Adult Learning Grants What you need to know

Adult Learning Grants What you need to know by Michael Cheary Not sure you have enough money to start studying? If you’ve put off higher education or further training due to the cost, you’re not alone. But whatever qualification you’re looking to do, there are a range of options out there to help you find funding â€" you just need to know where to look.To help you get started, here’s everything you need to know about Adult Learning Grants:What is an Adult Learning Grant?An Adult Learning Grant is a sum of money that’s paid either to you, or to your college/university, to help with your education and living costs.The amount you get will depend on your age, and what course you’re looking to complete. However, unlike a student loan, you usually won’t have to pay the money back.What types of Adult Learning Grant are there?There are many types of funding out there you may be eligible for. However, the two main types Adult Learning Grants are:16-19 Bursary FundThis is a bursary offered to those aged between 16 and 19, who are in full time education either at college or university (or completing a training course).It’s offered as a vulnerable student bursary for those on benefits, in local authority care (or those who recently left) and those with a disability.If you don’t qualify, your college/university can compare your application against their own criteria (including family income etc.) and may award a discretionary bursary.Adult BursariesAdvanced Learner Loan Those aged over 19 (or aged 24+ if your course started before August 2016), can apply for an Advanced Learner Loan.These are specifically for level 3-6 courses (A-level minimum), and have a minimum loan amount of £300. However, you will have to pay these loans back.Essentially, they work like student loans for the over 19’s.Advanced Learner LoansHow much will I get?The Adult Learner Loan pays a minimum of £300 but is entirely dependent on your course fees. It’s not based on income, so there are no credit checks like ot her loans, and the amount awarded is calculated based on the cost of your course.How many loans can I have?You can have up to four Adult Learning Loans at any one time for A-Levels, and you can apply for them together (as long as your course starts after August 2016). You can also have 3 non-A-Level loans either before or after your A-Level courses.When do I pay it back?Much like a student loan there’s a salary-based repayment system. So after your course has finished and you earn £21,000 or more, you’ll start paying your loan (or loans) back.How much do I pay back?Your loan accumulates interest while you study at the rate of inflation. Once your course has finished the interest is charged just at the rate of inflation for £21,000 or less.Once your repayments start (it had to happen eventually), you pay back 9% of your yearly salary if it’s £21,000 or more.What about Living Costs?The Advanced Learner Loan doesn’t cover anything other than your course fees, but there is an Advanced Learner Loan bursary fund you can apply to if you need help with residential costs, childcare costs or other living costs (N.B. this may not include alcohol and Pop-Tarts).Further trainingIf you’re already in work and just want to further your training, you may be able to get a Professional and Career Development Loan.However, this will largely depend on what course you’re looking to complete.For more information on funding, visit gov.uk/grant-bursary-adult-learners now.Still searching for your perfect position?  View all of our current vacancies nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the

10 People You Should Suck Up to at Work - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

10 People You Should Suck Up to at Work - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Nobody likes a brownnoser. Most people can detect insincerity a mile off, and the slime that emanates from someone engaged in networking is almost palpable. Unfortunately, it is true that the majority of jobs are landed via personal connections. So how do you get closer to the people at work without acting like a creepy sycophant â€" and more importantly, who should you try to befriend? Your Co-Workers Your co-workers are the biggest presence in your life. Think about it: You spend more time hanging out with them than anyone else you know. It only makes sense that you should try to play nice. The research speaks even louder: Employees who report having a best friend at work are also the happiest, most engaged and most productive. Making friends at work can be daunting, especially for introverts, but it doesn’t need to be a big deal. Go out for lunch together, or extend an open invitation to a group function outside of work, like a party or a barbecue. A friend at the office will make your workday that much more bearable. Your Employees They say people quit bosses rather than jobs, and the science agrees. What this means if you manage other employees is that it’s not enough to merely do your job. A boss has to be more than an administrator â€" he has to be a leader, and a leader is someone who motivates people. This flies in the face of conventional American workplace wisdom, which dictates the cold, robotic catechisms of old: “You don’t need to be liked; just respected.” Think about that. While the two aren’t synonymous, they are linked. Maybe you can like someone without respecting them, but honestly now: Can you think of anyone you respect but don’t actually like? If you manage employees, they should like you, and you should do what you can â€" within reason â€" to be likeable. Suck up to your inferiors by treating them with kindness, empathy and respect. After all, most employees report those are things they’re not currently getting. Clients and Customers This one seems like a no-brainer, but it bears repeating: If you work in a customer-facing capacity, or represent your company business-to-business, you should absolutely do your best to create a personal connection with the person on the other side of the table. More important than being liked, however, is being trusted. Like a pushy salesman, clients can generally sense a person with selfish motivation. Strive to be someone your clients, customers and business partners know has their best interests at heart. Clerical Listen up. Administrative professionals rock, and your respect for them shouldn’t be confined to one patronizing work holiday out of the year. These are the people who do the work no one else wants to: calling people, stuffing envelopes, retyping screwed-up spreadsheets, aiding overworked peers with menial drudgery and generally putting out fires everywhere they go. Making friends with clerical isn’t a career-move, it’s basic common sense. Sooner or later, you will screw something up, and being on good terms with a super-powered secretarial sorcerer may just be the thing that prevents a minor mistake from becoming a catastrophe. The Accountant Ever had a problem with your paycheck? If not, you probably aren’t looking closely enough. Payroll mistakes are frighteningly common, and you’ll understand why when you realize one simple fact: Software helps out, but payroll is still done by a human being, and it’s a pain in the butt. You think it’s hard doing your taxes? Try interpreting the slew of crap calculating payroll and benefits encompasses â€" IRS codes, insurance bylines, vacation time, sick leave, etc. â€" and you’ll quickly realize there’s a reason many companies simply hire out. Do something nice for your company’s accountant now, before there’s a problem, and you’ll have a much easier time when one actually does arise. The Cleaning Crew This one sounds strange if you’ve never kept an odd schedule, but those who have generally know the score. Most offices keep an off-hours cleaning crew who, besides being down-to-earth people you should learn to respect anyway, also carry The Almighty Keys. You think the dreaded accidental lockout could never happen to you? Think again. I once worked with someone â€" we’ll call her She-Hulk â€" who shut herself out at 6:30 after everyone else had gone home. Her car keys and cellphone were still inside. She-Hulk had to bust the door off the hinges to get back in. She was mortified. Don’t let that be you. The IT Guy or Gal Here’s something you need to know: Your IT department hates you by default. No, not you personally â€" basically, its everyone outside the IT department. Why? Because everyone outside the IT department can barely manage to turn on their computers. That may not be the case with you, but it most likely is the case that somewhere along the line. Somebody is going to do something completely inexplicable, and you’ll need help to fix it. Now, earning the trust of your resident IT beast is a slow process, involving carefully administered doses of snark, booze and “Star Wars” references. Lucky for you … Legal If your company has in-house legal, be sure to show them some love: Their job most likely consists of sending people carefully crafted threats all day, and that kind of back-burner hostility can take its toll on a person’s sense of whimsy. Besides, chances are at some point in your life you’ll need legal advice, and while your friendly company lawyer most likely can’t help you directly, she can usually point you in the right direction. The People at the Coffee Shop Next Door When I was little, our school principal liked to remind us, “From the moment you step out your front door until the moment you step back in, you are a student at this school.” Likewise, from the instant you clock in until the instant you clock out, you are acting as a representative of both your company and your personal brand â€" whether you’re in the office, out on official business or just grabbing an espresso to get through the afternoon. Remember that fact at all times, and treat everyone you meet with the same respect you would pay your boss. While we’re on that subject, the No. 1 person you should suck up to is … Literally Anyone Other Than Your Boss Being friends with your boss is fine. Going out of your way to exceed your boss’s expectations is fine. However, don’t be a suck-up when dealing with those in a position of authority. It won’t help you, and unless you’re an incredibly gifted actor, there’s a very good chance it will have the exact opposite effect. If your aim is to advance your career, the best way you can curry favor with your boss is simply this: Show up on time, meet your deadlines, do your job well and treat everyone around you with sincerity and respect.

Insufficiently Exuberant Teams

Insufficiently Exuberant Teams Oliver Burkeman is the author of “The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking.” His essay in the New York Times dedicates 800 words to making the case against fun at work. “Please,” he writes, “no, really, please â€" can we stop trying to “make work fun”? I agree completely. I had no idea that there was an actual name for a Chief Fun Officer’s activities, but Burkeman says there is: “the suitably appalling” term, ‘fungineering.’ Burkeman says that forced fun almost never leads to more real happiness at work; happiness is like many important values (love, peace, relaxation): the harder you work at achieving them, the more elusive they are. You can’t make yourself happy, and you can’t make yourself have fun. Burkeman goes on to say that research shows that forced fun doesn’t work. “…researchers found that many experienced the party atmosphere as a burden, not a boon. Prêt a Manger, the British sandwich chain with branches in America, reportedly sends mystery shoppers to its cafes, withholding bonuses from insufficiently exuberant teams.” By now, you may be thinking that I am a certified curmudgeon, but nothing could be further from the truth. I have a great job, and I think I use the word “fun” in relation to work more than anyone I know. If I didn’t have fun at my job, I wouldn’t do it. But my idea of fun is not necessarily compatible with wearing funny hats and blowing noisemakers. That just makes me uncomfortable. Fun, for me, is doing something well: getting a sentence just right, getting feedback from a reader, winning a deal, figuring out a tough problem. I have a victory dance I save for just those occasions. Happiness as a state of mind is overrated. It’s the pursuit of happiness that makes the day after Christmas or a year after the wedding day feel so empty for some people. We often mistake exuberance for happiness, and perceive the lack of bubbly joy as unhappiness.   Even Jefferson’s brilliant phrase in the Declaration of Independence, “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” is misread to mean “the pursuit of whatever I think makes me feel good.” According to researchers at George Mason University, Jefferson probably took that phrase from John Locke’s 1690 essay Concerning Human Understanding: “…the highest perfection of intellectual nature lies in a careful and constant pursuit of true and solid happiness; …that we mistake not imaginary for real happiness.” Locke was referring to Aristotle’s definition: “The happy man lives well and does well; for we have practically defined happiness as a sort of good life and good action.” Very different from funny hats and noise makers. So let’s rally around purpose as a way to have fun and be happier at work. No need to force introverts into the conga line or pull people away from important projects to sing happy birthday. Good life and good action are the keys to real happiness â€" let’s give employees a shared vision and purpose and give them time and support to create a good life outside the office. I guarantee you that they will be happier.

Youre Classy, but are you S.M.A.R.T.

You’re Classy, but are you S.M.A.R.T. In the business world, goal setting is a survival skill. Setting clear, attainable end goals helps a woman move forward in her professional life, as well as outside the workplace. As an individual moves toward these ultimate targets, she can use the same goal-setting strategies to measure her progress along the way and make sure she stays on track. The ability to set effective goals can even help a woman stand out in the office. However, not every goal setting strategy is a good one. To ensure that goals are appropriate for the task at hand, just remember to keep them S.M.A.R.T. Defining S.M.A.R.T. Goals A S.M.A.R.T. goal is: Specific. Specific goals are easier to accomplish than general ones. Goals qualify as specific when they clearly identify a distinguishable task. For example, go to college is a general goal, while complete a bachelors degree program in business administration is a specific goal. Measurable. When goals are measurable, monitoring progress along the way is much easier. For example, raise money for charity is not a measurable goal because it doesnt specify the amount of money that must be raised. On the other hand, raise $4,000 for charity is measurable. At any point in the process, the goal setter can count the money raised and determine how close she is to reaching her goal. Achievable. Defined goals should not be unreachable. When an individual sets a goal, she should be able to see the end in sight. If not, she may become discouraged. For example, become a world-famous clothing franchise is not an achievable goal for a start-up, even though it may qualify as achievable in the future. Relevant. Goals are much more likely to be reached if the participants actually care about them. Whenever setting goals, individuals should make sure that the purpose for the goal is clear. For example, asking members of a nonprofit organization to raise money for an unspecified cause wont bring the same results as asking them to raise money for a private school. Time-framed. All career women know the importance of establishing and meeting deadlines in business. The same practice is effective in goal setting. Each goal should have a specific time limit, such as three months, one year, etc. Why Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals? Women can start using the S.M.A.R.T. goal setting strategy before ever entering the workforce. This strategy is useful in high school, college and even during the job search process. The more practice an individual has with S.M.A.R.T. goal setting, the more effective she will become. As a woman uses this strategy in her career, employers will take notice of her outstanding abilities, and she will be more likely to qualify for positions of leadership. In addition, her future teams will be more productive and successful. Even though it takes some extra time, setting a S.M.A.R.T. goal isnt difficult, and the desirable results make it well worth the effort. Not only will women enjoy better status at work when they use this strategy, but they will also benefit from S.M.A.R.T. goal setting in their personal lives. What are your goals? About the author: Lindsey Harper Mac is a professional writer living in the Indianapolis area. She specializes in writing guest posts on social media and education. Currently, Lindsey is completing work on her master’s degree.

How to Choose Colorado Resume Writing Services

How to Choose Colorado Resume Writing ServicesIf you are looking for resume writing services in Colorado, then you may find that your search can be a little complicated. There are many companies in the state offering services, but finding a good one to work with is not always easy. This article will give you some tips and information on how to go about choosing a company to hire to help you write your Colorado resume.There are two ways you can go about finding the right ones to help you write your resume. The first is to do some research on the Internet and make contact with a few different companies to see what they have to offer. This is not always the best option. You can spend hours on the Internet and still end up with the wrong options for Colorado resume writing services.The other way to go about it is to get a few companies that offer some sort of service. They are not going to just hand you off your resume, but you will know where you are going with it. This option is much m ore effective because you are making an educated decision that you are comfortable with.When you are looking at the different companies, you will want to know what types of things they can do for you. You will need to know exactly what you are looking for and how you can get it. Some companies will offer full services that will cover everything from finding a company that will help you write your Colorado resume, all the way to helping you with the personal stuff, such as covering your social security number, etc.Colorado resume writing services often offer to contact the company that you choose and talk to them about your needs. This is often a great option because you will be able to talk to someone who will be able to tell you what options they have available for you. This will save you a lot of time and money in the long run because you will know ahead of time what services you can expect.There are also some companies that will help you choose a type of resume that you may have a hard time coming up with. A good example of this is if you are seeking an executive position in Colorado. You may not have an idea of what a great executive resume should look like or how to put it together. These types of services can also help you find a company that can help you write your resume at the same time.One thing to keep in mind is that companies that offer this type of service are not going to take the majority of your time. Many of them are dedicated individuals that will dedicate a large amount of their time in helping you craft a great resume. All you have to do is simply give them the information that you are looking for.Colorado resume writing services can be found on the Internet, but the best thing to do is to go ahead and meet with a few companies and let them know what you are looking for. You will then be able to choose the one that you are comfortable with.

Great graphics by Tdenham - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Great graphics by Tdenham - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog In case youre wondering where I get all my weird clip-art from, I get almost all of it from stock.xchng, and most of it from just one of their users: Tdenham. His series of pictures of himself in a suit enacting various business scenarios are hilarious, technically excellent and already separated on a white background (making my life a LOT easier). Thanks, Tom!!!! I then take his pictures and mangle them utterly using my -ahem- meagre graphics skills and the excellent open source graphics program The Gimp. Here are some of the results: Click each image for a close-up. And if youre looking for some great illustrations for your blog, website, document or PowerPoint presentation, check out Toms work. Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

How long does it take to find a new job - Sterling Career Concepts

How long does it take to find a new job How long does it take to find a new job? How long does it take to find a new job? Patience is a virtue. The average length of time for a job search is unfortunately steadily increasing over the past few years. In a recent RiseSmart survey, 40% of hiring managers report conducting between 3-10 interviews before extending a job offer, and nearly three-quarters of those surveyed said their hiring process is three weeks or longer, so don’t be discouraged if it takes days … or weeks …  to hear back after applying or interviewing.     Work smarter, not harder. In the meantime, continue applying to other positions and networking for leads and referrals. This is also a good time to conduct additional company and salary research so that youre prepared in the case you continue further in the process. Never put all your eggs in one basket. Keep pursuing opportunities until youve accepted an offer and have it in writing. So while the answer to the question How long does it take to find a new job? will differ for everyone. Its smart to plan for a longer search, and not let the time delays get to you. Keep pushing forward to see progress and move closer to the reward of your new position.