The NHS currently employs over 1.6 million people and is one of the world’s largest organisations. There are over 350 different careers on offer, and with 49% of the NHS workforce employed in a non-medical or non-clinical career, the NHS is much more than doctors and nurses. From IT contractors to medical secretaries, there is undoubtedly a position in the NHS that requires some of the talents and skills you have. Once you’ve found a role you think you’re suited to and submitted your application, you might be successful enough to secure an interview. Interviews can always be a daunting…
Author: CareerExperts
While every job has its own specific criteria for success, there are a few universal skills that will help you excel no matter which career path you choose to go down. Caroline Wilson, Head of HR at security specialist Evander, shares her pick of the top 5 skills that will help you find success in any job. In order to be successful in any role, there are a number of particular ‘ingredients’ that need to come together. Obviously, your competence in any line of work will be determined by things like your skillset and enjoyment of the job, but in…
If you’ve just graduated but have no idea how to land a job in your chosen industry, we’re here to tell you: don’t panic! You can still get that dream job even if you didn’t have the time at university to complete some work experience or network, just follow these steps and you’ll get there. Is it too late for grad schemes? You might have missed the boat on grad schemes; it all depends on the time of year. Typically you need to start applying for graduate schemes by September the year before you graduate – that’s the September of…
If you are looking for career inspiration, then it doesn’t come much better than the remarkable success story of Sir Richard Branson. As the founder of global brand The Virgin Group, Branson has built a hugely successful business empire comprising of over 200 companies worldwide. From telecoms and mobile phones, to trains and air travel, he has made an impact in nearly every sector possible. Fun facts about Richard Branson • At 10 years old, Branson invested £5 in Christmas tree seeds to grow and sell but unfortunately all of the seeds were eaten by rabbits. • His school head…
Social media has really taken off over the last decade and now features in the lives of millions of people… or should we say billions? Facebook – 1.65 billion monthly active users (March 31, 2016) LinkedIn – 433 million users (April 28, 2016) Twitter – 313 million monthly active users (March 31, 2016) Social media has now evolved from being a simple way to connect with university friends, to a global giant that allows people across the world to stay in touch whether it be with friends and family or business connections and brands. If you’re not using social media…
It’s pretty awful losing the promotion you deserved. It’s an unexpected turn in your corporate development career path. But things can get worse: watching someone else get it. And even worse than that: they’re less qualified than you. As you witness this disaster, your blood pressure rises, your head begins to spin, and you whip yourself into defence mode. And the first thought that comes to mind is: “If that’s the kind of talent my company appreciates, then why in the world am I still hanging around here?” And then you want to just pack up and leave. But you…
So what’s it really like to be a managing director? Here Hilton Freund, MD of payday loan provider Wizzcash, talks about the lessons he’s learnt since moving to the boardroom. Recently I took a big step in my career: I became managing director of payday loans company Wizzcash. It’s been a lot of things: enlightening, eye-opening, challenging, demanding, rewarding. To name just a few. I thought it’d be good to put some thoughts down as to what the experience has taught me. Lesson 1 Forget about job titles, rank or seniority. I really don’t think it matters what job title…
After graduating from university it can feel quite daunting entering the ‘real world’. You are now faced with finding a graduate job and deciding which career path to choose. There are some steps that you can take to ensure that you are prepared and ready to take on the competition. 1. Identify your strengths What are you best at? What skills do you have? Where do your strengths lie? These are all questions you should be asking yourself when starting your graduate job hunt. Once you identify your strengths it will give you a better understanding of what type of…
Many bosses assume that a leader needs to be aloof and tough on employees in order to be effective. They fear that looking “soft” will erode their employee’s motivation and respect for them. To prove their case, they cite examples of brilliant leaders who modeled a tough leadership style, such as Steve Jobs, who berated his employees. When it comes to success as a leader, radically tough leadership styles are exceptions to the rule, not the rule. Recent research has shown that overly tough bosses create significant health and motivation problems in their employees, which will make you think twice…
Twitter is a great platform to use professionally as well as socially. You can network, research potential employers, find jobs and get plenty of job hunting advice. Great advice on how to conduct your job search, perfecting your CV and nailing interviews can be hard to come by (although we think we cover a good chunk with our job searching tips). We are always looking out for the people who are leading top discussions and offering great advice for job seekers. We’ve put together a list of 11 career experts below so you know who to follow on Twitter in…
For those of us accustomed to the 9 to 5 grind, our workplace can start to feel like our second home. We spend most of our week there meaning that a large proportion of our time is shared with our colleagues. Working in close quarters with others isn’t always smooth sailing and it’d be super-optimistic to think that you’ll get on with every single person you work with throughout your career. In fact, when you think about it, our co-workers are sort of like our family. You don’t choose them, you have your favourites (and the ones you try to…
There’s no establishment around quite like the NHS. It’s a lifesaving, one-of-a-kind, national institution. Sit down and have a conversation with anyone who works there – medical or non-medical professionals – and they’ll talk emotively about their job and the positivity that helping to care for over a million people every 36 hours brings to their life. It’s incredible just how positive healthcare workers remain, despite the NHS being perpetually in the eye of the storm, politically speaking. Britain’s National Health Service is a much-debated topic. Arguments rage on about junior doctors’ contracts, A&E waiting times and potential privatisation, while…
Thanks to modern technology and a rapidly evolving economy working from home is a dream come true for millions of people, whether as salaried employees working remotely, small home business owners or freelance contractors. Making this change is straightforward, but for your comfort, health and productivity it’s important to set up a proper home office. Here are a few tips to help get you started. Your office space It’s important to have a space in your home which can be designated as a permanent office so furniture and equipment can be set up to suit your requirements without having to…
Bridgewater Group’s Director Agnes Butterworth shares the management lessons she learned while on a sailing holiday in Croatia this summer. I have just returned from my sailing holiday in Croatia. I took on the responsibility of Skipper as my husband and I chartered a yacht to sail around Croatian islands in the North Adriatic. While I’m far from being an expert, I love sailing, the challenges it presents and the way it can shape you as a person. The power and unpredictability of the sea often tests your patience, resilience and self-control. And when you’re sailing, it’s just you, your…
A contract of employment exists between every employee and their employer and is designed to protect both the interests of the business and the employee. As soon as a job offer is accepted an employment contract should be drawn up to put in place the terms and conditions of the role, what it entails and the employees’ rights during their time with the company. Contracts can be confusing, especially if you’re hiring your first employee or a start-up. It’s always advisable to get the advice of a legal expert to check it over, but we’ve put together a guide explaining…
Imagine the scene, a large room on campus shining with the bright lights of an employer’s exhibition stand vying to attract the attention of hundreds of students wandering around a Careers Fair. This will be the reality throughout October and November at UK universities as employers swarm on campus for the annual `Milkround` season. On average, employers will target fifteen universities to meet students in the `war for talent`. Students create memorable impressions in many ways. But they are also somewhat predictable and always ask two questions when meeting employers in this scenario “what type of graduate are you looking…
Well, it’s official, Pokémon IS BACK! Pokémon GO, the new augmented reality game that brings Pokémon into the real world, seems to be inspiring some pretty strong reactions across the globe. When it comes to Pokémon GO, it looks like there are two teams. Team Hater: These guys don’t see what all the fuss is about and most definitely have no intention of catching ’em all. They’ve been known to have a tendency to post party-pooping memes on Facebook and leave passive aggressive notes in public places to let everyone know just how stupid they think the whole thing is.…
First impressions are everything when it comes to applying for a job, and if your CV isn’t up to scratch, you’ll struggle to get your foot on the ladder in your career of choice. While our wealth of job search advice can help you polish your CV as much as possible, real-world experience is always king when it comes to grabbing the attention of potential employers. Leslie Docherty, store owner of Glasgow-based streetwear retailer Fat Buddha, shares his thoughts on how having the right part-time job during university can help your CV stand out in a difficult job market. According…
One of the most exhilarating aspects of finally finishing your degree and throwing yourself into working life is the prospect of finally earning some good money. No more cereal for dinner and £1 jagerbombs at the student union – you will be able to eat and drink like a king! That’s the idea at least. While the median graduate salary is rising more or less every year, salaries can vary wildly between different industries and employers, and can even hinge on what city you are working in. High Fliers report that the median graduate starting salary in the UK 2016…
Too many people succumb to the mistaken belief that being likeable comes from natural, unteachable traits that belong only to a lucky few—the good looking, the fiercely social, and the incredibly talented. It’s easy to fall prey to this misconception. In reality, being likeable is under your control, and it’s a matter of emotional intelligence (EQ). In a study conducted at UCLA, subjects rated over 500 adjectives based on their perceived significance to likeability. The top-rated adjectives had nothing to do with being gregarious, intelligent, or attractive (innate characteristics). Instead, the top adjectives were sincerity, transparency, and capacity for understanding…