Services for Individuals
"You don't belong to any company for life and your chief affiliation isn't to any particular function. You're not defined by your job title and not confined by your job description. Your career is yours alone to define, yours alone to change and yours alone to assess - as often and as truthfully as you wish."
Tom Peters, management/motivational author and presenter
Whether you are just starting out on your career path, whether you have been made redundant, are considering a career change or are seeking a new challenge, Chespond Careers Services can help you plan effectively for, and succeed in, your first or your next career move.We help you fulfill your career potential by guiding you to how best to achieve job satisfaction. If you enjoy your job, you will do it better and the better you are at your job, the more you enjoy it. To move into this positive upward spiral, you need to know how best to match your abilities and your interests to any job.
We help identify your perfect job, help you develop your skills to improve your chances of being considered for the job, and help you to hone and use the skills needed to succeed in getting that job.
"The expectations of life depend upon diligence. The man that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools" Confucious
Chespond will support you in;
- writing (or rewriting) your CV;
- covering letters for job applications;
- interview and presentation techniques;
- the best way to market yourself;
- the advantages and dangers of internet social networking sites;
- opportunities where your skill-set can be successfully transferred from one industry to another;
- personality/suitability/eligibility assessments;
and much more.
Harrison Assessments an advanced tool for a fast paced market
David Peace, Director of Chespond, was made redundant in Spring 2007 and found the lack of pertinent support that was available surprising and frustrating. Having researched the market and spoken to many involved in recruitment and career change, David identified the Harrison Assessments Talent Assessment System, HATS, as the best tool available to help others in a similar situation.
The British Psychological Society recognises some 129 different tests and there are approximately 2,000 variations on the UK market. One of the main reasons for the selection of HATS is that, unlike other systems, it combines the two main bases of assessments, eligibility and suitability, (see below), usually used individually, and applies a unique Paradox Theory to give remarkably accurate and effective results.
Eligibility - Background = Education, training, experience & skills
Suitability - Personality = Motivations, interactions, attitudes + Work Preferences = Interests, task & work environment preferences
David is one of only three 'Expert Level' qualified HATS Assessors working in Scotland (September 2009) and has a long career background in running and managing businesses, working with and for public and private sector organisations as well as charities and the voluntary sector and so understands the pressures and problems of recruitment and job loss from all sides of the equation. This understanding and experience combine to provide practical, realistic advice to clients. There are many free resources available on the web for careers advice, such as Directgov, the Government website, but these do not provide the specialist one-to-one advice that will make the extra difference.
One option may be to start your own company or become self-employed. This can be a scary prospect, but if you have the right skills, a good idea and the will to succeed, this option may be the course of action that sets you on your way to success and personal fulfillment. Chespond can help with the pros and cons of self-employment and business start ups, but some specialist training and support is recommended (Business Gateway are an excellent, and free, resource for this and Her Majesty's Customs and Excise also provide excellent free information). Specialist support once you have opened for business is also vital (a good accountant is a necessity).
- Communicate, influence and lead;
- Handle autonomy;
- Take personal initiative;
- Handle conflict;
- Seek to learn, grow and excel;
- Plan and organise;
and a lot more.
We use an internet based suitability questionnaire, which itself is the result of over 20 years of extensive research and validation, to collect the equivalent of a full day of Assessment Centre style behavioural testing in only 25 minutes. One 25 year old banking employee reported that a day of assessment centre testing was terrifying.
"You went into a structured exam type setting and there was a huge pile of paper to get through. There was role play where you were given different scenarios, and maths tests. It felt like you were being attacked from every direction. Even your breaks entailed networking."
Is this really the best atmosphere in which to assess your future business drivers? Our 30 minute internet based HATS questionnaire, which produces the same results, is a more sensible, less threatening and less stressful tool, not to mention more cost effective.
This questionnaire is then used to provide one or more of 17 possible output reports, depending on the client's requirements, which allow our staff to provide the accurate feedback essential in assisting our clients in their search for fulfillment and success.