Jobs market is hotter than ever – from Specsavers to BT – set your sights on a new career

PUT a rocket under your career this fireworks season.

The jobs market is hotter than a bonfire, with more than a million vacancies.

5

5

They vary from entry-level roles and apprenticeships to management posts, plus flexi-work where you set your hours.

Here’s just a taste . . . 

You could take a closer look at a career with Specsavers.

The optician has 1,500 new jobs, to meet demand for sight and hearing tests post-lockdown.

Includes 400 in-store retail roles and 730 management and laboratory positions.

After being made redundant twice in six months, Laura Stallerbrass got a job as an optical assistant at Specsavers in Forfar, Angus, in 2010.

Most read in Money

JUST THE TONIC

I tested all top gins from Aldi to M&S - winner was better than Gordon's

BIN ROW

Pensioner who went to war with neighbour over bins now bankrupt with £1m bill

NOT SO SWEET

Shoppers devastated as M&S reveals it has AXED popular treat

HELPING HAND

Nearly 1million to get £150 energy bill help on top of Winter Fuel Payment

She is now a dispensing optician and part-owner of the store.

She said: “‘I don’t think many people are aware of the career opportunities at Specsavers.

"I had no optical experience but my hard work, and company support, have meant I have achieved things I never thought possible.”

Recruitment chief Alan Gregg said: “As well as people with optical or audiology experience, we are eager to find exper­ienced retailers who put the customer at the heart of what they do.”

Apply at .

Sainsbury’s and Argos need over 1,250 staff including drivers and stock assistants. See .

Food firm the Compass Group has 2,471 vacancies, from cleaning and chef jobs, to management. See

Homeserve has 30 jobs for customer service reps in Walsall, West Mids, plus more than 70 engineer positions UK-wide. Apply at .

Mortgage broker Trussle needs 1,000 new advisors. See .

Aldi is opening 15 stores, creating 450 jobs. Apply at .

And Lanes Group is recruiting for 100 drainage workers including drivers, engineers and groundworkers. View them at .

BT is hiring 1,000 people for its Birmingham Snow-hill office. Includes roles in data, analytics, digital, sales and HR. See .

Technology consultancy Thoughtworks needs 20 staff including data engineers and software developers. See .

The lighting installer Powercor needs 100 electricians and apprentices. Send your CV or email to [email protected].

Get your career on track with Govia Thameslink. The rail firm is currently taking on 250 apprentices at .

The healthcare provider Ascenti is recruiting 140 physios across the UK. See .

Mentor can raise profile

HAVING an experienced mentor can help you climb the career ladder more quickly.

Here Caribbean cuisine entrepreneur Levi Roots and Liz Earle, co-founder of the Liz Earle Beauty Co share some of their top tips . . . 

5

5

1. They’ll tell you what friends and family won’t. A mentor with the right sort of experience could prove really game-changing for you because they will be able to look at your challenges or ambitions from a different perspective and give you a more meaningful sense of direction.
2. They won’t tell you what to do but will help you see the best way forward. The right person should be able to listen to you, deconstruct challenges and opportunities, and suggest plans based on their own journey.
3. You can plug into their network. They will probably have a broad network of people you can access.
4. You’ll learn new skills and ways of doing things. A mentor can draw upon their successes to guide you but they will also have a lifetime of mistakes under their belt – and each of those stories is a learning opportunity to help you avoid doing similar yourself.
5. Boost your self-belief. A great mentor is a cheerleader when you need a boost, but can also be the sports coach giving you a bit of tough love when you need some extra motivation.
6. Small businesses can benefit too. Sign up to free support at .

Sign up 'n' drive

LOOKING for a job where you can set your own hours?

Then drive your career forward with Addison Lee.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

HUGE BLAZE

Flames engulf flats as 100 firefighters tackle inferno and 5 rushed to hospital

RARE CASE

Baby born 'red raw, looking burnt & blind' after catching cold sore virus in womb

5

The private hire cab company is seeking 1,000 new drivers and offers a pension, plus holiday pay. See .

• Childcare app Bubble needs 1,000 sitters in cities including Manchester, London, Oxford and Bath. Find out more at .
• Keep on trucking with an HGV job. The CO-OP is offering more than 300 LGV apprenticeships to kick-start your driving career. Within three months, apprentices will become fully operational drivers, with a starting salary from £23,753.60. Apply at .
• Logistics firm WHISTL needs 140 fulfilment workers in Devon plus 100 drivers. The company is also launching the Whistl Driver Academy to train 100 new drivers in Bolton, Bedford and Bristol. To apply, email [email protected].