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 [...]
When the captain of Manchester City, Vincent Kompany, held aloft the Premier League Champion's trophy this year, his euphoria and joy were a sight to behold. What's your equivalent? Have you experienced an exhilarating and emotional peak moment in your life? This post looks at the pros and cons of goals - what goals mean for you, [...]
Do you feel ready for the next stage of your career but worry you lack management experience? Don’t let that put you off. In fact, there are probably plenty of ways for you to fulfil the criteria. It’s just making sure you know how to show off those skills that employers want. Here are our top [...]
I read somewhere recently that our average attention span is now less than a goldfish. Many of my coaching clients struggle with high workloads and mass distraction. It can make a mockery of priorities because distraction is the enemy of focus. Here are some approaches to help you get the right things done and feel [...]
There are 1.47 million people out of work in the UK and the unemployment rate is currently growing more quickly than it has in almost five years. How can job seekers become more creative in their approach to finding work? One opportunity is the first impression you make. For example, Quinnstheprinters recently ran a competition for job-seeking [...]
Being a new manager can be both exciting and daunting at the same time. You want to get off to a good start but you don't know what you don't know. Naturally, you bring pre-conceptions with you. Yet, the reality can be a whole different ballgame. What do you need to look out for as a [...]
As much as we all like to think we are different, we are actually rather alike. Moreover, most of us end up having similar fears and goals: pursuing our life’s passion, finding a job that truly makes us happy... Without realising it, we often act in ways that are consistent with our socialization. But there [...]
Harnessing the best of technology with the positive use of social media opens the doors to greater and more informed choices. There are plenty of Apps out there to advise on trips and trusted services. For good or bad, league tables rank our schools, colleges, and universities. So, I decided to see what's available in [...]
In 2018, it's no surprise that some of us listen to lectures, workshops, and meetings while taking notes on a digital device. Phones and tablets are constantly on our persons, while laptops have never been easier to transport. And yet, does using these devices improve your productivity? A new survey from My Own Stationery reveals that [...]
Here at Swanstaff Recruitment, we're really proud that we placed on the Sunday Times Top 100 Best Small Companies to Work For in 2017. But how does winning this award help you and your job search? Firstly, the award is talking about our employer branding, so what does that mean? Read on to find out! [...]
Managers are the butt of so much dissatisfaction in the workplace today. Often, they are piggies-in-the-middle between frontline employees, the wider organisation, and senior leaders. As the pressure to meet targets and deliver results pushes down, harassed managers face the tricky balancing act of trying to satisfy everyone. Depending on the culture, some succeed more [...]
The digital world in which we live transcends time and space so we can access people networks across the globe. Mentoring moments occur informally at astonishing rates as we give, share and reciprocate in an instant via online platforms and communities. People want and expect to use technology to make their lives easier. No surprise [...]
It's National Careers Week (#NCW2018) and National Apprenticeship Week (#NAW2018) from 5-9 March 2018. Mentoring plays a key role in career transitions and supporting apprentices. So, I've put together a free ebook on mentoring tips and modern practices. It will appeal to lifelong learners and employers interested in improving their understanding and enhancing their professionalism [...]
