Get career confident
Friday 6 October 2006
Is your job getting you down? Do you reckon that your dream career is out there waiting somewhere? Is your ideal job within sight but just out of reach?
Take a look at a few ways in which you can give your working life a boost.
Room at the bottom
If you've got quite a lowly position in a company and it's getting you down, try and look ahead rather than wallow in your own misery. If you want to progress, try and find out how you can do just that.
Maybe you need further training or some qualifications to move onto the next level? Is this something your boss or manager would be willing to fund? You might not feel like asking, but if you do, any employer is probably going to be impressed by you showing a little initiative.
Everybody's got to start somewhere, but how far you get is up to you.
Mean boss
It's a fact of life that we can't get on with everybody all the time, and if you clash with your boss, it can make your working day a misery.
If your boss is a bit of a meanie or a hothead, try and make sure that you don't give him or her any reason to hang the blame on you. Make sure you're on time, dressed appropriately and a hard worker. Don't let your boss's attitude get to you; it's not worth it. As long as you're doing your job, you've got nothing to worry about.
If your boss is abusive, it might be worth letting their superiors know. Don't let yourself get drawn into petty arguments with colleagues; you're better than that and it will only make your day unbearable.
Not sure what to do
Maybe you're in a job and not sure what you want to do for a career.
Although there can be pressure on you to get a job once school is over, you don't have to have your future career plans all mapped out straight away; some people take years to work out what the right job for them would be.
If you're stuck for ideas, try and think of the sort of jobs you could so that combine the things you're good at with the things you enjoy. Think about getting further training or specialised careers advice from Connexions.
Out of work
If you're unemployed, it can be easy to lose heart and get down about not having a job. Use the time you have wisely and do plenty of research into finding the right job for you.
Why not take up some voluntary work a few hours a week? It's a good way of meeting people and you might make some interesting contacts which lead to a paid job.
