SonicJobs

Hey Sonic gang 👋 Anybody feeling a little confused by all the new schemes?

I know it’s not exactly easy to follow all the rules around financial support, but I’m going to do my best to break it down for you guys.

Here are some examples of different types of support available from 1st November in the UK:

❓What happens if my employer reduces my hours due to COVID?

Job Support Scheme 👉 As long as you’re still working a minimum of 33% of your normal hours, you’ll earn at least 77% of your normal full-time wages (unless you hit the government cap).

❓What happens if my employer is legally required to temporarily close because of COVID?

Job Support Scheme Expansion 👉 The government will pay a minimum of two thirds of your wages monthly (capped at £2100), and your employer may decide to top you up to 100%. 

❓What happens if I’m not earning enough?

Universal credit 👉 You can apply for universal credit if you’re on a low income or are unemployed, and have savings less than £16,000.

❓What happens if I have to self-isolate because I’ve been in touch with somebody who has COVID?

Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) 👉 You’ll be paid SSP everyday if you’ve been self-isolating for 4 consecutive days. You could be paid more if your employment contract allows!

This is a guide to help you understand the basics of what financial support is available. There are terms and conditions that apply, so I recommend you check out the guidelines on www.gov.uk/coronavirus/worker-support for more details!

❓Job hunting? We add new vacancies everyday. Turn on SonicJobs notifications to be the first to hear about new opportunities!📲

Take care guys and speak soon!

Julie 💜

Hey guys🙋‍♀️ Welcome to chapter 3 of the Becoming a carer series: Care work CVs!

So you’ve decided you want to work in care… great!

…Now you need to tailor your CV before you get applying! 💻

🤔What do care companies look for in your CV?

🌟People that are caring, compassionate, hard-working and responsible

🧐What experience should you highlight in your CV?

👉Working with children or babysitting

👉Caring for any sick, vulnerable, or older relatives

👉Caring for younger siblings

👉Times you’ve worked with people

👉Work that kept you very busy

😕What are the best hobbies to talk about?

📌Your charities 

📌Any volunteer work

📌Your pets

📌Any fundraising

📌Team sports

😯How to explain WHY you want to work in care

Your CV’s personal statement should explain WHY you want to work in care.

Don’t talk about:

❌The money

❌The flexible hours

❌That there’s no experience required

Do talk about:

✅Your love of working with people

✅Wanting to help others

✅Your desire to have a fulfilling career

Use some of these keywords in your CV to get it noticed:

✏️ Caring • Compassionate • Kind • Fulfilling • Responsible • Friendly • People-person • Hard-working • Good communicator • Empathetic • Thoughtful • Team player • Enthusiastic

❓Struggling with your CV?

No problem! Just click APPLY on one of our jobs, and we’ll build you a professional CV in minutes, which you can then download for free 📲

I’ll see you all in the next chapter!

Good luck guys! 

Julie💜

Hey, it’s Julie 🙋‍♀️ So you applied for a job, haven’t heard back, and are wondering if you should follow up?

The answer is YES! Follow up on your applications! Just because the hiring manager hasn’t contacted you, doesn’t mean all hope is lost.

👉When should you follow up?

43% of HR Managers recommend following up on a job application 1-2 weeks after applying.

👉Who should you contact?

Contact the hiring manager. Find their details on the job advert, company website, LinkedIn, or in your SonicJobs messages.

👉How should you follow up?

If it’s been 1-2 weeks with no response, you should follow up with a polite email. If you still receive no response, try a phone call.

👉What should you say?

When it comes to writing a follow up email, less is more. The hiring manager is busy enough as it is, so don’t overwhelm them with a long email.

Example:

Dear Mr Jones,

I applied for a position as a [JOB TITLE] 10 days ago, and would like to know if you have had a chance to consider my application?

Although I am currently applying for other positions, this is my ideal role and I would be grateful to have the opportunity to use my [SKILLS] to contribute towards [COMPANY AIMS].

I have re-attached my CV and cover letter for your consideration.

I look forward to your reply.

Kindest regards,

[NAME]

[Phone number]

Sometimes all the hiring manager needs is a little nudge before progressing your application.

🌟TOP TIP If you ever received a message from an employer on the SonicJobs app, you can follow up by replying to them directly on the app💫

Good luck with your follow ups!

Julie 💜

Hey guys – welcome to chapter 2 of the Becoming a Carer series: Industry pros and cons.

Have you been thinking about becoming a care worker but aren’t sure if it’s for you?

Let’s look at the industry pros and cons…

✅Pros

👍Flexible hours – Have an awkward schedule? Not a problem – most care companies let you choose your hours!

👍Rewarding work – This is meaningful work – you’ll be helping vulnerable people who rely on you. Care workers often say how fulfilling their work is.

👍Varied work – Are you someone that gets bored easily? Everyday is different in care as you cater to different needs and visit different homes, so you’ll be kept on your toes!

👍No qualifications needed – want to start a career without having to study first? You can start a career in care without any experience, and receive training whilst you earn a full-time salary.

❌Cons

👎Difficult scenarios – As a care worker, your days aren’t always easy as you care for people with various disorders, such as dementia, which can sometimes be challenging.

👎Physically demanding – Sometimes care work involves supporting people who are less mobile, like helping them get out of bed. 

👎Stressful – Care workers carry a lot of responsibility to ensure vulnerable people are getting the care they need. This can be more stressful than a traditional 9-5.

👎Long hours – This isn’t the type of job where you ‘clock out’ as soon as your shift finishes. People are reliant on you so you need to make sure everyone’s needs are catered to before finishing.

So what do you think? Does care work appeal to you? 

Browse our care worker vacancies now to learn more 📲

See you in the next chapter: crafting a care work CV and cover letter!

Julie 💜

Hey there, it’s Julie 👋 I get it – you’re applying for lots of jobs and feel like you’re getting nowhere, right?

Unfortunately, the UK no longer has the same number of vacancies it used to have. And because of COVID, there are now so many more people applying for the vacancies that do exist.

Despite this, it’s important to remember: people are getting hired from the SonicJobs app everyday.

Since June, the number of UK vacancies has been increasing every month (434,000 live vacancies most recently) which means the job market is beginning to recover as companies start to hire again.

But I hear ya – you’re feeling exhausted by the process because:

🤯You’re having to apply for more jobs than ever before

🤯The interview processes are long

🤯You’re not hearing back from companies 

To help you cope, here are a few tips:

👉Apply daily: You’re likely to experience rejection throughout the process, so be sure to apply on the SonicJobs app daily to keep creating opportunities for yourself. Where one job falls, another job rises!

👉Don’t let it consume you: Put aside a set time each day when you’ll check for new vacancies and apply. It’s important you switch off from job applications after this time so that you don’t exhaust yourself.

👉Take control: It can be frustrating when you don’t hear back from an application. Take control by contacting the employer directly to follow up via phone or email.

🌟DON’T MISS A TRICK! Turn on the SonicJobs notifications to get your daily job recommendation💫

Keep up the work guys, it’ll be worth it in the end!💪

Speak soon,

Julie 💜

Hey guys🙋‍♀️ Welcome to chapter 1 of the Becoming A Carer series: Care work overview.

In the UK, there are currently 1.5 million care workers, and this is expected to rise by 500,000 by 2022… so the demand for carers is huge!

So who do care workers support?

Care workers support society’s most vulnerable people. They vary in age, and all need support for different reasons. You might be caring for:

👉People who have recently had an operation

👉Elderly people who are less mobile

👉People with a physical disability

👉People with a mental disorder such as dementia

👉Terminally ill people

👉People with learning disabilities

What exactly do care workers do?

As a care worker, you provide physical and emotional support to vulnerable people. Your role might involve:

✅Assisting with social / physical activities

✅Helping with meals and prep

✅Personal care like showering and dressing

✅Errands like collecting medication and food shopping

✅Light housework

✅Basic medical checks like temperature, pulse, weight

What experience do you need to be a carer?

Actually, you don’t need any experience to start your career as a carer – you’’ll be hired mainly based on your qualities, not your qualifications. Successful carers are:

🌟Kind

🌟Caring

🌟Compassionate

🌟Reliable

🌟Organised

We currently have hundreds of care worker vacancies live on the SonicJobs app. 

🔎Search these job titles on the SonicJobs app to find care work near you:

Care worker • Care assistant • Healthcare worker • Residential care worker • Residential support worker • Live in carer • Support worker • Personal care assistant • Night carer

I’ll see you guys over in chapter 2 where we’ll be looking at the pros and cons of working in care.

Take care,

Julie 💜

Hey, it’s Julie 😊 Thanks for getting in touch! Whilst it’s common for most teaching jobs to require a teaching degree, there are also teaching jobs that don’t require a qualification.

For example, teaching assistant roles often hire based on your suitability rather than your qualifications. 

What sort of teaching assistant jobs are there?

📌ASD Teaching assistant (Autism Spectrum Disorder)

📌SEN teaching assistant (Special Educational Needs)

📌Graduate teaching assistant (education, psychology, social care are preferred degrees) 

📌EYFS Primary teaching assistant (Early Years Foundation Stage)

📌1:1 Teaching assistant 

📌EAL Teaching assistant (English as an Additional Language)

What do teaching assistants do?

Teaching assistants support teachers and pupils throughout their school day. You might be working with pupils on a 1:1 basis, or perhaps helping with groups of pupils. Their abilities will vary, and you may be supporting children who have physical or psychological disabilities such as autism.

How much do they earn?

Teaching assistants in the UK earn an average of £19,519 per year.

What key skills do schools look for?

👉patience and empathy

👉effective communication

👉creativity

👉reliability and organisation

👉childcare

👉working with children with complex needs

👉tuition experience

Preferred qualifications: not all teaching assistant jobs require a qualification, but sometimes they look for a degree, a childcare NVQ, safeguarding training, or a PGCE.

Although some jobs may ask for a qualification, there are plenty of teaching assistant opportunities available on the SonicJobs app that don’t require any specific qualifications.

Get applying guys and good luck!! 🤞

Love Julie 💜

Welcome to the fourth and final chapter of Surviving COVID: Upskilling yourself.

Whether you’re worried about retaining your job, or you’re unemployed and looking for a job, it’s never been more important to take the time to upskill yourself and stand out to employers.

So, how do you upskill yourself?

1. Establish your aims 📝

What are you trying to achieve? Is it a promotion? Is it to simply stand out from your colleagues? Is it to start a career in a new field? 

2. Identify skill gaps 💭

List all the different skills (hard and soft) needed to achieve your aims. Which skills are the most important? Which skills are you lacking? If you’re not sure which skills you need, scan some job ads to see which skills the employers list.

🌟Here are some hard and soft skills to help give you inspiration:

Hard skills 👉 Microsoft / Six Sigma / Sage payroll / SEO / First aid / Photography

Soft skills 👉 Organisation / Communication / Empathy / Leadership / Persuasiveness 

3. Find a mentor 👥

Is there someone in your workplace that you can shadow? Join an online community and befriend somebody who also wants to work on their skills so you can learn from each other. 

4. Online courses 💻

There are thousands of courses to choose from online. Udemy and Coursera offer free courses in several subjects including AI, languages, and business. If you’re looking at coding, Codecademy is a great place to start.

The UK economy is constantly evolving, so it’s important that you evolve with it. Don’t just rely on your employer to provide training – take your development into your own hands!

Are you currently taking any courses? Comment below to share with the community 👇

I hope you enjoyed the Surviving COVID course and that it helps you to get through this difficult time.

Take care and see you in the next course!

Julie 💜

Hey, it’s Julie 😊 Great to hear from you!

Did you know that remote working has grown by 159% since 2005?! Currently 61% of global companies allow their employees to have some sort of flexible working arrangement, and this number will only increase in light of the pandemic.

So what’s the big appeal with remote working? Here are some of the main benefits:

✅Increased productivity

✅Better work-life balance

✅Avoids commuting

✅Saves money

✅Less stressful

But remote working isn’t for everyone and can sometimes have disadvantages: 

❌Distractions at home

❌Isolating

❌Blur the barrier between home and work

❌Not a stimulating environment

Let’s take a look at some of the top industries for remote working…

👉IT / Tech

Example job titles: Service desk technician / Helpdesk advisor / Mobile app developer / Software developer

👉Marketing

Example job titles: Marketing executive / Digital marketing executive / Social media executive

👉Business admin and management

Example job titles: Business administrator / Administrative assistant / Payroll administrator / Admin clerk

👉Sales

Example job titles: Account manager / Business development executive / Account executive / Telesales / Sales executive

👉Customer services

Example job titles: Customer service agent / Customer service representative

👉Project management

Example job titles: Project administrator / Project coordinator / Project manager 

What do all of these jobs have in common? 

They require the use of a computer.

You don’t need to be an IT whizz, but if you’re looking for a career where you can work remotely, be sure to develop your skills and experience within a computer-oriented field.

GET IN TOUCH 📲 I love receiving your questions so tap REPLY below to submit a career-related question 😊

Take care,

Julie 💜

Welcome to chapter 3 of the Surviving COVID series: Avoiding redundancy.

Redundancy is something that many of you’ll be thinking about right now with the UK approaching 200,000 COVID redundancies. Whilst you can’t always avoid redundancy, there are things you can do to prevent its likelihood.

First of all, redundancies aren’t chosen at random. Employers have a duty to assess their employees for redundancy fairly against a set of criteria.

Some of the criteria your employer may consider are:

👉 Skills / experience

👉 Attendance and disciplinaries 

👉 Performance

Taking this into consideration, let’s look at how you can protect your job.

📌 Don’t be on time, be early – this is one of the most basic responsibilities that you need to be getting right

📌 Go the extra mile – be the employee that can be relied upon to do work to a fantastic standard, even if it stretches past your basic responsibilities

📌 Help your team – look for opportunities to proactively offer help to your colleagues so long as it doesn’t interfere with your workload

📌 Actively participate – truly become part of your company by participating in meetings, contributing ideas, and attending social events

📌 Be a mood lifter – employers are sometimes more inclined to keep employees that have a positive influence on the team’s morale

📌 Cross-sell yourself – speak to your manager about your transferable skills and any additional ways you could be adding value

If you feel you’re at risk of redundancy, you can minimise the damage by starting to apply for jobs now, and by getting your finances in check (see Surviving COVID: chapters 1 and 2).

I’ll see you all in chapter 4, which is all about how to upskill yourself.

Bye for now,

Julie 💜