Across the UK today mass strikes are taking place over governmental plans to increase pension contributions and working time within the public sector. The strikes have caused major disruptions to the UK workforce and education system with over 62% of state schools closed.

Up to 2 million public sector workers are reported to be on strike, with strikes estimated to include around 170,000 workers in Wales and 300,000 workers in Scotland.

The last period of comparable widespread unrest in the UK took place over 30 years ago, in 1979, with over 1.5 million workers striking.

How the strikes are affecting Britain:

• Public sector workers on strike include: teachers, refuse collectors, civil servants, border agency staff, probation officers, job centre and passport office staff, librarians, midwives, social workers, radiographers and roadsweepers amongst others.

• 19,000 out of 21,700 Schools; across England and Wales were closed or partially closed.

• 6,000 'routine' operations were cancelled along with large numbers of appointments. Patients may have to wait up to 18 weeks for a new date.

• No buses or train services were operating within Northern Ireland.

At what cost?

London Ambulance Service told BBC London it was 'struggling' stating that people in a non-life threatening condition may not get an ambulance and that it had been difficult to respond to 999 calls.

At Prime Minister's questions in the House of Commons today, Prime Minister David Cameron called the strikes "irresponsible and damaging" and failed to recognise their impact across the UK, labeling them "a damp squib".

Two of the country's largest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick reported being largely unaffected by today's events, as the government had laid contingency plans in place. 

The unions were reporting no signs of a resolution to the pension proposals as thousands of people rallied to join the strikers across the UK.

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Your first day in a new job can be a little daunting. Like your first day at school, there are lots of new faces, new places and new rules to get to grips with. What is important to remember is that out of all of the people interviewed, you were chosen. You are the best candidate for the job and so you should try not to be too nervous. Try and enjoy the change and learn as much as you can from your first few days to ensure you fit in seamlessly. Here are some top tips to get you started:

Punctuality

Get a good night's sleep and wake up early. Ensure you are prepared, have a good breakfast and choose an outfit that you feel comfortable in. Make sure you allow plenty of time for your journey and ensure you arrive a few minutes early to make a good impression. You may have received a welcome pack and you might have some forms to bring in, so ensure you have everything you need before leaving the house.

Get your Bearings

There is a lot to take in on your first day, but don't worry, no-one will expect you to remember everyone's names or know where you are going at all times. Try to take in as much of your new surroundings as possible, and ensure you know the basics; where do you exit/enter the building and where is your office/desk in relation to this. Finding out where the nearest bathroom is, where the tea room is and where the post room is would be a good start.

Make a Good Impression

You will spend the best part of every day with your colleagues so it is important to get off on the right footing. Be friendly, polite and respectful to everyone you meet, on your first day it is hard to know the extent of people in your new organisation that you will be working closely with, so ensure that you are not rude or unfriendly to anyone.

Take Instruction Well

You will inevitably have to receive training from a colleague or your line manager in tasks for your new job. Be respectful of the time that your trainer is giving up to teach you and ensure you thank them for all the work that has gone into putting your training notes together and for being on hand to answer your questions. Even if you may know more about a piece of software or system than your trainer, which may happen, ensure that you listen to all instruction carefully, do not interrupt or correct them; if you threaten or challenge their knowledge at this early stage, you may lose a key ally.

Get to Know your Boss

Getting to know how your boss works is invaluable. Observe his approach in the office; does he take a hands off approach with your colleagues or is he very vocal? Is the office a very focused, quiet environment or is there a relaxed, fun atmosphere? Does your boss enjoy a laugh and a joke, or does he maintain a professional distance from others? Finding out about the dynamics of the office and will help to ensure you take the right approach when forging relationships and will enable you to strike the right balance between friendliness and professionalism.

Your actions in this time will determine how others see you and how you are going to approach the role, so make sure you think about the impression you are creating for others. Remember also to relax and enjoy your first week, and congratulations on your new job!

1. Plan your journey.

Work out how you will be travelling to the interview. If you are going by car, find out if there is on site parking, or where the nearest car park is. If you are travelling by public transport, find out how long the journey should take and allow yourself plenty of time for traffic delays. Ensure you know the route, and are aware which building/reception area you need to sign in at and who you should ask for.

2. Make a good impression.

Think carefully about what you are going to wear to the interview; first impressions are crucial, and it is important to dress smartly and appropriately for the interview. For men, you should decide whether to wear a full suit, or a pair of smart trousers with shirt- which should be ironed. For women, ensure that you are not wearing anything too revealing, a smart skirt or trousers and a smart top should be sufficient, avoid wearing extremes of accessories and make up.

3. Decide what you need to take.

You may have been asked to bring your passport, or some documentation with you for the interview, so ensure you have them to hand. It may be useful to take a small notepad and a copy of your CV. Ensure you have directions if needed, and the address of the office in case you forget or need clarification.

4. Research the company.

A favoured interview question is to ask the candidate what they know about the company/job role. Often job advertisements can be quite vague so it is worth looking online and seeing what you can find. Ensure you go over the company website with a fine tooth comb to ensure you impress your interviewer with your research.

5. Prepare questions.

There comes a point in every interview where the interviewer will give you the opportunity to ask questions. It is important that you use this opportunity as a way to confirm your interest in the position by asking thoughtful questions. Prepare some questions before the interview, but be prepared to think on your feet if your questions get answered in the interview. They could be regarding the job role, the company or a specific technical question about equipment or software used.

6. Get a good night's sleep.

To feel at your best in the interview it is important to get a good night's rest and to try and relax. You could take a relaxing bath in the evening and ensure that you get to bed at a reasonable time to feel well rested. Allow yourself plenty of time in the morning to have breakfast and feel fully awake and alert for the day ahead.

Relax; be confident and well prepared to ensure you make the most of your interview.

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Job seeking involves distributing personal data about yourself to others, and because of this, it is important that you stay safe and aware when job seeking. Online scams are out there and job seekers can become a target for those looking to make a quick profit.

You will not need to give out the following personal details when job seeking/applying for a job: 

1. National Insurance Number and Bank Details.

Never distribute your National Insurance number or any bank details via email or any other means when job seeking or applying for a job. Only when you have been offered a job and you are beginning that new role should you present HR with the appropriate details to enter the payroll system.

Some websites may legitimately charge you for a job seeking service that is offered. If you are using a premium jobs website such as The Ladders, or you are using a CV writing service, they may well have a charging structure in place. Before making payment ensure that you understand how much you will be charged and what you will receive for this payment.

2. Date of Birth and/or a Photograph.

You should not provide a photograph or your date of birth when job seeking and this information should not appear on your CV or application. It is illegal for an employer to discriminate based on age, and it is not a legal requirement for an employer to know your age before an interview.

It is advisable to avoid putting a photograph on your CV as this may give the employer some preconceived notions about you which may or may not be favourable. A photograph is not a required element of a UK job application.

There may come a time when your job or your department changes location, forcing you to make a decision about whether to stay in your current job or look for something else.

Companies may move for a variety of reasons: they may be merging with another company, there may be a need to find larger premises or it could be part of a move to merge two of the company's offices to cut costs. Whatever the reason, it is important to remember your employer rights.

Consult your contract.

It is possible that your contract may contain a mobility clause. The clause may state that your employer is entitled to ask you to relocate to any one of its other offices, or could generally state that you may be asked to work elsewhere within the UK, for example.

If you have a mobility clause then your employer must be reasonable in their expectations. They must give you sufficient notice; you should not be expected to make a big move in under four weeks usually. There may also be a relocation package which gives you some incentive to move, which your employer should notify you about; however this is not compulsary.

If you do not have a mobility clause and your employer is asking you to move an unreasonable distance, you have the right to refuse, however your employer could make you redundant, if the job will no longer exist at your current location.

What can you do?

Discuss any concerns you have with your employer, they may be able to help. If your company belongs to a trade union then you will also be able to speak to a representative to discuss your options and obtain help and advice.

Employment tribunals could be an option if things do not go well. If you refuse an offer that your employer deems reasonable and they do not offer to give you a redundancy package because of this, you could have a case to take in front of an employment tribunal.

Stay positive, talk to as many people as possible and ensure that you know your contract and your rights.

For further advice, take a look at the Direct Gov Website, which has useful contacts and information.

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