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You Are Our Sunshine Dearest readers,
We’d love to say a massive thank you for continuing to read our magazine: our readership is now pushing 400,000, plus our partnerships with CV-Library and Jobsgopublic means we’re now being distributed to around eight million more wonderful people just like you. What’s more, this month we’re toddling off to hopefully grab a Contribution to the Community Award for producing our publication. We’re blinking chuffed, and it’s all down to you.
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Anyway, enough soppy rubbish – here’s the great careers advice we have in store for you this month. An update on the education sector, the life of a wedding planner, a guide to working in Tokyo and ‘How to get into Accounting & Finance’, should inspire those looking for a new role. For a more urgent fix, we’ve also bundled together some last-minute summer job ideas. Our career-enhancing section will show you how to budget on a low income, resolve conflict at work, climb the ladder in a big company, and there’s also a guide to the snazziest city cars. Our light-hearted bits include some excellent readers’ stories and interview answers you’d really love to give. Happy reading and, if this is your first time, welcome aboard! DAVE MORGAN EDITOR
Regular features 4 your stories
Cringeworthy experiences from the world of work.
6-7 world’s most interesting jobs The glitzy but hectic life of a wedding planner.
24-25 how to get into...finance
Getting started in the world of banking, accounting and finance.
26-27 inside the hiring process at... An insight to Teach First’s application process.
28-29 coolest offices
A peek inside Russian design firm Astarta.
8 become recruitment gold dust
33 know your rights
9 the public perspective
38 how to...
Tips for grads from CV-Library on how to impress recruiters.
Jobsgopublic highlight opportunities within UK charities.
14-15 a day in the life of...
Flying high with flight instructor James Ralph.
news 5 Industry update
The latest news and changes in the education sector.
10 the end of payday lenders?
How a new credit union could provide a safer way to loan money.
features 16-17 nail essential job skills
Improve literacy and numeracy skills to boost your prospects.
18 should i go to uni?
We weigh up the pros and cons behind your decision.
Organise you workspace and boost your productivity.
40 moneymaker
Get paid to watch ads online!
lifestyle 11 Squeezing in exercise
We help you fit a workout into your busy diaries.
12-13 moving to the city
Up sticks to the land of the rising sun and its urban jungle, Tokyo.
23 rewarding careers
Do you love animals? Work as an RSPCA Inspector.
30 budgeting on a basic income
How to manage your finances when you’re earning a low wage.
31 progress within a big company
Tips for climbing the ladder within large organisations.
32-33 resolving conflict at work
20 stand out in a group interview
34-35 management training
21 body language in an interview
36-37 nifty commuter and city cars
How to make sure you excel and get your voice heard. Help with not just what you say, but how you say it.
22 phrases in your cv hirers love Absolute gems that will help you onto the ‘yes’ pile.
Click to read
The rules and regulations surrounding redundancy.
19 last minute summer jobs
It’s not too late to sort out some employment for the summer!
Download issue 10 and read on the go
Advice on dealing with disputes in the workplace. How to become a leader and why it’s important to train first. Our pick of the top wheels for city and commuter driving.
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There are plenty of sub-sectors that make up the education sector. They all see their employees working with different groups of people and they include pre-primary, primary, secondary, higher education and adult learning. The most common employers in the education sector are
Local Education Authorities (LEAs), as well as universities, colleges and not-for-profit organisations. Most education roles, including teaching and specialist teaching, will require a degree as well as a Postgraduate Certificate in Education
(PGCE). Some teaching or education degrees incorporate the necessary qualifications within them, however others don’t, meaning you would have to apply as a postgraduate. You can do a PGCE and become a teacher regardless of your degree subject.
Schools Expand as They Become Oversubscribed
UK’S
THIRD LARGEST EMPLOYER Roles • • • • • •
Early years educator Special needs educator School based Technicians Primary School Teacher Secondary Teacher Teaching Assistant
50% of primary school districts up and down the UK are anticipated to reach overcapacity by 2015. The estimation is that there will be 20% more students than available places in 99 school districts. So how will schools cope? The government once had £5bn of extra funding to inject into primary schools in order to combat this. However, some of this funding has since been allocated elsewhere due to financial gaps, so the actual figure remains less. Despite this, increased funding does mean a lot of schools are expanding, making room for more classes and therefore more teachers.
Shake Up in Teachers’ Pensions As initiated by the coalition government, reforms and changes to the pensions of public sector employees came into effect on 25th April 2013. This affects teachers as well as a range of other public sector employees. The main change is one from a pension based on final salary to one based on career average revalued earnings (CARE). This means that the total pensionable final salary is divided by the amount of years the employee paid into the scheme. In the majority of cases, this points towards public sector staff receiving less money from their pensions than they would have previously.
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World’s Most Interesting Jobs
wedding
Planner W
hat’s great about organising weddings is that, although the end goal is always the same, each one is completely different in terms of both preparation and the event itself. This is because each couple will be unique: wedding planners meet with their clients to discover what their personalities are like and gain an idea of what sort of wedding they desire. The planner is then able to let their creative juices flow as they come up with lots of inspiring ideas on key aspects of the wedding such as the theme, venue and invites. These intricate details will provide their clients with a wedding that is impressive and one-of-a-kind.
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There are few days more special in someone’s life than their wedding day. Even attending a wedding can leave you with a smile on your face and a warm, fuzzy feeling inside. If being a guest at a wedding makes you happy, imagine how amazing it would feel to help someone pull off such a special event! If you love to help people, are super organised and passionate about creating unforgettable events, becoming a wedding planner could be a great career path for you.
Furthermore, the support and guidance a wedding planner provides couples with during the build up to their big day helps them to feel confident and reassured, thus this is a rewarding career to pursue. An important aspect of the role is providing support and guidance in terms of wedding etiquette and customs to help clients to feel confident about the big day. Wedding planner Amber Gustafson told jobshadow.com: ‘I enjoy working with people from all walks of life and I like being able to figure out how to make them happy. I tend to get bored easily so the fact that I am in an
industry where every job is new and exciting is pretty cool.’ As well as continuous interactions with the couples they’re working with, wedding planners also build relationships with suppliers such as caterers, photographers, florists and those who run great venues. As you will constantly be expanding your network you will meet lots of new and interesting people every day, who can help you to make dreams a reality by providing the best wedding day possible for your clients. When the big day arrives, you will see all your hard work come to fruition as both your clients and their guests enjoy the event you’ve spent so long creating. Providing someone with the wedding of their dreams is an incredibly rewarding achievement and there are not many people who get to see the success of their hard work pay off in such a spectacular way.
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can be gained in skills such as event organising or hospitality management so you can develop the necessary skills to provide a good service. The qualifications you will aim for are Level 2 Award/Certificate in Event Planning or Level 3 Certificate in the Principles of Event Management. Alternatively, you may prefer to take a wedding planning course through private training companies, especially if you want to start up your own business. Voluntary work which involves organising events such as charity fund raisers can certainly help you to show your passion for helping others, as well as your ability to organise and see a project through from beginning to end. Starting salaries when working for wedding and event planning companies can range from £16,000 to £20,000 a year and more experience can see this increase to £25,000 and above.
Providing someone with the wedding of their dreams is an incredibly rewarding achievement
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There are a number of routes into this career, the best of which is to pursue it once you’ve already gained relevant experience in previous roles. This could be in event/ project management, public relations or hospitality and catering. Completing some work experience as an assistant for a wedding and event management company or a local wedding planner would be ideal. Qualifications
So if you enjoy pulling off events that leave people in awe of your work and incredibly happy, why not use your talent to help those in love tie the knot?
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GRADUATES: BECOME RECRUITMENT GOLD DUST! The last few years have been focused on achieving the best grade possible in your degree. Now it’s time to find your feet in the working world! The adjustment from student to jobseeker is tough, so we’re here to help. Over 6,500 recruiters use CV-Library, so we know what recruiters look for in their perfect candidate.
A Strong CV / Cover Letter Graduates compete for jobs alongside hundreds of others in a similar position, so you need to really sell yourself in these early stages. As well as correct grammar and punctuation, use industry-specific language to show your in-depth knowledge. Don’t use the same CV for every job. Tailor each one to the job description, making it crystal clear that you tick all the boxes.
Avoid Social Media Faux-Pas At university, you may have used social media to document all your student exploits. Now you’re entering the professional world, it’s time for a clean-up. Check through all your social media profiles, ensuring harmful content is either removed or hidden from the eyes of potential employers. Many recruiters search social media to assess applicants, so don’t fall at this easily avoidable hurdle.
have picked up transferable skills which you can include in your applications.
And Finally... After impressing on paper, it doesn’t stop there! At the interview stage, you must deliver in person. Beware of the first five minutes of an interview because first impressions are vital. Give a confident handshake, a warm greeting and talk positively about your experiences. Always finish by thanking the interviewer for their time.
To Apply or Not to Apply? Focus on quality over quantity, as applying for jobs with little relevance to your skill set and experience wastes both your time and the recruiter’s. Spend time editing your CV to make it more relevant to the job description. Be realistic with the roles you’re applying for; the chances of achieving your dream job straight after you graduate are very slim.
University – More Than a Bit of Paper University teaches you valuable skills that can be applied to the working world, so don’t underestimate yourself. Use your university experience to your advantage: if you got involved in societies, worked part-time, etc., you’ll
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Check out CV-Library’s Career Centre for even more up-to-date advice.
The Public Perspective WHERE CAN WORKING FOR A CHARITY TAKE YOU? There are currently over 180,000 registered charities in the UK. These range from the smallest charities run by a single person, to huge organisations with thousands of employees and volunteers. Thanks to the impressive number of organisations operating in the UK there are plenty of opportunities to get involved in this growing sector.
Positions within Charities ‘Sharp End’ ‘Sharp end’ positions refer to people who carry out the work that the charity is raising money for. This might include a social worker working with children with learning difficulties, a scientist researching a cure for cancer or someone who helps preserve the rainforest. People who hold such positions are often specialists in their fields, therefore these roles require specific qualifications. So if you can gain the necessary qualifications then you’ll discover how this work is highly rewarding and, in certain cases, how it can provide you with the opportunity to travel around the world to carry out this work. Fundraising Whilst the ‘sharp end’ positions may carry out the purpose of the charity, fundraising is the driving force. Without effective fundraising a charity will not survive. This can take place in a number of different ways, ranging from people on the street asking for small donations to networking events in which fundraisers will hope to secure much larger sums, patrons and figureheads. Marketing Marketing within charities will serve primarily to ensure
that appropriate messages are being communicated at all times. Whether this involves working alongside the fundraising function in order to help secure donations, or providing information to current donors about how their donations have been used. Marketing positions can often be combined with fundraising as the two functions overlap and the skills required will frequently be the same. Successful marketers will also require creative skills and the ability to communicate messages to different audiences. It is rare to find the level of gratification that comes from working for a charity elsewhere. Charities continue to be amongst the most dynamic organisations and offer exciting career prospects to ambitious, hard-working and focused individuals. Whether you are looking for an opportunity to develop your skills and experience, or want to commit your career to a cause that you strongly believe in, then working for a charity has it all.
For all the latest public and not-for-profit sector vacancies, head to
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IS IT THE BEGINNING OF THE END FOR
payday lenders? The retail sector has witnessed an act of good will, as dedicated charity Retail Trust has set up a credit union called retailCURe to provide a safer and more affordable alternative to payday loans. Many high street retailers are getting involved such as Next, New Look and Superdrug and so far £800,000 has been contributed to the scheme. So why has retailCURe been created and how will it benefit retail employees? Retail Trust is a charity dedicated to the well-being of both ex and current retail employees and in the past year they have witnessed a rise of 60% in the number of financial enquiries by workers in this sector. Chairman John Lovering has stated that ‘Hard-working people in our sector are easy prey for payday loan companies’ and this is how the idea for retailCURe was born. The credit union will offer far more reasonable interest rates, so employees don’t have to turn to payday lenders. There is certainly a great need for this with three million people working in retail and a further five million in the broader industry. No doubt you’ve had a chuckle at the grannies and grandpa on the Wonga adverts, but hiding behind this seemingly innocent advert is a dangerous reality of high interest rates. People are lured in by the promise of receiving money within 15 minutes, but may soon
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find themselves in way over their head, with debt up to their eyeballs. RetailCURe has proposed a 39.3% typical APR, compared with Wonga’s 5,853%, and will offer retail employees loans of £300-£15,000. It’s scheduled to launch in November and, in the meantime, Retail Trust hopes it will be able to raise more money for the scheme. The reality is, those who are paid less often struggle to secure bank loans, and therefore they have little choice but to turn payday lenders. Thanks to the credit union created by Retail Trust, retail employees will be able to access affordable and reliable credit without having to face scary interest rates. The aim is for retailCURe to undermine payday loan firms by becoming the UK’s largest credit union. By providing this service to the employees in their sector, Retail Trust are helping people to become financially secure which in turn will enable them to remain in their jobs and avoid stress-related illnesses. This is incredibly reassuring for all those working in this sector, but wouldn’t it be great if more industries could experience this kind of support? No doubt it’s worth keeping an eye on the progress of retailCURe, as if it’s a success, it could be the end of deceitful payday lenders and the beginning of more genuine financial support.
SQUEEZING IN
EXERCISE
(around your hectic life) The reasons for getting more exercise couldn’t be more important. Regular exercise can reduce the risk of developing conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer by up to 50%, as well as improving your life expectancy. While it can be difficult to get enough of it, it should be a higher priority in many people’s lives. So how can you make sure you fit in an all important workout?
In the morning You might find that you spend a bit of time in the morning travelling, watching Good Morning Britain or sleeping until the snooze button cannot buy you any more time. If you struggle to fit in exercise in the evening, making the effort first thing could be a great idea. Most gyms open as early as 6am and classes often run as early as 7am – a great time to go as it’ll be much quieter. Alternatively, schedule in exercise by walking or cycling to work instead.
Commit Sometimes it’s all too easy to make excuses not to work out. It’s raining, you’ve got a bit of a cold, you stubbed your foot on the doorway this morning and you don’t want to risk damaging it further. If that sounds familiar, a good way to motivate yourself to exercise is to make some sort of commitment to it. This could be paying for gym classes ahead of time, or getting a dog that will need walking every day. Either way, when you have to make the effort, you’ll end up fitting your life around exercise, rather than the other way around.
Plan Ahead If you don’t have a standard daily routine or cannot always rely on having the same spot free, a regular class will not necessarily suit you. For many, fitting in exercise whenever they can is the only option. If this is the case, make a plan at the start of every week of what you hope to achieve. This could be to visit the gym at least three times a week, or run for thirty minutes each day. Setting yourself targets will give you something to aim for, which means you can gradually raise the bar as you see your fitness levels improve.
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Moving to the City: tokyo I
f you crave the hustle and bustle of the city, then Tokyo can offer you this in spades as this huge metropolis is brimming with shops, entertainment and over thirty million inhabitants! With the third largest economy in the world, multiple neighbourhoods to suit every taste and attractions galore, no wonder the capital of Japan is a popular choice for expats. So if you’re not intimidated by crowds and you love places with a palpable, exciting atmosphere then why not explore the buzzing city of Tokyo? Due to the substantial size of its economy, Tokyo is home to many overseas and multi-national businesses, who have been attracted by its status as the country’s heart of trading and banking. There’s an abundance of finance and management firms situated in the city as Tokyo is recognised as a financial hub for the global market. In addition, the headquarters of many of the biggest insurance companies and investment banks in the world are found here. Job opportunities can therefore be found in a variety of companies in this sector. However, it’s important to be aware of the high standard of qualifications and valuable
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work experience firms will expect from you, particularly Japanese businesses. The fact Tokyo has a fruitful electronics industry is hardly breaking news, with globally recognised brands such as Sony and Canon calling the city home. This sector requires employees that are highly trained in professional IT skills, so as long as you possess these you will find many great career opportunities. This industry is known for its high salaries, which is particularly important in Tokyo as the cost of living is significantly higher than other major cities around the world. For a one bedroom apartment in the city centre, the average rent is 135,327 JPY (£789) per month, rising to 335,714 JPY (£1957) a month for a three bedroom apartment. If you want to buy an apartment in the city centre then you’re looking at 594,947 JPY (£3468) per square metre on average. Azabu is particularly popular with families due to its multiple schools (including international schools), parks and lack of high rises in comparison to many of the other districts. In addition, there are still plenty of refined
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Roppongi will be more popular with young professionals who don’t mind living in high rise residential complexes and are looking for a ‘trendy’ area to live. There’s a number of shopping centres and an abundance of restaurants, as well as a bustling night life for you to sample which includes various forms of entertainment (night clubs, cabarets, bars, etc.).
Attractions: There’s something for everyone in Tokyo, from the Tsukiji Fish Market to the impressive Imperial Palace with its beautiful grounds. Beauty can also be found in Ueno Park with its stunning cherry blossoms. Senso-ji, Tokyo’s oldest, ancient Buddhist temple is also a popular attraction as many events are held in this area. See the list of popular events in Tokyo here, and more attractions here.
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shops, restaurants, bars and cafes to enjoy. The western-style housing and cosmopolitan community also makes it an attractive area for expats.
If you love places with a palpable, exciting atmosphere then why not explore the buzzing city of Tokyo?
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Random Facts about tokyo
1. There are 259 Starbucks outlets in Tokyo and the one at the Shibuya Crossing is the company’s second busiest branch (Stansted airport in the UK being the first.). 2. There are 503 rail stations across Tokyo and Shinjuku Station is the busiest in the world. 3. Tokyo was originally a small fishing village called ‘Edo’ meaning ‘estuary’. 4. The city has more neon lights than any other city in the world. 5. Men are hired as ‘pushers’ in the city’s stations and their job is to literally push people onto the trains.
A Day in the Life of... Imagine spending your days soaring through the air, witnessing the beauty of the world from up above. Pretty cool, right? Well by teaching others how to fly aeroplanes, you could do just that! But what does this career really involve? Chloe Franchina spoke to James Ralph, a flight instructor at Aeros, to find out.
How did you become a flight instructor? Did you need any specific training or education? First you’ve got to train as a commercial pilot either through a cadetship scheme with an airline or via the self-funded route, like me. You start by achieving your private pilot licence, then you must complete a certain number of hours in an aeroplane (about 150), as well as 14 commercial ATPL (Airline Transport Pilot Licence) exams. Next is the commercial pilot’s licence course which involves flying a single-engine aeroplane and later progressing to a multi-engine aeroplane. You’re also required to do an instrument rating where instead of flying in visual conditions, you fly in cloud.
What personal qualities do you think are essential to be good at your job? You need to have good interpersonal skills because you’re dealing with people of all ages, backgrounds and nationalities. You need a good level of English, in fact a Level 4 standard is a requirement. You’ve got to be flexible with your time as you need to move quickly from one location to another.
what does a typical day consist of? I get into work about 8am, I pre-flight my aircraft(s) and then brief myself on the weather and any airspace upgrades (special notices to pilots for my area). A decision must then be made about whether I can fly or not, based on the weather and legal minima for flying (minimum level of visibility in which flights can take place). I then complete a pre-flight brief with my student: we discuss the exercises we’re going to cover, the weather and the notices I’ve received. We then go flying typically for about an hour. On the commercial side of things, the flights can last 2-3 hours traveling all over the UK.
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When I land, I debrief my student and then whole process repeats with the next student. Depending on the course it can be two more flights, up to six flights a day. I finish when I finish and I also teach night ratings, so I can be working until 1am. If that’s the case I’m given a rest period as we must adhere to Crew GT rest period times, which ensure we get enough sleep.
What is the best thing about your job? It has to be the views and the travel - I love bumbling about in the air and going to places (all airborne of course!) I never would have visited in any other sort of job. I also love the teaching as you get to see the progression of your students. When someone who came through the door two months ago with only a private licence walks out with a professional qualification, it’s very rewarding.
What is the best advice you have ever received? To slow down and really consider your decisions. Nobody is born with the ability to fly, it’s a skill that is passed on from one person to another therefore you have to appreciate this every time you go flying. You’re always learning no matter what level of experience you have and sometimes you have to take time to consider this.
What would be your biggest tip, for someone looking to follow your career path? Take every opportunity there is for funding because it’s an expensive career path. To get into the left-hand seat of an Airbus for example, you’re looking at a total bill of £70,000 minimum. It’s a huge investment so if there are any scholarships or opportunities to gain flight experience, go for them.
Flight Instructor JAMES
What has been the highlight of your career so far? When I ferried a brand new, multi-engine aircraft from Naples back to the UK. This was a massive responsibility and I faced some very challenging weather and routes. On arrival, I received a water cannon salute where all the emergency services come out and spray water over the aircraft. Everyone was clapping and the press were there too. It’s something that only retiring senior captains get really, so I was very flattered.
What’s been the most challenging part of your career so far? The job hunt itself. The earlier a candidate realises that
RALPH
the industry is driven by finance the better as aviation is very sensitive to finance and world affairs (e.g. change in fuel prices). The hardest part is responding to this reactionary industry, staying flexible and being willing as well as able to move where the work is.
If you could spend one day in a different career, what would it be and why? I think I’d go into the maintenance side of things. By spending the day as an engineer I could gain their perspective, thus I’d better understand their issues.
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NAIL YOUR LITERACY & NUMERACY S K I L L S
And land the job of your dreams! While everyone has their own unique skills and abilities, to become employable, most roles still require you to possess a sufficient level of literacy and numeracy to be able to perform tasks associated with the job. This can include admin, IT, writing and keeping records, cash handling and much more. So where do you go to receive the best help with your literacy and numeracy skills and make sure you are as ready for the workplace as you can be?
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NUMERACY:
LITERACY:
If you struggle with maths skills, this isn’t something that comes to light during the hiring process as clearly as written skills do. However, lots of companies now ask their candidates to complete competency-based questions, which can include assessing your numeracy skills.
Written skills come into play in a variety of jobs. Most correspondence in the workplace these days is done via email, meaning that written communication is still very important. It is also an aspect of your job application that will be assessed. Here are some ways of improving your written skills:
• Maths is the type of skill that easily ebbs away if you don’t practise it enough. You may have been competent at maths in school but your memory of most of it has since deteriorated. Brain training games or online tests are good ways of keeping the numbers side of your brain ticking over.
• Ask a friend or colleague to check over your work. Don’t send off a CV or cover letter without it being proofread first – whether you struggle with writing or not.
• If you really resent maths (and you’re not alone!) it’s important to remember that you don’t necessarily need to re-learn ALL of it. For example, for a retail job, you should prioritise knowing percentages over things like trigonometry. • Seeking help is a fine technique to get you through. In the interest of presenting your weaknesses with a positive spin, make sure you can admit to needing help rather than silently struggling. For example, if you’re asked about your maths ability in an interview, give an honest answer but finish by stating that you always ask someone to double check your work. They will appreciate someone who identifies their weaknesses and makes an effort to work on them, as opposed to someone who makes claims that they cannot deliver on. • If you really feel that you’re starting from the beginning when it comes to revising maths, consider an online course or evening classes. For more information on these, have a look at the gov.uk website.
• Practice makes perfect, and writing is no different. Becoming well-rehearsed in the written word is a great way of improving your skills. You will develop a feel for certain phrases and begin to find structuring a sentence or paragraph comes a lot more naturally. • Reading is a key ingredient in the making of a good writer. Absorbing the written word every day means that you subconsciously take it in and become more familiar with it. It’s not an overnight fix, but it certainly works! • Using a template can help you when writing a range of documents. From CVs and cover letters to emails, it can assist you a great deal as you don’t have to start from scratch each time. Examples of CVs and templates can be found in places such as the National Careers Service website (Also check out our article on CV Formats.). Have you ever received a formal, well-worded email? If so, you can use this as a template to create your own, changing the necessary details and putting your own spin on it.
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Should I go
to Uni? With application figures to UK universities experiencing rises and dips, it’s clear that the choice to go to university is challenging for many young people up and down the country. UCAS applications made by 18-year-olds saw an increase of 1.6% in 2013, meaning that 30.3% applied. So what are the benefits and drawbacks of going to university?
Pluses Minuses +
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Competition Without a degree, you will not be considered for any graduate jobs. It also means that you’ll be applying for roles where a lot of other candidates will have one. In a competitive job market, some hiring managers request a degree simply because it’s a quick way of whittling down the volume of applicants.
Money University isn’t the cheapest of options, especially since the increase in tuition fees. Although, it’s important to remember that your student loan is low in interest and the repayments start at a very low amount. As long as you manage your living expenses, it’s unlikely that the debt will become unmanageable.
Push Yourself Completing a degree isn’t a walk in the park, but the hard work always pays off. It’s a great achievement of which you will be extremely proud.
Not Right For You If the idea of going to university just really doesn’t appeal to you – that’s OK. There are plenty of other options, including apprenticeships, training, volunteering and, of course, employment.
Obtain a Specialism You might be interested in a particular subject area or have an idea of the sector you want to work in. Studying the subject further can help you to find your calling within that area and see the sort of roles you could aim for as an end goal. Have Fun You are only young once, and there are a lot of benefits to living the student lifestyle. These don’t just include going out and making friends, but also opportunities to go on trips, join societies, volunteer and gain work experience. You may also enjoy the freedom and experience of living in a new city.
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Timing Going to university means at least three years’ delay before you can start the job of your choice. While a degree can help your employability, if you already know what you want to do, you could spend those years cracking on with your career. Lack of Workplace Skills While university will improve your academic knowledge, you may come out feeling unprepared to jump straight into the workplace. You will need work experience or an internship, as well as a high degree classification to better your chances of being successful once you’ve graduated.
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Jobs Looking to make some cash and gain some work experience this summer? It’s not too late! Here are some examples of ideal summer jobs that are still looking for staff.
Festival worker
Activities Leader
Lifeguard
Roles at the big festivals have mostly been snapped up, but there are literally thousands of small to medium-sized festivals up and down the UK that require staff. You could be a marshal, security assistant or bar/catering staff – the opportunities are vast. It also gives you a chance to experience the festival atmosphere as you catch some gigs and/ or sample some amazing food while you earn. Have a look at Barcode Recruitment for vacancies.
Whether it’s at a summer school, holiday club or activity centre, there are plenty of opportunities available in terms of helping to entertain children during the summer holidays. Schools and families like to take their kids away, meaning that activity centres flourish with business. Roles like this can be great if you want to work with kids in the future. You would be responsible for keeping children amused and making sure they carry out activities in a safe way, as well as getting to have a go yourself. Check out Indeed.co.uk for a better idea of current vacancies.
You might think something that requires training is a bad choice for a last minute summer job. However, there are many summer lifeguard traineeships that offer on-the-job training. Initially, they will be unpaid, but once the course is complete you are a fully-qualified lifeguard, opening up employment opportunities at leisure centres and seaside resorts across the country. For more information about lifeguard training, click here.
Market Researcher or Charity Fundraiser There is always a demand for roles like these, so your summer is the ideal time to take advantage and earn a bit of cash. You would likely be given a different location each day or week, and you will carry out surveys on the public or encourage them to sign up and donate. This can be a great opportunity to hone your skills in sales and customer relations, which will come in handy when you look for a full-time role. Have a look at street fundraiser roles here.
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Stand out from the crowd:
Group interviews You may not be expecting a group interview, but companies frequently use them to screen their candidates. It can be daunting to suddenly find yourself in competition with other applicants. This is why it’s so important to be aware of what they involve and how you can stand out from the crowd to make that all-important memorable first impression.
What do they involve?
Top Tips:
Most group interviews will include the same questions you’d expect in a one-to-one interview, so make sure you complete the same preparation. What differs in the group interview is the task you must complete either with all the other candidates or in teams set up within the group. This can involve a problem-solving or role play exercise. A discussion about how you accomplished this task and what you discovered will follow.
1. Your Reaction For those of you who aren’t expecting a group interview, be sure not to make this obvious when you arrive. Interviewers will be assessing how you react to the situation in order to test your ability to deal with surprises and gauge how you will get on with others in the company. So smile, be confident and try not to size everyone up.
Why are they used? This style of interview allows interviewers to assess a number of candidates at one time and see how you interact with each other. This helps them to discover your communicational, leadership and ‘team-player’ skills. They will also make a note of whether your personality is that of an introvert or extrovert. Your aim is to strike a balance between coming across as a vocal leader and someone who is able and willing to listen to others.
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2. Be Friendly Now you’re aware of the competition, you’re going to have to use them to your advantage. Get to know them by asking questions, preferably relating to the industry. The interviewers will notice your efforts to network (an important skill) and it’ll also help you to relax. Furthermore, you may have to introduce yourself and/or another candidate, so any information you obtain may help you to avoid an embarrassing moment. 3. Be Inclusive Your efforts to get to know your fellow interviewees will go a long way during your group tasks as you’ll be able to refer to the other candidates by name; your interviewer
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will pick up on this. When you’re giving answers address everyone in the room – interviewers and interviewees – as it shows confidence and gives conviction to what you’re saying. 4. Listen Of course you want to be heard, but it’s important that you don’t take this too far by interrupting other candidates. Not allowing others to have their say isn’t an attractive quality: no one wants to work with someone who’s willing to bulldoze their peers to try and get ahead. Be attentive, and if someone does say something of interest that sparks an idea, right it down and refer to it when it’s your turn to contribute. 5. Be Honest Don’t pretend to be something you’re not – if you’re not a natural leader then don’t feel pressured to act like one. This can result in damaging your prospects more than just being yourself as it’s often obvious when someone is being false. Instead, think about your answers carefully and focus on presenting these confidently and coherently. Note, the interviewer isn’t looking for the loudest answers, but the best ones.
Body Language:
‘It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it!’ How much of our communication depends on the words we say? Well a lot of statistics argue it’s less than 10%. It is how we hold ourselves, our expressions and gestures that are responsible for the greater percentage. Therefore ensuring that your body language is projecting the right image is vital during the interview process.
The waiting room It’s difficult to control your body language whilst you’re sat in reception, as you dread the nerve-racking call into the interview. Staring at the floor, holding onto your belongings for dear life and muttering memorised phrases isn’t going to provide the interviewer with much hope when they spot you from down the corridor. Neither will sitting back with your hands behind your head and feet up on the table – there is such a thing as too casual. Instead, calm your nerves by distracting yourself with any newspapers, magazines or company materials displayed in reception. Or to help you feel more prepared, read through your CV and notes.
Mirror image The best way to learn how to control your body language is to practise in front of a mirror and analyse your nonverbal communication. In the interview, use the neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) technique, where you mirror the actions of the interviewer to build a rapport with them. As long as you don’t make this too obvious, this will help your body language to remain positive, thus enhancing rather than damaging your prospects.
Look into my eyes… Remember the last time you spoke with someone and they refused to look you in the eye? Pretty shifty, right? Not keeping eye contact is both distracting and implies
you have little belief in what you’re saying or even that you’re lying. Eye contact with the interviewer is crucial because it gives conviction to what you’re saying and it demonstrates your confidence. If there’s more than one interviewer make sure you address everyone and then return your gaze to the person who asked you the question.
Attention! We have faith in you not to slouch during your interview, but something a lot of us do without realising is cross our arms. Although it prevents fidgeting or distracting gestures, unfortunately, it’s a defensive position. To emphasise your interest and enthusiasm, sit up straight and lean forward. However, try not to invade the interviewer’s personal space! Maintaining this posture shows you’re listening intently to your interviewer: attentiveness is a favourable quality in an employee.
Gestures Hands often have a mind of their own during conversations and it can be difficult to control them, but they’re a damaging distraction. Pointing, clenched fists and fiddling with your hair or piercings are all best avoided. Any gestures you make are best kept low and natural to avoid diverting the attention of your interviewer.
Phrases in Your CV
Employers Love Numbers OK so this isn’t technically a phrase, but recruiters and hirers love statistics. Anything that counts as tangible data evidencing your achievements is great. It gives them a concrete idea of what’s good about you, turning you from a risk to a sure bet. And when you’re up against a ton of other applicants, being a sure bet is essential. Think about aspects such as grades, profit you helped to turnover, number of projects/tasks you completed in your previous role, months you consistently hit your targets, and so on.
‘Initiated’ If there is one thing employers want out of a candidate, it’s initiative. Why? In today’s job market fitting the bill isn’t always good enough. In order to go above and beyond, it’s great if you can present evidence in your CV of opportunities that you created for yourself by using your noggin. This could be events that you helped to organise, ideas you contributed to projects, or similar.
As a general rule, employers want to see verbs instead of nouns on your CV. This means that words like ‘hard-worker’, ‘team-player’ and ‘driven individual’ get the boot, replaced with ‘achieved’ and ‘worked successfully on’, followed by the example of your experience.
‘Long-term’ Employers don’t want to spend money on recruiting you for you to leave soon and find another job – that’s money down the drain. In the current job market, it is candidates with staying power that everyone wants to snap up. You can express your long-term goals in your CV – but only if they match up to the job you are applying to. If you don’t feel it’s appropriate, be sure your experience includes instances where you worked on a project for a considerable period of time. This could even be a personal goal, such as training for a marathon, if you don’t have many professional or academic examples to draw upon.
‘Creative’ It seems that this is the new favourite word for employers and recruiters everywhere. Creative individuals are highly sought-after for a variety of roles these days – but you don’t have to be good at watercolours or pottery to claim to be creative. It does work in your favour if you can include a time that you created something, be this an idea, a project, a new way of working on something, etc. Rather than talking about personal skills like being hard-working or enthusiastic, it’s better to point out examples where you actually did or made something. Actions speak louder than words, after all.
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REWARDING CAREERS:
RSPCA
Unfortunately, animals are often subjected to cruelty and danger from which they need rescuing. As an RSPCA inspector you can encourage people to treat animals with kindness, rescue those exposed to peril and take measures to prevent brutality. It’s incredibly rewarding to save an animal from harm and restore them to a loving home.
Day-to-Day
‘There are always things which will pull on your heartstrings, but you have to remember the main aim is to get the animal that’s suffering the care it needs, quickly and professionally. It’s the only way to deal with it.’
You’ll be responsible for following up complaints of cruelty and neglect, as well as providing owners with advice on how to take good care of their animals and issuing warnings if necessary. In some cases you will need to attend court in order to provide evidence. Once animals are rescued you will need to decide whether they need medical treatment or if their condition isn’t treatable, in which case a decision will have to be made on putting the animal down in a humane manner.
Skills Required
Inspections will have to be carried out at a variety of establishments and events such as kennels, pet shops and circuses to ensure there are no acts of animal cruelty present. RSPCA inspectors work in collaboration with dog wardens, the police and veterinary surgeons to provide an effective rescue service. You will also be responsible for the rescue of wild animals that are trapped and/or injured. You may also be required to perform presentations to the public to inform them about animal care and protection.
Salary & Entry Requirements
What Makes It So Rewarding? This job will see you having to face distressing and perhaps confrontational situations, therefore it’s important to remember why your role is so crucial in terms of providing the care these animals deserve. Graeme Petty, an RSPCA inspector, told the Grimsby Telegraph:
First and foremost you must be confident with interacting with all sorts of animals as you’ll be dealing with them most days. Your communication skills will need to be at a high standard due to the many interactions you will face whilst making your inspections. You must also be able to handle aggressive situations as owners may put up a fight. It helps to have good judgement and the ability to think logically. You’ll often have to work in a team so good interpersonal skills are also essential.
You will start as a trainee RSPCA inspector, the requirements for which are a good standard of physical fitness, great interpersonal skills, a minimum of five GCSEs (A-C) and you must be able to swim 50m when fully clothed. Of course you must also have experience working with animals, whether this is through voluntary work/work experience in an animal shelter, charity or perhaps even an RSPCA care centre. Starting salaries for a trainee RSPCA inspector are anything from £19,284 and once you’re more qualified, this can rise to £24,00027,000. Training can last from seven months up to a year, within which 26 training units will need to be completed and you may need to relocate during this time.
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How to get into ACCOUN Whether it’s banking, accountancy, insurance or pensions, there is always scope in the financial services sector. As long as the UK is making and spending money, people will be required to manage it, plan how to use it and identify the best uses for it. Finance attracts school-leavers and graduates from a range of different backgrounds. Graduates studying accounting or business studies (the most popular degree subjects in the UK) are often drawn to finance roles. There are also lots of opportunities for maths graduates and those with scientific backgrounds – due to the amount of maths involved in their degrees. Lots of large companies in the UK also employ school-leavers as apprentices and trainees – working towards qualifications combined with workplace training.
Why finance? Prosperity Despite having its ups and downs, the finance sector has always remained fairly vast. This is because its services are required and used by every type of business, as well as individuals. As a result, there will always be room for teams and organisations to grow – especially as the economy is beginning to pick up.
Salary Graduate salaries in finance roles boast some of the highest levels there are – especially in London and corporate finance positions. Consequently, competition for jobs is high as lots of graduates go for the same vacancies. For the top graduate programmes, Monster reported roughly fifty applications received per vacancy. Graduate salaries can start from £24K, depending on the location.
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Opportunity A big pull factor into the finance world is that it can boast good prospects for career development. Although it can be competitive to get into, the sector is so broad that there is a lot of scope for movement and promotion. Employers that take on apprentices or graduates through schemes want the staff they invest in to become assets for the company and to become the future business leaders.
Roles/areas Accountancy Chartered accountants work for clients - organisations or private customers - to provide a range of services. It includes managing payrolls, devising budgets, creating reports on expenditure and handling client relationships. It can also involve analysis of proposed business plans and elements of financial planning, forecasting and risk analysis. After obtaining a degree, you’ll have to train to qualify as an accountant, which takes about three years. Your degree doesn’t have to be relevant to finance or business, but you’ll need to demonstrate a solid academic record. There are different ways to train to become an accountant, so have a look at some here.
Banking Working in banking will generally see you specialise in a certain area, such as mortgages, corporate finance, investment banking, etc. There are many different roles within banking that can see you taking on varying tasks which include researching, trading and analysis. Corporate and investment banking offer the highest salaries – not just in the finance sector, but across all sectors. The banking world can involve long hours that exceed your typical nine to five, but the rewards and progression can be significantly higher compared to other sectors. For more information, see the Investment Management Association website.
NTING & FINANCE Transferable Skills
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Numeracy
For the majority of roles in the finance sector, you’ll need to be pretty nifty with numbers. Many of the tasks involve a lot of calculation, as well as data management and the presentation of this data (think graphs and charts). Data analysis is also required, so you would need to be able to identify changes, averages and erroneous information in order to provide accurate reports.
Conscientiousness Successful employees in the finance sector are the ones that put in time and effort to ensure their work is accurate. This is hugely important in finance as mistakes can not only look unprofessional, but also lead to the wrong business decisions being made. If you make sure your work is correct every time, you could be a good match for this sector.
Interpersonal Skills A great deal of finance roles include interfacing with clients. As well as managing the accounts and finances, you will need to manage the relationship with the client or customer, ensuring that you provide an exceptional service and are a good ambassador for the company.
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 teaching
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INSIDE THE HIRING PROCESS AT...
Teach First is leading an influential movement for social change, working with others to target educational inequality by driving up standards and raising aspirations in schools in challenging circumstances. The Teach First Leadership Development Programme provides you with the appropriate skills, experience and leadership development training to shine no matter what field you choose to specialise in. Here’s a short guide to help you through the application process for this programme. Teach First recruit people for the following subjects: • Business Studies • Design Technology • English • French • Geography • History • ICT and Computer Science • Maths • Music • Primary • Religious Education • Science • Spanish Applications open in June and are completed online. However, Teach First hire on a rolling basis therefore once they’ve discovered applicants who tick all the boxes in terms of competency and academic requirements, the vacancies are filled straight away. Applications are always welcome and assessment centres are run all year round, so you may find you have completed all the necessary requirements before the application deadline. This is why it’s always worth submitting your application as soon as possible. A successful application will lead to an invitation to
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an assessment centre day where there are three main elements: Lesson You will have been asked to prepare a lesson prior to the assessment centre and an email is sent one week prior to this day containing the information you’ll need for this task. Your lesson should last around seven minutes and you will be assessed on your ability to communicate and engage your students with your subject. After your lesson, you will be required to write an appraisal of your presentation. Case Study The case study is aimed at assessing your approach to addressing the objectives outlined in a group task. Once you have completed the case study you will have a chance to examine your efforts in a one-to-one meeting with whoever has been assessing you. Interview This will be competency-based and there are eight competencies Teach First look out for throughout the application process: • Hulility, respect and empathy • Interaction • Knowledge
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Teach First grabbed my head and my heart - Josh Macalister
During your interview, the assessor will concentrate on your presentation of these skills therefore you must do your best to provide examples of when you’ve used and developed them. If you have prepared any questions (which is always advisable) then this is the best time to ask them. Success at the assessment centre will lead to a conditional offer for the two-year Teach First Leadership Development Programme. To secure your place you will need to complete a variety of tasks as part of the enrolment process. These include: Curriculum Knowledge Assesment: This clarifies whether your knowledge of the subject you’re specialising in is as extensive as you claim it to be. It also highlights areas of weakness which will need working on before you start the programme. If you fail this then your offer will be retracted. QTS Professional Skills Tests: No matter what subject you specialise in, you will need to complete tests in both literacy and numeracy in order to complete teacher training. An acceptable reference: This can be an academic or employer reference and they will only be contacted if you’ve earned a conditional offer.
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• Leadership • Planning and organising • Problem-solving • Resilience • Self-evaluation
Examples of Teach First Interview Questions: What do you think is the most important competency out of the ones we value as a company?
Give an example of a situation you created which led to or resulted in a negative outcome. Explain how you solved the issue. Discuss an instance when you had a positive influence on someone. For tips from those who have experienced the Teach First Leadership Development Programme hands-on, click here. See the Teach First website for more information.
Three Facts About Teach First 1. Teach First is a part of the Fair Education Alliance – a coalition committed to closing the achievement gap between young people from our poorest communities and their wealthier peers. 2. In 2011 Ofsted awarded Teach First’s initial teacher training provision with ‘Outstanding’ in all 44 areas. 3. If a school wants to be in partnership with Teach First a minimum of 50% of the students must come from the lowest 30% of the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index.
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co ol es t OF FIC ES ASTARTAS Considering Astartas specialise in product and space design for eco-friendly, functional and aesthetically pleasing workspaces, you would expect them to have a pretty slick looking office. And you’d be right. The theme is very much along the lines of bringing the outside in, with foliage and fake grass galore. The botanical theme is juxtaposed with cool, atmospheric purple and blue lighting, reminiscent of a swanky London wine bar that you might find the cast of Made in Chelsea sitting in. Our favourite feature has to be the photo print glass walls, which contain macroshots of various natural elements. It makes us feel like a fish in an aquarium. (In a good way!).
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MOSCOW, RUSSIA
http://officesnapshots. com/2014/01/28/inside-astartas-moscow-offices/
Images Š Office Snapshots
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BUDGETING ON A
Low Income
When you’re on a low income you cannot risk losing control of your spending. After working out your budget (how much comes in and out each month), you can take the following steps to help manage your finances, enabling you to reduce stress levels and live comfortably within your means.
Shop Smart Shopping is a part of everyday life which cannot be avoided, therefore you must learn to shop smart. Price comparison websites have become increasingly popular over the last few years, with supermarkets, insurance companies, etc., all competing against one another. Use them to discover your desired product at the cheapest price within minutes from the comfort of your own home. You can even use these sites to determine whether your weekly shop would have been cheaper at an alternative supermarket, helping you to identify which one will offer you the best savings. Vouchers can also help you to reduce spending: rather than discarding those receipts with £5 off your next shop, try to use them to your advantage. One thing to beware of is special offers. Those shiny yellow banners make you think you’re receiving a special deal, but often they are there to trick you into spending the same, if not more than usual.
Use Cash If you find that it’s just far too easy to enter your pin and forget about the endless payments you make every week, why not try limiting yourself to a specific amount of cash for your discretionary expenses? This ensures you don’t spend too much on anything you don’t desperately need. Instead, you will think twice about blowing your week’s allowance on one item which you would have previously convinced yourself to buy.
Save Your Receipts Once you have kept up your budget for a couple of
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months it’s easy to let things slip. By keeping your receipts you can keep an eye on where you’re spending your money, how much of it is for essentials and how much is on discretionary expenses. By keeping track of whether you’re sticking to your budget and highlighting where you’re going wrong, you’re much more likely to curb your spending and get back on top of your finances.
Cease Bad Habits Smoking and drinking alcohol are no doubt the most common bad habits that have a notoriously damaging effect on our purse strings, mainly because they are so expensive to maintain. By cutting back or quitting altogether you can put the money you would usually spend towards better uses, such as your bills. As a result, you will not only see your monthly expenditure improve, but also your health.
Examine Your Expenditure Now you’ve worked out your budget and analysed your receipts, are there any habits that seem harmless but are actually taking up a surprising amount of your monthly budget? For example, do you buy a coffee each morning or your lunch every day? Total up how much this is costing you each month and you may be surprised! Cut these costs by bringing in your own lunch, or getting up a bit earlier so you can have a coffee before you leave for work. What about your phone bill? Does your mobile contract suit your needs or are you constantly exceeding your allowance? Search for the best option for you so you can avoid extra payments.
Climbing the Ladder in a Big Company When you work for a big company it’s easy to get lost amongst the crowd. But in order to climb the ladder, impressing those in positions of power is vital. So how can you reach your career goals and ensure your efforts are noticed by the right people?
Know Your Organisation No doubt you conducted a fair amount of research on the company both during the application process and in preparation for your first day. Unfortunately, it’s easy to forget this information once you’ve settled into your new position as you’re distracted by the job role itself. However, having in-depth knowledge of the company is especially important when you work for a large business, because it’s important to understand how all aspects of the company come together. You will find more doors open with opportunities to explore new roles and get involved in different projects.
Be the Perfect Representative A good way to make sure the powers at be are aware of you is to receive praise from others. If the people who commend your efforts are clients, then even better! This is why it’s so important to always be on your best behaviour when it comes to meeting people outside the office. Bosses of large companies have an awful lot on their plates, therefore receiving positive feedback from clients about how their staff is representing the company will definitely be much appreciated, as they will feel reassured about the standard of work being produced.
Display Your Achievements In a smaller company your efforts will inevitably be picked up on much quicker by your superiors, but bigger companies are full to the brim of people both performing well and not so well. This is why it’s essential to make sure your boss and other superiors are aware of the
progress you’re making. Send a weekly report of your accomplishments and make a note of any triumphs so you can reference them in your next performance appraisal or meeting with your boss.
Be Proactive To climb the ladder in any company you need to excel in your current role: your boss will undoubtedly check your past performance before putting you forward for a promotion. Once you’ve made sure you’re covering every aspect of your job role effectively, start to branch out and offer your help to other departments and projects. This is particularly important in a large company because you can get to know and work alongside people you would otherwise not have the chance to meet. The more people you know, the more colleagues will talk about you (in a good way!) to those that matter, helping them to notice you. By gaining the trust of your co-workers and being proactive in terms of finding work, you will become difficult to ignore.
Be Patient Steps up the career ladder are inevitably a longer process than they would be in a smaller company because of the time it will take you to build trust with your colleagues, get involved in multiple projects, get to know the whole company and be noticed in general. Stay motivated and concentrate on working hard - you will be rewarded for your efforts.
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8
Ways to Resolve Conflict at Work
Conflict at work is inevitable, even if you do everything in your power to avoid confrontational situations. The truth is, you’re not always going to agree with everyone, and you’re not expected to! To ensure conflict doesn’t damage your career development, here are eight tips on how to deal with conflict at work in a productive way.
Pick your battles
Open your ears
When tension develops between you and a colleague it can be tempting to get defensive or aggressive whenever you approach them. This will only cause the dispute to worsen unnecessarily, especially if you forestall the conflict each time. Instead, determine which issues are truly important and worth resolving rather than letting every niggle develop into a full-blown argument. If you let the little things slide, you will find you’re far more likely to succeed in battles that really matter to you.
Once you sit down to discuss the matter, don’t bulldoze your opponent into silence with one-sided opinions and verbal attacks – this will get you nowhere fast! You need to listen to their perspective in order to truly understand the problem. If you feel that the meeting could get out of hand, decide on a time limit so you can reduce the likelihood of irrelevant issues being raised and encourage both of you to focus on the most important points of your argument. Making notes on or repeating their argument back to them can help you to fully understand their perspective and enable you to find mutual respect.
Pinpoint the real issue Letting your emotions get the better of you is one of the worst things you can do when dealing with a conflict at work, mainly because it often leads to you saying something you’ll soon regret. If you frequently fly into a rage then you will develop a reputation for being weak and unstable when things get tough. To prevent an emotional reaction, take yourself away from the situation and have some time to think logically about it. By conducting a bit of analysis before giving your response, you can identify and deal with the real issue. If you handle the majority of minor conflicts like this, you will soon gain respect from your colleagues and problems will not escalate unnecessarily.
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Don’t take it to heart It can be extremely difficult not to take criticism personally as often it can feel as though someone’s conflicting opinion is an attack on you. The reality is, someone’s alternative viewpoint most likely has nothing to do with your ability or you as a person, it’s just different people have different perspectives. If you can learn to take constructive criticism on the chin your career will seriously benefit.
Adopt professional language
Be willing to negotiate
It’s important to remain professional as we have already mentioned how allowing emotionally-fuelled verbal attacks only result in damaging the situation further. So as not to intimidate the other person, avoid subjective or cynical language which will only encourage them to become defensive. Instead, use business-like phrases to remain professional and if you feel an emotional outburst rising, it’s best to leave and reschedule the meeting once you’ve had time to calm down.
The ideal solution to a conflict is to come to an agreement which you are both happy with. To achieve this you must learn how to compromise effectively as being stubborn will only make matters worse: your opponent will soon realise you’re unable to listen. You will gain far more respect and be more likely to achieve a favourable solution if you’re willing to meet half way and show the other person you’re not allowing your emotions to determine your behaviour.
Involve an intermediary
Avoid gossip
When you’re caught up in a conflict sometimes it can be difficult to see the wood for the trees, or perhaps you simply cannot bear to hear a colleague you dislike tell you your argument is flawed. This is where an intermediary can help: they can give you a third-party perspective and you can talk through your issues in a professional and fair way. This can either be done informally with someone whom you both respect or, if this doesn’t resolve the issue, then it’s best to ask a supervisor to help you organise a formal meeting. If you choose the formal approach, your behaviour will have to be extremely professional and your supervisor will need to see that this is not simply a spat with someone who holds a conflicting viewpoint.
The best way to avoid conflict is to stay clear of office gossip – seems simple right? However, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to get involved in discussions that are fuelled by rumours and half-truths about your fellow colleagues. If someone starts to gossip around you, try to change the subject or remove yourself from the conversation subtly. There’s no harm in building good relationships with your co-workers, but if you begin to gossip you could seriously harm your career prospects.
Know Your
Rights
redundancy Facing redundancy can be a concerning time. It’s crucial that you do your research at this stage, so that you fully understand the correct process that your employer needs to take and you can be reassured that you’re being treated fairly.
The Law: Firstly, the reason for your redundancy must be legitimate. Commonly used is the ‘last in, first out’ policy. If the entire operation of the department you work in is closed, however, you aren’t required to have an individual reason for being made redundant. Statuary redundancy: • Half a week’s pay for each full year you were under 22. • One week’s pay for each full year you were 22 or older, but under 41. • One and a half week’s pay for each full year you were 41 or older.
Statuary notice periods: • At least one week’s notice if employed between one month and two years. • One week’s notice for each year if employed between two and 12 years. • 12 weeks’ notice if employed for 12 years or more.
Advice For a more comprehensive overview of the redundancy terms and conditions, take a look at the Citizens Advice Bureau’s website.
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Management Training: Why is it important? If you’re looking to progress in your career then no doubt you will be considering a position in management at some point. It’s all very well deciding that you want a management role, but obtaining one takes plenty of hard work and determination. By taking the time and effort to gain management qualifications, you can show employers and team members that you are a force to be reckoned with thanks to your high standard of management skills.
How can a course benefit you? In order to secure a role in management, you need to have solid proof of not only your technical know-how, but your ability to actually handle a team. This is why it’s important to develop your leadership skills as well as your knowledge: no matter how deep your understanding of your job role is, if you cannot lead, then you cannot manage. The reality is, as a manager you will have to take on a number of roles, each of which you will have to give your full attention and best efforts to. This is where management training can really help: you will obtain the key skills and qualities needed to handle the variety of positions you’ll hold in a management role. Here are the top five important skills a course will help you to develop: Organisation – You will be able to arrange meetings/ discussions between many different teams, making sure you’re aware of the agreements made and that projects are seen through to the end.
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Problem-solving – When issues inevitably crop up, you will be able to identify them and provide realistic solutions. This will require developing the ability to evaluate the situation as a whole. Influence – You will know how to encourage others to see the way you do, in order to try out new ideas and stimulate progression. Coaching – You’ll be capable of developing your own skills at the same time as supporting the progression of your team. This involves motivating others and providing feedback. Administration – You’ll cope with juggling many tasks at once, keeping on top of important aspects such as deadlines and budgets.
How can you study? As with most courses these days you have the option of distance learning or classroom training. Which method you choose will entirely depend on how you prefer to study.
Distance learning: If you’re looking for flexibility then this is the best route for you. Whether the course is online or paper-based, you will be able to start and complete the course in your own time, as well as not be restricted to a specific location.
Classroom training: If you find it difficult to keep concentration and motivate yourself to study in your own time, then attending a classroom-based course will be a better option for you. However, it’s important to remember that you will be much more limited in terms of starting and completing the course. Most start in September (at colleges and universities) and have to be completed within a certain amount of time. In order to choose the right level of management course for you, it’s important to fully understand your current position. Before starting your research, ask yourself the following questions: • What is your current job role? • What previous experience do you have? • How much time can you commit to a course? • What level of education do you have?
Finding a Course Provider If you choose the more traditional route of classroom training then you will have three options to choose from: local colleges, university business schools and private organisations. Simply look at the websites for colleges and universities near you to see what courses they offer. Here are some examples of trusted private organisations and business schools which provide high quality courses: www.i-l-m.com managers.org.uk dlcandtraining.co.uk
ashridge.org.uk london.edu
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CITY CARS Peugeot 207 CC Previously voted Europe’s third it y most reliable car, the 207 CC can Reliabil be a good choice for a long-distance commute. The front is nice and roomy, plus the price is pretty reasonable too. Both diesel and petrol versions are comparatively cheap to run, and the smaller engine sizes (1.4 litre) sit in low insurance groups, saving you a few more pennies. £17,200 - £20,695
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Alfa Romeo Mito
sp eed
A great looking hatchback that has been rated highly for performance and also accredited with low running costs. Space in the back can be tight, so it’s not ideal for lots of passengers or families. £14,350 - £19,000
VW Golf SV Fiat 500
city driving
This great city car is small, nifty and stylish. Its size makes it preferable for innercity driving, as well as having excellent fuel efficiency. Ideal for solo commuters, the Fiat 500 is cheap to run and a popular choice aesthetically. £9,655 - £13,455
space & t comfor
Slightly bigger than your average hatchback, this most recent model boasts plenty of room, especially in the back. This makes it ideal for carpooling and road trips. Other practicalities include an extra wide rear windscreen for increased visibility, and automatic headlights. £18,875 - £26,815
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Keep it tidy It’s easy to get distracted – especially if you’re working at the same station all day. Lots of clutter means more things to pick up and play with. Putting all your bits and bobs away will help you to concentrate on your work, and will clear your mind up too. (Tidy desk, tidy mind and all that.).
Focus
sitting upright can really help you with your productivity, whereas sitting comfortably reminds you of watching Orange is the New Black the night before. You’re at work now, so it’s time for a different approach.
Practical Whether your workspace looks tidy or not, it should at least serve its purpose. If you cannot reach over to answer your phone, or you don’t have enough room for valuable paperwork, then you need some reorganisation so items of importance are to hand. It’s a tad embarrassing when your boss comes over to ask you for a stapler and you find it’s hidden under your daily One Direction calendar.
How to: Organise your
Do you have several tasks piled up on your desk and don’t know where to start? Invest in a drawer, tray or desk tidy and put everything (bar what you’re working on) inside. This way you can pick out one item at a time, finish it, and then stick it on the ‘done’ pile. Keeping just one task in front of you prevents you from being distracted by other things. Hopefully, the outcome will mean you work on each project more productively.
workspace
Posture It’s tempting to slouch back or hunch over your work and it certainly feels more comfortable at the time. However,
Fun It’s your workspace, so there’s nothing wrong with making it feel like yours. If you want to keep your pens in a batman mug or pin a picture of you and your best pals on the wall, then go for it. It’s small, personal touches like these that can make you feel settled and at home in your job.
“ You are
never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream
“
C.S. LEWIS
INTERVIEW RESPONSES YOU REALLY WANT TO GIVE.
(But shouldn’t!)
WHY DO YOU WANT THIS JOB?
I'm broke.
I've completed Call of Duty Back Ops and now I'm ready for my next challenge.
My career as a Ryan Gosling lookalike isn't panning out as I thought it would.
My mum says she'll stop paying my phone bill unless I get a job.
WHAT ARE YOUR STRONGEST ACHIEVEMENTS? I once corrected every wrong apostrophe on a menu sign.
I taught my dog how to backflip.
I managed to balance a spoon on my nose for two whole minutes. I helped E.T get home.
WHAT WOULD YOU BRING TO THE ROLE?
I'd bring sexy back. A dead-pan outlook. Lots of knock-knock jokes.
One Direction's entire back catalogue.
WHAT PHRASE SUMS YOU UP BEST?
Narcissist.
Cat-a-holic. Tree enthusiast. Comedy genius.
I saved a fish from drowning.
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rite
ou Our fav
tweets of the month
Nige @koalaslament
be quids-in while looking for work.
get paid to watch ads
I need a new job. One where I’m always running out the door with my arms flailing and holding a jar screaming “I GOTTA GET THIS TO THE LAB!”
If you’re going to be forced to watch adverts during your favourite YouTube clips or in-between the football, you might as well get paid for it, right? It turns out there are a few websites where you can do just that.
JermHimselfish @JermHimselfish
Signing up to sites that pay you per ad you click on isn’t necessarily a way of making tons of cash, but there’s no denying that it is easy money. Depending on how much you watch/ click, you can earn around an extra £10 per month. If you keep it up for a year, that’s £120 made just by sitting at your computer.
Thinking about quitting my job to pursue my dream of not working. Tamela Lewis @MattersofSmart
Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Steve Jobs #inspiration Melvin @MelvinofYork
Some websites work by ensuring you watch the ad/keep the tab open for a minimum amount of seconds. They will also limit you to watching just one ad at a time.
Whenever I conduct a job interview I ask the applicant to name their favorite Muppet, and no matter the answer I scowl and shake my head.
Depending on which sites you sign up to, you can ‘withdraw’ the cash you’ve earned or sometimes receive credit, such as Amazon or other shopping vouchers.
TwinterIsComing @OhNoSheTwitnt
If you’re interested, check out wordlinx.com.
Apparently when a trainer asks you why you want to stay in shape and you answer “revenge” it will raise a couple of eyebrows.
For excellent career tips and advice
follow us on twitter @careersavvymag
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Money maker
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• How to Spruce up Your Cover Letter
• Improving Employability During Your Gap Year • Five Points Your CV Needs to Express • Why Can’t I Get a Job? • How to be Employee of the Month • Being a Career Mentor • How to: Deal with an Exit Interview
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