Hello guys. Please I need some advice.
I’m a civil engineering graduate with 1-2years experience in Nigeria. I recently got an admission to University of Salford to study Masters in project management in construction.

So I have a couple of questions.
1. Is project management MSc really useful for post graduate work search?
2. If it is not useful, what alternative MSc degrees can you look into?
3. How is the job market like for Graduate civil engineers in Uk, especially Manchester, how easy is it to get a job that aligns with my discipline?
4. What other tips would I need to succeed in uk as an engineering graduate and surviving in Salford.

Thank you everyone as I anticipate your response.

sweetoma:
Hello all, Mamatukwas, Justwise and other gurus. I really appreciate all the advise on this thread. My son is about to start school this week, anyone with advice, lunch pack ideas, after school care advise etc. I wish we had a thread for parenting immigrant kids in the UK. I’m a bit nervous LOL

The thread is way overdue. Someone should please do it for the team.

Meanwhile how old is your son?

SakJiggy:
Hello guys. Please I need some advice.
I’m a civil engineering graduate with 1-2years experience in Nigeria. I recently got an admission to University of Salford to study Masters in project management in construction.

So I have a couple of questions.
1. Is project management MSc really useful for post graduate work search?
2. If it is not useful, what alternative MSc degrees can you look into?
3. How is the job market like for Graduate civil engineers in Uk, especially Manchester, how easy is it to get a job that aligns with my discipline?
4. What other tips would I need to succeed in uk as an engineering graduate and surviving in Salford.

Thank you everyone as I anticipate your response.

Why not go ahead into an MSc. in Civil engineering. All these generic project management degrees are not worth the paper they're issued on without accompanying work experience in the sector you're applying to and in the UK.

For people who have rented in the UK previously, does the fact that you paid a deposit cover any damage that might be done in the house above reasonable wear and tear?

I’m asking because I was under the impression that the Lanlord could perhaps hit you with an invoice above and beyond your deposit if the damage in the house is above ‘reasonable’ wear and tear but someone i had a conversation with who has lived here for 15 years said they had no legal backing to do so. As long as you’re ready to forfeit your deposit. They can’t charge you more for any damages as a result of your stay upon leaving. Is this true?

Anyone with knowledge of this should kindly corroborate or refute this. Thank you.

kode12:


Why not go ahead into an MSc. in Civil engineering. All these generic project management degrees are not worth the paper they're issued on without accompanying work experience in the sector you're applying to and in the UK.

The bolded is correct, but an MSc in Civil Engineering is just as worthless in the job market.

TheGuyFromHR:


The bolded is correct, but an MSc in Civil Engineering is just as worthless in the job market.

Good evening Boss. Please can you explain more on this?

kode12:
House, people with all electric houses, how is your billing like? I'm looking at a property that uses electricity for heating with a storage heater. EPC rating is C, with no reasonable options to upgrade it.

This is similar to mine. All Electric, same EPC rating. Spend between £70-75 per month. Prepaid meter. 2 bedroom. Just myself and my partner

TheGuyFromHR:


The bolded is correct, but an MSc in Civil Engineering is just as worthless in the job market.

Well, there you have it.

Xanderlex:

This is similar to mine. All Electric, same EPC rating. Spend between £70-75 per month. Prepaid meter

What's the size of the property, £75/month sounds cheap if it's all electric. I'm seeing some people quoting bills of £250+/month for an average sized house.

AnaCheks:
Good evening Boss. Please can you explain more on this?

I'll give you my opinion.
It all falls within the concept of immigrants to the UK learning to manage their expectations.

In most of these fields of endeavour where experience far outweighs the number of printed and logo-ed pieces of paper one has, a masters degree should be seen as basically as a ticket to enter the UK job market from Nigeria and start looking and not an automatic ticket to a) consideration for employment in the first place; and b) securing such employment.

It should also be noted that universities are for-profit entities, and that's why they set up all these courses to attract business (as an aside, the UK government is attempting to stop universities from offering so-called Mickey Mouse degrees at undergraduate level which are essentially useless in the workplace and trying to get them to focus on core courses and their related offshoots). Most of all these courses are really empty crap, either repeating things taught at undergraduate level or inserting stuff only marginally relevant or coming up with whole new ideas or concepts which are of no bearing whatsoever to the real world. Even the average masters degree in my own field of HR should really be compressed into a 3 month professional course, with all the rubbish performance management and employee resourcing and outsourcing stuff tossed out. Essentially, one learns on the job.

The Mickey Mouse masters degrees with "international" or "global" are a particular favourite. I've seen quite a few of the proud holders of masters degrees in "international human resources management" and one feels like telling them MNCs are unfortunately unlikely to be much interested, and that the average chap who left school with a few A levels a few years ago and has been functioning as a talent acquisition partner since then, is more likely to be considered for any intra-company openings that come up outside the UK than someone just landing with a brand-new MSc in so-called IHRM, for instance.

kode12:


What's the size of the property, £75/month sounds cheap if it's all electric. I'm seeing some people quoting bills of £250+/month for an average sized house.

I would avoid an all-electric house now if I were you.
Prices are going up fast and you could find yourself paying far more by October after the price cap is next reset.

My brother-in-law is in Aberdeen and he's had his DD upped to 310, 3 bed flat, family of 4. He's otherwise happy with the house, but is considering moving.

TheGuyFromHR:


I would avoid an all-electric house now if I were you.
Prices are going up fast and you could find yourself paying far more by October after the price cap is next reset.

Isn't that only postponing the inevitable? Isn't the government is putting a ban on gas boilers in a few years? £310 for a 3bed flat is steep though. Does it have a good EPC rating? Also, is his DD increase in anticipation of the price cap increase, or is his bill already in arrears and the increase is in a bid to settle the arrears?

kode12:


Isn't that only postponing the inevitable? Isn't the government is putting a ban on gas boilers in a few years?

Lol, the Russian adventure in Ukraine has concentrated minds.
I don't see the government banning those anymore until renewables are fully able to make up a reasonable proportion of the UK's energy mix and that is far in the future, at least with current technology.

The alternative, heat pumps, are damn expensive, even with the subsidy, are not suitable for flats, and use electricity, always more expensive than gas.

TheGuyFromHR:


Lol, the Russian adventure in Ukraine has concentrated minds.
I don't see the government banning those anymore until renewables are fully able to make up a reasonable proportion of the UK's energy mix and that is far in the future, at least with current technology.

The alternative, heat pumps, are damn expensive, even with the subsidy.

Heat pumps are not even an option in my opinion. If you see a chimney spewing thick soot in west London, know that I have chop my wood and resorted to self-help

kode12:


Isn't that only postponing the inevitable? Isn't the government is putting a ban on gas boilers in a few years? £310 for a 3bed flat is steep though. Does it have a good EPC rating? Also, is his DD increase in anticipation of the price cap increase, or is his bill already in arrears and the increase is in a bid to settle the arrears?

The DD increase is against April and the new price cap thingy.
Of course, you dont use that much in the warmer months as opposed to winter, so after a few months he'll probably be running in credit. But another hit is coming in October, so it will be moot anyway.

kode12:

Heat pumps are not even an option in my opinion. If you see a chimney spewing thick soot in west London, know that I have chop my wood and resorted to self-help

Lol, if na London you dey, it doesn't really get cold enough these days there to worry much, a log burner will not even use much firewood.

Mamatukwas:
For people who have rented in the UK previously, does the fact that you paid a deposit cover any damage that might be done in the house above reasonable wear and tear?

I’m asking because I was under the impression that the Lanlord could perhaps hit you with an invoice above and beyond your deposit if the damage in the house is above ‘reasonable’ wear and tear but someone i had a conversation with who has lived here for 15 years said they had no legal backing to do so. As long as you’re ready to forfeit your deposit. They can’t charge you more for any damages as a result of your stay upon leaving. Is this true?

Anyone with knowledge of this should kindly corroborate or refute this. Thank you.

Landlords treat issue of damage differently, some will try to make you pay while some will repair without any issue, my last landlady repaired the damage done by the previous tenant, i mean a larger part of the rug was damaged by cat, the landlady replaced it without asking for a penny.

When i was living there one of the door handles was broken and she changed it without asking me to pay for it.

Mamatukwas:
For people who have rented in the UK previously, does the fact that you paid a deposit cover any damage that might be done in the house above reasonable wear and tear?

I’m asking because I was under the impression that the Lanlord could perhaps hit you with an invoice above and beyond your deposit if the damage in the house is above ‘reasonable’ wear and tear but someone i had a conversation with who has lived here for 15 years said they had no legal backing to do so. As long as you’re ready to forfeit your deposit. They can’t charge you more for any damages as a result of your stay upon leaving. Is this true?

Anyone with knowledge of this should kindly corroborate or refute this. Thank you.

A landlord can make a claim higher than the value of the deposit to the deposit holding organisation. That said, the adjudicator for the organisation can only award the sum of funds held in their custody, they have no authority to force the tenant to pay the difference between the cost of damages and amount of deposit. Factors such as wear and tear, length of tenancy are taken into account.

A landlord has legal standing to sue a tenant for the cost of fixing damages in a small claims court. The answer to your question is yes, nothing stops a landlord from making a claim higher than the deposit through the court not the deposit organisation. The landlord has to decide whether it will be cheaper to fix the damages or paying a lawyer as it could be a lengthy process. Also you can only use invoice of damage fixed as evidence as to the cost of the claim, an estimate is not deemed acceptable.

Most sensible landlords would have a building, fixtures and legal cover. Thankfully I have only had to deal with claiming off one tenant's deposit at the end of a tenancy. She made a big mess with fake tan on a bedroom carpet. I only charged her half of the cost as the carpet had been in the property for years and she was a very good tenant for 4years. She agreed and the deposit was apportioned in under 24hrs.

justwise:


Landlords treat issue of damage differently, some will try to make you pay while some will repair without any issue, my last landlady repaired the damage done by the previous tenant, i mean a larger part of the rug was damaged by cat, the landlady replaced it without asking for a penny.

When i was living there one of the door handles was broken and she changed it without asking me to pay for it.

I see. Thank you.

Xanderlex:

This is similar to mine. All Electric, same EPC rating. Spend between £70-75 per month. Prepaid meter. 2 bedroom. Just myself and my partner

How many heaters do you put on and an average of how many hours a day?

Do you also use fridge, electric kettle, microwave oven and boiler?

Joyousgem:


A landlord can make a claim higher than the value of the deposit to the deposit holding organisation. That said, the adjudicator for the organisation can only award the sum of funds held in their custody, they have no authority to force the tenant to pay the difference between the cost of damages and amount of deposit. Factors such as wear and tear, length of tenancy are taken into account.

A landlord has legal standing to sue a tenant for the cost of fixing damages in a small claims court. The answer to your question is yes, nothing stops a landlord from making a claim higher than the deposit through the court not the deposit organisation. The landlord has to decide whether it will be cheaper to fix the damages or paying a lawyer as it could be a lengthy process. Also you can only use invoice of damage fixed as evidence as to the cost of the claim, an estimate is not deemed acceptable.

Most sensible landlords would have a building, fixtures and legal cover. Thankfully I have only had to deal with claiming off one tenant's deposit at the end of a tenancy. She made a big mess with fake tan on a bedroom carpet. I only charged her half of the cost as the carpet had been in the property for years and she was a very good tenant for 4years. She agreed and the deposit was apportioned in under 24hrs.

Lovely thanks. To be honest I’ve been very worried. I have 3 young kids 2 of whom are boys so they can be a bit much. I told my husband we should get someone to repaint everywhere and try and return the house as close as possible to the original, but his ancestor friend today said not to bother as long as we are ready to leave our deposit.

I sha don’t want anyone to come and claim ridiculous damages for something we can quietly fix ourselves. That’s why i want to be very sure.

I’ll still try and repair as much as I can sha but the fear has reduced small. Whew.

TheGuyFromHR:


The bolded is correct, but an MSc in Civil Engineering is just as worthless in the job market.

MSc in civil engineering is worthless in the Uk job market? Do you really think so?

kode12:


Why not go ahead into an MSc. in Civil engineering. All these generic project management degrees are not worth the paper they're issued on without accompanying work experience in the sector you're applying to and in the UK.

I would look into this, thank you. I would also appreciate recommendations on universities to apply to below 13k pounds ideally

TheGuyFromHR:


I'll give you my opinion.
It all falls within the concept of immigrants to the UK learning to manage their expectations.

In most of these fields of endeavour where experience far outweighs the number of printed and logo-ed pieces of paper one has, a masters degree should be seen as basically as a ticket to enter the UK job market from Nigeria and start looking and not an automatic ticket to a) consideration for employment in the first place; and b) securing such employment.

It should also be noted that universities are for-profit entities, and that's why they set up all these courses to attract business (as an aside, the UK government is attempting to stop universities from offering so-called Mickey Mouse degrees at undergraduate level which are essentially useless in the workplace and trying to get them to focus on core courses and their related offshoots). Most of all these courses are really empty crap, either repeating things taught at undergraduate level or inserting stuff only marginally relevant or coming up with whole new ideas or concepts which are of no bearing whatsoever to the real world. Even the average masters degree in my own field of HR should really be compressed into a 3 month professional course, with all the rubbish performance management and employee resourcing and outsourcing stuff tossed out. Essentially, one learns on the job.

The Mickey Mouse masters degrees with "international" or "global" are a particular favourite. I've seen quite a few of the proud holders of masters degrees in "international human resources management" and one feels like telling them MNCs are unfortunately unlikely to be much interested, and that the average chap who left school with a few A levels a few years ago and has been functioning as a talent acquisition partner since then, is more likely to be considered for any intra-company openings that come up outside the UK than someone just landing with a brand-new MSc in so-called IHRM, for instance.

This brings a lot of new perspective. And thank you.
What about in my case that I have 1-2 years construction experience, plus MSc in UK. What are the chances of getting a good construction job after school?

TheGuyFromHR:


I'll give you my opinion.
It all falls within the concept of immigrants to the UK learning to manage their expectations.

In most of these fields of endeavour where experience far outweighs the number of printed and logo-ed pieces of paper one has, a masters degree should be seen as basically as a ticket to enter the UK job market from Nigeria and start looking and not an automatic ticket to a) consideration for employment in the first place; and b) securing such employment.

It should also be noted that universities are for-profit entities, and that's why they set up all these courses to attract business (as an aside, the UK government is attempting to stop universities from offering so-called Mickey Mouse degrees at undergraduate level which are essentially useless in the workplace and trying to get them to focus on core courses and their related offshoots). Most of all these courses are really empty crap, either repeating things taught at undergraduate level or inserting stuff only marginally relevant or coming up with whole new ideas or concepts which are of no bearing whatsoever to the real world. Even the average masters degree in my own field of HR should really be compressed into a 3 month professional course, with all the rubbish performance management and employee resourcing and outsourcing stuff tossed out. Essentially, one learns on the job.

The Mickey Mouse masters degrees with "international" or "global" are a particular favourite. I've seen quite a few of the proud holders of masters degrees in "international human resources management" and one feels like telling them MNCs are unfortunately unlikely to be much interested, and that the average chap who left school with a few A levels a few years ago and has been functioning as a talent acquisition partner since then, is more likely to be considered for any intra-company openings that come up outside the UK than someone just landing with a brand-new MSc in so-called IHRM, for instance.

Thank you

kode12:


What's the size of the property, £75/month sounds cheap if it's all electric. I'm seeing some people quoting bills of £250+/month for an average sized house.

Cumulatively, not up to 1hr 30mins daily. Can't remember the measurement but it's just a regular 2 bed apartment

Viruses:

How many heaters do you put on and an average of how many hours a day?

Do you also use fridge, electric kettle, microwave oven and boiler?

Only 1 heater is on at once. Not more than 1hr 30mins daily. No electric kettle, no microwave. There is a fridge n a boiler present. The boiler is regulated. Auto on n off.

daceo1:
Hello guys

Pls assist here. Does anyone have an idea of the NHS STP programme. Some one i know just got this. I need to know whats the next stage after this? Plsss assisttttttttttt

It means the person passed the SJT and moves onto the next stage.

Hello house,

Please I need help getting warehouse jobs In Birmingham. I have applied on the job platforms(indeed and the rest). Please if anyone knows an agent I can call kindly assist.

Real life story..........

A lady applied for a loan, lender required a guarantor, she got a guarantor....... Guarantor accepted secured term loan .......

Loan term 4 years : Guarantor sold his house after a few months and relocated, borrower lost her job after 1 year and could no longer service loan.......

Lender is chasing borrower, guarantor is out of reach, borrower is requesting lender keep chasing guarantor, that if guarantor did not put his full chest in front, lender would have not dropped funds.......

Borrower is claiming guarantor should be held responsible............

Long and short : Lender is holding borrower responsible, but borrower thinks it's not a fair position........

Lexusgs430:
Real life story..........

A lady applied for a loan, lender required a guarantor, she got a guarantor....... Guarantor accepted secured term loan .......

Loan term 4 years : Guarantor sold his house after a few months and relocated, borrower lost her job after 1 year and could no longer service loan.......

Lender is chasing borrower, guarantor is out of reach, borrower is requesting lender keep chasing guarantor, that if guarantor did not put his full chest in front, lender would have not dropped funds.......

Borrower is claiming guarantor should be held responsible............

Long and short : Lender is holding borrower responsible, but borrower thinks it's not a fair position........

Human beings are just crazy - they come in all sorts.

Lexusgs430:
Real life story..........

A lady applied for a loan, lender required a guarantor, she got a guarantor....... Guarantor accepted secured term loan .......

Loan term 4 years : Guarantor sold his house after a few months and relocated, borrower lost her job after 1 year and could no longer service loan.......

Lender is chasing borrower, guarantor is out of reach, borrower is requesting lender keep chasing guarantor, that if guarantor did not put his full chest in front, lender would have not dropped funds.......

Borrower is claiming guarantor should be held responsible............

Long and short : Lender is holding borrower responsible, but borrower thinks it's not a fair position........

Is guarantor borrower's sugar daddy? That's the only way this makes sense.