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Advice & Resources

/ Workplace

7 time management tips to supercharge your productivity

Whether you are brimming with energy, or have returned to work feeling less than motivated this January, everyone could use a few tips to get more done. 'We all have days when it's hard to get going, but there are some simple things you can do to boost your productivity,' says Mike Gardner, aka The Time Doctor. 1. Make a deadlineProcrastination is the enemy of productivity. Unfortunately, it's easy to put things off when you don't have a deadline - which is why you should impose your own. 'Give yourself a time by which to complete each task, and always aim to end your workday at a specific time and have everything done before then,' suggests Mike.'If a colleague asks you to do something, find out when they need it by. If they say "when you can," push them to give you a deadline or suggest one yourself. 'Tell yourself that you can't have a coffee until you've made that unpleasant phone call or won't break for lunch until you've checked the accounts. This psychological trick can help ...

/ Job Trends

Job opportunities in Chelmsford

Thanks to it is position in the centre of Essex, Chelmsford has been an important hub for trade since Roman times. The county town - which is home to 120,000 people, plus another 50,000 on its fringes - was bumped up to city status in 2012, and it is regarded as the biggest driver of economic growth in the Essex region. City in transitionLike many cities around the UK, Chelmsford has been in a period of transition over the last two decades, with large firms leaving or downsizing their operations, and a shift in economic focus toward the service sector. The biggest employers used to include soft drinks firm Britvic and defence contractor Marconi, along with a host of ancillary businesses supporting them.While defence firms still provide a significant number of jobs in Chelmsford, there has been a second transition in the city – from large employers to small and medium-sized companies, driven by the strong streak of entrepreneurship that Essex is known for.Prime locationWith a journey...

Job opportunities in Bradford

Bradford is one of the biggest cities in the UK and boasts a large and growing economy worth £8.7 billion, the eighth largest in England. Once famous for textile production, the Northern powerhouse remains an important manufacturing centre today, as well as having strengths in financial and professional services, retail, construction and the digital sector.If you're looking for jobs in Bradford, read on to discover some of the main employers and opportunities in our latest city guide.Young and diverse cityHome to more than half a million people, Bradford has a population that is vibrant and diverse. More than 140 languages are spoken across the district and 22.6% of its inhabitants are under the age of 16, making it one of the "youngest" cities in the UK.With competitive house prices and stunning Yorkshire countryside on its doorstep, Bradford has much to offer. A recent survey by Glassdoor named Bradford the eighth-best UK city to work in, rating it highly for hiring opportunities,...

/ Workplace

Six ways being too nice at work can hold you back

The ability to get on well with others is an important soft skill valued by employers. But while being liked can open doors, being "too nice" can actually hold you back. Here are six ways your niceness may be sabotaging your career. 1. You become invisible Being co-operative and working hard is a good way to become a valued part of the team, but there's a difference between fitting in and blending in. 'When you fit into your work team you play your noticeable part. When you blend in, your contribution is as good as invisible - and that means your efforts are not being noticed,' warns Sam Waterfall, career coach and founder of Obvious Candidate.'The workplace is a competitive world: you are competing for the chance to be promoted and earn more responsibility and money. If you want to gain more you have to contribute more, but importantly you have to make sure your contributions are seen and valued. 'If you give everyone else your share of the credit then you're slowing down your pro...

/ Promotions & Raises

6 Strategies for making a successful career change

Trapped in a job that isn't right for you? Ready for a career change, but have no idea what else you could do – or where to start? The career-change experts at Careershifters share their top strategies for success. 1. Stop thinking, start actingSome career changers are lucky enough to have a passion or dream to follow, but if you're not sure what kind of career you want, it can be even harder to make the leap. Richard Alderson, founder of Careershifters, explains: 'When you don't know what else you want to do, it's easy to get stuck in analysis paralysis. Making lists, going round in circles in your head and endlessly searching on Google isn't likely to help.'In these cases, it's best to explore a few different options. Join a class, meet new people, go to conferences or networking events, or shadow someone whose job you find interesting. Stepping into different worlds will spark ideas and, at the very least, help to cross off possibilities rather than leaving them open in your mind...

/ The Right Job

Four top-paying apprenticeships in engineering

More than 2.4 million apprenticeships were started in 2014/2015 – and some of the best paying schemes were in the engineering sector. Engineering apprentices earn £7.03 an hour on average, second only to management apprentices on £9.11 per hour. If you're a school leaver interested in a career in engineering, here are four of the best apprenticeships currently on offer.Network RailThe public body responsible for maintaining and upgrading Britain's rail network offers one of the most sought-after engineering apprenticeships in the UK. And because Network Rail is currently engaged in the largest expansion of the rail network since the 19th century, there should be plenty of work in the years to come.The organisation's Advanced Apprenticeship Scheme sees successful applicants begin their three-year programme with a 20-week stay at Westwood – Network Rail's training centre in the Midlands. This is then followed with work and on-the-job training while based at a depot close to the traine...

/ The Right Job

How to get a career in retail

The UK might have been through some painful belt-tightening in recent years, with many households experiencing a squeeze on disposable incomes, but the retail sector is still one of the powerhouses of the economy. In 2015, retail generated an impressive £339bn worth of sales and kept 2.9 million people in jobs, making it the country's largest private sector employer.While it's true that half of all retail staff work part-time, and almost a third are under the age of 25, there's more to retail than minimum-wage shop work. For those who are bright and hard-working, the sector offers some fantastic career opportunities.If you're considering a career in retail, read on for our guide to the industry and how to get ahead.Apprenticeships in retailOf the 2.9 million people who work in retail, 18% are employed as managers or in other senior positions – which amounts to 522,000 posts – and thanks to apprenticeships and graduate schemes, there are more opportunities than ever to develop a well...

/ Interviews

Getting interviews but no job offers? 7 reasons why it happens

Most job seekers know the frustration of getting a second interview only to be "pipped at the post" by another candidate. Sometimes the other applicant will have more relevant experience than you, but if you find that you're frequently missing out - or rarely get past the first interview stage - there could be something you're doing wrong.Here are seven reasons why you're getting interviews but no job offers. 1. You didn't prepare well enoughSam Waterfall, founder of Obvious Candidateand author of HIRED! The Essential Guide to Interview Success, recommends a minimum of six hours preparation time for any interview. 'Candidates who put in preparation effort are not only better at answering questions, they also experience a noticeable confidence boost which shines through in their performance.'Make sure you research the role and organisation thoroughly. Often, the thing that gives one candidate an edge over another is an air of confidence or professionalism. Knowing about the challenge...

/ How to Search

How to get a job in the recruitment industry

Recruitment is one of the fastest growing employment sectors in the UK – and with more than 8,000 recruitment businesses employing upwards of 100,000 people, there are plenty of opportunities available. In fact, recruitment firms are struggling to acquire talented staff. According to this year's APSCo Deloitte UK Recruitment Index, some 61 per cent of recruitment firms say increasing headcount will be their main challenge in the next 12 months – good news for anyone wanting to enter the industry. 'The recruitment sector is ripe with opportunity and offers the potential for a top salary, international travel and business ownership,' says Ann Swain, Chief Executive of APSCo (Association of Professional Staffing Companies). Routes into the industrySo how do you land a job in recruitment? Despite there being plenty of opportunities, there isn't a well-established career path into the industry. Ann explains: 'Unlike other sectors which have established career structures and arguably more...

/ Workplace

6 ways to stay motivated when you hate your job but can’t quit

Can't quit your job just yet for the sake of your CV? Or maybe you've been at the same company for years and know that moving on would mean a big drop in salary. People get trapped in jobs for all kinds of reasons. If you want to quit but can't (or at least not yet), here are six ways to stay motivated and make the best of things.1. Build on the positive You might not be able to change your job or circumstances, but you can change your mind-set. Rather than focusing on the negative, identify aspects of the role that you do enjoy. 'You're likely to be good at the parts of your job that you enjoy – and doing more of it will boost your confidence and help you to stay positive,' says Sarah Archer, career coach and co-founder of CareerTree.'Talk to your boss (unless they are the reason you hate your job), and see if there is any opportunity for you to get involved in different projects and take on more or less responsibility depending on what is making you unhappy. Most managers want to ...

/ How to Search

Job opportunities in Crawley

Located a few miles south of Gatwick Airport, with a population of around 110,000 people, the town of Crawley is one of the biggest in West Sussex and the county's main business hub. If you're looking for jobs in Crawley, read on to discover some of the biggest employers and opportunities available in our latest city guide.Diamond lightsCrawley is at the centre of the "Gatwick Diamond" - an economic region that stretches from the south coast to South London and also includes East Grinstead, Dorking and Horsham. In fact, the town provides 45 per cent of the jobs within the Gatwick Diamond.Jeff Alexander, executive director of Gatwick Diamond, said: 'The area appeals to employers because it has excellent communications and transportation links, not just by air but rail links to London or Brighton. There has been huge investment in the Gatwick Express and in Thameslink.'Crawley is well-located in terms of being close to London, but significantly more affordable.You've got the advantage...

/ Interviews

Seven ways to beat nerves and boost your confidence at interview

Your palms sweat and your mind goes black. When you eventually think of something to say, you waffle on so long you forget what the question was. If interview nerves are a problem for you, here seven strategies to ensure you stay calm, confident and relaxed. 1. Prepare wellSome nervousness can be a good thing as it raises your attentiveness and shows that you care about the process. 'At the same time, no-one should under-estimate how nerves can block what you want to achieve at interview,' says John Lees, author of a wide range of career books including How to Get a Job You Love. 'That's why it's important to prepare beforehand and have strategies in place to deal with anxiety. If you feel ready, you can even get to enjoy the adrenalin rush. Being prepared turns fear into focus.''Don't think you can wing it. Interviews need preparation – lots of it,' agrees Corinne Mills of Personal Career Management and author of Career Coach. 'Research the job, the company and the likely questions...

/ The Right Job

How to land your first job in accountancy

Over a fifth of all vacant graduate jobs are within the accountancy and professional services sector, making it the largest employer of new graduates in the UK, according to figures from the Association of Graduate Recruiters. While there are many opportunities, there are also large numbers of graduates and professionals targeting careers in the industry – which means competition for jobs can be tough, particularly for those just starting out.Read on for our guide to the different routes into accountancy, where to find your first job, and how to stand out from the crowd.Different routes into accountancyThere are several possible routes to enter the profession. 'You could start out by studying for a university degree; a degree in accounting or economics is an obvious one, but individual companies may have routes into working with them for people with different degrees,' says Olivia Hill, AAT's Chief HR Officer.While you don't need a degree to become an accountant, most employers will...

/ How to Search

Job opportunities in Warrington

Situated on the banks of the River Mersey, 20 miles east of Liverpool, and 20 miles west of Manchester, Warrington might be much smaller than its two biggest neighbours, but it punches well above its weight when it comes to economic output and employment opportunities.If you're looking for jobs in Warrington, read on to discover some of the opportunities available in our latest city guide.Hot prospectWarrington is one of the leading economies in the north of England and a significant player in the UK as a whole. In fact, the recent 2016 Centre for Cities report ranked the town sixth in a list of top 10 locations best-placed to drive national economic growth – the only town outside of the south of England to make the list.Warrington's enviable location, coupled with an impressive employment rate and thriving private sector (the town had more business start-ups per head of population than any other northern location in 2015), have been key to its success. Unlike many cities which rely...

/ Workplace

How to improve your reputation at work

Not sure how you are perceived by others, or struggling to shake off a negative reputation? How you are seen at work, particularly by senior management, can have a huge influence on your career success. Here's how to ensure your name is known for the right reasons.What do people think of you?'Your reputation is what other people say about you, rather than just what you say about yourself,' says Corinne Mills of Personal Career Management and author of Career Coach. While you might think you know how you are seen, the truth can be very different. So how can you find out what kind of reputation you have? 'Think about what people may say about you after you've left a meeting or a conversation,' says Sarah Archer, career coach and co-founder of CareerTree. 'Would they say you always come up with ideas, that you're helpful, or that you really know your area of expertise?'To find out for sure, you need honest feedback. In your next review, try asking colleagues, clients and managers for ...

/ Interviews

Messed up at interview? How to recover the situation

Interviews can go wrong for all kinds of reasons. You spill your coffee over the interviewer, your mind goes blank, or you give an embarrassingly weak answer. Don't let one slip-up derail the whole meeting - handle the situation well, and your ability to stay calm and collected could actually go in your favour!1. Admit the mistakeWhen it comes to recovering from a faux pas, it's nearly always better to acknowledge your mistake.'Don't ignore what just happened hoping the interviewer hadn't noticed. They had,' warns Corinne Mills of Personal Career Management and author of Career Coach. 'If you stumble over your words, say the wrong thing or fall on your face, it's far better to acknowledge out loud what just happened. For example, you might say: "I'm not sure that came out as I intended, let me try again," so at least you try and put it right. 'If you ignore it, they might query how self-aware you are, or whether you do that kind of thing all the time.'2. Your mind goes blank If you'...

/ How to Search

Job opportunities in Peterborough

Peterborough's economy grew rapidly in the 19th century, stimulated by the arrival of the railway, with much of its prosperity built on the foundation of the London Brick Company's base in the city. The suburb of Fletton even gave its name to the distinctive pinky-red bricks that make up so much of London's housing stock. Today, the city is looking to the future and attracting businesses in all sectors and of all sizes – making it a serious option for many jobseekers in the region and beyond.Growth forecastLocated in the East Anglian county of Cambridgeshire, Peterborough is currently home to more than 180,000 people, with a wider catchment area of some 800,000.A report by economists at the McKinsey Global Institute in 2011 forecast that Peterborough would be England's fastest-growing city by the year 2025 – and it already has an impressive productivity (GVA) of £50,576 per worker, coupled with an employment rate of 75 per cent.Laura Chambers, head and marketing and communications a...

/ Promotions & Raises

6 ways job-hopping can advance your career

Job hopping gets a bad reputation, but if done the right way, switching roles and companies can be a great way to fast-track your career. Here are six advantages of broadening your experience, how soon is too soon to move on, and how to make it work for you.1. Widens your perspectiveIt makes sense that the more organisations you work for and different roles you undertake, the wider your experience will be, which can only benefit your career development. 'Candidates with experience across a number of roles are highly valued by employers,' says.Lynn Sedgwick, Managing Director of Clayton Recruitment.'You also benefit from working with different types of people, in different settings, which can help you to understand and appreciate alternative perspectives and ways of operating. Plus, the more people you interact with, the more networking opportunities you have.'2. Stops you getting bored Moving on from a job after a couple of years means you never reach the stage where you get too com...

/ Bosses

How to handle being better qualified than your boss

Working for someone who is less qualified than you can be a challenge – but it doesn't have to be. Here are six strategies to improve your relationship with your boss, and what to do if you're unlucky enough to have a manager who is failing. 1. Your boss doesn't have to be "better" than youYou might have more qualifications, experience and specialist skills than your manager, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should have his or her job. 'A manager needs different skills to those in their team – namely, the ability to lead and get the best out of people,' says Sarah Archer, career coach and co-founder of CareerTree. 'You wouldn't expect a manager with five people under them to do each person's job better than they can. Your boss needs to know enough to understand the work, make good judgement decisions, and support and guide you through any challenges. They aren't going to know every detail of your work, or be familiar with all of the systems and tools you use. 'Having said that,...

/ Personal Branding

What is a personal brand – and tips to build yours

Congratulations — you just graduated from college and you're ready to conquer the working world. But before you can begin your conquest, you'll need more than just a resume and cover letter to showcase yourself and demonstrate your competence to potential employers. You need to develop a personal brand.What does that mean, you ask?According to a Forbes article: "Your personal brand should represent the value you are able to consistently deliver to those whom you are serving. This doesn't mean self-promotion — that you should be creating awareness for your brand by showcasing your achievements and success stories. Managing your personal brand requires you to be a great role model, mentor, and/or a voice that others can depend upon."Why should that matter to you?According to CareerBuilder's 2015 social media recruitment study, the number of employers taking to the web to research applicants has steadily risen over the past few years — from 39 per cent of employers in 2013 to 43 per ce...

/ Interviews

6 ways your interview answers make you sound boring

Most people fear "going blank" in an interview but saying too much can be just as bad. Lose the interest of an interviewer and you're likely to lose the job. Here are six ways your interview answers make you sound boring – and what to say instead.1. You use clichésThe interviewer asks, "What's your biggest weakness?" and you say, "I'm a perfectionist."'Nothing is more likely to send an interviewer's eyeballs rolling to the back of their head,' says career coach Sam Waterfall of www.obviouscandidate.com and author of The Essential Guide To Interview Success.So how can you answer the question better?'The key is to give a genuine answer, but to avoid naming a weakness in a skill that is central to the job,' says Sam. 'For example, your high standards make it hard for you to delegate. You realised this was restricting the amount of work you could get done, so you made a change.'Sam continues: 'Maybe you enrolled on a course or spoke to a great delegator and quizzed them on how they do i...

/ How to Search

Job opportunities in Derby

Situated at the northern edge of the Midlands, and within easy reach of the Peak District, Derby has played a pivotal role in Britain's industrial history and still has much to offer today's jobseekers. If you're looking for jobs in Derby, read on to discover some of the strongest sectors and biggest employers in our latest city guide.Planes, trains and automobilesOne of the birthplaces of the Industrial Revolution, Derby was home to the world's first commercially successful water-powered cotton mill, and by the 19th century had become a centre of excellence for engineering.That reputation has lasted into the 21st century and the city is today best-known for being home to Rolls Royce's largest site, along with the aerospace company's Apprenticeship Academy.Motor manufacturing giant Toyota has its UK HQ on the outskirts of Derby, with 3,800 people working at its Burnaston plant to produce the Auris and Avensis.Bombardier Transportation – a company which manufactures railway rolling s...

/ Cover Letters

5 CV rules you need to break

Your CV needs to do more than just convey factual information about your skills, experience and education. If you want to get the attention of a potential employer you need to show some personality – and sometimes, that means breaking the rules.Rule to break #1 – Keep it formal The problem with formal CVs is that they can be so devoid of personality, they are boring. To make it worse, using stock phrases to describe yourself such as "dynamic" and "motivated self-starter" are clichés that make you sound like everyone else.'CVs can feel a bit like they've been written by a robot – the correct keywords, achievement structured to match the job in question, no pronouns and only hobbies that are relevant to the job,' says Sarah Archer, career coach and co-founder of CareerTree.'The hiring manager wants to know that you can do the job, but they also want to get a feel for whether you will fit into the team and culture, and whether you have the energy and interest to commit to the role and ...

/ Promotions & Raises

6 ways to boost your EQ and get that promotion

There's a proven link between high performance at work and an employee's emotional intelligence. In fact, some 90% of high performers have a high EQ, according to TalentSmart, one of the world's leading provider of emotional intelligence tests. If you're going for a promotion, here are six ways to develop your EQ and how it can help.1. Respond rather than reactEmotionally intelligent managers are self-aware – they understand their own behaviour in the workplace and are highly attuned to the feelings of others. Because of this, they are calm, in control, and know how to respond to different situations. Your ability to understand your own emotions and recognise their impact on your work performance and relationships is key when managing others. 'Being able to manage your emotions at work is important if you are to be seen as ready for the next level,' says Sarah Archer, career coach and co-founder of CareerTree. Namely, your boss will want to see that you can respond rather than react...

/ How to Search

Starting your first job search: A step-by-step guide

It's true what they say: Looking for a job is a job itself. Unfortunately, it doesn't pay anything, and the health insurance plan (e.g. don't get sick) leaves a lot to be desired. And considering everything that goes into it – from creating a resume to preparing for the interview – it's not an easy one. In fact, it can be downright overwhelming – particularly if it's your first job search and you're starting from square one.The secret is to take it one step at a time. Use this step-by-step guide to break down some of the work that goes into your job search.1. Create a resume. Creating a resume is particularly difficult when you're just out of school and have little to no "real world" work experience; however, you may have more experience than you realise. In addition to internships, consider any volunteer work you've done or leadership positions you held as part of a campus organization. Try these tips for creating your first resume or get hands-on help building your resume with Car...

/ Interviews

How to ace your interview presentation and get the job

Presentations are becoming an increasingly common part of the recruitment process, particularly for roles that require verbal communication skills. Marketing, sales, public relations and teaching are just some of the sectors that ask candidates to give a talk at interview. If you're asked to give a presentation, here are seven tips to impress.1. Know what's expected of you Find out as much as you can before the interview. Who will be in the audience? How long will you required to speak for? Will you be expected to host a Q&A session at the end, or field questions during your talk? 'Sometimes you'll be given a topic in advance, sometimes you will only be given this 30 minutes or so beforehand,' says John Lees, author of a wide range of career books including The Interview Expert: How to Get the Job You Want.'The employer should also clearly inform you whether you are expected to use PowerPoint, and when your slides should be submitted.'Ask if anything is unclear. The more you kno...

/ Workplace

5 important points to remember about well-being when at work

A guest article by Danielle from Elm WorkspaceWell-being is the state of being happy and healthy in one's own self. In today's society there are so many factors that can be damaging to your well-being. Relationships, illness, family and friends can positively and negatively influence how you feel. Work has a major impact on your mental well-being. On average most people spend about 38 hours at work every week. Factors at work such as your job role, relationships with colleagues and the working environment can affect your attitude.Whilst there are factors that can affect your happiness, you have the power to change it. Professor Sarah Stewart-Brown, a professor of public health, has rightly said, "No-one can give well-being to you. It's you who has to take action." Showing that you do have control over your own well-being, whilst external factors can affect how you're feeling and your outlook, you have the power to control your own happiness. As we mentioned before, work has a major ...

/ The Right Job

7 top-paying degree subjects

The rising cost of a university education means that the average UK student graduates with £44,000 of debt. While you need passion for your subject, it's worth knowing which degrees are likely to pay the best. Here are seven degrees and the starting salary and pay prospects you can expect over the course of your career.1. DentistryDentistry students have a good reason to smile. Most dentistry degrees take five years to complete, but once graduated they enjoy the highest starting salary, £30,348, of any degree subject according to a survey by The Complete University Guide. Not only that, 95% of graduates are employed in dentistry six months after finishing their course.The NHS dental foundation one-year training programme pays £30,132 with salaried NHS local dentists earning between £38,095 and £81,480. Hospital consultant dentists can make between £75,249 and £101,451 a year, while self-employed dentists treating private and NHS patients can earn anywhere between £50,000 and £110,00...

/ The Right Job

6 dark moments every job seeker experiences

Every job seeker knows the pain of yet another rejection letter, or worse, not hearing anything back at all. While some things are out of your control, you might be surprised to learn that you could be self-sabotaging your efforts. Here are six dark moments every job seeker experiences, why it happens, and how to bounce back.1. You regret the way your last interview went Even the most successful people can recount at least one interview that went horribly wrong. But beat yourself up too much, and you risk letting fear and negativity affect your performance next time.'It's healthy to review your interview performance to see where lack of preparation let you down, especially where you missed obvious clues which would have predicted questions,' says John Lees, author of a wide range of career books including Secrets of Resilient People.'Review once, thoroughly, so you learn from the experience, but then let it go. You'll do better next time – that's where you need to put your energy.'2...

/ Negotiation

8 things never to say while negotiating a job offer

Whether discussing money at the hiring stage or asking your boss for a pay rise, negotiating salary can be tricky. Here are eight things not to say if you want things to go your way. 1. Don't start by apologising When it comes to negotiating salary, how you open the conversation is important - and starting with an apology is never a good idea. Natalie Reynolds, negotiation expert and CEO and Founder of Advantage Spring, says: 'Too many people start salary negotiations by saying things like, "I'm sorry but," or "I know you are busy and this might be a bad time," or "You might not have room in the budget". 'This immediately gives your boss the way out i.e. she is too busy… or doesn't have room in the budget! In addition, apologising suggests that you are asking for something out of the ordinary or outlandish.'2. Don't be aggressiveAt the same time, there's a difference between being assertive and aggressive.Paul Payne, managing director of One Way Resourcing, says: 'It's important to ...
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