We were delighted to welcome Caroline Farleigh – Head of Asylum Support and Accommodation Transformation at the Home Office – at our Career Connect event for students and graduates. In her keynote speech, Caroline offered in-depth advice for all those looking to start their career, whether in public service or the private sector.
Below, we share her top seven tips:
1) Make yourself interesting
Whatever job you apply for, you need to have interesting answers for your application form and interview questions. Think about what you are going to write or say to make yourself stand out.
Think about what you have done. Have you been a youth leader or helped at your shul, or perhaps you’ve led change for a network or organisation? Also think of examples of times you’ve communicated well or made difficult decisions – as these questions always come up.
2) Follow your heart
Think about what gets you excited and be led by your passions. You are going to be working for so much of your life, that you need to wake up in the morning and want to do that job.
I really do believe that if you follow your heart and your passions, you will end up in the right job.
3) Your first job doesn’t need to be your dream job
Look for a job you’re interested in, but don’t worry if it’s too junior for you or isn’t the perfect role.
Sometimes it’s just about getting into the industry you want to be in. If you’re good, you will work your way up and move around pretty quickly.
4) Don’t be put off by rejection
I know it’s really hard when you apply for jobs and get told ‘no, no, no’. But there are always other options and other routes into the organisation or sector you want to join.
5) Network, network and then network again
I don’t mean this in the formal sense of going to networking meetings, but to keep talking to people. Use the amazing Jewish community, that you are lucky enough to be in, and take advantage of the many opportunities it offers.
Speak to your parents, aunts and uncles and see what they and their friends do. There is always someone who will work in the area you want to get into.
6) Seek strong role models at all times
Learn from observing the people around you. Think about what behaviours you want to replicate, and which ones you don’t! Wherever you are, think about the qualities you like in people and become the employee you want to be.
And if you can get a mentor in a particular business area to talk to more regularly… then do it!
7) Remember, a job isn’t for life anymore
You don’t have to decide right now what you want to do and stick to that job for life.
Give things a go. If a job takes your fancy, then go for it. You will learn from each and every job and you can always change later. If nothing else, it will help you work out what you do and don’t like.
And remember – there are so many opportunities out there and the world is constantly changing with new roles being created all the time. So, your dream role might not even exist yet.
