about YOUR CONTRIBUTION to a wider network
QUESTIONS
 WORK EXPERIENCE
- calculating your hours -

The numbers*

◦Minimum of 2800 hours

◦35 – 6o working hours a week (168 total hours a week)
◦40 – 50 working weeks a year (51 – 53 total weeks a year)
◦Exact staring and end date, name of the organization, your role

◦Keep it realistic, do not write more than you have actually done

* can be found on https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/guidance/common-errors/

 WORK EXPERIENCE
- calculating your hours -

What can be work experience?*

◦Full-time employment
◦Part-time employment
◦Voluntary work
◦Paid or unpaid internships

◦In and outside the scope of the masters you are applying for

*can be found on https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/who-can-apply/work-experience/

 WORK EXPERIENCE
- calculating your hours -

Important to remember

◦Calculate your hours prior to putting them in the form

◦Make sure you have the minimum hours
◦Do not exceed the maximum hours possible, it can get you disqualified
◦Write all relevant experience (volunteering for a local organization outside your professional interests is
as relevant as your internship)
QUESTIONS