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