Jobs & employment blog

  Be honest. Have you ever really thought about where you want to be in five years’ time? Are you worried your development career might be going down a road which you know probably isn’t right for you? If so, it’s important to take control now.   First up – don’t panic. As a developer in today’s market, you’re in an amazing position. Thanks to the widening digital skills...

  Being great at giving and receiving feedback speeds your development, accelerates the development of the people you interact with, and builds trust in all those relationships, making you more influential with others (whether those others are across the C-suite or around the dinner table).  And the first step to improving your feedback practice is to work...

  Fresh thinking and creativity are recognised as core skills that help workers and businesses to thrive.  Most experts agree that innovation follows when these creative ideas are turned into something practical and of value. We often hear about the big and sexy innovations, the hubs and labs that are developing breakthrough new approaches and products such as...

  It’s a new year and many of us are feeling a lot more settled than we were 12 months ago in the world of work. As was the case in 2020, last year’s events meant we had to constantly revise the plans and ambitions we had set out in January. The Cambridge Dictionary has announced that ‘perseverance’ is its Word of the Year for 2021. Defined as ‘continued effort to do or achieve...

As we approach another new year, are you feeling, dreaming and anticipating failure when you think about setting new goals or resolutions? You know that goals work and that you should set them. The Internet is awash with advice for setting SMART or other clever-sounding goals. So, you set some. And then by 1st February, you are back in the guilt of not following through. Is this you? ...

  To succeed at work, the ability to deliver strong presentations will always be important. Whether you’re a novice, or a seasoned public speaker, it’s always a good idea to brush up on our presenting skills.   That’s why today I’m lucky to be joined by Jay Surti, keynote speaker and author of several books including Ultimate Presentations: Master the Art of Giving...

During my career I’ve seen many candidates struggle with a common interview question when they shouldn’t. It’s a line of conversation that provides them with a great opportunity to impress the person leading the interview. Instead, I’ve often found that they mistakenly believe that the reply is an easy one and gives an unsatisfactory answer without stopping to think. That’s why I want to...

Christmas is prime time for catching up with loved ones – whether that will be in person or over video calls this year. However, if you are currently feeling unhappy in your current role, you are, no doubt, dreading being asked the inevitable question: “So how is your job going?” You wouldn’t mind usually, but right now this is a loaded question, simply because the truthful answer is...

If you have a science or science related degree, a PhD or experience in a related industry, you have already met the base level qualifications requirement for working in a research-focused team, such as medical affairs, in the life sciences industry. The main objective of the medical affairs team is to strategically partner with the commercial and research roles within a...

  Whether you were actively looking for a new position or not, you have found yourself in a situation where you have been offered a new role. What’s more, the role pays far more than your current one for doing pretty much the same thing, so on the face of it, the choice seems obvious – go where the money is. But is this decision really that clear cut? The answer is rarely yes. There...

  The festive season is upon us and most of us are looking forward to a well-earned break to rest and catch up with friends and family – even if some of us are having to do that virtually. There is a tendency to see this period as “downtime”, and so it should be; you have worked hard for it all year after all. And what a year it has been. However, if you are already dreading...

  You know what your best interview performance looks like, and that wasn’t it. Despite all of your careful interview preparation, the points that you wanted to make just didn’t come across in the right way. You felt nervous and uncomfortable, you went blank when asked questions, and you struggled to build a rapport with the interviewer. It may feel as if all of your...

If you’re currently in fulltime employment, the change and uncertainty that has come hand-in-hand with the pandemic may have understandably left you with a feeling that you need to somehow prove yourself, or, position your role as ‘indispensable’. After all, this is a highly pressurised time and will inevitably lead many to worry about the future. Failing to manage this situation in the right...

It’s one of the things that many of us dread happening to us at work: that person in the office that we’re always going out to lunch, sharing our work worries and stresses, and celebrating our successes with, leaving the organisation. They’ve been a part of your professional and personal life for so long, you’re so reliant on them, and you look forward to seeing them every time you arrive...

  Careers are full of satisfying, challenging, and rewarding moments but there can also be times when we feel out of our depth, inadequate or depleted. In these instances, resilience is important, it can help us to understand failure and respond to it quickly and bounce back.   So today, we’re joined by Dr Susan Kahn, Business Psychologist and coach, and author of the...

As you juggle your workload, perhaps with the added stress of having to create a hybrid working pattern by working from both home and the office, do you find yourself wishing: “If only I had two more hours each day”?  Creating a balance between the hours spent at different work environments and doing things just for yourself can seem impossible, while the very act of trying to attain...

  For Generation Z, those who are beginning their career journeys are facing difficult challenges as they try to navigate the current uncertain climate. As a result, approximately one in four ‘Gen Z’ employees have sought support with their mental health since the pandemic began. So today, in support of World Mental Health Day, we are joined by Leadership...

  “Skills” and “competencies” are two terms you’ll come across regularly when searching for your next job.  It might seem as if these two words are interchangeable – but it’s actually not quite right to describe “competency” as a mere synonym of “skill”. There is, in fact, a very real difference between these two terms. If you’re looking for a new job or are keen to understand...

  With it often being one of the first questions asked in a job interview, how you answer, “Why should I hire you?” could really help you set a positive tone for the rest of the meeting, whilst engaging the interviewer in what you have to say from the outset. So, it’s important to understand that the way you respond to this interview question will have a huge bearing on the extent to...

  Recorded: Thursday 22nd October 2020 Due to the pandemic, professionals across the world have had to adapt quickly to a new way of working, including working remotely or as part of a hybrid team. As a result, it can be difficult to maintain visibility, leaving many unsure about how they can really shine and progress in this new world of work. So in this podcast, we’re joined by...