career choices

The Food Judge – Nicky Richmond #2

June 4, 2015 By // by DigitalJenIPC

This is part 2 of a 3 part guest blog by Nicky Richmond. Nicky combines being a joint managing partner for Brecher with being a restaurant critic, and is a property and property finance lawyer with over 25 years’ experience. She is The Food Judge and writes a regular column for The Lawyer magazine. As a Foodie myself as you can see from our food themed LLClub web site, I am inspired!

Here is part 1:
https://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/2015/05/16/an-edible-portfolio-career-1/

The rest of this blog are in Nicky’s own words.

When people ask you ‘what do you do?’ – what do you reply?

My day job is a lawyer but what I really love to do is to review restaurants.

To what extent did your portfolio career happen by chance/luck and to what extent was it planned?

My portfolio career was not planned at all and I fell into it and only realised how much it gave me once I have been doing it for quite some time. Doing the reviews didn’t feel like work and it was easy to combine it with my work life as whilst I will never willingly attend a sporting event, I will happily take a client to a food event and I have to do client entertaining as part of my business.

What do you most love about having a portfolio career?

Finally managing to incorporate my obsession with food into my day-to-day life other than just by way of eating it. Meeting a whole new group of people and getting to understand another industry, which has been fascinating. Feeling that I’m using all parts of my skill set and that there is still a lot to learn. Getting stale is so dull.

What are the challenges of having a portfolio career?

Realising that you can’t do everything that you want to do because there are not enough hours in the day. You have to really plan and be disciplined about the time you spend on each thing that you do and you have to be equally committed to the non-core aspects of your portfolio career.
The temptation with law is to let it take over – I certainly did for the first 25 years and I ended up being tired, and a little bit jaded. Doing the charity work is good for the soul however much of a cliché that might appear, and the upside is that you get to meet a whole new group of people from different walks of life. The sort of people who volunteer are the sort of people that I really like to spend time with.

Part 3 of this 3 part guest blog coming soon.

More about Nicky Richmond

Nicky Richmond, Joint Managing Partner, Brecher:
http://www.brecher.co.uk/people/nicky-richmond/

The Food Judge – never knowingly underfed.
http://thefoodjudge.com/

Blog – Not Entirely Legal
http://strictlylegal.me/author/nickyrichmond/

More about portfolio careers:

Could a portfolio career give you the variety you seek? Download our free report ‘Discover Portfolio Careers’ and find out:
http://www.llclub.org/discover-portfolio-careers/

Interested in finding out more about whether a portfolio career is to your taste? Come along to The Law Society Portfolio careers event on Friday 12 June. See link for more details:
https://events.lawsociety.org.uk/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabId=37&id=1077&orgId=1&guid=eb63cc9e-13ed-45c4-8b66-4b52db7a0c94

Career evolution or revolution?

March 15, 2015 By // by DigitalJenIPC

Work can start to get a bit repetitive after a while; a bit ‘same old same old’.

Some people find this comforting, others brain numbing. I am the latter. How about you?

Many many people have been sitting tight in the same job during the downturn years. Staying put for security. A wise strategy. Or is it?

If your career is starting to feel a little stale there are 5 strategies to explore:

• Portfolio career
• Job sculpting
• Sabbatical
• Attitude shift
• Secondment

An interesting book about the revolution of work shaped my thinking 4 years ago. It is by Lynda Gratton – ‘The Shift: the future of work is already here’.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Shift-Future-Work-Already/dp/0007427956

My decisions during the downturn years have been the opposite of most people. They have been shaped by Lynda Gratton’s predictions and other reading. 2020, about which the book focuses, is now just 5 years’ away and it really concerns me that most people don’t have a career strategy, they leave it to chance.

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” Abraham Lincoln and Peter Drucker. (both have been credited with this quote).

The rest of this blog gives an overview of portfolio careers, a major trend according to Lynda Gratton.

Portfolio careers have been growing for a while. Some people have them because they have to as a source of work is going out of fashion or cut-backs are being made, others because they want variety and stimulation. I am the latter – it fits my values.

What is a portfolio career?

A portfolio career is when your work is made up of different components which you flex, in response to changing market conditions and/or changes in your personal circumstances or life stage. This makes your career future-proof too.

Portfolio career components

The components of a portfolio career might be a part time job, volunteering, consultancy or freelance projects/contracts, travel, study or a non-exec directorship (s).

My portfolio career

My portfolio career is made up of career coaching, executive coaching, events, content creation, content curation, books, chapters and articles and consultancy work. It can be very full on but never a dull moment!

Employers and portfolio careers

Companies are starting to take note about portfolio careers for a number of reasons.
– Flexible resourcing – as needed
– Generation Y/Millennials demand flexibility
– Talent/skills shortage in business critical areas

I am writing an article on this topic next week and one recruitment agency I interviewed predicts that recruitment will not look the same in 4 years’ time. I agree. Why then are so many people carrying on as though nothing is changing?

Portfolio career example

Read about our client Jon’s portfolio career:
Part 1:

Portfolio careerist – Jonathan Green #1

Part 2:

Portfolio careerist – Jonathan Green #2

How do we help?

Here are 4 ways:

• We offer early bird and weekend Skype appointments.
• We help you create, edit, market and manage your portfolio career
• We define your personal brand
• We assist you in creating a career strategy

What next?

If you are interested in exploring a portfolio career, want to create or review your career strategy, or know someone we can help, get in touch.

Don’t wait until the General Election result in May 2015, start future proofing your career now. Get in touch.

Could a portfolio career make you dance?

May 25, 2014 By // by DigitalJenIPC

More and more people are doing a portfolio career. Could you be one of them?

This blog shares what a portfolio career is, the components and why they are growing.

What is a portfolio career?

A mixture of different strands

Doing more than one thing for work

A shifting blend of work components

Work that gives you options

A growing trend

Components of a portfolio career

“The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” Alan Kay

Part time job/jobs (employment)

Freelance/contract work (self-employment)

Non-Exec director

Volunteering

On-line business

Study

Travel

Career break/rest

Why are portfolio careers growing?

Changing world of work

Shortage of full time jobs

Growth in self-employment

Desire for choice

Gen Y/Millennials/Gen Edge different values

Desire for meaning and purpose

Shift to employees taking responsibility

Second career post redundancy

Less middle management jobs with automation

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”
Maria Robinson.

Next time, we will share the pros and cons and some examples.

Are you at a career crossroads?

Now is a great time to take action. Career coaching helps you focus, create change and achieve more faster. Starting now, 6 weeks on a fast track programme would enable you to move forward before the summer holidays. Get in touch for more details.

What’s your career strategy and plan? Part 5 of 5.

May 3, 2013 By // by DigitalJenIPC

This is the last in a series of 5 blogs about creating a career strategy and plan. In an uncertain world with static growth, you need to think more intelligently than others and be adaptable. Knowing where you are going helps you to get there, even when things change and you get busy.

Even just 20 mins in your diary once a week to focus on your career can move you forward to where you want to go.

12 tips and useful resources for your career strategy and plan
Here are some useful resources and tips to help you make it happen:

1. Get a career coach
2. Read autobiographies of people whose career inspires you, blogs and career self-help books
3. Look at Cedefop for future skill trends
4. Ask yourself self-reflective questions (self-coaching) to help you get clear e.g. “What would make me feel I had achieved career success?”
5. Be aware of long term work trends and how they impact on you e.g. read ‘The Shift – the future of work is already here’ by Lynda Gratton
6. Know why and how to market yourself e.g. read Reid Hoffman (founder of LinkedIn) ‘The start-up of you.‘
7. Block out time in your diary regularly to focus on creating your career vision and plan
8. Diarise quarterly career reviews
9. Set up a savings account to invest in your personal and professional development
10. Commit to taking responsibility for your own career, don’t rely on your employer to do this
11. Imagine being at the end of your life and look back – what do you want from your career?
12. Write your CV for 5 years time

What tips would you add?

The world of work is changing fast. Make sure that you have a career strategy and plan.

“If one does not know to which port is sailing, no wind is favourable.” Seneca.

In case you missed them, here are parts 1-4 in this series:

Part 1: Why don’t people have a career strategy and plan?
http://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/2013/04/07/whats-your-career-strategy-and-plan-part-1-of-5/

Part 2: Why it makes sense to have a career strategy and plan
http://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/2013/04/13/whats-your-career-strategy-part-2-of-5/

Part 3: How to create a career strategy and plan
http://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/2013/04/19/whats-your-career-strategy-and-plan-part-3-of-5/

Part 4: Opportunity cost of not having a career strategy and plan
http://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/2013/04/27/whats-your-career-strategy-and-plan-part-4-of-5/

To receive free Energise bulletins on Career strategies, smart living and working and self-promotion topics, visit this web page and opt in:
http://www.liberateyourtalent.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=106

For more useful tips & insights, follow us on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/talentliberator

What’s your career strategy and plan? Part 3 of 5.

April 19, 2013 By // by DigitalJenIPC

This blog shares some tips about how to create a career strategy and plan.

“Goals that are not written down are just wishes.” Anon.

How do you go about creating a career strategy and plan?

It is a mixture of internal and external exploration and thinking and includes:

Having a clear S.M.A.R.T. goal
Creating a timing plan
Breaking down long term outcomes into small shorter steps
Having self-awareness; your needs, wants, values, motivations, skills, qualities etc.
Diarising time to review and update it
Reviewing published data on skill shortages and job/career trends
Researching employer needs e.g. changing competencies
Looking at market, economic and industry changes and trends
Creating an image board – a pictorial representation of what you want from your career

What tips would you add?

In case you missed them, here are parts 1 and 2.

Part 2 looks at why it makes sense to have a career strategy and plan:

http://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/2013/04/13/whats-your-career-strategy-part-2-of-5/

Part 1 explores why people don’t have a career strategy and plan:

http://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/2013/04/07/whats-your-career-strategy-and-plan-part-1-of-5/

Part 4 of 5 will look at the opportunity cost of not having a career strategy and plan.

To receive free Energise bulletins on Career strategies, smart living and working and self-promotion topics, visit this web page and opt in: http://www.liberateyourtalent.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=106

For more useful tips & insights, follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/talentliberator

What’s your career strategy and plan? Part 2 of 5.

April 13, 2013 By // by DigitalJenIPC

This is part 2 in a 5 part series about career strategy and planning.

Part 1 explored why people don’t have a career strategy and plan. This blog looks at why it makes sense to create a career strategy and plan.

“Purpose serves as a principle around which to organise our lives.” Anon.

Why create a career strategy and plan?

Here are some reasons why creating a strategy and plan is a good idea.

Increases the chance of career fulfilment
Making conscious decisions rather than falling into jobs or leaving your career to chance is wise
What you focus on is what you get
Having a career plan helps you to narrow down information and networking options in a world of growing information overload/overwhelm
Trends show that in future, people will need a higher level of skill and qualification so it helps you plan the time and money to achieve this
Competition is increasing with well qualified cheaper hungry to learn talent from ‘people rich’ countries e.g. India, Brazil, China
More and more jobs are being replaced by technology
Layers of management have been stripped out making getting a job for middle and senior management more competitive; differentiation and self-marketing is essential
It provides a horizon towards which you are always moving, whatever life/work throws at you
Helps you say ‘no’ to things so you avoid wasting time/energy
Stops you going down the wrong path and having regrets
Means you are less likely to make a mistake
Gives you a sense of control and purpose in uncertain and unpredictable times
Prevents other people/external events determining what happens
Helps you evolve your career and be proactive rather than reactive
Ensures a good fit between you and your work

What would you add?

Further blogs in this five part series will examine how to create a career strategy and plan, the opportunity cost of not doing this and some tips to help you.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain.

For more insights and tips, follow us on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/talentliberator

In case you missed it, here is part 1 of this 5 part series:

http://liberateyourtalent.wordpress.com/2013/04/07/whats-your-career-strategy-and-plan-part-1-of-5/

What’s your career strategy and plan? Part 1 of 5

April 7, 2013 By // by DigitalJenIPC

A high proportion of people fall into their career by accident. A few, by chance, enjoy their work, but many don’t, which is a shame as it represents such a large proportion of our time and it has a big knock-on effect on other areas of our lives.

Having a career strategy and plan is like being in a boat where you can use a motor, oars, paddle or the sails, with a compass to steer you towards the horizon to the destination of your choosing, whatever the weather. It makes sense to think about your career strategies and have a plan A, B and C and to make time to think about your career choices.

“Your aspirations are your possibilities.“ Anon

This blog, part 1 of 5, explores how having a career strategy and plan gives your career choices and thinking about your career strategies is wise.

Why don’t people have a career strategy/plan?

Their parents were ‘hands off’ about their career
They received no/inadequate careers advice at school or college
They are too busy/don’t make time to reflect
They are unsure about how to go about it
They live ‘in the moment’/naturally think short term
They find it easier or comforting to focus on immediate priorities of life; eating, sleeping, shopping, doing their current job
There are more and more distractions that get in the way e.g. social media
They have never thought about how they can influence their future

“If you don’t know where you are going, you might not get there.” Yogi Berra.

Visit next week for the next part in this 5 part blog series.

To receive your free Energise bulletins on Career strategies, smart living and working and self-promotion topics, visit this page:

http://www.liberateyourtalent.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=79&Itemid=106

“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” Reggie Leach.

As clear as mud?

November 30, 2012 By // by DigitalJenIPC

My clients inspire me so much and a coaching session this week inspired me to write this blog, as this blog’s theme is a common one to arise.

A new career involves a lot of new and, for many, challenging aspects:

Learning the language of a new market
Having to market yourself
Creating a different network
Asking for help, advice and introductions

This can be overwhelming and daunting; you can only know what and who you know. So why are career choices so overwhelming?

Where to look?
Who to ask?
What to ask?
When and how to tackle?
How to find the time?
Which to choose?

When people feel overwhelmed and daunted, the easiest thing to do is nothing because of lack of time and avoiding stress.

So what is the best way to tackle finding out about potential careers which suit your experience and skills?

I remember in the early days of my business, over 14 years’ ago, I used to put ‘call contacts’ on my ‘to do’ list. However, I seemed to never get around to doing it.

I worked out that there were various reasons why I wasn’t phoning my contacts;

I would rather write an article or blog
I felt like I had too many so didn’t know where to start
I wasn’t clear about who to phone or why
I was worried about disturbing and annoying busy people at work
I like peace in my office so was projecting my preference onto them
I am better at phoning my contacts to help other people than for my own benefit

Having established this, I felt a bit clearer, but what next?

I spent some time focusing on what my objectives were i.e. my purpose for phoning my contacts:

To see how they were
To keep top of mind
To get an update on their needs
To arrange to meet
To share what I had been doing
To find out specific information e.g. when their financial year was, who was responsible for a specific area

Once I had broken down the task, it felt like the mud was starting to clear a bit.

For people who are considering a different career or to set up a business, getting really specific and explicit can reduce the overwhelm so the brakes are taken off taking action.

A list of questions are a good starting point and asking just one of each person can feel more comfortable:

Questions to start exploring with might be:

Who are the experts in this field?
What are relevant networks?
What web sites should I look at that have useful information?
What is their advice from their own experience?
Who do they know who they can introduce me to?

Analysing and breaking down what can feel like a huge undertaking into small, simple, clear bite size questions and tasks can make it feel do-able rather than impossible.

Getting some insights and information gives a sense of progress and reward and helps the mud start to clear as well as creating motivation and energy to take more action.

For more tips and useful information to help you liberate your talent, follow us on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/talentliberator

Career choices – what is a safe bet?

August 16, 2012 By // by DigitalJenIPC

‘A’ level results are out today. For young people and their parents, that is one milestone out of the way in an uncertain world. But when it comes to career choices, what is a safe bet these days?

Part of our job is to look at emerging careers, skills of the future, work trends and what employers need/want. If you are going to choose a career, or change career, you want to minimise the risk and make a considered choice, right?

So that means you need a clear strategy and plan rather than simply falling into it by chance.

Here are 8 sound career choices to consider:

Managing information: Content and information is growing exponentially and we need people and tools to manage it or our heads will explode from overload
Digital: We are in the digital age so a good bet as a career choice. It is definitely going to grow not shrink.
Health: We have an aging population and mental illness is on the increase, so lots of opportunities here.
Managing risk: Since some countries and companies have not done this enough, it will swing the other way and we will probably end up doing it too much.
Stress management: Stress is on the increase so any professions that help people to manage it are good options.
Time management: Jobs that help people to save time will grow e.g. a virtual PA for small businesses.
Customer service: Ultimately with the whole world able to compete in many markets, what make you better than your competitors are how you care for your customers.
Creativity & innovation: Humans have been around for a long time now and so it is harder to be original but we need smart creative innovative thinking to solve business and the world’s problems, so get your thinking caps on.

So 8 good options re safe bet career choices, whether you are embarking on your career or wanting a career change.

If one career route is not for you, then a portfolio career could be the answer – a career with many strands. Click on this link to read more:

http://jobs.telegraph.co.uk/article/3899124/what-is-portfolio-working-and-why-is-it-growing-/

What’s your competitive advantage?

August 3, 2012 By // by DigitalJenIPC

In times of high unemployment, frozen or restricted recruitment and a high degree of competition, you need to have a strong competitive advantage to be chosen.

Here are 14 tips to help you stand out from the masses and be chosen now and in the future:

1) Skill-up. Invest in your skills – take responsibility for developing yourself and keep your skills up to date. Skills have a shorter shelf life than in the past and you need more skills than before to be chosen.

2) Connect: Create, build and keep in touch with your network. Support them and they will support you.

3) Be visible. The world is increasingly going on-line. Social media is key for visibility – embrace it.

4) Unique brand. Be clear about what makes you unique; your life and work experiences, skills and qualities combined are a unique combination. Who are they useful for? Be targeted.

5) Be pragmatic. It is great to have an ideal, but have a plan A, B and C in challenging times.

6) Set goals. Have a clear SMART goal for where you want to be and break it into small steps for a busy world.

7) Be proactive. Make your success happen by asking for introductions, sharing ideas, developing thought leadership.

8) Be strategic in approach. Look at market trends, skill shortages, new careers to stay one step ahead. Have a vision and a plan to get there.

9) Review. Everything is changing fast, the whole world are now your competitors, technology is replacing many jobs. Keep up with the changes – don’t get left behind.

10) Be confident: in who you are and what you have to offer – this can make a huge difference to success.

11) Be creative. How can you overcome employer objections e.g. ‘not an exact fit’, ‘expensive vs. younger candidates’ and get experience of a new area without having a job?

12) Be smart. Get support. We would love to help,

13) Be targeted: Don’t scatter your efforts and dilute the potential results. Do your research and go for a ‘bull’s eye’.

14) Be responsible: Take responsibility for your career and development, don’t leave it to someone else.

Recommended reading: Lynda Gratton “The Shift” and Reid Hoffman (founder of LinkedIn) “The start up of you”.