CareerWorx

5 Ways To Boost Your Career Resilience

2016-08-15T21:38:00.000+01:00

What actions are you taking to boost your career resilience?

In times of uncertainty, it’s important to do what you can to build your own career resilience which will enable you to respond to change effectively and with confidence. Here’s 5 things you can do right now to help boost your career resilience:

Upskill & Diversify

Ensure your skills are up to date at all times and diversify your skills wherever possible. In times of uncertainty and downsizing, employers are seeking versatile, multi-talented team members who can adapt to changing circumstances. There are many ways in which you can increase your knowledge and skills from taking an online course through to attending a workshop or webinar through to being coached or mentored.

Up-to-date CV

Even if you are not looking for work right now, it is good practice to update your CV every 6-12 months. Aside from keeping your CV up to date, regularly reviewing your CV can also help you identify areas for development. Be sure to include any achievements you have made in the past 6-12 months in terms of improved efficiencies, revenue boosting, outstanding performance etc. A CV that includes achievement statements demonstrates your competencies, can highlight your suitability for a role and can also be used to negotiate higher duties or a pay rise in your current role.

Know Your USPs

It’s vital that you have a deep understanding of your own unique selling points (USPs). Being aware of and being able to effectively communicate your USPs is the key to standing out from other candidates. In a competitive job market employers don’t have time to tease this information out of you. They expect you’ll know your strengths and weaknesses and be able to talk about them with confidence.

Build Your Network

Building your network is something you need to be working on at all times so it’s there when you need it. There are online platforms such as LinkedIn as well as a range of networking events organised by interest groups and professional associations which can help you develop your network. If you lack networking skills try watching an online tutorial, reading a relevant how to guide or just get out there and observe and learn from those who do it well.

Take Control

Understand the value you bring to an employer in terms of your qualifications, skills and experience. Employers these days want to see that you are committed to managing your own career development. With the rise of contract employment and reduction in staff development spend it’s up to you to get behind the wheel of your career. This means taking stock of your career at regular intervals and taking any action necessary to keep up to speed in terms of industry changes and developments.

What action will you take today to boost your career resilience?

Lisa LaRue, MCareerDev, BSocSc(Couns&HumServ), DipCareerGuid, RCDP, MCDI, MAC is a Registered Career Coach and Career Development Consultant at CareerWorx with more than 18 years' experience helping people plan and manage their careers.

Are You Managing Your CPD Effectively?

2016-08-08T16:07:00.003+01:00

CPD ensures you remain competent throughout your career.

What is CPD?

Continuing Professional Development or CPD refers to any career development activities which develop your professional skills, knowledge or experience. CPD is important because it ensures you remain competent in your profession throughout your career.

CPD activities can be formal or informal and gained either on the job or outside your work environment. It’s a good idea to keep track of your CPD by recording and reflecting upon the resulting learning and development.

Advantages of CPD

Ensures that your skills remain up to date and relevant
Helps you maintain and develop the knowledge and skills needed to do your job effectively
Keeps your up to date the current standards and best practice in your field of expertise
Helps you be more effective in your role leading to higher levels of job satisfaction, productivity and professionalism
Facilitates career progression by ensuring you constantly learning and developing
Enables you identify further areas for growth and development
Helps you remain connected to the objectives of your job role

Why you should document your CPD

There are many advantages to documenting your CPD including:

Gaining recognition for professional development which can lead to career progression
Helps you identify how your career is progressing and where you’d like to develop further
Evidences your competencies which can be helpful for salary reviews and promotion
Documents your activities making it easy to meet professional association CPD requirements
Provides details for CV development, job applications and interviews

What constitutes CPD?

Attendance at courses (face to face or online), workshops, seminars and webinars
Conferences, talks, professional networking events
Job shadowing and observation of colleagues in the workplace
Coaching, mentoring and professional supervision
Acting/covering another role in the organisation
Learning new duties and assisting colleagues in other roles or teams
Participating in activities that promote skills development such as delivering a presentation or hosting an event
Contributing to a professional publication, knowledge sharing (e.g. mentoring/coaching others, writing a blog)
Reading or researching to gain insight or knowledge on a particular topic
Self-reflection on growth and development in response to incidents, change or other events

How should I record and manage my CPD?

It’s advisable to update and review your CPD record every 3-6 months to ensure you are meeting your career objectives. If your employer or professional association doesn’t have a CPD recording tool for you to use you can create your own. Simply create a table in word processing package such as MS Word or Excel table headed with the following columns: CPD activity, Date, Type, Details, Learning outcomes. You should also keep any evidence documents in a computer folder or a physical folder for later reference.

Lisa LaRue, MCareerDev, BSocSc(Couns&HumServ), DipCareerGuid, RCDP, MCDI, MAC is a Career Coach and Career Development Consultant at CareerWorx with more than 18 years' experience helping people plan and manage their careers.

Top 5 In-Demand Non-Medical Roles In The NHS

2016-08-02T16:55:00.000+01:00

There are over 350 different job roles across the NHS

The NHS is one of the biggest employers in the world with over 1.6 million employees. When thinking about the health service, most people primarily think of doctors and nurses, but there’s a whole network within the organisation consisting of different roles - including non-medical.

From the caterers who provide daily nutritious meals and skilled security personnel ensuring everyone is safe, there are also Human Resources departments focusing on retaining staff and keeping employee morale high.

Working for the NHS can lead to a rewarding career, with benefits including flexible working options, pensions and opportunities to progress. Knowing you have contributed towards helping someone’s health can be also offer job satisfaction that you won’t receive in a regular office position.

In order to treat millions more patients, there is an increased need for more professionals to join the healthcare sector. Here’s a look at five roles within the non-medical sector that are currently in strong demand.

Administrative staff

Without admin staff, the NHS wouldn’t be able to properly function. With so many departments heavily relying on administrative services, it’s one of the most in-demand roles in the health service.

In most cases, administrators will be the first port of call for patients so staff will need to have a friendly approach and be helpful in assisting them. It will also be their responsibility to manage appointments for both patients and staff, alongside many other record-keeping tasks in order to help the NHS treat as many patients as possible.

Anyone looking for an admin role in the NHS will need to have great communication, literacy and numerical skills. It’s also beneficial for candidates to be IT-literate, as most NHS systems are now IT-based.

A keen eye for detail is also essential as any mistakes could have serious implications for patients.

Project Management staff

In March 2016, there were over 30,000 staff working in managerial roles within the NHS.

It is the duty of a Project Manager to ensure that every task is completed efficiently and to provide expertise and insight to their team to deliver projects on time and in budget. Whether it’s looking for solutions to issues with already-existing systems or looking for new ways to do things, the core focus is to improve services for both patients and staff.

Anyone considering a role within Project Management needs to have great leadership skills and excellent time management, in order to meet demanding deadlines. Many roles will also require candidates to already be experienced in budget management and risk assessment.

Human Resources staff

Focusing on policies and processes, the Human Resources (HR) department are responsible for ensuring staff are happy and motivated to work.

Anyone working in HR needs to have excellent communication skills, be compassionate when dealing with important issues and be able to negotiate with people encouraging them to work together. Often seen as a mediator in employment and personal issues, the HR department are the first point of call for many employees when a problem arises.

When considering a HR position, you’ll need to have previous NHS experience as you’ll need to understand how the organisation works from the inside out, as well as having a qualification from institutions such as the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

Financial staff

As the NHS is funded by UK taxes, it’s important for financial staff to be as efficient with money as possible and make sure every penny is well spent.

Accounting and financial professionals will be tasked with bookkeeping, managing statements and payroll. Regular audits are necessary to help identify areas of overspending and create reports based on their findings.

It goes without saying that anyone working within the financial department will need to have strong numerical skills. Pair these up with the ability to thoroughly plan and a nature for problem solving and you’ll be a strong candidate for a financial role within the NHS.

IT staff

Having a reliable IT system is crucial to the running of the NHS and the skills of an IT professional can really make a huge difference.

A day in the life of a member of IT staff will vary, with tasks being more than just fixing and improving tech issues. Working around sensitive information, staff will be required to know how to make sure that networks are consistently online as well as information remaining safe and secure.

Anyone looking to work in IT within the NHS will not only need to have prior experience working in a similar role but will also need to have problem solving skills, a detailed knowledge of operating systems including software and hardware, alongside a deep understanding of how to monitor and safeguard systems.

Finding the job role for you

Working in the NHS can be an entirely satisfying and rewarding experience and with over 350 different job roles within the organisation, there is sure to be a position suited to you.

Adam Maidment writes for GoToJobBoard, a dedicated job board which specialises in non-clinical and non-medical roles encouraging candidates to consider working within the NHS.

Should you be working part time?

2016-04-22T14:41:00.001+01:00

I was invited to speak on BBC Radio recently in response to a BBC article Three-day working week 'optimal for over-40s'. The article referred to a study undertaken by researchers at the Melbourne Institute at the University of Melbourne. Intrigued, I had to read the full working paper: Use It Too Much and Lose It? The Effect of Working Hours on Cognitive Ability.

The findings of the study were that working up to 22-30 hours per week had a positive impact on the participants and that any hours worked in excess of this resulted in a negative impact on cognitive functioning. Why was this? It was discovered that stress and fatigue played a large part in impairing participants’ cognitive functioning. The study concluded that ‘too much work can have adverse effects on cognitive functioning’.

This got me thinking about the many clients I work with who are keen to explore ways in which they can slow down, take it easier and reduce stress in their lives. They talk about how their working lives impact massively on their emotional and physical health, relationships and levels of happiness. Working part-time is a common desire yet the challenge is how to achieve part-time work whilst maintaining a degree of economic stability.

Let’s take a look at the reasons why people might want to work part-time.

Benefits of working part-time:

Research shows that a good work life balance leads to boosted cognition, improved physical and psychological health leading to increased well-being and happiness
Time to care for children or other family members
Time for doing things you enjoy doing such as hobbies and interests
Ability to set up and grow your own business (if that’s a dream of yours)
Time to study or learn new skills (to help you earn more or get a job you would enjoy more)
Reduced expenses e.g. travel costs, childcare, work clothes, lunches, wear & tear on car etc.

Disadvantages of working part-time:

Reduced income although some would argue that the less you earn the less you spend e.g. ‘lifestyle inflation’ phenomenon whereby the more you earn the more you find ways to spend it.
Part time roles can be difficult to find. Most part time roles are negotiated with a current employer (through job share or a change in role description) or created (e.g. self-employment or contracting)
Some part time roles can expect you to work more hours than you are paid for e.g. full-time workload but only pay for part-time hours
Although labour laws are meant to protect part time workers’ rights, full-time staff are still often favoured over part time staff for career progression opportunities within organisations
As a part-time contracted staff member you are likely to miss out on basic benefits such as pension, health insurance etc.

Once you’ve made the decision to work part-time you need to ask yourself the following questions:

Is part-time employment a good fit for you?
Can you manage on the income a part-time role can generate or will you need to take on more than one part-time role? (portfolio career)
How do your skills and experience fit in a part-time role?
Is there an opportunity or do I need to create one? (at your current workplace or by going freelance/self-employed)

Given the above, what are the compromises available that might achieve the same benefits?

Portfolio working – Portfolio working is when you work more than one job. The idea here would be to find the optimal working hours that suit you and developing a portfolio of work that meets your needs. Combining part-time employment and self-employment is increasingly common way for people to transition into self-employment without the risk of leaving secure employment.

Self-employment – Self-employment can take many forms. You might use your skills as a freelancer or contract worker or perhaps you have a business you want to get off the ground. Self-employment allows you the freedom to work on your own terms and generally offers a high level of flexibility.

Flexible working – Flexible working enables you to work in different, non-traditional ways for example remote working/working from home which can free up a lot of travel time if that’s an issue for you. Other ways to claw back more time through flexible working include the compressed working week where you work a little longer on a daily basis in order to take a day off a fortnight also known as the ‘9-day fortnight’.

Finding more enjoyable and fulfilling work – There’s no doubt that those who are happiest at work love what they do and where they work. Many research studies support the idea that being happy in your career impacts on your general health and well-being.

How can I get a part-time job?

Investigate the practicalities:

Speak to your boss or HR manager – go to them with a list of all the positives for them and the organisation – don’t make it all about you
Have a backup plan in case things don’t go as you had hoped
Job boards specifically for part time jobs and regular job boards allow you to filter your search to seek out only part-time roles. Try www.timewisejobs.co.uk or www.workingmums.co.uk

I hope these thoughts have been helpful in exploring whether part time employment is for you. Please feel free to comment in the comments section below.

Lisa LaRue, MCareerDev, BSocSc(Couns&HumServ), DipCareerGuid, MCDI, RCDP, MAC is a Career Coach and Career Development Consultant at CareerWorx with more than 18 years' experience helping people plan and manage their careers.

Powerful Questions To Transform Your Career in 2016

2015-12-24T10:45:00.000+00:00

As the year draws to a close many of us start to reflect on the year that was. Perhaps you feel you’ve accomplished all you set out to achieve, or maybe you’re beating yourself up for not getting to where you wanted to be.

Whichever is true for you, now is the ideal time to start thinking about what you want to change in the coming year.

Some key questions to ask yourself:

What went well this year?
What didn’t go so well?
What would I like to change?
What do I need more of?
What do I need less of?
How do I want my life to look this time next year?
What specific actions will I take to achieve my goals?

Armed with answers to these questions, you will be clearer on what you need to do to achieve your goals in the coming year. It can be helpful to answer these questions in terms of your work life and personal life separately since even though they are closely intertwined, they make up different elements of your life.

Now is also a good time to identify your work values, interests, skills/transferable skills and strengths. This will help you understand where you fit in the world of work as well as identifying where you might like to develop your career.

Lisa LaRue, MCareerDev, BSocSc(Couns&HumServ), DipCareerGuid, RCDP, MAC is a Career Coach and Career Development Consultant at CareerWorx with more than 18 years' experience helping people plan and manage their careers.

Christmas jobs: Where to bag yourself a last minute Christmas temp role

2015-12-14T11:30:00.000+00:00

Sainsbury's still has a number of roles on offer to cover the busy Christmas period

While Christmas is just over a week away, it’s not too late to grab yourself a Christmas job!

Although most companies put off taking on new staff just before and just after Christmas, there are industries where the Christmas period is their busiest time of the year. Industries like retail and hospitality for example, typically become very busy around the Christmas period and are likely to take on extra staff to cope with the increased demand.

The logistics and transport industries also experience peaks in demand around Christmas time resulting in an increased need for warehouse staff, transport workers, delivery drivers, couriers etc. Royal Mail for example, take on thousands of extra staff over Christmas to cope with increased demand for their services.

Here’s some links I’ve put together for those of you looking for temporary roles over the Christmas period:

Christmas jobs listed on job boards

Indeed Christmas Vacancies

CV Library Christmas Jobs

Christmas jobs in the Retail sector:

Retail Choice Christmas Jobs

Paperchase Christmas Temps

Next Christmas Vacancies

The White Company Christmas Vacancies

Boots Christmas Jobs

Sainsbury’s Temporary Seasonal Roles

Seasonal work over Christmas can be a great foot-in-the-door opportunity for someone wanting to join a company with a view to securing a more permanent role.

Another advantage to taking on seasonal work as a route to more permanent work, is the recruitment process can in some cases be fast-tracked, requiring less effort than usual to get that vital foot- in-the-door.

Even if you're unable to secure a more permanent role with the company when your seasonal work comes to an end, it's always easier to find a new job if you are already employed, even as a casual.

The fresh experience gained from seasonal work will also liven up your CV, the perfect pick-me-up for those with a gap in their work history. Don't forget to include your seasonal work in your CV and if possible, get a reference or recommendation you can include in your career portfolio.

Best of luck and Merry Christmas!

If you're a recruiter or employer looking to promote Christmas roles please share your links below.

Lisa LaRue, MCareerDev, BSocSc(Couns&HumServ), DipCareerGuid, RCDP, MAC is a Career Coach and Career Development Consultant at CareerWorx with more than 18 years' experience helping people plan and manage their careers.

Preparing for Psychometric Tests

2015-11-06T15:39:00.001+00:00

Have you got what it takes to pass a pre-selection psychometric test?

Practical tips and resources to help you ace psychometric tests

Many of us experience fear and anxiety when faced with the prospect of sitting a psychometric or aptitude test. Employers sometimes use psychometric, aptitude and personality tests as part of their selection process during the process of identifying the best talent to bring on board. Psychometric or aptitude tests are made up of numerical, verbal and spatial reasoning tests that measure your cognitive abilities.

As part of a selection process you might also be subjected to personality assessment which assesses your personality based on the ‘Big 5 model of personality’ which measures traits such as: openness, agreeableness, extrovertism, neuroticism and conscientiousness. Personality assessments can be challenging as the ‘right’ answers can be subjective and vary depending on what qualities or traits an employer is seeking.

The best way to prepare for testing is to spend some time becoming familiar with the kinds of questions you will face. You can do this by taking practice tests that pose example questions for you to practice answering. I’ve compiled a list of practical test sites where you can sit practice tests to help you become more comfortable and competent in answering typical psychometric and personality test questions.

Practice psychometric and personality assessment sites:

Practice Aptitude Tests

University of Kent: How to pass graduate aptitude tests

Psychometric Success

Cubiks online assessments

Team Technology: Free Personality Test

Human Metrics: Jung Typology Test

Other helpful resources to learn more about psychometric and personality assessments:

Prospects tests and exercises: psychometric tests

University of Kent: How to pass graduate aptitude tests

PwC Psychometric e-learn

TARGETjobs

Top test taking tips:

Dedicate some time to undergo practice testing at least a week before your testing date and to re-sit the practice tests until you feel more confident
Make sure you arrive at the test location early (at least 10 minutes beforehand) so that you have plenty of time to get your bearings and put yourself in the right frame of mind
Take your time and read through all instructions before you start the test to ensure you fully understand what is expected of you
Once you’ve started the test, work methodically through each question making sure you understand the question before answering and submitting your responses
Be mindful of time as most tests will be timed and in some cases the length of time taken impacts on your results (this is where dedicating enough time to practice really helps)
Stay calm and keep breathing, reassure yourself with some positive self-talk if you are overcome with anxiety or doubt.

Lisa LaRue, MCareerDev, BSocSc(Couns&HumServ), DipCareerGuid, RCDP, MAC is a Career Coach and Career Development Consultant at CareerWorx with more than 18 years' experience helping people plan and manage their careers.

5 Ways to Find Happiness at Work

2015-10-02T16:24:00.000+01:00

Get career happy by making some simple changes at work

Do more of what you love

Re-crafting your work to do more of what you love can be simpler than you might think. Start by identifying what it is you enjoy most about your job. Even if you think there’s nothing you enjoy about your work think carefully and list those work tasks you enjoy the most. Now list the things you dislike about your job. Looking at this list, is there anything you can do differently? Can you do these tasks less frequently, more effectively or is it possible you can avoid these altogether by delegating or making changes to your role?

Reconnect

What attracted you to the job in the beginning? See if you can reconnect with what made the job attractive in the first place. If the reason was purely financial then honour that, think about all the benefits having this job brings such as paying your rent or mortgage, keeping your family fed and clothed, you get the idea. Sure you might see your job as simply a means to an end but that doesn’t mean you have to be unhappy at work. Start to appreciate what you have rather than what you don’t have.

Get involved

Most people who say they hate their job have become disengaged or disconnected with their job, their workplace and their employer. Could you be more active team member making a greater contribution than you do now? Does your workplace have a social group that you can get involved in? Are there things taking place in your workplace that you’ve been avoiding? More often than not, it’s those who are the most proactive and involved in the workplace that are the happiest at work.

Develop

How long has it been since you did something at work that was aimed at developing you as an employee? Is there any training or development you’d like to take part in? Training and development doesn’t have be attending formal training, it might be that you participate in mentoring or coaching for example. Learning new skills, gaining certifications, updating qualifications are just some of the career development activities you could get involved in. Speak to your boss or your HR manager about what activities are available to keep you growing and developing.

Build your network

Depending on the size of your organisation it may be difficult to build a social network Building workplace relationships can take time and a bit of work but your efforts are likely to pay off. Research* shows that the more socially connected you are to your work colleagues the happier you are likely to be at work.

* Diener, E. & Biswas-Diener, R. (2008). Happiness: Unlocking The Mysteries of Psychological Wealth. Oxford: Blackwell.

Lisa LaRue, MCareerDev, BSocSc(Couns&HumServ), DipCareerGuid, RCDP, MAC is a Career Coach and Career Development Consultant at CareerWorx with more than 18 years' experience helping people plan and manage their careers.

5 Things Not To Do On LinkedIn

2015-07-06T10:40:00.000+01:00

Don't make these common LinkedIn mistakes

Are you using LinkedIn effectively? With more than 350 million users, LinkedIn is one of the world's largest on-line communities. It's important that you use it responsibly so it can continue to be the powerful professional networking tool it was designed to be. Here's five things you shouldn't do on LinkedIn:

1. Don’t send random connection requests
Send connection requests in a mindful way. Think about why you want to connect with the person and personalise your connection request message by explaining why you think you should connect.

2. Don’t give fake endorsements
You should only endorse people for skills you know they have and generally speaking only for those skills you have witnessed first-hand. Don’t feel obligated to endorse your connections just because they have endorsed you or if LinkedIn suggests an endorsement.

3. Don’t be an over-poster
We’ve all seen them, the LinkedIn addicts who post multiple daily status updates, never-ending links to their latest blog or start countless discussion threads in groups. There’s definitely a fine line between using LinkedIn effectively and using LinkedIn aggressively.

4. Don’t send spam messages
We all get enough spam in our lives. Don’t be tempted to try and sell your latest idea to your connections through spammy private messages. It’s against LinkedIn policy, people don’t like it and you’ll find yourself losing connections very quickly.

5. Don’t be rude to recruiters
While recruiters are good connections to have when you’re looking for work, constant contact from them once you’ve landed your dream job can get annoying. The best thing to do is to place a message at the top of your Summary section stating that you are not looking for career opportunities at this time. That will let recruiters know you’re not on the market and should keep them at bay.

Networking Activities to Boost Your Career

2015-06-03T16:28:00.001+01:00

Boost your career through networking - 10 networking activities to get you started

When I talk with my clients about how important networking is I’m often faced with a look of terror as they envisage themselves anxiously walking into a room full of strangers and awkwardly trying to network with them.

I'm quick to reassure them that networking has changed a lot over the years and doesn't need to be the horrifying and daunting task they fear it will be. The biggest changes that have happened are the result of technological developments as well as the huge growth in range of networking opportunities. There really is something to suit everyone no matter how shy or lacking in confidence you might be.

I prefer to look at networking as an opportunity to connect, learn and develop. Viewed in this way, networking becomes far less fearsome and much more fun. Now that’s got to be better than anxiousness, sweaty palms and panic attacks right?

Here’s my top 10 networking activities you can start working on today that will help boost your career:

Professional networking sites - Specialist professional networking websites such as LinkedIn are a fantastic tool and should be part of every professional’s networking arsenal. A free account takes little time to set up and can see you beginning to grow your network in no time at all.

Seminars - Attending seminars is a great way to increase your knowledge on specific topics whilst growing your network. Arrive early to mingle and meet people. TED Talks are a great way to meet people who share similar interests to your own and often attract business owners and professionals alike.

Exhibitions - Bringing businesses and other organisations together. May or may not be open to the general public. They provide the ideal environment to get to learn more about specific sectors with the added advantage of meeting people face-to-face.

Training courses - Are a great way to meet like-minded professionals. Not all training is face to face. The kind of networking you might do could be via webinars which is excellent for meeting other business people.

Professional or trade associations - Each sector has a professional or trade association which represents the interests of those who work in that field. Activities vary but usually becoming a member enables you to participate in networking events, professional development activities, conferences/trade shows etc.

Conferences - Typically made up of talks, stalls and workshops, conferences provide loads of opportunities for you to make connections with like-minded professionals. Some conferences offer the opportunity to be added to a networking contact list so that you can connect with attendees after the event.

Chambers of Commerce - There is likely to be a chambers of commerce in your town or region whose aim is to bring together local businesses. Chambers of Commerce run regular networking events, may host an online forum and produce a weekly or monthly newsletter.

University Alumni groups - Joining your university’s alumni group is a great way to stay in the loop of what’s happening in your sector. Alumni groups usually have an active community who keep in touch through organised social, networking or CPD activities.

Breakfast networking clubs - There countless breakfast networking clubs popping up all over the country aimed at bringing local businesses together (over breakfast obviously). This can be a great way to build your network if you are moving into self-employment or becoming a freelancer. Try Business Over Breakfast

Volunteering – Investing your time and expertise by volunteering you will automatically widen your network. Your contribution doesn't have to be a substantial one in terms of hours or days per week. There are many organisations that require support that might demand just a few hours a month. Aside from growing your network, it enhances your CV and most importantly, gives you a sense that you are giving something back. To search for volunteering opportunities try Do It and Volunteering England.

Perhaps you can commit to following through with between one and three of these activities in the next month?

Have any other networking ideas? Want to share your networking success story? Feel free to comment below.

Lisa LaRue, MCareerDev, BSocSc(Couns&HumServ), DipCareerGuid, RCDP, MAC is a Career Coach and Career Development Consultant at CareerWorx with more than 18 years' experience helping people plan and manage their careers.

Top 10 Green Jobs

2015-02-02T15:05:00.000+00:00

The number of green jobs is set to grow as the world responds to climate change

Green jobs are gaining in popularity as many of us are trying to find ways to minimise our impact on the planet and do something to help tackle climate change. I’ve come up with a list of my top 10 green jobs to whet your appetite if you are considering a more sustainable, greener career.

Sustainability Consultant

Sustainability Consultants can work across a number of areas for example they might have an interest the built environment where they provide specialist advice on how best to meet sustainability regulations. They will have a good understanding of how to incorporate sustainability elements in a design using tools such as thermal modelling and provide advice on low carbon building methods and materials.

Environmental Scientist

Environmental scientists examine the environment to determine how plants, animals and other organisms are affected by it. They also study external influences, such as pollutants, and provide specialist advice based on science to avoid or reduce harmful effects on the environment.

Energy Officer

An Energy Officer generally works as part of the sustainability team but with a specific focus on energy efficiency. They are responsible for developing and delivering initiatives or actions that identify deficiencies in energy efficient and implementing strategies for increasing energy efficiency. They could be employed by local authorities or environmental groups to educate the community through energy efficiency projects and programmes that address resource efficiency and combat fuel poverty.

Sustainability Officer

Sustainability Officers can work across a number of areas focusing on various aspects of helping an organisation, groups or individuals to conform to environmental sustainability principles. This could include anything from sustainable travel to sustainability of supply chains and other sustainability activities.

Environmental Sustainability Manager

Responsible for overseeing the environmental impact of private, public and voluntary sector organisations, an Environmental Sustainably Manager develops, implements and monitors environmental strategies, policies and programmes that promote sustainable development. They look closely at corporate activities to ensure that an organisation is compliant with relevant environmental legislation.

Recycling Officer

Recycling officers help to plan, develop and implement environmental and waste reduction policies in the community. They are usually responsible for managing local recycling schemes, delivering educational programmes and liaising with local medial to promote recycling activities. Recycling officers are typically employed by local authorities working as part of the environmental services, waste management or community services team.

Renewable Energy Project Manager

A Renewable Energy Project Manager is responsible for overseeing a renewable energy project (eg. wind, solar, biomass etc). They are involved full-cycle in the renewables project from conducting site surveys, meetings, installation to client handover and commissioning. Controlling the project from start to finish, a Renewable Energy Project Manager is responsible for the overall planning and implementation of a project and ensuring it is on time and on budget.

Permaculture Designer

Permaculture Designers create sustainable, functional permaculture landscape designs in harmony with nature. A Permaculture Designer designs holistic concepts for urban or rural landscape settings that support biodiversity and incorporate a range of sustainability elements to support resource and energy efficiency.

Environmental Engineer

Environmental Engineers are focussed on ways in which we can best minimise our impact on the environment. They might help develop new, less environmentally damaging processes for industry, design a recycling plant or devise methods to reduce air and water pollution.

Carbon and Climate Change Consultant

Possessing expert knowledge, a Carbon and Climate Change Consultant might have responsibility for the delivery of carbon and climate change assessments to provide input and advice in respect to carbon and climate change. They may undertake due diligence work relating to climate change mitigation, assess and advise on projects in relation to local and international environmental standards.

Flexible Working and Working From Home

2015-01-19T17:48:00.000+00:00

Flexible working is a growing trend

With an estimated 14%* of employees now working from home, the world of work is changing. Whether you're in full or part-time employment, are self-employed or work as a freelancer, chances are you spend at least a part of your week working from home. In honour of Work From Home week, I thought it would be worthwhile to look at the advantages and the challenges of working from home.

Advantages

The reason for the growing trend in flexible and home working are the many advantages that come with these new ways of working. Some of these advantages include:

increased well-being
improved staff retention
reduced absenteeism
improved levels of motivation and enthusiasm
eliminated or reduced need for travel
reduced operating costs

The advantages for employers is clear, allowing staff the freedom of flexible working including working from home makes for happier employees. Working from home is common for freelancers and the self-employed as it offers significant cost savings.

Challenges

Flexible working includes things like working non-standard work hours and job-sharing, as well as remote working and working from home. Staff may be able to work from the comfort of their own home, or might co-work in work hubs away from the main office or work 'on the go' with the use of technology.

These non-traditional ways of working pose challenges in terms of communication, managing workloads effectively, technology, performance management and work-life balance. Some of the other challenges cited by Institute of Leadership and Management include resentment among team members (48% of those surveyed), presumably due to not all staff enjoying the same privileges or concerns about performance. Problems dealing with clients (41%) was also identified as a significant challenge.

Further challenges include difficulty in maintaining work-life balance due to the inevitable work-life blur that occurs when you work from home. Although the freedom of being able to multi-task by achieving some home chores alongside work is attractive, it's common for work tasks to spill over into personal and family time. This is especially risky when there is a lack of designated work space such as a home office. Working from a dining table or a corner of the living room is fraught with potential distractions. Ergonomics too are of particular concern as the workspace is less likely to conform with health and safety guidelines as those in a traditional workplace.

How do we overcome these challenges?

The ILM identifies good communication, planning and performance management as some of the key elements of successful flexible working. The best way to achieve this is by ensuring that good communication strategies are in place to keep remote workers in touch with management and the rest of the team. Proper planning together with well developed administrative systems also have a part to play in keeping things running smoothly.

Performance management has always been a major concern when staff members are away from a traditional work environment where their work can be more easily monitored. Employers need to develop effective strategies for benchmarking performance and monitoring in a way that works for them and their employees.

Technology that is fit-for-purpose is vitally important in order for remote and home workers to perform effectively. A poor internet connection, outdated equipment or poorly functioning software can greatly impact on performance.

To overcome the challenge of avoiding distractions while working from home, it's important to establish a functional workspace preferably away from the main living space within the home. If a home office is not possible, a dedicated space which is properly organised and takes into account health and safety, data protection and productivity is essential.

If the predictions are correct, up to 60% of us will be working remotely in the next decade. To succeed, we will need to adapt to this new way of working. Although employers will have a large part to play, employees, small business owners and freelancers will need to equip themselves with the necessary technological, time management and communication skills to ensure their success.

Lisa LaRue, MCareerDev, BSocSc(Couns), DipCareerGuid, RCDP, MAC is a Career Coach and Career Development Consultant at CareerWorx with more than 18 years' experience helping people plan and manage their careers.

* Source: Work From Home www.workfromhomeweek.co.uk

Managing Video and Telephone Interviews

2014-12-17T20:57:00.003+00:00

As pressure mounts on HR managers to reduce recruitment costs, more and more opt to use one or two methods of remote job interviews. Remote job interviews are typically used before the face-to-face interview and allow the HR manager to interview a greater number of candidates in shorter time. If you are looking to progress your career, you are very likely to attend phone based and or video chat based job interview. Here are solid tips to negotiate your way to success when attending the remote job interview. These tips complete standard job interview tips such as conducting research and preparation.

Video Interviews

These are two-way video chat job interviews, which allows the recruiter to see how you conduct yourself, how you fit with the employer culture and to gage your body language. Typically the free and cross platform Skype is used by recruiters. Here are some solid tips when attending an interview using Skype.

Install and Configure Well Ahead of Time – Before you use Skype, you need to download and configure the software. You will also be asked to open a Skype user account. This takes time, so be sure to download and configure the software well ahead of time.

Think Carefully About Your Username and Photo – When you open a Skype account, you are asked to choose a username (mandatory) and to upload a profile photo (optional, but recommended). These two will be visible to anyone phoning you, so choose a username and upload a photo, which are suitable and professional for the occasion. For username, consider a variation of first name, last name. In place of your profile photo, upload a frontal high quality face shot.

Check It’s Working – There are two ways to check that the software and your hardware are working well. Once you install Skype, you can call the virtual contact ‘Skype’ to test your microphone and speakers. A better way, one that will help you with your interview skills, is to attend a mock interview. Ask friends, family members, even an agency recruiter to call you and ask a number of questions. Use this opportunity to train on using the software and to test your equipment.

Stage The Interview Area – Most candidates will opt to conduct the interview at home. It is the most likely environment where you can secure enough peace and quiet for the entire duration of the interview. It is important that the interview area, particularly the area behind you comes across professional for the occasion. In interior design, ‘staging’ is a term that describes temporarily de-cluttering the interior, making sure it comes across neat and tidy, even it is for a short time.

During the Interview – It is important that you come across interested and eager to the other party. Start by dragging the chat window nearer the webcam. When you look at the webcam, you will come across as making eye contact. Avoid making noise such as playing with your pen, tapping your legs etc. At the end of the interview, tank you interviewer for their time.

Phone Interviews

These are trusted and proven means to short-list a great number of candidates in record time. The recruiter can quickly weed out unsuitable candidates. On the other hand, the candidate can take the call without incurring too much inconvenience. Here are some solid tips when attending an interview using phone method.

Landline Over Mobile – Don’t let poor reception undermine your chances. When possible, choose a landline over mobile. If that is unworkable and you are left with only the mobile phone option, at least conduct the interview in a location that you are certain of good mobile reception.

Choose The Right Environment – Choose an environment that will allow you to take the call with minimal noise and where you can speak at a reasonable volume. The more controlled the space you’re calling from, the less room for distractions and other unanticipated events.

Listen and Smile – Let the interviewer talk and take notes if anything is unclear. Always try and remain smiling throughout the conversation, though the interviewer won’t see this. It will help you come across energetic and confident.

Talk Clearly and On Time – If the interviewer is asking a question, wait a second before jumping in. Let the interviewer sense that you are really listening and digesting what was asked. When answering talk in normal voice and avoid shouting. You may also find it useful to stand, meaning that your answers will come from a commending position.

Avoid Distractions – Sit down and have a copy of your CV as well as a copy of the job description in front of you. Hopefully you have also prepared some questions, so also place them in front of you. Don’t eat, but by all means have a cup of water handy. Switch off any distractions such as a TV set and mobile phone (if you are using a landline).

At the End – Thank the interviewer for their time and be sure to ask if they have any further questions for you.

Good luck in your career!

Written by The Carling Partnership (CPL in short), an international search and selection company in the distilleryjobs industry for the CareerWorx Blog.

Are You Using LinkedIn Effectively?

2014-11-10T14:41:00.003+00:00

We've all done it. Logged in to LinkedIn, set up a profile, connected with some friends, old work colleagues maybe some family members and not returned for months or in some cases even years.

The most common responses I get from people when I ask them if they're on LinkedIn are:

"Oh yeah I am, I have a profile but it's not up to date and I haven't been on there for years."

"I used to be on LinkedIn but I didn't see the point of it so I deleted my account."

The whole premise behind LinkedIn is that it is a professional networking tool. But the thing is, if you are not using it to its full potential, it fails to be effective. That's through no fault of the tool itself, but of the user of the tool - that's you and me.

So what exactly should you be doing on LinkedIn to make it work for you?

Firstly, you need to complete your profile. This is where many of us fall over at the first hurdle. There are a number of reasons for this. You might not have the time or lack motivation, or perhaps you don't feel confident in marketing yourself or 'blowing your own trumpet'. Privacy may be a concern as you worry everyone will be able to view your personal information. Another barrier to completing your LinkedIn profile might be that you have a portfolio career and are unsure how to position yourself as you have multiple careers operating in tandem.

Let's get something clear. Without first dedicating the time to completing your LinkedIn profile, you will struggle to get the most out of LinkedIn and get ahead in your career. A good place to start in terms of inspiration is with your colleagues. It's likely your current or previous co-workers have similar backgrounds, skills and experience to your own and you might glean some insight into how best to market yourself by looking at how well (or not so well!) they are marketing themselves.

The most important thing to remember is that your LinkedIn profile is not just a tool you can use to impress potential employers, it can also help you connect with fellow professionals and clients. It can also help you identify any skills and experience gaps that need addressing so in that sense, it's a fantastic professional development tool too.

The second part of LinkedIn is to connect with past and present co-workers, colleagues, tutors, mentors, clients etc. to grow your network. Those you are connected to directly will be 1st degree connections, their connections will become your 2nd degree connections. By broadening your network you will expose yourself to a greater variety of professionals who may have the potential to help you in your career.

A word of warning though. It's important to be aware of LinkedIn terms and conditions in that you should only send connection requests to those individuals you know personally. For example, you might attend a conference or webinar and ask if those you have met there are okay with connecting with you on LinkedIn.

Thirdly, and perhaps most importantly in regards to enriching your career is to identify and join Groups. You can easily search for groups to join by typing in some relevant key words in the search field and selecting Groups as the search criteria. If you are a psychologist for example, you'll find thousands of groups across the globe whose focus are on various aspects of psychology from practitioner mentoring groups to groups that are set up to share ideas on particular psychology related issues.

As well as joining groups, you should make an effort to become actively involved. You can do this by posting discussion topics or participating in discussions that others' have posted in your groups. This is a great way to network and make new connections which will in turn widen your professional network.

There is of course loads more I could say about LinkedIn but I hope this brief overview on how to use LinkedIn effectively has been helpful. Please feel free to comment in the comments section below if you have any questions or thoughts on what I've discussed here.

Lisa LaRue, MCareerDev, BSocSc(Couns&HumServ), DipCareerGuid, RCDP, MAC is a Career Coach and Career Development Consultant at CareerWorx with more than 18 years' experience helping people plan and manage their careers.

Interview Tips for Returning to Work Parents

2014-07-21T15:21:00.001+01:00

Job interviews can be nerve-wracking at the best of times but especially so for parents returning to work. You might feel self conscious about your appearance, unsure of your skills and uncertain about how your interviewers will see you.

The best way to overcome any fear and anxiety is to prepare well. Here’s a step by step guide to getting you ready for your next job interview:

Get the details

Once the date has been set for your job interview, make sure you have all the necessary details to hand including the physical address, interviewers name(s) and contact number in case you are running late or need directions.

Ask about the interview format and the length of time that has been allocated for the interview. The last thing you want is to be worrying about getting back in time to collect your child/children from school or child minder.

Research the company

Before your interview you should learn as much as you can about the company. There are a number of ways to research the company including the company’s website, annual reports, published articles, reports, conference papers and marketing materials. You can also research a company via a simple search online and via professional networking sites like LinkedIn, or social networks like Facebook and Google+.

Research the interviewers

It’s important to understand who will be interviewing you and what role they play in the company. Getting to know your interviewers before the interview will help you understand what they will be looking for in a new team member. Learn about your interviewers’ roles, responsibilities, skills and experience via the company’s website or view their public profiles on professional networking sites like LinkedIn.

Arrange childcare

It’s a good idea to arrange childcare well in advance and to have a backup option in the event of any last minute changes in availability. Be sure to arrange for childcare for a little longer than the time you anticipate in case the interview goes over time or you experience any travel delays.

Dress for success

Make sure you have a suitable outfit to wear to your job interview that makes you feel the part. If necessary, buy a new outfit or if you are struggling financially contact Dress for Success, a charity that helps women on low incomes get back to work.

To help give you a boost, why not treat yourself to a mini makeover? Freshen up your look with a new hairdo and have your nails professionally done to make you feel your very best. Dads, book yourself in with the local barber to ensure you look neat and tidy.

Do a trial run

If you have the time, do a trial run to see how long it will take you to arrive at the interview venue and to determine which mode of transport is best. Depending on where your interview will take place, you might have a number of transport options available to you. Select the most reliable, stress free option you can so you can arrive at your interview in a good frame of mind.

Hone your interview skills

It is crucial that you set aside some time to brush up on your interview skills. Develop some practice questions you think might be asked during the interview and, if possible, have someone role-play asking you the questions. Alternatively you can hire an interview coach who will put you through your paces and provide feedback on how to answer questions effectively. For more advice on preparing for a job interview read How To Prepare For A Job Interview

Do’s and Dont’s for returning to work parents

Do prepare as well as you can, there’s no such thing as being over-prepared!
Do be confident in your ability to fulfil the role you are being interviewed for
Don’t voluntarily discuss your children or family circumstances during the interview unless specifically asked
Don’t feel intimidated if questioned about your family life, remain calm and steer the conversation back to your ability to do the job
Don’t let nerves get the better of you. If you do start to feel nervous, take a moment to breathe and refocus.

Good luck!

How To Create A Fantastic Elevator Pitch To Land Your Next Job

2014-02-18T14:21:00.000+00:00

Do you have an elevator pitch ready for when the opportunity arises?

What is an elevator pitch?

The term elevator pitch evolved as a way to describe a 30 second spiel about who you are, what you have to offer and why someone should hire you. The premise is that if you were ever lucky enough to share a 30 second elevator ride with someone with the potential to hire you, you could confidently describe why they should.

How do I create a good elevator pitch?

By far the easiest and most effective way to create your own elevator pitch is to first identify your unique selling points. Try brainstorming on a sheet of paper or digitally if you prefer. Identify all those things that describe your skills, abilities, experience, interests, passions etc.

Think about your accomplishments and include these in your pitch to really make you stand out. Have you managed to boost sales, increase revenue, improve systems or win awards?

For example:

"Since graduating with a MSc Financial Economics from Oxford University I've been with 'company name' for the past 5 years in their corporate banking department. During that time I’ve managed to increase our client base by over 70%. I’m now looking to join a firm such as yours to broaden my experience and take my career to the next level."

How do I use my elevator pitch?

You can use your elevator pitch whenever the opportunity arises. This could include during formal or information job interviews, at networking events or of course if you ever find yourself sharing a lift with a key decision maker of an organisation you want to work for!

The trick to a successful elevator pitch is being able to express it in a natural, unrehearsed way. This is easier said than done but with some practice it can be done. Try giving your elevator pitch to a friend or family member and ask them for feedback on how you come across.

The right tone and pitch of your voice along with a good pace will all go a long way to making your elevator pitch memorable. By slowing down and not rushing you will find that the words gain more impact rather than rushing to blurt out a parroted few sentences that are easily forgotten. Be sure to display confidence and enthusiasm rather than rushed desperation.

Depending on the context in which you are delivering your elevator pitch, you could include an invitation for further action such as:

Could I make a time with you to talk about what I have to offer 'company name'?
Do you think there might be a role for me at 'company name' now or in the near future?
Are you aware of any opportunities at 'company name' at the moment?
Would it be worth me emailing you a copy of my CV in case something comes up that might suit my skills and experience at 'company name'?

Handling questions in response to your elevator pitch

You should be ready to answer questions on the back of your elevator pitch. The reality is you are not likely not to be in an actual elevator, and it’s unlikely you will have just 30 seconds to communicate with the person you are pitching to. Some of the questions you might find being asked in response to the above example elevator pitch could include:

What do you see as the next level for your career?
Why do you want to leave your current company?
What are your long term career goals?
Why do you want to work for us?
What do you think you can offer us that someone else can’t?

So the next time you have the chance to market yourself to an employer or other key person who could help you land your next job, don't forget to use your elevator pitch.

Do you have any questions about creating or using your elevator pitch? Feel free to leave your comments below and one of our team will be sure to answer you.

Lisa LaRue, MCareerDev, BSocSc(Couns&HumServ), DipCareerGuid, RCDP, MAC is a Career Coach and Career Development Consultant at CareerWorx with more than 18 years' experience helping people plan and manage their careers.

10 Things To Leave Out of Your CV

2014-01-28T20:28:00.000+00:00

1. Age or date of birth

There is no need to include your age or date of birth in your CV since age discrimination legislation dictates that employers cannot discriminate based on a person’s age.

2. Meaningless career objective

One of the things that annoy employers and recruiters the most is meaningless career objective statements. You know the ones: ‘A hard-working individual looking to join a progressive organisation where I can further develop my skills’.

3. Unprofessional email address

Be sure to use a professional email address such as your.name@gmail.com rather than crazysexymomma@gmail.com which screams a lack of maturity and professionalism.

4. Lies or misleading information

Avoid embellishing your CV with untruths or little white lies. Not only is it fraudulent, but your dishonesty will inevitably be found out at some stage of the recruitment process or worse, on the job.

5. Colourful and fancy fonts

A CV is not the place to show off your desktop publishing skills unless you are applying for a graphic designer or similar role. Even then, it can be better to stick with a standard, professional layout and direct the reader to an on-line portfolio where they can see your work.

6. Typos and poor grammar

There is no place for typographic or grammatical errors in a CV. It’s very easy to skip over errors when you’ve spent hours developing and refining your CV. Make sure you read, re-read and then have at least another fresh set of eyes proof-read your CV before you send it off.

7. Irrelevant, outdated information

As a general rule, the content of your CV should only include the most relevant and up-to-date skills and experience. If your work history is lengthy, try trimming it down to the past 10-15 years. You can always make a statement about your earlier experience at the end of your Employment History section.

8. Names and ages of your children

Details of your family members should be left out of your CV especially the names and ages of your children. Keep the content of your CV focussed on your professional life.

9. Photographs

In some countries photographs are acceptable and even expected. In the UK and most other English speaking countries, photographs are not required unless you are applying for a role where appearance is a determining factor e.g. modelling, acting

10. Religious or political affiliations

It is unnecessary to include your religious or political affiliations in your CV unless divulging this information would be a distinct advantage i.e. if you are a practising Catholic applying for a role as a Teacher at a Catholic school.

Anything we've missed? Feel free to comment in the comments section below.

Lisa LaRue, MCareerDev, BSocSc(Couns&HumServ), DipCareerGuid, RCDP, MAC is a Career Coach and Career Development Consultant at CareerWorx with more than 18 years' experience helping people plan and manage their careers.

Is Your Job Affecting Your Physical or Mental Health?

2013-12-06T15:19:00.000+00:00

If your job is affecting your health it might be time to move on

When your job begins to impact on your physical or mental health it could be a sign that it’s time to reassess your career. Some people report feeling physically sick at the thought of going into work, feeling unwell the whole time they were at work or suffering from a range of other symptoms of stress, depression or anxiety.

They reasons they attribute it to their jobs is that once away from their work environment, the symptoms either diminish or disappear altogether. Whatever the cause for your decline in physical or mental health, it’s something you shouldn’t ignore. The first step should always be to contact your GP.

Once you have the all clear from your GP, it’s worth taking a look at the reasons why you feel your physical or mental health is being impacted by your work. There are any number of factors that could contribute to a decline in physical or mental health at work including:

Stress: Long hours, excessive workload, unrealistic targets, bullying, volatile work relationships, irate customers, unachievable objectives, lack of knowledge or skills to complete work tasks, insufficient or no supervision (ie. in caring professions)

Work environment: Poor air quality, bad ergonomics, insufficient lighting, temperature intolerance (too hot or too cold), noise/sound pollution, radiation pollution

You need to determine if it is the work environment, the job itself or other factors.

Jenny* came to me with a desire to find a new career that would be less stressful as her current job that she had been in for the past eight years. After some intense career counselling sessions, we made some interesting discoveries.

Prior to the company merger the year before, Jenny had been very happy in her job and had received numerous accolades. She had even won three awards, two promotions and had plans to advance even further in her career before the merger took place.

Although we did explore other career options, time and time again through the work we did together, everything kept pointing back to the job she was already doing. Jenny came to realise that she did still love her current career and became less committed to moving on to something else.

It turned out that Jenny’s new boss and a number of newly arrived co-workers were the reason behind her feeling miserable at work. Jenny decided it was a new job she needed not a whole new career. Once we identified the key ingredients needed in her next job, Jenny managed to find her ideal role where she gained a renewed sense of vigour for her career and life.

Have you or someone you know experienced poor physical or mental health as result of work? Tell us in the comments below. You can comment anonymously.

*Not her real name, case study has been used with permission.

Lisa LaRue, MCareerDev, BSocSc(Couns&HumServ), DipCareerGuid, RCDP, MAC is a Career Coach and Career Development Consultant at CareerWorx with more than 18 years' experience helping people plan and manage their careers.

Three Tips to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough

2013-09-10T16:00:00.000+01:00

This month we're pleased to have Dr Mariette Jansen (aka Dr De-Stress) guest blogging for us and providing her top three tips for keeping going when job searching gets tough.

‘Albert finished university. He had good grades, loved his field of work and knew he would be a great asset to any company. He rewarded himself with a holiday after his finals and was happy and energised to begin job hunting.

Six months later all that happiness and energy was gone. Albert had received 76 rejections and had been invited for just one interview which he was unable to attend as he was struck down with a nasty stomach bug. He felt desperate, a failure and started to show signs of serious depression.’

Finding a job in a tough economic climate is a job in itself - a tough job. It can take so much of your time and zap your energy without the rewards that a ‘real’ job offers. It’s not uncommon for job seekers to respond in similar ways to Albert.

What can you do to keep going?

1. Be realistic. When you look at your goal realise it is a process. In order to hit that target, you have to shoot regularly. You are likely to miss several times, but every shot is training you to be where you want to be. Don’t expect your first few efforts to be successful. Which young football player, who was invited into a higher team, scored the winning goal at his first appearance? Treat every application with fresh energy, as if it is your first.

2. Understand the statistics. There are no clear statistics on job finding. Some people look for a year, applying for hundreds of jobs, others are successful sooner. Did you know that in network marketing the average percentage of sales is just 3%? This means that in order to score three hits, a marketer needs to score 97 no’s. Even if his first three attempts are successful, they are likely to be followed by 97 no’s before he will hit the next one. If you look at an unsuccessful application in terms of these statistics, you can rest assured you are getting closer with every rejection.

3. Consider your frame of mind. If you believe in yourself, it will shine through. Eventually light always conquers the darkness. It is just a matter of keeping going. Don’t make your self-belief dependent on a job, but find other ways of fuelling your self-esteem, by setting goals that only you can control, such as running a marathon, or setting up a charity. With all positive achievements in other areas, you make your professional light shine brighter and some lucky employer will notice you.

Dr Mariette Jansen is a life coach and mindfulness practitioner at www.stressfreecoaching.co.uk. She can be contacted by email at mariette.jansen.coaching@gmail.com

5 Simple Ways to Optimize Your CV

2013-07-01T15:09:00.001+01:00

1. Layout

Rather than try and fill every inch of the page, allow some white space so the reader can comfortably read your CV. Adjust the spacing of your document where necessary to make sections easier to identify and read.

Make sure you set your margins wide enough to allow space around the borders of the page and if including a footer, be sure there is enough space between it and the body of your CV.

2. Title

If you have significant skills and experience, a good way for you to stand out from the crowd is to insert a title near the top of your CV. For example, you could include a title like: Experienced Management Accountant to instantly brand yourself as such.

3. Keywords

One of the biggest mistakes people make is neglecting to include relevant key words in their CV. Key words are those commonly used words you’ll find in the job advertisement and person specification document.

Recruiters and employers frequently scan CVs for key words and if the right words don’t appear in your CV, you are likely to be passed over for someone who’s taken the time to include them. Keywords should be included throughout your CV, in your skills summary and role descriptions.

4. Skills Summary

A skills summary or overview section is a must and provides the perfect opportunity for you to highlight those key skills you have that match the role you are applying for. Look carefully at the requirements for the role and be sure to include those you have in your key skills section.

Your skills summary can include both hard skills and soft skills required for the types of roles you are applying for. Hard skills are those practical, professional or technical skills you possess such as computer skills for example. Soft skills include any interpersonal or people skills you have including communication skills, conflict resolution, team building, creative and strategic thinking and influencing skills.

5. Professional Development

Many job seekers forget to include professional development activities in their CV. If you have attended any relevant workshops, training programmes or seminars in the past 5-10 years it’s a good idea to include them in your CV. This demonstrates you've been keeping your knowledge and skills up to date.

Five Ways To Overcome Job Interview Nerves

2013-06-21T13:20:00.000+01:00

You’ve landed the interview, done your research, practised answering potential interview questions and now the big moment has arrived. Here’s five practical ways you can overcome job interview nerves:

1. Visualise

In the days leading up to and right before the job interview, visualise your interview unfolding beautifully. See yourself answering the interview questions eloquently and with confidence. Imagine your interviewer’s smiling faces, their satisfaction with your brilliant responses and generally how well things are going. It might sound very alternative, but many highly successful executives and elite athletes frequently use and recommend visualisation techniques to achieve goals.

2. Breathe

If you suffer from pre-interview stress and anxiety it’s likely you will benefit from controlled breathing technique to help calm your nerves. You've probably heard of the ‘fight-or-flight’ response which happens when we perceive we are in danger. Stress and anxiety responses often result in shallow and/or accelerated breathing, clenched teeth, tightened muscles including those in the chest and throat. Other signs are sweaty palms and increased perspiration.

By adopting a controlled breathing technique you can address the symptoms and normalise your heart rate, relax your muscles and reduce tension. You might find a controlled breathing technique useful. Try breathing deeply for a count of seven and holding it as long as it feels comfortable before breathing out for a count of eleven. Repeat this until you feel your anxiety level drop and you’ve developed a sense of calm or until your interviewer emerges to show you to the interview room!

3. Fake it

One way of helping yourself to feel confident and calm is to use the ‘fake it until you make it’ approach. By this we mean use your body language to portray how you want to feel. If it’s confident and professional you want to feel, adopt confident body language by standing tall, head held high, put on a warm smile and generally take on an air of feeling calm and in control. The idea is that your external body language will affect how you feel on the inside. You’ll begin to feel a sense of confidence, professionalism and calm.

4. Don’t rush

One of the biggest mistakes we make during job interviews is feeling that we need to launch immediately into a response as soon as a question has been asked. Wrong. It’s much better to listen carefully to the question and take a moment to contemplate and construct an appropriate response. If this is a particular problem for you, you’re likely to find it a challenge at first as those couple of moments will undoubtedly feel like minutes but with practice it will become second nature.

If you’re unsure of the question that has been asked, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification or for the question to be repeated. I’m often asked if it’s okay to take a notepad and pen in with you to an interview. If this is something that will help you then by all means do so but be careful not to spend the entire interview taking copious notes.

5. Positive self-talk

Remind yourself that you have the necessary skills, strengths and experience to perform the role you are being interviewed for. The interviewers already believe it otherwise they wouldn’t be wasting their time interviewing you! Be clear about what you have to offer in terms of knowledge, skills, experience and attitude, and don’t allow that pesky negative voice take over. You CAN do the job and you ARE the right person for the role.

If you have any questions or comments feel free to post in the comments section below. I'd love to hear from you!

Lisa LaRue, MCareerDev, BSocSc(Couns), DipCareerGuid, RCDP, MAC is a Career Coach and Career Development Consultant at CareerWorx with more than 18 years' experience helping people plan and manage their careers.

Accessing the Hidden Job Market

2013-05-27T19:47:00.002+01:00

You’ve probably heard that around 80% of the jobs that are filled at any given time have been filled via the hidden job market.

So what exactly is the hidden job market?

As you will notice from the following graphic, the hidden job market is simply those jobs that are not advertised.

There was a time when the majority of available jobs were advertised through newspaper employment classifieds, employment centre job boards and via recruitment agencies. In recent years however, there’s been a move away from these methods for a number of reasons including:

a desire to reduce recruitment costs
a tighter job market and
technological advances

Many employers find they no longer need to advertise for new staff as they are continually inundated with prospective employees using the direct approach. Most direct approaches are received by email making it easier than ever to quickly vet and recruit candidates.

Personal referrals by existing staff has also grown in popularity with many companies now paying referral or finder’s fees to staff members who successfully refer a suitable candidate for a role. This method is not only cost effective but time effective too in that referrals save the employer time in vetting candidates.

Networking

One of the most common ways to find a job is through networking activities. By growing and maintaining a good network, you increase your chances of finding your next role.

Here’s a list of common networking activities you could try:

Join and participate in chamber of commerce groups, industry associations and other business networks

Attend industry events such as conferences and trade fairs

Join and participate in online professional networking sites such as LinkedIn

Attend industry training courses, workshops and seminars

Attend job fairs and recruitment drive events

By connecting and communicating with people you can develop professional relationships with the potential to open doors to job opportunities. Once you’ve made contact with someone be sure to get their business card and keep in touch. A follow up email or phone call after your initial connection is a good way to grow the relationship.

Active participation in professional networking sites such as LinkedIn can help put you in the spotlight. Be sure your profile is up to date and accurately reflects your skills and experience. When participating in conversations, give relevant, considered responses to maintain credibility. Seek recommendations from past and present colleagues to further boost your credibility.

There are many books and resources to help guide you in developing your network skills or you might choose to consult a career coach. One book I recommend is “A Foot in the Door: Networking Your Way into the Hidden Job Market” by Katharine Hansen.

Direct Approach

Contacting potential employers directly can be a good move particularly after becoming aware of an organisation's expansion or new project. The first step before approaching potential employers is to spend some time researching them.

It’s a good idea to learn about the company, including the products and/or services they offer, current staffing, the history of the company and plans for the future. Much of this research can be done online via the company’s own website and through some strategic search engine searches.

Your research will also enable you to effectively tailor your cover letter using the right terminology relevant for the position you are putting yourself forward for. Although sending a letter or email is typical, you can also telephone or visit a potential employer in person. The approach you choose will depend on the company, geographical location and the position being sought.

Whichever approach you take to accessing the hidden job market, it’s recommended you keep a detailed log of your activities so you can monitor your progress. It’s a good idea to keep a spreadsheet or notepad with contact details including a schedule for following through.

Don’t be daunted by the hidden job market. Instead, view it as an exciting challenge – one you are ready and willing to take on. Once you get started you’ll find not nearly as scary as you thought.

If you have any questions or comments feel free to post in the comments section below. I'd love to hear from you!

Jobs In The Victorian Era: A to Z

2013-05-24T21:09:00.000+01:00

One can’t help but be fascinated by the occupations that existed in the Victorian era many of which bear little resemblance to the career options of today.

In 1876, renowned British photographer John Thompson recorded hundreds of thousands of captivating images depicting everyday life amidst the dawning of the industrial age.

The Daily Mail describes how Thompson, accompanied by writer Adolphe Smith, trawled the streets of London interviewing and photographing people for Street Life in London magazine. "The pictures, now stored at the Bishopsgate Institute, capture the lives of street beggars, chimney sweeps, street doctors and market sellers among many others."

In geneology, it's common to discover obscure occupations and those from the Victorian era are especially interesting. I thought I’d share with you some favourites courtesy of The 1891 'London Census' Transcription

Ashman - Dustman, or Refuse Collector. Also someone who cleans the ashes from a boiler.

Beadsman - A person employed to pray for his employer, or the inhabitant of an almshouse, poorhouse or hospital

Claker - A magician or astrologer

Dog Whipper - When foxes were hunted for bounty the tail of the fox was nailed to the church door as proof of capture. The Dog Whipper was employed to deal with the dogs which disrupted the church service, attracted by the tails.

Expressman - One who delivered mail

Faker - Photographic assistant who added colour to photographs by hand before colour film was available

Groundsel & Chickweed Seller - A street seller of common weeds, used to feed pet song-birds

Hoggard - A pig drover

Iceman - A seller or deliverer of ice

Jouster - A fish monger, usually a female hawker of fish, travelling from town to town.

Knocker-Up - A person employed to wake up workers in northern mills and factories on early shifts, going from house to house using a long pole to knock on bedroom windows.

Linkerboy or Linkerman - Someone who carried a link or torch to guide people through the streets at night for a small fee, or a general manservant

Marshall - A horse doctor or shoesmith. Alternative definition, a horse servant or groom

Night Soilman - one who emptied cesspits, ashpits and backyard toilets

Oilman -One who sold oil for lamps

Phrenologist - Someone who claimed to be able to assess a person's character based on the bumps on their head

Quister - Someone who bleached things

Rag Cutter - cut up rags into small pieces to be used for making paper etc

Soper - A soap maker

Town Husband - Someone employed by the parish to collect money from the fathers of illegitimate children for their upkeep.

Upright Worker - A chimney sweep

Venator - A huntsman

Wainwright - A builder or repairer of wagons

Xylographer - Someone who used and made wooden blocks used in printing illustrations

Yeoman - A farmer who owns his own land; a freeholder, the next class down from gentry, or an assistant to an official, or a ships officer in charge of stores

Zitherist - A player of a simple, flat many-stringed instrument

Do you have an interesting Victorian era occupation you’d like to share? Tell us in the comments below.

Self-employment: Is it the right choice for you?

2013-05-20T11:30:00.000+01:00

People consider self-employment for a variety of reasons. For some it may be the lure of freedom, the potential to earn more money or a way to do more of what they love. Others might consider self-employment in the face of redundancy or due a lack of employment opportunities.

If you are considering self-employment as an alternative to traditional employment, there are a number of questions to ask yourself:

Am I suited to self-employment?
Do I have a viable business idea?
Do I have the necessary skills?
Do I have the finances to get the business going?
Do I understand what’s involved?
Do I have a business plan?

Although you don’t need to have all of the following skills and attributes to be successful in self-employment, your chances of success are likely to be greater if you:

Have a vision
Are passionate about your business idea
Enjoy challenges
Are comfortable taking risks
Are self-motivated
Are confident and decisive
Have good organisation and coordination skills
Possess good communication skills
Have good networking skills
Can influence others
Enjoy multi-tasking
Are resourceful
Are customer focused and committed to delivering a quality product or service
Willing to take charge of your own professional and self-development

Advantages of self-employment

Being your own boss and having control
Working with people you choose to work with
Flexibility with the ability to set your own working hours
Pursuing your passion and using your skills
Potential to earn more than a waged employee
Personally and professionally rewarding

Disadvantages of self-employment

Income instability
Responsible for the success or failure of the business
Responsible for own taxes, national insurance contributions, pension plan, health insurance etc.
Can be isolating if you work alone
No holiday or sick pay
Can take time and energy to build your brand and reputation
Can involve working more hours than a regular job

It can be helpful to work with an experienced business or career coach to determine if self-employment is right for you. They will prompt you to think about the viability of your business idea, whether you are suited to self-employment and consider the practicalities involved. Once you’ve weighed up the pros and cons and made the decision that’s right for you, you can plan a way forward to achieve your goals.

Visit the CareerWorx website for some helpful self-employment links and resources

Lisa LaRue, MCareerDev, BSocSc(Couns), DipCareerGuid, RCDP, MAC is a Career Coach and Career Development Consultant at CareerWorx with more than 18 years' experience helping people plan and manage their careers. If you would like help deciding if self employment is for you please get in touch to arrange a complimentary 15 minute session where I can learn more about your needs and tell you about how our self-employment coaching services.

Applying For Jobs When You’re Overqualified

2013-03-20T20:29:00.000+00:00

There are a number of reasons people choose to apply for jobs they are overqualified for. It might be they want a job with less stress, less hours or less responsibility. Parents returning to work might prefer to ease themselves back into the workforce, high-flyers who have climbed the corporate ladder might want to take a backseat, or an academic could have a desire to broaden their experience.

Applying for jobs for which you are overqualified can be a challenge since employers might make assumptions about you and your suitability for a role. Some assumptions could include:

your salary expectations will be too high
you won’t stick around, only staying until something better comes along
you will be a threat to others in the organisation with less qualifications, skills and/or experience
you'll want to make unwelcome changes
you will be after their job

Here are some ideas for overcoming these assumptions:

Salary

Be clear about your salary expectations. If you are willing to work for a lot less than you are used to earning, make it clear that you are aware of the salary range and that it suits your requirements.

Demonstrate your interest

Explain why you want the job and how it fits in with your personal and career goals. If it’s less responsibility you’re looking for, communicate this in the personal statement section of your CV, in your cover letter and at the interview.

Show your fit for the role

It's important to tailor your CV for each role you apply for. Demonstrate your fit with the role by focusing on the key skills, personal attributes and other requirements. Are they looking for a minimum 5 years’ experience in similar role? Someone with experience in a particular market? Use a bulleted list to help the reader quickly see you match to the role.

Remove unnecessary information

If you have qualifications you fear make you appear overqualified, consider removing these when applying for lower level roles. Likewise, when describing your previous roles, play down your skills by only including those that match the role.

This is not an easy task since traditional CV writing guidelines encourage you to include as many related qualifications, skills and experience as possible. The best way to decide what to leave out is to ask yourself: "Will including this information hurt my chances of being considered for this role?" If the answer is yes, then leave it out.

Be clear about what you want and be ready to communicate this through your CV, cover letter and at the interview.

Reducing your threat

In addition to adjusting the content of your CV as described above, you should be prepared to alleviate any fears during the interview.

Think about how you will answer questions about your background that will demonstrate your genuine interest in the role and willingness to perform the stated duties. Practice answering questions that may challenge your suitability due to being overqualified.

Whatever your situation, be clear about what you want and how the role you're applying for fits in with your goals.

Lisa LaRue, MCareerDev, BSocSc(Couns), DipCareerGuid, RCDP, MCDI, MAC is a Career Development Consultant and Career Coach at CareerWorx www.careerworx.co.uk.