Career Savvy Issue Fourteen

WIN A M a l a ys i a n

Orangutan Experience IN BORNEO Wo r t h ÂŁ 2 ,0 0 0 !

Orangutans, one of the great apes, are born with an ability to reason and share nearly 97% of our DNA. The indigenous peoples of Indonesia and Malaysia call them ‘orang hutan’ which translates to ‘person of the forest’. Orangutans are ‘critically endangered’ due to poaching and habitat loss. There are only about 40,000 orangutans remaining in Borneo and Sumatra, having decreased from an estimated 60,000 ten years ago.

Career Savvy are offering the prize of a lifetime: a free trip to Malaysia, where one lucky reader will fly to the island Borneo courtesy of StudentUniverse.

The winner will also be a part of the Orangutan and Tribes Voluntour offered by The Great Projects.

This trip involves spending two weeks visiting orangutan centres and national parks exploring the incredible rainforests and helping to conserve the natural orangutan habitat. The winner will help carry out vital work that protects orangutans, as well as discover the descendants of its indigenous tribes.

For the chance to really make a difference and have a life-changing experience...

C L I C K TO E N T E R Closing date: midnight Sunday 1st February 2014.

Competition open to UK residents aged 18 and over only.

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IT’S A JUNGLE OUT THERE

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26 10

As in the world of work? Yep. But I’m also referring to the amazing Malaysian Orangutan Experience competition we have running, in conjunction with The Great Projects and StudentUniverse (see pages 2-3 for details). One lucky reader will get the once-in-a-lifetime chance to spend two weeks helping to preserve the lives of these spectacular creatures in the Borneo Rainforest. It takes a minute to enter, and could be one of the best experiences of your life, so what are you waiting for?

With last issue’s competition to win £250 in Amazon vouchers still open (until 01/12/2014), it’s all give, give, give here at Career Savvy, and we love it.

If you’re currently looking for work, our job hunting section may whet your appetite for a career in manufacturing, modelling or counselling. Plus we’ll teach you how to nail your CV’s personal statement, write professional emails, and boss a second interview.

Employed? You’ll love our career development section, with guides on appraisals and dealing with useless bosses. We also have a gallery of some pretty awesome desk storage ideas.

Enjoy the read, and good luck for the competitions!

DAVE MORGAN EDITOR

Regular features 6 sector insights

29 Rewarding Careers

8 Your Dream Career

30 how to get into...

Manufacturing employees give their view of what the sector is like.

It’s closer than you think with some top tips from CV-Library.

Occupational therapy and how it can make a huge difference.

The soaring and ever popular field of travel and tourism.

10 world’s most interesting jobs

32 inside the hiring process at...

12 nail your second interview

34 coolest offices

16 your stories

41 know your rights

17 7 awkward office moments

44 how to...

Colour consultants: what their role involves and how you could become one!

Jobsgopublic’s tips on how to perform well when called back for a second interview.

Cringeworthy experiences from the world of work.

Seven situations in the office that make us wish the ground would open up.

18 a day in the life of...

One of the biggest companies on this earth - Amazon.

A brand spanking new Google office you will not have seen yet.

Workplace bullying: how to deal with it and not suffer in silence.

Start the week with a bang.

46 moneymaker

Lottie Benson - Professional Model.

Making some dosh from selling your printer cartridges.

news

lifestyle

7 Industry update

13 make the most of annual leave

9 good news for working parents

14 moving to the city

Find out what’s been happening in the manufacturing industry.

How not to end up grouting or emptying the vaccum on your day off.

How balancing a career and family could get easier.

Cultural capital Prague and the opportunities it holds.

on the job hunt?

Developing Your Career?

20 Become a counsellor

36 the benefits of regular appraisals

22 master your cv personal statement

37 how to monitor your own progress

23 4 top tips for writing emails

38 what kind of worker am i?

24 Loud vs quiet workplaces

40 how to handle useless bosses

25 why should you do a mock interview?

42 Desk storage

Pick a career route that truly helps people and offers great opportunities.

Some expert advice on this all-important part of your CV. Make sure you write professional emails correctly with our guide.

Which would you prefer? We weigh up the pros and cons of both.

Tackle interviews head-on by being as prepared as you possibly can.

26 online testing: how can you prepare?

More and more companies roll out online screening - here’s how to get past it.

28 Least stressful jobs

Take a look at the most chillaxing jobs.

How regular feedback can have a super positive impact on your career.

Tips on keeping your own tabs on how you’re doing at work.

Assessing how you work best to help boost your productivity.

Different breeds of useless bosses and how to deal with them.

Some awesome desk storage items that you need in your life.

now Available to download free from

Regular Feature

why work in manufacturing?

Staff from the sector say what they like and dislike!

‘I enjoy problem-solving and figuring out what will function and what will not. Also my job is a mixture of office and workshop-based work, so I get to experience both.’

Aaron, Technical Engineer

‘I get to travel a lot in my role which is amazing. I like being able to leave the office and go out and meet clients face-to-face – it makes the design process much easier.’

‘It’s good because you get the chance to be a part of creating something physical. You can look at an aircraft and know that you made it possible.’

Tom, Aerospace Machinist

Tony, Product Design Specialist

‘It’s a very busy field and there is always something going on – which is great for me as I enjoy working that way.’

Jane, Logistics Coordinator

‘Having a specialist trade is good because it means your skills are in demand. There’s a lot of movement within the industry to learn new skills and try new things.’

Alex, Quality Control Assistant

news

INDUSTRY UPDATE: manufacturing Manufacturing involves the production of everything from normal everyday appliances to cars, trains and planes. As a result, the industry affects a range of different sectors. Manufacturing roles can span from design, to production, maintenance, quality assurance

2.6 million people in the UK employed in manufacturing

Manufacturing The British p r o v i d e s aerospace industry has an annual of UK GVA revenue of £12.4bn

11%

Roles • Research and Development • Production • Quality Control/Testing • Shipping • Logistics • Customer Support

and more. Manufacturers usually concentrate on a broken-down section of the process, creating parts that go on to form a larger product.

To break into this industry you don’t necessarily require a degree, although it will be needed for more senior

roles in design and engineering.

Machinist and production roles can be entered through apprenticeships or entry-level positions. Manufacturing apprenticeships are a great way to train while receiving payment, gaining experience and formal qualifications.

uK is the 11th Largest Manufacturer in the World The industry as a whole is seeing growth. In 2013, the UK ranked 11th for manufacturing output against all other manufacturing countries. It currently contributes £6.7 trillion to the global economy, and makes up 54% of UK exports. This contrasts with widespread preconceptions that manufacturing is a doomed trade in the UK. While levels haven’t returned to their heights of the seventies, where manufacturing made up 25% of UK GDP, the picture is still quite positive. In reality, levels as high as these are unlikely to be reached now that foreign trade and imports are so important to the economy. In the first six months of 2014, the UK saw its best new car sales for the last nine years.

Demand for New Manufacturing Recruits up by 40% According to the Engineering UK Report 2014, there has been a 40% increase in demand for new engineering and manufacturing recruits since 2012. This huge rise is great news for anyone hoping to break into the sector. Growth in the industry means that companies are estimated to need 1.86 million employees that have engineering and manufacturing skills.

Thus there needs to be twice as many people in apprenticeships, training or degrees in order to get enough jobseekers into the industry.

The hope is that this will encourage companies to invest click here to more in their recruitment and training programmes, receive our latest in order to have enough recruits to support the magazines straight to growing trade.

your inbox

• Marketing • Sales

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Regular Feature

YOUR

DREAM

C AREER:

IT’S CLOSER THAN YOU THINK!

Can you hear that? That’s the sound of your dream career calling you – and it’s closer than you think! Many of us have an ideal job in mind, that one role we’d just love to be doing. At CV-Library, we’re firm believers in turning dreams into reality, so the steps below will help you make that leap from ‘Sure, I like my job,’ to ‘I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!’ Step One: Don’t forget your goal Once you’ve decided on your dream job, write it down, stick it on your fridge, and tell yourself every day that you’ll get there eventually. Taking a moment to feel inspired each day will help keep you motivated.

Step Two: Work out how to get from A to B Using research, networking and career advice services, make a watertight plan detailing how to get from where you are now to where you want to be. Break this plan of action down into manageable steps which you can tick off as you go along.

Step Three: Train up If your ideal job is vastly different to your current occupation you may need to train for qualifications in your chosen field. These days, going back to square one is entirely manageable alongside full-time work, with e-learning courses and evening classes available to help you gain new skills without compromising your earning ability.

Step Four: Identify transferable skills Write a list of the qualities, experiences and qualifications needed for your dream job. Now write a list of those you possess already. This will help you to identify your transferable skills – hone these to the best of your ability in preparation for your career change.

Step Five: Sell yourself It’s never too early to start improving your CV, so when you’re ready to begin applying for jobs, make sure you list all of your most relevant experiences and transferable

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skills in plain sight for hiring managers to see.

A covering letter explaining why you’re looking to change career could make all the difference.

Step Six: Go for the long game Miracles don’t happen overnight. It might take weeks, months or even longer for your plan to reach fruition.

Bear this in mind and don’t let rejections get you down.

Register your CV with CV-Library to browse over 100,000 UK jobs.

news

Good News for

working parents The perfect balance between parenthood and a career has been increasingly coveted by workers, especially since women have become more prominent in the world of work. The truth is, whether you’re a single parent or have a partner, tough choices have to frequently be made due to the demands you face from both your home and work life. But does your career really have a negative effect on your children?

Deciding to start a family is a life-changing decision The key to parents successfully juggling their careers which can leave you with a number of difficult decisions and their parental responsibilities is flexibility. Whether to make in terms of your career. You may feel your you’re struggling to maintain a balance in your current current career is not well suited to family life role or afraid of your ability to do so now you’re due to its high demands on your time and/ planning a family, it’s always worth asking your Children or it involves lots of international travel. employer about flexible working. Whether whose Perhaps you already have a family and are this is organising working from home two mother worked over 35 hours per looking to get back into work, but want days a week, altering your working hours week are more to choose a career that will offer you a to fit around your child’s nursery/school likely to continue good work-life balance. Either way, the schedule or even organising a job share with to higher decision of whether to change careers or another employee. You may be surprised education which one to pursue can leave you feeling by your employer’s willingness to meet your confused about your options and worrying about needs in order to prevent you from leaving or to the effect this decision will have on the relationship with secure your talent for their business. However, if they’re your children. not accommodating, then it’s worth searching for an employer that respects your needs and appreciates your A recent survey conducted by economics professor Dr talent. If you’re looking for a family-friendly role, click Sylvia Mendolia can offer some reassurance. Focusing on here to discover the most popular options. the impact a mother’s working hours has on their child’s behaviour, the study found that they don’t appear to So it seems we really can have it all: a fulfilling career affect their child’s likelihood to smoke, leave school early that doesn’t negatively affect the lives of our children. or have little self-confidence. In fact, those whose mother If you’re currently struggling to get your head around worked over 35 hours per week were actually more likely balancing parenthood with your career, then flexible to continue to higher education. Results such as these are working could be the answer. For more advice, see our not only reassuring for those planning to start a family related articles below. who may have been worried about the effects of their Articles you may find useful: busy lifestyle on a child, but single parents can also feel • Flexable Working - Would it Suit You? less guilty about the time they must spend away from • Balancing a Career with Kids their children at work.

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Regular Feature

The World’s Most

Interesting Jobs

COLOUR

CONSULTANT

T

he colour schemes found in offices, homes Homeowners may also require a colour consultant’s and even in wardrobes around the world are services when it comes to deciding on the best colours often more thought-out than those with an for decorating key rooms in the house. A consultant untrained eye might think. In truth, colours can have can use their expertise to suggest shades and colour an incredible effect on your mood and well-being. So schemes that will work best in certain rooms in order to imagine if it was your job to advise and decide on the create the right vibe. They will take into consideration colours people inject into their lives at work, in their the needs of the client, the lighting of the room and the homes or even in their attire. Fun, room’s function. Whether it’s offering up right? As a colour consultant you can ‘It is my desire to help combinations which work well together or others understand use your expert knowledge to do just different shades, a colour consultant does not the significance of that. If you’re artistic and have an eye force their preferences on clients, but advises colour, and teach for detail, this career path could be them on what works well for the purpose them to think about they’re looking for. the one for you. the impact of colour in our surroundings Karen Collins, colour consultant and interior Colour consultants are essentially and in our lives.’ experts within the interior design field designer for JBA Architects, states here: who possess extensive knowledge on ‘Having a passion for colour, art and design the effects colour can have on people, since I was young has always pushed me to expand my as well as the mood/tone of a place. They’re often hired creative side…It is my desire to help others understand by businesses to help them decide on a scheme that the significance of colour, and teach them to think will help create a particular atmosphere, such as for a about the impact of colour in our surroundings and in bar/restaurant or even a hospital. Furthermore, colour our lives.’ consultants can also help companies decide on the best colours to use in their branding, including their allimportant logo.

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A more personal side to the role is if colour consultants are hired to assist clients with their clothing and makeup. By taking into account the features of their client (e.g. hair and eye colour) the colour consultant will advise them on the attire and make-up that will suit them best.

This can be particularly useful for specific occasions such as an interview, wedding or business event, as well as providing assistance with everyday decisions.

Although a formal education isn’t obligatory, a bachelor’s degree in interior design will provide you with some of the knowledge and skills you’ll need to succeed. You can also train with and become a member of the International Association of Colour Consultants/Designers (IACC) to achieve recognition for your talent in this profession (click here for more information). Create a portfolio and complete an internship or work experience placement with an interior design firm to boost your prospects – ideally, work alongside an employee with colour consulting expertise. The majority of colour consultants work as freelancers and rely on establishing a good reputation to build their business through successful relationships with clients. This role requires plenty of travelling so you must be able and prepared to do so in order to satisfy the needs of your clients.

So if your creative mind is searching for a career where you can use your impressive eye for detail and you’re interested in the effects of colour on moods and atmospheres, then why not explore this innovative career path? You could make a positive difference to homes and businesses around the world!

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Regular Feature

nail your second interview THE PUBLIC PERSPECTIVE Congratulations! You’ve made it through that tricky first interview and you’ve been invited back for a second. Now it’s really serious; you’ve obviously impressed but now it’s time to seal the deal.

A second interview can be a different beast altogether and will involve some different elements of preparation.

However, it’s important to retain the same all-round approach of your first interview: • Dress well • Smile • Be punctual • Maintain eye contact • Ooze confidence

Format It is essential that you know what format the interview will take, as it will have a large impact on the way in which you prepare. If you will be interviewed by a number of people, either all at once or one by one, you are well within your rights to ask who those people will be. It’s also important to find out how long the interview is expected to last: you don’t want to find yourself having to leave early for other commitments.

Being able to demonstrate that you’ve thought about this could really work in your favour.

The missing piece A first interview will primarily be about whether or not you fulfill certain criteria and whether you’re capable of doing the job. A second interview will more likely be focused on whether you will fit into the team you will be working with and the company culture in general. It’s important to remember that should you not get the job after this stage, it is probably due to the fact that another candidate’s personality was deemed to be a better fit for the company.

You should go into this interview with confidence – you’ve seen off most of the competition and they are definitely interested. What’s important now is that you stay focused, carefully prepare and let your personality shine through. Good luck!

Research You will have researched the company before your first interview but now it’s time to go into more depth. Spend a significant amount of time on the company website and gather as much information as you can. Consider what you think works well, what you’d change and any questions you’d like to ask. Social media is a good place to gain an idea of recent events, news and company culture. Think about how the department and role you’re applying for fits into the wider picture of the company, as well as the purpose and challenges that currently exist.

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For all the latest public and not-for-profit sector vacancies, head to jobsgopublic.com

lifestyle

Make the Most of Your

AN N UAL

L E AV E As the final stretch of the year is upon us, many of us have holiday to use up, or are beginning to plan the use of next year’s leave. Outside of jetting off on your holidays, attending weddings or any other special occasions, here’s how to make sure you don’t end up spending it doing grouting or playing Mario Kart all day.

plan a staycation Whether you cannot really afford a holiday or just don’t have the time to go, staycations can be the perfect compromise. Staycations involve visiting tourist spots close to home as if you were on holiday in a foreign country. Take your other half, kids, parents, dogs or all of the above and go to the zoo, the seaside or see some historical sights. How many landmarks do you live near but have never actually seen?

No doubt there’s a few!

achieve something Time off isn’t just for rest and relaxation, despite this being a vital part of it.

Take the time to do something you’ve never done before. Do a day course in cupcake decorating or cocktail making. Be daring and organise a parachute or bungee jump. Or do something a little tamer, like volunteering for a charity.

Make yourself useful and complete a project, like finishing the garden you’ve been working on. Take it as your chance to do things you’ve never got round to, so that when you return to work, you’ve ticked something off the list.

Unwind There’s a saying that we particularly like, which goes: ‘Time you enjoyed wasting is not wasted time’. Take a day to do something that relaxes you, whether it’s a shopping trip, going for a country walk, the cinema or sitting in your onesie watching Frozen. Anything goes if you’re going to love every second of it.

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13

lifestyle

Moving to the City: prague T

he city’s rich cultural heritage is evident via Prague’s incredible Gothic, Baroque and Romanesque architecture. The largest city in the Czech Republic has been influenced in terms of its political system, culture, and economy by its location in Central Europe. Prague’s popularity is proven by its high population of around 1.24 million and its selection as the capital of both the Czech Republic when it became independent in 1993 and the Holy Roman Empire. So if you’re looking for a beautiful city steeped in history, why not consider moving to Prague?

Prague’s economy has a lot to be proud of, with a low unemployment percentage, high salaries and the responsibility of generating almost a quarter of the Czech Republic’s GDP. Expats make up nearly 20% of the workforce due to the encouraging state of Prague’s economy.

Previously dominated by the industrial sector, the economy has seen a substantial increase in the importance of the services sector. It accounts for approximately 80% of Prague’s workforce, representing the economy’s shift from its industrial background. Particularly dominant

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within this sector are the financial services, with banking having a high concentration in the city.

Tourism is also extremely influential, with more than half of the money generated by tourism in the Czech Republic coming from Prague. The city’s attractions appeal to many, with almost six million tourists visiting Prague last year alone. With around 100,000 people employed in this sector in the city and the figure of tourists visiting only set to rise, there are plenty of opportunities available.

Renting a one bedroom apartment in the city centre it will cost around £368 per month on average. This rises to £661 a month for a three bedroom apartment. If you’re looking to buy, an apartment in the city centre is on average £2,129 per square metre.

If you want to live somewhere with plenty of green space and/or you’re moving as a family, the suburb of Vinohrady will appeal due to its many parks for you to enjoy plenty of relaxing strolls with your family. Many expats live in this area due to its central location, decent restaurants and abundance of greenery. However, due to its popularity, prices are starting to rise here.

“

Prague’s economy has a lot to be proud of, with a low unemployment percentage & high salaries

“

If you’re looking for somewhere a bit more lively and cannot afford the high prices of the more central districts (Mala Strana, Stare Mesto and Nare Mesto), then Zizkov could be the area for you. Due to its more urban atmosphere you’ll find prices are much cheaper here.

There are plenty of restaurants and pubs to explore so you can put the money you save in rent towards good times.

ATTRACTIONS: If historic buildings have you reaching for your camera in delight, then Prague offers plenty of attractions for you happy-snappers. From the Gothic towers of Tyn Church, which also holds an extensive art collection, to its infamous Charles Bridge which has linked the Old Town and Lesser Town for 600 years. Prague Zoo also offers plenty of enjoyable sightseeing, with 5000 animals inhabiting 69 hectares of picturesque landscape. For more attractions, click here.

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Random Facts about prague

1 The voices you hear on the metro are actually those of Czech Radio presenters Světlana Lavičková and Tomáš Černý, as well as Eva Jurinová who used to be a TV presenter.

2 It was here at the International Astronomical Union in 2006 where Pluto was announced as a ‘dwarf planet’.

3 Prague Castle is acknowledged by the Guinness Book of World Records as being the largest castle in the world as it covers 18 acres.

4 A memorial for John Lennon’s death can be found on a wall in the centre of Prague, where a painting of his image is displayed.

5 The reason the city was less damaged in comparison to other central European cities during World War Two is allegedly due to Hitler’s aspiration to have it as an arts capital for Nazi Europe.

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Regular Feature

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R I B E h

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Regular Feature

1

7 Awkward office moments 2

When someone rings you at your desk just as you have a mouthful of food.

3

When you keep going to the toilet at the same time as another person and end up seeing them three times in one day.

When you realise you used the last of someone else’s milk in your tea.

When you tut because the person in front didn’t hold the door open, and they actually hear you, turn around and look at you.

6

When someone asks who used the last of their milk and you sit lower in your chair pretending you cannot hear them.

5

7

When someone needs you for something one minute before lunchtime so you try to answer them as quickly as humanly possible.

When you really don’t want to share your sweets or chocolate but feel obliged because everyone else offers theirs out.

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Regular Feature

A Day in the Life of...

Whether it’s in your favourite magazines or during a catwalk show, the glamour and beauty of the modelling world inspires many of us to follow careers in fashion. So what would it be like to live and breathe this stylish lifestyle? Chloe Franchina spoke to Lottie Benson, a model for FM London, to uncover the reality behind this enviable career.

How did you become a model? Did you need any specific training or education?

I was scouted when I was in school, but at the time I wasn’t sure if it was for me, yet it came back to me time and time again. I changed my mind a few years later once I had explored other career options and gathered some life experience. When I felt I was ready I went to London and met with a few agencies before being given an opportunity to work with FM London.

what personal qualities do you think are essential to be good at your job?

“

What would be your biggest tip, for someone looking to follow your career path?

I would say you need to be realistic; research the industry, the specific type of modelling you are looking for and what requirements agencies may have. Take some photos along with you, just home snaps, and don’t ever pay for a portfolio! If an agency sees potential they will snap you up. Make sure you wear something that makes you feel confident and just go for it – what shall be shall be either way, so learn from it!

There are endless opportunities to meet new people and travel to various locations

what does a typical day consist of?

There isn’t such a thing as a typical day in modelling. One day may involve walking/running around to go sees and castings and the next straight shooting. Shoots can take ten minutes or ten hours depending on the brief. Then you’ll have time to grab a bite to eat or a drink with a friend, finishing with a yoga or tai chi class to unwind after a productive day.

What is the best thing about your job?

There’s something different every day, with endless opportunities to meet new and inspiring people and travel to various locations you may not otherwise be able to. It’s pushed me out of my comfort zone frequently, building my confidence and giving me chances to explore new and exciting places.

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Remember who you are, don’t be tempted by other peoples’ opinions, as much as they might test you.

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“

You need to be patient, understanding and accepting yet determined, resilient and passionate. You need to have good roots and be able to stay focused, but at the same time you need to be imaginative and ready for anything.

What is the best advice you have ever received?

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Being within a creative industry you are able to interact with every sort of character and if you are lucky enough you can create something really unique and off beat. In particular, I am looking forward to a shoot I am part of coming out in Wonderland magazine.

What’s been the most challenging part of your career so far?

My head is constantly in the clouds so I have had to learn what to do in order to concentrate and be organised. I’m also really clumsy, forgetful and a bit of a technophobe – but I’m learning!

If you could spend one day in a different career, what would it be and why?

Anything that includes helping, exploring and documenting the world. I have a real interest in everything and how it all fits together.

lottie_benson

Professional model

LOTTIE BENSON

Photograph by Andreas Petterson

Photograph by Mark Rabadaan

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19

job hunting

BECOME A

COUNSELLOR: And help those in need

Training Although there are other options, courses that are accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) have been assessed as meeting the standards of the leading professional body in the field. BACP is the leading professional body in Europe, representing over 41,000 counsellors and psychotherapists.

Entry routes on to BACP-accredited courses will vary; whilst previous experience or studies in a related field such as health or social care

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Would you like to be someone people can turn to when they’re in need? If you have great interpersonal skills, are openminded and able to empathise with people, then becoming a counsellor could be the perfect career for you. So what would this involve?

would be a benefit, they are not compulsory. BACP membership is often required by potential employers as it demonstrates that a minimum qualification has been reached and that you adhere to an ethical framework. It provides confidence to clients that they are seeing a credible and professional counsellor and that they are protected by the professional conduct procedure that the counsellor is subject to.

In order to gain Individual Membership of BACP, you will be

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required to successfully complete a counselling or psychotherapy course that is a minimum of one year fulltime or two years part-time, with an integral supervised placement.

Most counselling diplomas would meet this requirement and BACPaccredited courses certainly do.

However, enrolling on a diploma level training course is a big commitment and you may wish to consider a shorter introductory or certificate level course before this point to ensure the career feels right for you.

Introduction to Counselling This course is offered by further education colleges and adult education centres around the country, lasting 8-12 weeks and consisting of the basics in terms of the skills and knowledge needed for a counselling role. You can gain an insight into what the training involves, so you can decide whether this is truly the right path for you before you go any further in your training.

Certificate in Counselling This course develops your theoretical knowledge as well as the basic skills needed to become a counsellor.

Again such courses can be completed at a FE college or adult education centre and the majority are taken part-time over a one year period.

They are often directly followed by a further year’s training leading to a diploma level qualification.

Diploma (or higher) Qualification in Counselling A diploma will typically be at least two years part-time but some full-time courses are available.

Completion of a diploma will usually meet the first level of membership with BACP. Beyond diplomas, you may want to continue your studies at postgraduate or master’s level and course leaders will be able to advise you on these.

Once you begin studying, you can join BACP as a student member and access useful resources such as a student only event, online forums and a placement database.

After completing your studies you can work towards becoming a registered member which allows

you to advertise your services as a counsellor using a logo approved by the Department for Health. Beyond this, post-qualification practical experience can lead to becoming accredited by BACP which improves employment opportunities and income.

Working Pattern Counsellors often adopt what is known as ‘portfolio working’, meaning they may have a number of clients in different settings. For example, it is not unusual for a counsellor to be employed part-time within an agency while seeing private clients in the evening or at weekends.

Full-time jobs are available but are highly sought after and are dependent upon the setting you wish to work in. If you work in the NHS or an educational setting then you’re more likely to have regular ‘office hours’, while those in a private practice will work around clients’ needs. Volunteering is a common way to build up hands-on experience, both for improved chances of paid work and to gain hours to count towards BACP accreditation. You may also see clients one-to-one, as couples, or in groups; online counselling is also becoming more common.

Listening to the problems people are facing can take its toll, therefore this job can be stressful. To combat this and ensure you’re working within your capabilities, you will be required to see a supervisor. BACP recommend 1.5 hours per month of supervision if you are in practice and they can assist you in finding one.

Future Progression Once you’re qualified you can look to specialise in a particular area of counselling, such as bereavement, children and young people, or substance abuse. After gaining a sufficient amount of experience you could also specialise in the training or supervision of fellow counsellors. If you like the idea of self-employment then this is also a possible route once your expertise are sufficient. Before you do so however, it is suggested that you achieve accreditation from the BACP to give your business a better chance of achieving success.

For options to train to become a therapist, find out more about these training providers: • Gestalt Centre • London School of Theology • Iron Mill College • WPF Therapy

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job hunting

Master Your CV

Personal Statement Would your CV pass the six seconds test? This is the average time a recruiter will spend scanning your CV during the initial screening process. Your personal profile is your starting point: it should encourage the employer to read on and find out more, increasing your chances of an invite to interview.

The most common problems are: • It’s too short and doesn’t provide enough relevant information.

• Just the opposite – it’s too long and waffles on.

• It includes information that should be elsewhere in your application.

• There is no personal statement!

Top Tips: Ideally it needs to be no longer than a paragraph of around six lines. Give some indication about your personality by including descriptive words such as ‘friendly’ and ‘conscientious’.

Words often don’t come easily when you’re writing about yourself. Ask a family member or close friend to help, but make sure you agree with their suggestions – don’t just assume that what they think is right.

Many professional CV writers offer a free independent CV review, so take advantage of this.

Add how many years of experience you have had in which industries and what level you are currently at e.g. senior or assistant.

Explain what a difference you have made in your career so far, with examples stating facts and figures where possible.

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Don’t add a photo unless it has been requested. Your online CV with LinkedIn is the only exception to this rule.

Finish off by explaining what you are looking for in your next role.

Example of an interview-winning personal statement: ‘A motivated, passionate, enthusiastic and professional individual with over 25 years of management experience in UK and global markets, in project manufacturing (PME), civil engineering and construction (CEC) and professional services (PSO), and more recently, with my own business. A dedicated, results-driven, commercially orientated team player, I have an outstanding track record in direct, indirect and channel sales management, and I’ve also worked with a wide variety of SMEs with a focus on business and strategic planning to ensure success.’

If you’re still struggling don’t worry, help is at hand. Sue Edwards from our Ask the Experts panel and Premium CVs will help you with a free CV review, or more if you need it.

Contact Sue on 01825 761890 or email sue@premiumcvs.co.uk

job hunting

4

Top Tips for

Writing

Professional Emails

Now that you’re entering the world of work you need to master the art of crafting effective professional emails. As the most frequently used method of communication in the workplace, most of you will be dealing with this task every day. To avoid any misconduct when communicating with clients and colleagues, here are our top tips for writing a professional email.

Think about your subject line.

Be concise, but not informal.

Your subject line needs to be clear and focused so you don’t waste the recipient’s valuable time and to avoid it getting lost among the mass of emails they no doubt receive on a daily basis. You may think including the words ‘important’ or ‘urgent’ will encourage your contact to click on your message, but in fact this technique is often associated with spam – so refrain from using these terms. If you keep it short and obvious as to what you’re alerting them to, the better chance you have of someone taking the time to open and acknowledge your email.

As previously mentioned, recipients often don’t have a lot of time on their hands so your email needs to be easy to read, with your main points expressed clearly and concisely straight away. However, this doesn’t mean you can use abbreviations and colloquial language such as ‘R U able to bring presentation info ASAP?!’ This is highly unprofessional and doesn’t exactly encourage your contact to take your email or even you seriously. A paragraph should be dedicated to each topic you’re addressing, comprising of brief explanations to keep a clear structure.

Who are you emailing?

Perfect your close.

First and foremost you need to address the email appropriately according to how well you know the person you’re contacting and whether or not you’ve been in touch before. If it’s the first time you’re emailing someone then a formal address is more fitting, such as: ‘Dear Mr/Ms Smith’. When it comes to contacting them a second or third time, you should start to become more familiar with each other and instead use their first name: ‘Dear John’. Take note of how they sign off their reply: if they use their first name then this signals that they’re happy for you to do the same in your next email. Once you’re communicating on a regular basis, you can then start to introduce a more casual tone by swapping the ‘Dear’ for ‘Hello’ or ‘Hi’.

If you need a response from your recipient, especially if it’s urgent, then make sure you allude to this in your final statement. Something as simple as ‘I look forward to your response’ is enough to indicate your expectation of their reply. There are many options for signing off your email and as with your address at the start of your email, it may depend on the relationship you have with the recipient.

‘Kind regards’ or ‘Many thanks’ are better for first time and more formal emails, whereas ‘Cheers’ and ‘Regards’ suit more informal ones. Make sure you include an email signature with your contact details as this is an important networking tool and it oozes professionalism. Always double check for grammar and spelling mistakes before you send your email; there’s nothing worse than spotting an error once you’ve already clicked ‘send’.

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job hunting

Loud vs

WORKPLACES

We all have our own preferences when it comes to working conditions. An important part of this is the volume and background noise of the workplace. Whether you’d rather work in a leaf blower testing centre or a library, here are some benefits of both working environments.

D U LO

Quiet

Background Noise

Peace of mind

Sometimes background noise is a good thing. It allows you to have conversations with your colleagues and/or make calls to clients without the entire office eavesdropping. A silent workplace can force you to tune in to lots of annoying sounds, like keyboards tapping or people chewing. Urgh.

Anyone who works in an inner city office with frequent car alarms and seagull cries will feel this pain. Don’t even mention when they’re putting double glazing in on the floor above – drilling is only acceptable to listen to if you work in construction.

Music Having a less quiet workplace presents the opportunity to have music or the radio playing in the background.

For some people, this is great for boosting morale and also productivity. Tina Turner on full blast then, please.

Quiet workplaces can be great for concentration levels.

If no one is chatting about Bake-Off then you might as well get on with filling in those spreadsheets. (This doesn’t mean your mind will not wonder to thoughts of éclairs and petit fours throughout the day, however.)

Atmosphere

Easy Listening

A louder workplace can result in a buzzing and active atmosphere. It encourages people to strike up conversation and discuss their work, thus improving colleague relationships. Without noise, there is a danger of everyone feeling afraid to break the silence and becoming insular in what they’re working on.

A quieter workplace means that, when you do need to discuss something work related, you can talk at a normal level and hear people with ease. This can lead to less interoffice emailing and phone calls, and more face-to-face discussions, which often creates a friendlier, more positive working environment.

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Concentration

job hunting

Why You Should Do a Mock Interview There are many reasons why you should do a mock interview, and pretty much no reasons why you shouldn’t. Here are the ones we believe to be the most important.

Refine Your Technique

Familiarise Yourself If you’ve never had an interview before, doing a mock is essential as when you get to a real interview scenario, it will not be completely alien to you. You will recognise the format and have that hugely reassuring feeling of having done it before.

How can I do a mock interview?

Your university’s or education provider’s careers centre should run mock interviews, so get in touch with them to find out more. If you’re not currently in education, consider contacting your local job centre or the National Careers Service, to see if there are any on offer in your area. Or, ask a friend or family member to assist you – just make sure they provide you with honest feedback!

Whether you’ve had several interviews or very few, doing a mock interview can take you from being OK to being great. Rather than just giving you practice, the mock interviewer will provide you with in-depth feedback on each aspect of the interview. From the way you sat, to the wording of your responses, to your outfit, taking their feedback on board means you will not make the same mistakes next time when it really counts.

Rehearse Responses Doing a mock interview gives you that all-important opportunity to rehearse and decide on the prepared answers you will bring in to your real interview. If any of them fall flat or aren’t quite good enough, this is your chance to find out. The mock interviewer will also be able to offer you suggestions on what a better response would be. Ideal!

Looking for more interview advice? Check out these links: • 7 Questions to prepare for your interview • stand out from the crowd: group interviews • interview body language tips and even more articles on the career savvy blog

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job hunting

Online Testing how can you prepare?

In the current world of hiring, many large companies have implemented online testing and pre-screening before candidates can even apply for a role. A lot of the big retail giants, high street banks and more have utilised online screening, in order to whittle down the number of applications they receive. Whether it’s numeracy, literacy, role play or company culture, here’s a short guide to online testing and how you can prepare.

Numeracy

Literacy

Company Culture

Unfortunately, there’s no way of telling what questions will appear in these tests. However, when it comes to maths, there are a few things you should practise before you start.

Retail and service positions often use questions in context, i.e. they will depict a scenario where a customer presents a discount voucher, rather than just asking you to calculate a percentage. First, you will need to distinguish what calculation is being asked of you before you begin to work it out. Practise finding percentages and fractions before you start. Make sure you have a working calculator to hand, as most tests have a time limit on them, and you will not want to waste a minute. If you’re a bit out of practice, try a few free online tests before you begin the real one to get your brain back into gear.

Online literacy tests can involve more ambiguous answers, however, they are often multiple choice.

Common questions include being asked to detect the correct spelling of a word, fill in missing words or choose the best ending to a sentence.

These will test your spelling and grammar. You may also be tested on comprehension, where you are given a passage to read and asked questions about its contents, assessing your ability to read and understand. If spelling is not your strong suit then it’s a good idea to practise this.

Start with searching for the most commonly misspelled words, as these are often used in tests, and rehearse them. Some free tests are available online to practise your literacy skills.

Click here for a few examples.

The most popular online tests assess factors such as company policy and culture. This is to ensure that applicants fit in with and hold the same values as the company. Again, they are often presented in context, with a hypothetical scenario. You are then expected to choose what you think the best course of action would be in that given situation. It can include aspects such as customer complaints, problems with a product or dealing with fellow members of staff. They are often multiple choice, but be careful, as a lot of the answers can seem correct. This is because the company wants you to choose the answer that best fits with their values. To prepare, you need to research into the company, their brand and what they consider their core values to be. This will help you approach the test with the right mindset.

Online tests aren’t the most fun part of a job application – but what part is? With a bit of preparation and research, they become much less of a headache.

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job hunting

LEAST

STRESSFUL

JOBS Demanding deadlines, regular travel and inadequate growth potential can cause increased stress levels for workers. Although the following professions are not anxiety-free, recent studies suggest that they’re certainly the best pick of the bunch.

LIBRARIAN

DIETITIAN

£19,500-£29,500 per annum The working environment is the key factor in determining this profession’s position on CareerCast’s list of ‘The Least Stressful Jobs of 2014’. As a librarian there’s no need to face the temperamental weather outside: you will be able to work comfortably in a public library, or perhaps one situated in an educational institution/ large company. This role also provides you with the opportunity to help others on a daily basis. Regularly receiving thanks for your services will not only establish a positive working environment, but also allow you to maintain a high level of job satisfaction, helping you to feel less stressed while at work.

£20,000-£40,000 per annum This role also enables its employees to assist others, this time with their health. Once again, the rewarding feeling gained from the ‘thank yous’ you receive throughout your working week will help keep job satisfaction levels high and reduce anxiety. Your hard work goes towards the greater good as you help people to adopt and maintain a better lifestyle, therefore you can finish each day knowing you’re making a considerable difference to people’s lives.

Furthermore, as the ‘baby boomers’ become older the demand for your services will increase, so a healthy growth in this profession is expected in the next few years.

HAIR STYLIST

AUDIOLOGIST

£14,000-£30,000 per annum Imagine what it would be like to work alongside your friends in a sociable environment. Well according to most hair stylists, this is exactly what they experience on a dayto-day basis. Their job to help people improve their image enables them to feel rewarded, as well as providing them with the opportunity to build relationships with clients.

There’s no battling the elements outside or sitting silently in a cramped office, instead you’re able to chat away with both your customers and colleagues about the weather or what’s on TV tonight. You can even relieve the stress from your home life by getting things off your chest at work! Unless you’re the owner of a salon, your work day is regulated by set hours and you’re not required to meet any targets or overhead costs. Plus, you can even receive a tip for your hard work from happy customers.

£20,000-£40,000 per annum In this role your job is to assist those with hearing difficulties to overcome or manage them via various methods, such as using hearing aids and learning how to lip-read. As well as being fulfilling thanks to your ability to help others, this career is also quite autonomous. If you work in a private practice, clients pay you directly and you avoid the majority of hefty paperwork associated with the healthcare sector. If that wasn’t enough to keep your stress levels to a minimum, then the incredible growth expected in this sector should certainly help. It seems that many of those in the profession are reaching retirement age fairly soon, so the need for more workers in this profession will be high.

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Regular Feature

Regular Feature

Rewarding Careers:

occupational

therapist

When someone is suffering from a mental/physical illness, ageing or difficulties following an accident, occupational therapists help them to manage and improve their daily routine in order to achieve more independence. Whether you help adults or children, with everyday tasks or to get back to work, you will find this role very fulfilling.

Day-to-Day

Skills Required

Your work day can be extremely diverse due to the number of clients you will see with varying conditions.

For instance, those with depression will need encouraging to pursue a sport, activity and/or hobby to help combat their illness. Another client may require assistance with dealing with a disability, both mentally and physically. You can also work with businesses, helping them to adapt their workplace so any employees returning to work after an illness/accident can resume their position with ease. Support and recuperation sessions will need to be arranged for both your clients and their carers. To provide the best care for your clients, you will also work alongside doctors, social workers and other professionals.

The most essential quality is the want to assist others as this will help motivate you when obstacles arise. This is why it’s important you’re able to handle change, that you’re a good problem-solver and that your patience is of a particularly high level. Your can-do demeanour needs to be able to encourage clients who are feeling discouraged about their situation to achieve their potential. To create efficient treatment programmes your written skills should be excellent, as well as your interpersonal skills to ensure you deliver them effectively.

What Makes It So Rewarding?

The potential to help so many people in a range of difficult situations gives you the opportunity to improve the lives of others significantly.

Susan Coppola, the American Occupational Therapy Association delegate for the World Federation of Occupational Therapists, stated her reason for choosing this career in this interview: ‘I am fascinated [with] how people function physically, mentally, and emotionally…OT embraces the mind-body connection more than any other field, and actually uses that understanding systematically to help people achieve their goals.’

Salary & Entry Requirements You will need to obtain a degree in occupational therapy that is acclaimed by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). This course requires a minimum of five GCSEs of A-C grade and three A-levels which should include a science subject – preferably biology.

Work experience is highly valued so it’s worth contacting local hospitals or nursing homes Useful Links: to discover opportunities. www.cot.co.uk/study-ot/ Another option is to work study-ot as an occupational therapy www.whatuni.com/ support worker first, and work your way up to qualifying as an OT through the company you’re working for via an on-thejob degree. Starting salaries sit at £21,388 per annum and once experience is gained this can increase to £25,500-£34,500 a year.

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Regular Feature

: o t n i t e g How to

travel & tourism

The UK is currently the seventh world destination in terms of revenue received from inbound tourism. It is an excellent sector to be in for anybody who hopes to work abroad and/ or use languages in their professional life. There are plenty of domestic opportunities too.

Travel and tourism is not limited to one sector, and often overlaps with retail, transport, services, events and IT. As a lot of travel services move online, the way in which the industry operates is becoming a lot more virtual; high street travel agents are not being used as frequently as they were ten or so years ago.

Depending on the level of the role, a degree can provide plenty of opportunities in this industry. Degrees in business-related subjects may lend themselves especially well, as well as geography. Most management and senior roles will require a degree, but this sector is often particularly welcoming of school-leavers and offers a variety of entry-level positions too – experience can be just as useful as a degree.

Why tourism? travel A huge pull factor to the travel and tourism sector is the ability to work abroad, or at least be able to travel from time to time within your role. This appeals to people who like variation in their work life as well as the chance to experience various places and cultures.

Growing Sector In 2013, tourism experienced increasing levels of spend – 11% above the 2012 levels. The fact that the industry is experiencing growth and increased business means that

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more staff will be needed to cope with the extra demand.

It is also reassuring that tourism has always been in demand as a trade in the UK, making it a steady career route.

Opportunity As tourism is a steady trade and sector it can offer great opportunities for progression. Many people entering the industry will work their way up from an entry-level position to a senior role.

roles/AREAS Tour Operator This involves planning and organising trips for customers and clients. You’ll need to learn about certain destinations, where the airports are, which resorts will suit different types of holidaymakers and any other information that travellers require.

Tourist Information Working in tourist information services differs from tour operator roles in that it involves knowing a lot about a specific place, rather than a little about many destinations. Everyday tasks involve advising visitors on certain attractions, offering information on how to get around and where local amenities are. The chance to work abroad is often rife, as many overseas tourist centres require English-speaking staff.

Transport Whether its airport personnel, aircraft crew or cruise ship staff, there’s a lot of background work involved in commercial transport. Working in transport can offer the chance to see various places in between being on duty, making them attractive options for many.

Transferable Skills

organised

people person

Working in tourism involves a lot of planning, scheduling and organisation. It’s especially important for employees to be on the ball if they are arranging a visit on behalf of a client. If you are an organised person and enjoy planning events, this could be the ideal sector for you.

A lot of roles in the travel and tourism sector involve working in a client facing role. Good customer service skills are therefore vital.

A lot of hotels, tour operators and other hospitality services put a lot of emphasis on good customer service standards, especially when many customers now turn to social media, TripAdvisor or similar to report their experiences.

Communication A big part of travel and tourism is finding the ideal destination, accommodation, etc. for a client.

Often, customers will expect to be given suggestions of what they might enjoy. It’s then down to you to assess their needs and make suggestions based on what you think would suit the client. If you are perceptive and a good listener then this will help you immensely.

Want to Read More?

• How to get into architecture • How to get into recruitment • How to get into social care

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Regular Feature

Inside the Hiring Process at...

A

mazon has built a fantastic reputation for providing jobs, with 117,000 employees worldwide (even more than Microsoft), and there are plans to expand their workforce even further. Forbes has recognised this prestigious company as one of the most admired in the world, so who wouldn’t want to work here? To help you apply for their great opportunities, here’s a short guide to their graduate hiring process.

Leadership – The company believes inspiration to be of the utmost importance, therefore you should be able to encourage others to succeed via your attitude and skills.

Opportunities are available for graduates in the following areas: • Customer Service • Engineering • Finance • HR • Logistics

Other important qualities include the ability to work alongside a variety of experts in different fields, adjust to and succeed in their working environment and provide excellent customer service. For Amazon, it’s all about your potential, not just experience – so let them know exactly how you can make a significant difference to the company. Their hiring process is very much about providing a good candidate experience thus it’s straightforward, with the opportunity to ask plenty of questions so you can determine whether Amazon is the right company for you.

With Amazon, it’s all about your potential, not just experience.

Roles Amazon particularly look to train graduates for are area managers, customer service team leaders and workflow analysts. The company encourages its employees to take on more than just the job they’re hired for, with opportunities to work in different departments and locations.

There are three qualities which Amazon value most, therefore you must show evidence of these throughout the application process. They are: Innovation & Creativity – New ideas are vital to any business and Amazon wants to ensure they’re flooding in every day, so make sure you have some ideas ready.

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Problem-solving – There are bound to be challenges along the way so those at Amazon want to know that they can rely on you to cope with these obstacles and handle them effectively.

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After you’ve submitted your application, you will be contacted by a recruiter/hiring manager who either works at Amazon or for one of their agencies. You’ll face a phone interview which will last at least twenty minutes depending on the questions asked and answers given. They will go through your CV, assessing your qualifications and experience. They want to discover what makes you suitable for the role, so provide plenty of relevant examples that demonstrate your skills. You’ll

receive a more detailed description of the role and have ample opportunity to ask your own questions, so make the most of this.

A successful phone interview will lead to an email inviting you to a second interview. Before you attend this however, you will have to complete a written assessment.

Particularly for senior roles, this will involve answering a specific question related to the position you’re applying for. This will then be discussed in your face-to-face interview. This will be in the form of a panel interview with several Amazon superiors. They may be from different areas of the company to provide you with a better understanding of how departments work together to achieve success. A role-play exercise is also common and perhaps some further testing, so make sure you’re prepared for this. This interview will be competencybased so you need to have plenty of examples of your achievements in various scenarios, whether these are from experiences during education, previous employment or your home life. Just make sure they’re related to the position you’re interviewing for.

Examples of Amazon Interview Questions: • Why do you want this job?

• Tell me about a project that you’re particularly proud of.

• How would you handle working with a difficult co-worker?

• Have you ever helped someone achieve their career goals? Tell me about this experience.

• Describe a time when you have a made a significant improvement to a process.

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interesting facts about amazon:

1. Founder Jeff Bezos originally titled the company ‘Cadabra’ but this was changed after it was often misheard as ‘Cadaver’.

2. Every time the company made a deal a bell was rung in celebration. However, this process was abandoned after just a few weeks when purchases were being made left, right and centre.

3. In developmental stages the Kindle was called ‘Fiona’ due to the character in Neal Stephenson’s book The Diamond Age who owned a similar device in the novel.

4. The one-click feature on iTunes is actually licensed to Apple by Amazon who holds the patent for this feature. This means Amazon makes money every time it’s used.

5. When the website went down last year for just forty minutes, Amazon lost $4.8 million.

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Regular Feature

coolest OF FIC ES We all know that Google offices are renowned for being pretty cool, with colourful bikes to transport you around, free food and gadgets galore to play with. However, the Tel Aviv HQ takes things to another level, with an effortlessly rustic feel.

With its breathtaking views, the chill-out area reminds us of a cosy country cottage – with wicker chairs and mini wood-carved tables. As the winter months draw in, the idea of working somewhere so snug is appealing – so it’s ironic that this office is based in a country with soaring temperatures. To mix things up a bit, Google have thrown in some neon signage and other modern twists, including eggshaped chairs and decadent light fixtures. Having said that, the forestry theme remains strong throughout this new workspace, with the inclusion of false trees and picnic benches. Deer heads adorn some of the walls to give that hunting lodge feel, while in other rooms surfboards are deemed a more appropriate decoration.

All in all, it seems like the perfect place to work if you enjoy a lunchtime nap.

More cool offices: • astarta • nike

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• cartoon network • hurley

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tel aviv

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career development

The Benefits of

Regular Appraisals A shocking 93% of employers use annual performance reviews despite the fact that most employees find this to be an insufficient method of receiving feedback.

The truth is, to improve and develop your career you need to receive regular updates on your progress, so you can determine exactly what you need to do to reach your career goals. Here are four benefits of regular appraisals you can use to convince your boss to change their feedback method.

Increased job satisfaction

Meet expectations

Improve communication

Ensure career development

By organising frequent reviews with your boss, say every three months, you can be reassured about your strengths on a regular basis. This will help with your career development as you can establish what kind of worker you are.

Furthermore, you’ll receive the frequent recognition for your hard work that you deserve. If you feel appreciated at work your level of job satisfaction will be high, improving your productivity and loyalty to your employer.

Especially if you’re newly employed, it can be difficult to determine whether your work is matching the requirements designated by your employer in the job description. If you receive an appraisal every three months, you can discover whether you’re achieving the goals set for you and if not, receive the guidance you need to get back on track. Thus you can be sure that you’re meeting the expectations of your employer and you can both feel reassured that the job you’ve been hired for is being done and done well.

The biggest issue with only addressing your performance with your boss on a yearly basis is that this allows issues which may have been small to start with to exacerbate unnecessarily.

By meeting with your boss more regularly to review your performance, you can improve your relationship as frequent communication means problems can be sorted as soon as they occur. In addition, this improved relationship will help you feel better about approaching your boss with any issues, personal or professional, thus improving your working environment.

To progress in your career you need to know where you need to improve.

If your appraisals are annual, by the time your next review comes round you could have a pretty unhealthy list of improvements to deal with.

This will both dishearten you and leave you feeling overwhelmed as suddenly you have a mountain to climb to achieve career development. Regular performance reviews allow you to manage areas of improvement in manageable chunks and you can check on your progress a few months later in your next appraisal – before any more are added to the list!

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career development

How to Monitor Your Own Progress No matter how frequent your appraisals are, there are always going to be times when you need to monitor your own progress. This involves taking control of your career development by learning how to assess your performance and combat any issues you’re facing. So what can you do?

Assess your attitude

Keep a record

Even if you’re completing all the work you’re required to do but your mindset is poor, you will not be able to reach your full potential. To check your attitude think about the following aspects of your work: the time you arrive/ leave work each day, your attire, number of ‘sick’ days and your interactions with colleagues. If any of these are negative, for instance you’re late most days or you make little effort with your clothing, your mindset is not as good as it should be. The truth is, your boss is unlikely to select anyone whose attitude is poor for a promotion or raise. Therefore it’s crucial that you address any of these issues to ensure your outlook is top notch, thus giving you the best chance of progressing in your career.

At home it’s worth keeping a file of both your own notes on your performance and copies of any documents associated with your achievements, such as emails containing positive feedback from colleagues and clients, or reports on successful projects. As well as helping you evaluate your performance, this file will provide you with the information and back up you need to accompany you in your appraisals. You will be able to give examples of times where you have gone beyond expectations and made impressive achievements that should be recognised. This will impress your boss and put you in a good position for a promotion or raise. In addition, such information will help you when you decide to move on as you can add these achievements to your CV.

Reflect on your performance If you get into the routine of reflecting on each working day, the easier it will become to monitor your progress.

Each evening jot down what you’ve achieved, any issues you faced and how you could have handled the day better.

This will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses so you know what you’re doing well and where you need to improve. Also, do this weekly by setting career goals on Mondays and assessing how well you meet these by Friday. You can also evaluate your own performance by checking it against your job description. Compare what you’re currently accomplishing with what is asked of you in the description. Make notes on how well you’re completing each task and what you need to do to improve on any requirements you’re not meeting – just make sure you leave them at home!

Gain alternative perspectives You may not be able to receive an audience with your boss on a regular basis, but there may be other people in the office who are willing to assist you in your career progression. Approach those who are successful and admired by their fellow colleagues and ask their opinion on your progress so far. Make it clear that you’re in need of honest evaluations. You could even consider asking someone to become your mentor as this will help you to gain regular feedback on your progress. Mentors will not dictate what you should do, but they will help to point you in the right direction so you have a better chance of achieving success.

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career development

What kind of

WORKER AM I? We all work better in different ways. This is what makes us unique and is the key to successful teamwork. The method through which work is produced is a vital part of a job role, having a huge effect on job satisfaction. In order to identify your strengths, it’s important to first identify what type of work suits you best. This guide will help you find out.

LEADER/ MANAGER

HANDS-ON WORKER Hands-on workers like making and physically doing things. Sitting in an office all day is their idea of hell. They take pride in seeing a tangible end to their work, and enjoy being part of a process that involves building or creating something. Physical/practical work can manifest itself in numerous ways – some people may work in construction, engineering or logistics, whereas others may work in the creative arts and design.

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Natural leaders have a good perspective of the entire process as a whole. They like to be involved in several projects at once. Those with managerial ability often know the best way of doing something and frequently make suggestions for improvements. They can be quite vocal and forthcoming with their thoughts on a range of matters. You could be a natural leader if you’re always keen to take on more responsibility. Leaders are needed in any sector or workplace, giving you the opportunity to combine your skills and interests.

VISUAL WORKER Visual workers prefer using images, pictures, maps and diagrams. They can mentally envisage the end result of their work and prefer to plan things by drawing a sketch or a mind map. They find it easier to recall things that they’ve seen, better than those they’ve read or heard. As a result, visual workers are often found in creative industries, but are by no means limited to them. Areas that suit such workers include photography, graphic design, architecture and web design.

ARE YOU PLANNING TO SUCCEED

In Today’s Job Market?

Former professional recruiter, Career Codex founder and job market strategist Simon Gray unlocks the secrets to finding success in today’s competitive job market.

Setting out on a car journey without knowing how to get where you’re going is never a good idea. Without clear directions, the chances of you arriving at your destination anytime soon is at best slim or at worst non-existent.

It’s exactly the same in the job market: defining your destination and subsequently taking consistent steps towards your career goal is a recipe for success that most jobseekers miss. This starts with defining your target in writing and then documenting a daily action plan to lead you directly to your career goal.

Sticking to the plan removes the emotion from the ups and downs that are a natural part of any job search and keeps you motivated, focused and on track when the going gets tough.

INDEPENDENT WORKER

Hh

Published author of Super Secrets of the Successful Jobseeker. Available on Amazon.



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Hh

Harriman House

£12.99

  

SUPER

SIMON GRAY

fewer g for fewer and for jobseekers fightin loyment and edge when lookinggood a With high unemp more important to get an qualifications, been experience and jobs it's never – they move. The right longer enough g letter are no that next career worded coverin nicely a and CV m! are the bare minimu how to get s explain Simon Gray in order to nced recruiter what not to do in this book, experie as crucially – explores the do and – just race. He also ahead, what to competitive job s his revolutionary win in the highly . job and divulge looking for a crowded market psychology of employed in a get noticed and techniques to this is the change career to g plannin for a job or if you are looking read! afford not to book you can't later, he 1999. Ten years in career ment business began his recruit a recruitment Simon Gray ional Limited, Simon is d Cherry Profess career advice to jobseekers. jointly founde best which adds providing the d with KPmG, ise dedicated to having qualifie areas of expert red accountant er. These two away also a Charte professional recruitdetail which he also applies a as skills to his and a sense of both call for rigouran accomplished martial artist. as from the office on BBC radio regularly quoted ers. ntator, nced comme kers and employ Simon is an experie offering tips to both jobsee and in other media, his mental he combines sful Jobseeker, of the Succes people and expert edge. psychology of in Super Secrets ant tanding of the er that all import jobseek the discipline, unders to give the job market knowledge of

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OF THE

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THE SUPER SECRETS OF

These folks don’t feel the need to work with others too often. They are happiest when having their own tasks to get on with. Independent workers have a good level of confidence in their own abilities to do what’s required of them. They are not always at their most productive when surrounded by people and may prefer to work in quiet conditions. Independent workers can be suited well to working from home or launching their own start-up business.

JOBSEEKER

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Hh

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career development

How to Handle

useless bosses

There’s a timeless saying that goes: ‘You can choose your friends, but you cannot choose your boss’. Actually it goes slightly differently, but this version is just as true. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a person who has never had a boss or manager they’ve found difficult to deal with, which is why it’s good to know how to handle the troublesome ones when they crop up.

The Critical Boss

The disorganised boss

The critical boss has a tendency to ignore what’s being done well and just focus on what’s going wrong. This could be the result of a high-pressured workplace and the necessity to meet targets. However, that’s not to say that negativity is an effective way of increasing productivity – if anything it has the adverse effect. Research has shown that one of the most successful incentives in a workplace is the presence of acknowledgement and recognition for the work being produced. Where there’s an absence of this, work may feel a bit like a drag.

A disorganised boss could still be the nicest person in the world, but the problems they create don’t make them any less difficult to work with. They often promise to get back to you, and don’t. If yours forgets to ask you to do things, is unprepared for meetings and gets other basic yet important tasks in a muddle, it can cause some awkward situations.

Take the situation into your own hands by creating a positive and encouraging atmosphere. Praising your coworkers will create a culture where they begin to do the same for you and each other. This atmosphere could even begin to rub off on your manager too.

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A disorganised boss often relies heavily on their staff to sort situations out for them. It’s up to you to assess whether this falls within your remit as an employee, but if you work closely with your boss, it’s best to start relying on yourself and not them. Before setting off to meetings, ask your boss a few questions about who you are meeting and why, to ensure you’re both on the same page. Send them polite reminders about when you will be away from work, when you need them to do something by, etc. Sometimes a bit of nagging is just necessary, so try to combat your British politeness that tells you to keep schtum and just do it.

£@$%!!

Know Your

Rights If your boss is making things difficult, you are entitled to raise any concerns.

bullying

Workplace bullying includes feeling intimidated, offended or harassed by co-workers or management. It can involve being maliciously or unfairly treated,

The Absent Boss The absent boss is rarely in the workplace, or at the end of the phone. They don’t reply to emails that often either. They’re not necessarily bad at their job, but they aren’t there to support you when you need it. It can make things like getting work approved or questions answered problematic, hampering productivity all round.

Consider asking your boss for an outline or schedule of when they will be in the office. This will help you to plan your work around them, allowing you to do the tasks you can handle without their input while they are away. Equally, it’s perfectly acceptable to give them advanced warning of times when you will need them around – perhaps there are particularly busy days ahead, or important decisions that need to be made.

As an employee, it’s your job to ensure the tasks given are being performed properly and to the best of your ability. If your boss is making this difficult, you are entitled to raise any concerns. The best way to approach this is to have suggestions at the ready for solutions to the problem, rather than just bringing up the problem itself.

undermined, or even being denied opportunities given to others.

The Law:

Advice:

Harassment includes any negative behaviour related to things that cannot be helped, such as age, gender, race and disability. If acts of workplace bullying are considered as harassment, they are illegal under the 2010 Equality Act. As a result, you are entitled to raise the matter with your manager, HR department or trade union representative.

You can then follow your company’s grievance procedure if the matter cannot be resolved by initial talks.

It is best to try to resolve the matter with co-workers before taking further measures.

If a solution cannot be reached then you can contact Acas for further advice. www.acas.org.uk

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DESK STORAGE

Clear the clutter on your desk with these tidy solutions

Sandcastle Bowl Clare Loves £19

Storage Boxes Sass & Belle £16.99

Bits & Bobs Storage Crate Tesco £12

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Sketch D esk Tidy Block £24

Surf Blue Corner Can Red Candy £15

Dead Tidy Desk Organiser RED 5 £6.95

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Regular Feature

Be Well Rested Friday and Saturday are perfectly acceptable to spend throwing shapes on the dancefloor all night. But when it comes to Sunday, getting an early night is vital to feeling fresh. Having a well-rested weekend is a sure-fire way to have a good start to the week.

Set yourself goals At the beginning of the week, pick out several goals that are important for you to achieve that week. On Monday, start as you mean to go on by making sure you tick off at least one of them. This will ensure you have a productive start to the week, and also helps you plan your tasks for the rest of it.

Monday. Before you leave, make sure all loose ends are tied up and you leave things at a good stage ready for the next working week.

Start Early Rushing in late on a Monday morning and playing catch-up with everyone else is not a good start to the week. Arriving early allows you to organise yourself, plan your day properly and have time to relax and enjoy a cup of tea before you officially start work.

How to: start the week with a bang

Finish your work We’re all itching to leave work early on a Friday, but leaving a project in a mess is a bad idea. You’re automatically setting yourself up for a stressful

Be Positive Spending Sunday nights worrying that you’re going to have a stressful week, or you’re not going to get everything done is hardly going to set you up for the week. Positive thinking leads to positive outcomes, so instead reassure yourself that you will have a successful week. Equally, don’t allow a rubbish Monday to develop into a rubbish week – brush it off and move on.

INSPIRING QUOTE

Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it.

Autograph your work with excellence.

- TED KEY

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“

“

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rite

ou Our fav

tweets of the month

Neil @_Enanem

A cub scout came to my door asking if I wanted any odd jobs doing, I’ve got him glittering an aardvark.

John @sarcasticapple

Oompa Loompa Doompa Dee Do, I’ve got another disciplinary warning for being judgmental towards customers through the medium of song.

HelmdawgE @HelmdawgE

My signature move is asking a co-worker wearing a suit on dress down Fridays, “how did the job interview go?” in front of everyone.

Steven @SKSalisbury

EVERY APPLE DEVICE THAT THEY FORCIBLY UPLOAD THE U2 ALBUM TO IS A HORCRUX FOR BONO. Jordan Stratton @jordanstratton

Note to Self: In future interviews, don’t say “Safe in your strong arms” when the employer asks where I see myself in 5 years.

For excellent career tips and advice

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Money maker be quids-in while looking for work.

Sell Your Ink Cartridges Did you know you can get cash for empty ink cartridges? Neither did we.

Print cartridges aren’t cheap to buy, so recycling them for cash can really reduce the cost of them. First of all, it’s important you check whether the sites you are looking at will accept the type of cartridges you use. Some are worth more than others and some sites will only accept certain brands.

The idea is, you create an account, send your cartridges off to a freepost address, then receive the money. Pretty straightforward.

Print cartridge selling will not make you millions, but it will allow you to make money on what you otherwise would have thrown away. It’s also good for the environment!

If you are considering giving it a go, check out Cash For Cartridges, Recycle Ink Cartridges and Infotone.

http://www.cashforcartridges.co.uk/ http://www.recycleinkcartridges.co.uk/ http://www.infotone.co.uk/recycling

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