CAREER

 

Are you bored or depressed with your current job? Do you know you could be happy in work but you don’t know what career would suit you? Would you like know how many opportunities are available in the job market?

First their are thousands of careers and jobs available, to find your perfect career you need to match your personality and values to that of a career – what I mean by that is, if you get your energy from being around others and having variety then a career in accounting most likely wouldn’t suit you, would it?

 

CAREER’s

 

To give you an idea of the amount of UK careers available I have recorded just a few for you to browse, but more importantly – at the end of this article you can complete a quick career test to match your personality type to a career choice.

 

Administrator	Ecologist	Massage Therapist	Percussionist
Agronomist	Economist	Mathematician	Photographer
Astronomer	Editor	Mechanical Engineer	Physiotherapist
Auditor	Environmental Scientist	Model	Plastic Surgeon
Archaeologist	Estate Agent	Mountaineer	Police Officers
Architect	Ethnologist	Muralist	Psychiatrist
Astrologer	Ethologist	Musician	Psychologist
Builder	Electrical Engineer	Meteorologist	Public Relations Officer
Car Designer	Entrepreneur	Microbiologist	Physicist
Cardiologist	Farmer	Medical Transcriptionist	Physiologist
Cartoonist	Fashion Designer	News Presenter	Reporter
Chef	Film Producer	Novelist	Sailor/Navy Officers
Chemical Engineer	Forensic Scientist	Nurse	Scientist
Choreographer	Financial Advisor	Numerologist	Screenwriter
Comedian	Flight Instructor	Numismatist	Sculptor
Computer Engineer	Game Designer	Obstetrician	Software Engineer
Computer Programmer	Geophysicist	Ophthalmologist	Stage Designer
Consultant	Graphic Artist	Ornithologist	Surgeon
Correspondent	Guitarist	Orthopedist	Swimmer
Cosmetologist	Gynecologist	Painter/Artist	Singer
Civil Engineer	Genealogist	Paleontologist	Sociologist
Coach	Geologist	Pathologist	Veterinarian
Costume Designer	Hairstylist	Pediatrician	Writer
Cryptographer	Historian	Pedologist	Zoologist
Dancer	Host/Hostess

 

CHOOSING YOUR NEXT CAREER

 

You spend a third of your life in a job, which means you need to find a career you will love; imagine waking up each morning excited about going to work – how would this situation change you life? research has shown that people who enjoy their career are more positive and healthy.

 

To choice a new career you have two choices you can even meet with a CAREERS ADVICER or complete the Career Personality Test Below?

 

PERSONALITY TYPE

 

Today you can learn which career best suits your values and personality, by completing the career personality quiz. We normally charge £9.99 for this test but today you can complete it for FREE and receive a 12 page Personality Profile

WHAT TO DO NEXT? Click this link: PERSONALITY PROFILE – FREE 

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DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

 

Do you remember when you were 10 years old and knowing what you wanted to be when you grew up? As you got older your ideas probably changed – maybe you went to college or university or you started your own business. The question is, if you had your time over would you do anything differently? If not, that’s great! But if so, then read on because what you need to take are the 6.5 career steps to discovering what you want to be when you grow up…

The 6.5 CAREER Steps

C is for Confidence

The number one reason most people never pursue their dreams is a lack of confidence. Therefore this is the first place to start before doing anything else. I’m not saying you can’t do anything until you’re super-confident but I am suggesting you work on your confidence whilst working though the other steps. There are several ways you can do this – read books that will encourage confidence, write down all your successes each week (no matter how small!) or hire a coach to help you! The important thing here is to start – the greater your confidence, the greater your chance of achieving your passion.

A is for Assess

In order to know where you’re going, you need to know where you are. Spend time giving yourself a SWOT analysis – it’s important to identify your strengths and weaknesses as well as acknowledging the opportunities and threats a change of direction will bring. Be brutally honest with yourself and remember this no time for false modesty! Another great exercise is to set a goal for yourself – what exactly do you want; a promotion? A career change? To be self-employed? Don’t go any further until you know what it is you’re looking to achieve and a clear understanding of how well placed you currently are to achieve it.

R is for Research

So now you have a clearer idea of what you want and believe it is achievable. Great! Now comes the research. You’ve identified what you want to do but does it require any specific skills or experience? Is there a particular qualification you need? Can you do it where you currently live or will you have to move? Research doesn’t have to be boring – there are some excellent online resources to help you such as LinkedIn discussion groups, blogs like this one as well as university and library websites. If you really can’t face doing the research yourself, why not use a site like Fiverr or Fivesquids and get someone else to do it for you?!

E is for Education

Education is important and for some careers and jobs, it is necessary to have particular qualifications. However, it is a mistake to view education as an obstacle to be overcome – it’s really just a way of giving people information and knowledge about a subject that they didn’t have before. If the idea of learning puts you off doing what you really want to do, you need to find a different way of learning it! There are plenty of ways of learning from the traditional classroom environment to self-study online. There are also many opportunities to study whilst working full-time, check out part-time, evening and online courses. Recognise education for what it is – it’s to help fill in a knowledge gap and should be fun!

 

E is for Experience

Ironically, those who don’t worry about their education do worry about their experience. This can be partially dealt with by recognising that the only difference between those with experience and those without is time. However, quality is sometimes far more useful than quantity. Which would you choose – an ‘expert’ with 10 years’ experience who produces mediocre results or someone who has been doing it for a year but produces excellent results every time? So if you have little experience under your belt right now, go out and get it! Time will pass regardless. If you’re not sure where to look then volunteering is a fantastic place to start – it allows you to try things without committing your mortgage to it. Check out do-it.org.uk for opportunities in your area.

R is for Reflect

Look back on what you have learned so far. What has been the most useful part of the process? What would you have done differently? Did anything get missed out? Spend time reflecting on each of the previous steps and what worked for you and what didn’t. Keep the bits that did, change the bits that didn’t and refine the model until it is just right for you.

S is for Skill set

It’s important not to become complacent. You see, it’s not enough to complete the 6 steps once and think that’s it. The steps are designed to inform, empower and place you in the best possible position to know exactly what you want and how to go out there and get it. But things change. What is right for you now may not be right for you in 5 years’ time. Therefore it’s important to view these steps as cyclical rather than linear – revisit them constantly, update your skillset and make a commitment to yourself to never stop learning.

If you follow these steps you will be in a strong position to know exactly what you want from your working life and the best way to take the actions that will make it happen. The best bit is that you can change your mind as often as you like because you have the tools, knowledge and belief to know that whatever you decide you can make it happen. Have fun with it – when you were little it was exciting to imagine all the different things you could be when you were grown up. Now you have the chance to make it happen – what could be more exciting than that?!

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How can you climb the career ladder to career success?

 

Traditionally the quick way up the Ladder of Success was to marry the Boss’s daughter or son, nowadays about the only option is to marry the Boss if you can find him or her!

 

Some professions, like Medicine, Justice and Education, have a very clear pattern for successful progress and the reality is that within many professional careers, it will not suffice recruiter expectations just to have passed university courses, as employers are looking to recruit only the top 10% of achievers, which means you need to put the work in, early on in your career.

 

The danger is for career professionals, is that their career may become boring or depressing; Suppose a Solicitor wakes up on their 40^th birthday to find that they cannot face another 25 years doing the same work. The difficulty is that no-one will pay them a fraction of what they earn now to do anything else, unless they re-train and I would add many people do make the positive decision to re-train and have a new successful career.

Before making a career change choice, you need to ask yourself “if I could make a change to my current position, duties, colleagues or managers – would I want to keep my current and improved role?” Many people become stagnant in a role as their not being stretch or challenge if you can negotiate with your manger to make some small changes you will quickly find that forgotten career enthusiasm.

 

For those with a less clear cut idea of their career choice may find themselves working for a range of different employers in different industries (Often referred to as a Job Hopper), hoping that they will ‘fall into a career’ which often happens but only after trying several none successful careers, in many cases wasting precious time.

 

Job Hopping can be productive for people who like variety, options, starting new task, meeting new people, gaining new experiences. If job hopping isn’t for you, you first need to look at what you want in a job; working alone or in a team? A job where you use your creativity or a position where you follow strict procedures? Would you prefer to start and finish one task or a role where you have to balance several task? Once you know what you want in a job you can match this to a new career, starting your climb up the career ladder of success.

 

Working for a number of employers in different industries may not appear to make sense on your CV; the trick is to make your application show that you make a positive contribution wherever you go by recording your achievements on your CV – what can you offer an employer?

 

The key to reaching the top of the career ladder is to first have a passion for your career, choose a career that you really suits your personality and beliefs. Once you know your career choice, you next need to plan your career route through education and/or employment, in each role you need to put everything into the role, act as if you own the company. Learn from your mistakes (we will all make mistakes along the way) and keep a look out for new internal and external opportunities, aim high and don’t be shy! Finally in each role be enthusiastic, friendly and professional.

 

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Charity Fundraiser Job Profile

 

Download this Job Profile as a PDF Charity Fundraiser job Profile

• Job Overview

As a fundraiser, you would be responsible for raising as much money as possible for your charity. It would be your job to think of new and effective ways to generate income and raise awareness of the charity’s work.

In larger charities, you would tend to specialise in one or two of these areas. If you worked for a smaller charity, you might be involved in all kinds of fundraising activities as well as charity management duties.

• Hours

40 hours a week including some weekend and evening work

• Entry Routes

You could come to fundraising with a wide range of backgrounds and experience. Employers will usually be more interested in your skills and commitment to working in the charity sector than in your formal qualifications.

Charities often prefer you to have a track record in fundraising, so previous experience as a volunteer fundraiser would be an advantage. Experience in business, sales, marketing, public relations or events could also be helpful.

It could be useful to have a degree or BTEC HND in business or marketing and communications, but this is not essential if you have the right skills and experience for the job.

 

• Job Duties

 

• media and marketing (creating press, television, radio and poster appeals to attract donors)
• corporate fundraising (arranging company sponsorship or setting up schemes for staff or customers to donate)
• trust and legacy fundraising (persuading companies or individuals to set up trust funds or leave money in their will)
• organising occasions such as charity balls, galas or sporting events
• organising traditional street or door-to-door collections
• direct mailing to ask for donations
• overseeing trading operations such charity shops or mail order sales
• recruiting and managing volunteers
• managing budgets and reporting on fundraising performance to the charity’s trustees and donors
• giving talks and writing press releases
• meeting targets for amount of money raised.

 

• Job Skills and Qualities

 

• creativity and imagination
• excellent written and spoken communication skills
• good presentation skills
• drive and enthusiasm
• the ability to motivate and manage others
• excellent organisational skills
• the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• budget management skills
• commitment to your charity’s cause.

 

• Pay Scales

£24,000-£40,000

• Progression Routes

You could work for national or local charities, political pressure groups or other ‘not-for-profit’ organisations such as hospitals, schools or community groups. Competition for paid work is strong, especially with well-known charities.

With experience, you could move into charity management, although promotion prospects can depend on the charity’s size and finances. Alternatively, you could become a self-employed fundraising consultant.

 

• Useful Website Links

 

• Institute of Fundraising

Park Place
12 Lawn Lane
London
Tel: 020 7840 1000

www.institute-of-fundraising.org.uk

• Directory of Social Change (DSC)

24 Stephenson Way
London
NW1 2DP
Tel: 020 7391 4800

www.dsc.org.uk

• Working For A Charity

NCVO
Regent’s Wharf
8 All Saints Street
London
N1 9RL
Tel: 020 7520 2512

www.wfac.org.uk

• Volunteering England

www.volunteering.org.uk

• Volunteer Development Agency

www.volunteering-ni.org

• Volunteering Wales

www.volunteering-wales.net

• Volunteer Scotland

www.volunteerscotland.org.uk

• Workforce Hub

Tel: 0800 2798 798

• www.ukworkforcehub.org.uk

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Negotiating Your Salary

Over one billion pound is spent on clothes every day in the UK, how much money do you predict is spent on shoes everyday in the UK?

Write down your answer: _________________________________________________

Whatever answer you recorded was influence by my initial statement; over one billion pound is spent on clothes everyday in the UK. If I used a similar question with a different group of people; Over one million pound is spent on clothes every day in the UK, how much money do you predict is spent on shoes everyday in the UK?

The average answer for the million pound question would be different, to the average answer of the billion pound question. When we have no idea about the cost of something, our mind will look at our past experiences and for a comparison, alternatively our mind will just use the information presented, in this case “one billion pound” as a benchmark. As an example, in someone’s mind they may ask themselves:

• ·         One billion pound is spent on clothes, people spend around 70% on clothes and 30% on shoes, amount spent on shoes is X
• ·         One million pound is spent on clothes, people spend around 70% on clothes and 30% on shoes, amount spent on shoes is X (less than the billion pound question)

Why is this important? Because the same psychology is used in negotiating your salary.                                                     

Salary Negotiation

Generally when employees negotiate their salary, the employer will first set down an offer £ xxxxx, the employee will then ask for around 10-20% increase and the employer will counter offer with a 5-10% increase – the deal is then settled, the employee is happy as they got more than the initial offer, the employer is happy as they already knew the end result salary increase (their offer plus 5-10%)

The problem with this common salary negotiation system is the employer sets the initial offer and all you as the employee get is a small increase on that offer.

to learn more about Price Psychology read Priceless – the Hidden Psychology of Value by William Poundstone

 How to get a bigger pay rise

 To get a larger salary YOU need to set the initial offer, £xxxxx. In many cases employers, especially in sale roles will want to negotiate with you, knock your offer down and they will use your offer as the bench mark. By setting a high initial offer (not to high so it is unrealistic) the employers counter offer will be closer to your offer then a cheaper initial offer. As an example:

• ·         I’m worth £45,000, the employer may offer £40,000
• ·         I’m worth £40,000, the employer may offer £38,000

As you can see with the two examples, there is a real difference with the employer’s offers but the reductions are not the same in monetary terms and I would add, by starting with a higher and realistic initial offer will secure you a higher salary. This can make a real difference with multi thousand pound salary negotiations.

 What Career Suits Your Personality? Career Choice                                                                

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This article will help you understand how other successful business people came up with successful and profitable business ideas. To be successful you need to be keen, passionate and able to learn from your mistakes, Richard Branson once said that failing his first business is what made him successful.

Business Ideas

Business ideas are all around you, many inventors and business people originally came up with a product, service or idea due to their own need and then later turn this idea into a profitable business.  Business Start Up books are also a great way to gain some cheap expert advice.

• The World Wide Web (WWW.) was originally created for scientist studying high energy physics around the world to share information more efficiently.

Many people see “something” is missing or notice how one product or service can be improved, turning this business idea into profit.

• In 1907, while working in a department store as a janitor, James Spangler thought that his carpet sweeper caused his cough. He decided to improve that way he clean carpets and tinker with an old fan motor, broom handle, pillow case and soap box creating the first Hoover which he later patented in 1908.

Other successful business people sell other peoples products and make millions without having to spend money on materials, initially.

• The Amazon affiliate programme made Amazon successful as well as many internet marketers, selling Amazon products on their website and on Google Ad-words.

Life Coaching can help you prepare yourself for self employment and achieving your business goals.

Do what you love to do

As with any job, career and business, you need to do what you love to do! By doing what you love, you will bring passion, creativity, knowledge and persistence to your business. Businesses don’t happen over night, they take time and hard work, if you do not love your business idea you will soon stop working towards it and in many cases this will cost you a lot of money.

Hobbies

One of ways to have a successful business is by creating a business from something you love to do. You can do this by looking at your hobbies. What are you really good at? DIY, creative Christmas card designs? Writing stories? Many successful business people often turn there hobby into a business, Peter Jones started a Tennis Coaching business from his passion of tennis.

Remember you may enjoy your hobby because it is a hobby, would you enjoy your hobby if you had deadlines to meet? Would you still be passionate about your hobby, if you had to work on your hobby everyday?

A good way to start a “Hobby” business is to keep your full time job and work on your business part time, this way you will know if your hobby is losing it’s passion.

Turning the Old into the New

New business ideas are often few and far between. Many businesses take one idea and improve it. Take the mobile phone, first this was a portable way of communicating with others. You can now read e-books, add events to your diary, take photos and videos the list go’s on and on.

A mechanic decided to take the garage to the customer, by using a transit van fitted with all the tools and equipment needed to fix cars and carry out MOT’s

Chefs do this all the time; they take an old recipe and add a new twist. Once they add a new name to the recipe they open doors and wit for the customers.

What idea can you improve? What product or service do you use that can be improved?

Offer a Service

A great way to make a successful business is to offer a service to your customers. More people prefer others to carry out everyday jobs and high profits can be made offering a service. Recently we have seen an increase in Hand Car washes, many started by offering a car wash for around £2-£3 and now many of these businesses have evolved into a valet service charging around £30-£40 a valet.

Franchises

If your business minded and know you can be successful and know your not type of person to come up with new ideas and new ways to better existing products, you can buy a franchise.

A franchise helps you build your own business with (in many cases) an already established brand. Don’t fall into the trap of “if I buy a franchise I will be successful”, the franchise is still a business that you need to manage and make profitable.

To minimise your risk understand what you will get for your money and like with any other business write a business plan that is realistic and achievable.

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As you will already be aware with the cut in public spending, large contract holders such as Connexions (the largest career advisor recruiter in the UK) have slowed down their recruitment policy.

 New All-Age Career Service                                                                                   

This has lead to high competition for career advisor jobs in both public and the private sector. With schools, colleges and universities able to fund their own career advisors and the new government announcing the new all-age career service jobs are still available even with the public spending cuts and I would add competition is high especially for newly qualified careers advisors.

 Competition for Jobs

Fierce competition means that you need to understand what career companies are looking for in terms of skills and knowledge and how you can evidence that you possess these on your CV and how you can back this up with stories during a careers job interview.

As a career advice company with a background in careers advice in both the private and public sector, employment king understand what employers are looking and how your Career Advisor CV will pass the application process.

For newly trained careers advisors, I would highly recommend practicing your skills as a volunteer, there are many volunteering opportunities throughout the UK.

Career advisor interviews are often long processes with questions directed on your skills and experiences and a second section on your values, beliefs and personality. As a career advisor you will already understand the importance of self development and how meeting a professional careers advisor to discuss interview techniques will give you the upper hand.

To be offered a career advisor job in these testing times, you need to understand the job role, the contract you are applying for (as these vary massively throughout the company) and the skills needed for the job role.

Once you understand the employers requirements you can evidence you have what they require on your CV, Application form and during the Job Interview.

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