Are You Still Employable In Further Education?

These past few months have certainly been challenging times for us all, particularly within the education sector. Many people within Further Education (FE) have had their work disrupted, and as GCSE and A Level results have just come out we thought it would be a great time to address this topic. The ‘new normal’ certainly isn’t going away any time soon.

You don’t need us to tell you about the vast number of job losses up and down the country, and how many businesses have suffered as a result of the pandemic. No matter what your circumstances, it is time to start thinking whether you are employable today, and will be in the future. If you are working in, or looking to work in the FE sector, here are our top things you need to be doing.

Grow Your Network

Networking is the key to any successful business. Whilst physical networking is a bit out of the picture at the moment, there are lots of things you can do to get the best out of your LinkedIn profile. Are you connected with like-minded individuals within the FE sector? Do you have connections with people who have similar interests or experiences?

By taking the time to build up your network, this will help you to develop your professional relationships. You will soon start connecting with people in other organisations, and you may well be able to get the inside scoop on any jobs coming up.

Stay On Top Of Things

If you are lucky enough to still have a job, don’t get complacent. Now is the time to make sure you are going above and beyond and putting all your efforts into doing the best you can. Your job role may have changed slightly, with the forced introduction of new digital tools. Are you taking the time to learn how to use this new technology? It is important that you don’t get left behind, as the digital era is definitely here to stay.

Improve Your Work-Life Balance

Whilst it can be tempting to give every hour of every day to your job, finding the right work-life balance is important. Make sure that you allow yourself to go home on time at least two or three days a week, and encourage others around you to do the same. Even though you might want to impress your employer and take work home with you every night, you are not going to produce your best work if you do this regularly. Remember that you are more than just your job, and you need a life outside of the usual 9-5 too.

Keep Learning

There is no such thing as being too old to study, and gaining some extra qualifications can make you a very attractive prospect for new employers. Sustain your employability by starting a new Assessor qualification that is going to enhance your knowledge and skills. If you are only able to carry out assessments in learning environments, would it be worth upgrading this qualification to the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement? This would allow you to assess learners in both their learning environment and the workplace.

Do Not Make Enemies

Working in a close community within the education sector can sometimes be very difficult. Try not to form ‘clicks’ of people that includes those you are extremely friendly with, and excludes other people. If you find yourself in a situation where you are being asked to take sides, diffuse the situation instead. Be the bigger person and don’t choose sides. You want to make sure you have as many people as possible who think highly of you, as you never know when you may need a favour from someone!

We hope this has been useful to anyone currently employed, or looking for a role within the FE sector. If you would like any more information on the Assessor courses that we have mentioned here, please contact us on 01205 805 155.