A blog about Education, Career Development and Training
Corporate Training
As a Boss, you want to activate the potential of your workforce, spark their motivation and engagement levels and encourage them to be more pro-active. You also want to attract the very best candidates to work at your company and increase the return from any training courses. Corporate training is the way ahead and a win/win situation. [Read more...]
CareerLadder
Have you successfully managed to get a job in the career of your choice? Are you stuck at the bottom, looking up the career ladder, and thinking how did they get up there? Wonder no more! There are two main ways of climbing a career ladder.
The first way is the way I would personally choose. This is to work your way up from the bottom. The easiest example would be in the world of retail. Quite often you will start off in retail when you first get a job, and for some, this will turn into their chosen career. Naturally, as a first job you will be at the bottom, as a sales assistant. This really isn’t so bad, especially if it is part-time whilst you are at college, but once you finish college, you choose to work there full time if you are not going onto higher education and do not wish to get a new job. To work there full time as a sales assistant might get a little bit dull after a while, so you should then aspire to take your first step onto that ladder.
The first step would be getting a promotion, and most stores will have a supervisor position, which is still on the shop floor, and very similar to a sales assistant except with more responsibilities. To get such a promotion you will need to work hard, use your own initiative and be confident and comfortable dealing with all sorts of customer enquiries/complaints.
Having achieved your promotion you will then have the responsibility of supervising staff and there will often be some paperwork that you will need to do. After this first step on the ladder you will have to work very hard to be able to step up into management, and this may take a few years so you have to be a very patient and determined individual to get to where you want.
If you choose to go climb the career ladder the honest, but hardest way, you will undoubtedly feel moments of doubt, possibly get a little bored while in one position for a long time, but overall, once you achieve what you were aiming for, you will feel proud of yourself, and will honestly be able to say ‘I worked my way to where I am today.’
The other way of climbing the career ladder is not really a climb, more of a jump. There will always be some people that will work part-time after school, and study in courses such as business studies, or partake in management courses, which gives them the qualifications to go straight into management in most industries. This I call a jump as you are not truly working your way up the ladder, and although you have an understanding of management through your courses, you will not appreciate what everyone else does as much because you have not been there and done those jobs.
There are numerous ways to advance in your chosen career. Of course, there are variations according to the type of employment, but in general there is a standard which the eager employee can adhere to in order to improve their chances and to climb up the career ladder.
From the outset, at the interview stage, it is imperative to set the bar in attitude and appearance. It is important to show willingness to undertake tasks, even if a person is concerned their skills might not meet the requirements of a given project, it is vital to actively demonstrate a learning process: this involves being honest about what you do and do not know, which shows both ability and a readiness to acquire new skills.
A methodical approach to a daily routine is a key basis during a training period, from which to expand and work more flexibly after a role is thoroughly learnt. Attention to detail, thoroughness and high quality work should always be priority even during busy and stressful conditions.
Using initiative always aids with career progression. Utilising available training schemes, and up taking available opportunities to gain further knowledge of specialist fields are good ways to step forward. Showing loyalty and enthusiasm for the company you are associated with is also an integral component of career development. These are also excellent methods of creating and maintaining contacts, an essential part of progressing effectively in your chosen field. These can include joining “networking” groups who organise events within your field, or by attending formal functions arranged by your employers.
Liaising with colleagues in a consistently professional and appreciative manner is crucial in making yourself and your work noticed and valued. A good reputation will put you in the forerunning for upcoming opportunities within your chosen sector.
Additional activities, even outside working hours, such as work experience and volunteering, demonstrates dedication to your cause, and a passion for your future, which will be noticed and esteemed by your senior colleagues.
Further education
Making the decision to go into further education or start a career when leaving school or college is one of the most difficult and important decisions you will make.
Everyone has different needs when considering whether to stay in education or to move into a career and considering all options available is important.
When deciding on which career path to take or which college/university to attend, help and advice is at hand around training courses available, what job opportunities are out there and what options are available when furthering your education.