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It’s a new year, and many people are inspired to make a fresh start or shake things up a little. It’s also a time when we look at our careers and think about the changes we’d like to make and the milestones we want to achieve. You might be hoping to switch jobs, go for that promotion or pay rise, or even do a complete career 180.

I see this every year, and I’ve also noticed the one thing that holds people back from turning these grand ideas into a reality and moving forward in their career. And that’s confidence.

A lack of confidence in ourselves, our abilities and our work can prevent us from building the career we deserve!

It can stop us from asking for a raise, applying for that promotion or pursuing new and exciting career opportunities. Why? Because we don’t believe we can do it.

But here’s the thing: It’s up to you to create the career you want. It’s up to you to change your situation if you’re not entirely happy. No...

A big welcome to 2020! It’s not only a new year but a new decade — and no doubt you have some thoughts swirling around your mind about the future.

Here are my questions for you:

Do you want this to be the year that everything changes?

Do you want this to be the year where you start to progress towards the career of your dreams?

Do you want this to be the year where you hit those goals you can’t stop thinking about?

Do you want this to be your best year yet?

Of course you do! Who doesn’t?

If you’ve had the same goals and dreams in mind for a few years — but haven’t yet achieved them — you’re not alone.

Time is a funny thing. One minute it’s January, the next it's July, and then before you know it, it’s December and nothing has changed.

Guess what? It’s time to shake up the status quo.

There’s a way to get closer to achieving those ambitious, game-changing goals you set for yourself.

There’s a way to...

When I first started working all I wanted was to be successful.

The only problem was, I didn’t know what that looked or felt like.

Well, I knew what successful people looked like, but they tended to be movie stars.

They made success look bloody good.

I daydreamed glitzy images: smart suits for the guys, glamour and sophistication for the gals, trendy city offices, nice cars, fancy houses, always a good-looking other half, cocktails in chic bars.

That’s happiness, right?

Actually, I hadn’t thought much about how happiness figured in all of this.

In my mind, if I worked hard, there was no question that I’d be successful. I just needed to get a job, put my head down and get on with it. If I did well, I’d keep getting promoted and climb up the ladder till I’d made it.

And that’s where the glamour and sophistication would kick in and the handsome guy would appear at my side. Boom, I’d have nailed it!

Maybe I’d watched too many movies,...

I recently left my life as I knew it, to start afresh and follow my heart. I left my friends, my job, my apartment, sold all my furniture, my car, left the city I’d called home for six years and the country I’d called home for 12. Yes, it was bloody scary at times but also super exciting! Fast forward a few months and I’m now settling into my new life in Italy and working with people from all over the world via Skype. The miracles of 21st-century technology!

You see the time had come to practice what I preach, and take a leap into the unknown. Having hit the big FOUR ZERO not so long ago, I couldn’t get past the thought that I’ll be working for another 20 or 30 years. Could I really stay in my role and profession for that long? What did I want to be doing, where, with whom, and how?

In my role as a recruiter, I was lucky enough to coach a number of people who were at a crossroads in their life and career. They felt stuck and were looking for more...

I know, I know, you’ve heard all this talk about ‘the hidden job market’ but what exactly is it, and where is the wretched thing hiding?

In truth, there’s nothing particularly mysterious about the hidden job market. It’s nothing more or less than those unadvertised jobs that don’t appear on job boards. But did you know that recent studies show about 80% of jobs aren’t advertised! Now that’s a LOT of missed opportunities if you don’t know where to look.

There are a few different ways to tap into all that unexplored career gold, cut your competition and bypass the recruiters. The good news is it’s pretty easy to do. All it takes is a bit of time and effort.

Start by putting together a hit list of 10-20 companies you want to work for. Then:

• Work out why you want to work for them. You’ll need this straight in your head when you introduce yourself. Tip: a bit of flattery will get you everywhere.
• Follow them on...

I’ve used to do a lot of travelling recently, and when you’ve got 10 hours to kill at an airport, there’s only so much coffee and duty-free shopping you can stand!  What being in transit did give me was a LOT of time to think. While I was waiting – and waiting – it occurred to me that there are a lot of similarities between travelling and our careers. Well, as a professional career coach, it’s hard not to let my mind wander in that direction!

When travelling, you’re in transit from one place to another. You’ve planned your journey, bought your ticket, and packed your bags. You know when you’re boarding and where you’re going. You also know why you’re going there. And here’s the thing: I see people’s careers as a form of travel too. We want to go places. We want to enjoy the journey. But when it comes to mapping out a path that will take us there, so many people are just sitting in...