Jobs For Everyone

Author: Julia

  • Finding a job if you have learning difficulties

    Finding a job can always be a challenge however finding a job when you have a level of learning difficulties can be ten times harder due to prejudice, education limitations and not really knowing what type of work would be suitable.

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    However there is help available to ensure that people with learning difficulties get a fair chance at being employed and get support and guidance to ensure their employment is suitable and fair.

    Mencap is one such company that advertise themselves as the voice of people with learning difficulties and can help will all aspects of employment from training and gaining qualifications to finding the right job and helping to get through the application and interview processes.

    These companies have a great success rate at finding suitable jobs for people with varying levels of learning difficulties supporting them and their families throughout.
    Mencap offer work experience programs for people to be able to get a taste of what the working world is like and can help people to find suitable apprenticeships as well as full time employment.

  • Preparing for your first day at a new job

    When you get a new job you’ve been so focused on getting through the application process and the interview that it can feel like you’re pretty unprepared for actually starting the new role.
    The first thing to remember if you get the ‘new job jitters’ is that they chose you for the position, therefore they must feel that you are capable of doing the job adequately and with a little preparation and a lot of enthusiasm you can prove that you are perfect for the role.

    On your first day at most jobs (particularly office based work) you won’t be expected to do much actually work and will probably be shadowing other employees getting to grips with the new tasks you will be performing, this initial stage can be quite slow going and a bit boring but it’s important to show interest and willing to learn as the more confident you are the quicker the employer will be to give you more responsibility.

    Make sure that you are dressed smartly and arrive a few minutes early and bring with you a note pad and some pens for jotting notes down as you are observing the tasks. And most of all be bright and confident and you’ll soon learn the ropes.

  • Maternity leave – know your rights

    If you are employed knowing your maternity rights can be a bit confusing to say the least but here are the key points that you should know:-

    • To qualify for Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) you must have been working for your current employer for at least 26 weeks up to the qualifying week (this is 15 weeks before your child’s due date).
    • You are entitled to 52 weeks of maternity leave however you are only paid for up to 39 weeks.
    • For the first 6 weeks of leave you get 90% of your average weekly earnings then the standard SMP for the remaining 33 weeks. (this is currently around £130 per week)
    • You are obligated to take at least 2 weeks off following the birth of your child and if you work in a very physical job such as a factory you have to take 4 weeks, this is for health and safety reasons.
    • Your employment rights are protected whilst on maternity leave, this covers any pay rises and holiday accrued.
    • You can also do up to 10 keeping in touch days where you can attend work on full pay without it ending your maternity leave.

    If you are unsure of any of your rights read up on them on the government website.

  • What to wear for a job interview

    So it has finally happened. After weeks of applying for numerous jobs you have been invited to attend an interview. You will have enough to worry about with regards to what you are going to be asked, if you have the right experience and qualifications without having to stress about what to wear. I would recommend planning this well in advance and actually try everything on before the day as the last thing you want is to find that your favourite shirt has a hole in it or no longer fits you.

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    Most companies expect people to attend an interview dressed professionally and smartly. There are a few expectations but if in doubt this is always the best way to dress.

    You want to make an excellent first impression so make sure that you are wearing something that shows you mean business. Dress to impress is the phrase but make sure that you do not overdo it with the make-up, heels or by wearing something a little too revelling.

  • How can ACAS help?

    ACAS or the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service offer impartial advice free of charge to employers and employees with the aim of settling disputes in the work place without having to go to court. They offer advice on all areas of employment law and relations. ACAS offer a telephone helpline and a ‘live chat’ option on the website as well as an A-Z of frequently asked questions.

    As they are an independent company they can be a great tool for both employees and employers for advice and guidance in the complex maze of employment law. Their emphasis is on offering free advice to prevent disputes in the work place.

    Sometimes when a dispute arises it can be difficult to know your rights and wanting to avoid unnecessary conflict can mean that you miss out on what you’re entitled to but by following the unbiased advice that ACAS offer you can be sure to get a fair deal and a quick professional resolution.

     

  • Do the benefits of self employment outweight employment

    Self employment is essentially working for yourself. You will need to register with HM revenue and Customs as being self employed and will be responsible for your own tax return. There are many benefits to being self employed but there are also benefits to being employed. Depending on your individual circumstances, these may vary from person to person. If you are looking for the flexibility of choosing your own hours, making decisions at a high level and building up a business that you will own and may be able to pass on to a family member, then starting your own company may be for you.

    One of the main down sides of self employment is that you will not usually having a guaranteed income (may be able to sub contract to a company that will guarantee you a set amount of work each month). You need to consider whether you could survive on little or no income for a few months and how this would affect you.

  • Permanent Vs Temporary jobs

    There are many different types of jobs available, some part time some full time, some permanent and some temporary, but which one is best for you?

    If you are looking for job security and need to have peace of mind that your job is guaranteed (As much as a job can be), then you may want to consider a permanent position. Many employers are choosing to offer jobs on a temporary basis first as sort of an extended trial to see how you progress in the job. After this period you may then find that you are offered a more fixed position. Some jobs are offered to cover maternity leave or holiday period etc. These jobs normally have a fixed time period, but when applying for one of these types of vacancies you should ask if there may be an opportunity to advance to a more permanent position after this time if you have done well?

  • What is a contract of employment?

    A contract of employment is basically a formal agreement between the employer and employee about terms of work. A normal employee contract should include information such as the job title, brief description of tasks undertaken, hours and days required to work, pay rate, holidays and start and finish date of contract. Many employers put new staff on a temporary 3 month contract which is then renewed as a permanent contract if both the employer and employee are happy.

    Be sure to check your contract in detail and flag up any concerns you have before you sign it as it is a legally binding document. If there are any changes in your work hours or pay etc then your contract should be updated and you will need to sign it again to agree. It is important to keep a copy of your employee contract should you need to refer to it at a later date.

  • Finding the right job for you

    When deciding what career path you wish to take, there are many elements that you need to consider. What qualifications will you need to become the professional that you want to? Some jobs have very strict criteria of what qualifications you need to work in that profession.

    Teaching is an example of this where you need a teaching degree to allow you in to the field. This will involve you going to university to study a particular subject and then doing a PGCE degree at the end. Very often people chose to do a PGCE even if they do not particularly want to teach as it is only an extra year on your other degree and allows you then to change careers at a later date if you do decide teaching is for you.

    Whatever path you decide to take, you should try to pick something that you think you will enjoy doing.

  • Part time jobs – how do they work

    Part time jobs are widely available and can include working a set number of hours or days per week. Many employers now offer part time work to fit around childcare arrangements or even another job. Some people decide to work two part time jobs as one may not be quite enough income but full time work is a bit too much for them. Working part time gives you the assurance of an income without you having to commit to 5 days a week. Whilst working part time as an employee you still build up holiday pay and have the perks that come with being employed as opposed to self employed where if you are sick or would like time off that has to come out of your own pocket.

    It may be that you have been employed by a company on a full time basis but your circumstances have recently changed and you now need to only work a few days a week. You will find that many employers are quite open to this option especially if you are open and discuss the options with them.