Quarterly Career Check Up – Your Mini MOT

Check in with a quarterly career check up

I always encourage my clients to get in the habit of carrying out a quarterly career check up – or a ‘career MOT’ as I like to call it. Getting in the habit of regularly stopping to monitor your current career position with a mini appraisal can really pay off, whether you’re happy where you are or looking for a new role.

Here’s a quick look at what a career check up is and why a little effort can go a long way.

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What is outplacement and what are the benefits?

If you’re being made redundant you might have heard the term, but you may not know exactly what outplacement is and what the benefits are.

The word itself is HR jargon used to describe the process of placing someone out of the business. In practice, it’s used to refer to the support provided to people who are leaving the organisation and is sometimes referred to as career transition support.

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Stuck in a job you no longer love?

Being stuck in a job you’re not all that keen is never ideal – but if it also happens to pay a great salary and offer some generous benefits, you can end up feeling really trapped. If you’re torn between passion and pay, job satisfaction over salary, and you’re wondering what to do, here are a few things to consider to help you make a decision on which way to turn.

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How a career coach can help you take control after redundancy

How a career coach can help you take control after redundancy

With the current economic situation, many people are finding themselves at risk of redundancy – or with the option to choose it if that suits them. In the three months to December 2024, there were around 114,000 redundancies made in the United Kingdom, with more expected in 2025. It can be a strange time, but a career coach can help you take control of your next step.

The professional perspective of a career coach can really help you work through the change that has been imposed on you or that you’ve chosen, provide time and space to talk through your thoughts and feelings, help you explore options as well as come to terms with, accept and heal from the change.

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Career change – Tips for deciding your next job role

When you’ve decided you want a career change or a new job, how on earth do you figure out what to go for when there are so many options?

To have the best success at securing a new job without spending what feels like all of the hours you have spare on the search, you need a plan. Having too many ideas is just as tricky to manage as having no clue what kind of role to look for, so here are my tips for refining those ideas for a career change and coming up with a plan. Continue reading “Career change – Tips for deciding your next job role”

Four signs you need the help of a career coach

Four signs you need the help of a career coach

If you’re wondering why on earth you would need someone else to help you make a change at work, here are four signs you need the support of a career coach.

Independent career coaches can provide a safe space for you to explore your work options even if you haven’t decided that you want to make a change. We can help you feel more in control of your career and working life, and to make the right move (not just any move) if you do decide to look for a new job.

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What happens when you don’t land your perfect job?

We’ve all wanted something and not got it – that’s just life; but what happens when you don’t land your perfect job? How do you recover? And is there hope that another even-more perfect job will come along?

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Career break – grown up gap year or 21st century necessity?

A career break, also sometimes called a sabbatical, is an increasingly popular option with people part-way through their working life.

Like the grown-up gap year, they take some planning and people choose to take the time off for a variety of reasons. So why would you take a career break, and if you’re already thinking of taking some time out of your 9-5, what factors do you need to consider? Continue reading “Career break – grown up gap year or 21st century necessity?”

Seven signs of a toxic job to spot at interview

A job interview is as much about you deciding if the role is right for you as it is about the employer finding out if you’re a good fit, so it’s a great chance to spot signs of a toxic working environment.

It’s easy to get caught up in perfecting answers to their questions, but asking your own questions can be a smart move. The interview is your chance to gauge whether this is a healthy work environment and culture where you will thrive or one that might drain you.

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Applying for a new job? Does the potential employer share your values?

It’s easy to underestimate just how important personal values are when it comes to choosing your next employer. It’s even easier to focus on just getting that next job instead of taking the time to reflect on whether it’s the right next step for you and whether you’ll be a good fit, particularly if you’re unhappy where you are or if you’re out of work. The pay packet can become the sole focus. Continue reading “Applying for a new job? Does the potential employer share your values?”

What’s an agile career path? And how can you get one?

Long ago, in days of yore, a young dreamer would find a trade, train with an experienced practitioner and see out their days plying that trade near and yon.

Nowadays, the average UK worker changes job every five years and the idea of a “job for life” is pretty much dead. And since we no longer have our employers providing definitive career paths for us, we are far more responsible for our career success than ever before.

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Do you need a placement year as part of your degree?

Let’s face it – when you’re in the thick of university life, adding an extra placement year to your degree might not sound particularly appealing. But here’s the thing: placement years are becoming increasingly valuable in today’s competitive job market. So, should you bite the bullet and go for it?

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