Simon Thompson on Flight attendants might look like they have one of the most glamorous jobs out there, but as with every position in the tourism sector there’s a heap of hard work going on behind the scenes.
It’s a customer service job. On a plane. Read More
Simon Thompson on Designing, developing and running training schemes is at the heart of the job, but there’s budget management and report-writing to be done too. And appraisal work is a large part of the job – delivering training is one thing, but gaining feedback on its effectiveness is equally important. Read More
Simon Thompson on HR officers need to know two things inside out – people and employment law. If you don’t ‘do’ people, you’ll struggle to succeed in HR. And how the law applies to those people is the major area of the job.
Confidentiality is key for officers as they’ll often be counselling employees who have work-related or personal problems (and sometimes both). Overseeing the company’s pay, benefits and health and safety policies is another responsibility, as is recruitment. Read More
Simon Thompson on HR consultants usually work for recruitment agencies and their work involves a mix of sales and match-making.
HR consultants will cold call firms looking for new business, maintain good relationships with existing clients, interview and evaluate job seekers, match candidates with vacancies, negotiate fees, keep all recruitment records up to date and meet targets set for new business brought in and vacancies filled. Read More
Simon Thompson on HR administrators are the cogs that ensure a company’s HR machine is working smoothly.
They’re the first contact point for employees and other companies and will have a hand in pretty much every area of HR. From working on contracts and HR databases, to helping with job adverts and recruitment agency liaison to organising interviews and making sure all the relevant letters and emails have been sent and phone calls made, HR administrators do the lot. Read More
Simon Thompson on Compensation and benefits managers are the people who sort out all the things that tempted employees into the job in the first place – the salaries and bonuses, profit-sharing, company cars, pensions, life assurance and medical insurance.
This is a real people-person job allied to a need for some serious legal and financial knowledge. You’ll be looking after an employee’s best interests, advising management on issues relating to them and their workforce, and easing new people into their job, while ensuring that leavers know exactly what they will receive when they move on. Read More
Simon Thompson on Plumbers have proved to be pretty recession-proof recently and with good reason – no building large or small is complete until it’s plumbed in, and honest, reliable and flexible plumbers are always in demand.
The work is varied, often involving emergency call-outs as well as large-scale construction projects. But all plumbers need to be fast-learning problem-solvers who are good with people. Read More
Simon Thompson on Electricians aren’t all plug-changers and re-wirers. In fact, the electrician trade can be broken down into three distinct categories, with installation electricians testing and installing lighting, fire or security systems; maintenance electricians testing and maintaining commercial or industrial equipment; and production electricians who build appliances from often-complex wiring blueprints.
So while one electrician will be re-wiring a house, another will be on a building site laying cables and a third will be installing a CCTV system. All, however, will be practical, good at understanding detailed instructions, analytical and mathematically minded and unafraid of either heights or confined spaces. Read More
Simon Thompson on Builders are far removed from the stereotype of the overweight wolf-whistler of old. They’re skilled, adaptable and often highly specialised.
Main areas of construction include housing, repair and maintenance and non-residential or commercial property work. Read More
Simon Thompson on Operations managers ensure a business runs as smoothly as possible from day to day.
Their work revolves around recognising and implementing methods to boost efficiency and productivity and duties include responsibility for a company’s logistics, employee supervision, preparing budgets, improving working environments and reviewing client and customer relationships/satisfaction.
A good operations manager creates an environment where teamwork, creativity and energy are valued and nurtured, so excellent communication, decision-making and leadership skills are a must.
