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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
