I joined the world of career coaching and recruitment in 2001. A fresh-ish faced graduate who was just coming into the digital era. My first email address was created at University (in 1997!!!) and I remember learning about, what felt like the mystical world of, web site programming as part of the Digital side of Creative Resource.
Tweets were what birds did. SEO sounded like a sandwich order.
Fast forward to 2016 and it goes without question that the online space is now a key place is recruitment and careers. I am excited to see what will develop with areas like Virtual Reality. Already, a lot of my work with coaching clients is over Skype … is the next step working remotely but in the same “space” using VR?
As the business grows, I am uncovering a range of exciting and innovative ways that technology is revolutionising the way we find work. Here, I want to profile two that I think are exciting and real game changers in their space! They have transformed issues into innovative technological solutions that can benefit working parents today.
One of the key concerns that a lot of the parents I coach have about going self-employed is clients. Where will I get them from? How will they find out about me? This where FreelanceDiary comes in. For founder and CEO Richard Jeffs, FreelanceDiary was a response to the disjointed way that many freelancers in the media industry have to (make/receive and manage) bookings. It is more than a website; a fully functional diary system enables users to build a profile backed by their availability. Employers then search for freelancers who are available for work. Freelancers respond to requests and automatically send quotes – speeding up the entire booking process. No more searching through jobs-boards or high commissions (standard membership is free). FreelanceDiary is rolling out across countries and sectors, giving everyone with a strong skills base the chance to be considered for opportunities.
One of the most common concerns parents have is “how to write my CV”. This is something that I work on with clients, but sometimes there needs to be a catalyst to start the process. CV’s are part of your personal branding. It‘s not only about what experience you have, but who you are and how you can impact positively on a company. Hashtag CV’s CEO & Founder, Chris Butler feels the same. He has created an online CV builder where you can create a personalised CV to sell your skills. “It’s important to us that we are able to make people’s CV look different and memorable. Employers see hundreds, if not thousands of CV’s that look almost identical. White paper with boring black, small text. Would you feel compelled to read a CV that looked like that?” The real game changer for the Hashtag CV Builder is the ability for employers to FIND YOU!! Each CV has a unique URL, which is displayed in search engines such as Google. The social proof that I have mentioned before is there; in a way that is clear, personalised and impactful!
They key things I love about these new sites is the ability to create and represent the skills you have for the career you want. For me, the future of flexible working and career is not about fitting ourselves into a box; both of these enable you to take control of your time, your skills and present to the world everything that you are!
For transparency, I am now an affiliate partner for Hashtagcv.com. This is only because I think it is absolutely brilliant!
I’m a return to work, career, work-life balance and confidence coach for parents.
Find out about how I have helped parents just like you!
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Clara Wilcox is a straight talking, practical and experienced coach helping clients navigate the tricky waters of returning to work, career changes and professional development. The Balance Collective is a social enterprise focused on improving the lives of parents, by working together to build inner confidence and promote a healthy work/life balance.
