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Interesting Jobs for Interesting People

What is Accreditation Check (AC) Clearance?

Accreditation Check (AC)

An AC clearance is normally valid for up to five years, provided the sponsor organisation complies with the ongoing provision of data, as required by aviation security regulations. Where this is not done, an AC clearance is valid for 12 months.

Some elements of the verification may be undertaken by the employer, airport operator or air carrier. Checks are limited to the individual only.

Who needs it and what it provides access to

Individuals who are to be employed in posts which:

Require an Airport Identification Card or UK air carrier Crew Identification Card which provides unescorted access to the security restricted area of UK airports.
Provide UK aviation security training.
Undertake the validation of air cargo security standards overseas for carriage of cargo to the UK.

What checks are involved

Verification of:

Identity.
Employment, education and any gaps during at least the preceding five years.
Unspent criminal record.
A check against records held by the UK Government or its agencies.

Spinwell has extensive experience in the UK’s Defence, security and public sector. Please contact us if you would like to find Security cleared candidates, a new role or would like to discuss how Spinwell can advise you in obtaining or holding a Security Clearance, by emailing advisory@spinwellglobal.com or by calling 0203 510 9454

*Information Source – gov.uk

What is Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)?

Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS)

The BPSS is the recognised standard for the pre-employment screening of individuals with access to government assets. It is not a formal security clearance but it’s rigorous and consistent application underpins the national security vetting process at CTC, Level 1B, SC and DV.

Above and beyond the BPSS, some organisations may seek references and include other enquiries (for example health) as part of their recruitment process.

Who needs it and what it provides access to

Individuals with any access to government assets. This means all civil servants, members of the armed forces, temporary staff in departments, and government contractors generally.

allow access to UK OFFICIAL assets and occasional access to UK SECRET assets.
required to work in areas where SECRET and TOP SECRET information may be overheard.
individuals who require access to Public Services Network (PSN).

What checks are involved

identity
employment history (past 3 years)
national and immigration (right to work) status
unspent criminal record.

Additionally, individuals are required to give a reasonable account of any significant periods (a total of 6 months or more in the past 3 years) of time spent abroad.

*Information Source – gov.uk

What is a Security Clearance, how do I get a Security Clearance?

A Security Clearance or National Security Vetting (NSV) provides a means of assurance regarding an individual’s suitability (at a particular point in time) to have reliable access to confidential information.

To obtain a UK security clearance, you must go through a testing and evaluation process, including a background check, before being offered employment. This scheme applies to people who employ access to sensitive government property, information, or personnel.

Cleared personnel may include members of the security and intelligence agencies, members of the armed forces; police; employees of certain non-governmental organizations who are required to comply with government security procedures; and employees of contractors who provide goods and services to the government.

UK security clearances are required to protect assets from threats from enemy intelligence agencies, cybersecurity threats, terrorists and other interest groups. The results of the screening process determine who is allowed access to classified government information or assets.

All candidates who apply for jobs that provide access to sensitive information or sites are asked to complete a security questionnaire. The personal details recorded on these questionnaires enable the necessary checks to be carried out. Interviews will also be undertaken, where necessary. The depth of checks varies according to the level of access to sensitive information that the job entails.

United Kingdom Security Vetting: Clearance Levels

There are 5 main levels of national security vetting:

Accreditation Check (AC)
Counter Terrorist Check (CTC)
Level 1B
Security Check (SC)
Developed Vetting (DV)

CTC and above also requires the successful completion of the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS).

*Information Source – gov.uk

Risks of quitting too early

In any job, it is a given that you may be faced with situations that make you unhappy or want to simply throw in the towel. However, it is extremely important that you take some time to think carefully and decide if you are truly making the right decision of choosing to quit.

Below, we will outline 3 things to consider before quitting your job too early.

1. Risk of regret

Your frustration at the workplace can be due to a multitude of things. But a risk you may encounter is not having considered and analysed your situation carefully enough and making the wrong decision as a result and saying ‘’I quit’’

To help you figure out if your job is truly the problem, ask yourself these questions:

What do I dislike about my job?
Do the pros outweigh the cons?
Is my situation really that terrible?
What do I like about my job?

Once you figure out if your job is truly the reason for your unhappiness, you can start to think about solutions that can be taken to perhaps overcome them. For instance, you may speak to your manager to make a few tweaks to your work hours or job description, you may also talk to a fellow employee or colleague about solving certain issues within your team and so on.

If you have run through all of these things and are still unsatisfied with your job and feel very much unhappy then you can confidently quit knowing that you have carefully analysed and thought this decision through and have also taken steps to try to better them.

2. The risk of stalling your career

Before quitting your job, it is extremely important that you plan for what you will do next. At the end of the day you will need a steady source of income to satisfy your standard of living/ needs. However, it is important that you avoid job hopping as it may present your behavior as unstable being that you have made far too many hasty decisions too quickly. This is the prime reason as to why it is vital that you plan this next step out carefully.

Ensure that you have made thorough research into the current job market and are aware of what’s available at the moment.

In any case if possible, lining up your next job can be considered as a practical step before handing in your resignation so you have work to fall back on after leaving your current workplace.

3. The risk of burning bridges

When leaving your job, emotions may be at an all-time high and you may run the risk of burning bridges. There may be tension between you and your manager, conflict can be inevitable if you quit before thinking about the consequences.

At this stage it is key that you approach this situation in a calm and professional manner. Don’t just drop your resignation letter off at your managers table and waltz off. Stay calm and collected and do it in a professional manner by handing in your notice.

Always remember that at some point in your professional career you may require a reference from them and as such, it is key that you don’t make hasty decisions and that you leave on good terms.

Finding a good job and what your ideal job should look like

What is a good job?

A good job is one that will cover the cost of your essentials whilst also adding more value in other ways. A good job not only makes you feel good about the value you bring to an organization, but it also relates to the value that your peers recognise.

A good job consists of morale, stability, motivation, and growth.

What are the main characteristics of a good job?

Recognition

Recognition involves your seniors’ being aware of your efforts and rewarding you accordingly. This could be in the form of a promotion, a bonus or an increase in salary. It also involves feedback from your colleagues, who also recognise your work.

Salary

A good job will not only cover your day-to-day expenses, but it should also leave you with disposable income for leisurely activities. Spinwell, for example, has made a pledge to always pay above the minimum wage and pay their employees the real cost of living.

Benefits

Salary aside, other benefits are always welcome. Whether this be through health insurance, payments for commuting, or even the option to work remotely,

Purpose

A good job makes you feel resourceful and gives you the sense of making a difference. This then adds to your motivation as an employee to further achieve your targets.

Job Security

Job security can help you become a more motivated employee. Knowing that you are secure in your job can help lower stress levels and increase your confidence, which in turn makes you more productive.

Growth

A good job inspires you to further advance in your career, both personally and professionally. A good job is one that challenges you and your problem-solving skills. Opportunities to further enhance your skills through training courses and workshops will help build your confidence whilst also building your CV.

How do you find a good job?

Understanding what you have to offer

Determine your skills, abilities, and what you can bring to the table. Once you are able to distinguish and assess your abilities, interests, and strengths, it can help you narrow down your search to understand the right fit for you.

List out your requirements

Determine what you want from a job. If you want to work remotely a few days of the week or require additional benefits such as commuting fees or things like health insurance, be sure to take them into consideration in your job hunt.

Changing your CV

When looking for a job, adapt your CV and tailor it to the role at hand. Always read the job descriptions and use key words and phrases from them to show that you possess the necessary requirements.

Study the company

Alongside finding a job, it is also important to make sure you do your fair share of research into the company you are thinking of working for. It is advisable to read employee reviews to find out about the work-life balance.

Preparing for some time off from work

It can be a challenge these days to take days off/ vacation days away from work especially with technology keeping you glued to the job. However, it is also important to remember that in order to maintain a healthy work life balance, taking some time off to fulfil other commitments may prove helpful.

The tips outlined below will help you prepare for a vacation from work so you can enjoy your time off instead of thinking too much about what’s happening in the office.

Deciding when to take a vacation

Timing is everything. If you have important projects or commitments that need to be fulfilled that are of utmost priority in the workspace, it probably isn’t a good idea to plan a getaway during that time.

Taking time off when it is the busiest time of the year at the workspace can be extremely unfair to your colleagues especially if you don’t let them know well in advance as they would have to pick up your slack. This prompts a rather bad impression on you to your colleagues and managers

If your reason for a vacation is one that cannot be rescheduled and is of utmost priority (such as a graduation) and somehow happens to coincide with peak office activity – give your team notice well in advance so they can be prepared to work around it and find solutions that will help further smoothe and ease the extra work they will be taking on in your absence.

Leave things as clean and organised as possible

To ensure that when you come back to work everything is placed in an organised and concise manner and not one that would overwhelm you, it would be a good idea to run through all your emails, create rules that forward emails sent to you from your clients to your colleagues that are now covering for you.

It may also be a good idea to set automated emails to keep your clients aware that you are away at the moment and that if they wish to discuss something important they may contact your colleagues who are taking on your work at the moment, with the relevant contact details.

Handover of tasks

Another approach could be to give your manager a list of your colleagues who will be taking over your tasks and covering for you (after asking them of course if they mind taking over and covering for you in your absence) Ensure that the necessary work is handed over properly and ensure that you have updated your team of the status of the projects.

Transitioning back into work after a vacation

Your first week in, do not over crowd your schedule with too many meetings and calls. Chances are you are going to have to respond back to a significant number of calls, texts and emails and during your time off new projects may have emerged. Give yourself enough time to take on these new tasks and tackle them cohesively.

Career Development: Will 2023 be your year?

Your career and the actions you take to ensure that growth is made depends on your attitude and determination on how far you are willing to go to ensure that your professional career is developing alongside prompting opportunities to help you grow.

Whether you are currently employed or looking for a new job, below, we will discuss a few ways on getting your career development back on track:

Achievements and improvements to be made

Create a list of achievements you achieved alongside a list of things you could better work on to better your career development.

The list of achievements will be handy for when you are drafting your resume. The list of things you can do better/improve on will act as a visual aid that can be utilised to provide a reminder to you on what your action plan needs to be to prompt growth over the next year.

Focus

It is very easy to get distracted in this digital age. The key to maintaining focus is discipline and structure. When doing work that is of utmost importance, turn off notifications for less important things such as social media.

However, this is easy said than done, but making a routine out of it can make it easier for you as the days go on. It also doesn’t hurt to set boundaries. For instance, checking emails at certain times during the day.

Seek a professionals advice

In any case with regards to career development, it is always a good idea to talk to and get advice from a professional in the industry

Regardless of how much experience or qualifications you have, there is always more to learn. Learning and getting insight from a trusted industry veteran can also help you make better informed decisions about your career path.

Seeking advice from a recruitment consultant may also be a good idea. They may provide you information on how to better approach interviews, draft a good resume, fill you in on openings that have come about and so much more to get your career development moving further ahead.

Looking beyond your company

For your career development, it is always a good idea for you to network and diversify your skill set. Make it a habit to attend a networking meeting for an hour or so each month. It’ll give you better insight into what the industry is currently like and what opportunities are available for you to take on.

It will also give you information on workshops and courses that are available which could further help you redefine and sharpen your skillset which caters a significant amount to your career development.

Implementing strategies to manage work life balance

Work Hours

Flexible working hours has been shown to comprehensively increase job satisfaction, productivity rates and lead to higher motivation. As a consequence of this, offering these flexible arrangements also reduces staff turnover and absenteeism and increases staff retention.

Flexible working hours would mean a better balance with work and home. This would increase efficiency as it prompts a positive attitude and behaviour from the employees which managers can also benefit from.

Technology

Strategies can be implemented to encourage employees to manage work-life balance with the assistance that technology prompts. One such way is by sharing a combined calendar with family and colleagues so that both parties are aware of the others schedule and availability. Through this, families would also better understand important priorities and commitments that are a matter of great importance.

Family Time

Where family commitments come to play, being a little flexible in terms of allowing them to leave the office a little early to pick up their kids from school or day care or even making them aware of childcare facilities around the area can easily prompt better balance in the work place.

Working remotely and simultaneously maintaining visibility

Remote working has indeed become the new norm. Not only does it prompt major benefits to your work-life balance, it also prompts opportunities to enjoy it.

There’s savings being made in terms of transportation costs, flexible scheduling meaning you can work around family commitments and other personal needs whilst also refraining from office politics that may arise.

However, the downside to this is your efforts made to the company you are working for may not always be seen or visible. This means you need to take necessary steps to ensure that your growth and career development is taken care of.

Below, we will discuss a few ways on making the most out of working remotely:

1. Digital Presence

Since most of the work is done behind a screen and you are rarely meeting your employees/colleagues physically, instead of just a regular call, it would be advisable for you to arrange video calls periodically to stay in touch.

This will act as a slight reminder of you as part of the team and you will also have the ability to pick up on physical cues from colleagues that may not necessarily be picked up on through other forms of communication.

2. Physical Presence

It would be a good idea to come into the office physically periodically and have small catch ups with your co-workers.

For meetings, for instance, to have a rather free flowing conversation with your team, it would make such a difference to occasionally be able to speak face to face about shared goals within the team whilst also having an opportunity to highlight your successes.

3. Updating your team

In many cases, what can be frustrating for co-workers is uncertainty- not knowing what your schedule is like or when you will be coming into work and more. And so, communication plays a great role here.

Ensure that you are keeping in touch with them and fill them in on reminders about when you will be physically coming into work and provide gentle reminders on your availability at the beginning of each week. You can also ensure that your voicemails and email signature lets callers know when you will be working remotely.

4. Participation

Take on every opportunity you possibly can. The biggest disadvantage that remote working prompts is often being overlooked for promotions or new projects or even certain roles.

Don’t be shy to raise your hand to be considered to take on special projects or initiatives. Make use out of the opportunity to communicate with the senior management and other colleagues so they have your name in mind if required for new opportunities that may turn up.

Preparing yourself to answer behavioural questions

Preparing yourself for an interview involves being ready to answer questions relating to your skills and job experience alongside qualifications you may have. However, to add to that, what is also important is to be prepped for behavioural interview questions.

These questions are aimed at analysing what you have done or would do in certain situations or scenarios, this gives the hiring manager an insight to your attributes, experience and capabilities.

Examples of behavioural interview questions:

Behavioural interview questions sound a little something like this:

‘’Give me an example of a time where…’’
‘’Describe a time when…’’
‘’What would you do if…’’
‘’How would you handle a situation where…’’

Some behavioural questions may require you to put yourself in hypothetical scenarios and utilise your imagination to come up with an answer. In cases like these, you need to be able to think on your feet. But what can make answering such questions easier? Let’s take a look below:

Developing your stories

In the past, you may have experienced similar situations to the hypothetical question being asked by the interviewer. As such, what you can do is utilise what you’ve learnt through these experiences and compose a short story in under a minute on how you have tackled similar issues at your previous workplace (ensuring that the issue is relevant to the question being asked)

Sample behavioural interview questions:

Communication

Describe a situation where you successfully motivated someone else.
Tell me about a time when written communication skills made a difference.
Describe a time where you had to fire someone in the workplace
Tell me about a time where you had to give one of your employees constructive criticism

Achievements

Tell me about your greatest professional achievement.
Tell me about a successful project you took over that lead to your professional development

Leadership

Give an example of a time when you had to prioritize multiple projects.
What supporting skills do you reckon are vital for a leader
How do you manage conflict within your team

Analysis

Tell me about a time when your critical-thinking skills came in handy.
Tell me about a time when you used data and analysed information to solve a problem.
Describe an analytics experiment that you designed. How were you able to measure success?

Teamwork

Give me an example of a situation where you had to work with someone you weren’t necessarily getting along with
Describe a time you had to gather input from employees outside your team.

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