W&F Issue 10 2018

www.wealthandfinance-news.com 32 Wealth & Finance International - Issue 10 - 2018 A book published this year by Edd (correct) Williams charts how “the path to self-knowledge can be difficult” – and that is what you need to find the right job or niche. The author, a career consultant and failed comic book artist, says: “I wanted to be a comic book artist when I was younger but, try as I might, I simply wasn’t good enough. “The point is that you need to understand who you are and where your abilities and interests lie.” He lists the keys to self-development and finding work fulfillment as: understanding your aptitude (natural talent), your skills (expertise), and interests (“the feeling of wanting to know about something or someone”). He adds: “Skill is an aptitude that has been developed… Having an interest in a subject is how we can begin to define where your skills and aptitudes may take you.” In recent years people increasingly work on a project basis, so their job contracts are for a limited time only – the length of the project. Fewer people have long-term contracts. No one has a job for life (as long as they and the company they work for remain efficient and orderly). So how do you “get the career you want and the life you deserve”? The first two questions to ask are: Where do you want to fit in – a big company or a small company? And, if money were no object, what job would you choose? Having been a careers adviser in schools for a couple of years, it’s clear to me that most people have little idea of what a wide range jobs are on offer in big sectors like engineering, There you could be anything from a PR, to a nurse, to a cook or a graphic designer – in addition to more technical roles as a mechanical or civil engineer. The services also provide a wide range of jobs and also training – for example you can train as a civil engineer in the Royal Navy. The Army, Navy and Air Force also require many different types non- operational, support staff. To find out more about opportunities in smaller businesses you are advised to attend one of the many local networking groups in your area. The paid for groups usually let you attend a couple of meetings for free, so try a local Chamber of Commerce, or (in the south east) Fabulous Networking. Social media provides a more open but random entry into the world of work. Probably the best of them for jobs is LinkedIn, which is a well-known market for recruiters and job seekers. If you are prepared to pay for help there are experts on LinkedIn who can improve your profile and make it more attractive to employers. Opportunities abroad English is still the language of business and there is a huge market for native speakers to teach in businesses and in colleges abroad. This provides a great opportunity to travel and earn money at the same time. But first you need to train and get a diploma, either with the Cambridge-led CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) or with Trinity College London. Teaching English abroad is fun and rewarding, as well as challenging, as long as you enjoy working with and managing people. And your adult clients will usually want to learn English for their jobs, so they are on your side and more dedicated to the task of learning than students. This adventurous but structured approach to work can look good on your CV if you return to the UK after a few years. Alternatively you might succeed as a teacher, and even set up a teaching agency in this multi-billion pound international industry. Had I known about the joys of teaching English abroad after leaving university, I would have jumped at the chance to expand my experience, earn money and travel. In any case I enjoyed a few great years teaching English to Turkish businesses in Istanbul – so I became an exporter in a small way. The world of work in the UK and abroad has a great deal of offer. Seek and you will find. It’s never too late to search, train and find a new niche. Nick Keith is the author of “Feel it as a man: a fool’s guide to relationships” (£14.99, Panoma Press), which includes a chapter on Niches, and is available at Amazon, on Kindle, and in all good bookshops Nick Keith explores the world of work and advises how to discover the right job for you Finding your niche