AS Communication and Culture

Facilities manager > it relates to the management of an organisation's buildings, their infrastructure and services. Through appropriate strategic advice, procurement, diligence and monitoring, facilities managers secure maximum value for clients. They are also essential in creating safe and efficient working environments. The sector is driven by client need for increased levels of service quality and an expectation of suppliers to produce cost and efficiency savings. Similarly, responses to government policy in sustainability have demanded change to the sector and how facilities management services are delivered. The role of a facilities manager is complex and diverse. These are just a few examples of the type of activities you may regularly be involved in: developing an organisation's overall property strategy, developing a strategy for a single building, managing the maintenance of buildings, advising on health and safety of a building's environment for the occupants and users, advising on property relocation, maintaining communications networks, managing budgets, advising on energy efficiency, advising on effective use of space, managing services, such as cleaning, catering and car parking.

Education administrators > organise and oversee administrative activities and systems that support and facilitate the smooth running of an education institution. The majority are based in higher or further education (HE or FE), but opportunities are increasingly available in schools and private colleges. Likely areas of work include central administration (eg, admissions, quality assurance and examinations) or a particular faculty team or department, such as finance or careers, where the role is likely to involve more direct and regular contact with students/pupils. There are a huge number of possible job titles within education administration and job descriptions are equally diverse.

Government research officer > will work within a wide range of government departments and bodies. They liaise closely with civil servants and other government analysts, such as operational researchers, economists and statisticians. Their role is to provide research input for the analysis required for the development, implementation, review and evaluation of policy. Ultimately, this research evidence helps inform the policy decisions of ministers. Government research officers offer research-based advice and briefings in-house and manage about £150 million worth of research and evaluation throughout the UK. Their challenging, fast-moving and diverse role has a direct impact on many government activities, often at a high-profile level.

Hotel manager > is responsible for the day-to-day management of a hotel and its staff and has commercial accountability for planning, organising and directing all hotel services, including front-of-house (reception, concierge, reservation), banqueting and housekeeping. In larger hotels, managers often have a specific remit (guest services, accounting, and marketing) and make up a general management team. Financial management - preparing budgets and marketing strategies and achieving targets for the business - plays a major role. The manager must strike a balance between customer satisfaction and effective business management, ensuring financial viability, and facilitate a smooth-running customer service, whilst ensuring staff work together as a team.

Learning mentors > provide a complementary service to teachers and other staff, addressing the needs of children who require assistance in overcoming barriers to learning in order to achieve their full potential. They work with a range of pupils, but give priority to those who need the most help, especially those experiencing multiple disadvantages. The variety of issues covered is vast, ranging from punctuality, absence, bullying, challenging behaviour and abuse to working with able and gifted pupils who are experiencing difficulties.

Journalists > research and write stories for publication in local, regional and national press. Junior reporters are allocated work from the news desk and submit stories to the news editor, who passes it on to a team of copy tasters and subeditors. During the course of a career in journalism it is likely that you will move between functions. On smaller papers, some functions may merge into one. Reporters cover all sorts of topics, including: news; items of cultural, sporting or scientific interest; local and national events; and entertainment, lifestyle and stories of 'human interest'.

Parliamentary research assistant > provides research and administrative support for an MP, peer or MEP. The work involves collecting, analysing and presenting information, assessing developments and helping to promote the employing MP. The main role of a parliamentary research assistant is to supply their employer with the information they need in order to conduct successful political campaigns, make a contribution to parliamentary debates and deal with queries from constituents and members of the public. Typical work activities include: keeping diaries and arranging and attending meetings, researching information using a variety of sources, for example scanning newspapers, official publications and specialist periodicals, or looking up facts in libraries and on databases, drafting letters, speeches, articles and press releases, tabling amendments to bills, liaising with individuals, newspapers and political organisations, including pressure and special interest groups, helping with consultancy work, leading tours of the Houses of Parliament. Experience in this role may provide a useful basis for a career as a party research officer, in political lobbying or public relations.

Personal advisers > generally work for Connexions in England, providing information, advice and guidance to 13-19 year olds. They may also work with young people up to the age of 25 who need extra support because of physical, medical or learning disabilities. Personal advisers give young people the support they need to help them achieve their potential. They offer advice and guidance on a variety of issues, including education, careers, homelessness, relationships, and money. A young person needing support will usually have one personal adviser, who will refer to or bring in specialist support as necessary.

A personal assistant (PA) > sometimes referred to as an executive secretary or executive assistant, works closely with a senior manager or director to provide administrative support. PAs help managers to make the best use of their time by dealing with secretarial and administrative tasks. PAs need extensive knowledge of their organisation's set up: who the key personnel are (inside and outside the business); and what the organisation's aims and objectives are. Managers often rely heavily on their PA, trusting that work will be handled efficiently in their absence. For this reason, discretion and confidentiality are essential attributes for a successful PA to possess.

A human resources officer > develops, advises on and implements policies relating to the effective use of personnel within an organisation. HR/personnel work comprises a number of different but related policies, all of which are required by organisations that employ people, whatever the size or type of business. These will cover areas such as working practices, recruitment, pay, conditions of employment and diversity. HR staff need to ensure that the organisation employs the right balance of staff in terms of skills and experience, and that training and development opportunities are available to employees to enhance their performance in order to achieve the organisation's objectives.