Getting Britain Back To Work

We have just launched the Getting Britain Back To Work, job search survey. Why? Because we know that however difficult it may appear, there are  job vacancies out there. Maybe not enough, but certainly some. But, because most people only apply for a job a handful of times in their career, they are not very adept at creating and running a job search campaign. The Getting Britain Back To Work survey aims to change all that.

The essence of a successful Job Search is to target the right jobs, and to communicate what you have to offer in the right way. Too many people waste time and opportunity by applying for jobs for which they are over or under qualified, or by failing to sell themselves effectively. If we can help people to improve the quality and focus of their job applications, then as far as the Career Advice Centre is concerned, it is a job well done.

Try our survey now. It should help you to see what you are missing in your job search campaign, and to make adjustments. And it will help us to understand more about what we, as career professionals, need to do help Britain back to you. You will find the survey by following this link.

Is the Big Freeze Freezing Your Job Search?

Cold weather can be paralyzing. It’s not just that we don’t want to go outdoors in the snow and ice. It even stops us from functioning indoors. For most people the cold weather just makes them want to curl up in front of the fire, or go back to bed.

Even when finding a job is an imperative the cold weather slows us down. It’s much easier to put off that difficult phone call, or postpone writing that letter because you are not in the right mood. But however understandable, lethargy doesn’t help your job search.

The Banker’s Story

Chantelle was a successful investment analyst at a leading American bank based in London. It was stressful work, she regularly felt drained and overburdened but it paid well and she had a good lifestyle.

Her bank decided that, due to the new clampdown on bonuses and the 50% higher rate of Income Tax it was going to relocate her department to Singapore. Chantelle did not want to go. Her kids were doing well at school in London, her husband had a good job and her whole life was in the UK.

Moving From A Public To A Private Sector Job

It seems that the government is hoping that many of those being made redundant from the public sector will find new jobs in the private sector. That may be so. But nobody has focused on the problems that public sector employees will face when applying for private sector jobs, particularly if they have never worked for a commercial company before.

The key difference between public and private sector recruitment processes is that the former is much more transparent. Every job is supposed to be advertised and generally the only way to apply is by filling in an application form. The private sector by contrast relies much more on word of mouth techniques, networking accounts for well over half the jobs awarded by commercial companies.

Also of course the cultures are very different. Expectations in a profit-driven environment are very different from those in a service-focused regime. Applications to private sector companies may well need to stress a very different proposition to those directed at public sector bodies.

It would be useful, I think for those being made redundant from the public sector to receive some sort of induction into private sector recruitment processes. It is just one of the many reasons why ex-public sector employees need to be offered a top quality outplacement service.

Its Anti-Bullying Week

It’s anti bullying week. Although the campaign is aimed primary at young people who are being bullied at school, we shouldn’t forget that bullying is a major workplace issue too.

Although there are laws against harassment when the grounds are clearly discriminatory, for example age, sexuality or ethnic origin, there are no laws against bullying. And even if there was, the very nature of bullying is such that many victims would find it difficult to seek legal redress.

The Piano Tuner’s Story

Eric had been a piano tuner. All his life. He loved the work. He had perfect pitch and he loved hearing piano strings resonating in perfect harmony with each other. He thrilled at gently tweaking a slightly off key string to bring it back to absolute perfection. This unique combination of precise hearing and delicate manual dexterity had led him to become the best known and most highly regarded piano tuner in the whole country. Other piano tuners aspired to be like him. None ever got close.