by SimonWalker on July 17, 2009
There’s been lot’s in the press recently about 300,000 people in the UK graduating this year into one of the toughest job markets for a long time. (Sunday Times – Graduates face the toughest tests)
Most of the time we work with employers, but what practical help is out there for graduates?
This led us to Tanya de Grunwald and her excellent book ‘Dude, where’s my career? : A guide for baffled Graduates’.
The book focuses on helping ‘normal’ graduates (what Tanya calls ‘the baffled’) who haven’t put much (or any) thought into their career planning and certainly haven’t had a master plan to become president of the universe since they were 6 years old.
Looking back, I’d firmly put myself in that category when I graduated.
And the truth is that these normal, ‘baffled’ graduates , are the backbone of most organisations and hugely valuable, if only they can find the right career to play to their strengths and are allowed to grow and flourish.
What we really love about the book however, is the ‘emotional support’ approach Tanya takes. Most graduate careers help just focuses on the (important) nuts and bolts – like writing a great CV, but not on helping people understand what really makes them tick, how to get motivated and importantly how to deal with the inevitable knock backs. Dude gives this support in a highly practical and accessible way.
If you know one of this year’s 300,000, buy them a copy of Dude or take a look at Tanya’s blog.
by admin on June 17, 2009
by Sally Bibb on May 31, 2009
I met an acquaintance the other day in a department store. I was surprised to see that he was working in there. The last time I saw him he had set up his own business which was going so well that only a few months in he had bought himself a Porsche. Things had not continued so well though and he had to sell his car, fold the business and was now doing the first job that he could find. He said he had got carried away with his early success and starting spending too much money.
So what is the relationship between delayed gratification and success? This fascinating and amusing experiment says it all. Entrepreneurs, sales people and bankers take note!
Sally
by admin on April 29, 2009
Over the past six months we have been keeping a close eye on Gen Y’s attitudes to the recession. Here is an article that I wrote summarising our findings.
As you might expect, Gen Y’s values are not changing, but, in some cases, their behaviour is. Some of them are saying that, before the credit crunch, they may well have left their jobs before finding another one. now they are staying put. They are still expecting and hoping that their employers will continue to help them learn and develop though. Those that don’t may well find that they will lose some of their good people when the economy starts to pick up.
J Walter Thompson, the ad agency, have recently done some research into anxiety levels amongst young people. It is worth a read. Whilst 46% of the UK respondents agreed with the statement ” My generation is being dealt an unfair blow because of this recession” some of them believe that the recession actually provides them with an opportunity:
27% agreed with the statement: ‘My friends are doing interesting and entrepreneurial things to make money’
27% agreed with the statement: ‘If I lose/have trouble finding a job I’ll just start my own business’
44% agreed with the statement: ‘The current situation with housing prices actually makes me feel optimistic about buying a home’
The research also asked teenagers what they would be prepared to give up. They would rather give up shopping for clothes, eating out and entertainment than be disconnected from their online technologies. 90% said they would be bothered about giving up the internet and 81% said they would be bothered about giving up their mobile phone.
Advertisers and their clients are staying closely tuned to how people are feeling and what they want as customers and consumers. Halifax bank’s recent TV ad campaign is clearly an attempt to communicate that they care about their customers and want to help.
I think it’s always worth employers watching what the ad industry are saying and how they advising their clients – it’s in their interest to really keep tabs on changing attitudes and help their clients to respond. Employers are employing consumers so insight from the advertising world is worth having I would say.
Sally
by admin on March 28, 2009
