CareerBalance Blog

Work-life out of balance?

Posted by - 10 Aug 2010

 

I’m not a luddite, but I am beginning to wonder where all this technology is taking us.

 

It seems that we are all unable to step outside the office for a real break. On my way to work I pass people who no longer see where they are going, and on the tube I sit next to commuters who are scanning their e-mails on the journey to work, or when returning home. What’s happened to real relaxation, a time to reflect on the day, to dream about tomorrow?

 

It seems that for many of us our phone has become a comfort item, and we feel lost without it. We are all caught up in the race for the newest technology. In the last quarter of 2009 Apple managed to sell 8.7 million iPhones.

 

Many of our clients at CareerBalance are complaining of longer hours, and are feeling the stress of having to be ‘on call’ out of hours, including during vacations. The technology designed to speed things up and to make our lives easier is also imprisoning us.

 

We often help our clients to set clearer boundaries between their work and their home life.  For this reason some have chosen to work on a freelance basis or take on fixed term roles which require less commitment to the organisation. In or programmes we encourage you to look not just at how you want your career to progress, but also what kind of home life you would ideally like. We ensure that better quality time with partners, children, friends and wider family is an important part of the career planning equation.

 

What would it be like if you could throw your Blackberry away? I recently had to do without mine for a couple of weeks and found the experience very liberating. Once again I had time to read for fun, to make plans for tomorrow, and to dream a little of how life used to be….

 

Axe to Fall on Public Sector Jobs

Posted by Simon Broomer - 09 Jun 2010

It is clear that the new government is going to make significant cuts to the public sector and do what Gordon Brown did not have the inclination or the courage to do. The job pages, which over the past year have been kept full by pubic sector appointments, will now be looking a bit thinner. At CareerBalance we are already offering consultations to public sector employees whose jobs are at risk. There will also be downward pressures on public sector pay, which has risen very strongly for some roles at both local and central government level. The previous option of moving to another government department may no longer be there for many. Individuals who have spent their entire careers in the public sector will have to look at new careers in the private sector. We are also seeing a spill-over into organisations in the charitable/ not-for-profit sectors which are dependent on government funding. Some public sector employees may need to radically rethink their career plans, and possibly re-train for new occupations and industries. Those who can adapt to this new career landscape and have an eye out for where new opportunities will be created will succeed in landing new roles.

Looking To Change Career at 40s and 50s?

Posted by Simon Broomer - 09 Jun 2010

Increasing numbers of our clients in their 40s and 50s are looking to change career direction – sometimes quite dramatically. Most of us will be working until well into our 70s so a mid-life career change could set you on a new path for the next 20 to 30 years.

 

Accelerating economic, organisational, social and technological changes mean that many jobs and careers are disappearing whilst new ones are being created. Those who can adapt to these changes, gather additional skills and knowledge, and seek out new opportunities in different sectors will be able to find rewarding and fulfilling new careers.

 

At CareerBalance we help our clients to take a long-term view of their careers, so they know what they must do now to move in this direction. It takes courage to change direction, but with greater self-awareness, a good understanding of modern careers, and a focused approach to your job search you can have a career which up until now you have only been able to dream about. And without taking a cut in pay. Our guidance and support also covers setting up your own business or consultancy.

A Career in Banking/Finance?

Posted by Simon Broomer - 09 Jun 2010

Reading the national press, you might conclude that this is the worst possible time to be looking for a job in banking or finance.  The collapse of Lehman Brothers, two years of credit crunch, and a stream of pictures showing newly laid-off bankers leaving their office for the last time, cardboard box in hand, have all contributed to the impression that these are sectors in decline, with plenty of well-qualified people competing for a handful of jobs.

 

Well, think again. London is still the world’s top-ranked financial city (together with New York) and there is an enormous amount of economic activity going on.

 

There are thousands of banking and finance jobs out there, and even more non-financial positions available in financial institutions. Many of our clients have made the move into these areas successfully, even over the past year. However, you need to know where to look and what to look for.

 

The place to start on your career search is the banks’ own websites. Thanks to the internet revolution, banks rely less than they used to on recruitment agencies to attract personnel and are also reluctant to advertise on job websites because they do not want to be inundated with applicants; adverts on major job web sites or national newspapers are often a last resort.

 

That said, one need only glance at the major industry recruitment websites – such as  http://bankingjobsuk.co.uk to see just how many serious adverts they still carry and how vibrant the sector clearly still is. Look closely, and you will see a particular abundance of jobs available in retail banking, marketing, financial planning, project management and other such areas.

 

This is partly related to the economic upswing and greater sense of confidence recently felt in the City; the £11.5billion takeover of Cadbury’s by US food company Kraft, for example, generated hundreds of thousands of hours of work and other, albeit smaller, such deals take place all the time.

 

Another factor is the government’s hard push for greater regulation of the banking, investment and financial services industries and more anti-fraud controls. More staff are needed to monitor compliance.

 

So there are plenty of new career opportunities. And here at Career Balance, we have helped many clients worried about moving into the financial sector to find rewarding (in both senses) new jobs.

 

Our role is to help our clients realise their own potential by identifying their transferable strengths and figuring out how to apply them to a new role in a different sector. Very often, clients do not realise just how broad a range of skills and knowledge they have picked up in previous workplaces, and how widely these can be applied. Our work with our clients can open up a world of new opportunities.

 

We also encourage clients to open their minds to jobs they may never have previously considered, but could turn out to be highly suitable. For example, increasing numbers of jobs in banking and finance are fixed-term contracts. Many people are reluctant to even consider them, but they can be excellent for building experience and contacts, and often turn into permanent roles.

 

So if you’re unsure about a career in banking, now is a good time to reconsider.

CV advice for Mid-Life Career Changers

Posted by Simon Broomer - 09 Jun 2010

We frequently get asked for advice on CVs for people who have been in the work place for several years. We recommend a maximum of two to three pages in your CV. Say more about what you have achieved in the last 10 years of your career. Highlight the value of your significant experience and don’t draw too much attention to your longevity. Unfortunately age discrimination against older employees is still a problem in spite of legislation to outlaw it.

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Want to have your CV review for FREE by one of our Senior Career Specialist upload your CV here:
http://www.careerbalance.co.uk/professional-cv-writing.php

CVs and Interviews: Getting it Right

Posted by Simon Broomer - 09 Jun 2010

Having a presentable CV and preparing properly for an interview are a given. Often I see inadequate CV’s riddled with spelling errors and with the ‘tracked changes’ highlighted in red. Once you have carefully checked your CV, converting it to a PDF format which will avoid later errors slipping in, and will prevent someone seeing the track change comments.

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Personal statements at the start of the CV can be really effective if they are well written. Too often people use generic, clichéd adjectives such as “enthusiastic self starter”, “highly motivated”, and “excellent team player.” A good personal statement should be no longer than about two sentences and demonstrate your key strengths and sector experience. Think about what you would say about what you can do to someone you really wanted to work for and use that.

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You need to check your CV every time you send it out and make sure it’s relevant for the specific role you’re applying for. Getting someone else to review it is also a good idea. Send a hard copy and covering letter in the post, especially if you’re approaching a company speculatively. This can give it more prominence than an email.

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There is no excuse not to do your research if you’ve got an interview. See what other people have to say about the company: look at company reports, articles in the trade press, Google the interviewee and make sure you have as much information as possible.

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Always ask for a job description and person specification. Write down the questions you want to ask beforehand. Include some which show you have researched and understood their business. What sorts of development opportunities are there? What’s going on in the organisation? Show initiative. Have clear examples ready which show you’ve got what it takes to do the job. If you’ve never managed a large team at work but are football captain of your local team, then you can demonstrate your leadership skills that way. Make sure you know your key selling points and show enthusiasm.

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Finally, remember that an interview starts the moment you walk through the door. Good interpersonal skills, a strong handshake and good eye contact are just as important as what you say in the interview.

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Need help with your CV/ Cover letter? Uploaded your CV now in our Homepage (www.careerbalance.co.uk) for a FREE review by one of CareerBalance’s Senior Specialists.

Choosing an Outplacement Provider

Posted by Simon Broomer - 09 Jun 2010

Choosing an outplacement provider can seem like a daunting prospect – and often needs to be done in a hurry. You’ve got to find someone who can deal with all levels of people from junior executives to senior managers and someone with some knowledge of your business and sector. If you engage a provider right at the start of the consultation process you’re less likely to experience problems later on, and can get their guidance in handling sensitive issues and staff who react badly.

 

Unfortunately lots of companies don’t handle redundancies and downsizing very well and are poor in communicating with the people involved. Making someone redundant is not something that anyone enjoys doing. In these circumstances, having a neutral and experienced provider to offer a bit of guidance and support can be a big help. Lots of HR people are quite rightly terrified of being taken to an employment tribunal, and we understand that job cuts need to be carefully thought through.

 

Redundancies can affect existing staff just as much as those who are leaving. You’ve got to leave a good impression. Some people have worked for the business for many years and have been loyal and committed employees. Others may have been enticed away from other jobs and are now in a role that is now being made redundant. In these sorts of cases, it’s really important to handle employees with sensitivity and give them the right career guidance and job-hunting help to find another suitable role.

 

We have six main consultants with experience in a number of different industries, such as law, banking and publishing and we offer expertise in lots of different areas in the form of one to one counselling & coaching sessions or small group workshops.

Women Outnumbering Men in the Workplace

Posted by Simon Broomer - 08 Jun 2010

The Economist this week makes quite an issue of women outnumbering men in the workplace in the USA for the first time: “We did it!”. What is so remarkable about this? In many societies, including several in Asia, women have been the main breadwinners for hundreds of years.

 

I'm a Lawyer, Get Me out of Here!

Posted by Simon Broomer - 08 Jun 2010

 

Despite the recession it’s been a busy few months for most of us. The long hours haven’t gone away … they are just less profitable. And this means for many the pressures of work have increased … and job satisfaction is moving in the opposite direction. There is less time in the day to practise the law amongst all our other responsibilities, and clients expect more and more for less and less.

 

So when you do grab a moment to reflect on things in between the mince pies and relatives this festive season, will the prospect of returning to the office jungle in the New Year be an exciting one full of challenges to be overcome and prizes to be won? Or will it feel more akin to chewing through a meal of antipodean creepy crawlies?

 

Are you missing your colleagues and clients already? Or would you cheerfully send them all into a pit of snakes?

 

We work with many legal professionals who, given a brief respite to consider the future, draw the conclusion .. “I don’t know if I want to be a lawyer any more. If partnership is as good as it gets, get me out of here!”

The first problem many confront is that they often don’t have anyone to talk to about this – someone who really understands the issues and options open to you. Colleagues and HR directors in the firm present obvious issues in terms of confidentially and ongoing working relationships. Family members are supportive but, particularly if you have reached partnership or a senior role in your firm, can often offer limited practical advice. Recruitment consultants often want to put square pegs back into square holes.

 

One way to overcome that anxiety and be confident in regaining control of your career direction is to talk to a specialist career counsellor experienced in the law. Having worked with many professionals in this position, we can quickly pinpoint the issues which are causing you unhappiness or frustration and provide you with a plan for moving forward. Our starting point is to help clients understand:

  •  Your values – what is important to you in your career and outside work
  •  Your strengths – technical legal expertise and skills but also your management, commercial and leadership qualities and potential
  •  Your key achievements – personal as well as work-related and what these reveal about your strengths, motivators and personality
  •  Your career needs – what do you want most? What kind of environment do you prefer? And finally,
  •  What are your future goals?

It is important to remember that the grass is not always that much greener on the other side. Training often teaches legal professionals the value of caution, and this is a great asset when considering your future. The reality is that the law is a well paid profession in which you have invested a lot of time and effort. Do you really want to go down “a few rungs” in the seniority and rewards stakes to start again in a new field? Are you willing to give up aspects of your lifestyle you currently enjoy? Are you prepared to retrain and take further professional qualifications?

 

Because of this caution people often feel they have few options but return to camp in January and face the next round of bush tucker trials and avoiding being voted out. But it is important to be positive in your outlook … in reality there are many options open to you:

 

1)    A change of  jungle – Practising the law in a different environment
We do come across individuals who come to us seemingly at the end of their patience with the legal world, but who, after an initial discussion, clearly do want to stay in the law but simply need to move from their existing environment. In an industry which is so diverse in terms of the personality of different firms and the roles on offer, the key to a fulfilling career is often about knowing what kinds of people you want to work with and where you will thrive. The recession has created new demand in areas from debt restructuring to divorce. Regulation is increasing in financial services. Getting advice on what other markets may exist for your legal skills can be the first step to a successful change.

 

A wide range of options also exist to move to a different size or differently structured firm, or to find a fresh challenge through a move “in-house”, into the public sector, into advocacy or even to the bench. Within some of these fields the degree of change is also vast. Some in-house counsels spend around 95% of their time handling legal issues, others may have a more mixed role spending as little as 25% practising the law.

 

Alternatively you may want the freedom of starting up your own practice or reducing your hours. Technological advances mean that you can work more flexibly, including keeping your career going while bringing up a young family.

 

2)    Using your legal skills and knowledge to work in a related industry
Areas as diverse as banking, publishing and academia offer opportunities to benefit from the skills, experience and even contacts that you have built up, whilst achieving a significant change in career direction. We have successfully helped, for example, a Structured Finance Partner move to an in-house debt restructuring role with a major bank and similarly a Head of Litigation in a City law firm transition to Dean of a Law School.

 

To make this kind of a step strong interpersonal skills, experience of managing processes and people within organisations, and a demonstrable interest in the new field are musts. We spend a lot of time helping clients understand exactly what a move to a different but equally demanding role would be like, and whether they a suited to this.


3)    Get me out of here!

If you want to make a complete break the starting point is to build a real understanding of what you do want to do and then look at whether you have the skills needed, or the potential to develop it. Psychometrics are useful but more so is the evidence from your working and personal life to show you can achieve the new challenges. Most people we see can make a significant change in career direction. Its not so much about ability, its do I have the will to do this and to go through what it will take to move from where I am now to a fulfilling and remunerative job in another sphere. And when I get there will it be as intellectually stimulating as legal work?

If you are thinking twice about so radical a change what else can you do? It’s not uncommon to feel “trapped” by a difficult situation and not be able to see how to change it. Particularly if you are still developing your career, it is worth taking time to openly discuss your career issues and thoughts and decide your next steps. . We have helped clients find a more satisfying and meaningful role in their current firm or to buy the time to plan and make a move in a new direction. The sense of relief they have felt when they can see a way forward was palpable.

 

The pace of change in the legal sector shows every sign of continuing in the first six months of the New Year. Concerns over job losses and caution about moving will be common. However the demand for legal skills will still be there and our clients are getting interviews and moving into new roles.

 

And so if you really do feel that its time to walk out of the jungle and face Ant and / or Dec, have a think about what else you would like to do. Don’t be frightened to dream. We strongly advocate change in the right circumstance and can equip you with the passion and determination to become king or queen in a jungle of your choosing in 2010.


If you would like to arrange a consultation to discuss your options in 2010 please contact Simon Broomer LLB in confidence on 020 3051 1054. Simon is a qualified solicitor who now specialises in career counselling and career planning for lawyers
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City Job Vacancies - The True Picture

Posted by Simon Broomer - 08 Jun 2010

The Financial Times regularly features a survey of job vacancies produced by the recruitment consultants Morgan McInley. Their latest figures show that new vacancies in the City in September were 3,843, some 8% lower than the August figure of 4,158 vacancies. If you look at the way Morgan McInley reach these figures you will see that they extrapolate them from the vacancies they hold, based on the proportion of the City recruitment market they believe they have. At CareerBalance we contend that the real job market in the City is much more positive. Recruitment consultants only handle around 25% of the available jobs in the UK. This means that the true level of vacancies in the City right now is around 20,000 jobs. The hidden or unadvertised job market is alive and kicking.

 

Organisations our clients have joined:
  • HSBC
  • Virgin
  • easyJet.com
  • accenture
  • Herbert Smith