Careers Advice Our future. It's in our hands

A Careers Advice booth will be at the White Rose Shopping Centre next Wednesday (20th January), providing free and impartial jobs and careers advice to people in the local area.

For adults looking for advice, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC)’s travelling Careers Advice booth arrives on January 20th, 2010 and will be based at the White Rose Shopping Centre, from 9:30am to 6pm. The booth will be manned by experts from the three agencies that offer information and employment advice in England. Advisers from the Careers Advice Service, nextstep and Jobcentre Plus will be on hand to help passers-by plan their next career move or progress in their career.

With unemployment in Yorkshire and the Humber rising by 6,000 in December 2009, taking the total number of people out of work in the region to 239,000*, the Careers Advice booth will also give people who are currently unemployed the chance to receive face-to-face careers advice on how to gain new skills to improve their job prospects in the familiar setting of the White Rose Centre. Those who are unable to visit the Careers Advice booth next week can still get help from the Careers Advice Service by calling 0800 100 900 or visiting www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice.

Philippa Lester, Skills Development Director at the LSC in Leeds says: “The Careers Advice booth is a great way of giving people living in and around Yorkshire the opportunity to meet Careers Advisers and get first hand advice on getting into work or progressing further in their careers.

“Over the next 10 years, it will become increasingly difficult to get a job without any basic qualifications[1]. This campaign will help provide valuable information about the opportunities for individuals to develop their skills in order to improve their job prospects and get on in life. There has never been a better time for individuals to actively consider learning new skills, or even building on their existing skills.”

The Careers Advice Service provides free, impartial and confidential advice for those interested in learning a new skill; who want to find information on different courses or get further details of the funding options open to them.

To speak to a Careers Advice Service adviser call 0800 100 900 (8am to 10pm, seven days a week) or visit www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice.

Adults looking for advice on their jobs, training, or who would like to find out about financial support and ways to get started in a new career, can also visit their local nextstep centre.

The nextstep service offers free face to face careers information and advice to adults. nextstep provides help and support in updating skills, training, learning and work. The service is available throughout England. The nextstep advisers are able to provide careers information and advice based on detailed knowledge of the learning and work opportunities available locally.

The regional nextstep helpline number is 0845 0521 040; http://www.nextstepyorkshireandthehumber.org.uk/

 

 

A Careers Advice booth will be at Princes Quay Shopping Centre on Thursday next week (21st January), providing free and impartial jobs and careers advice to people in the local area.

For adults looking for advice, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC)’s travelling Careers Advice booth arrives on January 21st, 2010 and will be based at Princes Quay Shopping Centre, from 9.30am to 5:30pm. The booth will be manned by experts from the three agencies that offer information and employment advice in England. Advisers from the Careers Advice Service, nextstep and Jobcentre Plus will be on hand to help passers-by plan their next career move or progress in their career.

With unemployment in Yorkshire and the Humber rising by 6,000 in December 2009, taking the total number of people out of work in the region to 239,000*, the Careers Advice booth will also give people who are currently unemployed the chance to receive face-to-face advice on how to gain new skills to improve their job prospects in the familiar setting of Princes Quay. Those who are unable to visit the Careers Advice booth next week can still get help from the Careers Advice Service by calling 0800 100 900 or visiting www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice.

Philippa Lester, Skills Development Director at the LSC in Hull says: “The Careers Advice booth is a great way of giving people living in and around North Humberside the opportunity to meet Careers Advisers and get first hand advice on getting into work or progressing further in their careers.

“Over the next 10 years, it will become increasingly difficult to get a job without any basic qualifications[1]. This campaign will help provide valuable information about the opportunities for individuals to develop their skills in order to improve their prospects at work and get on in life. There has never been a better time for individuals to actively consider learning new skills, or even building on their existing skills.”

The Careers Advice Service provides free, impartial and confidential advice for those interested in learning a new skill; who want to find information on different courses or get further details of the funding options open to them.

To speak to a Careers Advice Service adviser call 0800 100 900 (8am to 10pm, seven days a week) or visit www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice.

Adults looking for advice on their jobs, training, or who would like to find out about financial support and ways to get started in a new career, can also visit their local nextstep centre.

The nextstep service offers free face to face careers information and advice to adults. nextstep provides help and support in updating skills, training, learning and work. The service is available throughout England. The nextstep advisers are able to provide careers information and advice based on detailed knowledge of the learning and work opportunities available locally.

The regional nextstep helpline number is 0845 0521 040; http://www.nextstepyorkshireandthehumber.org.uk/

 

 

Carol Ann Rice, expert careers and life coach


With the New Year just around the corner, the Careers Advice Service today reveals a series of top tips to help everyone make 2010 the year to make a lasting change to their lives.

The start of the New Year is traditionally the time to take stock and review how our lives are going, but it is all too easy to have forgotten our resolutions by the time February comes. So the Careers Advice Service has joined forces with expert careers and life coach Carole Ann Rice to develop checklists of things to do before you reach the landmark birthdays of 30, 40 and 50.

The easy-to-follow tips are designed to encourage people to think about how they can realise their dreams and keep their lives on track, whatever age they turn in 2010.

Carole Ann Rice says: "January is the ideal time for a thorough life laundry. Despite our good intentions we often find it hard to stick to our New Year's resolutions. That's why I have developed three sets of top tips with the Careers Advice Service to help give you the foundations you need to achieve lasting change. Thinking about your goals at each stage of your life allows you to stay focussed on what you really want to achieve."

Things to do before you are 30

Carole Ann says: "In your 20s you have your whole life ahead of you, but it is still important to make the most of your opportunities, so by the time you're 30 you should have a clearer idea of your long-term goals. Aim to achieve one personal and one professional short term goal before the end of each year. Why not learn a new skill and widen your circle of friends by joining a local club or social group? 

Take a moment to evaluate where you want to be in five years time by thinking about what makes you tick, for example do you prefer working by yourself or with a team? Think about the careers that will match your goals and vision of the future If you're not sure about which career is for you, why not consider voluntary work to help inform your decision and boost your confidence? Get online to gain experience of the latest online gadgets and social media platforms. Use the internet to search for information, job hunt or network with colleagues, friends and family Take up a new hobby. Why not join a local hobby group or club to widen your circle of friends. You could even go from rookie to Ramsay by learning how to cook.

Things to do before you are 40

Carole Ann adds: "As you approach the big 4-0 the key is to keep things fresh. Why not take a course to make sure your basic skills are up to scratch? Perhaps you could take an IT course to make sure your skills are up to date or learn to handle your finances and start saving for a rainy day."

Review your personal and career goals. Jot down the skills you have and those you don't have and work out how you can improve them. You never know you might develop a skill you never realised you had Try to improve your leadership and managerial experience. Why not manage the office social committee or join your local neighbourhood watch group? The extra experience will boost your confidence and could really add value to your CV What about having a makeover or updating your wardrobe by taking a bag of old clothes down to the charity shop? Feeling good, refreshed and uncluttered will boost your confidence and will help you to make the right impression

Things to do before you are 50

Carole Ann says: "Your 50s should be about making time for the things you want to do. I would advise people to try to achieve a work life balance that suits them. We might be working longer than we used to, but why not book a trip away and plan to see and do the things you've always wanted to or take a part-time gardening course; you never know it might turn into a money-making hobby!"

It's never too early to think about your life after work. Perhaps consider flexible working hours to finally conquer the work/life balance Consider enrolling on a course that will update your skills. You never know it could earn you some money or it could even become a business Use your skills and experience to give something back to the local community. Why not take up voluntary work or help out at the local Parent/Teacher Association? Get online and try out the latest social media tools - why not have a go at tweeting or set up a profile on Facebook? Book that trip! Plan to see and do the things you've always wanted to, you never know you might be entitled to a month's sabbatical. You deserve it after all!

Alison Taylor at the Careers Advice Service says "Whatever stage of life you are at, it is important to look at what you want to achieve in both your personal and professional life. Taking steps to realise your dreams will help boost your confidence and add value to all areas of your life. The Careers Advice Service can help you identify your career goals and work with you to achieve your ambitions."

The Careers Advice Service provides free, impartial and confidential advice for those interested in learning a new skill; who want to find information on different courses or help with finding out about funding options and ways to get started in a new career.

The Careers Advice Service is open seven days a week from 8am to 10pm. To speak to a Careers Advice Service adviser call 0800 100 900 or visit www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice.

Official Website: www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice.

Twitter: www.twitter.com/careers_advice1
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Careers-Advice-Service/202088201941

For free face to face careers information and advice to adults, nextstep provides help and support in updating skills, training, learning and work. The service is available throughout England. The nextstep advisers are able to provide careers information and advice based on detailed knowledge of the learning and work opportunities available locally

The regional nextstep helpline number is 08000 213 101 (Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm); www.nextsteps.org.uk

-ENDS-

 

 

Image: Jenny Kneafsey - Careers Adviser at the Careers Advice Service

Banter over Christmas dinner is as big a part of the festive season as mistletoe andmulled wine. This year jobs and careers (22%) will be the top topic of conversationover Christmas dinner, following discussions about people's New Year'sresolutions (25%) and how dry or juicy the turkey is (31%), says the Careers AdviceService today*.

Revealing what's on people's minds this Christmas, a survey by the Careers Advice Service shows that nearly one in five people are worried about their jobs and 50 per cent are concerned about buying presents.

The survey of over 3,000 people shows that 77 per cent of people say they feel better when they've talked to someone about their worries. However nearly a third of people (30%) confess that they rarely talk about things that distress them and 20 per cent saying they found it difficult to ask for help because they feel too shy or embarrassed. Over half (53%) do not know who they would turn to for help.

Although career worries are high on people's minds this Christmas, just over a third of people (34%) admit that they would feel more comfortable seeking careers advice from a professional Careers Adviser.

Jenny Kneafsey, at the Careers Advice Service, says: "We know that people are concerned about their job and careers at Christmas, but rather than talk about it people tend to bottle up these concerns instead. It can help to talk to an independent person to get a fresh perspective on your career and the Careers Advice Service advisers are available seven days a week to do just that."

Further survey findings show that 60% of the population are considering a career change but have put their plans on hold until next year - despite Christmas being a key time to start planning for the future. Just over a quarter of respondents (26%) said they would most like to receive advice on their careers at the moment and 60 per cent would consider training or getting a new qualification to secure their career goal.

The Careers Advice Service provides free, impartial and confidential advice for those interested in learning a new skill; who want to find information on different courses or help with finding out about funding options and ways to get started in a new career.

The Careers Advice Service is open seven days a week from 8am to 10pm. To speak to a Careers Advice Service adviser call 0800 100 900 or online:

Official Website: http://www.direct.gov.uk/careersadvice.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/careers_advice1

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Careers-Advice-Service/202088201941

Careers Advice Media Hub:http://newmediaroom.careers-advice.org/

For free face to face careers information and advice to adults, nextstep provides help and support in updating skills, training, learning and work. The service is available throughout England. The nextstep advisers are able to provide careers information and advice based on detailed knowledge of the learning and work opportunities available locally.

For more details visit: http://www.nextstep.direct.gov.uk