Help you climb the career ladder if you come from a less privileged background

Climbing the career ladder is hard enough, but if you’re working class it can be even harder.

According to the Government’s Social Mobility Commission, adults whose parents are from working-class backgrounds are three times more likely to be affected than those whose parents are from working-class backgrounds.

3

3

Even though 48 per cent of British adults consider themselves working class, half of high-profile companies don’t actively seek out working-class talent – but for those who do, the rewards can be special.

When a person climbs the career ladder to obtain a higher income or higher job status than his or her parents, this is called “upward social mobility”.

According to campaign group Sutton Trust, increasing social mobility in UK companies to the average level in Western Europe could lead to a nine per cent increase in GDP, equivalent to £2,620 per person, or a total of £170 billion added to the UK economy each year.

This week marks the annual SOMO Awards – known as the UK’s ‘Oscars of Social Mobility’ – which aim to recognize employers who help working class workers realize their career potential.

This year, the awards established by the Making The Leap charity cover companies employing nearly 1.3 million people, representing 20 business sectors.

While finance law and professional services account for almost half of submissions, with significant increases in submissions from the creative and media sectors, as well as local authorities and government.

Londoner Kevin Sterling faced dozens of job rejections until he signed up for the Making The Leap social mobility program.

Kevin, 23, currently works as an engineer at Sky and says: “Before taking the course I felt like I was in limbo forever and getting rejection after rejection. I was at the end of my rope.

“As part of Making The Leap, I participated in activities that included networking and mockups interviewswhich really helped and I learned to evaluate myself.

“I was always focused on futurenever taking the time to reflect on how far I have come, what I am missing, and how I can turn my weaknesses into strengths.”

Tunde Banjoko of Making The Leap said: “By adopting social mobility initiatives, organizations show their employees and customers that they are committed to creating an inclusive workplace, while helping to unlock the full potential of talent from all walks of life. “

Companies including Sky, Linklaters, Nationwide, KPMG and PWC have entered, and the awards are open to organizations of all sizes.

A spokeswoman for Nationwide said: “We believe that the circumstances of a person’s birth should not determine their fate in life. We care about equal development.”

Find out more at somo.uk

TIPS FOR THE CAREER YOU WANT

COMPETITION for jobs has been the fiercest in three years, so how can you stand out?

Here, Jan Hendrik von Ahlen from Jobleads.com shares his tips on how to land your dream job.

3

Network, network, network: Effective networking is about building relationships.

Reach out to people in your industry with a simple message, such as asking for advice or sharing something interesting. Be authentic, follow, stay connected and help whenever you can.

Join the club: There are networking groups and business clubs in many UK cities. The Chamber of Commerce and Business Network International groups also organize events.

Such meetings are great for building relationships.

Customize Apps: Read the job description carefully and focus on skills and experiences that match the employer’s expectations.

If you have limited experience, presentation skills that can be transferred on your CV.

Build a professional online presence: Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date with your skills, experiences and career goals, and stay on top of industry trends.

Keep learning: The job market is constantly changing, so it’s worth staying up to date with your skills. Take part in online courses and workshops. Showing potential employers that you care about development can make you a more attractive candidate.

Be positive, be persistent: Every rejection is a step closer to the right opportunity. Keep applying and don’t be afraid to ask for feedback. Perseverance will pay off in the end.

OCTOBER BLUES?

FORGET about January depression, October is the month when we get sick most often.

BrightHR data shows that while a third of all illnesses occur in the last three months of the year, October is when employees are most likely to report sick.

Typically in October, illness rates are 122% higher than the monthly average, with flu cases increasing by 157% and cold cases by 164%. Mental health-related absences increased by 112 percent, the highest in a month.

Alan Price, chief executive of BrightHR, said: “Promoting a culture of openness where employees feel comfortable talking about their healthand reminding employees of available support. . . may also be of significant importance.”