Life After. Social Studies: A Practical Guide to Life After Your Degree

Thousands of students graduate from university each year. The lucky few have the rest of their lives mapped out in perfect detail - but for most, things are not nearly so simple. Armed with your hard-earned degree the possibilities and career paths lying before you are limitless, and the number of choices you suddenly have to make can seem bewildering.

Life After ... Social Studies has been written specifically to help students currently studying, or who have recently graduated, make informed choices about their future lives. It will be a source of invaluable advice and wisdom to business graduates (whether you wish to use your degree directly or not), covering such topics as:

• Identifying a career path that interests you
• Seeking out an opportunity that matches your skills and aspirations
• Staying motivated and pursuing your goals
• Networking and self-promotion
• Making the transition from scholar to worker

• Putting the skills you have developed at university to good use in life.

The Life After ... series of books are more than simple 'career guides'. They are unique in taking a holistic approach to career advice - recognising the increasing view that, although a successful working life is vitally important, other factors can be just as essential to happiness and fulfilment. They are the indispensable handbooks for students considering their future direction.

Short....

Sally Longson is a life coach and a well-known writer and media commentator in the field of careers.

CV...

An enthusiastic individual and a self-starter, who likes to make things happen. Driven to helping people make the most of their lives and careers, to giving them a sense of control in a rapidly-changing world and to help them find their niche. Aiming to inspire them in a very human way and raise their awareness of what is possible.

2003 - 2004: Life and Career Coach, Speaker and Writer

Life and Career Coach:

Specific interests: career coaching, work/life balance, values and making a difference

Helping people make the most of their lives; to set goals and achieve them, overcoming barriers along the way.

Set up own practice.

Speaker:

Changing Roles, Institute for Qualified and Professional Secretaries, Scotland AGM, April 2004

Creating Change, at the Samaritans Conference in Jersey (November 2003);

Appeared on Radio 2 Jeremy Vine show to talk about Dead-End Jobs (August 2003) and other BBC local stations.

Writer for:

The Q & A section on The Times On-Line (February 2004)

Contributed to article on Student Finance (yet to be published) in Prima magzine

Careers page on www.deskdemon.com a web site for office professionals;

Cash and Careers Page, Sugar Magazine for teenagers;

1996-present: Author of these life and career changing books:

Returning to Work (3rd edition, February 2004, How To Books Ltd)

Choosing Your Career, (2nd edition, February 2004, Kogan Page Ltd in conjunction with The Times)

Changing Your Career (2nd edition, October 2003), Kogan Page Ltd, also in conjunction with The Times)

Everything You Need to Know About Going to University (3rd edition, 2003), Kogan Page Ltd.

Getting a Top Job As A Personal Assistant, (2002, Kogan Page Ltd in conjunction with The Times.

Careers in Banking and Finance (5th edition, 1999), Kogan Page Ltd

Making Work Experience Count (2nd edition, 1999), How to Books Ltd

Getting a Job After University (1997), How To Books Ltd

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

1990-1996 Careers Officer, Education Department, Jersey

Informed, advised and counselled young people and adults of the opportunities available in Jersey and elsewhere; and how these related to their interests, strengths and values.

Initiated activities to raise the awareness of young people and their parents of the opportunities available in education, training and employment.

Promoted the Careers Service by regular contributions to the local paper and radio.

Networked with employers, education and training providers; enlisted their involvement in the activities undertaken by the Service; assisted them to promote the options they offer and advised them as to the best way to attract youngsters to their firm.

Identified, planned and delivered training programmes for office staff, careers teachers and other appropriate staff in schools and the college of further education.

Supported careers education programmes in schools and strengthened the relationship between education and employers.

1988-1989 Temporary Secretary, Top Personnel Recruitment Agency, Jersey.

Acting Assistant Director, Study Abroad Office,

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA

Informed, advised and counselled American students of their study abroad options in the UK; supporting incoming British exchange students during their academic year on campus.

Encouraged and assisted British and American students to overcome the more difficult times involved with studying abroad.

Promoted, recruited for and administered the exchange programme with British universities and developed a network of new relationships. Number of students going to the UK to study doubled in 4 years. Promoted the ethos of study abroad.

1980-1981 Junior Secretary, HSBC (C.I.) Limited, Jersey.

EDUCATION HISTORY

2003-2004 Trained with the Coaching Academy to be a Life Coach.

1989-1990 Diploma for Careers Guidance, Kent College for the Careers Service.

1984-1985 MA in History, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

1981-1984 BA (Hons) in History (2:1) University College of North Wales, Bangor.

1979-1980 PA Secretarial Course at Highlands College, Jersey.

1972-1979 Acquired various A and O levels at Jersey College for Girls, Jersey.

OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST

Proficient public speaker with qualifications.