Archive for December, 2008

Make that seasonal job into an ethical career!

December 11, 2008 at 3:59 pm · Filed under ethical jobs ·Tagged , , , , , , ,

The Christmas period can be a big bonus to anyone looking for work. It isn’t just the highstreet shops, pubs and restaurants that will be bowing under the December consumer pressure. Think of the charities that have massive drives over Christmas to feed and shelter the homeless, or the debt charities dealing with people desperate to be able to afford the holidays. You may even wish to spend the Christmas period volunteering with a charity or a community group. This work may not have to end come January, however. If you really impress your employers, you might just be able to score an ethical job on a permanent basis, or at least, be first on the list for consideration when a position becomes available in future. Here’s JuicyJobs.biz’s guide to making the most of that Christmas job.

  1. Work, work, work: The seasonal job will only be for a month at most, so work as hard as you can in that time. Never turn up late, do all of the hours you have agreed to do, and volunteer for more if there are any available. Being keen is the first thing that impresses employers, and it will stick in their mind when a vacancy comes up in the New Year.
  2. Learn as much as possible: Don’t just sit around and stick to the same task because you feel safe with it. If an opportunity comes up, volunteer for other tasks to demonstrate your willingness to learn, versatility and confidence. It also means that if a permanent position becomes available, you already have the advantage of knowledge of more than one aspect of the company.
  3. Make your intentions known: You don’t have to hassle your employer or demand that they offer you a permanent position at the end of your temporary contract, as this will only put them off. It doesn’t hurt, however, to make sure your employer knows that you would be very interested if a position comes up, and, before you leave at the end of the contract, ensure that you remind your employer of this too.
  4. Tackle the Christmas rush: The festive season is the perfect time to demonstrate your calmness under pressure, as whatever company you work for will probably be inundated with work. Keep a cool head and try not to panic if you start to feel swamped; just keep working methodically through it all. This will help you stand out from other Christmas temps as professional and clear-headed.

Looking for a green job or attempting to start an ethical career can be hard, but this holiday season could be a real boost to your employability. Whatever you end up doing over Christmas, make sure you learn something from it that will look great on your CV when the New Year comes. Keep up with the latest vacancies on JuicyJobs.biz in the meantime.

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Rachel Charman, a writer for Juicyjobs.biz Ethical Jobs UK – an environmentally friendly green job search board which offers free job listings to Environmental, NGO’s, NFP’s and ethical companies promoting green, fair trade services and support sustainable living.  For job seekers Juicyjobs can help you find the ideal ethical jobs in London.

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Public sector creates 60% of jobs in last decade

December 11, 2008 at 3:30 pm · Filed under Uncategorized ·Tagged , , ,

The public sector can be great place to find a more ethical job. The sector includes jobs in health and social care, the emergency services, the armed forces, education and much more. It is also particularly heartening to see that the public sector has been growing at an astounding rate in the last ten years.

A report by the Financial Times, published at the end of November, claims that two-thirds of jobs created since 1998 are within the public sector. The report uses figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS), and claims that 900,000 public sector jobs have been created since the beginning of the New Labour era.

The figures may even be higher than the ONS states, the report argues, as some staff are technically employed by private firms although they are entirely funded by the tax payer.

Despite news that public sector spending will be cut during the recession, leading to some job losses in the sector, public sector jobs are still relatively plentiful and the sheer variety offered by the sector makes it an attractive option for anyone looking for a more ethical career.

JuicyJobs.biz reported earlier this year on how public sector careers were, according to a new survey of employees, well paid, satisfying, stimulating and with plenty of opportunity for career progression and development. Nothing indicates that this has yet changed.

If you are interested in a public sector job, there has never been a better time to start. You can find out about job vacancies from your local council centre or their website; help and advice on recruitment and training should be at hand at your local job centre too. Alternatively, you can visit the websites of your local services such as hospitals, schools and so on to research the area in which you wish to work. Remember too that public sector jobs are often posted on JuicyJobs.biz, so keep checking our listings for more great opportunities.

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Rachel Charman, a writer for Juicyjobs.biz Ethical Jobs UK – an environmentally friendly green job search board which offers free job listings to Environmental, NGO’s, NFP’s and ethical companies promoting green, fair trade services and support sustainable living.  For job seekers Juicyjobs can help you find the ideal ethical jobs in London.

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Volunteering jobs will save economy, says charity

December 11, 2008 at 3:07 pm · Filed under Interviews, ethical jobs ·Tagged , , , , ,

Anyone in doubt about the value of volunteering could take into account charity Volunteering England’s latest proposal to the government, issued in early December.

Volunteering England has put a nine-point “recession challenge” to the government, businesses and the voluntary sector, which calls on all to invest in volunteering projects.

The challenge comes ahead of a major meeting with the Office of the Third Sector later in December. The meeting will include representatives from the Office’s 45 strategic partners, who will discuss ways in which the third sector can help fight the recession.

The charity claims that investing in creating volunteering jobs will stimulate the economy. The challenge states that volunteering is often a route to employment for many people, and so in a time of redundancies and recession this could be a valuable tool to boost employment.

Another point made by the charity is that people in volunteering jobs can gain valuable skills otherwise unavailable to them, whilst providing businesses with the cost-effective labour they need to work through the sector. At the same time, the challenge emphasises that voluntary jobs should not replace paid positions.

Chief executive of Volunteering England Justin Davis Smith said: “The economic conditions set up new possibilities for working with volunteers.”

He added that organisations must not reduce volunteering management to cut costs at this critical time.

Volunteering England and other volunteering charities are crying out for people to fill their positions. If you are looking for work, or working but looking to move into a more ethical career, a part-time or even short-term full-time voluntary position can be a great way to start. You can meet useful contacts, gain skills and may be considered first if a paid position becomes available with the organisation you volunteer for. To search for great volunteering jobs, have a look a JuicyJobs.biz extensive listings, and keep up to date with all the latest news.

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Rachel Charman, a writer for Juicyjobs.biz Ethical Jobs UK – an environmentally friendly green job search board which offers free job listings to Environmental, NGO’s, NFP’s and ethical companies promoting green, fair trade services and support sustainable living.  For job seekers Juicyjobs can help you find the ideal ethical jobs in London.

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Credit crunch creates charity jobs

December 11, 2008 at 2:40 pm · Filed under ethical jobs ·Tagged , , , ,

If you are looking to start an ethical career, the midst of a recession may not seem like a good time to do it. Every day, redundancies and repossessions are splashed across the headlines. In early December, however, the dreaded credit crunch has created jobs; in the charity sector.

Birmingham’s National Debtline, which provides support and advice for people struggling in arrears, has been under terrific strain since the recession hit, with demand for help and advice rising to 20,000 callers per month.

The organisation has been forced to begin its largest ever recruitment drive in twenty years, with 60 charity jobs to fill at its Five Ways headquarters. It has been granted £5.85 million from the government to help pay for extra staff over the next two years.

National Debtline is struggling to meet the needs of clients, with phone “ringing off the hook” according to staff, and so is looking to recruit 50 extra telephone advisors and around seven office managers on salaries between £25,000 and £30,000.

National Debtline chief executive Paul Mullins said: “We have helped over 90,000 clients this year, including 8,000 struggling with mortgage arrears.

“There have been various large-scale redundancies announced in the West Midlands and it is important that people know there is support and advice available, including various job opportunities.”

Beccy Boden Wilks, National Debtline press officer, said: “December is normally the quietest period because people are getting ready for Christmas but it’s showing no sign of slowing down this year.

“We are doing our best to cope but the calls are currently at the level they normally are for January, February and March.”

If you are looking to start a charity career, or find a more ethical job, the recession is likely to put debt, redundancy and homeless charities under unprecedented strain. Now could be the best time to start. To find great job opportunities within the charity sector, search JuicyJobs.biz listings, and don’t forget to keep updated on all the latest ethical career news.

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Rachel Charman, a writer for Juicyjobs.biz Ethical Jobs UK – an environmentally friendly green job search board which offers free job listings to Environmental, NGO’s, NFP’s and ethical companies promoting green, fair trade services and support sustainable living.  For job seekers Juicyjobs can help you find the ideal ethical jobs in London.

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Securing your green job: Getting settled

December 9, 2008 at 12:33 pm · Filed under ethical jobs, green jobs ·Tagged , , , ,

So, you’ve made it; through the application forms, references, phone interviews, recruitment workshops, and any other hoops you might be expected to jump through. Once you’re safely through the office door on the first day of your green job, however, there are still good impressions to make that will make your working life much more pleasant as time goes by. Here’s JuicyJob’s handy guide to getting settled in your new ethical career.

  1. Treat the first day like another interview – now is not the time to start scowling, shrugging and generally making no effort. Everyone you meet in your professional life will be more useful to you if you greet them with a smile, a firm handshake and a good attitude. It will pay off later when you need something from them.
  2. Get to know your colleagues – it is a good idea to find out, without being too nosy, how long your colleagues have been with the company, what their backgrounds are, and so on. It is also wise to ascertain any office romances going on to avoid saying something inappropriate. It is always embarrassing to get to the office Christmas party, sit down with your colleagues at the bar, and realise that you have no idea how old they are, what their job role is, or if they are married.
  3. Join in – if everyone is going for coffee, tag along. This gives you a chance to chat and follow up the second point, without interrupting people whilst they are trying to work. It also demonstrates your confidence, friendliness and willingness to be part of a team.
  4. Be keen – There is little point in establishing yourself as a dogsbody, but in your first few days, make an effort to volunteer for things, whether it is a coffee run or an out-of-office trip. Be careful not to take on too much, but this tactic can really help you to shine to your colleagues and superiors.
  5. Don’t whinge – Sometimes, new recruits to a company try the tactic of badmouthing their old employers to prove that they are glad to be in their new company. Avoid this. Negative comments in the office, whoever they are directed at, generally leave people feeling uncomfortable, and your whining will make your new colleagues wonder what you will be saying about them in a few months’ time.
  6. Be open-minded – You may have moved into a similar role to your last, but that doesn’t mean everything will just carry on as before. If you are given a new way of doing things, take them on board in good grace, rather than taking them as a criticism of your practices, and avoid the phrase “we never did it like that at my old company.” You are no longer at your old company, so this is irrelevant.

Keep following these top tips to get you through your first few weeks at your new ethical job, and, meanwhile, keep an eye on JuicyJobs.biz for all the latest industry news; bosses love well-informed new employees!

Author and resource box
Rachel Charman, a writer for Juicyjobs.biz Ethical Jobs UK – an environmentally friendly green job search board which offers free job listings to Environmental, NGO’s, NFP’s and ethical companies promoting green, fair trade services and support sustainable living.  For job seekers Juicyjobs can help you find the ideal ethical jobs in London.

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