Scottish Careers Week takes place next week (November 7 to 11), offering the perfect platform to help people of all ages thinking about job prospects.
The campaign comes at an important time for people across the country.
The cost-of-living crisis, the ongoing fall-out of the pandemic and the climate emergency are all factors which are making many individuals re-evaluate their career choices.
Skills Development Scotland (SDS) is the agency leading Scottish Careers Week.
It is responsible for running the country’s career service, which is open to all kinds of people and not just for school pupils or those who are unemployed.
SDS careers adviser Allina Osbeck, based in Aberdeen, says Scottish Careers Week is an ideal time to highlight its free support for adult career changers who may be worried about their future.
Useful tips
Allina has various tips of advice for people looking to improve their prospects.
She said: “The main thing to do is keep your eye on the hidden jobs market.
“Up to 75% of jobs go unadvertised and are filled through word of mouth. So, make the most of your connections and networking.
1)We’re delighted to announce Scottish Careers Week is back! Running from 7-11 November, we'll showcasing the wide range of careers support available to people of all ages across Scotland #ScotCareersWeek22 https://t.co/jHrgcccY6q pic.twitter.com/U7cpHhS4NV
— Skills Development Scotland (@skillsdevscot) September 7, 2022
“Make sure your CV is the best it can be. No more than two A4 pages, and triple-check for spelling and punctuation errors.
“There is no need to include personal details like date of birth, just focus on prioritising the most relevant information for the role you are applying for and adjust it for every job you go for so that it’s as bespoke as possible.”
Allina also encourages adult career changers to concentrate on three main areas when it comes to job interviews.
She added: “Can you do the job? Show you have the skills, strengths, qualifications and experience.
“Will you do the job? Demonstrate that you are motivated by what the job has to offer.
“And finally, will you fit in? Highlight your personal qualities and abilities that allow you to work in any team and culture.”
How do you prepare as best as possible for a job interview? https://t.co/tCoSELxHKp #ScotCareersWeek22 #CareerHacks22 pic.twitter.com/1RPl4Hfx0P
— Skills Development Scotland (@skillsdevscot) November 2, 2022
‘Work smarter, not harder’
With job hunting often feeling like a full-time job in itself, Allina also recommends prioritising tasks to achieve the best results when it comes to looking for work.
She said: “Work smarter, not harder. This means prioritising your work, and concentrating on the tasks that will make a real difference.
“Plan a realistic timetable and use other time for things you enjoy like exercising, cooking and meeting friends – all of which can improve physical and mental resilience.
“But as well as this, SDS also offers free support through its careers advisors.
“We will always find a way to help you get to where you want to be in your professional life.”
We’re encouraging employers of all sizes across all sectors to get involved with #ScotCareersWeek22 – you could organise or support a career event, get involved with local schools or showcase your staff! Find more suggestions in our toolkit at: https://t.co/SgcAHnbO5p pic.twitter.com/KNuXSayNfz
— Skills Development Scotland (@skillsdevscot) October 28, 2022
Visit the Skills Development Scotland website for more information.
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