CAREER COACHING QUESTIONS ANSWERED
How to stay visible and connected in lockdown without burning out
Five weeks into the UK lockdown I’m checking in with clients about what’s different compared to when they first began to work from home, following the coronavirus restrictions announced mid- March. After a period of not knowing which end was up,...
Thinking of moving? How to research your options
Planning a next career move sometimes brings up the question of where to live. The cost of house, commuting lengths, distance from important friends or extended family, access to a garden or good schools are just some of the many reasons...
Starting a new job when you are working from home
Congratulations on your new role! It’s always exciting to be starting a new job – but it can be nerve-wracking too. You want to quickly demonstrate to the manager who has hired you and the the team you’re working with (leading) that you...
What recruiters want you to know about job searching during the pandemic
This week’s post comes from Andrew Seaman, a journalist for LinkedIn on job search in the US. His advice is also timely for job seekers in the UK, and builds on the advice I gave in the Good Friday webinar, “Looking for Work during...
Job-searching through Coronavirus
Nearly half of UK companies will furlough between 75% and 100% of their workforce over the next week because of coronavirus, according to a survey. The British Chambers of Commerce revealed 32% of businesses will temporarily lay off staff. And...
Career stagnating? How to move up
I attended an event last week in which HR Directors were sharing the challenges they have with staff engagement. One company told of the trouble they had in engaging mid-life professionals, men and women, who felt their career had stalled or...
Which is best? Coaching in person – or by phone or Skype?
It’s commonly assumed that if you want to get the best from coaching, it has to be in person. Yet, in the States and many other countries, most leadership and career coaching takes place virtually, whether that’s on the phone or using a...
The essential skills employers will be looking for in 2020
The beginning of 2020 can mark the start of a new job search for many. Here, Chris Stappard, Managing Director of Edward Reed Recruitment, tells us the essential skills that employers will be looking for in the new year. The world of recruitment...
Is a job search in December worth it?
Conventional wisdom has it that December is a bad time to look for a job. But conventional wisdom is wrong In fact, there are definite advantages to continuing — and even ramping up — a full-time job search during the holidays. This is no...
Top Tips for Changing Your Career in Later Life
Changing your career in later life can seem like a daunting prospect. If you are considering this, I have one piece of advice to offer – ‘Go for it – but be informed about how to go about selling yourself and your skills in this new...
Working part time or flexibly: recruiters in London for working parents
Are you returning to work after raising your kids? Can’t bear to return on a full-time basis – at least straight away – so exploring your options for more flexible working? The good news is that there are more options for men and women who have...
Is it actually worth having a long-term career plan?
Career planning is one of those subjects that can cause a great deal of agonising in many of us – or for that matter, complete apathy. You might have long thought that there’s no real point in having a career plan, because if you knew what you...
What it’s like to spend a day with a coach focusing on progressing your career
If you had a whole six hours and a leisurely lunch to talk with a highly-skilled coach about your career and skills, what would you love to get resolved? Get clear on your career direction and plan your search for the next move? How you will...
How to choose the right coach for you
The decision to hire a coach to assist you in improving some aspect of your life is an important one. It also brings forth some questions. In much the same way as your exact reasons for hiring a coach are unlikely to be the same as someone...
Raising burnout with your manager
You’re stressed and depressed from a Herculean workload, and perhaps the environment in which you work too. Should you raise the subject with your manager or keep your head down and say nothing? Duty of care for your mental wellbeing By law all...
Is Brexit making you angry?
We live in peculiar and unsettling times. Today the breaking news is that Scotland’s highest court of law, the Court of Session, has ruled that Boris Johnson’s suspension of the UK Parliament is unlawful, which no doubt will cause further...
Changing career to pursue an interest
The saying goes “follow your passion and the money will follow.” Its close cousin is, “follow your passion and you’ll never have to work another day in your life”. But is it true, or it is bad advice? We all crave passion in our work. Passion is...
Feeling burnt out? You may not be playing to your strengths
The old adage “play to your strengths” is one we are familiar with. And twenty years of research in the field of positive psychology provides us with a body of evidence that confirms that leaders who do are happier, more confident, have higher...
Ever wondered what having career coaching is like?
Leena Johnson, a professional in financial services, is undergoing our career change programme, Find Your New Direction. Read on to learn about her coaching journey in her own words. Asking for help – finally I remember seriously...
Don’t make excuse after excuse to put off career coaching!
It’s one of those all-too-familiar thoughts: “Oh, I’d love to do that, but I don’t have the time”. Or maybe you feel that you don’t have the energy, or the money. You get the idea… those things that you really want to do, or might even...