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Careers Advice and Information

Choosing your career is never an easy business, but rather than relying on instinct or chance there are steps you can take to identify a rewarding career path.

On this section of the site you will be able to explore your current situation and make informed decisions about your future.

The process of career choice is similar whether you are a young person trying to choose your first career or an adult worker who is considering changing your job.

The first step in the process is to focus on you and consider the following ‘career choice’ factors:

·        Your interests and activities

·        Your skills and abilities

·        Your personality and temperament

·        Your values and what is important to you

·        Your needs

For an older person you will also need to consider any relevant experience you have gained in various jobs.

You can start by thinking about all of these and trying to make a list under each heading.

The information on these pages will help you to make choices about the type of work or career direction you want to plan for.  It will not tell you what to do but hopefully it will give you some practical steps you can take to:

·        Assess yourself and your work interests

·        Find the information you need

·        Analyse your work ideas realistically

·        Look at alternatives and options

·        Take effective action

Which Direction?  - assessing yourself and your work interests

To get started on planning your future direction you need to identify the types of work which are most likely to suit you.  You may:

• Know exactly what you want to do

• Have some ideas but are not too sure

• Have no ideas at all

Whatever your situation, the following ideas may help you to choose a suitable career or to find new directions.

Self Assessment

In order to make choices you need to be well informed about yourself as well as about the opportunities available.  Even if you know what you want to do, assessing yourself will help you to clarify your ideas and to justify these at interview.  It may enable you to approach a new employer or job opportunity with an idea of what you can offer them.

There are many exercises in self assessment which may help you.  A simple method is to list points about your personality, interests and abilities.  You may like to do this with a friend or relative – they may help you to arrive at a more objective assessment.  Ask yourself:

• What are my personal qualities? – e.g. patient, outgoing, methodical, conscientious

• What am I good at? – e.g. organising, figure work, practical activities

• What interests me? – e.g. working with people, creative ideas, technical problems, dealing with information

• What skills do I have? – e.g.  good with words, I.T. skills, problem solving skills

• What specific skills or knowledge do I have? – e.g. good at DIY, able to use a computer, knowledge of the local area, able to cook, drive, etc.

Think of practical evidence – examples of things you have achieved which illustrate the qualities and skills you have.  Use the ‘Action’ sheet at the end of this section to help you with this exercise.

Consider also your weaknesses – things that you are not so good at or that may require improvement.  Are there any skills you would like to develop further or new ones you wish to acquire?  Could you take a course to gain these skills?

Look at your transferable skills – skills that may be useful in more than one type of work situation.

e.g.  You may be a patient, methodical person who is good at organising and communicating.  What is the evidence that you have these qualities?  Think of achievements or activities.  You may have:

·        Organised fund raising activities for a local charity

·        Ran a local youth group

·        Been active on a local committee

This could be relevant in the following work situations:

• Organising things/ events   -   administration, publicity, stores

• Organising people   -   management, personnel functions

• Organising information   -   clerical work, libraries, research, IT

Finding Information - accessing and using information resources

Once you have some idea of your job interests and career direction you should find out as much as possible about what the work involves.

You may need to:

·        Read careers information – written or on line

·        Talk to people involved in similar occupations

·        Get some work experience – paid or voluntary in a related field

Careers Information

There are many sources of careers information which you can access either on line or at a centre.  These include:

www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u

www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice

www.prospects.ac.uk

Connexions Centres:  Many Connexions Centres offer a comprehensive supply of careers information and leaflets for you to read or take away free of charge. 

You could start by looking up jobs which interest you in the following two careers publications:

‘Jobfile 2010/11’ - published by VT Careers Management

‘Careers 2010’ – published by Trotman

Both of these publications contain information on over 750 jobs.

Find out about centres in your local area and log on to some of the websites and spend some time researching occupations.  Make sure you know as much as possible about the jobs or careers you are considering.  Always check that information you read is up to date and relevant to your situation.

People

We all know people who work and who employ people.  These people form part of our personal network.  It is helpful to talk to as many people as possible about what jobs actually involve.  Try talking to:

·        Friends, family or contacts – who may know something about the occupations which interest you.

·        Tutors, teachers or college lecturers – who may teach subjects relating to your work interests.

·        Employers and Human Resources Managers – most larger firms have HR Managers whom you could approach for more information about job opportunities.  Follow up job advertisements – even if you do not wish to apply for a job you can send off for job descriptions or contact the employer about the job requirements.

You may wish to discuss your ideas with a Personal Adviser or (if you are older) with an adviser who is trained in giving careers information, advice and guidance.  If you need help try contacting your local Connexions Centre or a Next Steps Adviser – your local branch of Jobcentre Plus should be able to put you in touch with them.

Talking to people can help you to clarify and expand your ideas as well as to see things more objectively.

Work Experience

Having a qualification is seldom enough in the eyes of employers when considering job applications.  Relevant work experience is always beneficial and, even if in an unrelated field, it can help you to:

• Find out more about yourself and your suitability/unsuitability for certain jobs or careers.

• Develop new skills

• Provide you with a reference

• Provide you with a starting point – experience is an essential requirement for certain careers.

It may be helpful to consider the following:

Part-time work -  You may be fortunate to find part-time work in the field you wish to work in.  However,  do consider other vacancies which appear frequently in local newspapers or on websites.  These may provide useful insights into particular aspects of work even though the job title may at first sight appear of little interest, e.g.

• Retail/Shop work – dealing with the public and providing a service.

• Clerical work – office, administration, use of computers and office equipment

• Care Assistant – caring, nursing, social work

• Building Societies – handling money, finance, accounts.

Unpaid work experience/internships – Find out if you can get some work experience by offering your services free for a day or longer in order to gain some understanding of occupations which interest you.

Voluntary work – Particularly useful if you wish to gain experience in work involving helping people.  Other opportunities do exist,  e.g. organising fund raising activities, working in charity retail outlets, conservation and environmental work.

Broadening your work experience – If you are currently in employment it may be possible to gain experience or to find out more about other fields of work.  Consider:

            -  Taking on extra duties and responsibilities

            -  Applying for promotion, transfer, secondment

            -  Asking about training opportunities, sponsorship, jobs within other

   departments.

It may broaden your future prospects to have gained experience in more than one field of work.

Preparing yourself for your careers interview

• Remember that your interview is all part of the process of career choice

• It may help to have a look at some of the websites and resources already suggested to help you to prepare

• If you have an idea about what you want to do then you could find out more about what a job entails by logging on to the jobs4u website and the prospects website

• You may like to have your CV with you if you have one.

  What will the interview cover?

  The adviser will try to cover your individual needs but is likely to help with:

  • Considering your personal circumstances

  • Exploring your skills and interests

  • Suggesting new career ideas for you

  • Helping you to set goals

  • Guidance on choosing a career, including information on job prospects, specific careers, qualifications needed etc.

  • Advice on how to find a job (CVs, searching for jobs, applications, interviews)

  • Identifying resources to help you further.

  Most advisers follow up the interview with an action plan which summarises the main points of the interview and outlines the next steps for you to take.

Are You Being Realistic? - Analysing your work ideas and considering restrictions

When you have found out more about the career areas which interest you, check whether there are any restrictions which may prevent you from doing certain jobs.  You should consider the following:

Qualification Requirements

Some jobs and careers are very specific about the qualification required for entry.  If you think you have not got the necessary qualifications find out if:

• There is some flexibility – particularly if you are a mature applicant

• You can offer alternative qualifications or experience

• You can obtain the required qualifications

Health and Physique

Some jobs and careers have specific medical fitness requirements and some are very demanding physically.  The following could be a problem and are worth checking:

• Eyesight

• Colour Blindness

• Asthma

• Height

• Physical stamina

• Back problems

If you suffer from any serious medical complaint or have a disability you should seek medical advice or consult the Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) at your local Jobcentre Plus Office.

Practical Considerations

There may be other reasons why your career choice is unrealistic.  Give some thought to any practical considerations which may make it difficult to pursue certain job or careers.  Consider the following:

Geographical           Are you restricted to the area in which you live now?

If so are there any jobs/training opportunities within daily travelling distance?

Childcare                  Do you need childcare facilities, help during holidays,        

flexible working hours?  Does the work demand unsocial hours or working away from home?

Finance                     Will you receive any financial help while training?  What

are the pay scales – will you earn enough money to meet financial commitments?  Will you lose state benefits if you obtain a grant?

Opportunities          What are the opportunities?  Will there be jobs available in your local area?  Check vacancy information and do some research.

Personality               Are you suited to the work and do you have the relevant skills?

Looking at other options and expanding your work ideas

You may have chosen a specific job or have one career idea which offers few opportunities or there may be restrictions which limit your choice.  Therefore, it is advisable to look at alternatives in order to broaden your outlook and range of choices.

Find out more about:  

Levels of entry                                Most careers offer a range of jobs at

different levels.  It may be possible to progress and to move from one level to another.

Qualifications                                  It may not be advisable to concentrate on

gathering educational qualifications without relevant experience.  You could start to work and continue to study for qualifications part-time whilst gaining useful experience.

Job families                                     Jobs can often be classified into ‘job

families’ – a range of jobs requiring similar skills and attributes.  Look at the section on your work interests – consider a range of jobs which may require similar skills.

Job Advertisements                      Check local and national newspapers for job advertisements and keep a file on any that interest you.  You may discover alternatives that you never knew existed.

Interests                                            Refer to your list of interests. Consider any other interests or hobbies which might broaden your ideas or lead to alternatives.

Self Employment

Working for yourself can offer flexibility and the opportunity to work part-time or from home.  It can also involve a lot of hard work, commitment and financial responsibility.  If you are considering self employment you need to spend time researching the market and drawing up a business plan. 

There are a number of organisations which offer business start up advice including Business Link.  They also offer practical help and short courses for people starting a small business.

Your local Jobcentre Plus office will be able to signpost you to what help is available.

Moving Forward - Taking Effective Action

If you have read through the earlier sections you will realise that there is no easy short cut to making career choices.

The earlier you start to plan for the future the better.  You will need to spend time researching and finding out more about:

• Yourself

• Job Opportunities

• Educational and Training Courses

  Your ideas may change as you discover more about the options available.  It is always advisable to seek advice and discuss possibilities with others.

  Here are some practical steps you can take to proceed further:

  Sourcing Vacancies

  Vacancies are a good source of information for finding out about what is required for a particular job.  Look at jobs which interest you and keep a record of what qualifications and experience are being asked for.

  Here are a few job search sites to try:

  www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

  www.alljobsuk.com

  www.monster.co.uk

  www.fish4jobs.co.uk

Applications and CVs

There is no one format for applications and CVs.  It is important to present yourself in the best light for the post you are applying for.  So ask yourself what the employer is looking for; you may need to give priority to some information and leave out less relevant detail.  Refer to the first section on self assessment and draw up a list of your main qualities and skills. 

Remember to:

• Be positive about yourself and any qualifications or past experience you can offer

• Select achievements that illustrate your abilities and suitability for the post

• Be honest about yourself and your achievements

  Many people find writing a CV very difficult and there are many different approaches to CV writing.  You should choose a style and layout that you feel comfortable with.  Have a look at the examples of different CV layouts at the end of this section.

  Try writing a rough draft and then getting help and advice from a friend, colleague or professional adviser.

  Some important rules to follow:

  ·        Try to restrict the length to 2 sides of A4 paper

  ·        Make the layout clear and easy to read

  ·        Choose the right style of CV for the opportunity for which you are applying

  ·        Keep an electronic copy of your CV and update it regularly

  ·        Enclose a short covering letter stating your interest in the company or post advertised and stressing any relevant aspects of your experience.  

  Remember your CV is an important document and may be useful in a range of situations.  Stress your skills and relevant experience and make the most of what you have to offer.

Interviews

Successful interviews are all about good planning.  Interview situations can be very varied and it is advisable to find out as much as possible about the employer and the job requirements before an interview.

·        Consider questions that you might be asked

·        Think of some questions that you might like to ask

·        Have reasons why you think you would be suitable for the job

·        Present yourself well.

It is a good idea to get some interview practice, particularly if you lack confidence or haven’t had an interview for some time.

·        You may know a friend or an employer who could help you to set up a ‘role play’ situation and who would give you some feedback on your performance.

·        Some organisations offer workshops or short courses on preparing for employment which include interview techniques; check with your local Jobcentre Plus office if there is anything available in your area.

·        There are many books and resources available which you could use to help you prepare for an interview.  Here are just two suggestions – there are many others:

‘Winning Interviews for First-time Job Hunters’ by Kathleen Houston - published by Trotman

‘Successful Interview Skills’ by Rebecca Corfield – published by Kogan Page.

If you are unsuccessful at an interview try to find out why.  Most employers are happy to offer constructive feedback.  You may have been very suitable but someone else was slightly better qualified or more experienced on the day.

Do not take failure personally – you may need to re-evaluate your tactics.  Consider whether:

·        You are applying for the right sort of jobs

·        You are aiming for the right level of entry

·        Your application matched the skills the employer was seeking

·        Your CV is good enough and gives the right impression

·        You are presenting yourself well at interview.

Do not let failure get you down and prevent you from trying to explore new opportunities or approaches.  Consider activities where you can succeed and build your confidence or learn new skills:

For example: sport, creative activities, voluntary work, evening classes.

It is always better to be doing something constructive with your time.  This will be reflected in your CV and at interview.

ACTION

Some practical things for you to do:

Find out the best sources of vacancy information for the jobs which interest you.

Check the availability of local courses offering additional practical skills.

Draw up your own CV.

Arrange a practice interview.

With a structured career plan and sound help and advice you can and will achieve your potential.  Good luck and good job hunting!