CATS Workshops
Self-Employment:
The self employment workshop was of interest to me, as it is something that I wish to explore once I have completed my studies. I wanted to find out what parts of being self-employed where all about, and techniques and ways of becoming successful in this employment sector.
The discussion briefly summarised the options we may choose from once we have completed our studies. Temp work, freelancing, and proprietor work were some of the options outlined. The workshop also discussed the benefits of being self-employed, and the basic ideas of why someone would want to be self-employed. The trends that create opportunities were an enlightening part of the workshop, as it opened up a broader aspect of how to get into the market within my interests. This looked at things such as environmental issues, the growth of the internet, and demographic changes, all of which could influence and open or close a specific target market. From this, market opportunities that may become available were discussed, with ways the specific market becomes available, and where our idea would merge into it. The solutions and opportunities discussed were aspects that influenced me to consider how and what my idea would bring to my intended audience, such as is there a market? What sort of business is it, either a product based, or service based business, and the start-up costs that these entail.
The discussion briefly summarised the options we may choose from once we have completed our studies. Temp work, freelancing, and proprietor work were some of the options outlined. The workshop also discussed the benefits of being self-employed, and the basic ideas of why someone would want to be self-employed. The trends that create opportunities were an enlightening part of the workshop, as it opened up a broader aspect of how to get into the market within my interests. This looked at things such as environmental issues, the growth of the internet, and demographic changes, all of which could influence and open or close a specific target market. From this, market opportunities that may become available were discussed, with ways the specific market becomes available, and where our idea would merge into it. The solutions and opportunities discussed were aspects that influenced me to consider how and what my idea would bring to my intended audience, such as is there a market? What sort of business is it, either a product based, or service based business, and the start-up costs that these entail.
My ambition short term is to be a freelance travel writer, whilst building a portfolio of writing, alongside my travelling after my studies.
The workshop enabled me to understand more deeply how much needs to be considered, although some of which would need to be applied indirectly with my idea.
Tips that were given to conclude were to be clear about our ideas, and be thorough in researching the market and what support is available. The most important aspect I feel though, was to create a feasible business plan, of which could be assessed by a professional, and developed to suit the target market.
Overall I feel the workshop was beneficial in helping me to understand more aspects about being self-employed and the risks, and benefits that come with this.
Working as a Learning mentor/Teacher:
Prior to undertaking my current studies, I was a learning mentor, and teaching assistant within a secondary school and sixth form. Whilst doing this, I was also a part time student, aiming towards a degree in learning support, with a view to becoming a teacher and attaining qualified teacher status. The post I was in lasted just over six months, and in that time I attained some valuable skills, and learned some aspects about myself as a person and as a teacher. The reason I wanted to work within schools was to help, and raise aspirations of local children, whom may not have had the best start in life, but may have been capable of doing more than just the ‘ordinary job’, once they had finished school. I wanted to try and raise the bar of expectation within these children's lives and help prepare and assist them in making the choices that would be most beneficial to their lives, and not just whatever was easiest at the time. I worked alongside staff at the school who showed me some valuable skills in organisation, and how to meet the targets set by the school for the staff, but I did not feel that this in any way shaped or gave the best influence to the children whom I was supposed to be working with. My aims where to promote a better way of thinking, and getting the most out of their education and their lives once they left the school. To help inspire them to reach their goals, and set targets that they could aim for in their lives. Yet this whole experience within the school was based around the schools name, and their targets, as the face of how they wanted to appear to the public and the local area.
This experience taught me a lot about myself, and how I could make them differences to people’s lives, but also showed me that the way I thought I would be able to do that, was not possible in the environment that I was in.
I feel that from this experience I have a clearer view on my aims in life, and how I want to achieve them. It also has enabled me to feel more confident in my own ability, as my ambitions within the school may not have been achieved yet, but at some stage I believe that I will achieve this elsewhere, and the experience has made me even more determined to succeed in achieving my life goals.
