Jobs & employment blogs

We’ve all had it, that awful sinking feeling you get when you’ve just realised you’ve made a mistake. Unfortunately, there is no avoiding it, we are all human, and mistakes are an inevitable part of our daily working lives. What really matters is how we take ownership for these mistakes, how we present a viable solution for them, and then bounce back. So, if you’ve recently made a mistake...

From succeeding in your current role to finding a new job, we always face challenges and obstacles in the world of work. Frustration, anxiety, and feelings of powerlessness can leave many other struggling to perform at our best. Today, I’m joined by Doug Strycharczyk and Dr Peter Clough, whose work in psychology led them to co-author the book ‘Developing Mental Toughness:...

  So, you’ve been invited to interview for your dream job, and you’re starting your all-important preparation. As part of that preparation, you’ve thought about the most likely things you could be asked, such as “why do you want to work here?” or “what first attracted you to this role?” and you have diligently prepared your answers. But, are you prepared to answer those trickier...

  I first left my homeland of England in search of personal and professional development in 1998 to venture to the other side of the world and settle in New Zealand. I spent the next 12 years working in New Zealand and Australia before being asked to depart the relatively familiar and comfortable antipodes to lead and grow the Hays business in Hong Kong. Adapting to a whole new...

  Are you considering a new job? If so, what are you hoping a new role with a different employer will offer you? A more attractive salary and benefits package? Improved career progression? Challenging and exciting work? Better work-life balance? These are all obvious and reasonable criteria of course – but have you considered the importance of working for an employer who places...

  There are many reasons why you may have gaps on your CV. You might have spent your time away from the workplace to look after children, you may have been studying, travelling, caring for a relative or looking for a job. Career gaps can also be caused, of course, by redundancy.   Most people have some sort of gap in their career history, and, as our CEO Alistair Cox explained...

  For Generation Z, those who are beginning their career journeys are facing difficult challenges as they try to navigate the current uncertain climate. As a result, approximately one in four ‘Gen Z’ employees have sought support with their mental health since the pandemic began. So today, in support of World Mental Health Day, we are joined by Leadership...

  To succeed at work, the ability to deliver strong presentations will always be important. Whether you’re a novice, or a seasoned public speaker, it’s always a good idea to brush up on our presenting skills. That’s why today I’m lucky to be joined by Jay Surti, keynote speaker and author of several books including Ultimate Presentations: Master the Art of Giving Fantastic...

It’s a new year and many of us are feeling a lot more settled than we were 12 months ago in the world of work. As was the case in 2020, last year’s events meant we had to constantly revise the plans and ambitions we had set out in January. In Britain, the Cambridge Dictionary has announced that ‘perseverance’ is its Word of the Year for 2021. Defined as ‘continued effort to do or achieve...

What do you want from your next job? More flexibility, perhaps? To immerse yourself in a new and improved company culture? And probably a little more in the bank each month, right? These are the sort of rewards we all tend to look for when we decide to switch jobs, but naturally, money in particular is a key motivator for many. You may also, however, be a little anxious about discussing...

  The global COVID-19 crisis has completely changed our lives, impacting our daily routines, the way in which we connect with people, our livelihoods and much more, which can lead to feelings of insecurity and uncertainty. As restrictions have been relaxed in several countries, business professionals may have been required to return to the workplace or are expected to in the near...

  When a friend of mine told me she was changing jobs recently I congratulated her and asked what she was going to do. “I’m going to work at (insert name of technological mega-brand here),” she answered enthusiastically. I was polite enough not to remind her that she wasn’t answering the question I’d asked, but that seemed irrelevant to her in any case. Her new job title could have...

  During my career I’ve seen many candidates struggle with a common interview question when they shouldn’t. It’s a line of conversation that provides them with a great opportunity to impress the person leading the interview. Instead, I’ve often found that they mistakenly believe that the reply is an easy one and gives an unsatisfactory answer without stopping to think. That’s why I...

  Strategically managing your career involves knowing when and how to say no. If you are good at your job and have reached a certain point in your career, you will soon get noticed and naturally new projects will fall on your desk. However, in order to build on your success you have to accept that you can’t do everything and you can’t please everyone. It’s about making a considered...

  Whether you are an experienced developer or a self-taught programmer, if you’re looking for a new job, you’ll almost certainly be faced with a technical interview. Some may find these interviews daunting and so preparation is key to your success. To help you prepare for your technical interview, today we’re speaking with James Milligan, Director at UK and Ireland and EMEA –...

  Kathy Chen, VP of Partner Sales for Asia Pacific and Japan for Citrix on how she got into Tech, her journey and challenges being a woman leader, and why diversity is crucial for tech companies. This is an excerpt from episode 8 of the Hays Technology podcast, How Did You Get That Job? Listen to the full podcast.     When you think tech, the first image to pop into...

  I may be a little biased, but any successful person, whether they work in recruitment or not, will tell you that having a good, long term relationship with a recruiter can enhance your career success. Your recruiter is the person who can support you with your job search; identifying suitable roles, approaching companies on your behalf, and providing you with expert advice when...

  If you’re betting on the spin of the roulette wheel, luck is probably what you need more than anything else at that precise moment. If you’re trying to build a successful career, on the other hand, it’s only through putting in the hours and effort that you’ll be able to create the opportunities and conditions that bring about ‘lucky’, or good, outcomes. How many hours does it take? ...

  The world of work has been and continues to be transformed by technology. It’s an extremely exciting time and one filled with change and opportunity. Every employee in every industry in every part of the world, now has the chance to benefit from all the value that technology can bring. It can help us to do our work more effectively from anywhere – technology can help us with the more...

  Whether at the start of a STEM career in the life sciences sector, or in a global leadership role, this unprecedented time could be pivotal to your career prospects. The pandemic has changed the world. Disruption that would have been previously unimaginable in the life sciences industry has become the norm. The pandemic, while putting the brakes on many parts of the economy,...