Tag: career

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. 

Continue reading “Four signs you need the help of a career coach”

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?”

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?”

Maintaining your energy during a long job search – the role of grit

With millions of job-seekers in the UK and tough economic conditions, it would be easily to get disheartened if your job search is taking longer than you’d like. There are more unemployed people than vacancies in the UK, according to the latest UK Labour Market Statistics. 

Constant rejections, being unsuccessful despite getting an interview and, worse, firing applications into an apparent black hole where you hear nothing at all, can all take their toll when you’re looking for a job.  

Continue reading “Maintaining your energy during a long job search – the role of grit”

Growth mindset myths – how growth mindset can be misinterpreted to hold you back

Many people are familiar with the work of Professor Carole Dweck and her concept of “growth mindset”. (Check out her Ted Talk, The power of believing that you can improve for a 10-minute summary.) 

The idea is that people who believe their talents can be developed through hard work, good strategies and input from others have a growth mindset. Research shows people with this mindset tend to achieve more than people who believe talent is innate and fixed.  

There are a range of misunderstandings and myths around growth mindset which can be misinterpreted, resulting in you holding yourself back.  

Continue reading “Growth mindset myths – how growth mindset can be misinterpreted to hold you back”

How to retain your talent through career coaching

Winning the race for talent – how career coaching can give you the edge 

Job vacancies remain a major concern for businesses in 2024 moving into 2025, with skills shortages continuing to impact multiple industries. According to recent ONS data, job vacancies in the UK stood at 819,000 as of Q1 2024, reflecting the ongoing war for talent.  

In addition, a LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report found that 94% of employees would stay at a company longer if it invested in their career development, reinforcing the importance of career coaching as a retention strategy.  Continue reading “How to retain your talent through career coaching”

Quiet quitting – shortcut to work-life integration or fast-track to career suicide?

If you’ve been anywhere near the internet, especially LinkedIn, recently, you will have seen plenty of content about quiet quitting – but is it a shortcut to work-life integration or a fast-track to career suicide?  

The answer, as you can imagine, is not straight-forward.   Continue reading “Quiet quitting – shortcut to work-life integration or fast-track to career suicide?”

Why employee retention is important

In a fast-changing job market with roles harder to fill than ever, it’s no wonder organisations are focusing on why employee retention is important.  

With estimates of the cost of recruiting a new person into a role ranging from £7,000 to more than £22,000, being able to hold on to your people, even for a little bit longer, makes financial sense.  

From a cultural point of view, having a stable group of employees gives you more chance of having an embedded and secure culture than if there’s a constantly revolving door. 

And recent research publicised by the World Economic Forum links employee turnover to decreases in product reliability in the manufacturing sector.   Continue reading “Why employee retention is important”

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”

Returning to work after parental leave

In this third and final blog in the series, Charlotte Speak, founder of Power of the Parent, talks us through her tips about a smooth return to work after parental leave.

Charlotte works to help parents reconnect with their unique strengths, building their confidence and self-worth. She also works with organisations who want to make a positive difference to people by supporting their teams as their families grow. As a parent herself who had a corporate career in recruitment and coaching, she is passionate about the skills and abilities parents bring to the workplace.

Continue reading “Returning to work after parental leave”

How to stay connected during parental leave

We’re continuing this series of blogs about taking parental leave with this insight into how to stay connected while you’re off.

I personally found this quite challenging when I took my second maternity leave so I was delighted to be able to get the inside track from Charlotte Speak, founder of Power of the Parent.

Charlotte works to help parents reconnect with their unique strengths, building their confidence and self-worth. She also works with organisations who want to make a positive difference to people by supporting their teams as their families grow. As a parent herself who had a corporate career in recruitment and coaching, she is passionate about the skills and abilities parents bring to the workplace. Continue reading “How to stay connected during parental leave”