Category: Job search ideas

When we think about apprenticeships many will be surprised to learn they aren’t just for the young but are available for older workers too.

In 2014/15 over 55,700 of those starting an apprenticeship were aged 45 to 59. A further 3,400 were aged over 60.

Lucille Galloway, 51, a Community Banker at the Barclays Ealing Broadway Branch, shares her experience of being an older apprentice:

“Taking on an apprenticeship role at Barclays has been an amazing, life changing experience.

It has really given me a new lease of life and has opened my eyes to the possibilities of what is out there. I’ve learnt so much and feel like I’m continuing to gain new skills every day.

Before I joined Barclays, I’d held a variety of job roles, such as a learning support assistant, a housekeeper and a carer, but had been out of work for two years.

Taking on an apprenticeship has completely changed my view of them and I often find myself re-educating people on what they’re all about!

I’d definitely recommend anyone who has the opportunity to take up an apprenticeship to go for it, particularly someone of my age who may be struggling to get back into a career or who is looking for a new challenge. It will be one of the best things they’ve ever done.”

Find out more about Apprenticeships and the support available from the government for older workers.

 

Ever thought that agency work isn’t for you? Think again. You might be surprised by the range of jobs they have on offer. Here are 5 common myths about recruitment agencies:

MYTH: It’s better to apply for jobs direct.
REALITY: Recruitment agencies often advertise the same jobs as direct employers, on the same contract and the same wages. Starting with an agency can often be a stepping stone into a permanent job.

MYTH: Temporary staff are treated differently to permanent staff.
REALITY: Recruitment agencies work hard to make sure that temporary workers are treated the same as permanent staff.

MYTH: Agency workers don’t have the same rights as permanent staff.
REALITY: Agency workers have many of the same rights as permanent staff including the right to 28 days’ paid holiday a year (including bank holidays).

MYTH: They won’t consider me because I’ve got no experience.
REALITY: Experience is not always necessary as many agencies offer training. They look for people who are willing to learn and apply themselves.

MYTH: Agency work is always short term with no guarantee of hours.
REALITY: Yes, agency work can be flexible but they are often able to transfer people to permanent contracts and fixed work patterns.

If you can, choose an agency that is a member of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation. They’re covered by a code of practice that ensures high standards.

The internet and online job hunting has transformed the way we look for jobs, making our searches quicker, easier and often a lot wider.

National Careers Service have some great advice.

 

Kerensa is a Jobcentre Plus work coach. Her top tip is to be jobsmart by not limiting your job search to one sector or role. You are likely to have a whole set of valuable skills that you can take with you from one job to another.

For instance, if you’ve waited on tables in a restaurant you could be equally at home using your customer service skills on a retail shop floor.

Transferable skills are the range of skills that help to make you stand out with other employers, helping you move and adapt from one role to another. They tend to be general skills that that you develop not just in work but in your life outside as well, whether through hobbies, voluntary work or playing sport. The three that often top the employer wish list are outlined below but there are many more:

People skills. These are the skills you use to relate to, inspire, motivate and get along with others. They include the ability to listen to others, delegate, co-operate and work as a team and are highly valued by most employers

Communication skills. If you write well, can explain, persuade or present to others you already have a sought after skill.

Organisational skills. These are the skills you use to sort, arrange and plan tasks. They include prioritising, multitasking, managing resources and meeting deadlines.

When you apply for a job, start by making a list of all the skills you have and explain how you have used them in your CV or job application. You might just find a new career is closer than you think.

 

If you’re on the look-out for a new job opportunity, the Information Technology (IT) industry could offer more than you realise. Here’s some popular myths about the IT industry, busted!

“IT is male-dominated, geeky and complex”

• Women account for only 17% of IT & Telecoms professionals but the Girls and IT initiative from the E-Skills Sector Skills Council aims to make a difference to both the gender mix and the industry image.

“You have to live in London to get into the sector”

• It’s true that London and the South East have more jobs than other regions but the total is less than half of all UK jobs.

“There aren’t any jobs in IT”

• Employment in the IT & Telecoms professional occupations will grow at 2.19% per annum – nearly five times faster than the UK average.
• The UK needs 21,000 new recruits to the IT sector each year from education.
• Volumes of IT/ Telecomms vacancies have risen in each of the last four quarters.

“Everything is going to India”

• Not true. See above.

 

If you’re on the look-out for a new job opportunity, the logistics industry could offer more than you realise. Here’s some popular myths about the logistics industry, busted!

“Wages are really poor….”

Many jobs do have low entry wages but there is usually potential for earnings to rise significantly. The average wage for a warehouse operative and van driver is over £17,000 and the average for postal workers is in excess of £20,000. (Source Annual Hours Survey 2009).

“It’s a dead-end industry…”

Most employers are upskilling their workforce. 62% of logistics employers provided training in the previous 12 months, covering 42% of the total workforce.

Rich potential for career progression because

• Almost one in five of all staff are managers.
• Over 40% of the workforce is aged 40+ (leading to numerous retirements).
• 170,000 managerial vacancies in logistics predicted by 2017.
• The sector is anticipated to grow by 7% each year from 2011.

“Only men do that…”

Most of the workforce are men. But there are around 400,000 women in logistics, spread right across the industry.

“Hours are too long”

Some, but not all, roles require shift work including evenings, nights and weekends. There are a wide range of working hours and patterns across the industry with over 300,000 staff working part time.

“It’s a dirty industry”

Some jobs are dirty but the majority are clean. Uniformed drivers are commonplace e.g. Wincanton and Eddie Stobart. Image is everything in modern business. Vehicles are expected to be washed regularly and drivers expected to wear a uniform.

Keep your connections open.  You can use LinkedIn or you can meet old friends in the pub — and you’ll soon find that the opportunities come to you before you even have the chance to look for them.

Depending on the industry and sector, anything up to 60% of all job vacancies go unadvertised, and are instead secured with good networking — the old adage of ‘it’s who you know, not what you know’ has never been more true.

While being in the running for an unadvertised job might sound like an impossible Catch-22-style situation — how can you apply for a job that you don’t even know exists? However, there are ways to make sure you’re at the forefront of people’s minds when they are looking to fill a role.

Firstly: make sure everyone you know is aware you’re on the lookout. To stay fresh in people’s minds, you don’t need to be making a Facebook post every day with a PDF of your CV attached, but it doesn’t hurt to let people know of your recent achievements. Just secured an interview with a dream company? A boastful update might be in order. Just completed a charity run with your friends? Don’t forget that sweaty selfie to show off just how organised and committed you can be.

Research companies you want to work for and never be afraid to pick up the phone to them: if they’re looking for someone new, they’ll want someone who is proactive. Find the name of a contact in the company’s HR department, and ask them about any future vacancies or possible openings. Knowing the important names to speak to will get you far.

Finally, never underestimate how helpful those people you don’t see on a day-to-day basis can be. Your mum’s best friend might not be able to blag you a role alongside her as a nurse (unless you’ve had the required years of training, of course), but she might know of administrative jobs going at nearby hospitals; your old supermarket boss might not be useful anymore, but the kids you did the nightshift with one Christmas could well have gone on to bigger and better things.