'Jobshopping': Turning chance to choice

By Helen Wakefield, Head of Windmills Learning and Development and Sharon Nicholson, Learning and Development Manager in the Windmills team, University of Liverpool.

In collaboration with the Graduate Yorkshire Initiative (a partnership between the Yorkshire Universities) and Windmills from the University of Liverpool, delegates were introduced to the new resource: ‘JobShopping’.

Aimed at individuals looking to find job opportunities via Job Shops/placements and eventually leading to their first substantive role, the resource helps provide practical activities in a STOP/THINK and GET SHOPPING structure.

The skills needed to find the right job are also those needed to shop for the right purchase. Individuals face lots of choices, they are bombarded with information and a wide range of competing options. The Jobshopping resource pinpoints ten things Jobshoppers need to know to make the right choices as they set about shopping for the job they really want.

Delegates were asked to put themselves in the shoes of the average jobshopper and participate in activities originated from the ten sections of the Jobshopping guide. They were asked to consider:

• Get lucky - What are the lucky habits you need to adopt to improve your chances of getting the job you love?
• Spot your skills - Which of the average 500 skills are the ones that really matter to you?
• Find your style - What is your particular work style - what matters to you about the type of work you want to do?
• Shopping for your future - Imagine leading the life you have always dreamed of - what are you doing?
• Be confident - How to increase your confidence to ensure you are not the one holding yourself back from shopping for the job you would really love.
• Shop smarter - Invest in a little research to make sure the job purchase you make is the right one.
• Build your band - Identify who your supporting band is to help you shop for the right job.
• Get value for money - How to make the most of those first few weeks in your new job; do you need to make any changes?
• Build on your investment - How to keep the process going by reflecting on the job you are doing as you become more established.
• Be brave - Putting some excitement into your JobShopping and consider how you could be braver.

The session was lively, participative and fun for all. If you would like to find out more, or are interested in getting hold of copies of Jobshopping or wish to speak with us regarding how you may be able to use it with clients, please contact us at Windmills or on 0151 794 8265.

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