Career Management Support is provided by Margaret Martin Associates.

Margaret Martin Associates a leading provider of career management support and has designed a specific range of programmes aimed at helping alumni members to take control of and manage their career and personal development.

The Career Management Support programme is designed to support alumni members through 3 main phases:

    • Where am I now?     • Where do I want to be?     • How do I get there?

How to purchase Career Management products

Please email: alumni@ifslearning.ac.uk with your ifs number and the name and number of the Career Management product you would like to purchase.

Where am I now?

Focus4Change – New Career Management Tool

Focus4Change is a web-based tool accessible anywhere in the world via the Internet.  A user id and password will be provided to individuals for a time period but clients can continue to access the Career Management when their support ends for a small monthly fee.  The client will be able to:

• manage their own career campaign
• simultaneously search over 100 of the most popular job-posting sites on the web
• utilise the CV Assistant which formats their CV
• create and distribute CVs designed for specific job opportunities
• generate cover letters and other types of correspondence automatically
• automatically apply for job openings using a fully-integrated communication system
• easily manage and track job advertisements they respond to
• track CVs and cover letters sent to potential employers
• prepare for interviews with up-to-date information created by HR Managers and Recruiters
• review frequently asked questions of individuals in career transition, and ask their own career related questions
• build and maintain a network of information and professional contacts
• network with other career-minded individuals
• access research information concerning salary ranges, relocation etc
• receive 24-hour access to career management information
• maintain contacts, calendar events and documents essential for managing their career
• take 5 personal assessments on-line
• connect directly with their own personal career consultant

Where do I want to be?

Career review

If you find yourself at a crossroads in your career or feel insecure in your present role then a 2-hour 1:1 session with a career counsellor can assist you in identifying what you are good at; what you like doing; your skills and abilities together with your hopes and aspirations. This will then enable you to consider your options for the future and highlight changes you could make as well as considering other career development avenues to explore.

CV review

Is your CV an effective sales document? Is it tailored to meet the requirements of the job? Does it emphasis your transferable skills and provide opportunities for cross-sector selling of your abilities? A half-hour review with a career counsellor via email or telephone will help you determine what you need to do to ensure that your CV makes the right impact.

How do I get there?

Job search strategy

Having undertaken a CV and/or career review you may decide that your future lies elsewhere.  This 1.5 hour programme with a career counsellor will provide guidance on how to develop your job search strategy, including ways to access the hidden jobs market, building and managing your network of personal contacts and broadening your search beyond your present field of experience.

Interview coaching

Once you have the marketing materials and job search strategy in place it is essential that thought is given to your interview style.  A 1- hour personalised interview coaching session provides an ideal opportunity to practise being interviewed for a key job you may wish to apply for and receive constructive feedback on your performance.

One-to-one coaching/ job search

This 6-hour programme provides guidance on how to take stock of strengths and weaknesses, identify transferable skills and produce a strategic plan that will enable you to achieve your professional and personal objectives. It will also assist you in creating a highly effective CV that will highlight transferable skills and achievements; provide guidance on sourcing new opportunities and making the most of your network of personal contacts, as well as focusing on developing your interview style, handling job offers and negotiating the best remuneration package.

Career Management products

For further information on alumni membership of the ifs, or to request a copy of the application form, please contact the alumni membership team on + 44 (0) 1227 818609 or email alumni@ifslearning.ac.uk.