Typists, sometimes called word processor operators, produce letters, reports and other documents using computers or typewriters. They use three main ways of producing documents:

• copy typing – working from hand-written or printed documents
• audio typing – typing whilst listening to spoken notes that have been dictated onto audio tape
• shorthand typing – taking notes in shorthand then later typing up the information from their notes.

Many employers expect typists to carry out other administrative duties. These vary from employer to employer but might include:

• using computers for other tasks like spreadsheets and databases
• answering the telephone and dealing with enquiries
• using office equipment like photocopiers, faxes and franking machines
• dealing with incoming and outgoing post and emails
• filing.

Hours and Environment

As a typist you will usually work basic office hours 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday to Friday. You may sometimes need to work extra or flexible hours at busy times.

Part-time work, job sharing and temporary work may be available.

Skills and Interests

To be a typist you should:

• be able to work efficiently and accurately
• have good keyboard and computer skills
• have a good command of English grammar, spelling and punctuation
• have good communication skills
• be able to work to deadlines
• be able to produce neat, well-presented work
• be discreet – you could be dealing with confidential information.

Entry

You do not need any set qualifications to work as a typist, although employers may ask for some GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) or equivalent qualifications, including English.

You must have good keyboard skills, and many employers will prefer you to have a recognised qualification in administration or secretarial skills. Before looking for work, you may find it useful to take a qualification such as:

• NVQ/SVQ Levels 1 to 3 in Business and Administration
• City and Guilds, OCR (RSA) or London Chamber of Commerce and Industry Examinations Board (LCCIEB) certificates and diplomas.

Most further education colleges offer a wide range of full- and part-time courses. Please check with colleges for exact entry requirements.

You may be able to get into this job through an apprenticeship scheme. Funding for apprenticeships is available for 16-24 year olds and some over-25s. To find out more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. For information about apprenticeships in other parts of the UK, see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Training

You will usually have some on-the-job training, and you may be able to take qualifications in word processing and other office skills, including:

• LCCIEB Certificates in Audio Transcription and Text Production
• OCR Basic, Intermediate and Advanced Certificates including Audio Transcription, Text Production, Speed Keying and Word Processing
• City & Guilds Certificates including Audio Transcription, Keyboarding, Text Production Skills and Typewriting.

You could also work towards NVQs/SVQs Levels 1-4 in Business and Administration. Levels 3 and 4 are suitable if you have supervisory or management duties.

See the Secretary profile for details of other useful qualifications.

Opportunities

As a typist you could be employed by all kinds of companies. Some jobs may also include reception and clerical duties. If you are confident with a range of computer packages and can do other administrative tasks, you will have more chance of finding work.

With more experience and perhaps further training, you could progress to become a secretary, personal assistant or office manager.

There are also opportunities for self-employment and home working. For instance, you could work at home typing CVs, or essays for students.

Annual Income

The annual income section is intended as a guideline only.

Typists and administrative assistants usually earn around £11,000 to £15,000 a year.
With with good shorthand and audio typing skills and more responsibility, they could earn up to £20,000 a year.

Further information

Tel: 020 7294 2800

Tel: 024 7685 1509

Education Development International plc  International House Siskin Parkway East
Middlemarch Business Park Coventry CV3 4PE Tel: 0870 720 2909

6 Graphite Square
Vauxhall Walk
London
SE11 5EE
Tel: 020 7091 9620

Further Help and Advice

WoWMyCV(UK) can offer further help and advice on any Career path held in our Career Profiles Database, our help and advice centres on Preparing a CV, Interview Techniques and Suitability for a specific Career if you need any further help please feel free to call us on 01603 415-615 or drop us an email to where a member of our expert team will be on hand to help.

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Production assistants support the director and production team during the making of films and television programmes. They handle the administrative work and organisational tasks, to help the production run smoothly and on time.

They are involved at all stages before, during and after filming. Their work can include:

• hiring studio facilities and equipment
• booking hotels and making travel arrangements
• attending production meetings
• copying and distributing scripts
• typing and distributing schedules (‘call sheets’) and daily reports
• getting permission to use copyrighted music or film clips
• dealing with accounts and expenses.

In television, they may also have production duties like:

• timing the show in the studio gallery
• calling camera shots
• cueing pre-recorded material
• logging (keeping records of) shots
• keeping continuity.

They work with a large team, including producers, researchers, and technical staff like camera crew, sound recordists and editors.

Hours and Environment

As a production assistant, your working hours will vary depending on the type of production and the location. You may work long hours, including early mornings, late evenings and shifts.

You will usually be based in an office with other members of the production team, but during filming you will also spend a lot of your time on your feet moving between offices and production areas. During TV transmissions, you could sit in a darkened production gallery, surrounded by banks of monitors.

Location work could be anywhere in the UK or overseas, so you may need to travel and stay away from home for long periods.

Skills and Interests

To be a production assistant you need:

• excellent communication and people skills
• good organisational skills
• good administrative and computer skills
• the ability to work without supervision and use your own initiative
• creativity when dealing with problems
• stamina, focus and determination
• mathematical skills, for working with budgets and accounts
• flexibility and adaptability
• the ability to work well under pressure and to deadlines.

Entry

There are no standard qualifications for becoming a production assistant. Employers are usually more interested in your personal qualities such as enthusiasm, common sense and initiative. The key is to gain practical experience and develop a network of contacts in the industry.

You can gain relevant experience through:

• student film or TV productions
• getting paid or unpaid work experience
• building a portfolio of productions you have been involved in.

Contact Skillset Careers for advice on finding work experience (see Further Information section for details).

You may find it helpful to take a course in film, video or media production. The most useful ones include practical skills and work placements (see Skillset’s website for details of industry-endorsed courses). Several universities and colleges offer relevant BTEC HNDs, degrees and postgraduate courses – check with course providers for entry requirements.

You will often start as a runner, junior assistant or secretary in the production office, and work your way up the production ladder as you gain experience. You will need good typing speeds and computer skills. Shorthand skills are also useful.

Training

You will usually learn on the job from more experienced production staff.

Film and Television Freelance Training (FT2) runs a two-year apprenticeship-style New Entrant Technical Training Scheme for production assistants (including assistant location managers, production co-ordinators and script supervisors).

Places are strictly limited and the selection process is tough. You do not need formal qualifications, but you must be:

• able to touch-type at 40 words or more per minute and ideally have shorthand skills
• aged 18 or over
• prepared to live in London during training
• able to prove that you are committed to finding work experience in the film and TV industry.

See FT2’s website for more details.

Regional screen agencies may sometimes offer other new entrant schemes. Contact Skillset Careers for more information.

As an experienced production assistant, you could also take short courses in various business and production skills. These are run by film schools and some specialist colleges and private training providers.

Skillset and the British Film Institute jointly provide a database of media courses – see Skillset’s website for this, and for information about how to fund your training as a freelance in the media.

Opportunities

Competition is fierce for jobs in the film and TV industry. When starting out you will often have to work for free or for little pay.

Most production assistants are freelance and work on fixed-term contracts for each production.

Over half of the TV and film workforce is employed in London. The rest of industry is mainly based in the south east and north west of England, and major regional cities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

As a production assistant you could work for:

• television broadcasters
• independent TV or film production companies
• producers of commercials, music videos or corporate video.

Some jobs are advertised in the trade press and websites, but it is common to get work through networking and contacts. If you are making a speculative application you should target small independent production companies, as they often do not have the budget to advertise vacancies.

With experience, you could progress to production co-ordinator then production manager. Alternatively, you could use the job as a stepping stone to becoming a researcher or producer.

Annual Income

Freelance production assistants are usually paid a fee per contract, and they may experience gaps between contracts.

Freelance rates within the media vary widely and may be calculated on a daily or weekly basis. You could negotiate your own fees based on your experience and track record, the type of production and the budget available, or you may be paid according to Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU) guidelines.

See BECTU’s website for current minimum rates (details in Further Information section).

Further information

373-377 Clapham Road London SW9 9BT

249 West George Street
Glasgow
G2 4QE
Tel: 0141 302 1700

Gronant
Penrallt Isaf
Caernarfon
Gwynedd
LL55 1NS
Tel: 01286 671000

4th Floor
Warwick House
Warwick Street
London
W1R 5RA

Prospect House
80-110 New Oxford Street
London
WC1A 1HB

Tel: 08080 300 900 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland
Tel: 0808 100 8094 for Scotland

Further Help and Advice

WoWMyCV(UK) can offer further help and advice on any Career path held in our Career Profiles Database, our help and advice centres on Preparing a CV, Interview Techniques and Suitability for a specific Career if you need any further help please feel free to call us on 01603 415-615 or drop us an email to where a member of our expert team will be on hand to help.

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Trading standards officers (TSOs) protect consumers by making sure that goods and services are bought and sold in a safe and fair trading environment. They advise consumers and businesses, check that businesses keep to the law, investigate complaints and prosecute any traders that break consumer laws.

TSOs are employed by local authorities, and their duties may include:

• visiting local traders and businesses to carry out routine checks or investigate complaints
• taking samples of food and goods for testing
• checking that traders’ scales and measures are accurate
• making sure that labelling is correct and advertising is not misleading
• advising consumers and traders about the law
• investigating suspected offences – this may include undercover or surveillance work
• preparing evidence and going to court in prosecution cases
• giving talks to schools and community groups
• writing reports and keeping records.

TSOs may specialise in a particular area of trading standards work, or may work across the full range of duties. Their duties may also depend on where they are based. For example, a city-based officer could deal with street traders and fake goods, whilst in rural areas they may deal more often with animal welfare issues.

In most trading standards departments, TSOs are supported by:

• Enforcement or Fair Trading Officers – do similar work to TSOs such as advising, mediating and serving notices, but do not carry out the full range of duties of a qualified TSO
• Consumer Advisers – advise the public and businesses about consumer issues and laws by phone, e-mail or face-to-face, and pass on any criminal cases to fully-qualified TSOs. Some consumer advisers also give money and debt advice.

Hours and Environment

Trading standards officers usually work 35 to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Flexible hours are usually available and part-time working and job sharing may be possible.

They are office-based, but spend a lot of their time travelling around their local area visiting businesses and traders. Trading standards officers enter all sorts of premises, some of which can be unpleasant. They also often need to attend court.

Skills and Interests

To be a trading standards officer, you should:

• have good spoken and written communication skills
• be observant and pay attention to detail
• be able to understand technical and complex information
• have good judgement
• keep up-to-date with changes in the law
• be able to work alone or as part of a team
• be patient, determined and resilient
• be tactful, diplomatic and able to persuade and influence people
• have computer and numeracy skills.

Entry

To work as a trading standards officer you must gain the Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (DCATS). DCATS is part of a range of qualifications which replaced the previous Diploma in Consumer Affairs (DCA) and Diploma in Trading Standards (DTS) qualifications in 2006.

To qualify for the DCATS, you must be working for a local authority as a trainee trading standards officer, and either:

• have a consumer protection degree or postgraduate diploma approved by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI), or
• accreditation of prior experience and learning (APEL) in another trading standards role.

Degree route
For a consumer protection degree you will normally need at least five GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) including English, maths and science, and two A levels/three H grades or equivalent qualifications. An Access to Higher Education qualification may be accepted for entry to certain courses. Please check with colleges or universities for exact entry requirements.

You may be able to get sponsorship for the consumer protection degree from local authorities. This means that you will get work experience while studying, and may also lead to a job as a trainee TSO after graduating.

If you already have a degree in another subject, you could choose to take Manchester Metropolitan University’s Graduate Diploma in Trading Standards. This is a one-year full-time postgraduate conversion course accredited by the Trading Standards Institute. Your first degree will usually need to be in a subject related to trading standards work.

After graduating from an accredited consumer protection course, you can apply to local authorities for a job as a trainee trading standards officer and begin working towards the diploma.

See the TSCareers website for more information including a list of accredited courses.

Non-degree work-based route
If you do not have an accredited consumer protection degree, you could apply for a trainee enforcement officer or consumer adviser job, and study towards the Foundation Certificate in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards and relevant Module Certificates whilst working. See the Training section for more details.

You must also get credit for your on-the-job experience by submitting a portfolio of workplace evidence to the TSI for approval – this is known as accreditation of prior experience and learning (APEL). After passing the Foundation Certificate and satisfying APEL, you can apply for DCATS to become a fully-qualified trading standards officer.

Local authority trading standards departments recruit people from a wide variety of backgrounds. You will find it useful to have previous experience of legal, retail or advice work.

Training

You will train and gain experience on the job, and also study for professional qualifications from the Trading Standards Institute.

The TSI has introduced a new series of qualifications for trading standards in 2006:

• Foundation Certificate in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards: an entry-level qualification in consumer law
• Module Certificate in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards: single-subject exams in a range of specific areas of trading standards work
• Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (DCATS): this is the legal requirement for fully qualified TSOs. To achieve DCATS you must pass at least three or four trading standards subjects from a list of 10 modules. If you do not have an accredited consumer protection degree, you must first have passed the Foundation Certificate. DCATS usually takes around 18 months.
• Higher Diploma in Consumer Affairs and Trading Standards (HDCATS): for experienced trading standards officers.

For all levels, you must submit a portfolio of workplace evidence as well as passing exams. You can study for the exams by distance learning or with a local accredited training provider. Please see the TS Careers website for more information about qualifications.

You must carry on updating your knowledge and skills throughout your career. The Trading Standards Institute offers a range of short courses as part of its continuous professional and personal development (CPPD) scheme.

Opportunities

There are around 1,500 trading standards officers in local authorities all over the UK.

There is a clear promotion structure to senior TSO, section head and divisional officer. However, trading standards departments can be small, so TSOs may need to change employers to gain promotion.

There may be opportunities for trading standards professionals to move into private industry to work as a consultant. They could also become self-employed and set up their own consultancy.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Starting salaries for enforcement officers and trainee TSOs are around £16,000 to £20,000 a year.
Qualified trading standards officers can earn £23,000 to £32,000 a year.
Senior trading standards officers can earn up to £45,000 a year.

Further information

First Floor, 1 Sylvan Court
Sylvan Way
Southfields Business Park
Basildon
Essex
SS15 6TH
Tel: 0870 872 9000

Further Help and Advice

WoWMyCV(UK) can offer further help and advice on any Career path held in our Career Profiles Database, our help and advice centres on Preparing a CV, Interview Techniques and Suitability for a specific Career if you need any further help please feel free to call us on 01603 415-615 or drop us an email to where a member of our expert team will be on hand to help.

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The information contained in our Career Profiles Database was correct at time of publishing, but since publication certain details may have changed so please use this section as a research tool and in some cases further research may be required.

Trade union officials represent the interests of union members in discussions with employers. Health and safety, pay and conditions, equal opportunities and redundancy are just a few of the issues trade union officials deal with in their daily work. Also known as trade union officers, they are full-time employees of a trade union.

Officials who represent the union at a regional level will usually:

• recruit, train and support local officials and shop stewards
• deal with local disputes and case work
• advise on legal or health and safety issues
• work as a learning representative, promoting learning and education programmes to local members.

Trade union officials in the union’s national office often deal with broader issues. These include:

• developing national policy
• research
• developing learning and education programmes for members
• dealing with the media
• negotiating with employers’ organisations, political parties and government.

Part-time union officials, also known as shop stewards or representatives, are elected by local trade union members. They pass on the views of the workforce to the management of their company, and have a legal right to conduct union business during working hours.

Hours and Environment

Union officials’ basic working week is 35 hours long, but in practice they will often work more than 40 hours. This often includes early starts, evenings and weekends.

Officials are usually office-based but spend time attending meetings and visiting employers’ premises to meet members and union representatives or shop stewards. A driving licence is therefore usually required.

Skills and Interests

To be a trade union official you should:

• be politically aware and interested in employee welfare
• be self-confident and approachable
• have excellent communication, negotiation and listening skills
• enjoy meeting people, often in challenging situations
• be confident when speaking in public
• be able to motivate and manage support staff and local representatives
• have good research skills
• be patient and tactful
• enjoy solving problems.

Entry

You can enter trade union work either through local branch or regional office work, or by joining the staff at a union headquarters.

Branch or regional office staff have usually spent several years involved in unpaid union work, either as a local representative or shop steward. They have in-depth knowledge of the workings of the union at ground level.

Headquarters staff are usually qualified and experienced in their specialist area of work. These include:

• employment or general law
• economics
• trade union legislation or organisation
• media
• research
• education and training.

You could also enter head office straight from university with a relevant degree or postgraduate qualification. This is most common in research officer jobs. Relevant degree subjects could include social sciences, politics, economics or law.

Alternatively you may work your way up through the organisation from branch or regional office level to work at headquarters level.

For either route, you will be at an advantage if you have work or voluntary experience of advice work, politics, negotiations or campaigning.

Training

You will usually be trained on the job and also attend occasional short courses run by:

• your own union
• your Trade Union Congress (TUC)
• commercial training organisations.

The TUC runs a structured training programme covering a range of subjects including advocacy skills, health and safety, industrial tribunals and employment law. The courses are accredited by the Open College Network (OCN).

The TUC has its own National Training Centre in London with other regional training centres around the UK. You can also study some courses through online learning.

See the TUC website (in Further Information) for details. If you manage support staff, you will usually be encouraged to gain the Institute of Leadership and Management’s Introductory Certificate in First Line Management.

You could also get financial support to take other professional exams that may be relevant to your job, such as personnel or training qualifications.

For more details check the ENTO website (in Further Information).

Opportunities

Trade union officials may become regional secretaries of their union, managing other officials. National posts are often based in London.

As a trade union official you may be able to move into similar jobs in professional bodies, or to move into personnel work. Some move into politics as councillors or members of parliament.

Jobs are advertised in the local and national press, and on TUC and union websites (see Further Information section below).

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Full-time posts usually start at around £18,000 to £20,000 a year.
Experienced officials usually earn around £25,000 a year.
Trade union officials in senior management positions may earn £35,000 or more.

Further information

Northern Ireland Committee
3 Crescent Gardens
Belfast
BT7 1NS
Tel: 028 9024 7940

Congress House
Great Russell Street
London
WC1B 3LS
Tel: 020 7636 4030

333 Woodlands Road
Glasgow
G3 6NG
Tel: 0141 337 8100

Kimberley House
47 Vaughan Way
Leicester
LE1 4SG
Tel: 0116 251 7979

Further Help and Advice

WoWMyCV(UK) can offer further help and advice on any Career path held in our Career Profiles Database, our help and advice centres on Preparing a CV, Interview Techniques and Suitability for a specific Career if you need any further help please feel free to call us on 01603 415-615 or drop us an email to where a member of our expert team will be on hand to help.

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The information contained in our Career Profiles Database was correct at time of publishing, but since publication certain details may have changed so please use this section as a research tool and in some cases further research may be required.

Town planning support staff work for a number of agencies including local authorities, independent planning consultancies, government departments and private companies.

They assist in the planning application process and can be involved in a variety of duties, including:

Administrative work – preparation of literature for internal and external publications; compiling minutes of meetings; management of technical libraries, filing systems and databases; recording progress and outcomes of planning applications; retrieving information and data required by planners for a particular application; organising public meetings; frontline support work with the public, advising on application procedures and dealing with straightforward queries.

Enforcement work – liaising with individuals, organisations and developers to ensure compliance with any conditions attached to their planning applications. This may involve gathering information and data with a view to using it as evidence should disputes arise. The role also involves presenting reports on breaches to planning committees or, where necessary, to magistrates and judges. Tact and diplomacy are essential for this role.

Technical work – support staff may also work as planning technicians, assisting with the application process. This can include compiling data by attending public meetings or carrying out surveys, for example, traffic impact assessments; drawing up designs using computer-aided design (CAD) software; building and maintaining databases, holding information relating to applications; putting together presentations for committee meetings; advising on minor planning applications.

With experience, some supervisory duties may be coupled with the role.

Hours and Environment

Town planning support staff normally work office hours, Monday to Friday, with part-time and flexi-time arrangements becoming increasingly common.

Work is usually office-based but may involve accompanying town planners to site visits, meetings and conferences.

Skills and Interests

To work in town planning support, you should:

• have some knowledge of technical drawing, computer-aided design (CAD), desktop publishing or common office software
• have some knowledge of local and national planning regulations
• have good numeracy skills for data handling
• be able to understand technical drawings and maps
• have strong communication skills, verbally and in writing
• be well organised
• be able to deal calmly and objectively with clients
• be able to work independently as well as part of a team
• be accurate and methodical
• have good administrative skills
• have good customer care skills.

Entry

There are no set formal qualifications for this type of role, as each employer will have different requirements. However, most employers are likely to ask for some GCSEs/S grades or A levels/H grades in subjects such as maths, English, geography, IT or economics, or equivalent qualifications.

Qualifications and/or experience in related areas, for example surveying, CAD design, construction, information management, administration or law may also be acceptable for entry into this role.

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and the Royal Town Planning Institute in Scotland have full details of careers in this field. LG Careers also has details of this role within local government. See Further Information for contacts.

Training

Training is usually delivered by employers, often coupled with study towards NVQ/SVQ in Town Planning Support Level 3 and Town Planning at Level 4. This is available part-time and via distance learning.

The NVQ/SVQ contains optional units depending on your type of work. These include:

• Administration
• Technical
• Enforcement
• Development Control
• General.

You can qualify for technical membership of the RTPI by holding a qualification at level 3 or higher and completion of at least two years’ relevant work experience. Contact the RTPI and RTPI in Scotland for more details.

Opportunities

The majority of town planning support staff are employed by local authorities and consultancies. Some large firms such as house-builders, supermarkets and utility companies also employ support staff to assist in their planning departments.

Progression is normally to team leader roles or technician level. With further study, it may be possible to become a fully qualified town planner. See the profile for Town Planner.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Income for new entrants is between £14,000 and £18,000 a year.
Experienced support staff earn between £18,500 and £23,000.
Qualified technical staff with supervisory duties can earn up to £28,000.

Further information

41 Botolph Lane
London
EC3R 8DL
Tel: 020 7929 9494

57 Melville Street
Edinburgh
EH3 7HL
Tel: 0131 226 1959

Further Help and Advice

WoWMyCV(UK) can offer further help and advice on any Career path held in our Career Profiles Database, our help and advice centres on Preparing a CV, Interview Techniques and Suitability for a specific Career if you need any further help please feel free to call us on 01603 415-615 or drop us an email to where a member of our expert team will be on hand to help.

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Telephone order clerks, sometimes known as customer services advisers or order processing clerks, work for companies that sell goods through catalogues or advertisements.

Their duties can include:

• answering incoming telephone calls
• taking orders
• answering questions about products or deliveries
• checking that goods are in stock
• confirming customers’ details
• using a computer system to enter information and check stock
• processing payments made by credit or debit card
• completing basic paperwork
• trying to sell extra goods or services to customers.

They may also have telesales duties, for example encouraging customers to buy extra goods or services. They often have to work to targets.

Hours and Environment

As a telephone order clerk you will usually work 35 to 40 hours a week. Shift work including evenings and weekends is common, because many companies provide ordering services six or seven days a week until late in the evening. Part-time work is often available.

You could work in a large call centre or a smaller office, depending on your employer. Some employers may offer the opportunity for home working. You will spend your time sitting at a desk or computer workstation.

Skills and Interests

To be a telephone order clerk you need:

• good listening skills
• a clear speaking voice
• good customer service and ‘people’ skills
• a helpful, polite and patient manner
• accuracy and attention to detail
• basic computer skills
• sales skills.

Entry

The entry requirements you need will vary from company to company. Some employers may ask for some GCSEs/S grades including English and maths, others do not ask for qualifications but will test your telephone and computer keyboard skills at interview.

Most employers will prefer you to have previous work experience involving telephone work, customer service, computer skills or general office duties.

You could help your chances of employment by taking an introductory course in call centre techniques, such as:

• E-Skills UK Call Centre Pathway (City & Guilds 4423 Level 1 Certificate of Introduction to the Contact Centre Industry)
• NCFE Level 1 Certificate in Contact Centre Techniques
• BTEC Level 1 Award in Introduction to Contact Centres.

It is not essential to take one of these courses before looking for work, but it could be useful if you are new to the contact centre industry.

You may be able to get into this job through an apprenticeship scheme. Funding for apprenticeships is available for 16-24 year olds and some over-25s. To find out more, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk. For information about apprenticeships in other parts of the UK, see Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Training

You will usually be trained on the job, learning from experienced staff. When you start work you will usually be trained on the job in customer service skills, product knowledge and in-house computer systems.

You may have the chance to work towards one of the following NVQs/SVQs once employed:

• NVQ/SVQ Levels 1 and 2 in Contact Centre Operations
• NVQ/SVQ Levels 1 and 2 Customer Service
• NVQ Levels 2 and 3 in Telesales.

You could also go on to take NVQ/SVQ Levels 3, 4 and 5 in Contact Centre Professionals if you progress to become a team leader or call centre manager.

Opportunities

As a telephone order clerk you are most likely to work for one of the large catalogue companies. You could also work for smaller direct marketing companies, or companies that supply goods to other businesses.

Jobs can be advertised in the local press, Jobcentre Plus and through recruitment agencies.

With experience you could be promoted to become a team leader or supervisor. You could also move into other types of contact centre work such as telesales or financial services.

Annual Income

Figures intended as a guideline only.

Starting salaries are usually around £10,000 to £12,000 a year.
Experienced usually earn between £12,000 and £16,000 a year.
Team leaders or supervisors can earn £14,000 to £22,000 a year.

In some jobs there may be bonuses for meeting sales targets.

Further information

1 Castle Lane
London
SW1E 6DR

2 Castle Court
St Peters’ St
Colchester
Essex
CO1 1EW
Tel. 01206 571716

Further Help and Advice

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Telephone operators, also known as switchboard operators or telephonists, are the first point of contact for callers to an organisation. They answer incoming calls, direct callers to the appropriate person or department, and connect outgoing calls, where internal staff have difficulties in obtaining a number.

Work varies between organisations, but generally includes connecting calls, answering enquiries from customers, reporting faults, testing lines and taking messages. Some typical areas of work include:

• college switchboard
• directory enquiries services
• local government services
• emergency response services
• customer service helplines.

Operators normally wear telephone headsets and work at a computer. They call up directory databases and connect calls using automated equipment. Increasingly, the role is combined with that of a call centre operator. For further details, see the profile for Call Centre Operator.

Hours and Environment

Skills and Interests

To be a telephone operator, you should:

• have good hearing and a clear telephone voice
• be confident and polite with a pleasant telephone manner
• be able to work quickly and accurately under pressure
• have a good command of English
• have basic IT skills
• have excellent customer care skills
• be able to deal with difficult calls in a calm, patient and professional manner
• be aware of confidentiality issues
• be aware of health and safety issues.

Depending on the business, multilingual skills may be required.

Entry

• City & Guilds Certificate of Introduction to the Contact Centre Industry Level 1
• Certificate in Contact Centre Skills (4422) at levels 2 and 3
• NCFE Certificate in Contact Centre Techniques at levels 1 and 2.

Training

Apprenticeships may be available for those under the age of 24. In England these are currently Apprenticeships (level 2) and Advanced Apprenticeships (level 3). To find out more about these, visit www.apprenticeships.org.ukApprenticeships may be different in other areas. For further information see Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland

Opportunities

The telecoms sector is growing and there are opportunities for this kind of work throughout the country in the public and private sector, for example, banking, insurance, telesales, hospitality and front-of-office.

Career progression normally involves moving into supervisory and management roles, training, administration and human resources.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

New entrants start at about £10,000.
Average salaries are between £12,000 and £16,000 a year.
With supervisory responsibilities, this could rise to between £17,000 and £19,000.

Further information

1 Castle Lane
London
SW1E 6DR

Further Help and Advice

WoWMyCV(UK) can offer further help and advice on any Career path held in our Career Profiles Database, our help and advice centres on Preparing a CV, Interview Techniques and Suitability for a specific Career if you need any further help please feel free to call us on 01603 415-615 or drop us an email to where a member of our expert team will be on hand to help.

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The information contained in our Career Profiles Database was correct at time of publishing, but since publication certain details may have changed so please use this section as a research tool and in some cases further research may be required.

Supervisors manage a team of staff and organise their workload. They work in all kinds of businesses and environments, including for example:

• leading a sales team
• managing a team or department in an office or call centre
• leading a section in a factory, restaurant, hotel or shop.

Their duties will depend on the size and type of company that they work for, but may include:

• planning workloads and rosters
• delegating tasks to team members
• dealing with any problems or complaints
• monitoring and reporting on the team’s performance
• coaching and training staff
• carrying out appraisals
• completing relevant paperwork
• keeping up-to-date with health and safety and equal opportunities laws and company procedures.

In some jobs, supervisors also carry out the same work as their team members, whilst in others they are only responsible for management tasks. In some organisations supervisors may also have wider management duties such as personnel or dealing with premises.

Hours and Environment

Supervisors usually work 37 to 40 hours a week, including shifts if required by the organisation’s opening hours. Some jobs are seasonal, and there may be the opportunity for part-time hours or job-sharing.

Their working environment depends on the industry they work in, such as offices, factories or call centres. In some companies the supervisor may manage a team of staff based at different locations, so they may need to travel between different offices or sites. In some jobs supervisors may have to wear a uniform.

Skills and Interests

To be a supervisor you should:

• be able to motivate staff and lead a team
• have good written and communication skills
• have good people skills and be able to work well with colleagues at all levels
• be able to plan, organise and prioritise your own work and other people’s
• stay calm under pressure
• be able to make quick, effective decisions
• keep accurate records and write clear reports
• have numeracy and IT skills, for some jobs.

Entry

You will usually become a supervisor or team leader after gaining in-depth experience in your job, and showing leadership skills and responsibility.

There are no set qualifications needed to be a supervisor. Most employers will prefer you to have some GCSEs (A-C)/S grades (1-3) or equivalent qualifications. Some employers may prefer supervisors to be qualified to A level/H grade or degree standard, others may ask for request specific qualifications relating to the type of business. However, your skills and experience are usually more important than your academic qualifications.

You may find it useful to have NVQs/SVQs or other qualifications in management (see the Training section for more details).

Training

You will usually learn supervisory skills on the job. Employers often also have their own structured in-house training programmes for supervisors.

You may be able to study for qualifications such as:

Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM):

• Level 2 Certificate in Team Leading
• Level 3 Certificate in First Line Management
• Level 5 Diploma in Management.

Chartered Management Institute:

• Level 2 Introductory Certificate in Team Leading
• Level 3 Introductory Certificate in Management
• Level 4 Introductory Diploma in Management
• Level 5 Diploma in Management.

NVQs/SVQs:

• Level 2 in Team Leading
• Levels 3, 4 and 5 in Management.

Depending on your job, you may also be able to do NVQs/SVQs and other qualifications aimed at management in your own specific industry.

Apprenticeships may be available for those under the age of 24. In England these are currently Apprenticeships (level 2) and Advanced Apprenticeships (level 3). To find out more about these, visit www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Apprenticeships may be different in other areas. For further information see Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland .

Opportunities

Almost every organisation employs supervisors and team leaders all over the UK. There are many opportunities in retail, hospitality and catering, offices, factories, warehouses, call centres, and the public sector.

There may be the chance to apply for more senior or management positions, or to move into a different type of business to gain more responsibility or a higher salary.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only. Salaries will vary depending on the type of industry.

Starting salaries may be around £15,000 a year.
Experienced supervisors may earn £17,000 to £21,000.
Senior supervisors with wider responsibilities may earn £25,000 or more.

In some companies, supervisors may receive overtime pay or commission on sales.

Further information

Management House
Cottingham Road
Corby
Northants
NN17 1TT
Tel: 01536 204222

1 Giltspur Street
London
EC1A 9DD
Tel: 020 7294 2470

Further Help and Advice

WoWMyCV(UK) can offer further help and advice on any Career path held in our Career Profiles Database, our help and advice centres on Preparing a CV, Interview Techniques and Suitability for a specific Career if you need any further help please feel free to call us on 01603 415-615 or drop us an email to where a member of our expert team will be on hand to help.

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The information contained in our Career Profiles Database was correct at time of publishing, but since publication certain details may have changed so please use this section as a research tool and in some cases further research may be required.

Sports development officers (SDOs) aim to improve access to sport and physical activity for people of all ages and ability.

They organise projects, programmes, information and training which may focus on any of the following:

• encouraging people to increase their activity and have a healthier lifestyle
• improving the quality of existing provision
• developing skills in the community
• supporting initiatives to reduce crime and rehabilitate young offenders
• improving access to sport for specific groups such as young people, people with disabilities and people from disadvantaged communities
• putting local and national policies into practice.

The activities sports development officers are involved in include:

• working with the local community, professional bodies and national governing bodies of sport (NGBs) to coordinate access to sport and activities and promote leisure events
• identifying the need and demand for new activities
• identifying opportunities for funding
• working with local communities and local organisations to ensure resources are used and all available funding is accessed
• attending meetings, seminars and conferences
• finding and training suitable staff, coaches and volunteers for projects
• organising, promoting and running projects and activities
• monitoring and evaluating projects
• managing resources and budgets
• sometimes coaching or supervising the sports for which they are qualified.

SDOs may promote sport in general, working for a County Sports Partnership or local authority, or may be sports specific development officers (SSDOs), concentrating on a specific sport and working for a NGB.

Hours and Environment

As a sports development officer (SDO) your hours may vary from week to week. you are likely to work some unsocial hours to cover times when most people are able to take part in leisure activities.

You may be based in an office during the day, carrying out the administrative parts of the job, and spend the evenings and weekends visiting community groups, schools, events, sports venues and meetings.

Your work will involve a lot of local travel if you are a SDOs and regional travel if you are a sports specific development officers, so you are likely to need a driving licence.

Although you will not usually join in with the activities you have organised, you may have to be present to ensure they run smoothly. This can involve being outside in all weathers.

Skills and Interests

To be a sports development officer you should:

• be enthusiastic about the benefits of sports and healthy living
• have excellent communication skills
• be confident and efficient working alone or as a member of a team
• have leadership and organisational skills
• be flexible and adaptable
• have good computer and administrative skills
• enjoy working with individuals and groups from all backgrounds and ability levels, and in a range of environments
• be able to think on your feet.

Entry

To become a become a sports development officer (SDO) you are likely to need a degree, preferably in subjects such as:

• sports development
• sports coaching
• sports science
• recreation or leisure management.

Some sports development officers have postgraduate qualifications in subjects such as sports studies, health and exercise sciences or leisure management.

It will be useful if you have a background in coaching – sports development officers are often qualified to coach a number of different sports or activities. You may be able to gain coaching qualifications as part of a degree or HND/HNC. See the Sports Coach and Football Coach profiles for more information on the availability of coaching-related courses.

It is important to be able to demonstrate practical commitment, so you should gain as much experience as possible by volunteering in areas such as:

• sports activities
• coaching
• community and holiday programmes.

It may also be possible to get unpaid work experience with local sports development officers.

Training

When you have a relevant job you may be able to work towards:

• NVQ/SVQ Level 3 in Sports Development awarded by OCR
• NVQ/SVQ Level 3 in Sport, Recreation and Allied Occupations: Operations and Development which includes units specific to sports development.

You can keep your knowledge up to date by joining the Institute for Sports, Parks and Leisure (ISPAL) continuous professional development (CPD)programme. Visit the ISPAL website (in Further Information below) for details.

You might find it useful to do courses in marketing, finance and human resource management, as these areas are often important in this type of work.

Opportunities

Organisations which employ sports development officers include:

• local authorities
• youth organisations
• NGBs
• Sports Councils
• universities.

Some positions may only be funded for a limited time, so you may have a short fixed term contract.

With experience, you could be promoted to a senior position, but this is likely to involve relocating. You could move into sport and leisure contracting or into management of health and fitness programmes.

Annual Income

Figures are only intended as a guideline.

Full-time salaries vary depending on experience and specific jobs. They can be between around £16,000 and around £25,000 a year.
For senior positions salaries can be between around £26,000 to over £30,000 a year.

Further information

3rd Floor
Victoria House
Bloomsbury Square
London
WC1B 4SE
Tel: 0845 850 8508

Castlewood House
77-91 New Oxford Street
London
WC1A 1PX
Advice line: 08000 933300

Leeds Metropolitan University
Carnegie Faculty of Sport and Education
Fairfax Hall
Headingley Campus
Beckett Park
Leeds
LS6 3QS
Tel: 0113 283 6162

The Grotto House
Lower Basildon
Reading
RG8 9NE
Tel: 0845 6038734

Further Help and Advice

WoWMyCV(UK) can offer further help and advice on any Career path held in our Career Profiles Database, our help and advice centres on Preparing a CV, Interview Techniques and Suitability for a specific Career if you need any further help please feel free to call us on 01603 415-615 or drop us an email to where a member of our expert team will be on hand to help.

Don’t forget about our FREE CV Review Service, any visitor to the WoWMyCV(UK) website can claim their 100% FREE CV Review in two easy steps, Click Here for further information

Site Disclaimer

The information contained in our Career Profiles Database was correct at time of publishing, but since publication certain details may have changed so please use this section as a research tool and in some cases further research may be required.

A franchise is an arrangement between a well-known company (the franchiser) and a local operator (the franchisee). The franchisee is self-employed and owns and runs the business, but gets the benefit of running an established business whose products or services are already familiar to the public.

There are different types of franchise agreement, but usually the franchiser pays an initial fee to use the franchising company’s brand, systems and products, and also a regular management service fee based on a percentage of turnover. In return, the franchising company offers training and guidelines for running the business, advertising, and design, fittings and layout of business premises.

Many types of business are run as franchises, for example:

• convenience stores
• food take-aways
• printing
• professional cleaning services
• hairdressers
• parcel delivery
• estate agents
• recruitment consultancies.

Although franchising companies usually provide a lot of information and support, franchisees need to understand the basics of how to run a business from a financial and operational point of view.

Hours and Environment

Most franchises involve long working hours. Actual hours worked varies according to the type of business and may involve evening and weekend work.

The work environment also varies according to the type of franchise.

Skills and Interests

To be a self employed franchisee you should:

• be independent, energetic and self-motivated
• be able to run your own business
• be highly organised
• be able to follow the franchise company’s rules and guidelines
• have good numeracy skills to be able to understand budgets and accounts
• have the confidence and skills to market and promote your own business
• have good communication skills
• be able to manage and motivate employees.

Entry

You do not need any formal qualifications to run most franchises, but you will need general business skills such as people management and an understanding of marketing and basic accounts.

You do not usually need any direct experience of the business that you are running, but you will find it useful to have previous sales and management experience.

You will need enough capital to pay the franchiser’s fees and to build up the business locally in its early stages. Few franchises are available for less than £5,000. The average initial start-up cost is between £20,000 and £50,000.

The British Franchise Association runs seminars and provides information to people who are thinking of running a franchise. They also assess and accredit franchising companies. See Further Information for contact details.

Many local colleges run business start-up courses, which you may find useful. The Business Link network offers a range of business support and development services, including training and advice. Similar services are available in Scotland from Scottish Enterprise, and in Wales from Business Eye Wales.

Training

All franchising companies will offer you some kind of initial training. Training may be at your own premises, or at a training centre elsewhere. Some franchisers will also train your employees and provide ongoing training as part of the franchise agreement.

Training is likely to include:

• operating the business to the required standard
• sales skills
• product knowledge, pricing and marketing
• finance, administration and customer relations.

You could choose to work towards NVQs/SVQs aimed at people running their own business, such as:

• Level 3 in Business Start-up
• Level 4 in Business Development.

Other useful NVQs/SVQs could include Accounting at levels 2 to 4; Management at levels 3 to 5; and Customer Service at levels 2 and 3.

Opportunities

There are currently over 700 franchise systems running in the UK, including many well-known businesses.

Home-based franchises are usually the simplest and cheapest to set up, although most franchises need business premises and more financial backing.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Average earnings range from around £15,000 to £30,000 a year. It may be possible to earn more.

Income depends on the nature and size of franchise, the product or service, and how much effort the franchisee puts into making the business work.

Further information

Tel: 0845 607 8787

Franchise House
56 Surrey Street
Norwich
NR1 3FD
Tel: 01603 620301

Tel: 0845 600 9006

Thames View
Newtown Road
Henley-on-Thames
Oxfordshire
RG9 1HG
Tel: 01491 578050

Tel: 08457 969798

Further Help and Advice

WoWMyCV(UK) can offer further help and advice on any Career path held in our Career Profiles Database, our help and advice centres on Preparing a CV, Interview Techniques and Suitability for a specific Career if you need any further help please feel free to call us on 01603 415-615 or drop us an email to where a member of our expert team will be on hand to help.

Don’t forget about our FREE CV Review Service, any visitor to the WoWMyCV(UK) website can claim their 100% FREE CV Review in two easy steps, Click Here for further information

Site Disclaimer

The information contained in our Career Profiles Database was correct at time of publishing, but since publication certain details may have changed so please use this section as a research tool and in some cases further research may be required.