A level results day What are your options

A level results day What are your options by Michael Cheary It’s finally arrived After what probably seems like a lifetime of waiting, you’ve reached the culmination of the last two years of coursework, exams and hard work (delete where applicable), and now it’s here:  A level results day.For many, it means finding out whether or not you’ve attained a university place. But for others, there are plenty more choices to consider. So, here are our top tips to help you weigh up the options:I got the grades I wanted to go to universityThe ideal scenario for many when they open the dreaded envelope is that they get the grades they want, and receive an offer from their university of choice.If this applies to you, congratulations (see you back here in three years’ time).How to: Prepare for your first year at uniI got the grades I wanted, but don’t want to go to university right nowAfter all the stress and hard work of the last few months, some people simply want to take a break from education.If this is the case, contact the university directly and ask to defer. Although some will deny your request, most will allow it, and the quicker you contact them the better.However, this decision should never be taken lightly. In order to be accepted for deferment, you will need to justify to your University (and possibly your family) your reasons. Perhaps you want to work for a year to save up for university, for example.An advanced warning though: wanting to spend a year bar-hopping in Ibiza probably won’t quite cut it.How to: Start work after your gap yearI didn’t get the grades I wanted, but I still want to go to universityIf you didn’t do as well as you expected, don’t panic. Even if you didn’t get into the universities you put forward in your UCAS application, alternative routes are available.Clearing â€" Clearing  is a way for universities to fill the available spaces they have left for the academic year. Last year, 55,700 applicants were placed through Clearing. That’s 12% of all uni versity places.A list of Clearing spaces will be available from 8am on results day. The earlier you apply, the greater your chances of success. The Daily Telegraph has a dedicated Clearing app which shows live spaces, to help you keep up-to-date.However, if you’re looking for a particular university or location, it’s always best to check their website for the most accurate and up-to-date list.UCAS clearing: How does it work?For more information on clearing, visit the UCAS websiteRetakes â€" If Clearing isn’t an option, or you have your heart set on a particular campus, then resitting your exams* may be an option.Before you do this, take the time to talk with your tutors in order to deduce why your grades were lower than expected. More importantly, be honest with yourself. Did you really give everything you had, or could you have done better?If your answer for the latter is yes, you can apply to repeat your exams in January or the following summer. If you put the effort in and take the time to study properly, the extra year will be well worth it.*fees will applyA Level and GCSE retakes: Why it’s never too late to resit your examsOther qualifications â€" If you don’t feel like you will do any better should you retake your exams, there are alternative options. 95% of universities will accept more vocational qualifications as an entry requirements, for example OCR Nationals, NVQs and BTEC qualifications, such as a HNC or HND.These qualifications are generally more vocational, combining theory and a practical approach to work and study.Not sure what qualification is right for you? Find out hereThe job I want does not require a degree University isn’t for everyone. And, regardless of your results, there are a number of other options available to help you embark on your perfect career.Apprenticeships, internships and volunteer roles are great ways to get started in a profession, and there are literally thousands available. So whether you just want to buil d some practical experience in a role, or you’re looking to build a career straight away, there’s something out there for everyone.Should I go to University?Apprenticeships for school leaversAside from apprenticeships, there a number of courses available to help your career progression, in subjects ranging from Finance and Accounting through to the Fashion and Beauty industry. Search available courses in your industry to find out more.Still sitting on the fence? Here are some benefits of studyingView all available courses nowI want to travel Similar to those that defer, you may just see this as the perfect opportunity to take some time out from education.A gap year can be a great way to avoid burnout, and ensure that you’re doing something constructive at the same time. From volunteering to learning a new language, there’s a range of opportunities to choose from, and, if you pick right, each can be a great way to set your CV apart later on in your career.The truth about work ing abroadI want to start earning nowFinally, you might just be ready to kick-off your career and start earning. Although this decision should not be taken lightly, working your way up in an industry could be just as lucrative as getting the right qualifications.So, whatever your results, with the right attitude and approach, not to mention a winning CV and Cover Letter, there’s no reason why you can’t take your career where you want it to go.School leaver CV templateSchool leaver cover letter templateReady to start searching for your perfect position? View all of our current vacancies nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the Features Internships apprenticeships School Leavers CV Interview Advice Work experience volunteering

5 Ways Your Business Can Really Give Back

5 Ways Your Business Can Really Give Back Corporate philanthropy is what you make of it. If you genuinely believe that the organizations you care about are best served by your cutting a check every Q4 and nothing more, then you know what you need to do. Chances are high, though, that your company can afford to do more for the nonprofits working in your backyard. Importantly, “doing more” doesn’t necessarily mean “paying more.” Performing tangible acts of philanthropy that actively improve the lives of your community’s most vulnerable members need not require a dramatic reassessment of your business priorities or a permanent financial compromise. How can that be so? Let’s take a look at five ways your business can give back to its neighbors without (only) cutting a check or adopting a 501(c) charter. Host a High-Dollar Fundraiser on Site (Or Pick Up the Tab at a Suitable Offsite Location)  When donating funds isn’t enough, donate space and manpower. Hosting fundraisers at your corporate office puts an under-utilized asset â€" your building, after hours â€" to good use. If your home office isn’t adequate for the event planned, pick up the tab for an offsite gala. Commission Local Artists to Work at Your Headquarters  Forget patronage walls. Support individual artists and artisans directly by commissioning original works for your corporate properties. This corporate arts initiative by steel executive Todd Leebow is a classic example: Leebow tapped a noted Cleveland-area artists to design eye-catching steel sculptures for his company’s new headquarters, adding jobs in the region’s burgeoning creative industry and creating one of Ohio’s most innovative workplaces in the process. Work on a Habitat for Humanity Build  Roll up your sleeves, grab a hammer, and help build a memory to last a lifetime. Habitat for Humanity volunteers needn’t have special training; even your most timid employees will make themselves useful at the build site.  Go All In on a Week (or Month) of Giving  Create critical mass by concentrating multiple philanthropic initiatives into a single week or month of sustained activity. This is a proven way to build momentum around your company’s charity work and get your employees in the habit of giving back â€" a habit they’re sure to carry forward. Empower Your Employees to Work on Causes They Care About  Don’t simply tell your employees how and where they can give back. Let them choose organizations they care about, either individually or as part of an internal philanthropy committee. Then, encourage them to follow through by offering paid time off for approved volunteer work.  Your Community Needs You  The organizations striving every day to make your community a better place need you, not only your checkbook. They won’t refuse the latter, of course, but they’re hoping for more meaningful engagement. As we’ve seen, it may not be as difficult as you’ve imagined to provide that engagement. If you haven’t already done so, spend some time this quarter brainstorming with senior leadership and rank-and-file employees alike. Ask what you can do, as a team, to make your community a better place. Develop an action plan to turn the best ideas into reality in the coming months and years. And then devote the resources needed to execute that plan, just as you’d do for any other strategic priority. Your community is counting on you. Don’t let it down.

How to find a job youll love

How to find a job youll love My homeschool blog is mentioned in the New York Times. Its a small mention, but its a big deal for me, because lately Ive been obsessed with how people learn, and what makes a successful adult. Its appropriate that the Times would link the day I wrote about what my day is like trying to homeschool and work full-time. Its a colossal mess, really. But its a work in progress. When things got really bad me trying to do everything, and me having marriage trouble Melissa said, You need a vacation. So the boys and Melissa and I went to Hermosa Beach. We stayed at a hotel called The Beach House. Its right on the ocean, and its in front of volleyball courts I used to play on when I was on the pro circuit and too poor to stay in hotels as nice as this one. I thought the best part of the vacation would be the hotel. Its dreamy with a perfect balcony and a fireplace, and soft thick towels that I never had to wash. But it turned out that the best part was watching the kids learn. The hotel was the facilitator. The first thing the kids did was line up their Pokemon everywhere so the place felt like home. Then we went to the ocean. I taught them about the undertow, and the way the water rises when a wave comes. And I told them that one kid dies every day in the dangers of the ocean. I made up the statistic, but I think it must be true, in some way. I had this idea that I was not going to go in the water. I had this idea that the kids would be intimidated by the waves. But every time they got knocked over, they loved the waves more. And then I found, so did I. When people talk about their job, they are really talking about their learning. When we say, What do you do? we really mean what do you learn? Because thats what makes a person interesting what they are learning. No one wants to answer the question what do you do if they have a job where they are not learning. Thats how you know its the learning that matters. Ive noticed that when I coach people, they are really looking for a job that will allow them to learn in the area they are most suited to learn. So, for example, an ENTJ (me) learns best while leading people. And an INFP learns best by talking one-on-one to other people. An ISTP (the Farmer) learns best using their hands. (Wondering what your personality type is? Take this free test  (now defunct but hopefully not for long). Im also fascinated by the impact our surroundings have on our ability to learn. So often people blame their surroundings for the fact that they are not learning, and in this case, I think the calm, peaceful surroundings made us our best learning selves. That night, Melissa edited photos, and I sorted links to research I like, and the boys read themselves to sleep, sand still spilling from their hair. The next morning, the kids took ownership of the vacation. I thought we should go back to the beach. We are never at the beach, I told the kids. But my youngest son noticed the bike rental place next door to the hotel. There is such great research about how if you leave kids alone, they will learn what is best for them to learn right at that moment. And I realized, I was seeing that research in action, right now, so I gave up on my idea of going to the beach. We moved to the farm at the time in my sons life when he would have learned to ride a two-wheeler. But we have no roads to ride on at the farm. So he learned on the boardwalk in front of our hotel. He fell 100 times. It was amazing to watch him get back up on the bike, over and over again. It was also amazing to watch people watch him. People passing said, Pedal! Pedal! Thats it! And when he gathered some speed, people clapped and cheered. We all love to learn and we love to watch it. We just have to find our best spot to do it. If you dont know what job you should do next, ask yourself what youd like to learn next. And if you dont know that, ask yourself how you feel most comfortable learning. You were born knowing what youd like to learn at any given moment. When you get stuck, its the shoulds that hold you back what you should be when you grow up, what you should earn, what potential you should fill all the shoulds get in the way of you being who you really are. We are all bike riders falling 100 times in a day.

New paths to a great job

New paths to a great job Of course I have to open this post with something about how stupid college is. Colleges are finally responding to the problem they charge tons of money and then graduates are unemployable and in debt. Colleges are responding by becoming job preparation centers. And Frank Bruni,  opinion  editor for the New York Times, says this is a waste of time and resources. Heres whats better: 1. Skipping college. The real issue we have with admitting that college is not a path to the work world is then we have to ask ourselves why we send our kids to high school. There is plenty of data to show that teens are able to manage their lives without the constraints of school. The book Escaping the Endless Adolescence is  chock  full of data, and a recent article by my favorite journalist, Jennifer Senior, shows that high school is not just unnecessary, but actually damaging to teens who need much more freedom to grow than high school affords. 2. Focus on internships instead of school. Kids should be working in internships in high school. Because the best path to a good job is a bunch of great internships. But great internships dont go to people who need money. They are mostly for young people. Yes, this is probably illegal and classist and bad for a fluid society. But we will not debate that here. Instead we will debate why kids need to go to college if the internships are what make them employable? Kids should do internships in high school and by their college years, they are capable of real jobs where they are doing work that people value, with cash. You cannot take this route if youre saddled with huge student loans. You cant take this route if youre  inundated  by homework in required subjects you dont care about. You cant take this route if you have no work experience when you graduate college. Its too late. (Dont tell me you need to go to school to learn, okay? People just do not believe this anymore.) I was reading the Fortune list of 40 under 40 and I was struck by the career history of Kevin Feige (number 11 on the list). Hes president of Marvel Studios at age 39. He wrote that he interned with the Superman movie director as a film student and that was the last job application he filled out. Thats because if you get an internship with someone great, and your performance is great, your network will cover your employment needs for a very long time. 3. Start a company instead of writing a resume. Im struck by Marissa Mayer (number 3 on Fortunes list) whose announced acquisition strategy  is buying small, cheap companies. Which is, in effect, buying the team. Silicon Valley calls these acqui-hires. She is looking at young people who start companies that are not necessarily successful in terms of product or sales but successfully  market  the founders as visionaries, self-starters, and hard workers. You cant show those traits in school, so if you have those traits, you slow yourself down by going to school where you cannot exhibit your best,  marketable traits. 4. Refuse to present yourself in a linear way. Do any workaround that lets you forgo the linear obsession that LinkedIn has with career presentation. Because linear presentations favor  people  who have long, rule-following careers which dont necessarily make you look good anyway.  I could write a post ten thousand paragraphs long of all the new things people with nonlinear work histories are doing to get jobs. People use twitter as a resume, according to the Wall Street Journal, which requires only that you publish ideas, not any sort of academic experience. Young people are selling stock in themselves    paying out  dividends  for decades at a time. Agents represent workers who pick and choose projects that match them rather than signing on for indefinite amounts of time. The Harvard Business Review calls this supertemping. Business Week calls it going Hollywood. But heres the big takeaway. A fundamental shift is taking place, where the path to getting a job is massively circumventing college credentials. And, at the same time, the American public is fed up with the insane debt that college are expecting new grads to take on in order to graduate. (Good essay: How College Ruined My Life.) If you are not going to school in order to fit into the adult world, then why are you going to school? The love of learning, presumably. But school reform pundits are 100% sure that kids will choose to learn if you put no constraints on them. They will just learn what they want. Best example: The MIT program that gave iPads to illiterate kids in Ethiopia  (pictured above), and they taught themselves to use it, program it, and read it  in English. No teacher.  No curriculum. The biggest barrier to accepting the radical new nature of the job hunt is the reverberations throughout the rest of life. If you dont need school for work, and you dont need school for learning, then all you need school for is so parents can go to work and not worry about taking care of their kids. It takes bravery to go against the grain. Its  difficult  to say that the great learning and the great jobs come from leaning out, doing things in a nonlinear,  non standard  way, and playing only by the rules that fit your own style for personal learning and growth.

No Summer Vacation From Executive Job Search - Executive Career Brandâ„¢

No Summer Vacation From Executive Job Search Maybe you were recently laid off and, besides dealing with all the emotional upheaval, youre worried that summer is the worst time of year to look for a new job. So youve decide not to work too hard at it. You’ll lick your wounds for now and dive in this fall. Or, maybe youve been job hunting for a while and figure youre entitled to take a few weeks off, because no one hires in the summer anyway. But, just as it happened last summer, companies  ARE hiring. Theyre not putting the brakes on, so neither should you. According to a recent article by Joseph Daniel McCool of ExecuNet: Two leading indicators of projected executive job market expansion â€" a monthly forecast of management-level job creation and a separate reading on recruiter confidence â€" suggest continued hiring activity through the summer and fall. Recruiters expect 80 percent of employers to recruit for new management roles or trade up with new hires for existing roles. Now is the time to get your foot in the door and make some connections, while others are out sunning and catching waves, and trying to forget about job search. Competition is less intense. Fewer people will be jockeying to get the attention of hiring decision makers at your target companies. These key people will probably have more free time to speak with you because their staffs will be taking vacations and their schedules will be lighter. Make those calls to employers, recruiters and other hiring decision makers. You’ll be surprised by how many are in the office and available most of the summer. They have jobs to fill and they’ll be sourcing good-fit candidates to slide into them. Your network will probably be more available, too. This is the time to do some more relaxed in-person networking â€" playing golf, informal lunches on the patio, etc. People have more time right now to accept such invitations. And take the time to connect with them on , Twitter and other social networks, too. If you’ve been struggling with these new tools, now could be the perfect time to learn how to best use them. But its okay to relax and recharge a bit, too. Plan out goals for each day. Once youve met them, take the rest of the day off. And give yourself permission to take weekends off. Related posts: How To Land an Executive Job in 2011 Guide for Executive Branding and Job Search Twitter Executive Branding Strategy: The Beauty of a Retweet photo by chispita_666 00 0

MET Police Detective Direct Entry Application Process

MET Police Detective Direct Entry Application Process Detective Constables play an incredibly important role in the day-to-day operations of the police. As high ranking employees in the police force, Detective Constables are responsible for conducting complex investigations, interviewing witnesses and suspects, and leading police-wide improvement efforts â€" in order to guarantee the best level of service to the general public.One of the biggest and most well-known forces in the UK, is the MET Police. The Met Police have recently changed their criteria for hiring Detective Constables. The new system is known as Direct Entry. In this blog, we’ll take you through the Met Police Detective Direct Entry Application process!Direct Entry Application Process â€" Phase 1As we already explained in our previous blog on Met Police Detectives: Direct Entry, the direct entry process is extremely tough to pass. The application process starts with what is known as ‘Phase 1’: Phase 1 of the direct entry application process begins with an online el igibility test. The purpose of this test is help YOU decide whether you are the correct fit for the role. You’ll be asked questions that describe the type of work that a Detective Constable performs on a daily basis, and then asked to confirm that you can meet these requirements. This test will not be marked, and is only there to give you an indication of whether you are the right person for the job. Naturally, the police do not want to recruit someone who quits 2 weeks into the job, as they can’t handle the difficulties. So, pay close attention to your score from this assessment, to check whether this is the role for you!Application FormThe next part of the direct entry application process is an online application form. This requires you to fill in a number of personal details about yourself, and then answer a set of competency related questions. The application form is extremely important for the police. Not only will they use this form to vet you â€" ensuring that you meet th e background criteria to join, but they’ll also analyse the competency responses extremely carefully. These will show the police that you have conducted an in-depth study of the behavioural requirements for the role, and that you have evidence that you can meet them.Online Verbal Reasoning TestFollowing this, you’ll conduct an online Verbal Reasoning Test. This will essentially consist of a number of linguistically challenging questions and problems, which you will need to solve. The purpose of this test is, as you might have guessed, to test your understanding of the English language. Detective Constables must be able to utilise a high standard of grammar, whilst working the role. Amongst other things, there are numerous forms and paperwork to fill out, and you’ll also need to utilise clear and detailed written communication throughout your time working for the police. Grammatical mistakes and unclear language can delay the crime solving process, and even lead to suspects get ting away.Assessment Centre â€" Day 1The next stage in Phase 1 is the Assessment Centre â€" Day 1. This is a gruelling assessment day, where you have to sit not only the standard constable assessment, but also the detective constable assessment. The detective constable assessment is a more challenging and in-depth set of exercises, designed to push potential candidates to their limits. Amongst other tests, you will need to sit:A Numerical Reasoning ExerciseA Report Writing ExerciseA Group ExerciseA PresentationA Verbal Reasoning TestA Non-Verbal Reasoning AssessmentA Face-To-Face interviewAs you can see, the tests that you’ll need to take are extremely varied and complex. This means that you will need to spend a huge amount of time prior to the assessment day, revising for the tests. The better you prepare, the better your chances will be of acing the centre. The interview in particular is something which you need to give full use of your time to. You’ll need to learn the core c ompetencies off by heart, and understand how to utilise them in your responses.Following the first day of the assessment centre, you’ll need to sit another day, Assessment Centre â€" Day 2. During this day, you’ll take part in various medical and fitness tests, and may also be required to verify certain references and security issues.After it’s confirmed that you’ve passed the second assessment centre day, you will be invited to attend the following:Pre-foundation training. This is an initial training period, which lasts for 30 to 40 hours. This period will aim to educate new recruits on their role, and provide them with an in-depth introduction to life as a Detective Constable.Foundation training. Next up, the proper training. The foundation training essentially consists of a mix of classroom training and practical training, all with an investigative focus. You’ll make various visits to police stations, and experience what it’s like to work in CID.Phase 2The second phas e involves candidates actually going to work as Detective Constables in real boroughs. In this endeavour, you’ll be backed and supported by professionals already working in the field, to ensure that you come to grips with the requirements as quickly as possible. You’ll also begin studying for your National Investigators Exam, and following this will complete your Advanced Detective Training. This entry was posted in Police, Career Advice. Bookmark the permalink. 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Video from my keynote in India - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Video from my keynote in India - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I just discovered a short video on youtube from my keynote at this years World HRD Congress in Mumbai India: In my talk, I told the participants that India absolutely needs more happiness at work. Its not that workplaces there are particularly bad, it?s just that the war for talent is still going strong. Indian workplaces are facing some stark realities: Employee turnover among specialists and middle managers is around 20-30%. Annual average pay rises are 12-13%. There is a huge fight to attract newly educated Gen Y employees. In short, Indian workplaces are doing their best to attract the best people, keep them in the workplace and help them perform optimally. The problem is that they?re doing all the wrong things, e.g. wellness programs, bonuses, pay raises, promotions, etc. While there?s nothing wring with any of this, it simply isn?t what makes employees happy at work ? at most it makes them satisfied. In my speech, I tried to focus on what really does make people happy at work ? and therefore more likely to stay in the workplace, more likely to do their best work and more likely to try to convince acquaintances, friends and family to also work there. And it seemed to really ring a bell. Heres some sample feedback from my keynote: ?Your presentation was the best I?ve seen in 20 years in HR.? ?It was really great listening to your talk. I have implemented a lot of it in my life and I can already feel a huge difference.? ?Alexander Kjerulf was the rock star in the World HRD congress this year. He mesmerized participants from 79 countries with a simple yet powerful approach to create a happy work place.? Your take What is your opinion of Indian workplaces? Are people there happy and fulfilled or just going through the motions? Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related