Have you considered a job in nursing?

With everything that has happened over the last 18 months, the role of a nurse has come even more into the focus of many. They have been able to see what an important job it is and how rewarding it can be. Although it is rewarding to be able to see how you have helped someone, unfortunately it is a role that is often under paid and underappreciated.

If you are considering becoming a nurse then you will need to think about what part of nursing you want to go in to. You may choose to go in to midwifery for example or in the paediatric department. As with many professions within the medical industry, you may have to work long shifts during various times of the day. This may not be suitable to your current lifestyle if you have young children, so it may be something that you choose to do later in life.

It is important to understand exactly what your job entails. There is paperwork that needs to be completed and you need to be able the right people skills to work with people of all different backgrounds and level of understanding. You will also need to be organised and be able to think quickly in stressful situations.

Looking for work as lockdowns restrictions are eased

Lockdown restrictions across England have been relaxed over the last couple of weeks and the country is starting to try to return to some sort of normal, albeit a bit of a different one.  If you have found yourself out of work over the last 12 months then you may have decided that you were going to wait until restrictions were lifted to look for a new career. Perhaps you took on some temporary work just to bring in some money but now you want to look for something that this going to be more of a career than just a job.

If you do not have the qualifications to go straight into the job you want then you will need to either go to college or university or do on the job training towards a qualification such as an NVQ, if that is possible. Although you may worry about having to go back in to education, often it is worth it as once you have qualified not only can you apply for the job you have always wanted but you should be able to get a better paid job too. Take the time to think carefully about any career change to ensure that you make the right choices.

How to get back into a good work routine

So many people are still off on furlough or are still working from home. This means that for many, work life has been somewhat disrupted for well over 12 months now and when the time does come to return to work or to a usually working pattern it may b every difficult to adjust. Some people are already feeling anxious about the return to work. It may be that you have got quiet used to working from home on your own and are worried about getting back in to working with others. It may be that you are worried about catching Covid or about how everyone is going to treat each other.

Almost everyone that has suffered a disruption to their work life will have some concerns but the best way to deal with them is to face them. You could also talk to your employer about a phased return (which many are going to offer anyway) where you will work from home some days and then work from the office. This may be gradually built up over time to allow you to get used to a new normal again. You may find that you have the opportunity to continue working remotely long term if this is something that can be done easily.

Are you looking for part time work?

If you have recently found yourself in a position where you need to find work you need to consider carefully what hours you can do. If you have to fit in around school drop offs and pickups or other commitments then you may only be able to work part time. Part time working hours can vary from about 10-15 hours per week up to around 25 hours per week. It may be that the working hours are for full days but only a few days a week or you may be required to work shorter days throughout the whole week or the majority of it. Depending on what the job is, you may be able to choose the hours you work to allow you to fit it in around your other commitments.
If there is a full-time job that is advertised that you want to apply for, you could approach them and ask them if they would consider a part time position instead. Some companies are happy to do this as long as you can work every day for a few hours or four out of the five for example. It is important to remember that when you are part time you will only be entitled to holiday pay that has been accrued based on the time you have worked.

How to motivate yourself when working from home

Working from home is not always easy. Many people already work from home due to the nature of their jobs but millions of others are finding themselves still working from home due to the pandemic. It can be very hard to be productive and stay motivated when working from home as there are often a lot more distractions. It can be very easy to get enticed into doing housework, spending time in the garden or having a friend round for a coffee. Although it is good to take a break sometimes, you do need to ensure that you have set times for working and for breaks. People that are most productive set themselves working hours and schedule in breaks and lunch. If you need time to do other things in the home such as housework then you should either set aside one morning or one whole day when you don’t do work or try and do it in the evenings and weekends.

Lots of people need quiet when working, so it is advisable to find somewhere in the home that you can work without interruptions. If there are other people in the house, then explain to them when you need to be left to work.

Are you considering getting into the health care sector?

Over the last 12 months the health care sector has been at the forefront of our minds a lot of the time. NHS staff, medical staff and care workers have had a tough job and have often had to put themselves on the front line to look after patients. The NHS are often on the look out for new staff and often offer incentives to attract people into certain roles. This year many companies have also given front line staff discounts at food outlets, clothing retailers and supermarkets as a thank you for the hard work they have been doing. If you are considering getting into a profession that involves working for the NHS then you need to think carefully and ensure that you can commit to the job. You are often required to work shifts and this could include working throughout the night. If you have young children this may not be possible or convenient. Not all jobs require you to work nights but it is important to check what sorts of hours you may have to work. You may also need to go to university or college for a number of years to train before you have the qualifications to start working. This can be a huge financial strain, but after you have completed your training you may be able to earn more that you did in previous jobs.

Are you still able to work during lockdown?

Over the last 12 months, the rules regarding working have changed a lot so it is no surprise that lots of people are unsure as to whether they should be working or not. At present the UK is in its third lockdown. During this time everyone that can work from home should be. Those that are key workers such as medical staff and teachers etc can still work although the schools are not open to everyone.

If you are having to work from home you may also have children who you are having to hike school. This can make working really difficult and you may be struggling to manage both. It is important to talk to your employer and explain if you are struggling. They should be very understanding at this time as many people are in the same situation. It may be that you only need to work for a few hours a day or that you can do some of your work in the evening freeing up time during the day for you to help your children with their homework. The furlough scheme is still running so you may be offered to be furloughed for a period of time.

Can you still ask for a pay rise during these tough times?

Many people may be wondering if it is still ok to ask for a pay rise at work during the Covid pandemic? You may be in one of the industries that has really boomed and having to work harder than you did before so therefore think that you have the right to a pay rise. These are unprecedented times at the moment and employers are very cautious to make any changes with the unpredictability of the economy. They are unlikely to be handing out pay rises at the moment but if you show that you are being a good worker you may get rewarded with a pay rise or promotion when things start to return to normal a bit. If you are having to work a lot of extra hours then you could ask if it is possible to earn some overtime’s as this will only need to be paid when the work is flowing.

If you are not having to work much extra but are struggling for money then it may not be a pay rise that you are entitled to. It may be that you need more financial help from the government, in which case you should look in to universal credit or help towards bills.

Looking for employment at this difficult time

Getting a new job can be problematic in normal times but in the current climate it is an extremely challenging task. There are however ways to increase your chances of success and find employment if you are willing to put effort into the task.

The first thing to do is to register your interest in employment with businesses by sending out a well written and relevant CV. This should be tailored to the role you are interested in if possible. Target employers who may be recruiting staff such as large retail, manufacturing and caring as these employers are still operating relatively normally. It is important to be as flexible as possible regarding working hours as this will make your application more attractive.

If you are successful and are offered an interview then do plenty of research into the company and the role so that you can talk knowledgably about the business and the company ethos and ask questions that are pertinent to the role.

Should you be unsuccessful in your search for employment consider whether you have a skill that you could use if you were self employed such as designing and making items to sell or upcycling furniture. You never know it could be the beginning of a whole new chapter in your working life.

Teacher or teaching assistant which is right for you?

If you decide that you want to work with children in education in some capacity two of the careers you may look at are teaching or working as a teaching assistant. Both of these choices involve working closely with children in the classroom, helping them to achieve their potential academically and a certain amount of planning and record keeping but the main difference between the two roles is the level of responsibility and accountability that is required.

If you decide that you want to train as a teacher then it is necessary to study to degree level in a chosen subject whereas a teaching assistant should have a good standard of education and possibly a vocational qualification for some roles. A higher-level teaching assistant would generally need to have studied for a level three BTEC in a subject relevant to education.

One of the main differences in these two career paths is the level of pay that each role attracts. A teacher, once qualified earns considerably more than a teaching assistant and has the benefit of better job security and pension benefits however if you want to work in a school but do not want to take on the pressures that many teachers have to deal with perhaps a job as a teaching assistant would be a better choice.