Help My CV Melanie

2020 was a very challenging year to say the least and one that created many different versions of experiences between all of us.

I want to focus your attention on the opportunity that it gave some of us, which is time to reflect on what we want in life the most.

This is your opportunity to design your own future, to decide where you want to go, who you want to have in your life and how you will achieve it.

As children we are encouraged and praised for our range in dreaming and using our imagination to create realities.

But slowly as we get older, we are discouraged and it is considered being distracted or being labelled as someone who ‘has his/her/they head in the clouds...’. Dreams and imagination are often considered just for books, movies and the TV.

This is where you need to redress these social norms and remind yourself that dreams can become a reality.

Look into those public eye figures who have pursued there dreams and turned them into reality with a combination of self awareness and hard work.

You can too! So go ahead, I want you to dream BIG! No, rules to it or guidance from us... just have fun with it.

But… if you don’t know where to start… create a wish list of everything you want to do, see and or achieve. You can use the headings to help you start with…

* Mental and physical well-being

* Hobbies and interests

* Career

* Family

* Friends

There is an undeniable element of competition and external awareness in work and business that comes with this level of access. But, our advice is to not let competition be your driving force.

Focus on you journey, not on trying to beat others or be in line with others milestones.

It takes effort and a lot of practice to focus on your own path, decisions, growth and your own development. Putting it simply, because nobody else will. Be proactive in your own development and direction.

If you are reading this and have become lost in this crazy world of ours, let our friendly Career Coaches help you to learn from your mistakes and embrace lessons from them.

Including, sharing with you, ways to gain value from the ups and downs of your personal developmental journey. And how to reframe the mind to seeing and remembering how far you have actually came.

It needs to be serviced, maintained and updated at regular intervals. Especially, if you want to achieve longevity and career success.

You are your biggest and most valuable asset to invest in your professional development whether it’s through opportunities at work or outside of it.

Now, more than ever there is a variety of ways to help you to further develop or learn a new skill through books, audiobooks, podcasts and there is a wide range of online courses you could use which are heavily discounted. Enabling you to develop and or learn new skills at your own pace and surroundings.

It is a great way to build your confidence and feeling of self worth and acquire a new skill and or knowledge. Giving you a competitive edge over others as you have invested in your growth, awareness and identity.

(Photograph courtesy of Annie Spratt)

There are many questions that put fear into candidates. Today, we are focusing our attention on the question....

what are your short term goals?

They can be accomplishments, you wish to achieve in the near future. The benefits of setting goals are;

* they help with direction

* enables you to measure your progress and success

* gives a boost in motivation and drive to succeed

The key to success in achieving these goals is to remember to enjoy the whole process. And remembering it’s your goals, your deadlines to achieve. It’s all part of your own learning and development journey.

In response to the above question, you should share honest, realistic expectations of your time within the role and at what level or role you would like to grow and develop into.

Your answer gives them insight into your career objectives, direction and for them to work out whether they are not in line with what you can achieve at their place of employment.

Understanding how to answer this question can help you gain and hold the attention of the Hiring Manager or interview panel against other potential candidates being interviewed.

(Photograph courtesy of Annie Spratt)

We are automatically drawn to quantifiable data and trust whole heartedly in it for a number of obvious and logical reasons.

That’s why some professionals refuse to acknowledge our own body’s process for interpreting information to make a decision and that is your gut instinct.

Our intuition is our body’s way of alerting us to potential danger before our rational minds can explain it.

The brain is constantly filtering all types of information and comparing our current situation with our memories of the past.

Your gut instinct can guide and help you to build your confidence and resilience. Trusting your gut often means having the courage to not simply go with the majority. It can help you learn something about yourself, the issue/situation or about other people.

We are not discouraging people of using facts and figures to make a decision. We want to encourage using both by learning to become in tune and in control of your mind, body and soul to allow you to make decisions true to you and your needs in life. Ultimately, leading you to finding out what resonates with your personal values and trusting yourself and own instincts is key to success both professionally and personally.

It is possible like any other skill to develop a good intuition by practicing, making mistakes, analysing the errors and trying again. Enabling you to become a strong decision maker and develop a solid self trust and resilience. Making you an attractive candidate for any vacancy in any industry.

It’s not all about colleagues smiling, happy, cheerful people only seeing the world through rose tinted glasses. Those with a positive attitude can see the bigger picture and refuse to focus or waste energy on negativity.

They are able to demonstrate high levels of self awareness and confidence in achieving their goals and dreams. It’s all about reframing perceived and or identified problem and being committed to finding a solution.

Being a force of positivity in the workplace in particular is a valuable and welcomed asset to any industry. And one that has been in desperate need in 2020.

A negative outlook can impact not only your performance but your mental and physical health. It’s natural to complain to colleagues about a negative work environment but this may not change anything unless you are complaining to those in a position to further investigate your issues.

If you do despise your role or employer... it’s time to take action either through speaking to Management or Human Resources. Or finding another job elsewhere and learning from the experience. We can help you with this, through our Career Coaching services.

Learning how to stay positive in testing times can help you manage your inner self dialogue and learn how to be flexible in problem solving.

(Photograph courtesy of Tanya Santos)

Avoid letting the amount of time being spent to be the determining factor. The things you spend the most time on are not necessarily the things that you care most about.

Some of us don’t know what our priorities are and some can rattle off a list.

If you identify with not knowing the answer to the question, you could be operating on automatic pilot and feeling overwhelmed with your responsibilities. This can lead to emotional and physical burnout. Take today’s post as a sign to talk to friends and family to see where amendments could be made.

For those with a long list, there is no specific number to cut off from. It’s an individuals choice. To help with developing a deeper understanding of ourselves. It would be beneficial to conduct a review of them.

Our tip would be to identify things that you can’t be happy or successful without. It is personal and individual to us and should be in line with our plan for the future both professionally and personally.

(Photograph courtesy of Jacqueline Munguia)

It is surprising how many candidates attempt to mislead potential Employers. Some Job seekers take the approach of,

“If it’s not mentioned, I won’t bring it up”

“It’s only a small white lie”

“Who’s going to know?”

Whilst the majority of businesses have the resources available to employ HR professionals with training in assessing and scrutinising CV’s to find the ‘right’ candidate for their employer. Some simply rely on Senior Management and Consultancy services.

Of course, like any department there is an element of human error that can occur in favour for those who have lied in their abilities and or qualifications.

It is much more devastating and costly for all involved when the truth eventually does come out.

For example, the former CEO of Yahoo, Mr. Thompson who had falsified his CV by claiming to have a Computer Science Degree. At a college which didn’t offer a Computer Science Major at that time.

After 5 months of service and a lengthly investigation by the Board, Mr Thompson was asked to leave.

Yahoo had been trying to recover from various struggles and did not need this to occur. The news of the lie, impacted its Employees as they couldn’t believe they worked for a company with a CEO who could claim to be a Computer Scientist when he is not.

In this example, the lie caused the individual to publicly loose his role. Yahoo’s public reputation suffered due to the media coverage of the incident and staff became disgruntled about the failing in fact checking of a CV.

(Photograph courtesy of Jelleke Vantooghen)

Often in the workplace, more emphasis is placed on the end goal, the product or result in completing a task or overcoming a challenge.

This method of communicating may suit some but the majority do appreciate and work better when given the Why, How and What about the task being assigned to them.

This way, the information is directed to the part of the brain that controls decision making. Encouraging a connection with end goal emotionally and gives purpose and meaning to their contribution are the two biggest motivators for action.

(Photograph courtesy of Metin Ozer)

It is an unspoken understanding that in those incidents we need to remain focused on the task at hand and demonstrate clear communication to each other in a professional and respectful manner.

However, when this can not be achieved conflict in the workplace can lead to strikes or Employment Tribunal claims being made.

Conflict can present itself in a variety of ways. For example, rivalry between teams or it may be apparent by the lack of trust and cooperation between large groups of Employees and Management.

It’s important to recognise that not all forms are as obvious. An individual may choose as part of their coping method, to hide their feelings and internalise them.

If this is your current situation, it is advisable to seek out support from your Line Manager and or HR to avoid further escalation of the issue(s).

(Photograph courtesy of Frank Busch)

The world is moving quickly and technology is advancing at an impressive rate and will continue to do so. That’s why it’s imperative that you invest in your own knowledge, technical and transferable skills to be ahead of new trends, changes in demand and of competitors to be able to future proof yourself.

The times will keep changing and there will always be other people learning, developing new skills.

Avoid complacency and proactively seek opportunities for development within the workplace.

Perhaps volunteer to be part of a select group of people working on a specific project or look online for courses you can work on at home.

If you want to learn how to future proof your career, send a DM or Email to organise a consultation with a Career Coach. We can design and recommend a plan of action and support you in making a successful transition.

(Photograph courtesy of Possessed Photography)

Too many skipped breakfasts and staying up late will take their toll on your energy and productivity.

Your mind and body are capable of incredible things when pushed to their limits. But, as we all are aware constantly working at your limit is not sustainable and will cause health issues to arise.

To operate at your best consistently, you need to learn to prioritise self care. This doesn’t need to be expensive or time consuming. High achievers work hard and you need energy and stamina to do that.

If you feel you don’t have enough time in the day to implement self care. You need to speak to your Line Manager to avoid a potential burn out.

The expectations on yourself to perform to a level that does not give room for flexibility needs to be raised and addressed before your physical and mental health show signs for distress.

(Photograph courtesy of Kristopher Roller)

And yet, as Adults, we close off this side of ourselves for the overwhelming perception of what others may think about us in response to our questioning.

We should encourage each other to ask more questions as it’s the simplest and quickest way to learn and connect with another person.

Maybe, just maybe this would open us all up to living a life of honesty, clearer insight and freedom to innovate and create new solutions to existing problems.

Even if the answer given is not helpful or actionable, you will learn something from the experience.

(Photograph courtesy of Jon Tyson)

Never allow yourself to forget that you are your biggest asset to achieve success.

No matter how you define success. Whatever it is, takes effort, energy and time.

As an Employee, you may experience frustration and or exhaustion in the work place, causing you to settle and stay in survival mode.

This is not beneficial to you or the business you represent for many reasons.

So, it’s imperative that you take time out to recharge and reset for the days challenges ahead to overcome.

It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or elaborate. Making the commitment to invest in self care would make all the difference to your overall well-being and productivity in the workplace. Not to mention the benefits to your personal life too.

Self Care Ideas;

* Taking your full daily break and annual leave entitlements without work related interruptions

* Eating and drinking enough at work and out

* Resting after work and on weekends

* Listening to Podcasts, reading books and magazines

* Regular exercise

Do anything that will reward your body and soul. To help you check in with yourself, heal and stay focused and strong. For more guidance on this check out the NHS website.

But, don’t try to know it all.... it’s simply impossible and no Employer will ever expect you to.

To further your career, no matter whether you are starting out, or on to your 10th role, it is beneficial to be aware of resources to help you in overcoming skill or knowledge gaps.

And create your own library of resources of either people or places that you know and trust to seek out and collaborate with to bridge the missing piece in your expertise and skill range.

(Photography courtesy of Kyle Glenn)

In a world, where it can be overwhelming fast paced and often chaotic, it is normal to feel like we are not in control.

Causing us to justify our limitations and problems in life with excuses or blaming external factors out of our control and influence.

Rather than accepting our faults and role we play to seek out a suitable solution. Excuses give short term relief to the realities of the situation(s) we find ourselves dealing with. This will only further delay a solution being found and further exaggerate the issue.

We are all guilty of finding excuses that seem genuine at the time and come from an honest place. But, those with a balanced perspective on life, recommend us all to find a way to look at the reasons behind the excuses to be able to problem solve and take action more consistently.

We must remember there is always a solution. Whether that be found with hindsight, reflecting on the outcome or seeking help and assistance from someone who may have already found it through personal experience.

By making a commitment to not becoming complacent. It will not only increase and expand your knowledge and expertise level but will ensure you have up to date awareness of changes in your chosen field. To be able to plan ahead and seek out opportunities to respond accordingly.

There was a time when everyone was advised to focus on one specific career path from School age and take the time to build on their level of skill and expertise to enjoy a satisfying career for the rest of their working life. This is no longer the case, as it is more common for professionals to have periods of unemployment and or change in direction.

You will find within some workplaces, the common belief of “this is the way things have always been done” with no opportunity or discussion for further expansion or development of the process in question.

It is vital to stay away from this type of mentality of conforming without strong reasoning behind it. Some processes and procedures have valid reasons not to change. However, it is easier to not play an active role in seeking out opportunities to improve or develop existing ways of working to the benefit of oneself, team and business overall. More businesses welcome those with an inquisitive mind, who see change as an opportunity and not a threat.

Take time to assess your skills and knowledge. Are you proactively keeping up to date with the latest changes, developments or opportunities to expand your current offerings to your Employer?

You should commit to finding out what makes you different to your fellow colleagues. Once you have the answers, focus on improving and or expanding on them. As your fellow Employees are your competitors. Always strive to learn to be able to demonstrate a clear skill lead in your workplace.

(Photograph courtesy by Jeremy Banks)