Whether you've always wanted to work in social care, or already work in social housing and want to explore new opportunities, Morgan Hunt shows you the careers you might not have considered within the sector from the people who know. We asked our top candidates how they came to be in the profession, what a typical day is like, why they do it & the pro’s & cons of the job to get some insight into what working in social care is really like, this is what they had to say...

Drug & alchohol worker

Chris Nicklin is an Alcohol practitioner for Aquarius in North England

"I had previously worked in the construction industry for many years but after a drop-in available employment options, together with health factors, I decided to retrain. I started going to night classes on a level 2 certificate in counselling and over the years progressed through numerous qualifications resulting in a Master of Science in Psychotherapeutic Counselling.

A typical day for me at work is never typical, you never quite know what you're going to get. This is what makes my job so varied, enjoyable and challenging. It can be difficult but very rewarding too.
I can honestly say I have never for one moment regretted the decision to retrain, and although it has taken hard work, commitment and sacrifice, I wouldn’t change a thing".

Support worker

Vicki Shattock is a support worker at St Basils in the Midlands

“I started off by training to be a theatre nurse. Although I qualified, I knew all along it wasn't the right thing for me. I wanted to have more direct support with people and make a difference to their lives. I am now working as a Support Worker for a homeless charity for 16-25 year olds.

A typical day for me is dealing directly with their housing support needs, sorting out benefits, finding them appropriate housing. Liaising with multi-agency organisations, I also deal with varied mental health issues, teenage pregnancy, and other such health related issues. No two days are the same and some days can be so chaotic and emotionally challenging, but I know we make a difference to most of the young people we work with which is why I do it”.

Substance misuse officer

Sue is a substance misuse officer in Birmingham

“After qualifying as a counsellor in the Summer of ‘99, I had gained a whole host of new skills and didn't know what to do with them. I bought the Birmingham Evening Mail and applied for a post at a prison, I was unsuccessful but was instead offered a post at HMYOI Stoke Heath as a CARAT worker and since then I haven't looked back.

The reason I wanted to work in this field was that I wanted to make a difference to people’s lives by allowing them to explore their lifestyles. I wanted to be able to give them an opportunity to make informed choices in addressing their substance/alcohol misuse.  I now work in the community, predominantly with dependent drinkers, my current day to day duties involve; making comprehensive assessments, devising tailor made care plans, making risk assessments and conducting one to one sessions, and this is just the basics. I deal with the “here and now" issues my clients are faced with but my main aim is to support people who want to make lifestyle changes and want to do something about it! I actively promote recovery and the support networks that are available in the wider community whether they are abstinent or have controlled drinking.”

Operations Manager

Stephen Lewis is an Operations Manager for Great Places Housing Group in Merseyside

“Like many people I ‘fell’ into a career with housing – I did a bit of volunteering at a local night shelter, and this ignited a bit of a spark in me to work in homelessness services.  I moved round a bit within my company, and ended up managing a couple of supported housing schemes and a floating support service.  It’s great seeing chaotic clients come into the service, and get the quality support that they need to stabilise their lives and move on into more independent accommodation.

There’s no such thing as a ‘typical day’ in this role – as much of a cliché as it sounds, every day is different!  If you like being busy, and enjoy a lot of variety in your job, then supported housing is definitely a good choice. There’s a massive variety and range of opportunities to get involved in – great if you’ve got a short attention span like me!”

Substance misuse practitioner

Steve Guinan is a Substance Misuse Practitioner for Aquarius in Shrewsbury

After working at care homes, homeless hostels, supporting housing projects and providing outreach support for many years I used this experience and ongoing training to become a substance misuse practitioner – it is a varied role where I can adapt to different surroundings, work with others, (staff members, medics, clients and partner agencies) working on my own managing caseloads, seeing people who need support (one to one and also in a groups/workshops) I also take part in multi-disciplinary meetings such as child protection meetings and community partnership forums. 

I have worked for and still continue to work for some fine organisations with fantastic people.  I have seen time and time again recovery is more than possible.   The positive changes that are made can result in the increase of self-confidence, motivation, feelings of achievement moving into a better place where everyone concerned can feel that forward pull, reassurance and safety. To be able to have the opportunity to be involved to help someone to bounce back is a key factor in my job satisfaction.
 

If you’re feeling inspired to get involved in social work don’t hesitate to get in touch with a Morgan Hunt consultant today, our consultants work on a personal and consultative basis with our candidates. Get in touch with our team to find out how we can assist you with your job search.

Congrats. You’re CIMA qualified! Now what?

Sit back and watch the offers roll in? No. Step it up a gear to differentiate yourself from other newly qualified's (NQs) because you’re not alone. This is the time to think about your future and getting ahead of the competition.
 

Choose your career path now

CIMA prepares you for a career in business. As a newly qualified CIMA, typically your career path will follow either:
 

• Commercial and strategic-biased roles

Utilising your analytical, planning (FP&A) and strategic skills, cross-function communication and providing key support to drive business performance.
 

• Financial planning and managing risk

Utilising the technical elements of your studies and practical experience to develop into a finance manager, financial controller and ultimately finance director.

Decide your route first. How? What is your experience to date and do you need to expand your skill set?

Experience checklist

• Who are your day to day interactions with?
• Who are your key stakeholders?
• What day to day engagement do you have in the business?
• Is your experience practical or theoretical? Hint: Bulk up your practical – theory is not enough.

Do I stay or do I go?

Do you stay with your existing employer or take this opportunity to move? Ask yourself:

• Have you had an internal review with regards to your career path?
• Are your career ambitions in line with your company’s expectations of your potential progression?
• Are you recognised for your success?
• Do you want more?

So, what’s out there?

If you decide to move, it’s important to know what’s out there. Do you see yourself developing in the finance sector within a corporate company or an SME?  In the current climate, as a newly qualified CIMA these are your routes to market:
 

Corporate

The corporate tends to offer marginally higher salaries and more comprehensive benefit packages.

Commercial finance & strategy

Typical roles: Commercial Analyst | Business Analyst | Financial Analyst

Operate cross-functionally with other key stakeholders teams and departments.
Provide the link between finance and operations. 

Financial management

Typical roles: Finance Manager | Financial Controller

These positions are the more traditional management accounting roles.

This path is about career development through position and provides excellent direction up to Finance Director.
 

SME

Remuneration and benefits tend to be a marginally lower compared to the corporate companies.

Commercial finance and strategy

The larger SMEs offer commercial business partner roles but to a lesser extent than a corporate. The advantage of the SME is the potential for more varied and broader based roles that provide more in-depth experience that will add strong value to your new qualification and CV.

Financial management

The opportunity to secure a finance manager or financial controller role is greater in an SME.

Contrary to public opinion, the public sector and charity sector still offers excellent opportunities for the newly qualified CIMA. It is in fact the revamp and commercialisation of these sectors that has generated the demand to attract newly qualified CIMA talent. The analytical and financial business partner positions are there for the taking whether you have qualified from a commercial business or with existing skills in these areas.  
 

Salary expectations

Read our salary guide to see what you're worth.

This guide provides market insight into how salary levels vary across different sectors and which sectors offer the most opportunities for newly qualified CIMA candidates.
 

How do I stand out from the NQ masses?

First impressions count. Get your ducks in a row. Consistency across all the mediums through which you portray your skills is key. And yes, this includes your online brand. Pay as much attention to building your online brand as you do to writing your CV.

Here are some highlights:

• Promote your achievements and how your role has developed.
• Include details of your company, the turnover, costs, any direct reports and your systems skills.
• Include details of any key stakeholders and the level of that engagement (don't forget to include your boss).

Think you’re done? What about the interview preparation. Your skills get you through the door but it’s down to you to sell yourself.

You’re in demand. You have the tools. It’s down to you to utilise them in the right way to develop your career. At Morgan Hunt, we can help you navigate your journey to success. Get in touch – call Rob Anderson on 0207 419 8909 or email rob.anderson@morganhunt.com.

The number of people working in the public sector is the lowest it’s been for the last 15 years, or at least the lowest within a comparable series.

Labour market latest estimates show overall employment continuing to rise with unemployment falling. The switch between sectors has never been greater in recent times.

If you have spent most of your career within either the private or public sector, the prospect of moving between sectors and adapting to a different culture and environment may be a daunting one.

Generally speaking since private sector organisations are driven by profit, they tend to be more fast moving, while the public sector is more cost and results driven with a higher emphasis on budget control, targets and productivity, albeit the current government’s pledge to simplify some of the targets.

There are however a lot of similarities between the two sectors, with some areas of the public sector wanting and needing to be more commercial. Providing you do your research there are many transferable skills you can draw on if you are looking to make the switch.

It is important to spend time outlining exactly what you are looking for in your next position. Identify not only the type of role and responsibilities that you want to focus on going forward but also the type of organisation with which you want to engage. If you know what you want from your next job and the type of organization you want to work for, that hurdle seems manageable and even appealing.

So, what’s next?
 

Tailor your CV

It’s always advisable to tailor your CV to each individual job application you make, and this is particularly the case when looking to make the transition between the public and private sectors.

Avoid using any language or terminology which is indicative of the opposite sector you want to move into as this will suggest to the employer that you are less able to adapt to your new environment. Analyse the job descriptions and person specifications to gain an idea of the sort of language used, comparing like-for-like jobs in both sectors to understand the differences.
 

Do the research

If you have a particular position or company in mind you should do as much research into these as possible. However if you are moving from public to private sector or vice-versa it is important that you also look into the change of environment and culture more generally. There are strong cultures that influence both sectors in different ways, bridging this is more tricky than you might imagine. Get a job plan together here.

 As well as helping to tailor your CV effectively this will also give you a better understanding of the direction in which you want your career to progress.
 

Manage your social profile

Neglect social media at your peril. Make sure you are managing your social profile and actively use it as a tool to build your online brand. There’s no denying social media is here to stay and it is important that you familiarise yourself with these types of channels. Check out our tips on creating the perfect online ‘brand’.
 

Don't forget the basics

As well as taking steps to ensure you are prepared specifically for making the switch between sectors it is important that you don't neglect to do the same things you would for any other job search. This includes making sure your CV and covering letters effectively demonstrate your passion and suitability for the role you're applying for, as well as approaching companies speculatively to get on their radar for current and future opportunities.

So if you're looking to move between the public and private sectors, contact us to find out more about how Morgan Hunt can help you make a smooth transition. We work across both sectors and can advise you on the nuances of each.