In This Edition...

BETTER NEWS FOR CANDIDATES

FOCUS ON... GETTING AHEAD

INTEGRATED HR DELIVER TRAINING TO LEAN TEAM

INTRODUCING... INTEGRATE

MERGER FORMS NEW TRADE BODY

FROM ONE JOHN TO ANOTHER

NEXT STOP, THE OSCARS

AND THE WINNER IS...

Wakefield
01924 241010
wakefield@jonlee.co.uk

Leicester
0116 299 4040
leicester@jonlee.co.uk

Stourbridge
01384 397555
consult@jonlee.co.uk

St Albans
01727 841101
jobs@jprecruit.com

Basildon
01268 889250
southfields@jonlee.co.uk

International
00 44 (0)800 6529801
int@jonlee.co.uk

www.jonlee.co.uk

Focus on …

getting ahead needs to be more personal

Personal development has always been central to a successful career but it is especially so in today’s economy, where jobs are in short supply and competition for roles is fierce.

Competition is now global, with developing economies increasingly competing with the UK for high value added advanced technology work. This trend will continue and the major western economies will come under increasing pressure to keep ahead of the game.  It is therefore more vital than ever, for individuals as well as the UK economy in general, that personal development is taken seriously, skills need to be kept up to date and individuals need to take responsibility for their own development, supported by companies and professional institutions. The recent events in the financial sector have highlighted the need for a balanced economy and a vibrant, innovative engineering and manufacturing base in the UK. The challenge is ensuring that we have and continue to have the talent available to achieve this.

Long before the recession, professional bodies - including those in the engineering and manufacturing sectors - have been keen to emphasise the importance of continued professional development but with the lightning speed of technological advancement and the global downturn this is more important than ever. With this in mind we are working with the IMechE (Institution of Mechanical Engineers) to help its candidates ensure that continued professional development is at the forefront of their thinking.

Professional engineers need to think about their development from when they leave school. Exams and accreditation are an important part of this, but it shouldn’t stop there. Working on high-profile projects, attending seminars and conferences and volunteering to be a coach or a mentor can all add variety and depth to a CV and mean the difference between getting an interview and ultimately that next job.

Becoming a chartered engineer should be an ambition for anyone entering the profession and is one of the surest ways available to help your career progress and ensure you are equipped to face the challenges of the future. However, in order to become chartered you need to prove that you have an ongoing commitment to your own personal and professional development. Working with your professional body, following a structured training programme such as an apprenticeship, graduate training scheme, or working with a mentor can all help achieve the goal of becoming chartered.

Becoming chartered is not however the end of the journey but more an achievement as part of life long learning. The world is changing rapidly and the skills needed in one, five or ten years time will be very different from now. China and India are growing fast and are increasingly able to compete with us in areas we’ve traditionally coveted as our own, such as advanced manufacturing and engineering. That’s why engineering professionals should attempt to train and retrain in new fields and look to broaden their horizons wherever and whenever possible.

There is plenty of help available. Speak to us here at Jonathan Lee Recruitment - we can advise you on how to make continued professional development central to your career. A good place to start is with your professional body which will have valuable information on how to become further qualified and online tools that will help and let you log personal development events attended.

For further information contact Simon Roberts, Regional Manager. 

simon.roberts@jonlee.co.uk