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BRRRILLIANT
NEWS It’s Autumn! Why are we so excited? The leaves may be falling off of the trees but the job market is blossoming, we can stop worrying about all that sunshine malarkey and crack on with our careers again. Plus, the runup to Christmas has begun. Yes, I did it, I said the ‘C’ word. Next month will also see the launch of our, biggest and most exciting ever competition, but until then, you can win £250 Amazon vouchers in time for Christmas. Click here to find out how to enter. Stay tuned and make sure you register here to receive more details.
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In this issue we will be giving the lowdown on the call centre industry which currently employs one million of us in the UK, show you how to use Twitter as part of your job search, how to balance a career with kids, and what it could be like living and working in Manchester. The students amongst you will benefit from reading about UCAS personal statements, building an alumni network and then achieving a new career. There’s much, much more, as always. If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to receive a free copy of our magazine in to your inbox each month, Sadly, I’m banned from entering our upcoming competitions, but one of you jammy lot are going to be off for the time of your life! DAVE MORGAN EDITOR
Regular features 4 sector insights
27 Rewarding Careers
6 how to deal with a nightmare colleague
28 how to get into...
8 world’s most interesting jobs
30 inside the hiring process at...
Staff from the call centre industry tell you their likes and dislikes.
CV-Library’s tips on dealing with difficult co-workers. An insight into the musical world of a jingle writer.
What you need to know about the lifesaving role of a firefighter. The ever expanding building and construction field.
Iconic British brand Twinings and its parent company ABF.
10 what to take to your interview
32 coolest offices
14 your stories
39 know your rights
Jobsgopublic give advice on how to be super -prepared for any interview. Cringeworthy experiences from the world of work.
What is gardening leave and when are you entitled to it?
42 how to...
16 a day in the life of...
44 moneymaker
Create a buzzing office atmosphere.
Quantity surveyor Chris Rudland.
Some info on stoozing and how you can benefit from it.
news
lifestyle
5 Industry update
11 balancing your career with kids
7 Twitter and your job search
12 moving to the city
The latest from the increasingly popular call centre industry.
City of science and innovation: Manchester.
on the job hunt?
Developing Your Career?
18 Become a pilot
34 setting goals for yourself
20 top tips for applying to uni
35 how to maintain a positive attitude
21 your ucas personal statement
36 am i progressing in my career?
22 have you used your alumni network?
38 how to bounceback from being fired
23 reignite your job search
40 be pc savvy
Get the best out of your application with our short guide. Our suggestions on how to write and perfect it.
Find out how your alumni network can help your career prospects. If your mission for a new job has stalled, it’s time to get you back on track!
24 alternative routes to a new career
Some techniques for finding a new role that you may not have tried yet.
26 Selling yourself vs being yourself The ultimate balance for your personal brand.
Click the Share icon in the toolbar above, then choose ‘download’
Lifestyle tips to help mums and dads organise their lives.
How important and how useful is it as a job search tool?
And see your career prospects take off !
Click to read
Take a look at how staff at Hurley live life in the fast lane.
15 ultimate office playlists
Tunes for every workplace occasion.
Download issue 13 and read on the go
Tips for setting short, medium and longterm goals for all your visions and aims. Make sure you keep that smile on your face and continue to enjoy your job. What are the key indicators that suggest your career is on the up?
Some vital information around the dismissal process and what steps to take next. Our pick of back-to-work/school/ college/university laptops.
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Regular Feature
why work in call centres? Staff from the sector say what they like and dislike!
‘You do speak to the odd grumpy person, but most people are polite. And once you get used to it, it doesn’t bother you anymore!’ Jenny, Call Centre Agent
‘The atmosphere is relaxed but also there are opportunities to progress into other areas of the business.’ Nitesh, Call Centre Agent
‘There’s a good sense of camaraderie where I work, with lots of people sharing their knowledge and experiences with each other.’ Steve, Customer Service Advisor
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‘You have to enjoy talking to people to enjoy the work, which luckily I do!’ Lisa, Sales Representative
‘My targets are achievable because I take inbound sales calls, which means the caller is already interested in the product. There’s no hard selling involved.’ Annie, Team Leader
news
INDUSTRY UPDATE: call centres Despite frequent tales of British companies offshoring their call centres to countries around the world, the growth of the sector in terms of employment in the UK is still on the up. It employs over one million people in the UK and is one of the top ten employment sectors in the
Approx.
1 million people employed in a uk call centre
77%
of contact
centres expect to grow /
maintain size in the next 2 years
Roles • call centre advisor • charity fundraiser • sales representative • floor manager • sales manager • customer service advisor • telemarketing consultant
country. One in three call centre employees are now educated to degree level. There are options to complete degrees specifically in call centre management, however leadership positions are also open to candidates with other degree subjects. Degrees that fall under the business subject
area lend themselves quite well. Call centres also have plenty of employment opportunities for school and college-leavers. Entry-level call centre roles can provide a good basis for a career in customer service, management and similar.
UK call centre industry sees growth As of 2012, the call centre industry was worth a total of £2.5 billion – a figure that was anticipated to rise and since has. In many British regions, twice as many are employed in call centres than the average percentage for other industries. The main reason for this is that many companies have relocated their call centres back home – as customer service becomes even more of a priority for lots of businesses. As most of us prefer to talk to somebody UK-based, organisations feel they have to keep up with the competition. Also, as property prices in areas such as Mumbai and New Delhi rise, offshore call centres are no longer a drastically cheaper option.
Britain’s Largest Organisations Create More UK Call Centre Jobs In October 2013, RSA brought 350 call centre roles back to the UK from India, boosting employment in areas such as Sunderland, Liverpool and Halifax. The move was preceded by Santander’s decision in 2011 to move all their call centre roles back home. More recently, July of this year saw British Gas announce 300 jobs returning to the UK. The roles will be spread across the country, as part of a so-called ‘nationwide investment’ Click here to in customer service.
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HOW TO DEAL WITH A NIGHTMARE COLLEAGUE With Halloween almost upon us, CV-Library is helping us spot and deal with nightmare colleagues. After all, you can choose your friends but you cannot choose your workmates! The Gossip While you may think it’s great that your new work friend trusts you with their opinions, you will soon realise that most of what they want to talk about is other people’s lives. This isn’t great if you’re trying to maintain professional working relationships with other members of your team. How to deal with the gossip: Distance yourself from this type of behaviour by responding neutrally to any judgemental comments they make. They’ll soon get the hint. The Bully The bully is happy to step over others and doesn’t play by team spirit rules. They make themselves feel better by undermining their colleagues or bringing prejudice into the workplace. How to deal with the bully: If you’re being targeted by a work bully and their behaviour is upsetting you, don’t lower yourself to their level or respond in kind. Speak with a manager in a calm, professional manner about how you find their behaviour unacceptable. Chances are, others will have noticed too. The Drag This type of colleague drags you and your performance down either through laziness, negativity or ineptitude. You may start to feel that you’d get a lot more done in the day if you could distance yourself from them. How to deal with the drag: Being part of a nation renowned for politeness it is likely you’ll be disinclined to break the peace. However, it is simply not fair if your hard work is being compromised. Speak to your manager and explain how their behaviour is directly affecting your own productivity, making sure to keep personal gripes out of your reasoning. A pep talk from them and the problem may disappear.
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The Disruptor You can spot a disruptive colleague from a mile away; whether through an exceptionally annoying laugh, the need for endless chatter or loud gum-chewing. How to deal with the disruptor: The first thing to do is to try and tune out of their bad habits. If this is unsuccessful, you’re perfectly within your rights to have a quiet word with them about any habit which invades your workspace or directly affects your productivity. Register your CV with award-winning job board CV-Library to browse over 100,000 UK vacancies.
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twitter:
Is it an important job search tool?
Bullhorn’s recent report discovered that in the UK, Twitter has become more frequently and effectively used as a social recruitment platform than Facebook. LinkedIn is still the principal job search site, but both recruiters and candidates are now exploring the benefits of Twitter. So how can you ensure you’re optimising it during your job hunt? Firstly, how are hiring managers using this platform? alert those interested in an organisation to its latest Most employers use Twitter simply to post their current opportunities. jobs. Some companies even have special accounts dedicated to their vacancies. In 2013, over 500,000 So how can jobseekers make the most of this increase available jobs were posted on Twitter every of recruiters’ activity on Twitter? First and foremost month, thus showing recruiters clearly value you need to follow any companies you’re this social networking site in terms of its interested in working for. In addition, make In 2013, ability to attract applicants. Bullhorn sure you follow any Twitter handles that over 500,000 available jobs also researched the number of views are dedicated specifically to their job and were posted onto each job posting received on both social career opportunities. This will help you Twitter every networking sites. Those advertised on to stay up to date on their latest vacancies month Twitter received 2.5 times as many as and assess whether they’re suited to your those on Facebook, therefore Twitter is skill set. You also need to make significant becoming more actively used in a professional contributions to relevant discussions and include way than its competitor. links to a blog and/or LinkedIn profile to give a more rounded view of you as a candidate worth considering. LinkedIn remains the most important social networking Remember, recruiters will be looking for an insight into site for professionals as your profile is essentially an your personality so don’t make your profile too straightonline CV. It’s also better designed to form professional laced – just don’t display inappropriate content either! relationships. However, Twitter is a particularly useful tool in terms of communication between recruiters and So as Twitter’s active users edge closer to 15 million in candidates. Employers can use their profile to ensure the UK alone, it’s time to take advantage of this social their brand is being conveyed in an effective way, to networking site during your job search: establish and attract and interact with candidates, as well as develop maintain your presence in order to boost your prospects. their talent pool. By adding a personal profile picture of the manager, photos of the whole team and frequent free monthly advice updates of the team’s activities, jobseekers can put a face to the company as well as receive a good idea of the company culture and whether it would suit them. Hashtags can cause vacancies to start trending and
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Regular Feature
The World’s Most INTERESTING JOBS
JINGLE WRITER F
rom McDonald’s hit tune ‘I’m loving it’ to the annoyingly catchy Go Compare adverts, no one can deny the incredible power of a successful jingle. Wouldn’t it be great to create that tune stuck in everyone’s head? Jingle writers do just that, offering their musical talents to ad agencies who are looking for memorable melodies and slogans. Whether you’re a dab hand at writing lyrics or playing musical instruments, why not use your skills to spread worldwide recognition for the biggest brands? Jingle writers are hired by advertising agencies to create catchy tunes and lyrics for TV or radio adverts promoting a company’s goods and/or services. They’re usually provided with guidelines from their clients, offering information on the style of music and its length. The writer will then experiment with a variety of instruments, sounds and melodies in order to compose music that suits the campaign’s message. They’ll research many genres of music so they can produce the right tone and atmosphere for the jingle: it must be appropriate for the product or
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services it’s promoting. It is usually designed to be brief, unless the company has specifically asked for a full song version. Tony Asher, who has written jingles for big brands such as Max Factor Cosmetics and Mattel Toys, explained in this interview: ‘My musical experience served me well in advertising. Combined with my writing skills, it allowed me to specialise in jingle writing…writing and producing jingles is a great way to spend your working life’. If the jingle writer is also a talented lyricist then they may also be required to provide song words for the jingle. The client will often specify particular words that the writer must make sure are included in the jingle. Once it has been composed and the writer is happy that it conforms to the client’s requirements, they will present the jingle to either the ad agency or directly to the client in the form of a demo. If it was requested by an ad agency, they will
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There are no specific educational requirements to become a jingle writer, but a degree in music will enable you to develop your skills as a musician and composer, as well as gain experience using new musical technologies and recording equipment. Staying up to date with advancements in such technologies and practising a variety of musical styles is crucial to making sure your work remains competitive. Concentrating on expanding your network and immersing yourself in the advertising industry is also necessary so as many doors as possible are open to you. This is particularly important if you decide to work as a freelance jingle writer as your earnings will highly depend on how much work you manage to secure. Salaries vary according to whether you compose the music and/or lyrics, the size of the campaign and
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likely have a few writers working on the campaign and it is ultimately their decision which jingle is finally selected; so all jingle writers can do is wait and hope theirs is chosen.
Writing and producing jingles is a great way to spend your working life
the company you’re providing the jingle for. You can earn anywhere from £65-£5,200 for a jingle and even more depending on the employer who commissions the campaign. Once you have made a name for yourself and your talent attracts national campaigns, you can earn anywhere from £65,000£130,000 per annum. So if you’re passionate about music and you’ve got a good ear for melodies, why not try your hand at this fun-filled career? Your tune and lyrics could be whistled and sang along to by people all over the world.
Find out more about creative careers: Games Developer Courtroom Artist Wedding Planner
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Regular Feature
what toTHEtake to your interview PUBLIC PERSPECTIVE You know the saying ‘It’s better to have something and not need it, than need something and not have it’. When it comes to preparing for an interview this is strong advice. This checklist will ensure that your bag of tricks has everything you might need to ace your interview.
Your best clothes Now you will obviously be wearing these so it should be difficult to forget them (wouldn’t that be embarrassing!), but they still require some thought. Interviewers pay close attention to your attire and the way you present yourself, so it’s always worthwhile making an extra effort to ensure that everything is perfect.
Emergency supplies There are a few practical things that you should always take in case you need them as being caught without them could have detrimental effects. Take a bottle of water in case you aren’t offered a drink: it can be difficult to demonstrate your skills and experience with a dry mouth in a stuffy room. A printed map is always useful, we may all have maps on our smartphones these days, but what happens if you cannot get reception when you really need it? You may be given some important information at an interview so always have a pen and notepad to hand.
Your experience Your interviewer wants to know how your experience will help you succeed, what you have learnt from your previous positions and what you will bring to this new position. It’s important to think about transferable skills you have developed in the past. Find out more about transferable skills here. Take your experience with you to every interview and use it to demonstrate why you would succeed.
Your ambitions It is essential to present your future ambitions and plans in an interview. More often than not, ambitious people are willing to work hard to get where they want to be. Ambition is therefore considered to be an extremely positive trait. It is important to establish whether an organisation will support your goals. Interviews are your opportunity to judge whether an employer is right for you too and whether there are opportunities for you to progress in the future.
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For more advice on interviews go to www.blog.jobsgopublic.com/category/ interview-advice
You may also be interested in reading: Seven Interview Questions to Prepare For Ten Steps to a Winning Cover Letter
lifestyle
Balancing a Career
WITH KIDS A recent study carried out by 4Children found that 47% of the parents asked had considered leaving their jobs to care for their children full-time. If childcare is a concern for so many, what measures can you take to help balance your working life and parenthood?
kids clubs Kids normally finish school when the majority of people are still in work. Fortunately, most schools run after-school activities, ranging from sports, to art and music. The majority of children will attend an extra-curricular club each week anyway, so doing so straight after school will not mean less time spent together. Plus, you’ll have more quality time with your child in the evening if they do their activities while you are at work. Also consider the benefits it will have for your child: they can learn a new skill, make new friends and develop in a multitude of ways.
flexible working As new regulations allow any employee of at least six months to request flexible working (read more here) more parents are finding it easier to arrange their career around parental responsibilities. Flexible working can involve re-arranging your hours or working from home. You can potentially organise a later start so you can take your kids to school/nursery or an earlier finish to collect them. If flexible working isn’t currently on offer in your workplace, you’ve got nothing to lose by asking your employer whether it can become an option.
working from home With many offices making the transition to cloud-based computing, working from home is easier than ever in a technical capacity. Of course, working from home doesn’t allow you to give your undivided attention to a child, so it’s a lot to take on when looking after a baby, for example. But as kids become slightly older, it can be the perfect solution. A combination of office and home working during the week is preferable to many, as those with small children can synchronise their office days for when their children are at nursery.
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lifestyle
Moving to the City: manchester his city is famed for its impressive cultural heritage, with its musical prowess (thanks to hugely successful bands such as Take That and Oasis), impressive architecture and a flourishing theatre scene. In 2012, Manchester was voted the third most visited city in the UK, only losing out to London and Edinburgh. Its thriving nightlife and fantastic retail therapy attracts many professionals to the city, particularly because prices are much cheaper than its southern alternatives. So why not become a Mancunian and immerse yourself in this buzzing city?
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well as over fifty creative and digital organisations, so there are plenty of opportunities to be had.
Manchester has a reputation for innovation, with achievements such as the invention of the computer and the first splitting of the atom by scientists. Thus it comes as no surprise that the creative and digital industries have prospered over the years. Huge, influential media brands have chosen Manchester as the best location for their company to settle in the UK, with the new BBC headquarters situated here as well as Google’s first office in the country. It’s also home to MediaCityUK which was constructed specifically for media business and is the biggest location of this purpose in Europe. Both the BBC and ITV have departments and studios located here, as
With its abundance of flats and close proximity to a wide variety of amenities, Manchester city centre is particularly popular with young professionals. For those with a family or who are looking to start one, the suburbs may be a better option for you. The average rent prices in Manchester (per calendar month): £554 for a room in a house or flat £788 for a flat £920 for a house For those of you who would like to be in the midst of bustling city life, the stylish area of the Northern
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Manchester University has the biggest computing department in the country and progression within the IT industry is sustained by the 5,000 plus students who graduate in the subject annually. This sector provides work for thousands in the city, with 50,000 IT workers in the centre alone and an additional 50,000 in the broader district. Many tech companies of significance invest in the city such as Microsoft, Fujitsu and BT.
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Its thriving nightlife and fantastic retail therapy attracts many professionals
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Quarter is ideal. Its central location and contemporary environment means property is more expensive here than in other areas. Properties in the Northern Quarter on average sell for £187,962 and the average rent per calendar month is £1,060. A cheaper alternative is Ancoats which is slightly further out but is only a short walk from the appeal of the Northern Quarter. Ancoats has a great variety of properties, from new housing to conversions of older buildings. Once an industrial borough, the area has undergone redevelopment in order to create a popular residential area. Properties sell for £149,514 on average and the typical rent is £910 pcm.
Attractions:
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Random Facts about manchester
1 The Liverpool Road railway station is the oldest in the world. Its opening was on the 15th September 1830. 2 It’s the birthplace of Emmeline Pankhurst – the leader of the suffragette movement was born in Moss Side. 3
The city is home to the first public lending library, which opened in 1852 and was attended by renowned authors Charles Dickens and William Thackeray.
4 Manchester is the only place in the world where you can study for a degree in Mummy Studies – Ancient Egyptian mummies that is!
A number of fascinating museums are situated in Manchester, including the Museum of Science and 5 When Charles Rolls and Henry Royce were introduced at Industry. Football fans will enjoy the Old Trafford the Midland Hotel in 1904, the idea for Rolls-Royce was Stadium Tour, whereas those who prefer something more conceived and the company was born two years later. peaceful may enjoy Manchester Cathedral which originates from the 13th century. For more attractions, see here.
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office playlists Songs for when you’re having a good day Top of the World The Carpenters Simply The Best Tina Turner Break My Stride Blue Lagoon
Songs for your Office Best Buddy
Songs for a Friday afternoon
Can’t Smile Without You Barry Manilow
I’m So Excited The Pointer Sisters
I’ll be There for You The Rembrandts
Homeward Bound Simon and Garfunkel
You’re My Best Friend Queen
Free Ultra Nate
Songs for when you’re having a bad day Better The Devil You Know Kylie Minogue Mad World Tears for Fears Things Can Only Get Better D’Ream
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A Day in the Life of... Whether it’s new housing estates, the latest high rise in the capital or the world’s tallest hotel, many of us rarely think about the work that goes on behind the scenes of construction. Especially who is responsible for making such projects possible. Chloe Franchina spoke to Chris Rudland, a quantity surveyor, to discover more about this career.
How did you become a quantity surveyor? Did you need any specific training or education?
and to make sure we have sufficient materials to maintain progress. In the office I spend a lot of time talking to suppliers and subcontractors as well as compiling and reporting costs/forecasts to ensure we’re always keeping within budget.
After falling into various jobs throughout my twenties I decided to take a step back and retrain in something I was really interested in and that maximised my strengths. I enrolled on a graduate diploma in quantity surveying at What is the best thing about your job? UWE in Bristol in 2010 when I was 29 and secured my first position as an assistant quantity surveyor a year later I really enjoy not being chained to a desk and being able to be close to the construction process as it happens. As before graduating in 2012. The course was essential for I work in a small company, there is a real sense that my someone of my age who was looking to progress day-to-day role contributes tangibly towards our quickly in the industry, but some of the success; there is a strong culture of working best quantity surveyors I’ve worked I really together and helping each other when we’re with have never had any formal enjoy not being up against tight deadlines. training and worked their way up chained to a desk and from trainees after leaving school.
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I would say that a genuine interest in construction, attention to detail and being personable are the most important traits. As the role often involves reaching agreement over financial matters, it’s important to be confident in your position while maintaining a professional relationship with the client/contractor and ensuring work continues on site.
what does a typical day consist of? I aim to be in work for at least the same hours that the site(s) I am working on are open for, so I usually work 8:00-17:00, five days a week. However, I must be reactive to issues when they arise, so these hours can stretch either end when necessary. I tend to be on site about twice a week to monitor progress for valuation purposes
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What personal qualities do you think are essential to be good at your job?
being able to be close to the construction process as it happens
What is the best advice you have ever received?
It came from my wife and it was to always take my time and be factual when writing professional letters/emails and not to write with emotion and personal opinion. This has almost certainly saved me from some embarrassing situations where, in hindsight, responding in haste would’ve made things worse.
What would be your biggest tip for someone looking to follow your career path? I would recommend a university course if possible as it will provide a solid foundation for your career, but I would also say that it’s not essential to your success in the industry. It’s vital to accept that most construction projects will encounter difficulties along the way, and reacting proactively and positively to these will be as important as any aspect of your role.
quantity surveyor CHRIS RUDLAND
What’s been the most challenging part of your career If you could spend one day in a different career, what so far? would it be and why? Landing that first job was the trickiest part: without experience companies are much less likely to take you on. I contacted many construction companies at the end of my first year of university and completed work experience with a multinational cost consultancy covering the whole of the south-west of England. Working for no money can be tough when you’re surrounded by people doing the same job for a salary, but it’s important to make a good impression and learn as much as possible. Ultimately, it was this period of work experience that secured me my first position in the industry and was therefore the catalyst in getting me to where I am now.
I did think about all the noble professions I could have chosen, but I would have to say a professional footballer. Playing a sport I love with my mates for a load of money doesn’t seem to be something I’d mind getting out of bed for on a Monday morning!
You may also be interested in reading: • Industry Update: Construction • Traditional Jobs for Life
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job hunting
become a pilot And see your career take off!
D
oes the idea of soaring thousands of feet above the ground on a regular basis appeal to you? Could you handle the responsibility of transporting passengers and ensuring they have a safe and enjoyable flight? Then becoming a pilot or instructor of a fixedwing aircraft could be your ideal career route.
Training A career in aviation doesn’t necessarily require a degree, making it quite accessible. The minimum requirements for being able to train for an Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) is five GCSEs (grade A*-C) and two A-levels. There are different ways of achieving your ATPL. Integrated courses are full-time training courses which last 18 months. They involve a mixture of theoretical, classroom-based learning and practical training. The end result will see you having completed the required exams as well as built up the required amount of hours spent flying.
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Modular courses are more flexible, with the chance to train for your ATPL by doing the course in separate parts. This is a good option for those who are already employed. These courses can also be cheaper, but do take longer to complete. Depending on the training provider, the theoretical training could be classroom-based or even allow the trainee to study at home in their own time. Before you begin training, all students need to have passed a Class One medical assessment. Be aware that some airlines only employ new recruits who have trained with them. Others may have preferences on which of the two types of qualification route you have done: some prefer integrated and others favour those who have done/ are completing modular training. Do plenty of research before you get started to make sure you’re on the right track.
Working Pattern Pilots can be expected to work shifts, with some very early starts and late nights. Short-haul flight pilots can expect a more predictable lifestyle, with more sociable
working hours and a timetable of work that is set months in advance. Long-haul pilots can also have an advanced schedule, but their lifestyle suffers from interruption due to spending more time away from home, as well as having to adjust to different time zones. Working in corporate flying for a private company can be the most unpredictable of all, as pilots are often put ‘on call’. This means they have to get up and go whenever their service is needed. Cargo pilots, transporting goods and materials, often have to work night shifts (when less commercial flights are in the air and airports are less busy).
Future Progression Once qualified and fully practised, most recruits will become a first officer – commonly known as a co-pilot. This involves much of the same responsibilities and know-how as the captain, with the captain being the overriding authority on the flight. With more experience, most first officers become senior first officers, which often includes a pay rise. There are then opportunities to become a captain. Further down the line, becoming a flight instructor can be a solid career option. The hours are much more sociable, and there are no age restrictions on how long you can perform the role.
For options to train to become a pilot, find out more about these training providers: > Caledonian Advanced Pilot Training > CTC Aviation > Flight Training London > CAE Oxford Aviation
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job hunting
TOP
TIPS
FOR
Applying to University It’s frequently called the best time of your life, so it’s worth spending some time ensuring it will be all you expected it to be. With hundreds of universities in the UK alone and an even bigger selection of courses, applying to university offers a greater number of options than ever before. So how do you make the right decision for you?
Pick Your Course First Visiting a university you love the look and vibe of and being dead set on it can lead you down a dangerous path. They may not offer the right course for you, limiting your options for the future. Remember, your time at university revolves around your degree. Choosing your ideal course first and then finding universities you like that offer it is the sensible way to approach your application.
Assess the Entry Requirements Before going much further with your decision, make sure you look at the entry requirements for each course. If they are beyond what you could realistically achieve, you could be wasting an application where a more suitable option could sit. If you’re unsure what entry requirements you should be looking for, talk to your subject teachers.
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Find a Course that Suits You You need to look at the type of course you’re applying for. Will it suit your learning style? If you struggle in exam situations, a primarily coursework-assessed course will be easier for you to handle. If you excel at writing under pressure, a more exam and essay-based course could be more up your street. Most university prospectuses include information on the course breakdown and how it is assessed, but if they don’t, get in touch with the university directly to find out.
Location, Location, Location Once you’ve found courses that you want to do, use the UCAS website to identify which universities offer them. Choosing the university that’s right for you means looking at a lot of different factors. Would you enjoy a campus university or one with several buildings spread out across a city? How far away from home would you be willing to travel? Would you feel happier at a bigger or smaller university? These are all aspects worth considering. Visiting universities before you apply will enable you to get a feel for it and decide whether you could see yourself going there, so sign up to open days ASAP!
job hunting
Future Students:
Top Tips for Writing Your UCAS
PERSONAL STATEMENT Applying to university is an important process which shouldn’t be rushed. After the well-researched decision of what course to apply for and where to apply to, it’s personal statement time. Some students find it easier to write than others, but everyone has the ability to create a personal statement that works well for them. Let’s get started.
What Should it Include? Determination. Expressing a desire to go into further education is crucial. Universities are on the lookout for candidates who will go on to be conscientious students and see the course through to the end. Learning style. If you’re applying to courses that are largely coursework or practical-based, it’s great to outline that this is the kind of learning that suits you. Likewise if a course is mainly exam-based. Extras. Your academic strengths and achievements should be included, but these alone aren’t enough. Also mention extra-curricular activities and how they’ve benefitted you. For example, photography may have enhanced your creative vision, whereas rugby practice may have developed your teamwork skills.
Reasoning. It’s important to outline a reason for studying, showing that you’re looking beyond a degree and considering where it can take you in the future. It’s worth mentioning how you think this particular degree can lead you down a career path you’re keen to pursue. Enthusiasm. Showing that you are keen for a place is vital. It is also important to express an enthusiasm for the course as a whole: thinking ahead and imagining yourself as a student there will encourage the assessor to do the same.
Tips Be general. Your personal statement is sent to all the universities you apply for, so don’t mention specific locations or course names. Speak to a relevant faculty member to ensure your personal statement is focused, but not too specific.
Write it well. It’s imperative that your personal statement is free of any mistakes in spelling, grammar or inconsistency. It needs to flow and have well-structured sentences. Always proofread it before you send it off. Keep it concise. Waffling on and hammering in one point will leave you less room to talk about others. Make a point, evidence it and then move on. Be unique. You have to make your personal statement stand out and show you as an individual. Personal anecdotes can be a great way of doing this. For example, if applying for a teaching degree, explain the moment that first inspired you to become a teacher. Further tips can be found at www.ucas.com.
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job hunting
How Can Your Alumni Network
Help Your Career? When you’re a student or graduate your network is likely to be fairly limited. This is why it’s so important to make sure you sign up to and use your alumni network once you’ve obtained your degree. Your alumni network is a great starting point for learning how to build and maintain professional relationships, gain insights into your industry and broaden the scope of your job hunt. So how can you make the most it?
Focus your search
Be realistic
Before you go charging in making requests left, right and Of course the idea of making these contacts is to benefit centre, think about exactly what you want to gain from your career prospects in the long run. However, you the connections you make. This will help you to target cannot demand results from your alumni network by those who will actually be able to provide you with some expecting them to click their fingers and solve your job insight into your desired career or put you in touch with hunt. People are less willing to help those they don’t people who can give you relevant advice and/or offer know, so you should make it your mission to get to opportunities. It’s also a good idea to take the time to know your alums before you start using them to advance gain an idea of someone’s interests so you can your career. This is why it’s important to make introduce yourself in a more appropriate contact with your alumni network as soon Use your way than just: ‘We went to the same as you exit university in order to set up alumni network university, can you get me a job?’ A great these relationships before you really as soon as you exit starting point is searching for alumni need help finding a job. Once these university in order to on Twitter as you can ‘follow’ people relationships are developed, your alumni set up relationships. without having to make an introduction network may not be able to provide you straight away. This gives you time to with your dream job on a silver platter, investigate an alum’s interests before you but their advice or contacts could prove to contact them directly. You can connect with be invaluable. people who have similar interests to your own and Actively use the alumni career centre groups which are related to your career aspirations, such As well as receiving up-to-date news via the newsletter, as companies you want to work for. you can also see jobs posted by your fellow alums on the Subscribe to the newsletter alumni career centre. There will also be counsellors who To stay informed on where your fellow classmates have work specifically for this career centre who will be able to ended up, sign up to the alumni newsletter. Although provide you with advice and guidance, as well as put you you can use social media platforms such as Facebook in touch with your fellow alumni. This can also provide and LinkedIn to discover where your coursemates are you with a catalogue of the companies your alumni working, having the addition of the newsletter enables network are presently working for. This saves you time you to find out about those you may not have known well scouring through social media profiles or having to wait while at university. If you weren’t friends with the person for the latest newsletter. you see is working for a company you’re interested in, you can use the newsletter story as the perfect starting line when you get in touch with them.
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job hunting
REIGNITE
Your Job Search
After sending out dozens of applications to numerous employers and hearing nothing back, you may be feeling frustrated and deflated. The truth is, job hunting can be tough and as time ticks on it becomes harder to motivate yourself to put your best efforts into your search. If you’re feeling like your job hunt has hit a brick wall, here are some tips to help you power on through.
Reassess your CV
Reconsider your goals
A great way to get into the mind of the employer is to scan your CV for twenty seconds and see whether you can determine your relevant skills and suitability for the company within that time. If you’re unable to get an idea of the overall message from a scan read, then it’s likely that potential employers are struggling too. Try out some different formats (see here) and consider using popular phrases such as the ones here. This is the first impression an employer will receive of you, so make sure you concentrate on nailing this part of the process before you move on with your job search.
After all the effort you have put in to applying for jobs, you may have lost sight of your original objectives. Make a note of what they were at the start of your job hunt, then consider what you’ve achieved and whether your experience so far has changed your feelings towards those goals. Ensure they’re realistic and break them down into more manageable chunks to encourage your progression. For example, if you’ve applied for senior management roles and seen little success, consider positions just beneath this to increase your chances of obtaining a job: you can always work your way up once you’re hired.
Take a breather
Investigate your online presence
Now we’re not suggesting that you give up, grab your backpack and disappear off the face of the earth leaving your job search troubles behind you. But sometimes focusing too hard on something can do more harm than good and all you need is a little distance to gain some perspective. This could be taking a break from your job search by going away for the weekend somewhere relaxing or inspiring, or perhaps concentrating on a volunteering project that will not only provide you with a different outlook on your situation, but also some useful skills to add to your CV.
If you didn’t Google yourself before your job hunt, then doing so now is vital. You may be surprised by what you find! Examine the content you’re uploading on your social media profiles and ensure it presents you in a good light. Your LinkedIn profile should be 100% complete and absolutely professional, with your skills and experience on show for potential employers to be impressed. Get your name out there by following relevant company pages and becoming involved in discussions on topics in your industry. The better your online presence, the more likely an employer will come across you.
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job hunting
Alternative Approaches to
ACHIEVING A NEW CAREER Job searching can be tough and sometimes you need to think outside the box in order to capture the attention of employers. To give you some inspiration, here are four alternative approaches you can take to achieve your new career.
GET PUBLISHED
Research ones that are happening near you and take After attending university no doubt you’re a fountain of a look at the list of companies attending and assess knowledge in at least one aspect of your degree subject. whether it would be worth your while going along. If Content is extremely valuable nowadays and with the you come across any names of interest, visit their website introduction of digital content, it’s somewhat easier to and research their latest news and find out more about get your work published. Search for publications that the company. Make sure you bring plenty of copies of are related to your industry and write an article that your CV so you can hand them out to employers you’re is on topic and engaging. Send this off to the relevant interested in, ideally also asking for names and email publications and if they publish it, make sure you addresses to send an electronic version to. They’re also a promote this via social media, as well as linking it to your great opportunity to network, so even if the perfect role CV. If you’re struggling to get published in an online or isn’t on offer there, simply getting to know professionals print magazine, set up a blog and update this in your industry will help your job search by with regular content. Having your work providing you with relevant contacts. SELFpublished and recognised by others Maybe even connect with the people EMPLOYMENT will encourage employers to view you meet on LinkedIn while you’re you as an expert in your field. there. Some companies may also be IS BECOMING A Furthermore, if your writing is providing on-site interviews, so it POPULAR OPTION notable it will impress potential can also be good practice for this FOR THOSE WHO employers as they’ll have good DON’T WANT TO LOSE element of your job search - it may evidence of your skills and even lead to a job! See our events SIGHT OF THEIR experience. page here.
CAREER GOALS.
SELL YOURSELF In order to get your CV on to the ‘yes’ pile and pass each interview with flying colours, you need to understand how to present your skills to the employer in a way that encourages them to hire you for the job. By taking a marketing course you can learn how to do just that. It will also help you focus your job search, as you learn how to target the best companies for your skill set. In addition, you’ll learn how to explain your prior experience in a way that shows exactly how you’ll benefit the company and speak in measurable terms to back up your statements. Once you nail this technique you will have more success as you will better present yourself to the employer and the increase in your confidence will help you shine through. Click here for more information on a free online course.
ATTEND JOB FAIRS Whether you attend one which is targeted to your industry of preference or a more general one, job fairs can open your eyes to the many opportunities out there.
BECOME YOUR OWN BOSS If you genuinely cannot find your ideal role, then why not create it yourself? Self-employment is becoming a popular option especially for those who don’t want to lose sight of their innovative career aspirations. If you have a creative side, then look into producing your own merchandise. If you don’t, then consider any roles you feel are missing from your industry and strive to provide this service. There are plenty of risks involved in selfemployment, so if you’re seriously contemplating this option then make sure you research extensively and you’re prepared to work extra hard at making your business idea a success. If the standard job search process fails to inspire you, consider trying something a bit different via these alternative approaches. It’s important to do whatever suits your skill set and personality best in order to achieve the right results from your job hunt. The more effort you put into your search, the more impressed potential employers will be by your drive and determination to reach your goals.
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job hunting
SELLING YOURSELF VS. BEING YOURSELF An inevitable part of the job hunt is having to sell yourself to the employer to demonstrate why you’re the best pick of the bunch. How can you strike the perfect balance between presenting the best version of yourself and not forgetting what makes you unique?
Selling Yourself: Be the missing piece – The employer is hiring because they require someone to take on a certain role in their business and help them resolve any issues the company is currently facing. Your job is to explain how hiring you will solve these problems. This will involve conducting some research to discover exactly what the company’s issues are and giving examples of how you’ve solved similar ones in the past. You must explain how you plan to use your experience to deliver similar results for them. Make sure you’re specific! Use positive body language – Mehrabian’s research found that an incredible 93% of a message is conveyed via nonverbal communication, so it’s important to ensure yours is positive throughout your interview. Make sure you’re sat upright, you smile politely throughout and that you keep eye contact with the interviewer. This will give the impression of confidence and assertiveness. If you relax (not too much!) and appear comfortable, you will help the interviewer to do the same. Give specific examples – You’re never going to convince the employer that you’re the best person for the job unless you can give them concrete evidence of why you’ll be a success. This is why it’s so important to make sure you prepare five statements that detail your past achievements, including figures or percentages as proof. These should be relevant to the requirements in the job role and/or any problems the company is currently facing.
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Being
Yourself:
Know what makes you unique – For you to stand out to the employer, you need to be aware of what makes you unlike anyone else and make sure you promote this. Get into a routine of noting down your strengths, weaknesses, what drives you and what you’re afraid of every day. This will help you to gain a good understanding of your personality and how you can best present this in a professional environment. Consider other perspectives – Once you’ve compiled a list of what you believe to be a true description of your individuality, present this to those who know you best to receive their opinion on it. Explain what you’re trying to achieve and ask if your self-evaluation is accurate in their eyes. Take on board their suggestions and add relevant ones to your list. This will give you a more rounded understanding of who you are so you have a better chance of impressing potential employers. Learn from your research – Once you’re happy with the results from your self-assessment, it’s time to apply this to your job hunt. You need to express your uniqueness and strengths in each stage of your job search including your LinkedIn profile, blog, CV, cover letter and during interviews. If you’re continuously using your research to project the best image of yourself throughout your job search, the quicker and easier it will be to understand your strengths and passions.
Regular Feature
Rewarding Careers:
firefighter When disaster strikes, firefighters are relied upon to provide rescue in a variety of dangerous situations. From extinguishing fires, responding to bomb scares and saving victims, the huge responsibility involved in this role is evident. Your ability to react to emergency situations in a calm and effective manner enables you to resolve hazardous situations and even save lives, providing an extremely rewarding feeling.
Day-to-Day
Skills Required
As well as reacting to fire emergencies and bomb alerts, the rescue side of your role involves providing aid to those who’ve had an accident and dealing with harmful substance spillages. When you’re not out on a call, you will regularly have to complete various station duties which include examining, cleaning and preserving apparatus. Throughout the week you will also have to complete drills and training exercises. The other side of your role involves educating the public in terms of avoiding fire emergencies. This will involve visiting schools and other community establishments to perform talks on fire safety. You will also be responsible for informing those working in construction on the fire safety measures they must adhere to, as well as checking existing buildings to ensure they comply with safety procedures.
You need to be physically fit and respond to emergencies quickly, as well as in a composed manner. Your aptitude for obeying orders, working in a team and your interpersonal skills should be exceptional in order to provide the best service possible. Problem-solving skills are also important due to the difficulties you’re likely to face during various rescue missions. Writing and presenting coherently is essential to providing both inspiring talks for the public and creating detailed case reports.
What Makes It So Rewarding? Your skills can save lives in a number of different dangerous situations, therefore you can feel reassured that your role is highly valued by the public as a whole. This video from the National Firefighter Selection (NFS) provides a great explanation for why this role is so respected: ‘The professionalism of the fire service is second to none. I think the training and the skills that each firefighter has is phenomenal…What they can give to the community in safety and in the rescues is brilliant.’
Salary & Entry Requirements Entry requirements vary according to the fire brigade you apply for, so approaching the chief fire officer at your preferred fire service is essential to find out exactly what you need to achieve to become a member of their team. The basic specification includes being 18 or over, having a decent level of education (minimum of GCSEs or corresponding qualifications) and being physically fit. There will be Useful Links: several assessments, including one for your physical fitness www.cheshirefire.gov.uk and a medical. Starting www.fbu.org.uk salaries are on average £21,000 per annum while in a junior position. After receiving your qualifications and passing your probation this can increase to £28,500+ and even reach £40,500 for a station manager.
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Regular Feature
How to get into: building Construction is a hugely diverse field, with a range of roles available in practical, technical and theoretical work. In general, the construction sector is seeing consistent growth, and is at its most healthy since 2007. This is down to a combination of better economic conditions in general and an increase in demand for houses and residential buildings in the UK. 84.6% of building and construction management graduates are employed or in further study, suggesting a good success rate for those who complete a degree in this subject. Other popular graduate areas include surveying, engineering, planning and architecture. For a specific guide on how to get into architecture, click here. Practical and technical trades such as plumbing, plastering, carpentry, electrics and more don’t require degrees, just the specific training for that particular field.
Why Construction? Salary Some graduate engineering and construction roles have starting salaries averaging at about £30,000. But it’s not just graduates that can reap the financial benefits: the average salary for plumbers sits at around the £30,000 mark too. However, some practical traders, especially in more expensive areas such as London, can charge up to £90 per hour of work. The benefits of specialist trades such as joining, plastering and plumbing is that they are always in demand, meaning there is plenty of work on offer.
varied Construction can involve a mixture of on-site and officebased work. This can be welcome relief for people who
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don’t relish the idea of sitting in an office all day. Of course it also means that at times the wind, rain and cold must be faced, but for many the chance to get physically involved in site projects makes it worthwhile.
flexible 36% of the construction industry is comprised of the self-employed and small businesses. This means that the opportunities to work for yourself once you learn a trade are rife. There are options to work within a large construction firm also, for people who would be more suited towards that.
routes apprenticeships The more traditional routes in construction, which involve mostly specialist trades, are most commonly entered via an apprenticeship. This involves some theoretical exams in conjunction with practical learning and work experience. Many construction employers team up with colleges to train apprentices in the hope that they will become part of their workforce. The length and complexity of your training will depend on the level of apprenticeship you choose: Intermediate, Advanced or Higher. Higher apprenticeships often have harder entry requirements and contain more theoretical work. Completing an apprenticeship can lead you to achieve further qualifications, such as a diploma or foundation degree.
degrees Roles in engineering quite often require a degree, and ones in planning and architecture certainly do. Not all jobs require a degree, but acquiring one can open up options for more senior positions, such as project manager and surveyor roles.
& construction Transferable Skills
+/
=
Problem-Solving
numbers
project management
Sometimes things don’t go exactly to plan or turn out the way expected, especially in the construction industry. It’s useful to have the ability to assess situations in order to find out what the issues are, but also helping to devise ways to solve them.
All areas of construction involve calculations. Measurements, quantities, dimensions and more are aspects that employees need to be able to handle with accuracy. If you have strong maths skills and can work with precision, construction could be suitable for you.
Whether it’s a small or large-scale job, project management is an essential skill. Timescales, materials needed and experts required are just some of the factors that come into play when managing a project. Being able to view the bigger picture and anticipate situations before they occur is also a great quality to possess.
Want to Read More? • How to get into sales • how to get into real estate
• how to get into the police • how to get into green jobs
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Regular Feature
Inside the hiring process at...
T
winings has been producing their popular on why you’ve applied for the scheme you’ve chosen. variety of tea for more than 300 years. Research should be undertaken on not just Twinings, but They attribute their international success to ABF and the other five businesses too. Each programme their great employees and team-orientated working has specific requirements in terms of the level of your environment which encourages innovation. As Twinings degree qualification and its discipline. All call for a is one of the businesses that makes up the ABF minimum total of 280 UCAS points from three A-levels (Associated British Foods) Grocery Group, the and you must be available to relocate while Twinings hiring process is one that ABF uses for the completing the scheme. Your form should attribute their graduate programmes covering all six of include examples of your achievements, international success to its businesses. both those you’ve accomplished on your their great employees and own and as a member of a team. In the team-orientated working Graduate programmes are offered in two weeks after the submission of your environment which the following areas: form, your application will be examined encourages • Customer Development by an experienced assessor. innovation • Engineering • Marketing If you’re successful you will face two online • Operations tests: one numerical and one verbal reasoning. If you • Supply Chain don’t pass the numerical test, you will not be required • Technical to attempt the verbal reasoning test. However if you All the programmes differ in length and format and pass both, the next stage is a brief phone interview. you’ll either focus on Twinings or have the opportunity This assesses your motivation for the scheme, as well as to move on to one of the other five of ABF’s businesses working for Twinings and the ABF Grocery Group in (see here) once your first year is complete. general. You may have to complete a Skype interview as well which will be more competency-based and includes Your application form must be precise and focused an assessment of your CV and work experience.
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Images © ABF Assessment centres are preceded by a meal the evening before, where you can introduce yourself to evaluators and interact with graduates currently on your scheme of choice. The assessment centre compromises of a group exercise, a one-on-one competency-based interview, a situational judgement exercise and a presentation. Several of these tasks will be based on a particular business case study, giving your assessors the opportunity to examine how you will handle the work involved in the graduate programme and your potential in general. It’s not about how much business knowledge you possess, but how you can apply the experiences you’ve had and your skills to the tasks in hand. You’ll receive the results of your assessment centre within 24 hours, along with feedback on your performance. Examples of Twinings Interview Questions: • Tell me about your most noteworthy achievement. • Describe your preferred working environment. • What responsibilities did you hold in your last role? • In your opinion, which of your qualities are the most significant to your career? • What type of personality do you work best alongside and why?
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Interesting Facts About Twinings:
1. Twinings tea can be bought in 115 countries around the world. 2. There are 198 blends of Twinings tea. 3. The logo is the oldest in the world in terms of continuous use – it was first used in 1787. 4. They created the largest teabag in the world in 2002 and if it had been brewed, 11,000 cups of tea would have been made. 5. If you laid out the string from each Twinings teabag created in a year end to end, it would wrap around the equator 15.2 times.
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Regular Feature
coolest OF FIC ES You don’t have to be a fan of skating and surfing to fall in love with this funky office but considering that’s what USA-based company Hurley do, it might help! Mostly because their Californian HQ contains it’s very own skate ramp. There’s also a music studio and a board-shaping room. What more could you need? With an entire room taken over with bold, geometric print, the Hurley office designers haven’t been shy when it comes to colour. Staff get to work on sleek wooden benches, which seem to be the staple of every hip and cool office – especially across the pond. Juxtaposing the mad colours and modern twists, there’s a neat little living room-style set up for staff and visitors to chill out in. With a comfy yet stylish overall look and feel, we certainly believe we’d enjoy working here!
More cool offices: • instagram • pinterest
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• three rings • youtube
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california, usa
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career development
SETTING
SHORT, MEDIUM & LONG-TERM
GOALS Establishing goals is what drives us to achieve more, which is why it’s particularly important to have some to aim towards in your career. SHORT-TERM GOALS Short-term goals should generally be achievable in the near future. Don’t set yourself the aim of completing something in a few months that will realistically take much longer. Think about what you could genuinely accomplish in a month – two months maximum. Examples could include speeding up your work process by a certain amount, so that you get more done before the next calendar month. Short-term goals should be achievements you can work towards daily. Whether they’re specific career goals or ones about your development in general, try to incorporate one task in your daily to-do list that will help you reach them. As short-term goals give you less time in which to complete them, set one at a time. Once you’ve accomplished one item, move on to the next goal. Setting yourself several at once will probably see you only realistically being able to achieve one of them anyway. Completing your tasks one step at a time gives you a better ability to focus on your goal.
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MEDIUM-TERM GOALS Medium-term goals are a little more ambiguous in terms of the timescale they will span over. As a long-term goal could be decades away for some of you, medium-term goals could comparatively be as long away as a few years. For some, it could be six months. Either way, medium-term goals should be something that you can start working towards now or in the near future. Consider medium-term goals as a stepping stone to your long-term goals. Your ultimate career vision will involve steps you’ll need to take to attain it – whether this is years of experience, completing a training course, a degree, etc. It’s not your end vision, but it allows you to reach it. You could potentially have more than one medium-term goal on the go. For example, if you’re studying you may aim to complete a certain number of work experience placements as well as achieve a certain grade in your degree. However, it’s best not to take on too many to ensure you can put your all into the most important ones.
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LONG-TERM GOALS Your long-term goal will be your ultimate career vision. Whether it changes or not doesn’t matter, as long as you have one. It’s difficult to get far if you don’t know where you want to end up. Thinking of the position you’d like to end up in and stay in helps you to organise the rest of your professional career retrospectively. Long-term goals are better to set once you’ve obtained your first job and have a feel for the working world. Before then, it can be difficult to have much of an insight into senior roles and how they operate. Once you’re in a role, you can suss out the duties and working patterns of your superiors, allowing you to aspire to ones that you think you’d enjoy. It’s wise to just have the one longterm goal. However, it’s worth having a few long-term back-ups. It’s normal to see yourself in a few different positions in the future, rather than having your mind set on just one. Picking the most relevant or appropriate one for you currently is a good place to start.
career development
How to maintain a positive attitude at work Whether you’re already a chirpy worker and want to maintain your happy momentum, or you’re falling into a grumpy rut at work, here are some pointers on how to keep enjoying your job without having to change it.
1 2 Change of scene
Whether the person next to you is beginning to wind you up or you’re just a bit bored of looking at the same piece of wall, gaining a different view or perspective can really change the way you work. Some workplaces already use a hot-desking system to encourage employees to sit next to different people and mix better. Consider suggesting this to your employer or moving to where there’s a free space.
Visualise your end goals
It could be that your current role isn’t stretching you to your full potential, or that it’s not quite in the field you’re really passionate about. If that is the case, you need to remind yourself that your current role should be a means to an end. Make a note of the value it is bringing to your life. These could be aspects like obtaining vital experience, being able to save money, training for further qualifications and more. Career progression is a very gradual process – even if it’s happening slowly, it’s still happening.
3 4 Focus on what you enjoy
Remember Why You applied for the Role
A good way to retain motivation and happiness in your role is to recall your reasons for going for it in the first place. It’s likely you accepted the job because you wanted it, so remember the main reasons for this. Try to recreate the feeling you had when you were offered the job. Even the most fun aspects can become mundane if you do them every day, but that doesn’t make the grass greener elsewhere!
It’s likely there are certain elements of your role you enjoy more compared to others. If this is the case, ask your boss if you can take on further responsibility within the tasks you enjoy. This will make your days much happier and make a huge difference to your attitude towards work. Without neglecting your lesser favoured tasks, mix them in with some fun jobs for a more varied working day.
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career development
AM I PROGRESSING
In My Career? Once you’re in employment you would think that the stress and worries from your jobseeking days are firmly behind you. However, with jobs not being as stable as they were years ago, many people feel under pressure to ensure they are continuously progressing in their role. To help reassure you that your career path is heading in the right direction, here are some aspects to consider.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES/ CHALLENGES MANAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES Having the chance to lead a team, no matter how small, shows you’ve developed key leadership skills that will help you to progress either in your current company or elsewhere. If you haven’t yet had the chance, offer to lead the next project or consider undergoing management training. Ask your boss about current opportunities and if there aren’t any available, it may be worth looking elsewhere to ensure your career progression continues nicely.
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When a new door opens or you face an obstacle in your career, it gives you the chance to expand your knowledge and gain the experience you need to progress. Opportunities may include working on large, important projects, or perhaps being given responsibility of a big client. Furthermore, if your boss has ever come to you with a problem the business is facing, then this will have provided you with the chance to develop your problem-solving skills as well as increase your responsibility.
JOB SATISFACTION If you feel happy and fulfilled by your role then you’re in the best position for career development: you’re more likely to put yourself out there, try new things and develop your skills. If you’re dissatisfied, you’re less likely to progress as your unhappiness will form a barrier between you and your potential. Enjoying everyday tasks and getting on well with your colleagues are signs of a high level of job satisfaction. If yours is low, discuss how you can improve it with your manager or start looking elsewhere for a more satisfying role.
ARE BELIEFS HOLDING YOU BACK
From The Success You Deserve? Former professional recruiter, Career Codex founder and job market strategist Simon Gray unlocks the secrets to finding success in today’s competitive job market.
What you believe about the job market and your position in it is directly correlated to your success or failure. If you believe the job market to be tough, this impacts your thought process and ability to take positive action. ‘What’s the point, there are no jobs anyway!’ becomes a disempowering belief, which is further reinforced by excuses, justifications and assumptions. The typical jobseeker places far too much emphasis on the job market and whether it’s good or bad; it becomes their main topic of conversation. They’re bounced around emotionally by news reports, things they see and stories they hear – ultimately aspects they have no control over and which they have not personally verified as accurate.
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THE SUPER SECRETS OF SEEKER SUCCESSFUL JOB
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SIMON GRAY
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SEEKER SUCCESSFUL JOB
Have you developed or gained any skills since you started your job? Whether it includes social media, computer skills or those transferable to other roles, if you are able to continuously add to your CV then your career development is in full swing. If you’ve had the opportunity to take a course related to the role you hold to further your qualifications then this is evidence of good career progression. It not only improves the quality of your work in your current role, but it also adds value to your CV for when you’re ready to move on. A raise or promotion also indicates your career development as it’s your employer’s recognition of your achievements.
SEUCCCREESSTFSUL S
OF THE
EXPANDING SKILLS
In reality, the success of your job hunt has nothing to do with the job market; instead it has everything to do with you. Once you grasp this concept you are free from emotion and exposed to a wider set of possibilities. No longer reactive, you are now in full and proactive control of your own destiny. This starts with taking personal responsibility, emotional detachment and running a process based on informed and accurate information about your job market environment.
JOBSEEKER
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SIMON GRAY
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Career Codex is an employability education and training company, offering a unique and innovative approach to job market success.
www.careercodex.co.uk
career development
how to bounce back from being fired Dismissal is an unpleasant experience for all. While the situation is far from ideal, it’s not the end of the world. There are plenty of places you can go to for support.
Determine the circumstances
Was I dismissed unfairly?
If you’ve been dismissed from your position due to the cutting of staff, your job becoming non-existent or similar, then it’s important to look into the differences in redundancy and dismissal. Dismissal isn’t always the fault of the employee – it could be due to an illness that leaves you incapable of doing your job or because exceptional circumstances leave the company unable to keep you on. In this case, it’s important you accept the inevitability of not being suitable any longer.
There are many factors that can determine whether you were dismissed unfairly. The employer must have what is considered a fair reason for dismissing you, and they must follow the correct dismissal procedures. You have been unfairly The important dismissed if you were fired part is to ensure due to:
However, in a lot of cases, it could be attributed to actions you performed, or didn’t perform. A popular reason for dismissal is the inability to do your job properly, perhaps due to technical reasons. In this case, your employer needs to have given you prior warning of your under-performance, along with a chance to improve. Dismissal requires a minimum notice period, apart from in cases of gross misconduct, where instant dismissal is acceptable. You are entitled to request a written statement outlining the reasons for your dismissal if you have been employed by the organisation for over two years. This can be a good way of understanding the reasons for your dismissal on a formal basis.
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you are honest about being dismissed.
• Refusal to give up your working rights • Joining a trade union or taking part in industrial action that lasted 12 weeks or less • Needing time off for jury service • Applying for maternity/paternity/adoption leave • Exposing wrongdoing in the workplace (also known as whistleblowing) • Being forced into retirement If you feel like any of these apply to you, you can request a tribunal to dispute the grounds for your dismissal. Before doing so, try involving a third party or intermediary to resolve the issue.
£
Know Your
Rights
gardening leave
Will it affect my future employment? This depends heavily on what the reasons for your dismissal were. If you were fired for an inability to perform and are applying for the same role elsewhere, the chances of you obtaining the job are slim. Instead, apply for different roles that involve tasks that you are strong at. Where gross misconduct is concerned, it can be harder to find new work unless you are proven innocent, or you can show you have taken steps to improve from your previous discrepancy. If you were dismissed for reasons irrelevant to new potential employers, it’s unlikely it’ll have much detriment to your ability to handle the new role. The important part is to ensure that you are honest about the fact you were dismissed, and the reasons for it. If a potential employer finds out you’ve been dishonest about your history, it will severely damage the chance of them hiring you.
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Gardening leave is when your employer doesn’t wish you to work your full notice period before you move on. The company may be working on sensitive information that they’d rather you didn’t know anymore about, or they simply feel you don’t need to continue with any tasks now that you’ll soon be leaving.
The Law:
Advice:
If you’re given gardening leave and asked to go before your notice is up, the employer is required to give you full pay and employee benefits for the duration of what your notice period should have been. However, if you request to work a shorter notice rather than being asked, you can lose your rights to full pay for the notice you didn’t work. This is because the employer will be granting you a shorter notice period rather than providing you with gardening leave.
Whether gardening leave is offered or not will depend heavily on what type of role you are in. Not everyone will receive it, but it’s important to remember that if you are asked to cut your notice short, you should be paid for the full agreed period. This should be outlined in your contract, but it’s worth talking to your employer if you’re unsure.
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3. Talk
1. Laugh There’s nothing wrong with a bit of banter here and there as long as it’s all in good jest. Humour in the office is great as it’s often what we remember from the day, and what we go on to tell our friends and family about when the day is over.
2. Tunes Music is a great shared experience and also helps motivate people throughout the day. With the right musical backdrop, the mood of a workplace can increase significantly. As no one’s music tastes are the same, suggest a rota where everyone is able to pick a radio station, playlist or album they enjoy.
It’s not a good idea to sit and chat to your colleagues all day, but it’s also pretty bad to sit there and not join in on conversation either. Office chat is often a mixture of work-related and personal topics. Work-related chat is a good productivity booster, as it’s always beneficial to share ideas with the team. Personal conversations are vital for creating and cementing relationships with your colleagues.
How to: create
office atmosphere
4. Share
Whether you’re making rounds of tea or sharing those toffees you had in your cupboard at home, making small gestures for the rest of your colleagues goes a long way. Furthermore, if a colleague is having a bad day, your efforts have the potential to help improve their mood for the rest of the day.
INSPIRING QUOTE
All our dreams can come true,
if we have the
courage to pursue them.
- WALT DISNEY
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“
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rite
ou Our fav
tweets of the month
Candace @candace_9871
Boss approaches, I frantically close my google image search of cats hugging, only to show a new window of cats in formal wear. I get fired. Rich Wisken @Rich Wisken
Why do scientists name diseases after themselves, and not the people they hate? Carly Danger @carlyken
I need a career involving less interaction and more pizza. I’ve narrowed it down to: Pizza Farmer, Pizza Hunter, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Shweta Khare @moxieblogger
If you ever feel dumb, remember sometimes sloths grab their own arms thinking they are tree branches and fall to the ground.
Money maker be quids-in while looking for work.
Stoozing Stoozing is the technique of borrowing credit card loans at 0% interest and storing the money in a high interest bank account. It is only suitable for those who already have a good credit rating in order to qualify for the best credit card deals. It also requires good organisation and the ability to manage your finances. Stoozing means you’re effectively earning money on savings that you borrowed for free. Ensuring that the savings account is a high interest one is important for making this exercise profitable. It is also essential not to miss payments while stoozing, or to exceed the credit card rate. How much you make from stoozing will depend on the interest rate of your savings account, as well as the limit on how much you can borrow on your credit card. For more information, check out Martin Lewis’s guide to stoozing here.
Sir Rabbit @hythemafia
I’ve quit my new job as a postman..... .....they handed me my first letter to deliver, I looked at it and thought: “This isn’t for me.”
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