Surviving an interview blunder

You’ve sent the application form to the wrong company or spilt coffee over the interviewer. If you’ve managed to avoid any of these blunders or others in your job seeking so far, you can congratulate yourself and comfortably read an article from Guardian Careers  – ‘Bouncing back from a career blunder’. Experts give advice on how to recover from mistakes made at any stage of the application and hiring process along with many examples from readers as part of a Q&A session. How do you manage having one job offer while waiting to hear from another? What do you do if you simply got the interview date wrong and missed it altogether? The article offers lots of practical advice and also blunders that do raise a smile – as long as it didn’t happen to you. A reader’s submission: “Invited to an interview with MI6. Turned up at wrong building. Couldn’t find actual building. Didn’t get job.” More at http://careers.guardian.co.uk/job-seeking-mistakes?commentpage=all

The 50 most influential people in HR

From a professor of organisational behaviour to senior vice presidents of human resources at major companies, HR magazine has put together a list of the most influential people in the human resources industry. With detailed profiles available of each person on the list via an interactive photo board, the article shows the wide range of knowledge and experience behind the human resources sector. Some people have been working in high profile areas such as Wendy Cartwright, director of human resources at the Olympic Delivery Project. Others are responsible for global workforces such as Sara Edwards, vice president for human resources at Orient Express with staff over 23 countries. The chosen professionals were those who, amongst other factors, include those that ‘challenge conventional thinking in HR, who play an ambassadorial role and who add real value to the business’. For more details and profiles of HR Magazine’s Top 50 read the full article at http://www.hrmostinfluential.co.uk/

Interviews – be prepared for the strange and weird

Interview questions may not just be about qualifications or experience. A recent survey, discussed in a Guardian article, found that that 'two out of five candidates had been asked a weird question in their interview'. These strange questions can be designed to find out more about your personality and your ability to cope with whatever is thrown at you. Are you prepared if the person at the other side of the desk asks you how you might fit an elephant in a fridge? The article looks at what you might reveal about yourself as you try to come up with an answer. Try ‘If you were a Microsoft Office programme which would you be?’ Your answer and your reasoning behind it might show “more than you think about you, your personality and how you like to work.” For more weird questions and how to answer them see the full article at http://careers.guardian.co.uk/weird-interview-questions

Report on latest UK pay increases

Pay negotiations are often a key concern for HR managers – so what does the national picture look like? Despite the recession, the latest report from Income Data Services (IDS) shows the median pay rise in the U.K. holding at 2.5%. The figures look at pay settlements over the last three months until the end of August and cover 5 million employees. The results show a very mixed picture, described as a ‘two-speed’ economy. The analysis, on the People Management website, shows on one hand that one in ten settlements resulted in a pay freeze, notably in the public, not-for profit and construction sector. More buoyant sectors with pay increases up to 4% include the engineering, energy, pharmaceutical and rail transport sectors. Additionally, such changes as "falling inflation meant the gap between pay awards and the rising cost of living was narrowing.” For more analysis read the full article at http://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/pm/articles/2012/09/median-pay-rise-remains-at-2-5-per-cent-in-uk.htm

NEC Exhibition for learning and development professionals

For all those involved in providing learning, development and training in an organization, the World of Learning Exhibition may have something to offer. Taking place in the NEC Birmingham on October 2^nd and 3^rd, the exhibition runs alongside the World of Learning Conference. Areas covered by the exhibitors at the conference include blended learning, e-Learning, open & distance learning and psychometric testing. Training companies, suppliers, universities and HR professional bodies are all represented. Registration is free as are the series of seminars with topics including ‘Helping talent flourish’ and ‘360° feedback programs’. There area also a number of free live workshops at this exhibition for the L&D industry – celebrating its 20^th year. The workshops take place in the different learning areas from the Modern Life Skills Zone to the Leaders in Learning Zone. To register and for more information on the exhibition visit https://www.learnevents.com/index.php

Job interviews – don’t let them ask all the questions

You’ve spent time considering which questions may come at your interview but it’s worth taking some time to think about the questions you want to ask. In the Daily Telegraph, jobs editor, Louise Peacock, offers some advice. Firstly, this is not the time simply to ask about the money. At least don’t make it the first of the three questions that you should have prepared. If you think there may be more information that you could offer to share on your abilities try this one: ‘Is there anything you’d like me to clarify or explain in more detail?’ This open question allows both sides to clarify any misunderstanding or details. A further suggestion is ‘What do you see as the priorities for this job in the first three months?’ This allows you greater insight into the job and gives you a chance to express extra enthusiasm. For more of the suggested interview questions read more at http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/article/3886109/questions-to-ask-at-interview/

Successful options for non-graduates

Many people choose not to go to university and still have many successful career options open to them. You may not want to start a career with student debts or simply want to get on the career ladder straight away. A panel of experts on the Guardian Careers page answered questions in a live Q&A last week on the many career paths open to you – even if you don’t have a degree. Panellists included the HR director of Barclays UK Retail and Business banking, HR manager from Accor UK and a director at the Chartered Institute of Management. They comment and answer questions on careers in banking, retail, legal offices and accounting. They discuss the many options including how to ‘earn while you learn’ and gain qualifications while still receiving a salary. Readers offer success stories among their comments. Read the full range of questions and answers at http://careers.guardian.co.uk/career-advice-without-going-to-university

Working at the Olympics – what does it take?

Ben Whayman runs the Aquatic centre at the Olympic Park. His story of how he got to this point in his career is a real tale of every aspect of job searching and career highs and lows. His article on the Guardian Careers blog starts with following a passion early on (swimming at international level), and initially studying while working. He then graduated in leisure studies, struggled to get a graduate position but eventually built up experience in the public, private and charitable sector.  He crucially also saw the valuable career experience to be gained in volunteering at a key event in his field, long before he could hope to apply for a permanent role. Read more on a career in leisure and event management and see the value of bringing together life and work experience to find your dream job. Read Ben’s story and the full article at  http://careers.guardian.co.uk/careers-blog/aquatics-centre-olympics-former-lifeguard

How to impress in a new role

So you’ve got the role that you wanted and you start tomorrow. Do you really know what is expected and how to make a good first, and second, impression? Whether it’s a job in a similar company or a complete career change, it’s worth considering the ’25 ways to make an impact’ discussed in David Schindler’s blog on his ‘Learning to Leap’ website. Many focus on showing commitment, initiative and the ability to act quickly such as ‘When a problem needs to be fixed or a customer needs assistance…never, ever wait to be asked.’ Good timekeeping is particularly important on those first few days with advice such as ‘missing meetings is not cool’ and saying “I’m not a morning person is beyond lame’. For the full list and more advice on getting off to a good start in your new job or career read the full article at http://www.employabilitycoaching.co.uk/immediate-impact

Training is the key for every age group

Many organisations see ‘a direct correlation between training, employee productivity and financial performance’ according to a report by the International Labour Organisation. More than 13% of U.K. companies believed that company profits could rise by up to 20% if the workforce was better trained. Despite this, the survey found that companies were not necessarily providing such training. Links with educational institutions or the private sector were suggested. Employers also expect staff to take the lead in developing their skills. In the article in HR Magazine, the employers thought that different age groups should have different goals when it came to training. For 16-24 year olds, further education was thought to be a ‘top priority’ while 25-50 year olds ‘need to make sure they have a broad range of up to date skills.’ Those 50 and older need to be ‘adaptable and flexible players’. For more views on training read the full article http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/news/1073779/redouble-commitment-training-employers-warned-report-economist-intelligence-unit

Getting prepared for a graduate job hunt

It's worth getting fully prepared when heading out into the world of work, whether you’ve just graduated or are moving job for any other reason. In the recent Guardian article, ‘Top ten things every graduate needs to know’, it's certainly worth reading the second tip first, so to speak. In the second tip entitled ‘Ignore the headlines – there are still jobs out there’, job seekers are encouraged to remember the smaller companies who are not necessarily getting so many applications per vacancy. Other tips include warnings over unpaid internships and the importance of checking out new industries that may not last for more than a few years. The benefits of signing up for extra education are also questioned, at least just for the sake of delaying your job search until 2013. Finally, job seekers are encouraged to be themselves - employers are not always looking for 'robots'  For the full list of tips, read the full article at http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/jun/01/graduate-job-hunting?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487

Career moves – ask your question here

Looking for a new role or the next step in your chosen profession? Do you need to change companies, get a promotion or further qualifications? Will a sideways move be seen as a positive option on your C.V? If you have any of these or similar questions, settle down in front of the live online Q&A session, ‘Taking your career to the next level’, on the Guardian Professional website.The session takes place on Wednesday 13^th June between 1pm and 3pm and questions can be submitted anytime beforehand. Alternatively, have a look at the full conversation afterwards to see comments from a panel of experts on moving sideways, up or out to somewhere new in your career. The event is in association with the University of London and questions and comments are welcomed from all employment sectors. For details before, during or after the session, visit the webpage at http://careers.guardian.co.uk/progressing-your-career

Dealing with overseas staff placements?

As a Human Resources manager do you need to arrange overseas postings for staff? With many companies now working on a global level, staff placements can be a regular part of resource management but what do you need to know? A recent article on the HR director website looks at the different routes open to you. Although arrangements can often be handled in-house, the options of employing an expatriate consultant or a relocation service in the destination country are also suggested. Such professional relocators can find rental properties, advise on local schools and assist the member of staff when they arrive. Before leaving, all aspects of an employment contract should be considered including cost of living allowances, relocation allowances and any home leave arrangements. Although written from an American company’s viewpoint the article is well worth reading for anyone dealing with staff moving overseas. Read more here   http://www.thehrdirector.com/features/expatriates/dhrs-are-you-expatriate-savvy/

Life as a weekend student to boost your qualifications

Do you fancy student life but just at the weekend? That’s what being offered by an increasing number of universities, although the weekends will be concentrating on lectures and seminars rather than pubs and parties. Finding that evening classes can be too much for people after a full day’s work, courses in management or marketing are being offered across a number of weekends. They can be a flexible way of gaining new qualifications or extending skills. They can also be a way of gaining a graduate or post-graduate qualification without the hefty £9,000 fee for full-time tuition fees. Leeds Metropolitan University has just started offering a range of courses, including an MSc in Accounting, that usually involve six weekends over the course of a year. Detailed in the article on the Independent website, other places include Winchester University and Imperial College.  For more including current students’ views, read the article at http://www.independent.co.uk/student/postgraduate/postgraduate-study/something-different-for-the-weekend-the-rise-of-saturday-and-sunday-courses-7660331.html

What not to say at a job interview

Don’t throw away a job interview with ‘an ill-chosen comment’ according to the Guardian careers website. You may not be one of the people who come up with some of the extremely badly chosen comments noted in the article but it’s always useful to remember the basics. The director of a career management firm says that a large amount of people mistakenly think it's ok to take a telephone call or text during the interview. Talking about your previous employer in a negative way is also bad form as is being focused solely on the pay, perks, holidays and sickness policy of the new employer. So what are some of the worst responses heard by human resources departments? Well when asked why you applied for a job, saying that your mum thought it would be a good idea does not go down well. For the top ten responses to avoid read more at http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/may/10/10-things-not-to-say-job-interview

Using online profiles

Your CV is finished and you even have a LinkedIn page but what else could you do to impress employers? An article on workawesome.com looks at the advantage of having an online profile. This is a short website that you control and that employers can access showing details about your achievements that can’t be included on a CV.  Online profiles are particularly recommended for sectors where job seekers need to demonstrate visual and design skills. An architect could add their building designs or a marketer could post details of campaigns they have worked on. The key to using an online profile is to make sure it looks as professional as the image you would portray face to face or on a traditional CV. Workawesome also gives advice on domain names, passwords and privacy. To see if an online profile would work for your job search read the article at http://workawesome.com/your-job/online-profile/

The value of a good internship

Internships are still an extremely useful way to get work experience according to a new article on the People Management website. In a survey of recruiters, more than half said that people with little or no experience had no chance of getting a graduate position. So if internships are a way to achieve such valuable experience, then what is being offered? Where are the genuine opportunities?  One positive example given is that at insurance company, Allianz. The aim of their scheme is to ‘find people with the potential to join the company permanently when they graduate’. The internship is a seen as a “nine-week interview, “says Amanda Haig, HR manager, “It allows them to see what our business is like and we can see them: their work ethic – whether they are grafters.” Interns are also paid (₤18,500 pro rata) contrary to many examples in recent headlines. For more analysis of internships, read the full article at http://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/pm/articles/2012/04/internships-work-the-experience.htm

Why employers are really not hiring – CMI report

A new report recently published by the Chartered Management Institute challenges employers’ claims that recruitment is hampered by a skills shortage. An article in the Telegraph newspaper looks at the report’s findings, which in particular says that ‘six in 10 employers admit they are turning away perfectly good candidates because they cannot afford to hire them.” A shortage of the right skills mix was also given by employers in the research, although Christopher Kinsella, acting chief executive of the CMI, discusses how employers should look at the packages that they are offering to attract the right candidates in the first place. In a business environment where it is not always possible to offer large salary increases, Mr Kinsella said, “we urge employers to look to non-financial methods of rewarding good employees or risk losing them.” For more details about the CMI report read the full article here http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/9212312/Do-skills-shortages-really-exist-when-so-many-people-are-out-of-work.html

Speaking like a native – do language skills matter?

The ability to speak French, German or even Mandarin may be a valuable skill but you are a much stronger candidate with additional experience or qualifications to complement your language ability. This is one of the conclusions from the Guardian Careers Q&A session recently – “Will language skills help you stand out in the job market?” Readers put questions to experts such as the admissions officer from the Institute of Translation and Interpreting, a professor of French and the managing director of Rosetta Stone. Advice to language graduates was often to make sure they developed complementary skills during or after their first degree. The advantages that languages skills do give you are described as “increased cultural awareness, or even improved mental dexterity through being able to think in two languages…also demonstrable communication skills - both in your first and second languages.” For a very comprehensive debate and advice read the article at http://careers.guardian.co.uk/language-skills-job-market

Gloucestershire celebrates Apprenticeships Awards

Congratulations to Tom Silvey, winner of the Diamond Jubilee Outstanding Apprentice of the Year at last week’s first Gloucestershire Apprenticeships Awards. Tom, 23, is an engineering apprentice at engineering and metrology specialists, Renishaw, and received his award from guest of honour, The Princess Royal. There were 12 awards presented during the evening at the event, organized by The Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo. Awards covered sectors such as construction, financial and business and engineering and manufacturing. Employers of the year for their support of apprenticeship schemes were Target Public Relations, Messier- Bugatti-Dowty and EDF Energy. In a report on the ‘This is Gloucestershire’ website, ’ Ian Mean, editor of the Citizen, said, “Gloucestershire companies and organisations have now recruited more apprentices than any other part of the South West. I think that is a brilliant achievement.” To read more about how Gloucestershire are recruiting and developing apprentices, see the full article here http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Royal-approval-Gloucestershire-Apprenticeships/story-15725509-detail/story.html

What is an interview panel really looking for?

A good degree, a positive attitude or a firm handshake? What are recruiters really considering when interviewing candidates, particularly for professional and graduate positions? According to an article in HR magazine, reviewing the results of a study of 2000 recruiters, many employers consider ‘personal attributes’ more important than a degree because having a degree is taken as
standard. The research, carried out by Aldi, found that, understandably, confidence was the top characteristic mentioned, with 56% of recruiters also looking for a spread of outside interests. More unusual statistics were those on the importance of a good handshake – cited by 12% of respondents. And don’t just be polite to the interviewer, the survey found that more than 25% said ‘they judged potential staff on whether they were polite to reception, security and cleaning staff.’ For more advice on how to impress your next interview panel, read the full article
at http://www.hrmagazine.co.uk/hro/news/1072597/employers-view-degree-recruiting-aldi

A LinkedIn profile, a C.V. or both?

Many career experts advocate the importance of having a profile on LinkedIn as well as a well-crafted C.V. but what should you do to maximise the effectiveness of your online profile? In a recent article on The Guardian’s careers blog, career coach Denise Taylor goes through what people do wrong and how they could do better. A turn-off for potential recruiters is often an incomplete profile. As Denise writes, “ Registering for LinkedIn and not doing much with it is like joining a gym and expecting to get fit - you have to do the work.” More positive things to try include writing in the first person, getting at least 5-8 recommendations and use key words in your main profile. The article also warns against how you write about your current position particularly thinking about company confidentiality. For more tips on getting the most out of LinkedIn, read the whole article http://careers.guardian.co.uk/linkedin-better-than-cv

Stressed? Need a holiday?

Can taking a holiday reduce rising stress levels? According to Grant Thornton’s International Business Report (IBR), business leaders who took the most holidays reported lower stress levels. The U.K. was one such country as well as The Netherlands, Russia and Denmark where more holidays were taken and less incidences of stress reported. At the other end of the scale were countries such as Japan, Thailand and Greece.
Although the research was done amongst senior executives, some of the main reasons cited for causing stress are probably familiar to many other job roles. The top five areas in order were reaching performance targets, volume of communications, office politics and the elusive work/life balance. The good news is that the report found a trend of falling stress levels but maybe senior executives in Greece would disagree. For more about the survey read the article on the Grant Thornton website http://www.grant-thornton.co.uk/thinking/elevate/index.php/elevate_templates/article/uk_business_leaders_are_less_stressed_and_taking_more_holidays/

Protecting your job, planning your career

Even when you’re happy in your current role, being prepared for change and the next step is crucial according to the three part series on workawesome.com. For example, the series recommends always having an up-to-date C.V. – ‘your resume is the most financially important document you will ever own because it opens the doors of professional employability for you’. The article looks at protecting your job by both working effectively in your current role and always being open to new opportunities. In the third part of the series ‘Stay Connected and Visible’, recommendations include networking internally and getting regular updates from employment agencies to always be aware of the opportunities in your area. Even consider a ‘career management database’ to hold all the contacts, job postings and company news that you collect to focus on your career plans. Whether you are actively job-hunting or not, read the full article here http://workawesome.com/career/stay-connected/#more-15933

EU proposals for more female directors

With female directors still only making up a small percentage of top company boards, different countries are taking different approaches to redress the balance. They may be even forced to make changes. According to the BBC’s Robert Peston on his BBC blog, the European Commission's female Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship commissioner ‘ wants to see a mandatory increase in female representation on boards: 30% of big companies directors to be women by 2015 and 40% by 2020.’ In Britain, a government report called for 25% of the boards of FTSE companies to be female but all change is on a voluntary basis. Some countries, however, such as France have already introduced legislation ‘requiring 20% of directors of listed French companies to be women by 2014 and 40% by 2017.’ For more details and analysis of how such potential legislation could affect British companies and employment read Robert Peston’s full report at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17257124

Key skills for a career in administration

According to Office Pro magazine, although administration departments have seen some cutbacks, more and more employers are realising that companies do need key administrative professionals. The 2012 Office Team Salary guide looks at, in particular, what skills those employers are looking for in that key role. The article looks at ‘technical expertise’ as one of the most important areas with proficiencies required in a range of applications. The more basic ones would include applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint but also valued are database and project management programs such as Microsoft Access, Microsoft Project and SAP. All these skills should be handled by someone who is ‘well-rounded’ who can adapt to change and proactive’ – looking to help with a project before it is assigned. If you are in the job market for an executive administration role then you can read the whole article ‘Administrative Hiring Trends in 2012’ at http://officepro.iaap-hq.org/RIDE/viewer.aspx?id=8&pageId=1&lang=&lid=0

Enterprise Awards in Gloucestershire

With the Enterprise Awards 2012 from the University of Gloucestershire you don’t have enter the Dragons’ Den to show your entrepreneurial skills or even give up the day job. The award scheme is looking for entries or nominations from individuals or businesses who have demonstrated entrepreneurial flair outside or within their current roles. The competition is open to a range of people or businesses connected with the university, now or previously. Current and previous students can apply or be nominated as can current members of staff. If you know a company that supported or mentored you as a student or have since supported a university project, they may also be eligible. Judges include senior business figures such as Edward Gillespie, Managing Director of Cheltenham Racecourse. Nominations are open until 20th April with the winner announced in July. For all entry details and nomination forms visit the university’s website here http://insight.glos.ac.uk/departments/cei/enterpriseawards/Pages/default.aspx

Getting a seat on the board - advice for women

What does it take to get to a senior level as a woman? In an interview in the Telegraph, Alison Robb, group director at Nationwide Building Society, talks about making yourself heard and getting connected. Interviewed by Louisa Peacock, Alison Robb explains how she took decisive steps from university choices to taking a range of roles that would give her a wide range of experience.
She explains that women need to be resilient saying, ‘things will always go wrong and it is how you deal with these challenges that makes you stand out.” She also stresses the importance of networking especially for women and is a member of Everywoman, a women’s business networking association. These contacts help you to “work out who is influential and talk to people about what success looks like and how they have achieved their goals.” For more tips on getting to the top read the full article at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/9069950/Careers-advice-How-Nationwides-Alison-Robb-made-it-to-the-top.html

Warning on apprenticeship schemes

During National Apprenticeship Week, some organisations and employers are urging government to ensure that future apprenticeships have real value. According to an article in The Daily Telegraph by Louise Peacock, employers warn that ‘the value of apprenticeships is being dragged down by “quickie” courses that do not lead to proper jobs.’
Official figures showed that one in five apprenticeships lasted less than six months, often with jobs going to existing workers meaning that few new jobs were being created. Some companies involved with a range of apprentice schemes include Morrisons, Asda, BAE, Siemens and Starbucks. A good apprenticeship scheme is seen as a real benefit in many areas. The article includes comments from Semta, the skills council which said ‘ more businesses should invest in apprenticeships to give them a competitive advantage.’ To read the full article visit http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/jobs/9062660/Employers-warn-on-quickie-apprenticeships.html

Are graduate skills hitting the mark for top employers?

Despite some graduates struggling to find a position, top recruiters are still ‘falling short of recruitment targets’ according to a report by the Association for Graduate Recruiters, discussed on The Telegraph’s website.
Employers complained that some graduates lacked key skills although one respondent did say that “There’s a bit of panic out there so graduates are perhaps spending less time on their applications.” In the article, Carl Gilleard, chief executive of the AGR, says that he is still "cautiously optimistic for graduate recruitment in 2012” and that ‘employers do value graduates that have work experience and those students that have undertaken a year in industry as part of a four-year degree.” AGR also found the average starting salary to be £25,000 with a small rise expected in 2012. To maximise your opportunities in this year’s recruitment drive from key employers such as BAE Systems and Unilever, read the full article at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9036281/Third-of-companies-struggling-to-recruit-skilled-graduates.html

Are you sitting comfortably?

If you’re sitting at your desk reading this then it’s probably time that you got up and got moving. Recent research presented last week at an Occupational Psychology conference, suggests that the average worker spends 5 hours and 41 minutes sitting at their desk, doing little for either their physical or mental health.

According to Dr Myanna Duncan and colleagues from the Work & Health Research Centre at Loughborough University, people who sit for extended periods at work are also likely to sit more at home with corresponding increases in their BMI scores and waistlines. In an 18 month survey, 70% of employees did not meet the guidelines for physical activity. Dr Duncan’s advice is to “go and talk to your colleagues face to face, it’s a lot more sociable and better for you than emailing them.” For more details about the survey, read this article and others on Occupational Health on the Psypost website http://www.psypost.org/2012/01/office-workers-spend-too-much-time-at-their-desks-9087

Job search skills – new and old school

Are you using a wide range of techniques to get that new role? Even in just the last few years, techniques and opportunities to stand out amongst the crowd may have changed yet old ones are still relevant.

The article from the International Association of Administrative Professionals looks at what not to do and then what to try instead. Although best practice use of social media is discussed, it also advises considering an ‘old-school approach’ in some circumstances. One of the tips: ‘Sending your resume and cover letter on high-quality paper via the post office may seem outdated, but people receive so little mail today that your hard-copy materials could pay off.’ Other tips to stand out from a pool of applicants are follow-up phone calls ‘Don’t assume they’re not interested’ and thank you notes or emails. To review your approach to job searching and interviews see the full article at http://www.iaap-hq.org/press-release/officeteam-reveals-mistakes-could-derail-your-job-search

Local Business Admin Courses

There are many qualifications to consider in business administration, depending on your current level of education. Locally in Gloucestershire, at Gloucestershire College, there are a number of Business Administration courses available, both part-time and full-time. The website page for these business diplomas also have details of the wide range of employment sectors available to someone with such a qualification.

If you already have a similar qualification, remind yourself of the range of employment sectors open to you. The website offers a list of careers that could be open to someone with a Business Administration or Management diploma: ‘Personal Assistant, Bilingual PA, Business Advisor, Business Analyst, Executive Officer, Office Manager, Practice Manager, Resource Manager, Senior Fund Administration Manager, Account Co-ordinator and Project Manager.’ The website also reminds potential students that opportunities lie in both small and large companies and also in local and national government. Get more details at http://www.gloscol.ac.uk/zenntrix.aspx?a_name=courses

Internal or external job interview – the same rules apply

If you’re looking for a new job or career opportunity in 2012, you may be looking both external and internally for that move. For maximum job-hunting and interview success, make sure you approach either option professionally. In an article on the post-graduate careers blog from Salford University, there are tips on how to approach an interview for a position within your existing company along with a useful short video on how not to do it. A professional approach still applies, as well as researching the new position and remembering that your reputation, good or bad, may precede you.

The article also advises what approach to take if the interview is as a result of company restructuring. “Park any ambivalence at the door’ is one piece of advice as well as dressing to impress – ‘up a notch’ from your normal work attire. For interview tips that apply to a wide range of situations, read the full article at http://pgblog.careers.salford.ac.uk/2011/11/how-to-survive-an-internal-job-interview/