What Soft Skills Do You Need As A Live-in Carer?

17 May 2022

With a growing number of elderly people choosing to stay in their own homes for as long as possible rather than moving to the unfamiliar surroundings of a residential care home, there is a growing need for people to work in the live-in care sector.

If you have been considering a career as a live-in carer, then you may be wondering exactly what soft skills will be of benefit to you in the role.

Here we look at exactly what constitutes a soft skill and the skills that will really be effective to someone working in the live-in-care sector.

What Is A Soft Skill?

When it comes to the skills that are needed for any job people understand the need for the relevant professional and industry-relevant skills.

These are skills that can be gained through training. However, when it comes to soft skills, some people are not exactly sure what this means.

Soft skills, sometimes referred to as core skills or common skills, are a group of skills that are transferrable from one profession to another.

They include things like problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, a professional attitude to work, communication and listening, and a great work ethic.

They are the sort of skills that everyone has to some degree at the start of their career and are improved over time with experience learned in any role.

Here are the soft skills we think are essential for those considering working as a live-in carer.

Top 4 Soft Skills You Will Need As A Live-in Carer

1. Communication and listening

A huge part of the live-in-care role involves providing companionship to the elderly person.

The ability to listen to a person’s opinions and wishes and respect what they have to say will go a long way towards helping to foster a trusting and caring relationship.

This will allow the elderly person to feel comfortable and secure. Communication is a key skill that is not only needed when talking with the elderly person, but good communication skills are essential when accompanying them on appointments with the doctors, opticians, etc.

The ability to retain and then clearly communicate any instructions given during appointments can make all the difference to the person being cared for.

2. Organization

The role of a live-in carer is a varied one and requires a good degree of organization in order to help deliver the appropriate care plan for the elderly person.

This may mean ensuring that medications are taken on time, appointments are attended, and even that trips to regular social activities take place as scheduled.

For many elderly people, a strict routine can really help so it is important for a live-in carer to be organized enough to follow this.

3. Caring

The ability to care for someone is a soft skill that not everyone is suited for. Being a live-in carer takes dedication and compassion, putting the considerations and needs of another before your own.

4. Patience

Being able to handle any situation without becoming frustrated and potentially distressing the elderly person you are caring for is also a vital soft skill.

If you think you have the soft skills required for work as a live-in carer, why not consider it as a career. You could certainly get job satisfaction from ensuring your care charge is safe, well, and comfortable as they age.

Read Also:

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

4 Key Etiquette Tips on How to Ask for Career Advice

It is common to ask for professional career advice in the modern job market. Many job seekers want to improve their positions during the job search. No matter what kind of work you are looking for: an online job, a startup, or a role in the writing business. Besides, many mentors want to share their earned experience and help applicants grow professionally. Such a request for help does not have any specific format. You may ask any kind of mentor: a hiring manager, a career advice expert, or just a professional with a rich Linkedin profile. When choosing a career advisor, do not limit yourself to a single option. Do not be afraid to ask as many people as you can reach. Besides, you may ask for advice from people from parallel industries. You may get unexpected insights about how your career field works and what goals you may approach. Several guidelines will help you politely ask required questions to your mentor for help and receive a positive answer. 4 Tips For Career Advice 1. Do Home Research Before asking a mentor for help, you need to make necessary preparations. One of the best ways to receive adequate consultation is to attach your resume to the introduction email. It will help your mentor understand what you are capable of and what kind of advice they can provide. You deserve a well-crafted resume, so contact ResumeService 24 to get satisfying results. This resume will not only help you attract your advisor's attention but also pass ATS bots. Modern resume-scanning software filters applicants according to certain criteria. Therefore, top professional resume writing services will help you match all your knowledge and experiences in an appropriate format. This bot-beating resume will aid you more than once in your career. Besides the resume, you will need to research the field you are going to ask for a bit of advice. A correctly formulated question is half of the answer. You need to know precisely what you are asking for and what you cannot find. You may consult with hiring managers or with people on career resources. Such clarification will help you to ask the question correctly. Another research that you should do is about your possible mentor. Visit their Linkedin profile, and learn the area of their expertise. The more you know about your future mentor, the more you will get in a minimum amount of time. Preliminary research will save you and your mentor a lot of time. 2. Do Not Be Afraid Asking for a piece of career advice may sound intimidating for some people. Taking someone’s time for your benefit and approaching high-rank professionals with this request may seem impolite. Remember that professional consultation is a common practice. Many people are ready to provide such advice. If you approach such a request politely and strictly to the point, you will receive immeasurable help. Competition in the modern job market is intense. You need any kind of help you can get. Job seekers who have gathered more information first-hand have an advantage over regular applicants. 3. Contact Via Email E-mail is one of the most popular means of contacting a career advice expert. Your email should be short but informative. Here your resume will be in handy. In your mail, briefly introduce yourself, state your question and provide the necessary information. It may include: Your experiences.A cover letter. Relevant accomplishments. Try to mention only important elements. You need to compress your correspondence into a page at max. People who deal with work email will likely answer a short e-mail than a lengthy essay. At the end of the letter, state how you will follow up and how you plan to stay in touch. Finally, proofread and edit your message. Sending a poor-written letter will not make a good impression. You may resolve your question with e-mail correspondence or set a personal meeting. 4. Personal Meeting Try to accommodate your mentor's schedule when you plan a personal meeting. You need to help them to help you. Choose a fitting date and suggest an audience. You want to keep it short. If you ask for twenty minutes, you will arrange a consultation more luckily. During the meeting, do not spend time on small talk. You have gathered to discuss business, and you should not take more time than necessary. Naturally, we do not exclude general politeness but try to keep the conversation in one direction. It would be nice to ask what you can do for your mentor afterward. Usually, professionals help you invest in your career without expecting something in return. Yet, it would be polite to offer your service or help to your advisor. Finally, do not forget to thank your career advisor. A short follow-up letter will be a proper courtesy from your side. Also, follow-up letters are a good communication point to continue your professional relationship. Final Tips Do not be discouraged if you do not get the professional help you want. Or if you received a decline to your request. It does not mean that you were impolite or violated any rules. There are many factors that you cannot control during career research. Therefore, try to acquire as much professional help as you can. Ask for help from different people and diverse resources. The more you practice receiving career advice, the more versed you will become in professional communication. Additionals: Fast-Track Your Career: 7 Things You Should Know About Executive CoachingIs Investment Managers A Good Career Path In 2021?Is Medical Assistant A Good Career Path In 2021?How to Start Your Career as a Financial Advisor?

5 Biggest Challenges in The Nursing Field Aspirants Should Know

The healthcare profession is brimming with obstacles and challenges, and the recent pandemic has further added to them. Medical professionals work gruelingly long hours to ensure patient well-being and safety. However, most of these obstacles and challenges are typically seen in a particular sub-division of the healthcare field: the nursing field. Undoubtedly, the nursing profession is not for individuals who are faint of heart. Moreover, to succeed as a nurse and perform your duties with utmost efficiency, you must have the drive, passion, and knack for helping people in need. Some challenges plaguing the nursing field include difficulty acquiring further education, understaffing issues, and overtime work. Likewise, workplace stress and hazard are also growing concerns for medical workers. Whatever issues the nursing field faces, nurses remain a vital part of the world’s healthcare workforce. They put other’s needs first and dedicate their entire lives to helping their patients. For instance, the Covid-19 pandemic also made us realize how essential nurses are. However, before you start a career in the nursing field, knowing about all the challenges you'll face while working is vital. So, let’s determine some of the biggest challenges in the nursing field that aspirants should know. 1. Difficulty continuing education The healthcare industry requires individuals to remain up-to-date with the latest medical practices, techniques, and procedures. However, as nurses serve as the first point of physical contact for patients, these medical professionals also need to polish their soft skills. Therefore, expanding your knowledge base and honing soft skills are critical components of becoming a successful nurse in today’s competitive healthcare setting. And to do such a thing, they must invest time and money in continuing education and obtaining advanced nursing academic credentials. Unfortunately, acquiring further education while working as a nurse is no cakewalk. As these healthcare professionals work for long, grueling hours, sometimes 24-hour shifts, taking out time for studies can be challenging. However, if you’re a nurse striving to climb the ladder to success and seeking career advancement, eLearning can benefit you. You can enroll in masters of nursing online programs and study with ease while managing your workload. An online nursing degree will provide you with the flexibility and convenience of learning from home or even work. 2. Overtime issues Due to high employee turnover and understaffing, aspirants need to be aware of overtime before diving into the nursing profession. Many nurses state that healthcare facilities utilize overtime to counter the after-effects of understaffing. Unfortunately, this usually leads to overworked nurses, resulting in medical errors, treatment inaccuracies, inaccurate diagnoses, driving away aspiring candidates from the nursing field altogether. That said, medical facility owners and healthcare leaders must focus on overstaffing issues and try to solve them with a different approach. A viable way to do this is by hiring more competent nursing staff. In addition, they must encourage aspiring medical students to give nursing a go over other health-related careers. After all, nurses are frontline warriors, working at the heart and soul of every healthcare organization worldwide. 3. Understaffing issues Short staffing is amongst the most common issues in the nursing field. An AMN Healthcare survey shows that about seventy-two percent of healthcare leaders say that they are understaffed in the nursing department. Not to mention, this issue is growing with every passing day, especially since the pandemic struck. Furthermore, the BLS states that there will be a demand for one billion nurses around 2022 due to the rise in diseases and viruses, and most importantly, Covid-19. Staffing issues usually affect patient health and safety and drastically lower the quality of care at healthcare facilities. Moreover, it can also result in increased injury rates, fatigue, and work pressure. 4. Workplace stress Healthcare professionals such as nurses and doctors face work-related stress and burnout, primarily stemming from the unpredictable nature of their work. It mainly affects nurses dealing with high-volume urban departments, senior care, acute psychiatric services, and more. Not to mention, excessive workload and fatigue are ever-present in every healthcare workplace. And nurses bear their fair share of burnout issues, as discussed above. That said, such a thing shouldn’t put off aspiring candidates. ANA, OSHA, and other government organizations work tirelessly to control workplace stress through education, guidelines, and regulations. After all, nursing staff shouldn’t have to deal with burnout, whether it is because of their workload or job nature. 5. Workplace hazards Every workplace in every field has its fair share of hazards. However, the nursing profession, in particular, faces more than usual. Some potential hazards include exposure to pathogens, injuries, contracting viruses, and other germs. Not to mention, these healthcare professionals are at constant risk of hazards from patients carrying the deadliest viruses. The Covid-19 pandemic serves as an unfortunate reminder of how working in the healthcare sector can prove fatal. Many nurses and frontline warriors lost their lives battling the virus and serving the ailing. However, it explains why nursing is one of the most prestigious professions of our era. Nurses devote endless hours and put their lives at stake to ensure the well-being of their community and people. Conclusion Recognizing the obstacles and the challenges that the nursing field contains is the first step. However, the second, and probably the most important, is overcoming these challenges to ensure you advance in your nursing career. After all, nurses are crucial to every healthcare facility out there. There is no better way to help humankind than to take up the nursing profession. That said, you might find it challenging to overcome these obstacles initially. But if you remain persistent and focus on your end goal, you’ll reap countless rewards. Read Also: American Healthcare and its Woes How To Prevent Burnout As A Travel Nurse With These Simple Self-care Strategies

Navigating The Surgeon Jobs Search Journey: Tips For Success

Searching for a new job can be stressful. Once individuals know they wish to leave their current position and find a new job, they can reduce this stress by taking basic steps. Landing this new job may take four to six months, so the earlier a person begins, the better off they will be. Tips For Navigating The Surgeon Job Search Journey Are you thinking of leaving your current job? Then these tips might come in handy in your new job search journey. Preparing for the Search Before launching a surgeon job search, consider what is needed in the new job. Create a list of priorities. Some doctors want to work in a teaching hospital to train future generations. Other medical professionals might be more interested in research. Factors to consider when creating a priorities list include salary, location, and work-life balance. While no job will check every box unless the job seeker is extremely lucky, knowing what is essential will help narrow the choices. Be Persistent Many medical practices don't have HR teams making the hiring decisions. They rely on doctors to handle this task, and these doctors also treat patients. Surgeons must recognize this and understand the hiring process often takes longer as those responsible for choosing who to employ have other duties. Follow up regularly so the organization knows the interest is still there. Please don't give up until the organization states it has no plans to hire you. Network Every person needs to network regardless of how long they have been in an industry. Begin building this network in medical school and expand on it over the years. Ask this network for help when looking for a new job as a surgeon. People love to help one another and will share job openings. They may even offer to provide references and help with this search, but they can only do so if the job seeker asks. Cold Calling Most people dread cold calling. However, it never hurts to do so when there is a particular facility a person wishes to work at. It also never hurts to cold call when moving to a new city or state. Let the hiring manager know of this move and see if there are any open positions. While they may not need a surgeon, they could know of another facility that does and share the information. Practice Considerations Know which type of hospital or setting is best for your long-term career goals. Where are these practices commonly located? Will a job change require the move to a new state? If so, apply early for medical licensure if this step must be taken. The licensing process can take several weeks, so this step should never be put off. Update Paperwork Always have an updated resume available. The perfect job may open up when a person isn't searching. When this happens, they scramble to update the resume and gather other paperwork. Review references and contact information regularly to ensure they are accurate and willing to serve as a referral. Optimize Your CV You are aware that recruiters review several applications for surgeon jobs in a day. This job is tasking because choosing appropriate resumes for the job is crucial. After all, they have to fill important surgeon positions in their organization. They have to select the efficient surgeons for the job position. Therefore, recruiters follow some criteria when choosing the right CVs from the bunch of CVs. In this case, recruiters will include surgeon jobs’ experience, skill level, and accomplishment in their criteria. These criteria may vary according to jobs, but there is one thing that is common for all recruiters: skill level. They mostly look for your skill level to match the job position. So, be clear about what you have accomplished in your previous job position. Optimize your CV to fit all your previous accomplishments and skills to highlight your right fit for the job. This way, your CV gets picked, and you get a chance to interview face-to-face. Try adding to keep your CV error-free and easy to read. This will help recruiters scan your CV easily. The format of your CV should also be correct. Prepare For The Interview Don’t just stop after optimizing your CV because the goal is to get the right surgeon job from several surgeon jobs. If you do get a callback from the recruiter for an interview, then you have to crack it. You already know that preparing for an interview can be challenging since you don’t know what the employer will ask you. So start preparing for your interview based on your previous surgeon job interview experiences. Focus on failed interviews where you were unaware of any question related to your field. As a surgeon, you can read up on medical books related to your field of study. This will help you answer questions in your interview. If it's a virtual interview, try to look presentable even if you are interviewing from your home. This gives a good impression on your future employer. Along with speaking clearly in your off-screen interview, try practising also for on-screen interviews as well. Another thing you must keep in mind is to keep your room clean when doing a virtual interview. Since the space is visible to your interviewer, a cluttered room doesn’t give a good impression. Don’t Forget To Follow Up Interviewers take several interviews and then decide on the best candidate for their vacant position. When the recruiters are debating on who to pick for the surgeon jobs, your follow-up shows your interest in the job. Then, they can go back to your application to give it a think-over. This can be a turning point in getting you the surgeon job. So, after your interviews, always follow up with your recruiter about the job. This helps increase your chances of getting the job. You can send an email thanking the recruiter or interviewer for the interview opportunity. In this email, try incorporating the passion or hobbies that your interviewers shared with you during the interview. This shows your attention towards the conversation and your ingenuity. Conclusion A pleasant attitude goes a long way toward landing a dream job. Surgeons may receive several job offers and must determine which to accept. The priorities list is of great help. Review the list and see how each job offer aligns with the priorities. Talk with the hiring team if one job seems perfect in most ways but has a single sticking point. They may be willing to make accommodations. If not, there are other opportunities to explore. With time and effort, a surgeon can find their dream position and return to doing what they love: helping patients. Patient care should always be the focus, even when looking for a new job, and surgeons ensure it is. Additional Reading: Is Medical Specialities A Good Career Path? – 12 Best Jobs How to Get a Job as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative? Seeking a Healthy Career: 10 Tempting Medical Careers to Check Out

What Soft Skills Do You Need As A Live-in Carer?

What Is A Soft Skill?