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Many parents find that it is impossible to survive on one adult’s earnings and so it is necessary for both parents to work in some capacity. The cost of childcare can be astronomical and unless the jobs are well paid many parents wonder whether it is worthwhile both parents working for a small additional amount whilst paying someone else to look after under school age children.

One solution to this dilemma is to find a way for one parent to work from home so that they can be at home with young children and also earn a wage. It is worth considering whether one parent has a skill that could be adapted to enable them to work in this way such as secretarial skills or marketing. These roles could be carried out at home on a computer with meetings organised to coordinate work via online conference calls.

Some people may have a hobby that can be used to earn a wage from such as dressmaking, baking or woodwork as there may be an interest locally in employing someone to make or alter clothes, make celebration cakes or design and make items from wood. It is worthwhile asking on local social media groups to ascertain the level of interest if you think this is an area that could be developed into a business venture.

So, you have been offered an interview for that job you desperately want and so need to give yourself the best chance of being successful. Preparation is the key so here are some tips on improving your chances of landing that job.

The first thing you need to do is to research the company, its senior management personnel and the role you are interviewing for. An example of the information you are trying to find out is how long the company has been in business for, what are the main products and services that they supply and then which skills they are asking potential employees to have.

Next scrutinise your CV and make sure it adequately conveys your strengths in relation to the role you are applying for. The STAR method is a useful strategy to use that is: Situation you had to deal with, Task you were given to do, Action you took and Result what happened as a result of the action you took and what you learned from the experience.

Practising interview techniques with a trusted friend or relative to help you prepare is a useful activity and can help you to formulate strong answers to possible questions that you may be asked.

We often put so much pressure on young people to make some life changing decisions at such an early age. Having to choose what subjects you want to do for your GCSE’s can have an affect on what you go on to do. Nothing is set in stone but it can make it harder to go down a particular path if you have not chosen the relevant subject for GCSE’s or A Levels. Schools should be offering students some advice and guidance on what subjects and qualification they will need to have if the pupil has a good idea of what profession they would like to go in to. If the pupil is undecided, the school can still provide them information on what subjects may help them progress in to what types of job roles.

It is often a good idea to pick subjects that you enjoy as it is likely that you will want to do a profession that is in someway linked to one of these.

Some careers such as doctors and teachers have a set process that you have to follow in order to qualify. Other careers may be able to be achieved a number of different ways, some purely by on the job training.

If you are currently employed but want to return to studies then you may worry about how you are going to be able to do it. It may be that you are able to quite work and go back to education full time which will allow you plenty of time for assignments and lectures etc. If you decide to work as well, then you may have to complete your course part time meaning it will take longer to finish. Although this may be frustrating it will ensure that you have the time to work and still earn money if that is what you need to do. There is talks that the government are going to introduce something next year which will allow for mature students who did not compete their A Levels to have access to free courses to complete them now instead. This may help a lot of people who cannot afford tuition fees but want to change career paths and need further educational qualifications. At the moment learning in schools, colleges and universities is quite different so it may be that much of it is done online through a virtual classroom environment.

It is without doubt one of the most difficult times in history to get a new job at the moment as the unemployment rate is rising weekly due to the uncertainty of the economy so how can you maximise your chances of getting your dream job?

Firstly, you need to do some research into the qualifications and attributes that the job requires and make sure that you have these or that you are in the process of studying to get them. When demand for jobs is high you need to try your upmost to tick all the boxes when it comes to fulfilling the criteria required.

Secondly, is you CV up to date and relevant to the role you are applying for? Try to tailor it to the job for instance if you are applying to become a primary school teacher have you been involved in any volunteer work with young people which has provided you with experience that could be used in school such as orienteering or environmental projects.

Lastly, make sure that your application form if completed correctly and accurately with no spelling mistakes especially when it comes to the names of personnel and company. Remember this is the first encounter the employer has with you and is therefore their first impression so make it a good one.