If you can define and understand your attitude to change and be clear about the potential pitfalls, it will help you tackle changing careers successfully.

So what’s your attitude?

They can generally be summed up as one of the following:

• positive

• avoidant

• negative

Positive Attitude to Change

You are the kind of person who welcomes change. You thrive on new and different things and go out of your way to bring variety into your life. You probably get bored very quickly and have lots of interests.

You may have a fairly chequered work history because you try things and then move on as soon as you feel you have got what you want from a role.

The danger for you is that you may be just a bit too impulsive about changing careers and may not think things through enough before you act. If you make a mistake, you probably won’t waste much time on regrets, but a little more forethought might make your next career choice a better one.

Tips:

• Catch yourself before you rush into the next career change. Slow down and consider what you have learned from jobs you have done in the past.
• You might like to use these career review tools to help you reflect.
• Before you make the next impulsive change, work with a friend who you know will slow you down a bit and help you to weigh up the pros and cons.
• You could also use the MBTI decision making model to help you make sure you have considered all angles.

Avoidant Attitude to Change

You are a creature of habit and find structure and routine comforting. This means you will do what you can to avoid disruption to your pattern and so the prospect of changing careers is likely to feel worrying.

This may show up in having a low level of motivation when it comes to change. You find that you start things but fail to follow through to completion.

You need to check whether this ‘comfort zone’ that you are in really is as comfortable as you think. Are you sure you are not just putting up with a job that you are unhappy with because the prospect of change seems too much like hard work?

Tips:

• Check that your comfort zone has not become a straitjacket.
• Make sure you are not just staying put to keep someone else happy without considering your own needs.
• Start setting yourself small challenges where you try something different – it might just be eating somewhere different for lunch tomorrow!
• When considering a career change, don’t feel you have to be dramatic and radical. Small changes may make a lot of difference.
• Plan a slow and careful route to your new career, just taking a few small steps at a time.

Negative Attitude to Change

You regard all change as potentially dangerous. You approach the idea of any change with extreme caution and probably spend a long time weighing up the pros and cons. The cons usually win out!

You tend to dwell on changes you have made in the past where you think the outcome has been failure and assume that the same is inevitable for any future changes.

In terms of career change, you focus on what could go wrong, building up a catastrophic picture of yourself failing to manage impossible demands in a new job or facing financial ruin.

You generally have a pessimistic view and do not feel secure about making any changes unless you can be 100% certain they will work – which of course is impossible to guarantee.

Tips:

• Start to challenge your negative assumptions about the outcomes of change.
• Look for evidence that change can work out for the good – for yourself and for others.
• Review your career to date and acknowledge that there have been times when you have taken on new responsibilities successfully.
• You also need to recognise that even mistakes are opportunities to learn and that you get more from trying and failing than not trying at all.
• Make a list of all the positive benefits of changing careers to help you motivate yourself into action.

Use this awareness of your attitude to change

You will understand something of the issues that hold you back and so when you see yourself faltering, you can get support from friends to help get you back on track.

If you continue to get stuck with your career change planning, take a look at the exercises on Keeping Motivated.

The post What’s Your Attitude To Career Change? appeared first on How to Change Careers.

It is only too easy when you are considering a career change, to focus on superficial details without ever really dipping down to explore the heart of the matter. So you revise your resume, your scour the job ads and look for career ideas that seem to match with your skills.

Or maybe you do some more detailed thinking about your values, your interests and your personality, aiming to put together the jigsaw of pieces that make you the person you are. You hope that when you do that, all will suddenly become clear.

But what about taking yet another perspective, one that requires you to look deeper still, further than you have before?

What is your life purpose?

Many people never ask themselves this. Have you?

How does that question make you feel?

Challenged? Inspired? Confused? Embarrassed?

It is rarely an easy question to answer but it is one that is well worth reflecting on.

I believe that it is helpful to begin by letting go of the idea that there is a crystal clear answer waiting to be identified. It is more likely to be a search that will reveal its answer slowly over time and chances are you will feel it in your heart or gut before you are ever able to articulate it.

It seems to me that it is essentially about finding a way of living that allows you to be true to yourself.

Who am I?

Again, don’t necessarily try to define it in sharp focus – it is more about getting in tune with what feels authentic – and also being honest with yourself when things do not feel right for you. Because whatever you may be here to do, if you are not acting from a place of authenticity, then you are playing a charade.

What matters is that you slowly develop an understanding of the conditioning that stops you from knowing yourself and that you then gradually dissolve the barriers that are preventing the real you from showing up.

Your purpose is about letting the real you shine out.

Is there a real you?

You may be wondering where that purpose comes from, but before we go too far down the line of some inborn or God given identity and purpose, let me throw in a side ball with the following video from TED.com, ‘Is there a real you?’

Baggiani takes the point of view that the thing we call our ‘self’ is simply constructed as a result of our experiences, our beliefs, our social setting and so forth.

Essentially both Bagianni’s basic position and the God-given one are quite passive perspectives, but the additional angle that Bagianni introduces is the notion that you can play an active part in constructing the person you are and thus the purpose you adopt.

How does this relate to career change?

Try asking yourself these questions:

• Does your work allow you express something of your life purpose and if not what alternatives would feel like a more authentic expression of who you are and what you are here for?

• What can you do to actively construct a sense of self and purpose that will feel authentic?

Cherry Recommends

The Artist’s Way

Julia Cameron

At first glance you may think this book is only for ‘creatives’ – after all, the subtitle is ‘a course in discovering and recovering your creative self’.

However, as I read through the book, it really spoke to me, even though I am not an artist. It seems to me that everything Julia Cameron says about discovering or recovering your creative self can be read as an extended metaphor for discovering who you truly are inside. And at the end of the day, that journey of discovery is what lies at the heart of any career change.

The book is presented as a 12 week course which takes you through the key challenges which artist will be very familiar with but which in fact are themes we all face at various points in life. She helps you explore issues like:

• What is blocking you?
• Who around you is helping or hindering your progress?
• What are the dreams you have buried inside you?
• Learning to listen to your heart.
• Excavating the messages from your past that may be holding you back.
• How to be gentle with yourself as you explore.

…and much, much more.

Many artists would say that in their hearts they know they are here to make art, write, sculpt, perform…

You also have a purpose in this world – to discover or recover ‘the real you’ who may have been lying dormant for a long time.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who can feel the need for change bubbling up inside them. Read it with an open mind, inserting ‘the real me’ in place of ‘artist’ and ‘creative self’.

Follow the course and you will find yourself on a real journey of discovery.

Enjoyed this article?

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From the 5 Minute Career Coach February 2012

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perception

Although physical prowess such as enhanced levels of stamina, dexterity, muscular endurance and co-ordination can be useful in physically demanding roles, team games in particular allow for higher levels of perception, and the ability to read a situation and react appropriately. As no two situations in a game situation will be exactly the same, the skills of perception and adaptability are useful attributes in a career where employers seek individuals that are able to adapt and think on their feet, and not become rigid and stagnate. This also incorporates versatility, flexibility and improvisation. Individual sports however allow individuals to become self-dependent, and insightful. Runners for example may start off with a race plan, but would also require the ability to adapt their plan if the tactics of other runners meant that the initial plan would be unsuccessful .

pressure

Sportspeople are also more likely to be used to pressure, whether in training simulations or competitions and match play. Although pressure will stimulate the release of the same hormones, individuals used to frequent pressures will learn to modify their reactions and behaviours so that they can still perform effectively, and will learn to rely more on natural instincts than on conscious thought and overthinking. The Inverted U-model demonstrates the optimal level of pressure and arousal, with a moderate level of pressure being optimal for best performance, but high levels of pressure leading to anxiety and high levels of stress

teamwork

Teamwork is also a key transferable skill practised through team sports, alongside effective communication to meet a shared goal. Individual skills can still be demonstrated but effective team players realise that teamwork will always underpin the success and cohesiveness of the outcome. Communication within in a team is paramount, both on and off the pitch. Players need to be able to communicate with each other and with their coach, and be able to suggest constructive criticisms and praise. Being able to communicate in this manner in the workplace will develop working relationships and allow any criticisms and feedback to be explored positively without causing tension or feelings of inadequacy.

healthy mind

A fit and healthy body also leads to a healthy mind, and mood enhancing properties. Brain function can be improved through the release of hormones and neurotransmitters which stimulates the production of cells in the brain that control learning and memory. This then leads to an increase in cognition and concentration levels, and improved productivity. Positively minded individuals are also less susceptible to depression and low self-esteem, which is a large contributor to sickness absences in the workplace.

leadership

Leadership is a key skill which can be developed through sport from an early age, especially in positions such as captain or player/coach. Leadership incorporates the ability to not only lead a group of people to achieve a goal, but to also be able to delegate, influence and manage different personalities. Leaders are a necessity in all types of employment, and can be put with a group of people to achieve a successful outcome on the behalf of an employer. They are able to respect the ideas and opinions of others, yet be conscious of the direction of the intended approach. Whether or not mistakes and wrong decisions are made, leaders will accept overall responsibility, and then preserve to rectify these whilst maintaining a positive attitude and motivating others. Successful leadership will involve strong organisation, being able to take the initiative, the ability to inspire others, and lead by example. 

concentration

All sports require the need for concentration and focus, and self-discipline. For sportspeople, concentration is necessary for situations such as learning new skills, listening to team-talks, and playing matches. The ability to concentrate regardless of distractions is a skill that utilises self-discipline, and will give any employee the ability to withstand fatigue and complete tasks without procrastination. It will also help to maximise the amount of information that can be absorbed, as well as reduce the likelihood of missing key information, such as in meetings or conferences. Self-discipline may be a skill that is widely acknowledged, but few may do anything to anything to improve and strengthen it. Focus and self-discipline are definitely requirements for individuals in highly competitive industries, and are crucial ingredients for success. They will be able to follow decisions through without being swayed from inner beliefs, and manifest inner strength which will conquer challenges and problems. Self-discipline is evident in thoughts, behaviours and emotions, and is built on the foundation of habits. Habit forming takes time to occur, but it can be built upon to where positive habits become second nature, and bad habits no longer pose the risk of not moving forward. A particularly useful habit is that of active and achievable goal setting. Within a sports scenario, the captain of a sports team should be able to take into account the ability of the team and the strengths and weaknesses, and formulate short and long term goals. This could range from short term goals such as improving particular set pieces, and long-term goals such as a realistic finishing position in their league.

ambition

An ability in sport, particularly higher level sport, is unlikely to be built on talent and skill alone, but more so on continued ambition. Being successful in sport, whether mastering individual skills or winning competitions, is based on the ambition to work hard and hold the belief that it will ultimately pay off. An ambitious attitude will always get further in life and lead to more accomplishments than having a talent and doing nothing with it. When starting in a new career, it may be the case that you start nearer the bottom of the ladder than the top but this is the start of new opportunities. An ambitious attitude, hard work and the determination to prove yourself will put you in a better situation to get to where you want to be.

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But there comes a point when you will have to step up and ask someone to employ you to do something very different from what you have done before.  Or perhaps you will be asking somebody to hire your services or buy your product if you are setting up on your own.

That’s when it gets really scary!

That’s when the little voice in your head starts screaming ‘what if they reject me?’

Fear of rejection

So that’s what it is all about, is it? Are you hesitating because you are feeling scared of rejection?

There’s something very primal going on here.  Let’s face it as a child, if you are rejected by your parents you are potentially in serious trouble.  That basic fear runs very deep.

So if you think that is what is holding you back, what’s to be done about it? Here are a few tips.

It’s not about you as a person

However angry you may feel at the employer who has failed to see your obvious talents, just stop and remind ourself that it is not you, not all of you, who is being rejected.  It is simply some aspect of your offer.  It may be that they need someone who lives closer to the company offices, they may want someone who knows a particular bit of  software, there may be an in-house applicant who has the edge.

On a different occasion, it could well be that you would have been the right person.

Remember – rejection does not mean you are a reject.

Don’t fall into the blame game where it becomes ‘their fault’ that you have not been offered a job. That will just drain your energy.  Instead, tell yourself that they are simply not the right employer for you.  Them saying no has helped you both avoid a ‘bad marriage’ and it also keeps you free to move on and find a better match.

Review your approach

It is always worth reviewing what led up to your rejection, but wait till you have got over any feelings of anger or blame.  Just look at the situation dispassionately.  Could you have responded differently to some of the interview questions? Could you have answered the questions on the application form differently? Could you be approaching the whole job search process more creatively, looking for informal interview opportunities and building a network of contacts?

Making a conscious point of turning a rejection into an opportunity for learning something is a great way to take some of the sting out of it.

Believe in yourself

Just think of the famous authors whose work was rejected many times – JK Rowling, William Golding, James Joyce, Judy Blume, Stephen King, Jack Canfield…the list goes on.

Not only did they not take the rejection personally, but they also refused to believe that their work was worthless either.  Their faith in themselves and their work helped them to persevere and win through.

Do you have that same level of commitment to your new career idea?

Just check that you are not going for something because someone else suggested it would be a good option, or because you think this ‘should’ be your next move.

If you have planned your career change carefully, you will know that what you are aiming for is a good match.  You will be able to point out how your skills and experience are relevant to the role, you will know that the job and your personality are a good fit.  If you find you are struggling to do this self assessment, then do get some support.

Doing this kind of research in advance is essential as it will mean you can approach your new career with as much confidence as possible, knowing that it is not just a ‘good idea’ you have plucked out of thin air, but a well researched and well grounded proposal.  It will give you the underlying confidence to deal with rejection without being destroyed by it.

Move On

So if it hits, yeah, that’s tough, but there is not point in taking it personally and carrying it round like a burden.

What matters is how you let it affect you.

Do you let it defeat you, or will you make it a spur to drive you on to be even more determined to get into that new career you have chosen?

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What do you need?

Regardless of the career choice, there are two main elements that are pertinent to all. The technical ability and knowledge of how to manipulate the camera function in order to achieve the desired effect and outcome is paramount such as controlling the exposure, focus, shutter speed and composition. As cameras vary in the functions that they possess, it is important to take the time to become used to the particular camera that you are using in order to get the most out of it, which is made easier if you are using your own camera. The second element is knowing how to manipulate the photo using the relevant software. The scope of software varies greatly, but most up-to-date software enables the user to edit photographs in terms of size, enhancements and adjustments. Specific software may be necessary to edit certain types of photograph, such as scientific software that is able to capture and edit photographs at a micro level. 

Depending on the type of photography, there may well be a focus on certain skills more than others. For wildlife photographers, macro photography is widely used to capture small detail and close-ups, and this can require significant patience and exquisite timing. Motion photography can also reveal the exact ways that animals move around in their natural environment. This type of photography, alongside landscapes, takes place mainly in the outdoors which can be problematic. The elements provide the first obstacle in not only having to protect your equipment, but also how to take the best photo. Glaring sun can cause problems with exposure, as well as shadows being formed; rain can cause photos to look dull and grey, and changing daylight can cause problems with white balance. Another obstacle to consider if you are on a particularly long shoot, is how to look after yourself outdoors, such as keeping warm, making shelter and knowing what is potentially dangerous. As well as trying to remain undetected by animals that you want to photograph, you may also need to be undetected by animals at night-time that can pose a threat. 

For fashion photography, the photographer needs to set and capture a mood, display creativity, and have a good eye for detail. Not only this, fashion photographers will also need to work well with models and clients. Clients will direct what they want produced, and the photographer will aim to achieve this with either a clothing range, or by directing models with pose instructions. As fashion is such a competitive industry, photographers must endeavour to be innovative and artistic, work well under pressure, and create striking images tailored to the particular client. To do this, there must a significant interest and knowledge in fashion trends, as well as current trends in fashion photography and art.

Taking photographs of children can require time and patience depending upon the age of the child, and therefore it is important to make the child feel comfortable and relaxed, especially if they are on their own in the shots. This could mean letting the child see their photos, taking a few shots with the camera if this is applicable, getting to know them a little, and making the shoot as fun as possible. It is also better if young children are accompanied by someone they know as this can also make them feel more relaxed. Trying to get a specific pose and facial expression of a child can be difficult, and therefore producing many shots in succession in Burst Mode can be easier. For close-ups of children it is easier to get down to their level, and this will also help you to achieve more intimate shots. On a separate note, for any professional photographer, it is advisable to gain a DBS check or police certificate, depending on the country, as a background check to show clearance from any barred lists such as the Sex Offenders List, as well as showing evidence for any criminal activity.

Marketing

One aspect for professional photographers that is particularly important, especially if you own your own business, is that of marketing. The easiest way to market yourself or your business is to develop a portfolio, and to then start using social media such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Xing and Tumblr. This is also a good way to start gaining a customer base, and to try to promote word of mouth. Networking is also a must, as you may find that you can become associated with other companies that may promote your services, such as a Wedding Dress Company promoting you as a Wedding photographer if that is your area of interest. You can also find out more about attending functions or events where you can promote your services. Marketing requires a good level of both written and verbal communication. Effective writing should be clear, concise and use emotive language where appropriate, and effective verbal communication should be engaging, interesting, persuasive and inviting. Non-verbal communication is also important such as eye contact, gestures, and posture.

Photography may also be a skill that you use for a resume/CV as it can highlight an artistic or creative nature, if this is not an everyday part of your job. Although photographers can be trained to Degree Level, photography has become far more popular as a hobby, and as such, there are generally more workshops, lessons and training that are on offer, as well as online tutorials and educational Webinars. These can teach the basics of photography and how to use the features of your camera effectively, or can concentrate on specific elements such as using different angles, encompassing patterns and texture, symmetry and negative space.  

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Adapted from Atkinson and Shiffrin.

The sensory memory is the shortest form of memory, and holds information for only a split second. We are constantly bombarded by information from the five senses, but most of what we sense from the stimuli in our environment is ignored or forgotten about which happens without conscious thought. If we remembered everything that we sensed, our memory would become very cluttered, and therefore only a small amount of the information that we are paying attention to is transferred to the STM.

The capacity of the STM was notably cited by George Miller in 1956, who proposed that the Short-Term memory had a limited capacity and could hold 7 items, plus or minus two, such as seven numbers or seven words. These memories are temporary and last up to approximately thirty seconds, where they are either forgotten or passed to the Long-Term Memory Store. The transfer of information from the STM to the LTM can be easily disrupted, and therefore it is important to focus on the information and well use rehearsal, which simply means repeating information.      

The Long-Term memory has an unlimited capacity, is not easily disrupted and is relatively permanent. When we recall information from our LTM, there are some memories that are remembered better than others. This is due to the way that they were encoded. Information can be encoded in 4 different ways: acoustic – sounds and auditory, visual – visual sensory and images, semantic – specific meanings, and tactile – how something feels through touch. When information is encoded in more than one way, encoding is likely to be more effective and memories are likely to be recalled with more ease. New information is also remembered better if it can be associated with previous knowledge/memories, which is known as Assimilation or Association. Memories can also be stored as Schemas, which are mental concepts that help to inform us about what to expect when we encounter similar situations. These can be Role Schemas which help us to understand social situations, or Behaviour Schemas which help us to perform actions. 

memorising information

When we are trying to learn information, there are many different techniques that have been proposed. Different techniques work for different people, so you need to find the one that will work for you. Alongside this, it is important to try to keep your brain active so that you can improve your memory and mental functioning. Mental exercise such as solving crosswords or puzzles, or learning new skills that challenge your brain can create new neural connections and maintain individual brain cells.

Chunking

This is a technique that aims to assist the STM by putting larger amounts of information into small chunks that can be remembered more easily. This means that we can remember 7 chunks with more information than just one single number or word. Chunking is particularly useful when remembering phone numbers, where we could put numbers into groups of 3 or 4, instead of remembering the individual digits. Chunking can also be used to remember lists, such as putting words with similar meanings together, with similar characteristics, or with the same starting letter.

Association

Association is a way of memorising information so that it has more meaning, or is linked to information that we are familiar with. Numbers could be remembered as dates of birth or the age of a friend, and unfamiliar words can be remembered as words that they sound like.

Acronyms

These are invented combinations of letters which act as cues for the words you need to remember, especially if the words need to be remembered in a specific order. For Maths pupils, the acronym BODMAS (Brackets, Orders, Division,Multiplication, Addition,Subtraction) is used to remember the order in which to solve mathematical problems.

Mnemonics/Acrostics

Mnemonics are similar to acronyms, but instead of memorising an acronym, a sentence can be made from the first letters of the words that you are memorising. Examples include, “Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain” which is used to remember the colours of the rainbow (Red,Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo Violet) and “My Very Easy Method Just Speeds Up Naming Planets” refers to the order of the planets.  

Rhymes

Rhymes are a good way of memorising larger amounts of information, because our brains can encode acoustic information more easily, as well as rhymes usually being presented in a similar singsong pattern of sound which we are used to, and having a predictability about them.

Rehearsal

Rehearsing information is the key to transferring information from the STM to the LTM. Rehearsing information can take different forms. This can be oral, written, or both. Writing out information by hand that you are trying to memorise stimulates a different area in the brain that allows easier memory recall. You can also read aloud information and record it on a voice recorder, so that when you play it back you involve hearing, and the use of auditory encoding. 

Stories

When memorising words that are not obviously linked in any way, you can try to create a story that involves all the words you are trying to remember. Each word needs to be distinctive in the story, and needs to have a link to the next word. The more fun and imaginative the story the better. Have a go at making a story from the following list of supermarket items: Eggs, light bulb, flowers, dog food, soup, vegetables.

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Qualities for caring for people

Ø Non-verbal communication– this includes both body language and physical contact. Body language such as facial expressions and eye contact can demonstrate reassurance and compliance, as well as attentiveness. Empathy can also be shown by different facial expressions such as sadness, dismay or happiness. Physical contact be used for emotional security or reassurance, and depending on the situation can be anything from touching a hand or arm, to an arm around the shoulders or a hug. This may not be appropriate however where the gesture could be misinterpreted.

Ø Supportive and encouraging– no matter what the age, praise and encouragement go a long way to offer positive reinforcement. Praise may be used for example for a task that is done well, or for a situation where a challenge is overcome, or a milestone is reached. Encouragement can be in the form of verbal communication, in written communication such as a letter or a card, or can be simply accompanying someone so that they feel more comfortable. Encouragement can also help to reinforce adaptive behaviour which is behaviour that is more favourable, or can increase well-being. Being supportive can mean something different to different people. It can be in an emotional or psychological way such as being there to listen in times of need, or can be in a physical way such as helping someone to do daily tasks, doing shopping for them, or assisting with personal care.

Ø Patience – this is quite often used when caring for people, and means that someone does not need to rush, can take their time, and do not feel uncomfortable. You may need to be patient if you are with someone that has difficulties with mobility and is slower moving around, has difficulties in communicating, or has memory problems and
needs a lot of repetition.

Ø Responsible and trustworthy– if the person you are caring for believes you to be trustworthy, they will feel that you will not cheat or steal from them, can be counted on to do what they promised, and not breach confidentiality (except where necessary). Being responsible also means that you can be trusted to work or act without being watched or supervised to make sure you are doing what you are supposed to be doing. Both responsibility and trust will also lead to respect, and respect will in turn make the person you are working with feel that you care abouttheir needs. 

Ø Communication – this needs to be appropriate to the person that you are caring for with in terms of language use, and how you come across. This would vary significantly depending upon the person you are caring for as to whether this needs to be professional or not, and whether you know someone. You must know how to communicate effectively with tact, sensitivity, and consideration of background, religion and ethnicity. You can also communicate your concern for welfare of the people you are caring for. An important element of communication that can be forgotten is the ability to actively listen, which involves concentrating fully on what someone is saying, understanding what they mean, and then responding appropriately. If you also fail to understand what someone is telling you, this could also be detrimental for them, and could potentially place someone at risk. You may also need to change the way that you deliver information or facts to match the communication style of the person you are caring for, and ensure that the person has understood. 

Ø Understanding – this doesn’t necessary mean agreeing or having the same opinion, but means trying to see a situation from the perspective of the person that you are caring for, and being non-judgemental. Understanding something means that you are more likely to be able to understand how you can help or what needs to be done.  

Ø Social perception – this means trying to recognise a person’s feelings, behaviour/demeanour and needs and intentions, as well as using your best judgement. This will put you in a better place to try to care for someone, especially if they are not able to communicate this freely. You may need to try to calm someone down whilst remaining calm yourself, or try to reassure someone if they appear anxious.  

Ø Multi-task/flexibility – you should possess the ability to adapt how you care for someone, or change plans at the last minute if needed. You may also be overstretched if you are working in a team and are understaffed, and need to be able to deal with more tasks than usual. Situations can also change quickly and therefore the ability to think on your feet and deal with unexpected challenges is also important.

Ø Willingness to learn – when you are caring for people, you should always be open to learning more and being the best carer that you can be. This may be changing the way you do something, or taking a course to learn more.

put yourself first

When caring for people, the most important factor to consider first is your own needs, and how much you can cope with looking after other people. When your own needs are taken care, you are in a better position to help someone else. Caring for people can be a career, a voluntary role, your own choice, or because there is no-one else around that can help. Care needs for people can be small or full-time, and may also vary over time. You may also not know how to best care for someone, and therefore it is advisable to look for advice from places such as charities, webpages or books, or to look for what courses there are available that may help. You may also need to seek professional help if you are caring for a loved one if you cannot manage yourself.

As a professional in the care industry, there are generally mandatory training courses which you must attend before working as these cover the core basics of caring for people. It is then more than likely that you will need to attend more relevant and specific courses for the area that you are working in. Mandatory courses may include those such as First Aid, Manual Handling, Health and Safety, Food Hygiene, Equality and Human Rights and Safeguarding.

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