expert advice

Volunteering can provide a great route into work, letting you dip your toe into the kind of career you might be interested in, or simply helping you to build up your skills and experience. Most volunteer placements are unpaid (some employers will offer to pay for your lunch and travel expenses), so working out how you will be able to give up some of your time from a financial perspective can be tricky. But if you are able to find…

If you’re a single parent, your youngest child is aged five or six and you’re not currently in work, you’ve probably received a letter recently telling you your entitlement to income support is going to end. This change came into effect on 21 May 2012. If you’re wondering what your next steps could be, read on for our guide to dealing with the transition. What’s changing? Previously, if you were a single parent you could…

As the days get longer, the nights lighter and the air gets that wonderful hint of sunshine back into it, many of us start thinking about trying out new ventures or dusting off the goals for the new year that we’d perhaps put on hold during the winter months. If you’re a single parent looking to give your career aims a bit of a spring clean, whether by returning to work, getting some training or embarking on a course of study,…

Becoming a single dad is a life-changing event and can feel pretty overwhelming sometimes, especially if you’re balancing working life with family life. Planning how you are going to juggle the two responsibilities can be difficult and you might find there’s some change to get used to and some compromises to be made. However support exists to help you manage that balancing act, and loads of single fathers do a fantastic job…

The job market is undeniably competitive and we all want to give ourselves the greatest chance of securing the best employment for ourselves and our families. Starting a course – whether at school sixth form, college or university – is a great way to get new skills which can lead to better job prospects, more responsibility and a higher salary. While returning to study can be a really attractive prospect, it can be difficult…

Step away from the leftover turkey, disentangle the kids from the fairy lights, take off the party hat and… relax. You’ve done it. Christmas is over. If you’re feeling a little flat after all the festivities, don’t forget that we’re now fully in the throes of a new season of goodwill, this time aimed solely at doing something for ourselves. The start of a new year gives us the perfect opportunity to think about what…

Combining motherhood (or indeed parenthood as more and more Dads are considering the flexible working model!) and maintaining a career can be a very tricky business. You’re sometimes damned if you do and damned if you don’t and in my weaker moments I sometimes ask whether previous generations had it right – our mothers often gave up work upon marriage or childbirth and only ventured back many years later. Opportunities/income…

Finding the right childcare is vital for your child and your peace of mind as you return to work. We look at your choices. After a career break, you’re now set to go back to work. You’ve sorted out your hours and the return date, and you now need to think about who you want to look after your child. Getting the right care for your little one can be the difference between enjoying your return to work and thinking seriously…

It’s that time of year when the kids are settled back in school, there’s a crisp autumnal nip in the air, and you may be thinking about how best to find your perfect(ish) job. If you’re a single parent who is out of work and your youngest child is aged 7 or over, you’re likely to be on jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) already, and accessing help and support from your local JobCentre Plus or Work Programme provider to find…