What is the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act

What is the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act by Michael Cheary Everyone deserves a second chance in their career…If you’ve previously been convicted of a criminal offence, re-entering the workforce isn’t always easy. But if enough time has passed since you’ve served your time, your legal history really shouldn’t be a hindrance â€" and, by asking about it directly, employers could even potentially be breaking the law themselves.To help you learn your rights, here’s a quick guide to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974):What is the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act?The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) is a piece of legislation introduced to help ex-offenders re-enter the workforce.It enables some minor offences to become ‘spent’, or disregarded, after a set rehabilitation period has been completed.What are spent convictions? A spent conviction is essentially a previous conviction which can now be ignored.Once the offence has been spent, the offender is considered fully rehabilitated, and treated a s if they have never been cautioned or committed a crime.Is my conviction spent?Whether your conviction is spent or unspent will all depend on the length of time that has passed since you served it â€" as well as the severity of your crime.As a result of changes made to the Act in 2014, the following time-frames apply:Simple/youth caution â€" Immediately spentConditional caution â€" 3 monthsPrison sentences under 6 months â€" Length of sentence + 2 yearsMore than 6 months and under 30 months â€" Length of sentence + 4 yearsMore than 30 months and under 4 years â€" Length of sentence + 7 yearsMore than 4 years â€" NeverWhat are unspent convictions? Any convictions that are longer than 4 years will remain unspent.This means that you’ll still have to disclose them, regardless of how much time has passed since you completed your sentence.Can the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act help me find work?Because of the ROA, most employers cannot legally ask candidates about spent convictions.Ad ditionally, recruiters cannot refuse to employ someone, or dismiss someone, who has a spent conviction. The same also applies to other organisations, such as insurance and mortgage providers.For most jobs, spent convictions will not be disclosed for a basic criminal record check.However, there are some exceptions.What positions are exempt?Some positions will be exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, due to the nature of the role.Some examples of exemptions include:Jobs which involve working with childrenJobs in the legal systemJobs in healthcareJobs in AccountingSome transport jobs (such as Taxi Drivers)Jobs with animals (such as Vets, and RSPCA workers)However, this is by no means an extensive list, so it’s always worth checking rules within your chosen industry before you start applying for vacancies.For any exempted positions, it may be a legal requirement for the employer to ask questions about convictions â€" even if they’ve been spent.Why are these positions  exe mpt? Certain positions may be exempt because they involve working with children, other vulnerable individuals, or animals.In addition, certain roles which involve handling legal or financial information may be required by law to check potential employees before they’re hired.What should I do if an employer has asked about a spent conviction? If an employer has asked about a conviction which has already been spent, they may be illegally discriminating against you.However, it’s important not to jump to conclusions. Before you take your grievance any further, always seek advice from a professional employment body, such as ACAS.Visit the ACAS website for more information.Please note, the information outlined above is intended for general guidance purposes only, and is subject to change.Ready to find your perfect position?  View all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressme ssage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Employee rights

How to develop Commercial Awareness

How to develop Commercial Awareness Nearly half of the graduate employers surveyed by the Association of Graduate Recruiters in 2017 indicated that job applicants lacked commercial awareness. But what is commercial awareness, why do students need it and how can they develop it? What is commercial awareness?   It has many names: business acumen, business awareness or commercial awareness but basically it refers to a knowledge of your chosen sector.  It is a vital skill for anyone looking to get their graduate career started and to maintain and grow that career. Commercial awareness is a skill and it can give you a competitive edge in your applications. It helps you demonstrate why this company is right for you, where it is placed in the relevant sector and the skill set you need to demonstrate. Of course, it is vital  to demonstrate a range of skills to a potential recruiter. One of the key skills graduate recruiters tell careers staff that they feel applicants lack is commercial awareness. So, how can develop company or a sector based knowledge? Reading articles is one way. Using LinkedIn is another, attending careers fairs and conferences yet another. It is something you need to work on and stay updated on so you can consider what are the issues that might effect both the role and the industry. Brexit, for example, will potentially have a huge impact on UK manufacturing. At a graduate scheme interview you may face a question such as what are the important issues facing the industry in the next 5 years and how would you see this impacting your role here? You would need to consider what Brexit means to the industry and its knock-on effects. Think of your career path and then research it Your starting point could be: do you know what you want to do? Maybe you already have some ideas but need to explore the options? Knowing what the industry offers in terms of companies and roles and the issues facing the sector is going to help you to decide what it is you want to do. Use a tool like Prospects to research more. Or visit Target Jobs   for their employer section information. Speak to your Career Consultant and discuss your career ideas. If you are not sure what you want to do then explore ideas and opportunities. Read articles that link to your interest Having read thousands of CVs you get used to seeing reading the Economist as evidence for commercial awareness. But if you want to include this, how often do you read the Economist? Or check the BBC news business pages? Could you answer a question on where you see a company and its products/services in five years time? Without waffling? To develop a career plan work towards it by collecting knowledge and insights. If you are looking for ideas around business then you could do worse than read or check out the work of  Christoper Stoakes   or the JP Morgan suggested  summer reading list Engineering: Well, you can look at  total professions  Dont forget that when you are on campus you can look at larger company data on the Market Line Advantage database and prepare a SWOT analysis. Additionally, you can search the Wikipedia entries for individual companies (produced by their own internal Communications teams) Law: Check out the Guardian newspaper as well as  all about law and the  ultimate law guide Pharmaceuticals:  look at Wikipedia  or LEO as well as the Guardian and Telegraph Publishing:  report linker  Business info (business info) Marketing:  Linked In Network with people and organisations Dont be afraid to network to develop your networks. Treat any event as a potential networking opportunity as well as a chance to learn more about a company and if it is suitable for you. Think about networking as a conversation with a career focus. When you attend a careers fair talk to people and ask them about their career journey. Asking about their experiences and choices gives you insights that can prove very useful. Listen to their journey and their experience. Use LinkedIn to research companies and see what events they are engaging with. When you want to connect to people on LinkedIn always personalise your request message and explain what you would want from them and what you feel you can offer them in return. Join professional bodies and organisations and take the time to attend fairs and conferences Professional bodies are organisations that can help you within key sectors. They offer you access to contacts, information and various forms of support. Often they will be involved in research, conferences, projects and discussions and can give you access to people who can connect you to more information, more opportunities and more people. Ask questions and dont be afraid  to connect   When you attend any event you need to consider what you need to know and who you can ask.   Think about what it is you would like to know? Is it the training offered by the company? Is it the ability to be involved on client focused  work from day one? When you are considering who and where can you find the answers to these questions  consider the role of the person you speak to on a stand. Ask them about their career journey, what degree did they study? What things did they learn along the way? Can you connect with them on LinkedIn? Have you considered the E-mentoring scheme? This is a chance to connect with Warwick alumni and gain insights from them.  You can keep growing your network through out your time at university (At some point in the not too distant future this may be Warwick students trying to connect to you). Commercial awareness is a lifelong skill and it will grow with you and your career if you are prepared to put the effort and time  into it.

Much Needed Fitness Activities for a Busy Career Girl

Much Needed Fitness Activities for a Busy Career Girl Focusing on your career is important, especially if you are advancing in your field. However, if you find yourself in the office for hours on end and your workouts are falling by the wayside, it’s time to reconsider how you’re spending your time. Obviously it’s hard to have an hour long workout when you’re at the office, but you can readjust your schedule so that workout activities can take place before or after your work hours. Here are some athletic activities you shouldn’t miss and how you can schedule time for them. Pilates for a Hurting Back Pilates is an excellent fitness class you can take regularly. It can strengthen your back muscles which no doubt may be getting sore from spending long hours at the office.  Sitting against an office chair should provide you enough back support and if it does not Pilates can help alleviate any pain. What’s more, while at Pilates learn to focus on your breathing while wearing durable Yoga pants. You may also make some friends if you go regularly. Friends can influence you to continue to wear Yoga clothes and head to Pilates all the time to unwind. Swimming to get Your Mind off of Work Swimming is a low impact sport and is very worthwhile because it can strengthen and lengthen your muscles. In addition it’s a great workout that can make you feel like you’re getting away from it all even though you’re just taking a swim at your local gym. Wear swimwear that’s trendy but feels comfortable while you’re swimming laps. If you do decide that swimming is an activity you’d like to do regularly invest in ladies swimwear from Sweaty Betty. Having women’s swimwear you love can encourage you to workout at the pool regularly simply because you’ll look forward to wearing fun and trendy swimwear. Dance Away Your Stress Dancing is a lot of fun and no we don’t mean dancing at a club, even though you can certainly try out your salsa dance moves after taking a class or two. Why not try purchasing some dancewear for a Zumba, modern, or belly dance class? Trying something new can boost your confidence and help you dance away any stress you may be holding on to from your fun yet sometimes overwhelming career. Enjoy salsa lessons and you may leave a class with a new idea for an upcoming project at work.

5 Keys to Staying Sane in your Job Search

5 Keys to Staying Sane in your Job Search Todays post is by, Norma Tassy Mounting a search for a new position takes perseverance, tenacity and a willingness to stretch out of our comfort zone. Whether we are in a position that we enjoy or managing a transition, searching for a new job takes determination. Integrate these five suggestions everyday to make your search focused and productive. 1. Stay Positive Banish Negative thoughts as you look for work. Do not allow thoughts of failure to cloud your mind as you go about your daily activities. Each day before you begin your search focus your mind in a positive direction. Look up meaningful quotations. Consult a book of sayings. Bombard yourself with messages that say “I can do it” “success is mine”. And have this picture in your mind before you start your search activities. 2. Stay organized Track your daily activities. Decide you how many hours a day you can spend on your search. Make a spread sheet to track where you have applied, whom you have spoken to ad what the results have been. Plan your days’ activities leaving time to do some person development and reflect on your efforts thus far. Once you have your plan in place do not allow time wasting activities to get you off your schedule. 3. Stay connected When mounting a search it is vitally important to build and maintain your network. Call on old colleagues and let them know your situation. Tell them what your efforts have been and give them specific ways that they can be helpful. Attend conferences lectures and events geared toward your industry. Meet new people and above all stay in touch. Make an effort to meet new networking acquaintances face to face one on one. Get to know new people. 4. Stay Informed Not only is it necessary to keep abreast regarding the latest terms and technology in a given field, it is important to be an enlightened and engaged citizen. In interview situations it is key to be able to hold a conversation on your field of endeavor and events of the day. 5. Stay Well Rest, eat right and exercise. No matter if you are working or not searching for a new position takes a lot of mental and physical stamina. Pay attention to your health. It is the best thing you can do for yourself. By focusing on your search, using your time wisely and maintaining a positive attitude, job search is so much more productive and so much less stressful. Try it.

Post-College Must-Dos to Map out Your Life and Get Your Dream Job

Post-College Must-Dos to Map out Your Life and Get Your Dream Job Life after college is seldom planned. Students get too caught up with their thesis papers, project deadlines, and parties that they fail to actually consider life after they leave their beloved campus. After being handed their diplomas, most fresh grads have no clue as to what they should be doing next.If you are serious about success, knowing what to do post-college is a must, and building the foundation early on can give you the advantage against the saturated job market.1. TravelevalIt may sound counterproductive to what you want to achieve, but traveling can unlock opportunities for self-discovery and growth. Experiencing new things, meeting new people, and trying out new activities can give you a clearer sense of what you really want to pursue for the next 10 or 20 years.Backpacking to different countries can be expensive, though. You can either raise funds through family members and friends or get a job that has a flexible schedule.2. Keep Your College Connections CloseConnecti ons come in handy when looking for your dream job. You can afford to be picky when a steady stream of job offers are passing through your email. Many fresh grads, however, make the mistake of leaving everything behind and starting anew.This wastes dozens of potential connections that could refer you to top companies. In addition to classmates and dorm buddies, you’d also benefit from keeping a good standing relationship with professors.3. Keep Practicing Your ArtWhether you’ve decided to take a gap year before entering the job force or is just plain clueless as to what you want to do after college, keep practicing your art. Review class notes, read books, and meet up with like-minded individuals and organizations.Failure to use the knowledge and skill set you’ve been taught in college can cause you to lose them.Not only that, but you should understand that how things are done in your career field will change overtime. This makes it necessary to continue your education through studying updated information or, even, going back to school.evalFor example, you could get your degree in organizational development or any other major online while you’re working. Doing something like that will propel you ahead and make it easier for you to obtain the career advancements that you will want to seek later on.4. Take RisksPost-college is the perfect time of your life to take risks. You probably don’t have children yet or mortgages to pay off, but you do have the diploma that can open up doors to many career opportunities. Having said this, you should only take calculated risks.Blindly jumping into every opportunity that presents itself can cause you to stray from the career path that you are actually interested in.The post-college phase of life is your first test into the real world as an adult. Careful planning and following the four tips listed above should give you a steady footing within these murky waters.

Does Your LinkedIn Profile Look Outdated

Does Your LinkedIn Profile Look Outdated Does Your LinkedIn Profile Look Outdated? As you probably know, LinkedIn has rolled out a new user interface. Some things are gone, like the Advice for Contacting section. This makes it a bit trickier to make it easy for people to contact you, if you’re conducting a confidential job search. But, there are also new sections that make it easier for you to showcase your brand. For example, the opportunity to insert a background photo. Unfortunately, just as with their LinkedIn headline, many users leave LinkedIn’s default background shot. Why? Inserting a personal background photo on your LinkedIn profile is as simple as putting a cover shot on your Facebook page. And it serves a similar purpose. It gives readers a chance to immediately learn a bit about you. Beyond that, leaving the default background shot makes you appear outdated and lacking technological savvy. Here are a few ways to update your LinkedIn profile today, Personal Photo This doesn’t mean a photo of you in your “social” life, but one you may already have. It might be a photo of your office or JPEG of your company logo. You may want to use a skyline photo that you’ve taken. Just make sure that it’s suitable for business networking not a photo you’d put on your Facebook page. Stock Photo There are many sites that have free or inexpensive stock photos. If you decide to go this route, make sure you choose the right size stock photo. Also, make sure to read their purchase agreements. Many have inexpensive rates for editorial use, but much higher rates for commercial use. Here are a couple of reputable sites. 123 Royalty Free Getty Images Create A Design Creating a design using Canva provides an additional avenue to further your brand. You can easily create words, statements, etc. on a blank canvas or on a photo you upload to the site. As a bonus, Canva has a template designed to use as what they refer to as a LinkedIn banner. The site has different membership levels, but you can do a lot with the free version. Visit Canva here https://www.canva.com/ In the competitive market, it’s essential to take every advantage. Even if you have an optimized, robust LinkedIn profile. Your photo and background photo are the first things readers see on your profile. Don’t let their first impression be that you are outdated. For how to choose your LinkedIn profile photo click here.

What Are Some Tips For Writing A Resume?

What Are Some Tips For Writing A Resume?What are some tips for writing a resume that will land you the job you want? This is a question that many young adults are asking themselves when they are trying to land a good paying job, so be assured that it's not impossible. You do need to know how to write a resume. That's right, and I'm going to show you how.The first thing you need to know about what are some tips for writing a resume is that you need to choose the right format and the right words. The format of your resume is very important and you should choose a professional resume writer who knows what he or she is doing. By using the right words in the right format, you will be able to sell yourself to the employer.Another thing that are some tips for writing a resume is that you need to choose a company that has an extensive array of options. When you choose a company that offers a range of options, you will be able to present the most enticing and compelling version of yourself to your prospective employer. By doing this, you will be able to turn up the heat on the employer so that they will be persuaded to call you for an interview.Lastly, you need to know that what are some tips for writing a resume, are also tips for highlighting and underlining your strengths and traits. Of course, if you are currently working and you don't have the time to do this, you can still highlight your strengths by using bullet points. You just need to make sure that you highlight the positives so that your prospects will see the positives and won't be tempted to gloss over your flaws.You can use these tips for writing a resume if you want to land a job because in fact, all it takes is a little practice and knowing how to write a resume in order to stand out from the crowd. In fact, this is a very effective way to showcase your true talent and abilities.By using these tips for writing a resume, you will be able to convince employers that you have what it takes to make a full-tim e income from home. You will not only increase your chances of landing a job, but you will also be able to minimize your chances of losing your opportunity. The best part is that you don't even have to invest anything in order to learn these tips for writing a resume.In short, what are some tips for writing a resume is a simple process that anyone can use in order to improve their chances of landing a good paying job. Once you learn these tips, you will be able to avoid the embarrassment of having someone call you in a week for an interview. That is the ultimate goal.In writing your resume, make sure that you highlight your strengths and sell yourself. Make sure that you get enough sleep and exercise because it's important to have the physical stamina to accomplish the type of work that you need to accomplish. Use these tips for writing a resume in order to maximize your chances of landing a good paying job and not giving up because of fear.