21/08/2007 by admin.

A new free course starts tomorrow which gives jobseekers advice to help them return to work.

The course is called ‘Jobsearch’ and the programme will focus on the skills needed to impress a potential employer.

It is being delivered by the University of Chester’s Learning and Enterprise Centre (LEC), in conjunction with the city council and Jobcentre Plus.

For more information contact 01244 220404.

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20/08/2007 by admin.

Employers complained today that they face a nightmare dealing with teenagers who leave school unable to read, write and add up properly.

The CBI said many youngsters were dazzling with their computer skills, but more than half of employers are unhappy with 16-year-olds’ basic English and maths skills.

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19/08/2007 by admin.

Look on your quest to find a job as a job in itself. Add structure to your days. Although it is tempting to exploit any free time you may have, don’t spend all your free time shopping or sleeping late. Every weekday that you are off, spend time working towards finding your dream job.

Be clear on what you want to achieve. Write down your plans: Where would you like to work? What time frame do you have to work to? Look at your plan regularly, daily preferably, and keep a record of actions that you have taken towards achieving your goal.

In the words of Tony Robbins:

“One reason so few of us achieve what we truly want is that we never direct our focus; we never concentrate our power. Most people dabble their way through life, never deciding to master anything in particular.”

So get focused and get that job!

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18/08/2007 by admin.

The fact that you’ve been invited to an interview means that your potential employer is already impressed with what you have to say. Now you have to show them that you are as good as your application suggests…

Preparation, preparation, preparation…
Remember that preparation is a key part of the interview process – you only have one chance to make a good impression.

Follow these tips for success:

• Do your research. If you want to sell yourself to a potential employer you need to find out as much information as possible on the area you are targeting. Make sure that you have a clear idea of what the job entails and if possible speak to someone who is already working in that area.

• Make an informal visit prior to the interview. This can make you feel more confident and will impress your potential employer.

• Consider how you might answer certain types of question beforehand. For example if you are asked about being a team player, what evidence do you have to show this? Your answer doesn’t necessarily have to be a work situation – something like participating in team sports would be ideal. Try and think of questions you are likely to be asked and prepare suitable answers.

• Make sure that you are up to date with developments and any recent legislation likely to affect your target area.

• If you haven’t been told what format the interview will take don’t be afraid to ask. Interviews are usually structured to reflect the person specification detailed in the job advert. You should have focused on these in your application form.

• In your answers try and give at least one positive example (more if you can) for the competencies detailed in the job description.

• Prepare two or three questions to ask at the end. Use these to show your eagerness to progress and take on responsibility. These questions are an opportunity to reveal positive aspects of yourself that may not have emerged from the interviewers’ questions.

Remember that the better prepared you are, the more relaxed and confident you will feel and appear.

Practise makes perfect…
If you have to make a presentation ensure that it fits into the allocated time then keep practising until you can speak without prompting, or, if you have to, use small cards that can fit in your palm. Practise not only what you say, but also how you say it.

• Practise in front of a mirror.
• If you can, videotape yourself and ask friends for feedback.
• Practise in front of a group of friends and ask for constructive feedback. Even if they don’t know much about the subject area they can give their opinions on presentation, body language and voice etc.

On the day…
Choose your outfit carefully. It’s important to look smart but also to be comfortable. Don’t forget to take your interview letter, a copy of your application form and CV and a note of any questions you want to ask. Check that you know the exact location of the interview venue and how long it will take to get there. Do a dummy run beforehand if you can.

Think positive…
Try and keep a positive frame of mind and approach the interview with confidence. The interview panel won’t be expecting a word perfect performance so if you do make a mistake just forget it and move on.

At the end you should get the chance to ask the questions that you prepared earlier. Bear in mind that the interview is also an opportunity for you to assess them and make sure that the position you are applying for is right for you.

The end…
Try and end the interview on a positive note. Thank the interviewers and reiterate your enthusiasm for the position. And if they haven’t already said, ask them when they will let you know the outcome.

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17/08/2007 by admin.

As A-level exam results are published, the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has reminded students that starting their own business may be much more rewarding for them than going to University. Read more…

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06/08/2007 by admin.

Job satisfaction amongst teachers has increased dramatically since 1999, with the profession rising from 54th to 11th in a league table of job satisfaction published today.  

 The table, published in the Industrial Relations Journal, ranks 81 occupations defined by the UK Standard Occupational Classification (2000) by how satisfied employees feel in their job. 

It uses the latest information from the Department of Trade & Industry’s Workplace Employment Relations survey of 2004-2005, which polled 22,500 British employees about their work experiences. 

Top of the table are corporate managers and senior officials and hairdressers and beauty therapists come in second place. 

Most of the top ten job satisfaction occupations are management positions. Information and communication technology (ICT) professionals in 66th place have a low job satisfaction ranking despite being paid more than others towards the bottom of the table. 

Journalists and other media professionals are in 50th place. Despite often poor rewards and job security, arts performers and administrators also make the top ten (ranked 10th). 

“Individual job satisfaction is made up of a range of factors including material rewards, such as pay and conditions of employment, and symbolic rewards, such as prestige,” said Professor Michael Rose from the University of Bath who carried out the research, which was funded by the Economic & Social Research Council. 

“It is also influenced by psychological rewards, such as being able to express creativity, and social rewards, such as having a supportive colleague network. 

“There is a high correlation between the position of occupations now and when the last table was produced six to seven years ago. 

“Major changes of position for larger occupations, such as teaching, point to real shifts in job rewards and experiences. 

“The wider public is often given the picture of teaching as an occupation low in material returns and with the attractions of sense of achievement, job quality and social status in decline. 

“These findings suggest that teaching professionals are now close to the top of the UK’s job satisfaction while others, such as ICT, languish near the bottom.” 

Money obviously isn’t everything as despite receiving higher pay - one in ten of the ICT professionals surveyed earned more than £45k - many reported low job satisfaction. Usually earning in excess of £40k has a strong positive effect on job satisfaction. 

“The most important factor in determining the levels of job satisfaction in the survey is the managerial skill in creating a sense of involvement,” said Professor Rose. 

“ICT professionals emerge from the survey less satisfied with involvement, sense of achievement, job security and training provided. 

“Improving job satisfaction across occupations is complex, but could be done. 

“Reducing the deficits that reduce job satisfaction in occupational groups could have benefits for subjective wellbeing - which impacts on health, productivity and social good.” 

Occupations taking a tumble in the table include records clerks, household services, childcare, secretarial services and leisure and travel services. 

“These are all occupations in which women heavily predominate, confirming a long term trend towards lower women’s job satisfaction,” said Professor Rose. 

“Job satisfaction among skilled construction workers, an almost exclusively male group of occupations, also fell sharply in recent years. 

“Financial service managers and retail managers have show huge rises in job satisfaction, with the credit and consumer booms boosting career opportunities and rewards.” 

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01/08/2007 by admin.

 Upset that you didn’t get that promotion? Know you could have done the job better than the person who did get it? Did you apply for it? Did you tell your boss that you were interested? No? Procrastinators dream about what they would like to do but never actually do anything about it. As W.L. Bateman said ‘If you keep on doing what you have always done, you’ll keep on getting what you’ve always got.’

To achieve your ambitions you need to set yourself targets and start on them straight away.

Make a list of what you want to achieve in your working life i.e.: -

• Improve your performance
• Promotion within the next six months
• More family friendly hours
• Part time work
• More money

Make a list of immediate challenges / blocks which could stand in your way and look at ways you can overcome them. What development skills, training, qualifications, experience or further information do you require? For example you might not be very confident when dealing with colleagues, allowing yourself to be easily undermined, so you could look at ways of improving your communication skills.

Send off for the job description and application form if you see an advert for a vacancy that matches the description for your ideal job. Fill it in and see where the gaps are and start looking for ways of filling them in. If you have all the necessary qualifications already – what are you waiting for? – Get it in the post!

The more information that you have on the job you have in mind, the more able you are to make informed decisions about it. Once you have worked out what goals you need to achieve you need to set a time frame for achieving them. Don’t leave it open ended or the goals will remain out of reach.

Decide when you want to achieve your goal by and then break it down into smaller sections of things that you need to do to achieve it. Then try and do something positive, ideally every day, that takes you closer to your target.

Reflect back at the end of each day and write down something new that you have achieved that day. Keep a diary so that you can see yourself getting closer and closer to your goal.

What can you do now to help you achieve your goal?

• Look at ways of gaining more experience in other areas
• If possible start doing occasional bank/agency shifts in your chosen area on days off / in holidays
• Apply for a secondment to study full time or to work in another area
• Attend relevant courses / study days.

You may have an idealistic view of the job you fancy doing. To get a clearer idea ask someone who is already doing the same or a similar job if you can shadow him/her for a day. As well as being able to give useful advice they may also have inside information on any jobs that are going to be available. Also you will have demonstrated you interest and enthusiasm to the people you may be working with in the future.  

Ask for support. Seek other people’s views about your strengths and weaknesses but choose people who will encourage you to reach your goals. Avoid negative people who will hold you back simply because they haven’t got the guts to do it themselves.

If you ask your boss for a transfer or secondment to another area - the worst thing he/she can say is no.

Accept change and help others through it – experience of change will look good on your CV. Many people fear failure, but many also fear success - they are frightened that they are not good enough and are afraid that one day they will be found out and exposed as a fraud. Even the most successful people feel fear sometimes – they just don’t let it hold them back.

Is fear dominating your life, stopping you doing things you really want to do, preventing you getting that promotion or applying for a new position? Most people say that they need to increase their confidence before they can hope to find another job but it actually works the other way around. Confidence comes from competence – if you are able to do something well, you’re confident about it. To do something well you’ve got to practice and that’s how you’ll build confidence.

Change of any kind is a risk and feels uncomfortable – even when the change is for the good. We leave behind the old familiar ways and step onto new ground. But life rewards action, not intentions. Nothing in your life will change until you start doing different things. You will meet new people and new possibilities will become available to you. So get support and get the training you need but above all go for it.

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