The Career Coaches Handbook

Category: Uncategorized

  • The Power of the Winter Arc: A Season for Quiet Progress and Focus

    In the past few weeks, I’ve been noticing the term “Winter Arc” circulating on social media. It’s a trend where people use the period between now and the New Year to get serious about reaching their goals. While some people are understandably ready to coast to the year’s end, eager to reset in January, I’ve…

  • Becoming a Leader Before You Have the Title: Why You Should Act Like a Leader Now

    Before I officially stepped into a leadership position, I made a conscious decision: I would start thinking of myself as a leader before it was written on paper. I knew that leadership wasn’t just about having the title. It’s about how you show up, how you contribute, and how you influence those around you. Looking back, it…

  • Returning to Toastmasters: Overcoming Nerves and Embracing Growth

    This week, I took a step I’ve been putting off for almost a year – I returned to my local Toastmasters group in Dundee. You might think that because I’ve been before, going back would be easy. But honestly, I was more nervous this time around than when I first joined. The guilt of not…

  • Navigating Shifts in Professional Identity: Embracing Change in Your Career

    Shifts in our professional identity can be both challenging and transformative. Yet, these changes often go unspoken, leaving many people feeling uncertain or isolated during periods of transition. Whether it’s stepping into a new role, taking on more responsibility, or simply evolving as a professional over time, your identity at work is something that will…

  • The Power of Mentorship: Unlocking Career Growth and Leadership Potential

    Years ago, I came across the expression, “You become an average of the five people you surround yourself with the most.” This idea stuck with me. I remember looking around at the people in my life and realising how much I had unconsciously absorbed from them—both positive and negative traits. Since then, I’ve become very…

  • Embracing Leadership: Lessons from My First Weeks as a New Manager

    September at the University of St Andrews is always a whirlwind. It’s an exciting time—new students are arriving, energy is high, and the academic year starts off with a lot of activity. This year feels particularly special for me, as I’ve recently stepped into a management role for the first time. The last couple of…

  • Social Mobility, Accent Discrimination, and Embracing Authenticity in the Workplace

    Introduction The conversation around social mobility and accent discrimination has been gaining more attention in the UK, especially as we aim for greater diversity and inclusivity in both education and the workplace. Accent, while often seen as a hallmark of cultural identity, can also act as a barrier to career progression, particularly for individuals from…

  • The Power of Salary Transparency: A Key to Unlocking Social Mobility 

    Last week on my blog I detailed the importance of salary negotiation. However, since then I have been thinking about how employers can support this process and make it fairer. I often see job listings on LinkedIn for graduates and the salary is listed as ‘competitive’.  In recent years, the conversation around salary transparency has…

  • Salary Negotiation as a Tool for Social Mobility in the UK 

    For many recent graduates, entering the workforce is both the combination of years of hard work and the beginning of a new chapter. However, for those from Widening Participation (WP) backgrounds—often meaning individuals from lower socio-economic status who have faced barriers to accessing higher education—the transition can come with unique challenges. One of the most…

  • The Power of Commitment: Why Skipping a Week Is Not an Option

    Recently, I was having coffee with a friend on a Sunday when I mentioned that I needed to write an article for my blog once I got home. I asked if they had any ideas for this week’s topic, thinking that since they’re in a different stage of their career, they might have something they’d…