How to make yourself more employable in the UK

Many people who have been out of the workforce for a long spell find that getting back into it is mission impossible. The good news is that the skills that make people employable overlap in a profoundly close way. Skills and strengths such as communication, adaptability, being a good team player and reliability all feed into each other. So it's more realistic to call it mission employable, rather than mission impossible. Here are some straightforward ways to getting that job you want in the UK.

1. Polish up the CV

Think of this document as the first handshake, before your shining, charming personality can win recruiters over. So, better make sure that it's grammatically and syntactically correct, and that the formatting is easy to read. Don't ramble on for more than three pages. And make sure to demonstrate key qualities in real, concrete terms. i.e. ‘sales increased by 72.3% under my supervision'.

2. Be reliable

A person's longevity in a role, and how punctual they are, are definite draw cards for recruiters. This is one way of measuring a person's integrity, honesty and commitment to the role. It's the first step towards building a trustworthy professional relationship. Job seekers should cultivate this skill and, if they know themselves to be reliable, provide demonstrable examples of this from previous roles on their CV.

3. Be adaptable

This can be defined as being able to cope with uncertainty and changing circumstances. A person who can hit the ground running, with minimal hand-holding, is a definite plus for recruiters and employers.

On the other end of the scale, adaptability doesn't mean working long hours for no overtime pay or being an employer's doormat, there's a subtle difference. A canny idea is to write down concrete examples of adaptability from prior roles or study. Then pull these out of the hat during the interview. 

4. Be a team player

A good team member will understand other people's strengths and abilities and help others to do their job in a fair and amiable way. When a group of people achieve cohesion then, like a well-oiled machine, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.  A good way to stand out from the crowd is by demonstrating how well you can work with others, both in high pressure situations and with the different personalities of colleagues all jostling for attention and recognition.

5. Be a confident communicator 

The skills of confidence and communication feed into each other very nicely. Training and professional development courses will help job seekers to understand industry-specific jargon and ways to engage with colleagues. Communication skills can assist professionals to mentor others, be good leaders and team members and to work smarter, not harder.  Check out the Skola website for courses that fit the bill for career growth.

6. Diversify and deepen your skills

Often, a stumbling block for job seekers happens when a job asks for qualifications that a person simply doesn't have. Instead of getting disheartened by this, consider further study as a way to narrow the knowledge gap and gain skills.  Short courses, diplomas and even a degree could be the way to go. Consider an English course for adults; these courses are an invaluable way for job seekers to polish their skills.

Volunteering in the not-for-profit sector offers people with lesser qualifications a real chance to gain practical experience in their chosen field.  Employers always smile upon candidates who have pro-actively filled their knowledge gap with volunteer work experience and training. 

Useful links

BBC World of Work

More revealing tips for how to make it in the business world, from the BBC

HR Magazine

A recruiter's eye view on employability and what this means for them

Student Employability

The Guardian's Higher Education Network and their advice for graduates and school leavers looking to join the workforce

How to make the most of your Gap Year

Not everybody will listen to the advice given to them about gap years. One of the most important things is to be prepared, and sort it out early. The earlier you get on top of this, the more eager you appear and the more chance you’ll have of beating others to get there first. Many of us have taken gap years to either work, to travel or to ‘find ourselves’. It’s a year that (as many know) can go far too quickly. So it’s fairly obvious that you need to make the most of it. The big question is what do you want to get out of your gap year?

Internships

A good place to start would be looking for your dream internship. I’d like to think you’re studying for a reason; if you want a career in the subject you’re studying then why not aim for the best possible thing you could do? Think of the top organisations/people in your industry and hassle them. You’d be surprised at your luck if you showed plenty of ambition & determination for a work placement.



You can gain a vast amount of quality experience in the industry which can inevitably help with job applications once you’ve eventually finished your studies. Nobody is stopping you from getting a placement apart from yourself. If you really want it, you can go and get it! Don’t apply for 1 or 2 placements though; make sure you branch out and apply for lots of things you wouldn’t ever have imagined of being accepted for- the more doors you bang on, the more chance of somebody opening.

Traveling Abroad

This would be a great chance to see the world. Traveling can open your eyes as you start to see it from a different perspective. Sure, we have the internet nowadays, so we can see any place we’d want to in the world through a screen. But it doesn’t beat the experience of walking on foreign lands, living life in a different culture, trying different foods and generally seeing how other people live their lives. It may make you feel lucky to live the life you lead.
You can buy round the world tickets, which do exactly what they say on the tin. This way, you really can stretch to different corners of the planet. Planning a trip is highly recommended, so you know roughly where you’ll be going and that you will be doing it safely.

Volunteering Abroad

By volunteering you’d receive the same sort of benefits as traveling, plus a bit more. You have the opportunity to see the world and – like previously – live your life in different cultures, making you see the world from a different perspective. You could do almost anything when volunteering; there are people from much more deprived countries that are so grateful for help & support from students. Whether you were good at sports or are training to be a doctor- you can help people.

I think one of the most beneficial things about volunteering is that firstly, you see the world, and secondly, you feel rewarded from the good deeds that you do for others who really appreciated it. Companies such as Projects Abroad UK offer opportunities to help others in loads of different countries and many different sectors. You could find yourself coaching football to 6-17 year olds in Argentina or volunteering in Nepal as a carer or even a teacher- the possibilities truly are endless! There’s a volunteering opportunity out there for everybody.



So if you’re taking a gap year have a really good think about your options; what do you want to get out of it? Develop your career in the right internship? See the World? Help others? This could be a life-changing year for you if you approach it with the right kind of attitude!

Resource box:

UCAS
Take a look at gap year recommendations from UCAS.

Channel 4
Sitcom about interns taking a placement that is completely fake- but not to their knowledge.

BBC
Advice on whether a gap year is for you.

How to use technology to spend less: modern money saving tips

Technology does not just make things easier – it can also be used to make things cheaper. Whether you are adding a second landline using VoIP to save money, or scanning barcodes with your smartphone to find the cheapest way to buy something, there are so many ways to make technology work for you to make your money go further. Here are some ideas that even the biggest technophobe will have to acknowledge the value of.

Get open to open source

With the latest software and operating system versions usually priced as high as the producers think the market will bear, you can stop dancing to their tune by opting for open source equivalents. These are produced by a community of developers who look for others to make iterative improvements and so are free to use.

Look out for operating systems such as Linux (which is generally seen to be more stable than its big brother counterpart Windows), productivity suites such as OpenOffice, image editing software such as Picassa from Google and web browsers such as Firefox.

Snoop on coupon sites

Whether it is days out, meals out, designer wear or homeware, there are just so many great deals out there on the internet for those prepared to snoop them out. Sites like Groupon, Vouchercodes.co.uk and a host of others are serving up daily deals to those in the know.

Use VoIP to save money

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services offer you drastically lower call rates by using your internet connection rather than the traditional copper wire phone network. This does not mean you have to use a headset and computer to make a call, as nifty adapters allow your standard home phone to tap into your broadband supply without relying on your PC. National packages can offer you unlimited calls to mobiles and landlines anywhere in the UK and international packages offer you unlimited calls to Spain, India, Australia or any combination of countries. In addition, you will receive premium services without the premiums such as caller identification, call divert, call waiting and even voicemail messages emailed as text to your email account.

Internet-based VoIP services like Skype can also allow you to make a video call to anyone in the world without paying a single penny so you can not only hear them but see them. Perfect for catching up with friends overseas or seeing your relatives’ faces as they open the presents you have sent.

Avoid the high price trap with a barcode app

The latest smartphones have cameras sophisticated enough to scan barcodes and there are plenty of apps out there that can make this capability start working for you. Imagine you are out shopping and you see something that you just must buy. How do you know if the price is right? With a tap on an app and a click of the camera you can compare prices from high-street and online retailers in a second and even order the product from the seller with the very best deal.

Make your money go far with solar

Sometimes there can be a lot of green in being green. The latest solar panels require much less initial financial outlay but still promise great financial returns. Solar power can generate electricity (solar PV), or for lower set-up costs can heat your water (solar thermal), and both can cut your heating bills by at least a third. In addition, a new scheme known as the Feed-in Tariff actually pays you to generate electricity and promises returns as high as £25,000 over 25 years.

Resource Box

Free Office software

Find free versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more

Barcode scanner apps

Find the best deal available by scanning the barcode of products

How to buy solar panels

Research how to buy solar panels and find out how much you could be saving

3 ways to make custom labels for your jars

Whether you’re making homemade pickles for Christmas gifts or just wanting to give your jams a personal touch, nothing will set your jars off like your own custom labels. If you’re feeling creative, and have the technical know-how, you can get your basic equipment from specialist supplies such as http://www.southeastlabels.co.uk and make stunning labels using programs like Photoshop on your computer. But you don’t have to be a designer to make beautiful labels.

There are simple ways to customise templates, downloadable designs and even the possibility of using beautiful scrapbook paper to make your labels. Here are three ways to create custom labels that will make your homemade food jars look fantastic.

Using just paper

Whether you use some shop-bought patterned scrapbook paper or print a design onto plain paper, it’s easy to make your own jar labels with just paper and clear packing tape.

1.     Measure around your jar. If you want your label to meet, you’ll need paper strips a tiny bit longer than this. If you don’t mind a gap then make them shorter.

2.     Make sure your clear packing tape is about a quarter of an inch taller than your paper. If your label is 1 ¾” you will need 2” tape.

3.     Lay your label on the table and measure a length of tape just longer, then place it sticky side down on your label. You should have tape showing over the edge of the label on each side.

4.     Pick up the label and tape (which are now one) and carefully guide it round your jar. Your custom label may not be fully waterproof, but will be fine to go in and out of fridges and survive a thorough sponge down.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamjar/7230185740/

Using label templates

With a little creativity, a computer, printer and plain labels on rolls or labels on sheets, you can create distinctive labels for your home-made jars of jam or pickles. The process is similar using either Microsoft Publisher or Word, but as it’s easier for the beginner, this step-by-step guide uses Publisher as an example.

1. From the Publisher Catalogue choose Labels and then select Jar/Product before clicking Start Wizard. You don’t need to fill in the information requested so click Finish.

2. Clean up the bits you don’t want on the template by selecting and cutting them. Cut the boxes for Business Name, Date, logo and the line in the middle of the white box.

3. Select Colour Schemes and choose one you like.

4. Next add some text by clicking the Label Title and choosing your font.

5. You can add pictures using the Insert menu. Change the size of your image by clicking its corner and dragging it in or out.

6. Print on 3.33 x 4 inch shipping labels – or the option that matches the labels you have.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevensnodgrass/4012455676/

Downloading label templates

There are a number of sites that will allow you to download your own jar templates. Simply find the ones you like, download them and then print them onto your labels. Personalisation here is done the old fashioned way ─ with a pen!

Resource box

Downloadable jar label templates

Find hundreds of ready-made designs to download

Design labels using Word

Learn how to use Word to create your jar labels

Inspirational jar labels

Browse classic designs of famous labels for inspiration

How to make American pancakes

America’s pancakes are slightly different from the ones we make in England; they even have restaurants that are specifically just for pancakes! IHOP is a famous American pancake house, below is a simple recipe on how to make pancakes just as good as theirs!

Prepare

Get everything you need first; Frying pan, Whisk, Mixing Bowl, Sieve, Flower(135g) , Caster Sugar(2tbsp), Egg(1), Milk (130ml), Butter(2tbsp) and a pinch of salt.

Mix

Sift the salt, baking powder caster sugar and the flour into the mixing bowl and then break the eggs into the middle. Melt the butter and then start whisking the egg and milk in a separate bowl, once the butter has melted whisk it into the milk and egg.  Pour the two mixtures together, beat with a form making sure that there aren’t any lumps.

Frying

Heat up the frying pan, add some butter and wait for it to melt. Once it has melted add some of the mixture onto the frying pan and make sure that it is thick.  Once the pancake has started to bubble, turn it over , leave it to cook for a few minutes and it should then be golden brown. Repeat this until the mixture has been used up.

Eat

They are at their best straight from the pan, but you can always re heat in the microwave once they have been cooked. The pancakes can be served with butter or syrup depending on your preference.

How to Clean the House With Your Kitchen Supplies

Households cleaning products are not only expensive, you also need a lot of them and they are often bad for the environment. The good news is that for many cleaning tasks you don’t need them and can do as well, if not better, with products you already have at home.

Baking Soda

One of the best substitutes for cleaning products is without doubt the baking soda. A very useful ingredient for baking, it presents the advantages of being non-toxic, multi-purpose and cheap. To get rid of odours in fridges, cupboards and bins, place some baking soda in them (a bowl or box in cupboards and fridges and some sprinkle at the bottom of the bin before putting a new bag). You can also use it on a damp cloth to clean your kitchen surfaces then rinse with clear water.

In the bathroom, pour a weekly dose of baking soda in your sink and wash it down with hot water to avoid clogged drains. A paste made of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water can be applied for a few minutes on any stubborn stains before cleaning.

White vinegar

The acidic properties of the vinegar make it a great cleaner, especially for stains and grease. You can make a solution of half vinegar and half water to clean the fridge’s shelves and walls, or you can use it full-strength on a grease-splattered oven door. Keep the door closed for about 15 minutes then wipe it clean. In fact, most of the places where grease gathers can be cleaned with a sponge soaked of vinegar. Make sure you use rubber gloves when using vinegar and keep the windows open during and after the cleaning.

Get some more cleaning tips here.

How to see London on a budget

London is crammed full of historic, cultural and entertaining attractions, which vary from being expensive to completely free. Although staying in London is not cheap, there are a lot of easy ways to cut costs. Below are a few tips on how to see London on a budget...

Save on travel with an Oyster card

An essential for any traveller in London is to get hold of an Oyster card. They are valid on all underground, bus and some overground train routes. They are available from Heathrow or from any tube station. You need to put down a £3 deposit but you will get this back if you return it at the end of your trip. They are refillable at any train station and are a lot cheaper than paying cash fares. 

Get free accommodation with a home swap

Hotels in London are very expensive, so paying for accommodation is likely to be the biggest strain on your budget. A great way to save on money is get your accommodation completely free through a home-swapping site such as Lovehomeswap.com.

This gives you the chance to stay in a fantastic central location without paying an exorbitant bill – examples of exchange homes in London can be viewed here.

Buy food from supermarkets

Eating out can be overpriced, particularly for lunchtime snacks and coffees. Stock up in a local supermarket and prepare yourself a packed lunch before heading out for the day. Make sure to buy water too, as kiosks selling water at tourist destinations are expensive. If you do want to treat yourself to a meal out, there are places where you can get tasty cheap eats.

Brick Lane hosts a wealth of good value Indian restaurants and China Town has a lot of cheap venues selling Asian food.

Shop around for ticket deals

There are always discount vouchers up for grabs for most of the tourist destinations, so make sure you look out for them online. Also look for package deals. For example, if you are visiting the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace and Kew Palace, you can get a deal through Historic Royal Palaces where you pay a one-off fee that will grant you entry to a handful of historic sites.

Make the most of free attractions

There are plenty of great free attractions in London, so make the most of them. The British Museum is full of interesting artefacts, such as the Ancient Egyptian section. The Tate Modern hosts the world’s largest collection of Modern Art and Tate Britain also holds plenty of important pieces.

There are also plenty of beautiful parks, which are great places to spend a relaxing afternoon. Head to Primrose Hill for a great view over London: there is a bakery and grocery shop at the bottom so that you can prepare yourself a picnic.

If you want to do some bargain shopping, there are lots of interesting markets. Portobello Road Market is a massive street market held on Saturdays. It sells clothes, antiques and tasty street food.

London is an exciting place to visit, but it can drain your bank account. By being aware of easy ways to save money, you can make the most of your stay in this wonderfully diverse city – and stick to your budget.

How to get a date

Though it’s nerve-wracking, taking the plunge and asking someone out on a date is a process that everyone has to go through. Whether the outcome is positive or not largely depends on the asker properly preparing the way. While random dating requests are likely to end in refusals, those who have built up a relationship beforehand can be more hopeful. Here are some of the best places to find a prospective date.

Source: Flickr

  

Work
Although fewer couples meet at work than they used to, it’s still one of the most common ways for people to get together. After-work drinks or job-related events provide a good opportunity to get to know someone and arrange a date.
Sex therapist and counsellor, Julia Cole, says that the ‘main advantage of meeting people at work is that they are more likely to have similar attitudes’ – particularly if the job is a vocational one. However, it’s important not to make the mistake of confusing a shared job with compatibility.

Friends
Meeting a prospective partner through friends is a classic introductory method. Indeed, researchers from Stanford University and the City College of New York report that most Americans meet their partners through friends – and have done since the early 1940s.
The great thing about meeting people through friends (and friends of friends) is that there’s no pressure. Relationships can develop naturally, as people slowly get to know the other person. Situations can also be manufactured by those eager to match-make.

Source: Flickr

  
Online dating
Nowadays, online dating is firmly in the mainstream, with more than six million Brits happy to pay to use the services of internet-based dating agencies. Understandably, the numbers joining free sites such as jazzedfreedating.co.uk are even higher. This rise is partly due to the ever-increasing ease with which people can access a ready-made pool of singletons. Joining a site and creating a profile takes a matter of minutes – take a tour to see.
A study reported in Psych Central points out that contrary to what many people think, people who are more ‘sociable are more likely to use Internet dating services than are those who are less sociable’. It also found that those who have high self-esteem and consider romantic relationships an important component of a happy life are also more likely to use online dating sites.

Source: Flickr

For maximum effect, singletons should try the sites when the temperatures outside are at their lowest. According to the BBC, online dating agencies are their busiest during the winter months and at times when the weather is particularly dire.

Resource box
Daily Mail
Revealing the five secrets of compatible couples
Telegraph
London's top ten dates
Glamour
Dating tips from Wimbledon WAG Kim Sears

How to find a good international school

When choosing an international school, most parents will be looking for the same things. They will want their children to be happy, to make friends and to feel comfortable in their new surroundings.

While it may be daunting for your child to begin an education in a new country, international schools often offer a rich and transformative learning experience. Your child will be able to learn alongside students from many different backgrounds and cultures, gaining knowledge which will serve them well for years to come.

It is a good idea to plan visits to international schools in your chosen area, so that you and your child can get a feel for each place before making a decision. Here are some key considerations to make to ensure that, whichever school you settle on, it’ll be the right one.

Your child

Any school you choose will likely have a big influence on how your child develops, therefore it’s important to consider the student body of each school when making a decision. On visiting each school, pay attention to whether the students seem happy to be there as well as how much support they are given inside the classroom.

You may also want to enquire about individual counselling options for extra support for your child.

Many international schools have schedules of planned activities to assist students in beginning stages of the academic year. You’ll be able to find out more about these by visiting the schools and talking to staff members. You can also find out how big class sizes are and how often you’ll be updated about your child’s progress at the school.

The curriculum

From those who are looking for diploma programmes to those who want to find an International Baccalaureate programme at a school such as www.icschool.co.uk, the number one concern when choosing an IB school will be the type of courses offered. Depending on what stage your child is at in their education, you will be able to gather specific information about what’s on offer when you visit your chosen schools.

As well as finding out about what your child will be learning, you can also find out about any co-curricular activities on offer, such as sports, arts and community work. Finally, if your child will be starting secondary education, it is a good idea to enquire as to how many students from each school were accepted into university. Many IB schools can also offer university placement programmes.

The teachers

During your visits, teachers should be on hand to give you further information about the school but also about their own training. It is important to find out that the teachers are certified and you can also enquire as to how many members of staff have gained advanced qualifications.

Another factor to consider is how staff at each school are trained to handle students of exceptional circumstances. Students who are looking to gain support for high ability will need to have teachers who will recognise their skills. Likewise, students looking to find courses in SEN life skills with ICSchool.co.uk should be able to gain the right levels of support during their learning.

These are just some of the questions to consider during your initial research. However, as each school will be unique, it is important to consider the atmosphere or ‘feel’ of each place when making your visits. For some, the decision will be easy and for others it may take some time. Trust your instincts and gain as much information as you can to make the right decision for you and your child.

Useful links

The Good Schools Guide 

Several guides to choosing the right school for your child 

The Good Schools Guide International 

Specific advice for parents choosing an international school 

ExpatFinder 

Lots of information for families who are re-locating abroad

How to: Make Magic with Wooden Pallets

There has been an up rise in the popularity of home DIY projects; recycling old materials to make new decorations and furniture- and why not? It means that your home is filled with one-of-a-kind features and it will most definitely be cheaper than buying brand new furniture.

One trend I’ve noticed is the use of recycling wooden pallets. It’s amazing to see what people have managed to create out of something that’s normally just used to support heavy goods in a stable fashion. Whether it’s inside or for outside the home, there are endless possibilities.

Sofas

If you have a futon or perhaps cushions from either an old sofa, then you already have nearly everything you need. You have the option to choose the height of the sofa, depending on the atmosphere of the room

In this example the sofa is lowered, yet still offers some storage space for books/magazines or anything you want underneath. So think how much you could store if it was raised by one more pallet.

Shelves

You can make at least 3 shelves from just one pallet; just cut it by every two slabs, then remove a slab from one side:

Although they may not have as much surface space as other shelves, these could be used to display lots of little things such as ornaments & photos.
Because of the simple structure, wooden pallets at fantastic for stacking things; sometimes you don’t even have to change anything – just hang the pallets on the wall and they can become a bike or shoe rack!

Coffee Tables

This is possibly one of the simplest bits of furniture to be made from a wooden pallet. Simply sand it, paint it, add wheels or legs, and (if you like) a glass surface.
Although the glass isn’t necessarily essential, it can most definitely put the finishing touch on it. Again – if you used two pallets to make the coffee table it would leave more room for some storage underneath.
In my opinion, pallet beds are the sturdiest ever. Well, they are made to support heavy goods, after all. Well-made beds can also be very expensive nowadays so it’s a great way to re-decorate your home on a budget.