Two years from now, what careers will be taking centre stage? With technology advancing quickly, the job marketing is rapidly changing. What careers are predicted to be popular in 2020?

Technology has impacted on life in many ways, not least of all the job market. For anyone looking to make a career change by upskilling with home courses online, an understanding of how the job market is expected to change is valuable information.

#1 Data analyst

Data analysts are expected to be in even more demand and across all industries by 2020.

Technology gives us a lot of information and data to work with. Valuable and commercially-sensitive, it is only useful if a company understands it.

And that means having a team of people whose aim is to gather this information and interpret the data in a way that makes it meaningful and actionable.

Find out more about being a data analyst.

#2 Computing/mathematical roles will increase

The report from the World Economic Forum highlighted that in the coming years, it expected computing and mathematical based roles to increase significantly.

From computer programmers to software developers, to information security analysts and more, careers within the Information Technology, computing and programming industries are expected to mushroom.

Likewise, to continue to stay ahead in terms of technology, the prediction is everyone from small to large businesses will be in need of serious computing talent and brains.

#3 Architects and engineers

Whilst some careers are expected to shrink – such as installation and maintenance roles – there are others that are expected to mushroom – such as computing – but there are others that are expected to remain stable.

Architects and engineers are two job roles that are expected to remain stable, if not grow a little in the coming years.

For engineers, the opportunities are predicted in biochemicals, nanotechnology, robotics, and materials.

#4 Sales and marketing

Within the swirl of technology, new opportunities arise but others are given a new lease of life or a new slant.

And this is what is expected to happen with sales and marketing. Predictions are that it will no longer be a ‘generic roles’ in which general marketing talent and knowledge will be enough.

Sales and marketing will become more specialised, especially in a marketplace that will become increasingly digital and targeted.

Mobile advertising is expected to be the next big thing but people need the right skills. Is it time to examine home study courses?

#5 Senior management roles

Senior managers will need a range of new skills and abilities to be able to navigate a company or organisation through ‘the water of change’ or so says the World Economic Forum report.

Marketplace changes may be subtle in some industries and sectors, but they can cause a tidal wave of change.

Effectively, it is a case of adapt or die. In the UK, we have lost many high street names, Maplin and Toys R Us being just two, the result say some business analysts of failure to adapt to their changing markets.

Senior managers with relevant skills, such as change management, and the ability to see the bigger picture will be in demand come 2020.

#6 Product designers

We may live in an online world but we still need tangible products to complete many daily tasks.

And that’s why creativity isn’t going anywhere. Designers will still be needed for all kinds of products across the commercial and industrial sectors.

Designing everything from cars to gadgets, to all manner of manufactured goods, if you have creative flair, is this the career for you.

#7 Human resources

Whilst some job roles may disappear completely, there are others that will remain, albeit in a different shape and form.

In terms of organisation and administration, the roles will certainly be changing but there is one that is predicted to remain an important lynchpin in a company – and that the human resources department.

In fact, in a rapidly changing work environment, relying on talented human resources personnel to find the right people with the right skills will be more important than ever.

#8 Dog walkers

It may sound tongue-in-cheek but who would have thought five years ago that dog walkers and dog walking qualifications would be a thing?!

The important lesson is that there will always be roles needed in which another human delivers a service. Whether that is walking your pooch three times a week to having your hair cut, nails done, massage or someone to clean, there will still be vocational careers to pursue.

Beauty therapy has always been a successful industry. Worth billions of pounds in the UK, it is no surprise that more students are choosing to study beauty therapy qualifications to kick-start an amazing career.

From offering nail art to facial treatments, there are many ways for women and men to look their best. Anyone completing beauty courses online is opening a whole new career in which they will be in demand.

But why choose beauty therapy? What is it that makes this industry so attractive to therapists?

 

1) Variety

How many times do we hear people moan about their day job? From it being boring to it not being what they want to do, there are many people in the position of not enjoying their job.

If you don’t want to be in this position and don’t want to be doing the same thing over and over again, choosing beauty therapy is the perfect career choice.

With one client, you could create bespoke nail art that sets them apart from everyone else, or you may help a bride to design her make up for the big day, followed by eyebrow shaping and waxing for another client.

The more skills you can offer, the more variety you will have and not just on one given day, but throughout your career.

 

2) People

Beauty therapy and the services you offer are all about the people. Presenting our best selves to the world is a driver for many people and is one of the reasons why the beauty industry has always been booming in the UK.

You may not know it, but you can have a huge impact on someone and their confidence in themselves. For example, the client whose eyebrows you shaped was bullied at school for having a ‘monobrow’. Now, she doesn’t give it a second thought because you create perfectly shaped brows for her.

The male client who comes to have a chest and back wax was so conscious of his body hair, he didn’t participate in sports of any kind for fear of the changing room. Now, he swims, plays football and has no inhibitions about excessive hair.

If you are a people-person, have tact and diplomacy, as well as a natural ability to connect with people, as a beauty therapist, you will be forever popular.

 

3) Employed or self-employed – you choose!

Some students on beauty therapy courses choose to find employment at a beauty salon, spa or clinic. They enjoy being part of a team and may have the opportunity to take part in further training specific to that company.

They may like the security of being employed and prefer the hours of work. It may also be that they don’t have the room or premises to offer their services on a self-employed basis.

Or, you may decide to open your own high-street clinic or spa or offer your services to clients in the comfort of their own home. You could also convert a room in your home to offer your popular beauty therapy services from home.

You won’t need to worry about job or income security either, as with high-quality qualifications and taking part in beauty therapy courses online, the services you offer will be in demand.

 

4) Work schedule

You decide on the schedule of your day – you can work full time or part time, just the morning or just the afternoon. In other words, you choose the lifestyle and the hours you want to work.

 

5) Job security

Look at the beauty industry in the UK, the size and value of it, and you will see what a thriving industry it is.

But the good news is that despite the recent recession and times of austerity, the beauty industry has continued to grow. At times when household budgets are tight, it seems that people are willing to still find the money to have essential beauty treatments.

It is wider than this too. The recent discussion around mental health could also be part of why people seek out beauty treatments and services. The few pounds they spend on an eyebrow shape or having their nails done are part of what they do to look after their well-being, a chance to be pampered and a chance to cut loose from the grind of daily life.

And it is not just private customers either. There will always be TV and film production companies looking therapists and make-up artists for TV, film and commercials.

The demand for beauty therapy services is on the rise with experts suggesting that as an industry, it is set to get bigger and better here in the UK. Is it a career option that attracts you?

It’s easy to become comfortable in a job and forget about your career goals. Comfort can soon turn into a career-rut and, if this is the case, how can you get your career goals back on track without risking financial and job-security?

It was your dream job, a stepping stone to bigger things but somehow, over time you have become ‘settled’. The problem with being settled is that we stop feeling challenged in what it is we do. And when this happens, we find ourselves in a rut.

2018 is the year you will break free from this career-rut and start back on your path to the career goals that you set yourself in the first place. But how can you break free, leave ‘settled’ and ‘comfortable’ behind to challenge yourself?

#1 Re-visit your original career goals

We stop following the path we have set for ourselves when we lose sight of the destination. And this means we need to go back to our original plan and look at what heady dreams we had in store.

However, our aspirations and ambitions can change, and this is something that you need to take stock of as part of reviewing your original career goals.

What were your original plans for 2018? Was it a master plan to completely change from one career to another or were you seeking a promotion?

#2 Allow yourself to adjust these goals

Cast your mind back to when you had a careers interview as you left school – what did you say you wanted to do as a career? How you felt about your future then, could be very different to how you see your future now.

And yet, we can stick doggedly to our original plan. But here’s the thing – you can change it if you give yourself permission to do so!

Career goals change as your aspirations change but they may also need modification as life and other circumstances change. It is OK to change career goals!

#3 Consider the benefits of your career goals

Again, for many people, memories and the opinions of other constrain our career goals. It is OK to daydream and to wonder ‘what if…?’ when it comes to your own career aspirations.

For example, you may have always wanted to be a beauty therapist and run your own clinic or spa, providing fantastic services and treatments for bridal parties and for other celebrations in life. But someone somewhere may have said ‘there is no money in it’ or ‘it is hard running your own business’ or ‘to be a beauty therapist, you must be really creative’, a suggestion, of course, that you are not creative enough.

So, you got a ‘proper job’ and joined the 9 to 5 brigade. You are happy enough, it pays the bills and yet…

Is the 9 to 5, the security, the salary enough to keep you in that job? A career, after all, is not just about money but about emotional well-being, meeting our own aspirations, however, lofty others may see them.

There are many people who have taken a calculated risk and left behind ‘proper jobs’ and career to become something completely opposite. If you made a career change, what are the true benefits to you?

#4 Get into the detail

An overarching career goal would be ‘to become a beauty therapist’ but now you need to break this goal down and start to plan your journey to reach this destination.

Consider factors such as;

Breaking down the journey into smaller, bite-size pieces is also a way of ensuring you stay on track with your career goals for 2018.

#5 Create space

Making a life-changing decision is not easy. It involves many different aspects of life and other people too. This doesn’t mean it cannot or shouldn’t be done but when it comes to making a big decision such as a career change, you need to give yourself time to think.

There are some who say that making a big decision in dark times is not the right time to do so. In other words, don’t resign after one bad day and enrol on a course that sees you doing the complete opposite!

However, that approach can work, and it is because of this shifting-sands feature of decision-making that psychologists suggest taking time out emotionally and mentally when it comes to making a life-changing decision.

Do you have the time to commit to a new career goal this coming year? Can you afford it? What is driving this decision?

Taking space emotionally and mentally to consider your career goals could bring to light other aspects of life of which you are unhappy about. What needs to change first, if anything?

#6 Is it a trend?

Who would have thought when you left school or college all those years ago that there would be such as a career as ‘social media executive’? Or people creating booming businesses out of walking dogs or doggy creches?

These people have taken a chance on a career, building a business out of something that many people consider to be a trend or a fad. And we are back full circle to the debate about a ‘proper job’.

Career goals are intrinsically personal, but you also need to be confident that you are not risking everything on a trend. And that means having the ability to look forward and understanding how an industry could change in the coming years?

Ask yourself why you are considering changing careers and what is fuelling it? Is it a short-term demand with the promise of a quick payday or is it an investment in your long-term future?

#7 Learn, learn, learn

Whilst we accept that all-singing, all-dancing qualifications are not the be all and end all, they are an important consideration when it comes to carving out a new career or seeking that promotion you have coveted for some time now.

But learning is not just about formal learning, such as that you acquire from distance learning courses, although these are a great investment of time and money. Learning is also about;

Learning is about skills and qualifications, as well as the wider picture.

#8 Look inwards

Career goals may look neat and tidy on a piece of paper, and you may have planned the smaller steps you need to take on your journey… now is the difficult part: looking inward and making the changes needed to reach those goals and aspirations.

Online distance learning courses sound great – complete in your own time, no tutors chasing you to meet deadlines, manage your own learning and workload– but completing a course takes commitment, diligence and stamina, more so when things get tough.

In other words, are you really willing to make the changes to you and your habits to reach your goal? Are you prepared, for example, to study rather than do something else like socialise, watch TV or go to the gym?

#9 Making time for what matters

There are three big things that thwart our career goals;

  1. Lack of self-belief
  2. Allowing others to thwart our ambitions and dreams
  3. Shortage of time

Lack of time is a nuisance, but we need to get over this hurdle. And that means finding more time to complete the online course you have just signed up for, volunteering to get more experience at doing something or taking time to practice new skills.

Where is this extra time coming from?

#10 Don’t forget the pleasure and joy!

A complete career change is tough as is studying late at night or early in the morning to gain the extra qualification or additional skills needed to win a promotion. But don’t forget, this journey should be a joyous one too.

Make time to do things that you enjoy whether that is a run in the woods, yoga on a hillside or binge-watching box sets on Netflix every now and then. Life is about balance, after all…

Other people do it – writers write, bakers bake, chefs create tasty culinary creations – they successfully follow their passions, turning it into a thriving career. But how did they manage to do so? What skills do you need to turn your passion for photography into profit?

Skill and Business Acumen
In order for anyone to run a thriving business, they need to have a developing sense of business acumen, and understanding of how to turn what they do into something people want and thus, turn a profit.

vintage camera

There is no magic formula. What works well for one person may not yield the same results. It depends on the market, the customer demographic, the need and desire for your products or service and the state of the market and economy at the time.

It takes hard work and commitment, all of top of your passion and skill as a photographer. But there is a market for photography and professional photographic service from wedding portraiture to commercial photography.

1)  Start Small
Take a moment to read about successful solo entrepreneurs or those that now run successful companies and you will notice a common theme. They started small, with some solopreneurs starting their business alongside their full or part-time employment.

It takes time to build a customer base too and within photography, it is about building a solid reputation for delivering quality images and a great service.

Key Points

2)  Be Prepared to Say ‘No’
When you start any business, it is tempting to accept any offer of work that comes your way. But not all potential clients, for example, will understand how long it takes to find the right location, set up a shot as per the skills honed across various photography courses; in their minds, they “only want a photo or two” and that can’t be that difficult, can it?!

There are times when these ‘small’ jobs end up becoming monsters, but your pay doesn’t match. And that means you are giving away time and expertise for free.

Business acumen means understanding how you time is involved in every photo shoot or commission. Is it just a case of one or two shots or is it a lot more involved?

Key Points

3)  Have a Plan
ALL successful businesses, including photographic giants and successful solo photographers, are driven not only by passion and skill but by a plan. A strategy gives your business a direction. There will be twists and turns, and you may end up somewhere different than you intended, but understanding what you need to run a successful photography business is key to success.

Key Points

4)  Push Photographic Boundarieslandscape photography
Photography has evolved so much in recent decades. From developing film to the digital revolution to photoshop and software development, many of us think that we have what it takes to become a professional photographer.

If you have the passion and the skill, why not look to develop your skill-base further by continually updating your abilities and knowledge with photography courses? It could be learning to create different photos in a distinctive style, expanding your portfolio as a result.

Trends come and go too in all genres of photography, from wedding photos to commercial photos. For example, businesses are using 360° photos of their products and by offering this facility at the right price to the right people, you could be swamped with commissions.

Key Points

Commercial photography, as well as artistic photography displayed in art galleries and studios, do have a market. But do you have what it takes when it takes to turn your passion into profit?

Accountancy suffers from a reputation as being a dull profession.

People imagine accountants shuffling figures around a page, organising sums in columns and being up to date with complex tax rules and regulations. These dull tasks are essential but make for a less than exciting occupation.

That said, accountancy has changed. Driven by a new generation of accountants and the digital age, accountancy has taken on a more exciting vibe.writing in notebook with glasses and calculator on desk

If you are considering a career in accountancy, you need to know what opportunities it presents. This is the guide that you need to super-charge your career in accountancy, whether you are thinking of being self-employed or bagging your dream job in the field.

Why Become an Accountant?

Being an accountant means working in a fast-paced and dynamic industry. You can work with small businesses and start-ups or large global corporations.

There are many opportunities to specialise in tax regulations and other specialist finance and accounting areas.

There are numerous benefits to being an accountant;

As an accountant, you will have many employment opportunities, from running your own business as a sole trader to creating a burgeoning accountancy firm.

You can also work in an employed capacity for larger firms, as well as benefiting from exciting career opportunities in The City (the financial district of London). Many Chief Executives of banks, financial firms and retail groups began their career in the finance and accounting sector.

Accountants are known to be meticulous, with an eye for detail, as well as possessing many planning and forecasting skills that make controlling finance easier.

Accountants will never be short of clients who need help with their accounting procedures. Alongside businesses, private individuals will often consult with an accountant in relation to self-assessment tax returns or more complex issues.

The ways in which HM Revenue & Customs collect information relating to tax are changing. The new digitalised system means that from June 2018, businesses will be able to submit their accounts online every quarter.

As a result, businesses may need to make changes to how they maintain their accounts. The accountant will be at the forefront of helping businesses leave behind ‘shoe box accounting,’ and become a part of the new streamlined, digital accounting era.

As an accountant, there are many well paid opportunities for you to explore, from overseeing your own business to becoming a well-paid financial executive of a large company.

These well-paid opportunities are not limited to the UK. You can work in markets and businesses around the world. Accountancy skills are some of the most versatile skills that you can possess.

Don’t necessarily need a degree

As a profession, not all accountants need a degree. With various specialist courses to choose from, you can build your knowledge base whilst progressing in your career. This is just one of many reasons that it is a popular profession.person doing their accounts

There are many opportunities to progress in the field of accountancy, and this is why this guide is important. With so many opportunities, you can quickly super-charge your career and reach the heights you always dreamed of.

Accountancy Opportunities

As with many professions, you need to seek out and actively create opportunities in order to give your career in accountancy a boost.

This means knowing what steps to take and when.

#1 Get the RIGHT qualifications

Although you don’t always need a degree, as an accountant you are expected to be able to show potential clients and employers that you have a broad base of accountancy-related qualifications under your belt.

This means getting the qualifications that professional bodies and employers recognise, so bear this in mind when checking out online accounting courses.

However, along with qualifications that show your skills and abilities to deal with financial information, you also need a range of soft skills that make you the ideal candidate for the job.

#2 Asking questions

As we grow ‘older’, we lose the art of asking the ‘right’ questions. Small children engage in the world around them often by asking ‘why?’ type questions.

But as we age, we often assume that asking questions is a sign of ignorance or weakness and that our superiors will see us as ineffectual and weak. However, Socrates tell us that the only true wisdom is knowing when we know nothing.

This doesn’t mean being over-effusive and asking questions just for the sake of it. Demonstrate your skills by framing questions in a way that shows you have done some preliminary research; you have an idea, but you need some information clarified.

Which sounds better? – ‘I know a little about Sage but can you show me how the company prefers to use this feature etc.?’ OR ‘what the hell is Sage?!’

#3 Positive, positive, positive

When you start a new job, you can create a good impression by being 10 minutes early, well-dressed and friendly. The longer you remain in a post however, the deeper you fall into your comfort zone and that can mean that you stop correcting your bad habits.

If you are employed and want to progress with the company in the accountancy capacity, you need to show that you do take your role seriously. That means not only committing to a company and sticking with it, but also remaining positive and working within the values and ethos of the business.

If you are applying to a new role, you need to be aware of the company culture and how your behaviour and attitude fit with this.working surrounded by notes

#4 Hone your communication skills

An accountant will deal with many people on any given day. From stakeholders to senior partners and executives, you will be expected to give financial information clearly and concisely.

There are many other pieces of information and data you will need to communicate, as well as receiving information yourself.

Some business experts believe that effective communication is a key business acumen for any candidate looking to super-charge their career in any profession, not just accountancy.

The finance department of most major corporations and organisations can sometimes operate in a vacuum. Decisions are almost clinical, based on key facts and financial figures. This can mean the emotion of a decision and its impact are removed.

This is no more is this clearly illustrated than in the NHS (or another health care setting). The decision to cancel operations that can save thousands, but the implications for patients and staff is far bigger than the costs saved.

As an accountant, even though the figures tell a story, it is only part of the story. The key to super-charging your career and forging ahead is clear communication, listening and relaying information.

#5 Know your business

Accounting in the health sector and accounting in the retail sector are different. One is fast-paced and dynamic and deals with people’s lives, and the other, whilst also dynamic and fast paced, is all about profit.

As an accountant, you need to know the business world in which you operate, understanding and working within the confines of your industry.

You need to understand how the market operates and what is considered valuable, as well as being able to forecast the market and its performance.

Understanding the world in which the business operates makes you a valuable asset to the company. Keep your finger on the business pulse, with one eye on the future and predict changes.

#6 Prepare for leadership

Every business wants a dynamic accountant with excellent communication skills, an in-depth knowledge, and a measured approach to accounting and financial control.

Take a look at many of today’s CEOs and you will see that they started out in the world of finance. You could super-charge your career to heights you never thought imaginable, but only if you equip yourself with the right skills and knowledge.

This means preparing for leadership both in a soft skill sense, but also gaining leadership skills through courses and practice.someone annotating graphs

#7 Go digital

The face of accounting is changing. With the digital era dawning at HM Revenue & Customs, more companies are turning to online cloud accounting and software to streamline their business finances.

As an accountant or as part of the finance team, you are expected to explore and suggest which of these programs is right for the company.

There are many options to choose from, from QuickBooks for small to medium sized firms, to advanced Excel skills.

Seven Points, Seven Great ways to Super-Charge Your Career

Get qualified, stay relevant, know the business and the markets, stay positive, communicate well and engage. These are seven great ideas that, when combined and put into practice, really can be the catalysts that will make your accounting career soar.

 

There are an untold number of writers, all with secret notebooks. From a few lines of poetry to short stories, novel outlines and ideas for articles addressing numerous topics, these words, thoughts and ideas remain hidden.

As a writer, you will know how difficult it is to allow others to examine your words, for fear that your ideas will be derided. You may know it as a work-in-progress, but when someone points out its short coming or – even worse – laughs at it, your shrink back to where you were; your work and your words remaining hidden.

From a hidden passion to a flourishing career

There are all kinds of amazing stories, and not just about writers, who have ditched the 9 to 5 and followed their heart and their passion.

It isn’t just a pipe dream; it is something you can do.

But you still have bills to pay. You may not be sold on the idea of living ‘off grid’. You still want the spoils and trappings that you enjoy today. And you still can. You just need to be practical.

Learning from others, how do you turn your passion into a career?

Get skilled

Ask anyone who has turned their passion into paid employment, and this includes writers, on how they did it and somewhere in the story will be a mention of skill.

Skill is the art and ability to do something. With writing, anyone can string a sentence together (almost!) but a sentence on its own doesn’t sell. Certain types of writing sell, and some do not. You need to be confident that you can write, and write well.

You also need to be able to write commercially, something that a creative writing course will cover. Identifying what you know about and what you can write well about, is key to turning those hidden words in notebooks that no one knows you have, into paid and gainful employment.

Struggling with what skills you have to offer? Try this exercise;

  1. What skills and/or qualifications do you currently have?
  2. What interests you? Can this be part of your writing?
  3. What is missing from your writing? Would a creative writing course be the springboard that you need?

Spotting the potential

Again, take time to ask anyone who is carving a career out of writing, and you will find that there was something that triggered the change. It may have been an epiphany as they sat behind their work desk, that spending the next X number of years doing the same thing, day in and day out, was not wanted they wanted to do.

Or fate gave them a push.

Tough trading conditions, for example, means many companies and businesses tighten their belts, meaning that for some employees, the threat of redundancy hangs over their heads. Whilst some find this stressful, others realised it was the push they needed to take a big step – and follow their passion.creative-writing

But before you take the leap, there are a few practicalities you need to be aware of. And one major practicality is to understand your market.

Is there a market?

Many writers tend to favour a certain genre, some of which are more popular than others.

What do you like writing about? Where does your writing skills lay? And what is the commercial interest in this?

Frankly, if your writing does not have a commercial element to it, it can be a very different journey to success. This doesn’t mean that everything you write needs to be mainstream.

Blogs and articles can sell well, thus they pay the bills and give you the freedom you need to be able to write the stuff you really want. In other words, by day write for money, but by night write the novel you have always wanted to.

Creative writing has all kinds of outlets. If you love writing a romantic romp or two, publishers such as Mills & Boon are always looking for submissions from new authors. However, your name may not be dazzling in lights, as you will probably have a pseudonym.

Short story submissions are also welcomed by a number of magazines and publications and can pay relatively well, although you may find that until you get a reputation and a proven track record, the pay is not fantastic.

Selling your writing services

For writers, there are also freelancing websites that allow you to register for free and either showcase yourself to the world or bid on work that companies and businesses want doing. Just taking a moment to browse through the kinds of jobs businesses are asking to be completed, and the money they are willing to spend, is a great way of doing your market research.

Like other people in creative industries, you need to think about how you showcase your work. The online world offers all kinds of opportunities, and one way in which you can show people your writing is to profile your work on a blog.

There are several blogging sites, some free and some paid for. The idea is simple: create content, post it regularly and then if someone wants to see an example of your work, give him or her the URL.

Businesses across all industries and sectors need written material, from web page content to articles or copy for printed materials.

Sending out emails with links to your website will be a great way of people being able to see who you are and what you do. Pitching yourself direct to a business can be a foot in the door in many cases, especially if you are pitching to a sector or an industry that you know.

Web design agencies also work with a team of writers, offering work on a freelance basis that can sometimes become regular work too. Creating content for their clients, you may need to sign a declaration that you will not approach one of their clients direct for work etc.

There are various industry publications, all of whom look for content from time to time. If you have skills or experience in a certain field, why not pitch them an idea or an article? There can be payment involved but sometimes, as a writer, you need to be looking for publishing opportunities to share as part of your portfolio of work. Think of it as part of building credibility, which could lead to you commanding a higher price in the future.

Go for it!

Not that we are encouraging you to be reckless, but sometimes you just need to make that leap. Here’s how some other people have done it;

Driven, passionate and unwavering

Like any ‘job’, writing can be tough some days. There’s the dreaded blank screen and the flashing cursor but no words. There are assignments that are not your subject, slightly dry and boring but you do them because it pays the bills.

But then, there are the assignments that you like, the writing that makes the words flow and the imagination flourish. Like any other form of self-employment, you need to be pragmatic and organised. You need to manage your time and your money.

You need to nurture your talent and your skill and for writers, there are times when you need to come out of your shell and be part of a supportive community. A creative writing course can be the perfect antidote to the isolation that a writer can feel. It can also be encouraging to have a supportive tutor and an online forum to test ideas.

And there are things like I Love to Write Day, 15th November 2016, a chance to explore what others are writing, as well as a chance to share. You will be amazed at the number of people who write.

Of course, writing is always about making money. For some people it is the release they need in a busy life and in a world where there is still so much to fix. It is a release mechanism and doesn’t mean that every writer is destined or even wants to win the Man Booker Prize.