“Don't tell me where your priorities are. Show me where you spend your money and I'll tell you what they are.” James Frick
Often one of the first thoughts that enters our head when we are told our job may be at risk of redundancy is how am I going to manage financially?
A lot of people lose a lot of sleep worrying about their financial situation…how will the mortgage be paid, bread put on the table and the kids clothed.
Lots of my clients voice these thought to me, yet when I enquire if they have done any sums or calculations around their finances, about 99% of people give me a reply of “no”.
So if you think you may be made redundant in 2011, taking a couple of hours to work this out can save you a lot of heartache and worry.
The first step is to sit down when you know you won’t be disturbed and go through and list out all your outgoings, these will be regular bills, payments, things that go out of your bank account each and every month.
Next look at what goes out less frequently, this might be school trips, car tax etc.
Once you have a good idea of what is leaving, move on to what is coming in. This calculator will help you estimate what you might be entitled to should you be made redundant.
Redundancy Pay Calculator:-
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/interactive/2009/mar/30/redundancy-payment-calculator
Then move onto you savings and any other income you have and calculate these.
Actually seeing the figures in black and white means you know in reality what you are dealing with, and so you can start to plan accordingly.
Lots of my clients have told me that when they were made redundant they really reviewed their list of outgoings, many say how amazed they are at how much they have managed to save, from using shopping vouchers, to negotiating a better contract rate on their Sky TV. All of which mean their redundancy payment money lasts longer.
If you are really serious about cutting your outgoings, Martin Lewis has an excellent website giving your vast amounts of information on doing just that.
www.moneysavingexpert.com
Whether you think you may be made redundant or not, getting a pension forecast, might help with your long term financial planning. It’s easy to do and more information can be found here on the DWP website.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Pensionsandretirementplanning/StatePension/StatePensionforecast/DG_10014008
Happy calculating!
Belinda Coaten...Passionate about supporting you to move on or move up in your career.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Your nearest and dearest....are they best qualified to help in your search for a new job?
My friend Lisa lives in Australia, she emailed me last week to let me know that she is in a play, and has the lead role…she is playing Mildred, of George and Mildred from the TV series. Whilst she is delighted that she has landed this, she is also a little perturbed that her fellow actors think she is old enough to play the part!
If you are a child of the 60’s, as I am (and Lisa), you will remember the show. Mildred was the dominant partner in the marriage…and despite their ups and downs and comedy roundabouts, as a couple they were together.
In life we hit ups and downs and none more of a down than a partner losing a job. When my husband was made redundant after 30 years as an engineer, it was far more of a blow to me than it ever was to him. At the time I tried to advise and counsel him what to do, (after all I was qualified to do this, wasn’t I), yet he flatly refused to listen to my thoughts, ideas, networking activity leads for him and went his own merry way!
In the last few months I have met 2 clients whose job search activity has not been helped by their partners. You see, they and I, are just too close to be impartial to the thoughts, suggestions and ideas that they willingly offer. I’m sure their partners (and my) intentions were 100% well meant and appropriate, (or so we thought).
So if you are job searching and have a partner who is leading and pointing the way to you, what can you do? My suggestion is to find either a career coach or someone who has worked with you closely in the past, most importantly someone who you trust, and who will give you a balanced perspective and feedback on what to do next and how to deal with job loss.
Schedule some time to meet up with them, talk, let them listen and most importantly ask them for some feedback on where you are at the moment.
Then sit back, reflect and listen carefully to your inner voice, what is it saying? What is it telling you right now? Then tap into what your partner, career coach or friend are saying. If you step out of yourself and look at the situation objectively, what advice would you give yourself?
Good luck with your next steps into the future!
If you are a child of the 60’s, as I am (and Lisa), you will remember the show. Mildred was the dominant partner in the marriage…and despite their ups and downs and comedy roundabouts, as a couple they were together.
In life we hit ups and downs and none more of a down than a partner losing a job. When my husband was made redundant after 30 years as an engineer, it was far more of a blow to me than it ever was to him. At the time I tried to advise and counsel him what to do, (after all I was qualified to do this, wasn’t I), yet he flatly refused to listen to my thoughts, ideas, networking activity leads for him and went his own merry way!
In the last few months I have met 2 clients whose job search activity has not been helped by their partners. You see, they and I, are just too close to be impartial to the thoughts, suggestions and ideas that they willingly offer. I’m sure their partners (and my) intentions were 100% well meant and appropriate, (or so we thought).
So if you are job searching and have a partner who is leading and pointing the way to you, what can you do? My suggestion is to find either a career coach or someone who has worked with you closely in the past, most importantly someone who you trust, and who will give you a balanced perspective and feedback on what to do next and how to deal with job loss.
Schedule some time to meet up with them, talk, let them listen and most importantly ask them for some feedback on where you are at the moment.
Then sit back, reflect and listen carefully to your inner voice, what is it saying? What is it telling you right now? Then tap into what your partner, career coach or friend are saying. If you step out of yourself and look at the situation objectively, what advice would you give yourself?
Good luck with your next steps into the future!
Monday, January 17, 2011
This job has got my name on it...
If you are currently looking for your next job it doesn’t take me to tell you that it is a roller coaster of up’s, down’s and hairpin bends…a bit like being on one of the huge rides at Alton Towers really.
When you are on that roller coaster, your stomach otherwise known as your gut, goes up and down, round and round, it also gives you messages that you can just feel, almost touch, and smell that next job. You may be surfing on the net, or an agency contacts you with the details of a job and before you can say, “get me off this rollercoaster, I’m going to be sick”, something deep down inside of you knows that this job has your name on it.
Currently recruitment processes are long and often time consuming, with an average of two possibly three interviews before you hear the outcome. Because every cell in your body is telling you this is it, you focus not just 100% effort and attention on this job, you focus 200%, and as a result, you just have no time, or energy, or inclination, to focus on anything else in your search.
It’s a symptom I have seen quite a lot, and I have suffered from it myself. Years ago I saw an advert for a job, as I read further and further my heart quickened pace until it was running at full pelt towards the final of the London Marathon. So I have named this condition “Blind Alley”, as more times than not this is where it takes you…being blind. You are blind to anything else that comes up, pops up, or crosses your path, because in your heart of hearts you believe that this is it, this is the one, and this is the chosen path of where you are going and where you belong in your next role.
Last month I worked with a client who had this same feeling about a role, thankfully his gut proved to be accurate, and he escaped Blind Alley, but for every client who lands success, there are at least 10 more who don’t get that job offer.
A client I met last week, when we looked back on his last four months of job search, was quick to point out and very self aware to recognise that he had lost over 8 weeks in his search plans, to a role that fizzled out to nothing, but at the time, he truly believed, (and I think the recruiters did too as they kept giving him more than positive feedback at each stage of the process) that it was his, it was in the bag.
So even more the crushing blow or downfall when the news comes through that on this occasion you have not been successful. You are an incredibly close number two…you are just piped at the post by someone who has 0.01% more of a match to what they are looking for than you do. Or there has been a reorganisation of the department, a budget cut and this role is no longer there.
So, what can you do? We all need positives, especially when we are job searching. Whilst most of my work is spent supporting clients to switch from negative to positive, to move from past to present, and forward into the future. I urge you if you think this job is in the bag, has your name on it, DO NOT stop all of your other activity. If it does come to fruition, great, in fact alleluia, but just in case, resist the huge temptation to pin all your hopes on one job. Instead keep working your job search in some way each and every week day.
Wishing you every success in your search for your next job.
When you are on that roller coaster, your stomach otherwise known as your gut, goes up and down, round and round, it also gives you messages that you can just feel, almost touch, and smell that next job. You may be surfing on the net, or an agency contacts you with the details of a job and before you can say, “get me off this rollercoaster, I’m going to be sick”, something deep down inside of you knows that this job has your name on it.
Currently recruitment processes are long and often time consuming, with an average of two possibly three interviews before you hear the outcome. Because every cell in your body is telling you this is it, you focus not just 100% effort and attention on this job, you focus 200%, and as a result, you just have no time, or energy, or inclination, to focus on anything else in your search.
It’s a symptom I have seen quite a lot, and I have suffered from it myself. Years ago I saw an advert for a job, as I read further and further my heart quickened pace until it was running at full pelt towards the final of the London Marathon. So I have named this condition “Blind Alley”, as more times than not this is where it takes you…being blind. You are blind to anything else that comes up, pops up, or crosses your path, because in your heart of hearts you believe that this is it, this is the one, and this is the chosen path of where you are going and where you belong in your next role.
Last month I worked with a client who had this same feeling about a role, thankfully his gut proved to be accurate, and he escaped Blind Alley, but for every client who lands success, there are at least 10 more who don’t get that job offer.
A client I met last week, when we looked back on his last four months of job search, was quick to point out and very self aware to recognise that he had lost over 8 weeks in his search plans, to a role that fizzled out to nothing, but at the time, he truly believed, (and I think the recruiters did too as they kept giving him more than positive feedback at each stage of the process) that it was his, it was in the bag.
So even more the crushing blow or downfall when the news comes through that on this occasion you have not been successful. You are an incredibly close number two…you are just piped at the post by someone who has 0.01% more of a match to what they are looking for than you do. Or there has been a reorganisation of the department, a budget cut and this role is no longer there.
So, what can you do? We all need positives, especially when we are job searching. Whilst most of my work is spent supporting clients to switch from negative to positive, to move from past to present, and forward into the future. I urge you if you think this job is in the bag, has your name on it, DO NOT stop all of your other activity. If it does come to fruition, great, in fact alleluia, but just in case, resist the huge temptation to pin all your hopes on one job. Instead keep working your job search in some way each and every week day.
Wishing you every success in your search for your next job.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
“So….have you any questions for us”? Asked the interviewer.
What questions can you, and should you ask when at an interview?
“Don’t clamour for an interview. Instead search for the INNER VIEW”
Sri Sathya Sai Baba (Indian Spiritual Leader, b 1926)
I was delighted to perform a hat trick at the Back to Business Club in Peterborough last week. They invited me back for a third time to present a seminar to local executives currently looking for their next job, the topic was interview techniques.
One of the areas I was asked for my opinion on was what questions should you ask at the close of the interview…when the interviewer smiles, leans forward and asks, “so, is there anything you would like to ask us?”
Whilst this is still clearly part of the interview process and therefore an opportunity to try and impress the interviewer with your skills, talents, motivation and personality, it’s often tricky to think what to ask.
Here are my thoughts and general comments that I shared with the group last week on how to handle this part of the selection process:-
Tactic: Think about your questions in advance, write them down and take them with you.
Reasons – make life easy for yourself, (as you can’t possibly remember them all). Also, if you get a good interviewer they should have answered pretty much everything that you wanted to know, however, you want to demonstrate that you have been proactive and thought about this, so you can run through you list and say thank you for answering them.
Tactic: Do your research into the organisation, obviously the internet makes this easy, but don’t forget using your network of people, LinkedIn etc to really get to the bottom of who they are, what their current challenges are in the market, what strengths they have, and where they are going in the future.
Reason – people often don’t close the interview well as they ask questions that they really should have know the answers to, if they had bothered to do the research, and taken the time in advance to find out.
Tactic - Draft questions for the interviewer that will help you decide if you are going to take the job if you are offered it.
Reason – in my opinion this is by far the main reason for asking any questions of the interviewer. You have a really big decision to make here, is this job right for you, will you be happy etc, etc. You can never ever be 100% confident that you are making the right decision. However, by asking some probing, honest questions it can help you decide, rather than holding them and regretting, when after a month in the role, you really come to conclusion that you hate it, and would have been better off unemployed or still in your last role.
Wishing you good luck with your interview and questions at the end!
“Don’t clamour for an interview. Instead search for the INNER VIEW”
Sri Sathya Sai Baba (Indian Spiritual Leader, b 1926)
I was delighted to perform a hat trick at the Back to Business Club in Peterborough last week. They invited me back for a third time to present a seminar to local executives currently looking for their next job, the topic was interview techniques.
One of the areas I was asked for my opinion on was what questions should you ask at the close of the interview…when the interviewer smiles, leans forward and asks, “so, is there anything you would like to ask us?”
Whilst this is still clearly part of the interview process and therefore an opportunity to try and impress the interviewer with your skills, talents, motivation and personality, it’s often tricky to think what to ask.
Here are my thoughts and general comments that I shared with the group last week on how to handle this part of the selection process:-
Tactic: Think about your questions in advance, write them down and take them with you.
Reasons – make life easy for yourself, (as you can’t possibly remember them all). Also, if you get a good interviewer they should have answered pretty much everything that you wanted to know, however, you want to demonstrate that you have been proactive and thought about this, so you can run through you list and say thank you for answering them.
Tactic: Do your research into the organisation, obviously the internet makes this easy, but don’t forget using your network of people, LinkedIn etc to really get to the bottom of who they are, what their current challenges are in the market, what strengths they have, and where they are going in the future.
Reason – people often don’t close the interview well as they ask questions that they really should have know the answers to, if they had bothered to do the research, and taken the time in advance to find out.
Tactic - Draft questions for the interviewer that will help you decide if you are going to take the job if you are offered it.
Reason – in my opinion this is by far the main reason for asking any questions of the interviewer. You have a really big decision to make here, is this job right for you, will you be happy etc, etc. You can never ever be 100% confident that you are making the right decision. However, by asking some probing, honest questions it can help you decide, rather than holding them and regretting, when after a month in the role, you really come to conclusion that you hate it, and would have been better off unemployed or still in your last role.
Wishing you good luck with your interview and questions at the end!
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
Do you believe in new year resolutions?
Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforces humility. Breaking them is part of the cycle. Eric Zorn.
Today is the 5th of January and if you open a newspaper, magazine, or look at a blog the chances are that you will read about the new year and how we should make resolutions.
My personal opinion is that resolutions are a load of hog wash, a waste of time, and a self fulfilling prophecy of doom. Once upon a time I used to regularly set them, in fact I used to ponder for most of December as to what they might be, and on some years when I was feeling very motivated I even wrote them down at the beginning of my diary. I then used to feel the guilt start to rise and creep up like rising damp over me by about the 4th week in January when I hadn’t achieved them or completed anything that might mute towards getting to them.
So for me personally, I don’t do it. Whilst I know a lot of people who love setting them, and if that works for them that is great.
An idea that I have pinched from a good friend of mine is to write a list of intentions, using the simple word of “intentions” means that I’m not bound come hell or high water to make them happen. I also have my intentions as an ongoing list that I add to when I feel like it. What also works for me is to have a reflection page in my diary, so each month instead of looking ahead and forward planning, I spend some time looking back, and jot down what have I achieved, what worked and what didn’t work.
My friend has also highlighted to me that some balance is also important in the list, so not just work related things and not necessarily things that are going to cost lots of money, simple things that you would really like to do. Some of the things on my intentions list at the moment is a visit to the gardens at Burghley House, learn how to turn under water at the end of the pool properly, go to Rigby and Pellar, and there are many more. My friend has 315 things on her list, she is 50 and has calculated that the average female age of death is 83, which means she needs to get her skates on if she is going to get to them all and that’s before she adds any more!
If you liked the quote at the top of the blog here are more.
http://quotations.about.com/od/specialdays/a/newyear3.htm
Wishing you a very happy and healthy new year, and may all your resolutions or intentions come true!
Today is the 5th of January and if you open a newspaper, magazine, or look at a blog the chances are that you will read about the new year and how we should make resolutions.
My personal opinion is that resolutions are a load of hog wash, a waste of time, and a self fulfilling prophecy of doom. Once upon a time I used to regularly set them, in fact I used to ponder for most of December as to what they might be, and on some years when I was feeling very motivated I even wrote them down at the beginning of my diary. I then used to feel the guilt start to rise and creep up like rising damp over me by about the 4th week in January when I hadn’t achieved them or completed anything that might mute towards getting to them.
So for me personally, I don’t do it. Whilst I know a lot of people who love setting them, and if that works for them that is great.
An idea that I have pinched from a good friend of mine is to write a list of intentions, using the simple word of “intentions” means that I’m not bound come hell or high water to make them happen. I also have my intentions as an ongoing list that I add to when I feel like it. What also works for me is to have a reflection page in my diary, so each month instead of looking ahead and forward planning, I spend some time looking back, and jot down what have I achieved, what worked and what didn’t work.
My friend has also highlighted to me that some balance is also important in the list, so not just work related things and not necessarily things that are going to cost lots of money, simple things that you would really like to do. Some of the things on my intentions list at the moment is a visit to the gardens at Burghley House, learn how to turn under water at the end of the pool properly, go to Rigby and Pellar, and there are many more. My friend has 315 things on her list, she is 50 and has calculated that the average female age of death is 83, which means she needs to get her skates on if she is going to get to them all and that’s before she adds any more!
If you liked the quote at the top of the blog here are more.
http://quotations.about.com/od/specialdays/a/newyear3.htm
Wishing you a very happy and healthy new year, and may all your resolutions or intentions come true!
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