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Changing career : ' These days , I go home feeling relaxed'

Starting a new career is a daunting prospect for many. But Kate Hilpern discovers that plenty of help is at hand
Some of the jobs that career changers are most keen to break into – PR and teaching, among them – are the very same jobs that people are queuing to get out of, says John Lees, author of How to Get a Job You'll Love and Take Control of Your Career.
Many of us get to the point, whether in our twenties, thirties, forties or fifties where we decide to change careers. Some of us will make radical changes , while others will move to the edge of their comfort zone, perhaps shifting from acupuncturist to homeopath or PR office to journalist. But the key to making the right decision, says Lees, is to bring your dream back down to life with a hard thump. "I always say to people, ' Find out what you will actually be doing in the job of your dreams. What does the nitty-gritty day-to-day work involve?'"
Conversely, he says, people should not be put off by their dreams. "If you did a straw poll of the number of peoplewho think about changing career and those who actually do it, you'd be looking at less than 5 per cent . And yet it's never been easier . Portfolio careers are becoming normal and it's increasingly possible to make the change gradually by training part -time. One question I ask people is, 'What will happen if you don't do it?' The answer inevitably is that they will wish they had."
There are plenty of organisations able to help people embark on their journey of career change. SMP Solutions is among them. Steve Preston, the director , says that while some people opt for one-to-one advice and support , others benefit from group workshops. "People are not very good at talking about themselves in a positive way and what happens in a group dynamic is that people point out others' strengths and potential ideas for careers. It works well."
Emma White, a personal development coach, believes it's important that people understand the breadth of careers out there. "Sometimes I get people coming to me saying something like, 'I just know I want to work with animals .' They go away amazed at the opportunities available ."
You might even like your new role so much that your partner decides to copy you. When Chris Oldale, 43, an HR manager, went on a taster course about becoming a gas engineer , he took his wife , 49, along . "What I had not expected was to see her getting stuck in with a blowtorch. She wound up liking it so much that she gave up her IT job to join me in my career change."
The same happened with Annie and Paul Clayton, both 42. "We both worked in the police for nearly 20 years ," says Annie. "But Paul had become disillusioned and had a friend who was a tree surgeon. He started helping him out and he loved it, so he gave up the police. I'd turn up with sandwiches and realised I loved it too, so now we run a business together."
Some of the most successful career changes come out of pursuing a hobby, as Bob Jennings, 53, knows all too well. Having been offered redundancy from a laboratory supplies company where he'd worked for 32 years, he built a 15ft stitch and glue boat . "I decided to do a 10- month course to learn more about boat building and while there, I decided this could be a fantastic career option . I've finished the course and am currently going for job interviews."
The over-fifties is a key category of career changers, says Laurie South , chief executive of PRIME , an independent organisation dedicated to helping this age group. "For a lot of people, it's because they're made redundant . For others, it's just about having had a dream all their life and thinking , 'If I don't do it now, when will I?'" he says.
South advises people to go for it earlier if they can. "If I had £1,000 for every person I've helped that said they wished they'd done it sooner, I'd be in the south of France right now."
John Lees and Steve Preston will both be speaking at One Life Live
How life became a bed of roses
The 10 most popular second careers
Four years ago Clare Stokes, 34, worked as a pharmacist. Today , she's a florist
"I used to be a full -time pharmacist and ran pharmacies for Boots. I enjoyed it but realised I needed something to help me switch off from the day-to-day stresses of the job. So I studied floristry at night school and after three years, I qualified as a florist.
It so happened that a florist shop came up for sale in my area and I couldn't resist the idea of running it. So I bought it, took on the existing staff and I haven 't looked back. I think a lot of people are creative . Once they find an outlet for it, they find they want to do it all the time.
But it's not just the creative side of my new career that I love. I also enjoy the contact with people and the business side. Some days I don't make as much money as others, but generally it's going well. Then there's the complete lack of stress . These days, I go home feeling relaxed.
I haven't given up pharmacy altogether. One day a week I still work for Boots, who I locum for. I like keeping a toe in the water of pharmacy because it was never something I hated – just something I found I didn't want to do all the time."
The 10 most popular second careers
Plumber
Many organisations offer short, intensive training courses. To make sure these are industry-recognised, contact your regional City & Guilds office with the course provider's details . Note that technical certificates do not prove that you are a qualified plumber, only the full NVQ Level 2 and 3 in mechanical engineering services : plumbing ( domestic ) do this. MET-UK, one of the UK's largest plumbing course providers, will be holding taster seminars at One Life Live.
Teacher
There are three training routes – undergraduate, postgraduate or training-on-the-job. You'll need GCSE grade C in English and maths and for the latter two routes, you'll also need a degree . Grants, bursaries and golden hellos are widely available.
Florist
Although the most common way to become a florist is to train on the job, most career changers attend a course at college and then look for work. There are a number of qualifications ranging from NVQs to a national diploma.
PR officer
There are no set entry qualifications for becoming a PR officer, but it is a very competitive industry and many employers prefer you to have a degree or postgraduate qualification – or at the very least, an advanced certificate in PR. You will improve your chances of employment by gaining work experience.
Interior designer
Most career changers opt for a degree, diploma or shorter course in interior design, some of which can be done by distance learning . The good ones set live projects on which you are assessed.
Complementary medicine practitioner
Training routes vary considerably between the therapies, whether aromatherapy, hypnotherapy, reflexology, homeopathy and so on. Some have recognised degree courses, others have nationally recognised courses at other levels, while others do not yet have a structured qualification system and no statutory requirement to train at all. However , most have a lead organisation which can provide a list of recognised courses.
Chef
You may not need any qualifications to start work as a trainee (commis) chef. However, there are related courses that will help prepare you for work as a chef including GCSEs, BTECs, HNDs and foundation degrees.
Web designer
If you don't have experience in the IT industry, it's best to obtain one of the many undergraduate or master's degree courses offered by universities and technical colleges. Grants and bursaries are available.
Nurse
Most people do a diploma or degree. Training providers vary in terms of entry criteria. The Government pays tuition fees and students get a bursary for living expenses.
Garden designer
Most people get started with a diploma in garden design. Students are guided through the design process , from initial client briefing, to garden layout and planting plans , details and visuals. Most projects involve a real garden.
http://www.independent.co.uk/student/career-planning/changing-career-these-days-i-go-home-feeling-relaxed-783829.html

Don't quit your job until you're ready

Professor Russell Smith, founder of the Business Boffins consultancy, helps you find your entrepreneurial spark
Adventures in micro-business
National surveys show repeatedly that around one in 10 adults would like to be their own boss . But just how easy is it to quit your job and start your own business? Actually, it's very easy. What's difficult is making a new business sustainable , since more than half fail within three years. However, those that fail usually do so because of poor planning. So it follows that it's a really bad idea to quit your job and then start a business. Much better to start your own business first and then quit your job. But this doesn't necessarily mean that you need to start trading. Planning is an essential part of enterprise – the process of running a business – and this is where you should start.
The Army has a motto: "Train hard, fight easy." In business, that translates as: "Plan hard, work easy." A simple , three- step approach to the business planning process helps. Step one is to plan exactly what you are going to sell. Step two is to calculate what it will cost to make the product or to deliver the service . Step three is to do market research in order to ensure that you will be able to sell enough products and/or services in order to cover all of the costs . If your plans forecast that you can make a profit then, quite literally , you are in business. If not, then you need to think of a new plan. People who can do this are called entrepreneurs. People who can't are called employees.
In truth , step one is down to you – it's your business and you can sell what you want. Remember that there are only two things that your business can sell: a product or a service. Think also about how and why people will buy from you. And also consider the place where they will buy (from a shop or via the internet ), the price at which they will buy (cut-price or "luxury") and the promotion needed to get them to buy (your marketing plan).
Step two is daunting but, luckily, there are sources of help of which the most obvious is an accountant . All businesses need one. These professional advisers are not just there to fill in tax returns – they can be of most use to you in your planning phase since they will think of things that you will not. If funds don't permit the use of a professional adviser then visit a high street bank to get their business start-up pack. These guides usually include a budget spreadsheet that will help you to forecast costs.
The spreadsheets are also used to illustrate the need for any start-up funds (a bank loan or overdraft ) which is why the banks provide them. Make sure that you include in your costs a reasonable salary for yourself as many business owners fool themselves into thinking that their business is viable by drawing too little .
Once you've decided what you will sell and what it will cost you to make those sales then step three is where you calculate what sales you'll need to make in order to generate a profit. This is where many people come unstuck: either by being too optimistic about sales or by failing to charge enough. Objective market research will allow you to estimate what customers are prepared to pay. You can find much of that from adverts in the local press and from competitors' brochures. Measure yourself against these local competitors – how can you make your products or services better than theirs? But don't be afraid of competition as it shows there is a market for what you propose to sell.
Now is also the time to start learning about the formal side of running a business. And the easiest way to do that is to visit the Business Link website (www.businesslink.gov.uk) and download their "No- nonsense Guide to Government rules and regulations for setting up your business". This national organisation offers impartial advice and access to a wealth of business information and training courses. Business Link will be exhibiting at the One Life Live event in the Be Your Own Boss zone, sponsored by BT (see page 6). The Business Link website also explains how to get help from one of their offices local to you. Make your local Business Link adviser your new best friend.
Only when you have satisfied yourself about the financial viability of your business idea should you consider dipping your toe in the water. Try testing out your idea in the evenings or at weekends. Look to make initial sales to friends and family. In this early phase get as much feedback from customers as possible. And always listen to customers and be prepared to refine your offering. Running through these steps will help take the risk out of your business idea and create a new job for you. And that's the time to quit your current job.
Russell Smith is speaking at the One Life Live event (see page 6). His column appears in The Independent's 'Business Monthly' supplement, published on the first Tuesday of the month. Business Boffins delivers support programmes to small businesses nationwide . Independent readers can enrol on the Oxford Brookes University -accredited programme at a discounted rate . See www.business boffins.com/independent
Buy into an idea
Want to branch out? Purchase a franchise
You don't have to come up with a new business idea to run your own business. Franchise businesses offer access to a proven business model and the purchased package usually includes training and ongoing support; an ideal compromise between the uncertainty of a new business venture and the dead end of employment. The British Franchise Association website (www.businessfranchise.com) is a good place to start. You can search their online directory by location , business sector or by how much initial investment is required to acquire a franchise.
The franchise model is an increasingly popular method of developing a business and long gone are the days of franchise businesses being boring! For example, Reading- based MAD Academy was launched in 2004 and offers music and dance classes for pre-school children . Their website (www.madacademy.com) is a classic example of how to engage with potential franchisees.
It lists the key messages that any would-be franchisee should look for: "a strong brand ; complete package of proven class and business materials; full range of professionally developed marketing tools; on-going training and full support available every day."
MAD Academy is suited to people with a passion for music and a willingness to engage with youngsters; a similar franchise opportunity is "Stitchclub" (www.stitchclub.co.uk) which offers sewing skills for boys and girls . Launched in 2007, Stitchclub franchises provide great flexibility since franchisees are only required to run classes for a minimum of two afternoons and/or a Saturday morning.
That franchise businesses do not need to be a full-time commitment is a key reason for their increasing popularity . At the other end of the franchise spectrum, Coffee Republic offers franchise opportunities for those interested in a more traditional model (www.coffeerepublic. co.uk). With three levels of potential franchise engagement (Espresso Bar, Coffee Republic Deli and Deli Chain of six outlets) the company offers options that suit a range of more significant investment levels.
There's no doubt that a franchise can be an effective way into business. But do your homework before purchasing a franchise. Make sure that you understand fully any ongoing costs that a franchise will incur post-purchase. Be clear about whether you have to purchase supplies only from the franchise company. Look at a range of franchise opportunities before taking the plunge. Good franchise companies will always encourage potential franchisees to speak with established franchisees – something that you should always take up. RS
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/sme/dont-quit-your-job-until-youre-ready-783828.html
derivations
NOUN VERB ADJECTIVE ADVERB
1. Explanation explain explanatory -
2. Life live lifeless/ lively lifelessly
3. Criticism criticise critical critically
4. Agreement agree agreeable agreeably
5. Ability enable able ably
6. Activeness active actively activity
7. Appreciation appreciate appreciative appreciatively
8. Excitement excite excited -
9. Origin originate original originally
10. Different differentiate differentiable differentially
Expressions :

Backbone of this system – selle süsteemi selgroog

Obligated to adhere – kohustatud järgima

Strict code of ethics – range eetikakoodeks

Behalf of the government – valitsuse nimel

Legislative body – seadusandlik võim

Competition for admission – konkurentsi lubamine

Certified transcripts – kinnitatud ärakirjad

Legal aid offices – õigusabi talitus

Legislative committee - seadusandlik komitee

Local bar associations – kohalik advokatuur

Abreast of recent developments – kursis viimaste arengutega

To be obtained - tuleb hankida

A broad range of issues – lai teemade ring

One-time requirement – ühekordne vajadus

Rank of management – auastme juhtimine

Nonprofit organizations – mittetulundus ühingud

The growing complexity of law – õiguse kasvav keerukus

The keen competition for job – töökohtade tugev konkurents

Demand declines – nõudluse vähenemine

Median annual earnings – aasta keskmine töötasu