Latest Stories from Dan
Question – How do I know which job title is best for me?
Wondering how to navigate the confusing world of job titles? Our career coach gives some quick advice to help you through it. Question: I find job titles confusing, how do I know what kind of roles I should apply for? Ginny, London I guess some job titles are helpful, in very structured careers. If you want to be an accountant, then job titles with the word ‘accountant’ in them are relevant. Or are...
Question – What should I expect from my first salary?
Heading into your first role? Our career coach looks at the various factors that can affect your salary and says it's best to research for your own needs. Question: What’s a normal salary to expect in your first role? Ginny, London Salaries vary wildly, so there is no generic answer to this question. Your task is to do some research to figure out what a normal salary would be for you. Average...
Question – What should I ask the interviewer?
Wondering what should you should say at the end of an interview? Our career coach gives some advice on what you can ask to stand out from the crowd. Question: What are some of the best questions to ask the interviewer in an interview? Anonymous It’s very common to be asked ‘Do you have any questions for us?” at the end of an interview. This is your chance to find out...
Question – Do you really need to go to university?
Considering going to university? Our career coach gives his insight into how your education can impact your job opportunities. Question: Do you have to go to university to get somewhere in life? Ella, East Grinstead The short answer is no. Lots of entrepreneurs and successful people in the arts, fashion and entertainment sectors didn’t go to university. The best people I have ever worked with didn’t go to university. And if you’ve...
Question – Should I prioritise personability over qualifications?
Wondering which qualities you need to focus on when looking for work, or just eager to make employment as smooth as possible? Our career coach gives some advice. Question: What’s more important, qualifications or being personable? Lucy, London What a great question. Do you need qualifications? Some jobs very explicitly require qualifications. Think of pilots, doctors, scientists, accountants, or lawyers. In these jobs, you can’t make up for a lack of qualifications with...
Question – How do I learn my strengths and weakness in a field?
Wondering how to determine which specific parts of an industry you’re best in? Our career coach gives some advice on how to work out where you fit in a workplace. Question: When you have little professional experience, how can you figure out what your strengths and weaknesses are in a particular sector? It’s a great question and a really important one for people who are just starting out. Here are some ideas. Figuring...
Question – Should I prioritise values over career advancement?
Our career coach gives some advice on whether you should prioritise company values or career prospects when choosing a place of work. Question: How important is it to work for a business that shares my values, vs. one that will advance my career? My take is that it’s more important to work for a business that shares your values, for three reasons: It’ll be hard to maintain your motivation working for...
Question – How should I approach an intimidating boss?
Are you struggling with a difficult or scary superior? Our career coach gives some advice on how best to tackle a potentially sticky situation. Question: When taking the first steps into a career after leaving university, how should I deal with an intimidating boss when I have little experience but am eager to learn? I’m going to start this answer by distinguishing between intimidating and bullying. Intimidating is definitely a suboptimal management...
Question – What’s the best way to quit a job smoothly?
Looking to leave your current employer but don’t want to kick up a fuss? Our career coach gives you some solid advice on what you should and shouldn’t do. Question: How should you handle the process of handing in your leaving notice to make the situation as comfortable as possible? Great question. Leaving a workplace can feel really weird! It’s usually a strange mixture of positive and negative emotions. Here’s a list...
Question – How many jobs will I have before I’m fulfilled?
Our career coach breaks down how to approach job fulfilment and gives some guidance as to what’s realistic and what you should expect. Question - How many businesses am I likely to work for before finding a company culture that I find fulfilling? How many? One answer is that you are likely to be doing a lot of job hopping anyway! According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, the median tenure...
