From Law to Teaching

From Law to Teaching Success Story > From: Job To: Job From Law to Teaching “I liked my work, but I feltthere was something more out there for me.” * From Law to Teaching Myles Preston had a career itch that needed to be scratched. So, when he came across a structured training programme that provided the opportunity to explore his ideas, he leapt at the chance. It's not been easy onhis bank balance, but now he truly loves his work. Here's his story. What work were you doing previously? I was a commercial lawyer at a top-50 law firm. I'd spent six years in Law. Prior to this, I'd spent just under a year on the Sky Finance Graduate scheme, which I'd realised was definitely not for me. What are you doing now? I'm a faculty coordinator at a school in South London. In short, I'm in charge of the behaviour, attendance, welfare and safeguarding of nearly 200 11-16 year olds. In addition, I teach History at the school and am taking on additional responsibilities from September. Why did you change? I'd always had an itch to teach. I'd come across the Teach First Leadership Development Programme and thought it looked like a great opportunity to see if teaching was for me. I wanted to see if I could make an impact in a school within a deprived area. The programme lasts for two years and helps candidates forge links with other sectors, so I thought it could be a great way for me to take a 'sabbatical' from the law and discover if teaching was what I really wanted to do. When was the moment you decided to make the change? To be honest, it came out of nowhere. I wasn't unhappy in my job as a lawyer. I was doing well, worked with a great team and felt comfortable. I just thought that I might enjoy a change. Are you happy with the change? I'm absolutely delighted. So few people get to say that they love their job and I'm one of those people! I always used to say that law was a 'seven or eight out of ten' job. It was intellectually stimulating and challenging, but I primarily worked within contract law, which isn't always the most interesting. The key difference for me now is that every day is different and I constantly have to reflect on the decisions I make. I also love the physical nature of the job â€" I'm always on my feet at school and there is never any opportunity to be lazy! What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss focusing on the attention to detail required to be a successful lawyer. For example, I miss the intellectual stimulation I used to get from making minor amendments to a contract that would make a huge impact on a deal. Then again, many of the commercial contracts I worked on as a lawyer were very similar. In some ways, this was empowering as it meant that I knew what I was doing and what advice to give. On the other hand, it could become quite dull doing the same thing over and over again. I miss feeling like I know a lot about what I do! I'm never 'comfortable' as a teacher â€" there's always something new to reflect on and learn. I miss my old team and enjoy meeting up with one of the partners that I used to work for. I left on good terms and enjoyed working with them. I don't miss sitting at a desk for hours on end! I'm a very physical person and this is the first job I've ever had that doesn't require lots of sitting down, which I love! How did you go about making the shift? I simply applied for the Teach First Leadership Development Programme, a year in advance of starting it. Once I'd completed the application and had been successful at the assessment centre, my partner and I had a year to figure out if teaching was truly a viable option. In addition, if your application for the programme is successful, you have to complete preparation work before you start teaching. This included spending a week in a secondary school, which I did while I was still working as a lawyer (using a week's leave). Once I'd done this, I knew that it was worth pursuing a career in education. What didn't go well? What wrong turns did you take? I didn't truly consider the financial impact of having eight weeks of not being paid. This was the time between leaving my post as a lawyer and getting my first pay cheque as a teacher. Although the Teach First programme is a salaried training route, you're not paid during the six-week Summer Institute that you have to do before you start in your placement school. The financial strain on my partner (who was still paying London living costs at the time) was substantial. How did you handle your finances to make your shift possible? This was the biggest issue. I took a substantial pay cut to go into teaching. Although I'm not driven by money, it was nonetheless daunting; an unqualified teacher's salary (what you're paid in your first year of of the programme) is substantially lower than what a lawyer earns. Therefore, I began saving for about six months before starting my teaching job. Then, my partner and I moved out of our flat in an affluent area of North London and found somewhere more affordable in South London, near where I would be teaching. However, this still wasn't enough to make it bearable! I have completely changed my lifestyle since I quit the law. I now love the lifestyle that I lead (for example I no longer drink and am very much focused on keeping fit), but at first it was a bit of a culture shock. That said, Teach First funds the entire Postgraduate Diploma in Education and Leadership (PGDE) â€" internationally recognised and worth double the credits of a PGCE. This can be topped up to a Masters at a reduced cost. What was the most difficult thing about changing? Working with young people in a tough South London school is extremely challenging, particularly when you're coming from a corporate background. However, the biggest challenge for me was developing my subject knowledge. I had to hit the ground running, and it was tough as I'd spent the last six years of my life becoming an 'expert' in Law. When I first began teaching, my days of studying History seemed a long time ago, so ensuring that I was able to stay one step ahead of my pupils was essential. What help did you get? My team within my school were (and continue to be) outstanding. I know that if I need anything, they're always there to assist. In addition, the academic support that I got from University College London (where I did my PGDE and am doing my MA) was brilliant. My tutors helped me think about History teaching in ways that I would never have considered without their intervention. I've had access to three dedicated support links â€" a professional mentor (at the school), academic tutors (at university) and one-to-one coaching from Teach First. What resources would you recommend to others? Go to any Teach First talks / seminars. They're great at providing prospective teachers with a platform to develop their career and leadership skills. What have you learnt in the process? That it's usually worth following your gut. It's been risky, but also rewarding. I liked being a lawyer, but I felt as though there was something moreout there for me and that teaching would tick a lot of boxes. I've never looked back since then. It's a great career. What do you wish you'd done differently? I wish I'd spent more time reading what the GCSE History curriculum entailed before starting at my school. I'd assumed that it would be 'easy' to teach GCSE History as I'd got an A* in it, but it's completely different to when I did my GCSE! What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Plan before you take the plunge! If you think teaching is for you, go and have a look round schools first. Talk to people who have made the switch. Ask about the challenges that they have faced. Thanks to Teach First for this story. Find out more at www.teachfirst.org.uk/our-programme/change-careers-teach. What lessons could you take from Myles's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

How to Get Better at Resume Writing Skills

How to Get Better at Resume Writing SkillsWhen you first begin the process of finding a job, or simply want to improve your resume, you may be wondering how to get better at resume writing skills. There are some things that you need to know, but the good news is that you do not have to stop there. The more you practice and learn, the better you will become.First of all, don't be afraid to ask questions in your resume. You should also be aware that you don't need to have everything spelled correctly. If something is hard to understand, then simply explain what you mean by it.When you're looking to improve your resume writing skills, you will want to make sure that you use simple language that describes your experiences. After all, what you are looking for in an employer is someone who can provide you with the information that you need for the position you are applying for. This way, they can be certain that they are reading the truth.When it comes to the formatting of your resume, rem ember that you don't have to stop when you reach the part of the job you are applying for. Start right where you left off in your previous applications and try to make sure that the paragraphs are consistent. Your resume is meant to sell yourself and your skills and experience, so keep it simple, and you'll be fine.Another way that you can learn how to get better at resume writing skills is to make sure that you use words that are descriptive instead of outright sales. For example, instead of simply saying that you enjoy playing sports, consider stating the fact that you play several different sports. In this manner, you will be able to make it easier for an employer to visualize you being hired for that position.While these tips may seem helpful, you may be wondering how to improve your resume writing skills when the person actually reads it? The best way to do this is to write your resume on paper, and let it go through a spell check. Once the material is ready to be printed, you can continue working on your skills.Speaking of skills, it is important that you learn how to write right so that you are not wasting your time trying to find the right words. When you are looking for the right words to convey your ideas, remember that you should focus on those that express the most. It's important that you use all of the available resources to make sure that you are making your resume as clear and concise as possible.These tips are just a few ways that you can learn how to improve your resume writing skills. Keep practicing, and you'll soon find that you can write a resume that is well-written and to the point.

Top 10 LinkedIn Groups Job Seekers Must Join

Top 10 LinkedIn Groups Job Seekers Must Join The beauty of LinkedIn is that it allows the employer and/or recruiter to find you instead of the other way around. By keeping a high profile, you will be noticed and contacted sooner rather than later. You keep a high profile by being active, joining groups and getting involved in discussions. Joining relevant groups on LinkedIn allows you to extend your personal brand and also reach out to more people as you can contact any group member directly. Groups are useful for news postings, discussion boards, updates in general, networking, questions and answers and so forth. So what groups should a job seeker join? Well, recruiters trawl a lot of groups but as a rule of thumb you want to go for the big and established ones. You can join up to 50 groups and it’s all free. These are the LinkedIn groups you have to join (all clickable links): 1. A Job Needed â€" A Job Posted   The title says it all, claims to be fastest growing, and the most productive group in the career and recruitment segment. About 9k members at the moment. 2. Career Change Central A group for job changers and people in career transition to meet in a central place with recruiters, hiring managers, and career coaches. 3. CareerLink Network Takes a more holistic approach to your career and life, helping you with spiritual and personal growth. 4.  Corporate Recruiters A group for corporate, on in-house if you will, recruiters. Joining this will hopefully get you in direct contact with companies. 5. Executive Suite A massive group connecting executives and recruiters mainly in the US. It even has its own newsletter. 6. Job Openings, Job Leads and Job Connections Another group with a self explanatory title and also the biggest LinkedIn group of them all. 7. Jobs Alert Provides career opportunities at middle and senior level of management in companies across the globe. Focused on India, the UK and the US. 8. Linked:HR A group for managers, corporate recruiters, headhunters, HR folks and now you. Claims to be the biggest HR group on LinkedIn and the most active for discussions. 9. Personal Branding Network A group by Dan Schawbel about how to use your brand for your job search and career in general. 10. Undercover Recruiter Our very own group where we invite you to ask any questions about  careers and recruiting. Good luck with your LinkedIn Groups and happy networking! Related: How Business Recommendations on LinkedIn Can Help Your Job Search. Image: Shutterstock

Social Innovation How Cision Cuts Through the Noise

Social Innovation How Cision Cuts Through the Noise Its difficult not to drown in the vast, fast-moving  sea of content out there. We know that using social media is key for employer branding, but if youre trying to sell your company as a great employer, and reach potential candidates natively, youve got to have a strategy in place thatll get your messages noticed. Ive spoken to Michelle Dziuban, Social Media Manager of Cision to find out how a global leader of PR software uses social media innovation  to steal  the spotlight. Listen to our conversation below, or read on for a summary of our chat. And be sure to subscribe to the Employer Branding Podcast. Tell us  about Cision and what you do there? I am the social media manager here at Cision, which is a software and services company for communicators and marketers. Our software includes really four key elements. Number one, we offer a searchable influencer database for influencer marketing and media relations. We also have distribution and engagement functionality from press releases, to email distribution, to social media management and content marketing. We also offer media monitoring from traditional broadcast and print, to online and blogs, to social networks, comments, and forums. And then lastly, we have an insights team here who, they are a team of analysts who provide in-depth information on a brands health and performance. So were really all about the full circle of helping you tell a story. What social channels are most important to Cision? You know, as a B2B company, our main focus is Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook. Ive also really been trying to revamp our Instagram and been focusing there as well.  Some things that, you know, were not quite too sure about at this time; Snapchat. That is something that I am definitely paying close attention to. What content can we expect to see in Cisions weekly Facebook Live broadcasts? Our SVP of Products, Heidi Sullivan and I have been kind of running the show so far. Last week, we did a 20-minute chat about news-jacking and why news-jacking is a great marketing tactic and how brands can get started. One week we talked about influencer marketing. Weve also live streamed a webinar that we had going on here in our Chicago headquarters. One time, I did a quick tour of our office, and that was actually my test run. I was planning to go live for the first time during that webinar here at Cision, and I thought, You know, maybe I should kind of learn the ropes a little bit before I just jump right in. So I thought, Why not give a quick tour of our Chicago office? Tell us about your newsjacking campaigns? Something that  we started doing when I joined in January, when I joined the team, was we really took over this news-jacking thing. So just before I joined, we started getting involved in the political conversations and using our software to monitor, Hey, what are people talking about regarding the presidential candidates? Who are they, you know, favouring? Whats the sentiment? And we kind of predicted things based on that, and then we would take that data and live tweet it with the election hashtag or the primary hashtag, whatever was going on, and became part of the conversation. We had people reach out to us and said, You know, this is really interesting. We didnt know that you guys were in this space. And as I mentioned earlier on in the chat with you here, we recently acquired Visible Technologies and Viral Heat, which is the social intelligence and social engagement platform. So being a part of these conversations and news-jacking them with our software is a great way to kind of say, Hey, Cisions in this space, and the reach has been great. Then we went on to news-jack events like the Golden Globes, Super Bowl Sunday, and the Oscars andIm trying to remember, during the Golden Globes we got retweeted by Perez Hilton, the reach was unreal from that. .@perezhilton is the top #Oscars influencer on Twitter right now and we’re still 45 mins away from show time! Cision (@Cision) February 29, 2016 Tell us about your employee advocacy program? One of my biggest efforts so far has been rolling out a social media advocacy program. And I launched a pilot program to about 20 sales reps here in our Chicago office, really about using our tools to uncover people that are talking about, you know, buying signals or also to really nurture their relationships with their current clients.  We use our own technology for this, its what I use for my day-to-day. Do you use a corporate hashtag at Cision? For anything around recruitment, we do #PowerYourCareer. Our tagline is Power your story so we tend to use that on our Instagram.  Every Friday, I highlight an employee here at Cision to  show what life is like, and how long employees have been here, and what they do and to get more personal as well, right? We really want to humanise our brand, so what do employees like to do outside of work? You know, whats their life like? We use that hashtag there, and people weve seen, you know, using this #Cision during our webinars, people tweet #CisionWebinar. View this post on Instagram Meet Ponce. How long have you worked here? 30+ years (36 wonderful years this May)! What do you do? Im an Office Services Coordinator. I work with a wonderful team! Im also the cafe barista/manager/confidant! ?? Hobbies/Interests? Gardening ??, backyard bird feeding ?? binge sports watching ??! If you could have any superpower, what would it be? To bottle-up all of the stories convos Ive had with everyone in our Cafe open them up one day when Im marooned on an island! Fun fact: I met my wife Deanna at Cision 36 years ago ?? we both still work here. Also, I once had long flowing hair. #PowerYourCareer A post shared by Cision (@cisionglobal) on Apr 15, 2016 at 10:22am PDT How do you measure ROI? Its really a few things. We look at Cisions mindshare and share of voice in our industry. So, you know, how are we comparing to our competitors? We look at lead gen and customer satisfaction.  Thats the thing with social media. People think, Well, how many followers do you have? And its, No, it doesnt matter, right? Its not just about that. You know, were looking at click-through rate, engagement, mentions, mindshare, like I said. So its a mix of things. And I do that report every month, and its really interesting to see, you know, how the needle turns month over month. What technology does your team use behind the scenes? We use our products in-house. So we have our platform called Cision PR Edition, and that is what we use for pulling, you know, all of our mentions, whether its traditional, online, as well as social media and those forums and comments and so forth.  We also use Visible Technologies for our insights for social listening. And then for engagement, for scheduling, one of our more recent acquisitions is Viral Heat, and we use that to schedule all of our posts. Whats the next big thing for Cision and the industry? If I had to guess, live video. I think, you know, weve seen it. People have been talking about it for a while now, but I really truly believe that this is the year for that.  People dont want polished and scripted messages anymore. They want authentic and real, and they want to see behind the scenes, and they want to know what brands are about. And I think live video can really do that for us, and Im super excited to see where its going to take the industry and how brands can leverage it. Follow Michelle on Twitter @Dziubs  and subscribe to the Employer Branding Podcast.

What to Put on a Resume For First Job

What to Put on a Resume For First JobWhen looking for the next job, there are many applicants vying for each job, but what to put on a resume for first job is often one of the most important aspects that candidates think about. By not focusing on it early in the process, you can end up wasting your time, money and energy.Typically, it is assumed that all people who apply for jobs have done their research and know what to put on a resume for a first job. However, most of them do not. Therefore, if you don't have an idea of what to put on a resume for a first job, here are some suggestions for you.Company education: Don't include only your current school's or employer's certificate in your education section. For the purposes of resume writing, it is preferable to include both of these, as well as any credits or diplomas your prospective employer may require. It is also recommended to include details about your current employer's training, education and/or experience. This will increase your chances of being considered for the job.Work experience: There are many methods of assessing work experience, which can make your resume tough to decipher. Nonetheless, when writing a resume, try to include relevant work experience. It may take more time, but this method can really give you an edge over other applicants.Skills: In this regard, keep in mind that you need to be specific with what you include in your skills section. There is no point putting down the basic skill of 'seeing colors' and then showing your eyesight as a disability. Instead, list all the different kinds of skills you possess in order to distinguish yourself from other applicants.Recommendations: Provide references inyour recommendations section. Of course, don't include yourself as your own reference. However, if you can include at least one of your references in your references section, it is still advisable to do so.Experience: It is important to point out your experiences throughout your resume. Wh at are your skills? What do you possess with experience?Ultimately, it is not the company that cares, but the individual. By carefully planning your resume and outlining the skills you possess, you can land the job you want, even if you don't have any previous work experience.

Being a Female Prison Officer in the UK - How2Become Ltd

Being a Female Prison Officer in the UK - How2Become Ltd In the 12-month period of June 2015-June 2016, 51% of NOMS (National Offender Management Service) recruits were women; being a female prison officer is more popular than ever. This took the total percentage of UK prison officers who are female up to 37.4%. Of course, this means that more women than ever are now working in male prisons, which entails coming face-to-face with potentially dangerous criminals with violent convictions.This is important because the role of the prison officer has traditionally been a male-dominated one, with female NOMS workers often the victims of sexism from fellow employees and prisoners alike. What’s more, there have been studies conducted into the supposed lesser ability of women prison officers compared to that of their male counterparts, which have found that gender does not affect competence in this role. While it could be argued that such studies shouldn’t have to exist, they seemed to have helped the general public accept that being a female p rison officer is not a disadvantage â€" it is not ‘a man’s job’ â€" clearly, thousands of women have long and successful careers in this profession.Being a female prison officerHowever, it is possible to argue that being a female prison officer puts an individual more at risk from prisoners themselves. Serious assaults from prisoners on staff have trebled since 2012, and prisoner on prisoner assaults went up 28% from 2015-2016. Notable instances of such assaults have included unprovoked attacks on female staff, as seen in Brinsford Young Offenders Institution in Wolverhampton. A lengthy ordeal in which a female officer was tied to a chair even took place in a high security jail in Maghaberry, Northern Ireland. Both of these incidents took place in 2016.Of course, this spike in prison-related violence is a cause for concern, and the government has a duty to look into why this is happening, and how better to protect prisoners and NOMS staff. However, it goes without saying that women will be at the forefront of finding a solution to such problems, which will include female prison officers’ work on the front lines. This represents an important progression in our society, as NOMS continues to become a more gender-balanced government service.For more statistics and information about NOMS, visit the government website.For information about how to become a prison officer, have a look at our resources in this area.For regular information and updates, like How2Become on Facebook. This entry was posted in Career Advice. Bookmark the permalink. Henry Hunter Basic Maths Video Blog â€" FREE Math HelpCivil Service Fast Stream Competencies

Tips to Help You be a Better Business Leader

Tips to Help You be a Better Business Leader Becoming a better business leader is all about the approach you take to business. This is something you have to make sure you get right in order to ensure the company is running as well as it can be. You need to realize what is involved in being the best business leader you can possibly be because this is something that is going to bring you greater success in the future. Running a business can be difficult, and it is important to understand how much stress you are under as a business owner. You need tips and techniques that are going to go a long way toward ensuring you succeed and do a better job as a business leader. Here are a few of the things you need to consider that are going to help with that. Make Sure You Have a Plan It is important to come up with ideas that are going to make things run more smoothly for your business. One of the best ways of becoming a wonderful business owner is to make sure you have a business plan. You need to come up with the best plan you can that will take the company forward and help you be successful, and it will also allow you to develop business safety nets as well. This is something that is going to be your business blueprint, and you will need it as a reference point for the company moving forward. What Can You do to Make More Money? Making money needs to be a focus for your business, and so you have to come up with ideas that are going to help you make more money. Often this starts with how well you are marketing the business moving forward, but there are other things as well. For instance, if you have a business app, you can start monetizing it with a visit to mopub.com. If you have a website or a blog, you should look at ways of generating more revenue through these resources. There are lots of things you can do to improve the business and the amount of money it makes, and you have to get this right. Learn From the Best Never make the mistake of thinking you know everything about business; you can always learn more. This is important because it shows that you are someone who is malleable, and always does what is best for their business. There are people who have done your role for years, with great success, and these are the people you have to learn from. So, you have to make sure you do as much as possible to learn and take advice from other successful people to make yourself a better leader. Becoming a success in the business world is all about the way you manage your brand. You are the leader, and everything goes through you, and this is something you have to make sure you remember. Coming up with ideas to help improve your leadership skills is essential, and these are some of the ideas that will help you achieve that. Being the best business leader you can be will also make your business more successful. Image