Becoming a trainer at work

If you have worked in a particular industry for a number of years you may have considered running training courses for other people wishing to get into the industry. You will probably be in a great place to offer training as often hands on experience is perfect when it comes to teaching others. You may need to obtain some sort of qualification to allow you to train others, depending on what role you are going for. Certain industries require you to have a recognised teaching qualification to allow you to train others, this may require you returning to university or college which may mean that you are out of work for a time. This can have a massive impact on your financial situation and should be considered in detail before going forward. Often dropping down in salary is necessary to allow you to go forward.

 Becoming a trainer can not only be a very rewarding job but can also be quite well paid. It is always worth speaking to other trainers in that industry to see what the job role is like and t try and gage if it is for you. Often being able to share your knowledge and experience with others will really give you a high level of job satisfaction.

Are you looking to employ extra staff

Over the last few months, whilst the UK has been in lockdown, many businesses have suffered. Some have had to change the way they do business and others have not been able to trade at all. This may of lead to a certain number of people being laid off as even when they open back up they may not be able to have as many customers in at one time and therefore less staff are needed to cover.

Some businesses have boomed during lockdown, and many of these are ones that sell online. They may actually be looking to recruit extra staff to handle with the increased work load. Some pubs, shops and restaurants may need to employ extra people to enforce social distancing and sanitising.

Taking on additional people to work within your business can be a worry as you will be responsible for paying their wages regardless of the situation your finances are in. If you are a sole trader and want to take on members of staff then it is worth considering your options and ensuring that employing people is the best option for you, as often using a sub contractor will be a less risky option but will still give you the support you need.

How and where to advertising a job vacancy

If you are a business owner and are looking to recruit new members of staff then you need to consider where you are going to advertise the job. It may be that you need to take on someone very quickly in which case you may decide to advertise in as many places as possible. If you are in no rush then you may try advertising on your own website or in a local paper first before venturing out to other avenues.

You may decide that you have not got the time or resources to advertise the job yourself fand outsource it to an agency.  If you are going to use an agency then you will have to expect there to be a cost involved in advertising and managing the whole job application process for you. Often agencies will ask for a fixed fee or a percentage of the salary that you are offering on the job as their commission.

If you are advertising the job yourself then you need to consider where you wish to post your ad. Social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter are a great place to advertise jobs and get your post seen by thousands of people.

Is it time for a change of career?

If you find that you are no longer getting any job satisfaction from your current career choice maybe it is time to consider a change. Teaching is a popular choice for those looking for a more rewarding career and can be a well-paid career choice leading to quite rapid progression if you are willing to take on extra responsibility.

Should you decide that it is a career path that you would like to follow, you will need to have a relevant degree or be working towards one. Primary teachers usually study for a B Ed degree as the course spends more time on developing teaching skills than on subject knowledge whereas if you are considering a career as a secondary teacher a deeper subject knowledge will be necessary so a BA, BSc or even a one-year PGCE degree after obtaining a degree in your chosen subject is preferable.

Whichever age group you wish to teacher during your course you will be given the opportunity to work in schools on teaching practice. This is a good way of testing out if working in a school is for you and to see for yourself the responsibilities involved. This is also a good time to find out as much as possible about the career advantages and disadvantages and to discuss opportunities for progression in this field.

Want to work outdoors – what are your career choices?

If the thought of working in an office environment, a factory or any other job that involves mostly working indoors is not for you, you may be wondering what career choices are open to you and whether there is still the chance to earn a good salary and have the potential for promotion to a more senior role. There is a wealth of career opportunities out there if you want to work mainly outdoors with the most obvious being working as a gardener or for the forestry commission. These jobs are particularly appropriate if you are interested in plants and the environment and can also be combined with teaching groups of enthusiasts about wildlife and ecology.

If you are interested in outdoor pursuits such as climbing or trekking, then a career as an outdoor pursuits’ instructor may be a good choice for you. This role will involve instructing small groups of participants sometimes children, in the skills involved. There are companies that employ instructors to take groups of people to locations abroad where they can experience other cultures whilst completing treks and camping along the way. This is an exciting way to fulfil your desire to work outdoors and also has great career progression potential.

Is a job as a teaching assistant for you?

Have you ever considered working in a school as a teaching assistant as a career choice? For many parents it is an ideal choice when trying to find a job that fits in with family life and for some who are considering a career in teaching it gives an insight into life in a school before you embark on teacher training.

Working as teaching assistant in a primary school is in some ways very different from working in a secondary school. In the primary sector the role involves not only supporting children with their education but also encouraging listening skills and good learning behaviour. You may also be required to help with classroom displays and preparing resources for the teacher to use in lessons.

In a secondary school your main role will be to work alongside children who need extra help and support. This may involve moving from lesson to lesson with a particular child or providing set curriculum support in a class. The latter is particularly useful if you have a strength in a certain subject.

In both primary and secondary schools, you may be asked to cover the class for a short time if the teacher is absent. This is a responsibility that some do not feel able to take on as this is not usually expected from a teaching assistant.

Getting a permanent job in the hospitality trade

Working in the hospitality industry can be a rewarding career as the focus is very much on serving the public in such a way that they feel special. The service that one receives can change a stay in a hotel or a meal in a restaurant from an ordinary experience to a memorable one.

The first thing to find out about is whether there are any relevant qualifications that are needed to undertake this employment. If you are going to be directly handling food, it is good to have a food safety and hygiene certificate. Any training in this area will help you to be successful in job applications as will experience even if was on a voluntary basis.

It is a useful strategy when job hunting to print off copies of your CV and take them around to any hotels, restaurants etc in the area as this enables potential employers to meet you and put a face to a name on a form.

Should you get to interview stage it is essential that you are dressed appropriately and have a neat and clean appearance. Make sure that you are punctual and that you have thought about the business you are hoping to join so that you can talk confidently about the strengths of the business and its values.

Working abroad in the tourist trade

Many of us return from our holidays with the idea that we would like to return to our holiday resort and work in a bar or hotel. The appeal of spending any free time we have lying on the beach or swimming in the sea is enough to send us hurrying to the job advertisements online to find the perfect job.

For some people this can become a reality and can be a rewarding way to earn a living. It may be that some employers will provide accommodation on site for staff and even a discount on meals meaning that your pay can be saved for regular flights home to see family and friends. If this is not the case usually cheap accommodation can be found locally.

Legally you will need to carry out your research to find out whether you need work permits or a visa to work in that particular country.

Although this type of employment may seem quite exciting you must be prepared to put in long hours during busy periods. It is also an advantage although not a strict requirement to speak other languages. However, there is no better way to learn a new language than living in the country and learning it from the locals.

Sticking at a job can pay off

Many times we find ourselves in jobs that we do not enjoy or that we find too challenging, but that does not mean that you should just throw the towel in and give up. If you have been doing the job for a number of years, and something has recently changed such as new management or your job role has changed then you may start to look for something new. But I you have only been in the job for a few months then you really need to give it time and work out what is making you unhappy.

If you have been out of work for a while then you may find that every job you try is too challenging and this may simply be because you are not used to having to get up and go to the same place day in and day out. If you leave a job before 6 months, this does not look great on your CV unless you have a laid reason, and may hinder your chances of future employment.

Try and resolve any conflicts you have a t work before jacking the job in as you may be surprised what changes can be made if you talk to your employer. Often employers are not even aware that there are any issues.

What is the cost to your business to use a recruitment agency?

Did you know that on average it can cost a business around five thousand pounds to fill a vacancy? This can be a lot of money especially if you are looking to fill more than one position at a time.

This cost accounts for advertising, time taken to go through CV’s and carry out interviews etc.

If you advertise a job yourself through your website, on social media or in the local paper for example then you may receive a lot of CV’s. Someone needs to be able to go through these CV’s and check which candidates you may want to invite in for an interview.

Often you have to do more than one round of interviews to find the right candidate and this can all take up a lot of time which in turn costs money. If you decide to use an agency, they can take a lot of the hassle away from you by doing all the advertising for the position, filtering through CV’s that are sent in and then pre assessing people that you wish to attend an interview to find out if they are really suitable.

Agencies will charge a fee for this service but many of them fix the fee meaning no matter how long it takes to find the right candidate you won’t have to pay any more.