36 New Year New You • Lifestyle Resolutions & Personal Development


Looking to the future


If you’re looking for new inspirations, personal development or a career change this year, then there’s much to consider. Words: Barnaby Dracup


Julia Lowder, CEO at post-secondary education provider Computer Systems


Institute (csinow.


edu), explains: “Today’s employers can often expect employees to come equipped with the necessary skills to operate the internal systems and technologies needed to fulfil a certain role.” Current career trends mean that for those


looking to potentially change sectors, it's important that the industry of their choice is up to date with the latest developments. “The technology used in different sectors (e.g.


health care, hospitality, IT) is so varied, that it's now up to colleges to work closely with industries to understand what skills need to be included in a mature student’s curriculum,” says Lowder. “The majority of our study programmes include modules such as interview skills and customer service in order to help those people looking to bolster their personal development or advance their career.” Professor Paul Layzell, principal of Royal


Holloway, University of London (royalholloway. ac.uk), explains: “A change in career involves professional and personal re-invention, which includes gaining knowledge and making new contacts. Enrolling in a degree or course at university


can help people gain the skills,


knowledge and qualifications to launch the next stage of their career. It also gives access to new ideas, leads and networking opportunities.” And, with an ever-changing changing jobs


and careers market, universities, and especially recruiters such as Reed (reed.co.uk), have seen certain trends emerge over the last decade. James Reed, chairman of Reed, says: “We’ve


seen a huge rise in the demand for tech roles in the last decade. Today, some of the most popular tech roles on reed.co.uk include app developer,


New Year New You recommends...


Fun days out for the whole family Mercedes-Benz World There’s so much for the whole family to see and do at Mercedes-Benz World. And what’s more, entry and parking is absolutely free, making Mercedes-Benz World the ideal destination for an adrenalin-fuelled day out with the whole family. Step inside and explore three floors of interactive exhibits and attractions guaranteed to keep everyone entertained such as the high- performance, gripping 4x4 driving adventure AMG Driving Experience. Prices start at only £50. mercedes-benzworld.co.uk


Make 2018 the year to learn French Institut français Is your New Year’s resolution to try something new? Learning French is the perfect way to kick-start your language-learning goals. Part of a worldwide network, the Institut français has been teaching French since 1910 and is the official French government centre of language and culture in London. It offers a wide range of courses either at the language centre or online, and 8,000 students attend every year. institut-francais.org.uk


security analyst and data scientist — all jobs which didn’t really exist 10 years ago.” “At Royal Holloway, we've seen an increase


in the number of people coming to university to study for an undergraduate degree,” says Professor Layzell. “Our law, management and marketing courses are all popular choices for people looking to return back to education to improve their future career prospects. Computer science, economics and psychology are also popular choices for adults returning to education.” Other coming trends look firmly set to include


an increasing demand from the tech industry, but also demand from areas such as social care and an increased need for childcare, as Reed explains: “The tech sector continues to boom, and we anticipate that will continue in 2018. We’re also seeing growth in the social care sector. An ageing population is driving up demand for care assistants, while more full employment means we’re seeing growth in the number of childcare roles on offer.”


For those thinking about moving job sector,


there are many ways to go about obtaining advice, and there's no shortage in terms of options or inspirations for the future. “With people ever more likely to have more


than one career in their life, many universities are aiming courses at adult learners so they can develop their skills in areas relevant to their job, or enable them to start something completely new,” says Professor Layzell. A big career change isn’t a decision to take


lightly. Reed advises: “it’s important that you consider all of your options carefully before you take action. “Once you’ve decided a career change is a viable


solution — you need to work out how to sell yourself to potential employers. Start by making a list of your stand-out skills and experience, and research potential roles that require these abilities — even if it’s only on some small level. The key to standing out when moving sectors is how well you can communicate your skills, no matter what your background is.”


A desk for creativity and reduced stress Yo-Yo Desk Using a standing desk is the single best thing every office- and home-worker can do to put their health on the right track in 2018. For less than £250, a Yo-Yo Desk (as featured on the BBC’s How to Stay Young) is the antidote to sedentary behaviour, which experts now know leads to an increased risk of conditions including diabetes, certain cancers, musculoskeletal problems and heart disease. Workers who spend more time on their feet are also more creative, and suffer less stress: it's a no-brainer! yo-yodesk.com


Strength in turbulent times Quakers We live in turbulent times — whether it’s Donald Trump’s latest tweet or spiralling climate chaos, Islamophobia or rising inequality. Yet for all the trouble in our world, there’s hope in the growing global movement of people rising up to demand a more equal and just world. Quakers believe that from a gathered silence we can each find the strength to be a part, however small, of the movement for global justice. Join us: live in hope, adventure and faith. quaker.org.uk


Saturday 6th January 2018


SUSTAINABILITY TRUTH


EQUALITY PEACE


C In turbulent times... be a Quaker


LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW QUAKERS HAVE DEALT WITH TURBULENT TIMES, AND FIND A MEETING NEAR YOU, AT WWW.QUAKER.ORG.UK/TIMES


M Y CM MY CY CMY K


Q Logo - Mono - All White.pdf 1


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