Category: Jobs

There are many reasons why people have to have a break from work. It could be that they have to take on a caring role for children or elderly parents or that they have had an illness which has resulted in them having to have some recuperation time at home whatever the reason returning to work after a break can be difficult. Although returning to the workplace can be demanding the advantages of collaborating with colleagues as a team can be beneficial mentally and the financial rewards are often welcome.

If you are returning to a post that you have previously held it could be, depending on how long you how been away, that some of the systems and routines have changed. If this is the case you should expect to be retrained before taking up the position fully.

If you are applying for a different role it may be necessary to update the qualifications that you hold to widen the choice of jobs that can be applied for. This may involve undertaking a college course or even going to university which can be an exciting prospect. Many universities encourage mature students to apply for their courses and offer family friendly timetables for those with childcare responsibilities making it possible for many more people to see this as an option.

There has definitely been an increase in people working from home in the last two years and many companies have continued with this model even after offices reopened. The benefits to businesses have been that they no longer need to rent as much office space for their employees which means the cost of heating and lighting the office has reduced and staff absences has fallen. For employees, the benefits of working from home can be seen as they will spend less time commuting, with the associated costs, and may feel happier working in familiar surroundings.

In order to be really productive when working from home it is essential that you have a dedicated workspace so that you do not feel that your work life is encroaching on your home life. Even having a desk or table in a corner of the living room will be enough if it is not possible to have an entire room to use as a home office. Adhering to set work hours can also help to define work and home time so that you do not feel that you are always at work and taking regular breaks during the day for lunch and coffee will prevent your blood sugar levels dropping mid-afternoon.

If you have recently started are about to start a new job, then you may worry about being the newbie again. It may be that you have been in your previous role for some time, or this is your first job so are not really sure what to expect. It is important to remember that first impressions make a difference, and it is hard to change someone’s opinion of you once they have made their mind up. For this reason, try and go in showing everyone your best side. Be sure to be punctual and polite and that you dress smartly, especially if you are in an office or retail environment. No one expects you to know the job inside out straight away, so it is fine to ask questions. Often people prefer it when you ask questions as this shows that you are taking an interest and trying to learn.

If you are going in to a management role then you need to be sure that you have authority but don’t go in too heavy handed on the first couple of days as you may make some enemies. You can be a great boss whilst also being friendly and approachable, it is all about getting the balance right.

Getting ready for a change in career can be very daunting. It may be that you have not taken the decision to leave your current job but that your circumstances have changed which has meant you need to or you have been let go by your previous employer. Before going out and looking for work it is important that you have everything ready. This means your CV should be up to date with your latest experience and qualifications. Be sure to think carefully when drafting your CV as this is the first impression that an employer will have of you.

If you are struggling to know what to put in your CV or how to lay it out then you may instead want to look online for a template. If you do use a template, be sure to take out any sample text as this does not look good if accident left in when you submit your CV. Do your research on the company that you are applying to as it always looks good if you know a bit about them and their background too. If you do get invited for an interview then be sure to dress to impress. It is usually most appropriate to wear formal clothing to an interview and it is better to be over dressed than under dressed.

The new year is literally only a couple of months away and now may be the time to start thinking seriously about your career. It could be that you decide you want to go back in to education next year and retrain ti do another job or perhaps you already have the qualifications you need and just want to work for a different firm.

Some people find there comes a time when they don’t want to work for someone else anymore, instead they want to be their own boss. Lots of people found throughout lockdown that they actually enjoyed working from home and feel that they could really make a go of it. Working from home is not always easy and yes there are definitely perks to it but there are also downsides. You need to ensure that you have a lot of will power and disciple to ensure that you do not get distracted with things going on around you.

If you are going to be working from another company then now is the time to start putting in those job applications. Not many firms will recruit in the first few weeks back in January but they often start to assess their own business and make plans to go forward.