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Tips and Strategies for Choosing a Fulfilling Career

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Embarking on a career path that brings satisfaction and success begins with a deep understanding of oneself. For those about to step into a career or reconsider their professional trajectory, aligning one’s work with personal values and interests is crucial. Below, we unveil the tips and strategies that can guide you toward a career choice that resonates with your aspirations and goals.

Assessing Personal Values and Interests for Career Alignment

Determining what you value most in life can be a compass for your career decision-making. Be it work-life balance, the desire to help others, or the need for creative expression, understanding these values clarifies your career pursuits. Start by reflecting on past experiences and identifying the aspects that brought you the most contentment—these insights will help narrow down industries and roles that could fulfill you.

Interests and hobbies often reveal innate aptitudes and passions that could translate into a career. If you’re invigorated by problem-solving or thrive in group collaborations, these interests can suggest a natural fit in certain careers. Recognizing these tendencies early on paves the way for a professional life filled with enthusiasm and commitment.

A valuable resource in this discovery phase can be college admission counseling, which often includes career assessment tools and guidance from experts with broad knowledge about different career paths. These experts can provide a new dimension to your personal evaluation, potentially unveiling paths you might not have considered.

The Importance of Research in Discovering Industry Opportunities

Thorough research into various industries illuminates possibilities beyond common career narratives. Emerging fields or evolving industries may offer unexpected opportunities that align with your unique skill set and interests. Start with a broad scope and gradually narrow down as you gain insights into what excites and motivates you professionally.

Empower your search with data, trends, and forecasts for different sectors. Employment statistics, growth predictions, and industry reports can provide a gauge of opportunity and stability. Potential income, requisite education, and entry-level requirements are just a few practical considerations that should influence your decision.

The internet is a treasure trove for discovering career opportunities, with blogs, forums, and online programs vastly available. Suppose you’re intrigued by the mysteries of the cosmos and crave a more spiritual approach to your career. In that case, the best online alchemical astrology certification might be just the stepping stone you need. Such niche qualifications can lead to fulfilling work aligned with personal intrigue.

Use Indeed Flex Job App to Find the Right Job

The Indeed Flex Job App stands out as a dynamic tool for individuals aiming to navigate their career path toward fulfilment. Featuring an array of opportunities tailored to diverse skill sets and preferences, Indeed Flex Jobs empowers users to explore and select roles that align with their passions and goals. The app streamlines the process of discovering fulfilling career options through its intuitive interface and comprehensive job listings.
Whether seeking temporary assignments, part-time positions, or full-time employment, Indeed Flex Jobs caters to every user’s unique needs. Its advanced search functionalities enable individuals to pinpoint opportunities based on location, industry, and desired flexibility, ensuring a tailored job search experience. Moreover, the app provides invaluable insights into emerging trends and in-demand sectors, allowing users to make informed decisions about their career trajectory. With its commitment to versatility and user-centric design, Indeed Flex Job App emerges as a reliable companion in pursuing professional satisfaction and growth.

Leveraging Strengths and Skills in Your Career Choice

A critical step in career selection is an honest appraisal of your strengths and skills. Consider what you excel at—whether it is technical abilities, soft skills like communication or leadership, or a blend of both. Identifying these can guide you to a career that values and seeks out your strengths.

Conversely, acknowledging areas needing improvement offers a roadmap for personal development. Enhancing certain skills could broaden your career prospects and allow you to excel in roles that demand a well-rounded skillset. Remember, skills can be learned and improved, which may open doors to careers you hadn’t initially considered.

You’ll likely find your ideal career at the intersection of passion and talent. Strive for a role that challenges and uses your strengths while offering the joy of doing work you love. Leveraging your best skills in a career you’re passionate about is a surefire way to long-term professional satisfaction.

Understanding the Role of Networking in Career Selection

Networking remains an indispensable strategy in career planning and selection. It’s not simply about meeting people; it’s an opportunity to learn firsthand about different roles and industries. Engaging with a diverse array of professionals can offer a unique perspective that’s rarely found in textbooks or online research.

Begin building connections with professionals in your aspired career field early on. Attend industry conferences, join professional associations, or utilize platforms like LinkedIn to form meaningful relationships. These connections can offer valuable advice and mentorship or even lead to job opportunities.

Do not underestimate the power of informal networks, which include family, friends, or community members. These individuals might have unexpected connections to your field of interest and can introduce you to key individuals or opportunities. Every conversation has the potential to move you closer to your career goals.

Networking isn’t a one-way street; it should be rooted in genuine interest and mutual benefit. Maintain professional relationships by offering insights, assistance, or connections where possible. This reciprocity fosters a strong network that supports your career development.

Altogether, finding a fulfilling career involves aligning personal values and interests, conducting thorough research into industry opportunities, leveraging strengths and skills, and actively networking within professional circles. By embracing these strategies, individuals can find a career path that brings success and a profound sense of fulfillment and purpose.

Catch of the day: Car theft suspect nicked in local river

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A police officer had quite the morning when he ended up in a river, following reports of a stolen vehicle.

A 999 call was made to report a van being stolen from a residential area in Cheetham Hill, yesterday.

Specialists from the Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit were deployed and moments later, the vehicle was spotted on Long Street in Middleton.

But as police approached, the suspects ran, with one leading an officer through a woodland area.

A 38-year-old man was arrested knee deep in a river, on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and theft. He was also arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply class A drugs.

A 46-year-old man was also arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle and theft.

Officers traced the second suspect to Morton Street, Middleton, where they recovered large quantities of drugs and additional items we suspect to be stolen.

The items have been seized and work is now ongoing to return these items to their rightful owners.

Sergeant Bobby Nasim said: “This was excellent detection by the team, using specialist tactics we were able to quickly locate the stolen vehicle and its contents.

“Despite trying to run from us, we were able to arrest two men and recover substantial amounts of suspected stolen items and drugs – all thanks to a report from a member of the public. Community intelligence plays a vital role in the work we do, and I hope this demonstrates that we will act swiftly and use all resources available to keep our communities safe.”

Manchester United will have ‘over-performed’ if they win FA Cup – Ten Hag

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Erik ten Hag says Manchester United will have “over-performed” if they win the FA Cup this season.

Ten Hag bristled at criticism of United’s penalty shoot-out win over Coventry City in the semis on Sunday despite the Championship club hitting back from 3-0 down with 20 minutes to go and almost winning it late in extra-time only to be denied by a marginal offside call.

Read our other football news stories here:
Tevez hospitalised in Argentina
Bowen on England and Southgate
It was a difficult result – Pochettino

The Dutchman labelled media criticism of his team’s performance as “embarrassing” and insisted they deserved more credit for reaching the final, where they will face Manchester City.

It has not been plain sailing for Ten Hag this season with Jim Ratcliffe’s minority buy out of the Glazers dominating the agenda before Christmas while his squad has been decimated by injuries.

With that in mind, he claims a win at Wembley on May 25 would be a significant achievement.

He said: “I would say it’s over-over-performing with all the problems we have had.

“Getting into the final is already a big achievement, but we are here for trophies. We have an opportunity to win a trophy and that is good. But we are not satisfied by being in the final, we want to win it and that is what we will go for and it’s our mentality.”

United also got to the FA Cup final last season, where they were beaten 2-1 by City, continuing Ten Hag’s strong personal record in cup competitions.

“That’s why I am ­successful over 10 years as a manager,” he added, “I always bring out the maximum of each squad.”

United are seventh in the Premier League and take on rock-bottom Sheffield United at Old Trafford tonight.

Innovative programme helps unemployed people become entrepreneurs

Social enterprise, Entrepreneurs Unlocked is joining an innovative new programme to provide workshops for disadvantaged people who need skills to set up their own business.

Salford Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE), Learning, Skills and Work (LSW), works with people across Manchester, who are facing particular barriers to employment because they have a criminal record, face homelessness or have physical and intellectual disabilities.

Since its launch four years ago, Entrepreneurs Unlocked has worked with people in prison and on probation to support them on a new self-employed pathway upon release. With the new Salford VCSE LSW programme, Entrepreneurs Unlocked is expanding its reach to work with people who are unemployed and looking for a new self-employed future.

David Morgan, Entrepreneurs Unlocked founder (pictured), said: “I am delighted that we will be delivering self-employment workshops for people who are currently unemployed, to help them to turn their passion or hobby into a new business that could earn them extra income in the short term, and that can potentially lead to a sustainable business to support them in the future.”

Participant Anthony Wright said: “I am enjoying being involved, using what I know I’m good at, to set up a business, and to be able to buy luxuries for my family rather than to see them struggling.”

Participant, Pete Unit said: “I would like to say a massive thank you to Salford foundation and specially to David at Entrepreneurs Unlocked. I’ve been working with David to get my business up and running and I’ve been given amazing advice, tips and information to work with for the future. So, this is a massive thank you and here’s to the future.”

Sandrine Beaunol, LSW programme manager, said: “The clients we work with present a variety of barriers that often cloud their vision to realise the huge potential they all possess, but David’s expertise and personalised approach leads to motivation and aspirations being rekindled, with opportunities to become self-employed looking less daunting and more suitable to fit around personal circumstances.”

Gary and Emma Neville will host ball to build new hospice for St Ann’s

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The Great Mancunian Ball is coming to Manchester thanks to support from Gary and Emma Neville.

On Thursday, November 28, Aviva Studios the home of Factory International will play host to the yellow and black-themed ball, which is being designed and organised by Manchester event company Taylor Lynn Corporation (TLC).

The event will raise money for St Ann’s Hospice’s Build it Together campaign to build a new hospice in Heald Green.

Opening the event will be Gary’s YouTube sensation The Overlap live on stage.

He will be joined by football legends Jamie Carragher, Ian Wright, Jill Scott and Roy Keane, plus a few special guests for a night no sports fans will want to miss.

They will delve deep into today’s hottest sporting issues and field questions from the audience. Expect insightful opinions, glorious banter, hysterical tales, and, more than the odd heated exchange as these old adversaries go head-to-head.

‘The Overlap’ will be followed by a dinner, where guests will be entertained with live music from the internationally renowned Swan Band late into the evening.

Gary Neville said: “As soon as we heard about the Build it Together campaign we wanted to do everything we could to support St Ann’s Hospice and their fundraising.

“Being able to bring The Overlap to the event is going to be brilliant and I can’t wait to get Jamie, Ian, Jill and Roy on stage for this incredible cause.”

Emma Neville said: “It is going to be a fantastic event and we are so pleased to be supporting St Ann’s with their plans.

“They are in desperate need of a new hospice building so they can continue to care for people. Their current building in Heald Green isn’t working for them anymore and their patients deserve better.

“The new hospice will be incredible with big ensuite bedrooms, gorgeous landscape gardens and everything the staff need to provide the very best care.”

Purpose-built hospice

The new purpose-built hospice will replace the current Victorian building. St Ann’s new hospice will be a complete care facility in Greater Manchester that local people can access, from diagnosis of a life-limiting illness to treatment and beyond. It will be located on land next door to the current Heald Green hospice on St Ann’s Road North.

The new building will house a 27-bed inpatient unit including individual en-suite rooms and access to private outdoor terraces. The development will also feature modern outpatient and day therapy services, dedicated bereavement and family support spaces, all surrounded by beautiful, landscaped gardens.

The public Build it Together campaign has already raised an amazing £1.2 million with a target of £2m in total.

Rachel McMillan, chief executive at St Ann’s Hospice, said: “Our new hospice is going to make such a difference for people whose lives have been impacted by life limiting illnesses. I know what this new build means for patient and staff to have the best environment for St Ann’s Hospice.

“We want to carry on the pioneering vision of our founders and make them proud, the building has served us well for 53 years but we are in desperate need of a new one now so we can continue to lead and provide specialist care to those who need it for generations to come.

“We are so grateful to Gary and Emma for their support and for hosting this fabulous ball for us. What a wonderful opportunity for Manchester to come together to support our new hospice.”

The Great Mancunian Ball is being hosted in partnership with Truth Creative and event management company Taylor Lynn Corporation.

To enquire about tickets for The Great Mancunian Ball or to discuss sponsorship opportunities, email [email protected] or visit www.sah.org.uk/thegreatmancunian

Former Manchester City and United striker Tevez hospitalised with chest pains

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Former Argentina striker Carlos Tevez has been hospitalised with chest pains, although his club Independiente say initial tests have shown little cause for alarm.

Tevez, who took over as coach of Independiente in August 2023, was taken to hospital in the Buenos Aires suburb of San Isidro after feeling unwell.

Read our other football news stories here:
Giroud ‘to join LAFC’
Bowen on England and Southgate
It was a difficult result – Pochettino

A club statement read: “Our coach, Carlos Tevez, entered the La Trinidad Sanatorium in San Isidro with chest pain. They carried out the corresponding studies and they were satisfactory.

“Tomorrow they will continue with a series of exams scheduled in advance as part of a general check-up that is usually carried out.”

A second statement followed up by stating: “Carlos Tevez will be hospitalised as a precaution until the corresponding studies are completed.”

Tevez, 40, enjoyed a glittering playing career with spells at Boca Juniors, Corinthians, West Ham, Manchester United, Manchester City, Juventus and Shanghai Shenhua. He won 76 caps for Argentina.

LED displays: What they are and what they are for

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The ever constant development of technology has overturned the way advertising is done. Long gone are the years when companies mainly used billboards to make consumers aware of their products and services. The latter, in fact, have long since been joined by LED displays, that is, special technological devices that allow high-resolution images to be reproduced.
Companies are constantly on the lookout for tools capable of attracting as many customers as possible in order to conquer ever larger market shares than their competitors. Among the various tools useful in this regard, there are certainly these cutting-edge advertising tools that combine technology and efficiency, such as the LED display Macropix, a well-known and established brand in the industry.

What are LED displays?

LED screens are innovative displays composed of several panels that are placed next to each other, creating a seamless surface, a kind of wall. These screens are very flexible, and can reach very large sizes, up to a hundred square metres, making them extremely versatile.
Images are reproduced using LED technology, i.e. light-emitting diodes that form individual pixels. The use of LEDs allows for high brightness and faithful colour reproduction, ensuring a remarkable visual impact even in very bright environments and from considerable distances.

Application of LED displays

LED screens are applied in many contexts other than advertising. For example, they are used to display important information in crowded places such as stations and airports, be it regarding traffic conditions, weather forecasts, arrivals and departures, and much more.
During big events such as concerts, shows and matches, LED screens allow spectators far away from the stage or the field to fully enjoy the experience, offering a clear and detailed view for all.
An often underestimated use of these displays is in the arts. These displays enable creative visual installations. By virtue of their high performance, these displays allow images to be reproduced in high resolution, which makes them extremely useful in these contexts as well.

Different types of LED displays

It is possible to distinguish between two types of LED screens: the indoor and the outdoor models, which differ according to their characteristics and their area of application.
The first ones are mainly installed inside offices, shops and, more generally, in indoor locations, to communicate with customers or to provide special information. Indoor screens are not particularly bright but focus more on resolution, to reproduce images faithfully.
On the contrary, outdoor screens, as their very name suggests, are installed outdoors and offer optimal visibility even at long distances. Therefore, the resolution of these screens is generally lower than that of indoor models, but the brightness is very high. Furthermore, outdoor screens are constructed with special materials and coatings in order to withstand external weather conditions such as snow, rain or particularly strong sun.

Research Indicates Significant Property Value Boost from Garden Landscaping Over Extensions

Homeowners in the UK who have invested in garden improvements are experiencing more substantial increases in property values than those from extensions or new kitchens, according to industry experts.

A study by the Post Office Money Survey reveals that landscaping your garden could enhance your property’s value by up to 77 per cent, a greater return than that from extensions or swimming pools. The study also found that among home improvements, garden landscaping and kitchen renovations are likely to yield the greatest return on investment, increasing property value by 25% to 75% for investments ranging from £2,750 to £7,500.

The initial research, conducted six years ago, focused on the mid-range market price of a three-bedroom semi-detached home throughout the UK, identifying garden landscaping as the most valuable addition. It proved to be the most economical upgrade for sellers, offering the highest return on investment compared to other home improvement options. A new kitchen could lead to a 25 per cent increase in property value, an extension could add 37 per cent, and a wet room only seven per cent.

Trudi Lovell, Marketing Manager at Bannister Hall Plants Nurseries and Landscaping Supplies in Higher Walton, Preston, said: “Our consumer trends data supports that garden landscaping continues to be a significant growth area with homeowners, especially with the increase in property demand and the prolific housebuilding we have seen over the last few years. Bannister Hall has seen a sales surge in both natural stone and porcelain paving, as well as sales growth in other areas such as plants, turf, topsoil, aggregates and even in garden-lighting products.”

Other research supporting the financial rewards from improving your garden comes from Foxtons estate agents, which reveals that simply having a garden will generally increase a property’s value by 20 per cent. Moreover, 72 per cent of house buyers were prepared to pay more for a property with a garden, according to Foxtons. Similarly, data by Rightmove revealed that access to a garden was a priority for over 60 per cent of buyers searching for a new home.

Bannister Hall CEO, Jon C Hollywood says: “As the North West’s largest single source supplier of plants and landscaping materials, these research findings are clearly a win-win for landscaping suppliers, landscaping professionals and homeowners alike. In fact, in March we were thrilled to win another commercial contract to supply plants and landscaping materials to one of the UK’s best-known major property developers who are actively building sites across the region.”
“Sourced from a variety of UK industries, the above research clearly indicates that many UK homeowners who have invested in landscaping garden improvements have benefitted from a quantifiable increase in the saleable value of their property.”

Enforcement Intensifies on Obscure Number Plate Law as Related Crimes Jump by 318%

An obscure rule regarding number plates could result in drivers facing penalties up to £1,000, with associated crimes escalating by as much as 318% throughout the UK.

Number plates are crucial for vehicle identification, allowing for the unique tracking, storage, and processing of vehicle data. The DVLA mandates stringent rules for number plate display.

Primary violations include not displaying or deliberately removing number plates. Additional offences consist of manipulating the arrangement of letters and numbers and masking certain characters.

Plates4Less submitted a Freedom of Information request to most of the police forces across the UK to find out how often number plate offences are committed, establish if there is a trend and find out what is being done to combat these issues.
The shocking statistics showed that some areas have confirmed they have seen a huge increase in all number plate violations, such as an increase of 318% in the Greater Manchester area (between 2019-2022), which of course is extremely concerning to motorists. Number plate violations reported include “not displaying a front or rear plate”, “obscuring the registration mark” and “failure to conform to number plate regulations”.
West Mercia statistics show that the numbers for “Drive a vehicle when the registration mark fails to conform with regulations” went up by 18% from 230 in 2021, to 271 in 2022.
Whilst not all areas are affected equally by number plate violations there seems to be a growing trend for motorists in major UK cities failing to display a front number plate. 
Merseyside saw increases of 18% regarding vehicles “failing to display a front number plate”. Merseyside is not alone with Humberside, Wiltshire & Essex having also seen rises in the levels of motorists failing to display their front number plate.
However, not all areas have reported an increase. For example, West Midlands recorded 57 instances of driving without a front number plate in 2021, and only 34 in 2022. Similarly, Hertfordshire Constabulary’s figures for this crime have been dropping since 2020. This could indicate crimes dropping, or just less drivers getting caught.
With an increased reliance on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) to police our roads, experts at www.Plates4Less.co.uk say that they expect to see more policing of number plate regulations.
Why do cars have no front number plates and do rules apply to ‘supercars’?
Some drivers will intentionally remove front plates, or refuse to get them, because they worry about ruining the aerodynamic aesthetic of their vehicles. This is more commonplace with drivers of supercars.
This has been an ongoing issue for many years. In 2018, the Daily Mail reported that “Dozens of wealthy owners living in the most exclusive areas of London have dispensed with plates on their Lamborghinis and Ferraris.”
Antony Clark, an expert at Plates4Less, made the point that these cases seem to be on the rise with police forces across the UK posting about it daily.
He said: “In the case of Supercars, the rules do still apply to them but it seems that a monetary fine is not a deterrent. These consequences are not harsh enough to people who can afford such expensive cars.
“If we want to see a decrease in number plate crime, authorities might need to consider alternatives, such as points on a licence or detaining vehicles.”
While DVLA are able to enforce up to a £1,000 fine, smaller fines and requests that the criminal simply change their plates are far more common, which may be contributing to the spread of number plate crime in the UK.
How to know if your number plate is breaking the law?

Legally, a driver needs to ensure their vehicle is road legal before driving, and this includes checking the number plates. It is not a defence to say that the plate was on the car when you purchased it from its previous owner, as you could be fined for failing to fix the issue.
If you are driving with a second-hand vehicle and therefore plate, or even just sharing a vehicle, then it’s worth checking your number plate legality. Even if you got your plate from a reputable local dealership, your car recently passed an MOT, or it is a work vehicle, it could still be breaking the law as many dealers and testers are not stringent with the law.
Antony added: “Don’t risk a £1000 fine, check your number plate is valid before the next time that you drive.”
According to the Government rules: “Number plates (also known as licence plates) must show your registration number correctly. You cannot rearrange letters or numbers, or alter them so that they’re hard to read.”

To help drivers avoid being fined by the police for breaching number plate rules, www.Plates4Less.co.uk have developed a number plate checklist. It outlines the most commonly broken rules associated with number plates and allows drivers to be sure they are not unknowingly committing an offence. To find out more, visit www.plates4less.co.uk/is-my-number-plate-legal.

Warrington author knocks Sunday Times bestsellers off top Amazon Kindle spots

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Warrington author Louisa Herridge has launched a collaborative book “If I Could Tell Her” which has knocked four Sunday Times bestselling books off the top spots in their relevant categories in Amazon for Kindle.

The books in question are: Women & Power by Mary Beard, You’re not the Problem by Katie McKenna & Helen Villiers and The Devil you Know: Encounters in Forensic Psychiatry by Dr Gwen Adshead – which was also a Sunday Times, New Statesman and Irish Times book of the year.

Herridge’s new offering is also beating bestselling self-help book of all time in the UK, The Chimp Paradox by professor Steve Peters.

“If I Could Tell Her” features six other female entrepreneurs – Sophie Allen, Katie Mc, Indie Moon, Amanda Bettridge, Stacey Withington and Kate Brindley. They share their courage and strength collectively to inspire others to reframe and leave behind past challenges.

The book contains honest accounts which reveal the positivity and growth that can be found in trauma and adversity and are not about changing the past but being grateful for the lessons learned.

The five categories in Amazon Kindle “If I could tell her” is now number one in include –

  • Emotions and feelings
  • Psychoanalysis
  • Theory of psychoanalysis
  • Violence against women
  • Parenting emotions and feelings

Louisa Herridge (pictured) the Storytelling for Success coach, is a three-times best-selling author and TEDx speaker. She is a passionate and empowering coach who inspires and supports women to find their own power and success through their story in business, books and beyond.

She said: “Running a book collaboration for me isn’t just about hitting number one, it is about bringing together women, creating beautiful relationships, holding hands, space and hearts so that these women can tap into their past and tell it with confidence, pride and passion.”

“Each author has written her chapter to inspire people to see that none of us are alone in our adversity and we all have the inner strength and resilience to heal and grow. No matter how many times we are knocked down, we can get back up and these real-life experiences of lives lived with blood, sweat and tears will help you to see how anyone can change their thinking to live a life filled with hope and happiness.”

Louisa and fellow entrepreneur Jo Wildsmith are the co-founders of The Publishing Pod, who have brought this book to life.

Jo said: “At ‘The Publishing Pod’ we combine our talents to enable stories to be told and published with passion and precision and we are hugely grateful to the incredible women who have collaborated with us to create this.”

Louisa’s story within the book is named ‘Your story is your superpower’.  The other stories within the book explore the themes of childhood trauma, domestic abuse, grief, anxiety, cancer battles, people pleasing, self-sabotage, self-acceptance and self love.

If I Could Tell Her, is available now via Amazon for £0.99 on Kindle and £11.99 in paperback.