Even if it’s positive, receiving feedback well can be a challenge – here’s my tips on how not to mess up receiving it.  

Most genuine feedback is great information that can help us improve. So being able to receive it, reflect on it and adjust where we need to can help us make huge personal progress.  

The clue with feedback is in the name – any kind of feedback conversation should be two-way (‘feed’ and ‘back’). But, even if you’re prepared for it, hearing feedback about yourself can trigger an emotional response. Understanding and being able to manage this is critical. 

Continue reading “Don’t mess up receiving feedback – how to take it with grace”

If you’ve managed to secure a job interview, you’ll be feeling the pressure to make the most of this shot at getting a new role – so knowing how to make the most of both your strengths and your skills could give you the edge you need.  

In a recent blog, I explained the difference between strengths and skills. It’s an important distinction to understand, and knowing your own strengths and skills can help you do your best at job interviews, hopefully landing you that dream role! 

Continue reading “How to make the most of both your strengths and skills in a job interview”

When you’ve finally made it past the first hurdle and secured an interview, you might be thrown by the idea of doing one with lots of other people, so here’s my advice about how to approach group interviews. They are currently common in many graduate processes and some other interviews, so it’s worth understanding how to prepare for them.  

Continue reading “How to approach group interviews - advice from a career coach”

It’s a tough market out there if you are searching for a new job; cracking how to stay motivated is a large part of the battle. 

There’s been an increase in redundancies recently, and employers appear more cautious about recruiting – likely driven by cost pressures, economic uncertainty created by the US’s Hokey Cokey on tariffs, and higher labour costs thanks to National Insurance and National Minimum Wage increases. 

Continue reading “Job searching tips in a tough market – how to stay motivated”

You are not imagining it – job searches are taking much longer than they used to, leading to candidates getting fatigue. A survey of 2,500 people found it takes, on average, 3.8 months to secure a job after investing 6.5 hours a week on searching and sending off 162 applications.  

It’s no mean feat, then, to secure your next role, and no wonder people get worn out by the process. Here’s how you can combat job search fatigue and win. 

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I am often asked how to choose between going to university or doing an apprenticeship – often by 18-year-olds just about to finish their A levels or college courses, as well as by parents who are considering the benefits and costs of both options.  

So what’s the answer? Well of course it depends on several factors. Currently, higher education and uni are still the most popular option (according to the latest data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency) but apprenticeships are increasingly recognised as a viable alternative path to future employment – if you can find a good one.   Continue reading “How to choose between university or an apprenticeship”