A good day's work is the key to true happiness!

Hairdressers currently top the poll of the happiest workers in the UK.  According to this year’s City & Guilds Happiness Index, just out, they give their jobs a whopping 8.69 out of ten on the happiness scale! Beauty therapists and people working in early years or childcare were also hot on their heels!

And the old saying seems to be true – money can’t buy you happiness.  The happiest workers believe that feeling they are doing something worthwhile (19%) and being appreciated as the key ingredients for job satisfaction.

How about office workers?  Well, sadly, they’re not so happy. Spare a thought for secretaries, PAs and admin workers who feel the most unappreciated and unhappy at work.  They scored a miserable 6.1 out of ten for workplace happiness.

On average we spend at least 37 hours a week at work, so it's important to take your time and consider all of your options carefully before choosing your career path.

Here are some things to bear in mind:

• Research the company or career before you make a decision. If you want to work for a business, research their policy on training and see what benefits are available. Read up on any news, events and achievements and see if it's somewhere that inspires you.
• What kind of work do you like? Some people prefer working under pressure, outdoors, for a cause or being creative. Choose something which closely matches your own style of working.
• Think about what you want from your job. Is it the first step on a career ladder, a way of saving up money or something which will give you personal satisfaction?
• How do you want to work? Employers are offering more benefits, such as part-time hours, flexi-time and working from home. Find out what's on offer.
• Find out what the job is really like by volunteering to go on work experience. This way you will experience all the good points and bad points first-hand and be able to get advice from people already in the industry so you know what to expect.
• There is nothing worse than being bored at work so make sure you can use skills you already have or learn new ones. If you don't, your performance levels will drop and so will your enthusiasm for the job. Keep busy, be productive and make sure you stay interested in your work. Or train for a job where you will be more fulfilled.
• Finally - don't give up. And keep your options open because what you want and need will change over time. There's nothing stopping you from getting that dream job. Research the market, find out what you need to do to achieve your ambitions and then plan how you intend to do it.

Find out which career would suit you the most - take the psychometric test.