Change your career in 30 days.

This module focuses on you as a person, before we get into more detail on you as a professional.

i. Your Current Reality - You'll dive into the concept of flow and flourishing, exploring the balance between challenge and skill. I introduce the Wheel of Life exercise, which helps you assess your current state in various areas of life. By understanding where you are now, you'll be better equipped to set goals and make progress.

ii. Understanding your values - You delve into the importance of identifying and being led by your values when making career decisions. We challenge you to determine your deal breakers, the lines you won't cross, and the must-haves or exclusions for future opportunities. By understanding and applying your values, you can make more sustainable and fulfilling career choices. This lesson will help you think clearly about who you are, what you do, and why, ultimately guiding you towards finding your ideal place and people. There are no right or wrong answers, just a deeper understanding of yourself and your motivations.

iii. Character Strengths - You'll tackle the concept of character strengths and how they can shape our lives and career choices. I discuss the research behind character strengths and their importance in decision-making. To illustrate the point, I share my own top character strengths and explain how they have influenced my career path. I also emphasize that having lower-ranked strengths doesn't mean incapability but rather areas for growth and focus. I invite you to take a free test to discover your own character strengths and reflect on how they align with your current situation.

iv. Ikigai -  You look into the concept of Ikigai, a Japanese term that represents finding the sweet spot where everything aligns and you feel fulfilled in your work. We explore the personal side of Ikigai, focusing on passion and mission. We encourage you to think about your strengths differently, breaking away from institutionalized roles and discovering what truly brings you joy. We aim to help you articulate your purpose in just a few sentences so you can confidently express your unique value.

v. Vision - You'll discuss the importance of setting a life vision, explore how this vision connects our personal and professional blocks, and how it shapes the life we want to lead as a result of our career change. We then explore the actions you will take as a result of your vision and the practical results we hope to achieve.

i) Values driven job searching -  We discuss finding job opportunities that align with your character strengths and values as an ex-cop. Many cops struggle to find viable alternatives and believe their skills are not transferable to other jobs, or get disheartened by the opportunities they think are open to them. You'll learn how to use LinkedIn to find inspiration and connections, filter search results by previous police force employers, and explore different roles and companies related to your interests.

ii) Limiting beliefs and perceptions - We highlight the things we tell ourselves, the stories you have developed over time, and the influences we have been soaking up from the environment around us. In an environment like policing, where your view of your own self, abilities and potential can be closely tied to the identity that work provides, these beliefs can be powerful and overwhelming. You'll learn how to deal with them when they come up so you can confidently apply for your next position.

iii) Understanding the hiring process - Get insights into the recruitment process, gained from being on the other side as a recruiter. We discuss the five stages of recruitment, explain how job descriptions are created, and the role of HR, hiring managers, and recruiters in the process. We emphasise the importance of not self-rejecting based on job criteria and instead focusing on demonstrating relevant skills and results.

iv) How to read a job description - Learn how to analyse job descriptions in different sectors using examples from Formula One, a charity, and Salesforce. We explain the importance of understanding the order of bullet points, identifying key requirements, and qualifying in or out based on your skills and experience. 

v) Transferrable Skills - We cover the concept of transferable skills and how they can be applied to different job roles outside the police force. Learn about the importance of showcasing relevant skills and achievements in your CV rather than solely focusing on your experience as a police officer. You’ll understand the difference between hard skills and soft skills, and we provide examples of transferable skills that police officers possess, as well as the demand for these skills in the job market.

 vi) Transferrable skills cheat - Take a look at the College of Policing's professional development platform and see how it can help you define your transferrable skills. We highlight the website's corporate job descriptions for policing roles, which can provide clarity and confidence in your career path.  

vii) What to expect at the interview -  We discuss the various interview formats you may encounter and provide tips on preparing for each of them. We cover the differences between formal and informal processes, competency-based interviews, fit-based interviews, and case studies/skill tests. You'll also touch on the negotiation stage for those transitioning from the public sector.

i) What a good CV looks like -  You’ll get valuable tips and insights on creating a compelling CV that will increase your chances of getting noticed by hiring managers. We offer guidance on the key sections that should be included in a CV and offer recommendations for templates that can be used to make the creation process easier.

ii) Professional Summaries - We provide guidance on creating an impactful professional summary, including examples, and demonstrate how to tailor the summary to match the job description, highlighting key strengths and relevant experience. 

iii) Professional Experience and Qualifications - Learn how to structure your police career and navigate common challenges with rank, secondments and temporary posting. We discuss how to effectively explain policing roles and strike a balance between explaining what you do and highlighting the job requirements you're applying for. We also touch on the education section and the importance of only including relevant qualifications and training.  

iv) Demonstrating Impact with Results - You’ll get valuable tips on creating impactful bullet points in your job description. We discuss the significance of action verbs and using numbers to make your achievements stand out. Additionally, I will share examples of well-crafted bullet points and offer suggestions on how to avoid duplication and keep your bullet points concise.

v) Covering Letters - No one likes covering letters. Not even recruiters really like covering letters, and yet they remain a requirement of many job application processes. We give you templates to make the process as painless as possible. 

i. What is LinkedIn, and why does it matter - 
We share an overview of LinkedIn, explaining what it is, why you should use it, and what you can use it for. We address common concerns about privacy and data sharing, emphasizing the control you have over your security settings.  

ii. Building an effective profile - Tips to help you optimize your LinkedIn profile and make it stand out to potential employers. We discuss the importance of having a professional profile photo and provide a simple method to remove the background from your existing photos. Additionally, I will guide you through creating an eye-catching LinkedIn profile banner using Canva. 

iii. Refining your pitch -  Ge insights on how to effectively pitch yourself or your ideas in various situations, such as job interviews or business presentations. We discuss the importance of authenticity and provide a simple structure for crafting a compelling pitch. Drawing inspiration from TED talks and shows like Dragon's Den, you'll learn how to hook your audience, identify the problem you're solving, present your solution, highlight the value it brings, showcase your credibility, and confidently make your ask.

iv) Getting Opportunities that come to you - 

We explain the importance of keyword optimization for LinkedIn profiles and discuss how to find relevant keywords and how to use them effectively.

v) Growing your network with posts, comments, and DM's -  We cover how to grow your audience and address the common problems with figuring out what to write about, whether anyone will care, and how to get started. Get some templates to help start reaching out to people who can help you so you can get started right away.

No - we'll give you the tools, skills and confidence to figure out the next step in your career and go get it, but we're not recruiters and we don't work with any recruitment agencies.

Unlike with the military, there are no formal government-backed resettlement schemes that would include this type of training. We provide this training independently because we know just how hard it is to get any support for leaving. We want to keep the cost accessible whilst charging enough to keep you accountable.

No tech wizardry required - we promise. If you struggle at all, we'll be on hand to help out, but if you can use a mouse you'll be fine.