Hints and Tips - Page 3 of 8 - Meg Burton Coach

Why can it take so long to hear back after a job interview?

You’ve narrowed down your job search. You’ve spent time composing a knock-their-socks off covering letter, and CV which pays off when you’re offered an interview. You prepare and research the company, practice your success stories, rehearse your killer questions, and have a perfectly pitched presentation ready. You carefully consider your outfit and make your way to the interview – either face to face or online.

The interview is finally over, it’s the final interview and you know you are down to the last few candidates. You think you’ve done quite well, you got a good vibe, you built good rapport with the interviewers and got positive feedback, so you’re feeling optimistic that an offer will soon come through.

Then… nothing. Continue reading “Why can it take so long to hear back after a job interview?”

Career gaps – why you shouldn’t be embarrassed and how to explain yours

After the turbulence of the past couple of years, more people than ever now have gaps on their CVs, so this article covers my view about why you shouldn’t be embarrassed about a career gap, and how to explain yours when applying for a new role. Continue reading “Career gaps – why you shouldn’t be embarrassed and how to explain yours”

Reigniting your motivation at work

It’s fair to say that for many of us, life has felt like it’s been on pause for quite some time. But as things slowly return to whatever normal is going to be, many people are struggling to get their mojo back at work.

Whatever the reason you’re struggling with motivation at work – whether it’s because you’ve had a planned career break, are struggling to adjust to the new demands as we emerge from the pandemic, or you’ve just had other priorities and now want to re-focus on your career – here are some of my tips for getting your focus and energy back. Continue reading “Reigniting your motivation at work”

Is there such a thing as a bad boss?

Bad bosses. Most of us have had at least one during our career, and poor leadership is known to directly impact staff turnover. It’s a fact that people tend to leave a job role owing to bad bosses, not necessarily bad organisations.

Sadly, there will always be poor managers, and shifting to remote working in our new COVID-19 world may have made things better for some staff but far worse for others.

Some employees may now be relishing distance away from their boss; others might have seen their boss’s behaviour intensify, get more involved, or worsen if perceived as “micro-managing.”

Continue reading “Is there such a thing as a bad boss?”

Should we embrace imperfect jobs?

“Choose a job you love, and you’ll never have to work another day in your life.”

During our lifetime, we’re often told to strive for perfection. It’s great to have high expectations when you start a new role, yet often employees are quickly disappointed when the reality doesn’t live up to lofty expectations.

So, what is the perfect job? Does it even exist? Or should we be considering exciting but imperfect roles instead, as suggested by Lindsey Pollak, the author of Recalculating: Navigate Your Career Through the Changing World of Work?

Continue reading “Should we embrace imperfect jobs?”

Why you really should write a cover letter for your next job application

Sometimes, applicants can get a little confused about cover letters and profile summaries on a CV and if there’s really a need for both.

Many people can be guilty of spending time polishing the profile statement on a CV while overlooking cover letters, especially as there is evidence that many large companies who use Applicant Tracking System software don’t read them.

However, I think cover letters are an excellent opportunity to make an early positive impact on your recruiter/hiring manager. This is especially important given the challenging marketplace post-pandemic, and when you are applying to smaller companies who do read every cover letter.

Continue reading “Why you really should write a cover letter for your next job application”

Say goodbye and hello to new roles using LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a social media channel that my clients discuss a lot and one that sparks unnecessary fear and trepidation. Am I posting enough? Is my content professional enough? Am I showing myself in the right light?

There are lots of advantages to posting on LinkedIn about all aspects of job transitions. Much like the Beatles song, it’s often a case of “you say goodbye, and I say hello” when it comes to making work announcements on LinkedIn. I’ll explain what I mean.

Continue reading “Say goodbye and hello to new roles using LinkedIn”

Using your network to find a graduate job

I’m a strong advocate of using every channel possible to find yourself a new job – agencies and job boards are the obvious two, but there’s also a hidden jobs market which you need to tap into. Your network can be a powerful way of finding out about jobs which wouldn’t otherwise have hit your radar.

But is this still the case for graduates, who by their nature don’t usually have a mature or extensive professional network? Well yes, absolutely. You might be surprised at the people you know who could help you uncover a role you might not otherwise have known about. Continue reading “Using your network to find a graduate job”

Starting your first graduate job in lockdown

With many graduates starting jobs during lockdown, the challenges posed by taking on your first role after university have been amplified by what feels like a thousand times.

While many experienced workers would be happy starting a new role because of their previous experience, graduates walking out of university have had to not only learn about their new role, but master a huge list of additional skills too – and mostly without actually seeing anyone face-to-face.

Continue reading “Starting your first graduate job in lockdown”

The advantages of lifelong learning

When was the last time you learnt something new?

Life is busier than ever, especially as the divide between the working day and home life gets increasingly blurred as a result of more flexible ways of working. It can be tough to stay on top of the ‘to do’ list as it is, without adding in the pressure of self-development. Continue reading “The advantages of lifelong learning”

Your five-point checklist to get your career back on track after furlough

One of the many challenges of the past 12 months has been employment, with over 11.2m people placed on furlough at some point during the Covid-19 health crisis. As well as the very immediate financial challenges this has caused, for many there has been a much wider psychological impact with the prospect of getting back into work a daunting one. Continue reading “Your five-point checklist to get your career back on track after furlough”