Advice and Information

Career Advice!

Having children may mean you have had to leave your job, or at least reduce hours, in order to spend more time looking after and caring for your family. In between those daily chores - housework, taking the kids to and from school - taking time out to study for a distance learning degree is the perfect opportunity to open many new doors in your life.

Unlike classroom-based education, online business courses provide a flexible learning arrangement around your undoubtedly busy day. All work can be accessed online anytime, meaning your distance learning course fits around you – not the other way round.

There are no strict term timetables which you have to follow. Mums are free to study at their own pace and work on their assignments in their own time. Personalised tutor support is always just a phone call or email away, and you can even contact fellow students studying the same degree as you via online lectures.

Studying for a distance learning degree between your daily commitments will not only be fun and incredibly rewarding for you personally, but it will also enhance your future career prospects. It is a fantastic and productive way to spend your spare time.

Visit Kaplan Open Learning for more information, where you’ll also find a sign-up sheet.

Career Focus!

Did you miss TheBusinessMums Summit, October 10 2011 at Brighton Thistle with keynote speakers Kate Garraway and Laura Tenison?

If you did then watch this space for highlights of the day which included the fabulous Mumandworking 2011 Awards!  And don't worry you can still get all the advice you need from our expert Career Coach Mark Anderson of www.kickstartcareers.co.uk at the Mumandworking to the Flexible Working Zone at the BabyExpo BabyShow at the American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, 10am until 4pm November 13 2011!

Killer CV Advice and templates to write your best CV and covering letter ever.

Phone Interview Fear? Let us banish those fears with our practical tips for phone interview success.

The mumandworking Career Agony Aunt is also here to help! click here to find out more

---

Career Choices

We've had so many Mums saying they would love to know more about jobs involved in 'Alternative Therapies and Medicine'...we've written a Career Focus about them! Mum and Working has interviewed parents who are practitioners...Aromatherapists to Quantum-Touch Healers....

Every thought about becoming a teacher? Good hours...great holidays? Mum and Working looks at the reality of teaching with our interviews with Mums and Dad's currently working as teachers. We've also got the lowdown on routes into teacher training plus some ideas for teaching jobs you may not have thought of!..

We've looked into all sorts of jobs that involve writing..ranging from being a Novelist, to a Poet, to a Proofreader..plus interviews with fantastic writers such as Michael Rosen, Ros Barber and Sara Wheeler...

We've spoken to a variety of Mums and Dads running their own business where they make something - everything from handmade cards to chocolates! They have all told us their story - what inspires them to be creative, how they have set up in business and most importantly how it fits round family life.

Direct Selling and Mystery Shopping

Direct selling only requires a very modest initial investment to start your own business - often less than £100. A bargain when you consider the average start up cost for a small UK business working from home is around £5,000. Your direct selling investment usually includes a range of the products, catalogues and other material.

It's hard mixing your home life with work especially as a mother with young children. When you feel ill, you can be reluctant to take time off from your day due to the stigma attatched, and maternity leave can give you all sorts of worries about your job. Psycological and physical injuries can all affect a working mum, if that includes you please contact Irwin Mitchell

Career Workshops for Women

• Going back to work after a break?
• Looking to establish a better work-life balance?
• Looking to combine work and family life?
• Fancy a new direction?

Kick-start your career with career development workshops specifically for wo men. Based in Berkshire. Meet new people and make new contacts. One-to-one sessions also offered. Day-time or evening sessions. Re-enter the workforce with clarity and confidence. Make changes to suit family life.

 

For more information on workshops or individual sessions please contact Helen Slingsby at Career Breakthrough, telephone: 0118 984 4962 or email Helen@careerbreakthrough.co.uk

 

---

Here is a selection of flexible working books you may find useful...