Dan Kiernan

Careers Coach Oxford, UK

I’m Dan (He/Him), a careers coach who is passionate about helping people make good career choices. I currently work for Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. Follow me on LinkedIn, Twitter and drop me some ideas/feedback via email.

Dan is a careers coach who is passionate about helping people make good career choices. He works for Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford. He wasn’t always a careers coach though: he spent 6 years in a Fintech Startup and 10 years working for an Investment Bank. He’s also ran a nightclub, worked as a librarian, laboured for a blacksmith, worked as a personal trainer and been a carpet fitter –  among other things. Having tried so many different paths, he’s perfectly placed to help others in their careers.

Latest Stories from Dan

Should I keep my side hustle a secret from management?

Should I keep my side hustle a secret from management?

‘Should I tell my manager about my creative side hustle, or will they assume I’m not focused on my main job?’ It’s a good question, and one that’s ever more relevant as folks take on side-hustles. I think there’s a three-step process to assessing if telling your line manager is a good idea or not. Common sense Firstly, apply a bit of common sense. Are you fishing for the same clients as...

By Oxford, UK
How to stay motivated and set professional goals for the year ahead?

How to stay motivated and set professional goals for the year ahead?

Staying motivated can be tough at work. When you’re in education there's regular feedback, fresh objectives, a higher purpose (your development) and an end in sight (graduation). You have a ready-made community (your friends) and people around you who really care about your success (teachers, lecturers, parents). All of this is motivating, and some workplaces and professions do a good job of replicating this, especially in the early years of your...

By Oxford, UK
Will AI change the value of human mentorship?

Will AI change the value of human mentorship?

As AI automates entry-level work, the way we learn on the job is shifting. Mentorship won't vanish, but its purpose is evolving into something far more human. I won't be out of a job, probably. AI won’t replace mentorship, but it will redefine it There’s a lot of talk about how AI will reshape entry-level work. But one thing feels clear to me: the more AI we use, the more human...

By Oxford, UK
Gen Zers must get AI literate for CVs and LinkedIn

Gen Zers must get AI literate for CVs and LinkedIn

How should Gen Z navigate the pressure to appear 'AI-literate' on CVs or LinkedIn when many still feel under trained or unsure where to start? The pressure to appear "AI-literate" on your CV and LinkedIn is real, but actually very few people are truly experts yet. The technology is so new that everyone, from seasoned professionals to recent grads, is still figuring it out. So don’t be scared to start! That...

By Oxford, UK
Do Gen Z employers need a management style refresh?

Do Gen Z employers need a management style refresh?

Employers will have no choice but to update management styles to help Gen Z reach their full potential. As my colleague Dr. Naeema Pasha points out in her work, Gen Z are used to instant communication. They’ve been given continuous feedback during their education, with regular testing, followed by rewards for passing. Their parents and teachers have been very involved in their lives, and decision-making is a shared-activity. And...

By Oxford, UK
How can Gen Z employees use AI without losing critical thinking skills?

How can Gen Z employees use AI without losing critical thinking skills?

How can Gen Z employees use AI to their advantage without losing or failing to develop critical thinking skills? This is a great question. I’ve seen first-hand how automation can boost efficiency - but also create skill gaps. Early in my career, my firm automated investment performance analysis, eliminating 80% of the manual work. But when complex issues arose, newer analysts like me - who had never done it manually -...

By Oxford, UK
Are Gen Z really unprepared for the workforce?

Are Gen Z really unprepared for the workforce?

Are Gen Z really as unprepared for the workforce as the media claims? If not, what can they do to prove they are not?  ‘Often characterized as being lazy, arrogant, unreliable, and cynical, Generation X is considered to be anything but team-oriented.’ 1999 ‘Millennials have been dubbed the most ‘impatient generation’ in the workplace, with over 90 percent wanting ‘rapid career progression.’ Almost 70 percent of employers believe that this level...

By Oxford, UK
Do employers use AI to scan applicant CVs now?

Do employers use AI to scan applicant CVs now?

Wondering whether employers use AI to scan our CVs these days? Our career coach has the answers you seek. Question: Do employers use AI to scan applicant CVs? Yes, some employers use AI to scan applicant CVs, and they have done for some time, usually in a very basic way: looking for keywords that match the job description. However, many employers don’t use AI to scan application CVs. These are smaller employers...

By Oxford, UK
Question – What other courses should I take to get into UI/UX?

Question – What other courses should I take to get into UI/UX?

Wondering what other qualifications could help boost your career prospects in UI and UX work? Our career coach offers up some tips to get you started. Question: Are there any courses or certificates I should be taking to help my path into UI/UX as a teenager? – Hima, Gurugram There are plenty of courses you can do to help you get into UI/UX. I’d suggest starting with courses that are...

By Oxford, UK