Are you a UK graduate still carrying the burden of huge debts after studying in one of the most expensive further education systems in the world? Here are several ways to help get a grip on your finances through effective budgeting. The debt challenge In 2012, student fees trebled to £9,000 a year and maintenance [...]
The word leader is often associated with seniority, job roles, and positions in a hierarchy. There is also the assumption by some people that leaders are born rather than made. It can suggest that the idea of leading is only for a chosen few. Yet, from my experience, we all have the potential to be an influential [...]
As a student, when I let people know I’m also freelancing as a writer, they often don’t take me seriously. However, it’s becoming a more common choice for millennials to work for themselves and to steer away from the standard 9-5 job. The jokes about being unemployed and sleeping all day are just myths and [...]
Do you struggle as an introvert to promote yourself in today's competitive and networked work environment? If so, this post offers five ways to help you build your confidence and be more at ease with the demands of an extroverted world. The idea of self-promotion tends to be anathema to an introvert. Often, it frightens [...]
Career bliss? No, it's not La-La land, but something that Sabrina Ali of make.believe.for real. understands better than most. Based in Canada, she is a wonderful career counselor and writer for professionals under 40. So, I'm extremely grateful to her for sharing her insights and wisdom in this post. Please take time out of your [...]
Trust is in short supply these days. Just ask disengaged employees or disillusioned job seekers. So, how do you encourage it as a leader or manager? As a job seeker, how do you know if a potential employer has a culture of trust? This post looks at helpful advances in neuroscience and how you can [...]
Have you considered taking on a career in fashion after education? There is a wide range of options available aside from the obvious ones like designers and models. From a career in fashion-related finance to discovering a role in communications, the opportunities are varied. Read on as providers of costume design courses, The Northern School [...]
A new study from CV-Library reveals that the average Brit spends £205 a month on work-related expenses, including lunch, commuting and stationary. That’s equivalent to £2,460 a year! Do you think that's fair? How much does location make a difference? Learning to Leap explores the findings and hears from Lee Biggins, founder and managing director of CV-Library. [...]
Your CV or resume can lead to your dream job. So you want it to make a big impact when recruiters and SME owners get round to seeing what your skill set is. Here are 10 ways to ensure you’ve got the best chance of landing an interview. 1. Update your design If you’re still [...]
You decide to go for a job you really, really want. Thankfully, you get through the initial hurdle of CV or online application. Now you worry that you lack experience at the level for which you are applying. That old friend, imposter syndrome, pays a visit chipping away at your self-confidence. Other people will have more [...]
If you are one of the 25% of UK students (45% in the US) planning to start their own business after graduating, you may be asking yourself, where do I start? This post shares tips and resources for the budding graduate entrepreneur. An essential step for getting your business off the ground is to invest [...]
In this three-part blog series on career planning and management, we have already looked at career stage and career direction. Finally, to help your career progress, we consider the political style you prefer to manage your personal brand and navigate conflict in your organisation. What's your preference and how effective is it? What might you need [...]
What are your perceptions of working in the automotive industry? You might think it's filled with middle-aged men in suits working at your local car dealership. Maybe, you know someone's son who works as an apprentice mechanic. Perhaps, Top Gear is your reference point. Whatever your preconceptions, how vehicles are manufactured, bought and sold is changing radically [...]
How do you decide on the career direction for you when the world of work is so volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA)? Increasingly, it's tough when job roles are disappearing because of technology change and when new ones appear quicker than ever. This post explores four career directions to help you reflect on your current [...]
Increasingly, with jobs and careers today, it ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it ♫. The career paradigm is changing from employment to employability security. It forces us to seek constant growth and professional re-development, aka lifewide and lifelong learning. These drivers apply to us all. Yet, some songs remain the same. [...]
Often, business likes to identify learning from the world of sport. The emotional peaks and troughs are rich pickings. Sometimes people dismiss sport as too different from business and the world of work. The analogies don't work, they say. It seems to me that the England football manager, Gareth Southgate, is reversing the trend and [...]
Attention deficit is rife in daily life. Competition for our attention assails us from all directions. And that's a barrier to being creative, our wellbeing, and our capacity to grow. Understanding the true nature of attention will help. The attention paradox Here's a strange paradox about attention, beautifully captured by the French philosopher and teacher, Simone Weil. [...]
Conversations about your performance are a given if you are an employee. You are hired to do a job and your employer wants assurance they made the right decision. They want you to succeed and grow in return for your valuable contribution. However, the quality, frequency, and format of performance conversations vary widely in the workplace. [...]
One of the main reasons for seeking mentorship is to help further your career. While it’s likely this will be someone that you work with, it could also be a friend, family member or ex-colleague that you admire because of their achievements. Here are five ways to create a mutually beneficial relationship, so you make [...]
The latest findings on the reasons that prevent women getting into FTSE350 boardrooms are depressingly familiar and shameful. Nevertheless, the shift towards self-employment, freelancing and independent working is having an impact on gender equality in the UK. The direction of travel is positive as the gap between the number of businessmen and businesswomen is closing. This [...]
