Vida Coaching

If you're job searching right now and it feels like everything has gone quiet please don't panic.

Every summer, recruitment slows down.

Hiring managers take annual leave, interview panels are harder to coordinate, and recruitment decisions often get delayed until key people return.

It doesn't necessarily mean employers have lost interest - sometimes the process is simply on pause.

That can be frustrating when you're waiting to hear back, but it's important not to mistake a seasonal slowdown for a lack of opportunities.

Instead of feeling like you're standing still, use this time to strengthen your position.

* Refresh your CV and LinkedIn profile.
* Tailor every application rather than sending the same CV everywhere.
* Continue networking - many conversations happen even when recruitment is quieter.
* Research companies you'd love to work for so you're ready when vacancies pick up.
* Prepare for interviews by practising examples of your achievements and the value you bring.

Most importantly, don't stop applying altogether.

Many organisations continue recruiting throughout the summer, and those job seekers who keep going often face less competition as some people decide to wait until September.

Recruitment activity usually gathers pace again as holidays come to an end, so the work you put in now can put you ahead of the curve.

If you're waiting for feedback after an interview, remember that delays are often caused by diaries rather than decisions.

Stay patient, stay consistent and keep moving forward. Your next opportunity could be just around the corner.

If you're looking for a job and want CV, LinkedIn or interview support to get ahead of the curve then please get in touch.

One of my favourite moments from my recent holiday in Croatia was standing in Krka National Park, surrounded by waterfalls, nature and complete stillness.

For a little while, life slowed down. There were no emails to answer, no deadlines to meet, no constant notifications. Just time to think.

As I walked through the park, I found myself reflecting on how important it is to create a life you don't constantly need to escape from.

As a career coach, I speak to so many people who spend months looking forward to their annual holiday, only to return with a sinking feeling in their stomach the night before work starts again.

If that's you, the holiday probably isn't the problem. Your job might be.

Of course, every job has challenging days, and no career is perfect. But if you're regularly feeling drained, undervalued or simply going through the motions, it's worth asking yourself why.

Your career takes up such a large part of your life. It should challenge you, reward you and give you a sense of purpose - not just fund your next escape.

So, if you're back from your summer holiday and already counting down to the next one, perhaps this is the perfect time to start thinking about what you really want from your career.

Have you ever come back from a holiday with a completely different perspective on your work or life?

I’ve been having a lot of conversations lately with people who say they feel stuck.

Not unhappy enough to make a dramatic change, but not fulfilled enough to feel settled either.

It’s that uncomfortable middle ground of “something needs to change… I just don’t know what.”

And honestly? I’ve been there too. I know how frustrating it is to keep going round in circles in your own head, trying to figure it out.

That’s what led me to create my Dream Job Starter Pack.

This isn't another overwhelming guide or list of “top careers” you should consider. Instead I've created a simple, thoughtful starting point to help you:

- Get clear on what actually matters to you
- Recognise the strengths you might be overlooking, and then
- Start joining the dots towards a direction that feels right

Because clarity doesn’t come from overthinking, it comes from asking yourself the right questions.

If you’re in that “in-between” place right now, this is for you.

For your free copy, click on the link below to access your Dream Job Starter Pack now:

https://mailchi.mp/0a819fead360/dream-job-starter-pack

And if you want help turning your insights from this starter pack into clear, practical next steps then please get in touch.

Last Sunday marked ten years since I officially started my own coaching business.

To celebrate, my husband surprised me with a ten-year service award (bless him), and we went out for Sunday lunch because I don’t have any work colleagues to celebrate with!

This is the longest I’ve stayed in any role by quite some distance. Before this, my record was two and a half years.

The difference now is that I’ve finally found work that truly fulfils me, and I have the freedom to design my days in a way that supports my life.

Being my own boss suits me as I’ve never been any good at being told what to do 😉 and running my own business gives me the autonomy I never realised I needed.

It also allows me to work flexibly around my daughter, my dog and a few health challenges, creating a great work-life balance - most of the time!

Most importantly, I’m still as passionate as ever about the impact coaching can have. It’s such a privilege to be able to support people as they navigate change and create the lives and careers they want.

I’ve been reflecting recently on the past decade, and thought I’d share three lessons that stood out to me:

1. Stay connected to your ‘why’.
Remember the reason you set up your business in the first place. It’s easy to get caught up in noise and lose sight of what matters to you.

2. Avoid comparing yourself to others.
Every business owner has different values, motivations and personal circumstances. What you see online is rarely the full picture. Focus on your own path.

3. Expect change and diversify where you can.
Over the past ten years we’ve seen Brexit, a global pandemic and ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Relying too heavily on one client or income stream can leave you vulnerable when the world shifts around you.

How about you? What lessons have you learned as a business owner?

If you're hoping to change career or secure a new job, a career coach can offer you support, guidance and add real value.

There are lots of great career coaches out there to choose between - shock, horror I'm not the only one😉- which is actually very good news, as different people want different things from a coach.

For example, some people want encouragement whilst others like to be challenged. That's why many coaches offer a short discovery/chemistry call to make sure there's a good fit between the potential client and coach and that expectations are managed (sadly I don't have a magic wand, even if I use it as an analogy at times!)

I've been in business almost 10 years and my coaching style has always been professional, approachable and supportive. Those are the 3 words I try to embody, as well as going the extra mile and being my client's biggest cheer leader!

A recent testimonial from Andrew gives a bit more detail about what you can expect when working with me (for the full testimonial please see the recommendations on my LinkedIn profile).

So if you need support with your career and my coaching style sounds like a good fit for you, why not get in touch to arrange a discovery call?

I was watching BBC Breakfast this morning and they were talking about job scams which immediately piqued my interest.

Apparently Action Fraud in the UK has received almost 5000 reports of fake job scams over the past 12 months, double what it received the year before. Job seekers are often targeted on social media or through messaging apps.

People who fall victim to this type of fraud lose an average of £4,500 each according to Jobs Aware. They are tricked into parting with cash by being told it's for training or rewards.

So, what can people do to avoid being taken in by these scams? BBC Breakfast's Ben Boulos gives the following advice:

- If you're made to feel under pressure it's usually a warning sign
- A job that offers a lot of money for little work is often too good to be true
- If the employer asks you for money it's likely to be a scam

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0lspbpb

Have you ever been approached about a job that you've later found out is a scam?

What are 'fake job scams' and how can you avoid them? - BBC Sounds BBC Breakfast's Ben Boulos takes us through examples, and how to protect yourself.

How do you feel when you return to work after a holiday?

I'm just back from a fantastic week in Crete and, I'm not going to lie, getting to bed at 3.30am on Monday morning after a delayed flight, unpacking, washing and trying to catch up on emails has not been fun!

However, it's been a pleasure getting back to what I do best - talking to my clients and supporting them with their career challenges.

I'm lucky, I enjoy my job - do you?

If you've got back from holiday with a feeling of dread about returning to work then why not give me a call and find out how I can help you find a job you love!

In a few hours I'll be off to my daughter's speech afternoon and then she finishes school...for 9.5 weeks.

It's a very long time but thankfully Evie's now 14 and is far more independent and easier to keep entertained!

I remember all too well how challenging the juggle of work and childcare was during the holidays when she was younger though.

And I still get the occasional pang of mum guilt - especially towards the end of the holidays, when it feels like Evie's spending too much time in her bedroom and we both need some structure back in our lives!

So today, it felt fitting to share a blog about ditching the mum guilt during the summer holidays (with some survival strategies in there too) as a reminder to all the parents out there, including myself, that we're doing our best and that's ok.

https://vidacoaching.co.uk/ditch-the-mum-guilt-its-time-to-show-the-school-summer-holidays-whos-boss/

Wishing you all the best of luck and please share any other tips you may have - I'm sure they'll be a lot of grateful parents out there!

Vida Coaching - Career Coaching in Maidenhead, Berkshire - Ditch the mum guilt – it’s time to show the school summer holidays who’s boss! Ditch the mum guilt! In this blog, I've put together 10 top tips to help you show the school summer holidays who's boss!

Today I wanted to share a testimonial from a former client, Ana.

Ana had a challenging job search. The market has been tough for people trying to find jobs within the tech industry and particularly to find marketing roles within that sector.

However, Ana was a model 'student'. She treated the job search like a full time job, implemented all the strategies we discussed and had incredible resilience despite numerous disappointments.

The result? She landed the 'dream job.'

The best things in life don't always come easily but if you persevere you will get there.

Ana was a pleasure to work with and I think I was almost as happy as she was when the offer came through😊

Ana mentioned that I made her feel 'understood and empowered' during her job search and provided 'unwavering support'.

If that sounds like something you need to help you land your dream job why not get in touch?!