If you’re considering a major change of career here are some essential questions to start to think about. Doing so will help organize your thoughts and feelings.

Ask yourself the following questions.  Remember to answer carefully and honestly. This is for your guide only. Also, make sure you write your answers down.  Putting abstract thoughts and feelings into words on paper can help you identify what’s really going on and it adds a tangible element to your reflection process.

1.  What is it about my current career that isn’t working?
2.  What does this new career or opportunity offer and provide that my current career doesn’t?
3.  Why and how does this new career excite me?
4.  How does this new career align with my core values?
5.  What are the long-term opportunities associated with this new career?
6.  What skills or resources will I need to take advantage of these long-term opportunities?
7.  Who do I know who is already in this career and can give me an honest insider’s view and perspective?
8.  Will my friends and family support this new career venture?
9.  How long will it take to make a comfortable living in this new career?
10.  Do I have the financial resources to make this new career work? If not, how can I get what I need to feel secure?
11.  What obstacles and struggles can I predict in my transition to this new career?
12.  What can I do now to minimize these potential struggles?
13.  What specific experience do I hope to gain in this career move?
14.  How will my previous experience help me in this new role?
15.  Is this career move one step in a larger plan? If so, what does this new career need to provide in order to help me move forward?

If you need help in anwering these questions please call us on 0845 459 0035 or contact us on info@gatewaycareers.co.uk.  Why not visit us on www.gatewaycareers.co.uk

I read a very good article the other day by Simon North of Position Ignition.  It rings true in the world of employment today.

Psychological contracts start at the point at which an individual and an organisation begin their relationship.

I would like to recommend the services of Gateway Career Management Limited and particularly Peter Wilford.  The four focused sessions provided a programme of supported self analysis to establish a new personal approach to the current recruitment market and to facilitate the career change I am wishing to undertake. The programme has enabled a new set of relevant CVs to be prepared, the development of a more challenging skills matrix, and a directional focus to my search for a new career.

I would add that I found the sessions that Peter facilitated were execellent and “homework of self assessment of true work values” an extremely positive exercise challenging self needs.  Session venues were located to suit and were conducive to maximising the benefits of the whole process

AP

Director

Congratulations on your new job!

If you’re lucky, you may have a honeymoon of about a month to prove that you can perform and fit in.  There is nothing worse than starting out on the wrong foot.  Some of the most common job and work mistakes that I have seen include:

• Misunderstanding the corporate culture
• Not asking enough questions at the start
• Failing to set goals for your first 90 days
• Not following basic company rules
• Lacking attention to detail
• Not identifying the key stakeholders and building your business network
• Making basic job-related errors through being over eager or keen to impress and not planning
• Misinterpreting the job description
• Failing to develop good relationships with immediate co-workers
• Trying to change things too fast

Why not use this important time to construct your own framework for success in your new job.  Some other tips to think about include:

Why not get yourself a mentor - you can choose either an internal or external mentor but the important point is to decide what you want from your mentor and make sure that you get the relationship right from your first meeting. We offer external mentoring support to people who are feeling lonely, insecure or uncertain in their new job and yet have to make an impact quickly – especially senior managers and directors where expectations on deliver are high.

Put in place your personal Development plan – why not set yourself development goals. You may need these if you are required to do CPD but it is good to understand where the gaps are between what is required in your new job and your skill set.

Develop your Linkedin profile- so often people disregard or forget about Linkedin when they are in employment but in reality this is a good time to think about building your network further and letting people know your new job status.

Revise your CV – yes, as soon as you are in a position to do so why not update your CV to reflect your new responsibilities.  Once you have delivered a few early successes add these to your achievements.  It will keep your CV fresh and also serve as a reminder that you are making progress – that in itself is a good way to keep your confidence levels high in the first few weeks.

Learn how to influence – the first few days are crucial to your success in the job. Why not identify your key internal and external key stakeholders and then think about how you need to work with them.  Develop approaches to ensure that you maximise your key business relationships.  It may be worth sharing this with your mentor who will know you and can therefore be impartial but objective having your best interests at heart.

We offer a First 90 Days programme to support people in these critical initial weeks and can tailor it around your precise requirements.  For more details why not contact us at info@gatewaycareers.co.uk

I recently read a good article on Networking. Many of us are good at Networking but some find it difficult to use their network effectively as part of their Job Search activity.  Why is this so? It might be a cultural issue – English people are often reluctant to ask for help of advice – or it might be that the whole concept of Networking is alien and just “Not for you”.  Here are some pointers:

When you are searching for a job, apart from checking the advertisements in newspapers, internet and job boards, it is very helpful to ask for information from the people on your warm contact list.

People you know can provide you with up-to-date information on the company and position vacancies that are not posted on job boards or advertisements.  At times when they cannot provide you information about the job that you are looking for, they may be able to refer you to a person that they know who might be able to tell you something about the job.

This is is a key part of networking. Networking is when you start using your warm list to get information or referrals to their other contacts. Many people are switched off by the thought of networking. Some think it is not a reliable source of information about the job. Others say networking is more difficult than following the leads on the advertisements that are posted in the newspaper, internet or ad boards.

I believe that despite such beliefs, networking is not that difficult to do. You may just have to contact or meet some people, and you can get valuable information that can help in your career search. Another point is that the people you meet belong to the same industry, they can provide you information about hiring that isn’t advertised and first-hand facts about the company.

What is you are already networking and you just don’t know it?  When you have seen an advertsement  in the paper posted by a company you know little of, why not you ask your friends if they know somebody who works for the company?  In this way even if you are not attracted by the idea of networking, it is still essential when seeking a job. To make networking easier and more productive for you, here are some helpful tips.

Prepare your warm contact list

When you have prepared your initial warm contact list, it will be easier to select the people who you prefer to call first. These are the people who you think have some information about the job. They may be former employers, colleagues and members of the professional organization belonging to the same industry. They usually have first-hand, up-to-date and reliable information.

Calling a warm contact

When you call a warm contact, inform them that you are actively seeking a job. Ask them to let you know if they have heard of job openings you might be interested in. It is better to let them know what type of job you are looking for. And remember to leave your contact number with them, so they can get in touch with you if they hear of anything. It is also better if you can leave a copy of your CV with them so they can show or submit it to someone who will be able to help you in your job search.

Think about your strengths and what you have to offer before calling your contact

You warm contact may ask about your skills, experiences, abilities, interests, expectations and career goals. You should be able to talk about these openly and be able to describe what information you would like to have from your contact.

To help prepare, why not practice by drafting a script on what to say?  In this way, you can spell out clearly what you would like to communicate to your warm contact.

Anticipate questions about yourself and practice answering questions about your previous job and what you can contribute to the company.

Ask for referrals

If your warm contact was not able to provide you information that will be helpful to your job search, ask them for the names of at least two people who they think will be able to help you.  Get their contact number, and if possible, the time which they will be free to talk over the phone.

Contact referrals immediately

When your warm contact gives you referrals, they may even call this person to inform them that you will be asking for more information. Sometimes, the person you were referred to will be calling your warm contact. Therefore, it is important if possible to call your referrals within a few days after you have spoken with your warm contact.

When you make a call, introduce yourself and inform the person who has been referred you how you are related with the person who referred you. Be polite, but straightforward, in letting the person know what information you are seeking.

In summary. Networking really isn’t a difficult thing to do.  It just needs plenty of practice and experience and with that you can maximize the benefits that you can get from networking and from your network.