Are your career ambitions to be in a job that provides you with a sense of security, challenges you and ultimately makes you happy? But closely linked to the education one gets, the environment one grows up in, the people you interact with, career ambitions are complex and multi-dimensional. With a career change being necessary, for whatever the reason, job interest, performance capability and career ambitions are not necessarily aligned

Do you struggle with poor job choices, bad employment options, and frustrated career ambitions? Women often perfect their skills in larger corporations, but leave when their career ambitions are not fulfilled. A major setback for women in terms of careers is having children and part time or flexible working can mean career ambitions are curtailed.

It's almost unbelievable that 30 years after the Sex Discrimination Act came into force, that half the population (no minority group here then) are being short changed and under represented in the most powerful positions

What Can You Do About It?

Keep yourself motivated and learning with a fresh professional challenge. Keep on the course that you have already set for yourself.

If you do poorly in an interview and do not receive an offer, it could be because of one or more of these common interview faults:

• Insufficient ability to describe your career direction;
• Failure to project your qualifications for the position;
• Apparent absence of personal initiative;
• Need for greater self-confidence;
• Inappropriate personal appearance or dress;
• Lack of knowledge of the company or firm;
• Inability to express yourself clearly;
• Failure to ask relevant questions

It is your responsibility to ensure the interviewer gets the information needed to make an employment decision in your favour. At the end of the interview you have the opportunity to ask questions covering new information and clarifying previous points such as: “How long is the training program?” or “Is this a new position?”

Finding Opportunities

Look at the internet every other day and join as many "jobs by email" lists as possible. Go for any job remotely connected to what you want to do, even if they ask for something you haven't got; you can find out about skills in demand and if you get an interview then you can demonstrate your abilities to learn. The goal of the interview is to get to know you so that you can be evaluated for a job you will be able to thrive in and where you can do your best.

After all, for a successful company to continue to succeed, you must share a sense of purpose and motivation. This is because an employee's ability to make a good first impression is a definite asset to the individual and the firm/company he or she represents.