Weekend Workshops

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29.11

Workshops - designed tomove you "from dreams to deployment and destiny..."

Workshop Session 1 (2 hrs)
Theme 1: "It’s your choice!" - dynamic, creative, fun exercises and games to help you define and "own" your choices
Theme 2: Discovering your destiny - exploring your values and what really matters and motivates you

Workshop Session 2 (2 hrs)
Theme 3: Creating your personal Mission & Action Plan - consolidating session 1 into a draft deployment plan
Theme 4: Deployment choices - different ways of "serving" in the Public, Private and "Third" Charity / not-for-profit sectors

You are now qualified to do many things...
You may also have big expectations placed on you
You may be conflicted with many "shoulds, oughts and wants"
You may desire a "driving passion" - but have yet to define it clearly

We will help you align your gifts, talents and passions with a career or vocation that is right for you and create opportunities during workshops and coaching sessions to share and refine your vision and focus your search

Workshop contents will also cover practical career counselling (as required) from our book below...

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION                                                                        4
Why “Unfair advantage”?
The Seven Steps to "Unfair Advantage"
How to use this book
How fit for work are you?

Step 1: UNDERSTANDING YOURSELF                                      8
About this step…
Task 1: What motivates you?
Task 2: Creativity in organisations
Task 3: Teamwork
Task 4: Work environments – what suits you best?
Task 5: Office or “field” based job?
Task 6: Working directly with customers
Task 7: Discerning your gifts, talents and sense of purpose
Task 8: Setting your life goals
Summary of Step 1

Step 2: Researching the job market                                     24
About this step…
Careers Centres at university
Independent careers advisers
Friends, family and other people with experience (e.g. recruiters)
The Internet
Work experience

Step 3: Understanding what employers look for                  27
About this step…
Qualifications
Key Skills
Communication skills
Analytical skills
Computer Literacy skills
General Skills
Creative thinking skills
Project Management skills
Interpersonal and Social Skills
Team Working Skills
Exercise – Your personal skills matrix self analysis

Step 4: The application procedure                                          31
About this step…
Personal preparation
Focusing & setting goals
Getting into a positive mode
The Application Form
Preparing your answers
Covering letter

Step 5: The interview process                                                  35
About this step…
The first stage interview
Questions and the interview process
7 golden rules for answering interview questions
Second stage interviews
The job offer!

Step 6: Coping with rejection                                                    41

Step 7: Surviving and succeeding in your first job                  42
About this step…
Networking and self-promotion
Being self-disciplined
Characteristics you should portray in the workplace
Being proactive in your career development - seeking responsibility
Coping with responsibility
Being realistic about your career aspirations
Taking risks
Continuous personal development

Stuart Blackman - Workshop Leader & Coach

Stuart has worked with The Students Industrial Society presenting at their Annual Conferences and written a careers book for graduates (see below). He has wide experience running workshops in many different settings with Charity and corporate senior management teams, tackling complex strategic change and developmental issues. He has contributed for many years as a residential school tutor for the Open University Business School MBAS and degree programmes. He has worked for one of the Third Sector’s most original recruitment firms based in the City. His areas of expertise in senior level executive search include CEO and Board-level appointments in medical, educational and Charities across the voluntary sector. Prior to that he held positions in sales, marketing and change management within three of the recognised leaders in the global pharmaceutical industry. In 2001 Stuart helped plan and then Chair one of the UK’s pioneer social enterprises that built community cohesion through bringing together educational organisations, social services, the police and health – described as “The Jewel in the crown of Birmingham”. Stuart holds a degree from the Imperial College of Science and Technology and an MBA from the Manchester Business School and underwent

Following these workshops you may choose:

One-to-one coaching to help you:
Define roles that match your sense of destiny
Develop a "search strategy" & your "offer"
Create a winning CV & personal statement
Arrange meetings and interviews with our "partners in destiny"

Introductions to our “Partners in Destiny”:
People who have Volunteering & placement opportunities and/or permanent jobs that match your gifts and passions. These include:
Recruitment organisations
Charities NGO's & not-for-profit
Christian organisations
Private & Public sector & networking organisations

It's Your Choice CIC

Workshop contents will also cover practical career counselling (as required) from our book below...

Stuart Blackman - Workshop Leader & Coach