Follow our tips to secure that job you’ve been dreaming of all summer

LEAVES will soon be falling – and lots of workers will soon be leaving.

Jodie Rafferty, of recruiting firm Rafferty Resourcing, said: “I speak to so many candidates who come back to the UK following their holidays relaxed, recharged and refocused on their future and this is why September is always one of our busiest months.”

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We asked the National Careers Service for tips on making your job dreams come true.

1. Make a plan: Note down where you are at in your career and what your end goal is. Break it down into your next steps to help you make progress towards your ultimate goal.
2. Do your research: Do you know what skills and experience any potential employers will be looking for? Make sure you find all this out before applying.
3. Consider financial impact: If you need new qualifications, make sure you look into funding options available and talk things through with your family. Explore the idea of distance learning.
4. Look at the job market: The issue of technology replacing people’s careers is a hot topic, with many looking to “future-proof” their jobs. Is your next role in demand, are there many vacancies where you live, and is it a sector that is set to grow or decline? You can find out more about your chosen career by using websites such as LMI 4 All or the Office for National Statistics.
5. Seek advice: Speak to headhunters in the field you want to move into. You can find reputable recruiter at rec.uk.com. You can also get free, impartial advice from the National Careers Service on 0800 100 900. Lines are open 8am-10pm every day.

Starting your own business...

Accounts manager Stewart Cook ditched working in a PPI call centre to join a firm specialising in supplying goods for countryside pursuits.

The 33-year-old from Lee-on-the Solent, Hants, said: “After a five-day holiday in Scotland in June I realised I wanted a change, a sustainable career, and to do something I was interested in.”

He worked with Jodie Rafferty of recruitment firm Rafferty Resourcing.

She said: “We asked Stewart for a wishlist of things he would like to do and it transpired he loved clay pigeon shooting and archery. He wanted a better work-life balance.

“We secured Stewart a career working with products he is passionate about. He has the hours he wanted and a pay rise to match.”

Inspired by a holiday sunset, Jo Pritchard gave up a marketing job to set up .

It produces flavoured, shimmery, coloured drops to add to party drinks.

Mum-of-two Jo, 37, from Bracknell, Berkshire, said: “There’s something about being on holiday that amplifies that aspiration to get the work-life balance right.

“We went to Turkey for our holidays in July 2017, and I was sitting enjoying a beautiful sunset with my husband, commenting on how I missed my shot of cassis in my drink, when I noticed my sparkly lip gloss on the edge of my Prosecco glass, catching the sun.”

That started wheels in motion. Fast forward a year and the new company is up and running with orders pouring in.

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Wake up staff's passions

HEADING back to work can be a pain for bosses too, with staff feeling less motivated. Dr Andy Cope, author of Leadership: The Multiplier Effect, has tips for getting staff back up to speed.

1. Create a happiness ripple. The best leaders understand that happiness and positivity are contagious. Make sure to be positive yourself as it impacts on staff and customers.
2. Be a strengths spotter. The smallest thing that can make the biggest difference is finding and playing to strengths. Spot strengths in your staff and praise them – it’s like rocket fuel for motivation.
3. Mind your language. Great leaders communicate positively, with a ratio of about six positives for every negative. This subtle change improves the likelihood of enjoying an upbeat conversation.
4. The four-minute rule. Positive leaders understand that human emotions are infectious.
   It takes about four minutes for those around you to catch how you feel so make sure you’re upbeat for the first four minutes of arriving at work or in a meeting.
5. Apply the 10/5 Principle. Smile at everyone who comes within ten feet of you and make eye contact and say “hi” to anyone within five feet. It’s like free therapy.

• for £12.99.

Work opportunities

• Don't worry if your exams did not go to plan. A study by jobs website has listed the top-paying careers that do not need a degree. The best paid is an "ethical hacker" - whose job is to test a firm's IT systems - with an average salary of £56,547. Construction managers can earn average wages of £53,118 while software engineers can expect £39,097.
• Become a high flyer with Easyjet, as the budget airline is hiring 690 cabin crew. There are permanent and fixed-term roles available. New recruits will complete online pre-coursework tasks, then have three weeks of practical demonstrations in areas such as safety procedures, aviation security and first aid. Tina Milton, director of cabin services, said: "Our teams are extremely professional and energetic, with a  real sense of fun." Apply at

Secret job hunting

Seven in ten workers are secretly on the hunt for a new job - with 56 per cent of them using company time to carry out their search.

A report by shows the number of staff jobhunting during office hours is up seven per cent in a year as the job market continues to improve.

The website's Martin Tolbot said: "We would encourage all employees to have open conversations with their bosses about their roles and what would help them feel more valued."