Hints and Tips - Page 5 of 10

Using an interview to find out more about company culture

Many people consider an interview a one-way process. You’re there to be grilled by the organisation; your role is reactive. The onus is on you to show what you can do for the prospective new employer, how you might fit into their setup. In your preparation, you might think about questions the interviewer may ask you and draft some thoughts about your replies.

But interviews can – and should – be more of a two-way deal. It’s not just about successfully returning answers to questions served at you across the metaphorical tennis net; an interview can also provide a golden opportunity to take control and discover more about the company’s culture – and whether it’s going to give you what you need. Continue reading “Using an interview to find out more about company culture”

The benefits of being a mentor

In my last blog (link), we looked at the many benefits that being mentored can bring, from boosting your confidence to enhancing your knowledge and learning. But it’s not just the mentee who can reap the rewards; being a mentor can have positive effects on your own career, too. Continue reading “The benefits of being a mentor”

The benefits of being mentored

Mentoring has come a long way since the traditional picture of a young upstart being schooled by an older executive. In the modern business world, the concept of mentoring has had to adapt and become more relevant to careers that do not follow a straight line trajectory; it’s a more fluid, less easily defined concept these days, but undoubtedly, when it works well, it can be exceptionally – and mutually – beneficial.

Built on trust, respect and communication, mentoring is a supportive relationship between two individuals, exchanging and exploring ideas, discussing progress and setting goals for further development. Continue reading “The benefits of being mentored”

Elevating your internal brand, externally – how to use LinkedIn to elevate your personal brand with colleagues and career stakeholders

LinkedIn has become pretty well known as a great platform to stay in touch and network with professional contacts, build your reputation as a trusted expert, and raise your profile externally, not just when you’re looking for a new job.

But not many of us think about it in the context of elevating our personal brand amongst our colleagues. But with 60% of employees more likely to engage with posts from co-workers it’s something you should be thinking about to improve your profile and visibility amongst internal stakeholders, not just external

Being active on LinkedIn gives an opportunity to get noticed and make sure your voice is heard with senior leaders, potentially advance your career and elevate your reputation, and be seen as an internal brand ambassador and employee advocate.

Here are my tips for elevating your brand internally.

Continue reading “Elevating your internal brand, externally – how to use LinkedIn to elevate your personal brand with colleagues and career stakeholders “

What to do when your new job doesn’t work out

You’re excited to start your new job. You’ve done all your homework, asked all the right questions during interviews. Then the honeymoon period starts to wane as you get to grips with what the role actually entails. You start to realise the job just isn’t what you were expecting.

There are a number of reasons this might happen. It could be the job itself – the type of work it involves day to day, maybe the commute is far worse than you imagined, or it might be a key relationship that just isn’t working.

Continue reading “What to do when your new job doesn’t work out “

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”