Men and Women in the Workplace

First of all, apologies for not posting on my regular Wednesday slot. It turned into a rather busy (though productive) day.

Good news: I now HAVE A JOB! This is for my "gap year", and my sigh of relief could not be bigger.

TOP TIP OF THE DAY: Friends and connections are worth having (I was tipped off by a friend and an existing employee of the company).
People may tell you that the days of "it's not what you know, it's who you know" are behind us. Wrong. 

But bad news of the day: Got feedback from a training contract interview I was unsuccessful on.

And the result of this led to the topic of the post today. 

Lizzy, why is this relevant to men and women?

A good question. Whilst my feedback from my interview was generally helpful, though completely frustrating that I got so close, one point that was brought up was the unsuitability of my shoes.
This in no way affected their decision, but apparently some people brought it up.

The shoes I wore were tan with gold accented pumps. Whilst, I admit, they are not the "smartest" footwear in the world. It got me thinking. And it got me angry.

So if you are a closed-minded guy you may want to click off as this will be a slight feminist approach today, as much as I hate the word "feminist" I cannot think of another way to classify it.

Men have it easy...

And I hate it. Office dress for men is so annoyingly easy, because social tradition has deemed that a suit, shirt, tie and leather smart shoes are the norm.
Women however do not have such a luxury as this. When I attend an interview I am always questioning myself. Do I wear a skirt/dress? If so, is it too short? How low-cut is the neckline? Is it too low cut?
And the issue of heels vs not heels just kills me.

THERE IS SO MUCH ROOM FOR ERROR. Which is pretty much solely on the shoulders of women. It is also so subjective. I turned up to a Linklaters event and was complimented on my black heels, and went to another career event in the same shoes and almost fell over and made a complete fool of myself.

I guess you can tell that I could rant about this for a while, and obviously inequality stretches into more than just fashion... But that argument is not one for here or now. 

So what can we do about it?

Well, as I noted before it can be really subjective. But from now on I am always going to err on the side of caution.
I have always had a "LBD" and by this I mean lucky black dress, which I wear to all professional interviews, and this is a dress purchased specifically for the office from an office section of a well-known shop. It has no drop in the neckline and the hem comes down just below the knee.

The shoes however I am still torn upon. Heels vs not heels specifically. My opinion has always been that heels should be avoided at least for interview stage as they tend to split opinion. On the other hand, they can look really quite smart and lots of professional women do wear them.
However, many women won't want to wear heels at all and why should they? 

So as you can tell I haven't come to much of a conclusion- so PLEASE if anyone has any ideas please share them below, or on Twitter. I have another interview on Tuesday so I need the help! Even in all my research people have different opinions. However this article seems to be particularly relevant and comprehensive:

http://talentegg.ca/incubator/2011/03/10/what-shoes-should-you-wear-to-your-next-job-interview-tips-from-an-image-expert/

At least I get some retail therapy... (I probably just made all the "feminists" mad by saying that).

On a side note I can thoroughly recommend Talent Egg as a portal for all graduates. It specialises in advice for "Generation Y" and content is written by young people who have been through university. It may be Canadian, but definitely relevant worldwide.

Emotive Language in Careers and Recruitment Social Media

"Passionate... Hungry... Hot Shot..."

AKA: Emotive Rubbish.

I have come to hate words such as "passionate". I feel they are completely emotionally loaded, and to me they have been taken away from their true meaning. But even more so, the phrase is so overused that it seems to have lost all meaning. 

It is much akin to the fact that I don't like to use (or at least overuse) the words "Love" and "Hate". They are very powerful words. Think of them like diamonds. Diamonds are rare and because of this they are desirable, and therefore more valuable. Casual Economics 101.

I realise this may well be a subjective issue, but I would personally avoid using words that are highly emotive too much in applications and interviews. If you use them less so, and only drop in one or two then to me you would come across much more genuine. Secondly, you can add emphasis to the things that really "sell" you, what is your USP?

Don't be this person

Or this one:

My Inspiration

This week's post is more of a comment (or rant if you will) rather than advice. I was inspired to write this after seeing this advert come up on my Facebook newsfeed:

It was the use of the phrase "hot shot" which particularly caught my eye, though the overall tone of the advert was, in my opinion, a little demoralising.

Don't get me wrong, I know that there is a lot of competition out there for training contracts (or most professions) but in such hard times it is not helpful to use this sort of language in order to entice people to your site.
It is hard to put my finger on what exactly I don't like about this, but the overall tone of it seems to be

"If you aren't one of the elite then you can't be successful"

I will give them the benefit of the doubt, and say that perhaps this was not their intention. Most emotive language is simply put into advertisements or job adverts in order to persuade the viewer to click on a link/apply etc. 

However, when I researched "The Bright Network" further- this was their demographic:

As you can see from the bullet points, it looks to me as if this particular organisation has quite a small top-end demographic.

However, from these facts alone all we can deduce is that these people are, on average, very well qualified.

And that is exactly my point. 

Education isn't everything. Yes, it is very important. This is by no means an excuse to slack off. But it does mean that you have to take your education with a slight (and I mean slight) pinch of salt. The more work you get, and the older and more experienced you become, the less relevant education becomes. 

What this means is that education is merely a foot in the door. What matters more (in my opinion) is your work experience. Now I know as far as the law is concerned, if you haven't had a vacation scheme placement or similar then you pretty much won't be considered for any training contracts. This says an awful lot.

And I tell you what else says an awful lot- referees. My professional referee knows me a heck of a lot more than my academic one and therefore he can provide me with a much more valuable reference. 

So if you aren't "the best" academically, I know I certainly wasn't, make sure that you give yourself plenty of other opportunities that make your education slightly less crucial to your success. I know this is easier said than done, but it's all about persistence, and making sure you know an opportunity when you are faced with one, and you are open to all new experiences.

So if you take anything from today, know that you don't have to go to a "Times Top 20" or Russell Group University, or have straight As at A Level to be successful. Most of my friends and family are living proof of this.

I would go as far as to say that these "Hot Shots" are in the minority. Let them go off to firms which requires first class degrees and in return for a £90,ooo paycheck for which you give them your soul. You, on the other hand can be successful and happy in whatever you choose to do, as long as you take the necessary steps to achieve this and make sure you are realistic about your options. 

Hopefully this all made sense. Apologies for the early post, I have some family stuff to do this week. But hey, at least I am early this time and not late!

Networking: Is it really that important?

I personally hate networking. I feel it is the epitome of repetitive small-talk. However, I also realise that it is vitally important not only for finding a job directly, but lessons for the future in terms of applications/conduct/interviews etc. 

By networking I mean the opportunity to meet with companies or even just a few people. This can be in a formal setting set up through a careers service, or it can be an "informal" dinner with junior company representatives. 

As much as I hate networking I have never passed up an opportunity.

That is a slight lie.

In my first year of university I was unaware of the significance of it, and didn't really have anything to do with it. This was apart from when I went to the law fair and made the cardinal sin of telling Shearman & Sterling that I had never heard of them.
INSTANT FAIL. 

However, when I started to become more career focused and also spoke to some of my residence friends I realised that putting yourself out there is something that can be really valuable.

I really started to get involved in my second and third year. I won't bore you with all of the stories but I will leave you with some hints that I have found really useful, and things that I have learned in my time.
That makes me sound old...

If you are at university, make sure you make the most of the following opportunities:

• Careers Fairs
• Employer Workshops and Presentations
• Tours of offices (we had opportunities via the law society for example)
• If you have applied for a job with an established graduate employer at a good university chances are they will invite you to a dinner or similar (I know for a fact PwC do this)

My Top Tips for Networking Success

• Preparation is key. I know I say this for everything, but it is really so important. By preparing before you meet someone you will have a good idea of what they do, perhaps how they do it and you can equip yourself with some questions that
  a) Will be useful for you
  b) Insightful questions will make you more memorable to employers
• Go in a pair. I find that if there is someone there that you know then it means that approaching a stranger will be much easier with some moral support. However, if you go in a bigger group than this can be a bit overwhelming and probably not of use to you, as you will find yourself stuck in a large group and you will be heard less and you will have less time to ask questions.
  
  If you do go in a large group, it is probably a better idea to split up into smaller ones.
• Think about how you are coming across. This may seem a fairly obvious one but it has several topics within it.  
  
  
  1) They quite often serve alcohol at events such as this. Many of the company reps will have a glass, so by all means have ONE. But I would nurse this and stick to the soft afterwards. You don't want to be the person that makes a fool of themselves or starts slurring their words.
  
  2) NEVER EVER EVER EVER be a suck up. It is not attractive to anyone. Whilst it is perhaps a good idea to casually drop in that you have work experience somewhere or you have a large amount of knowledge on the latest pension case, only do so where it comes naturally into conversation, and DO NOT spend the next half an hour talking about it. Less is more in this respect. If the representative wants to hear any more about it I'm sure they will ask you.
  
  3) Several of my interview tips come into this. For example, only make jokes where sensible and appropriate.
• If you get a business card it means that you have made an impression- and this does not happen too often to everyone. If you do get one, make sure you email that contact within 3 days.
  My friend at university (special shout out to Oz) told me that it is a good idea to say thank you for talking to me and also try and come up with a new question that will make you more memorable. It also invites a reply and future contact.

This article is useful- moreso for outside of university but definitely worth a read:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/festival-of-business/10165682/SME-Masterclass-How-to-network-more-effectively.html

I'm sure that is probably all you can cope with today. I've had enough! I hope these are helpful, and believe me networking is important. So if you are still at university make the most of the opportunities presented to you, as they are much easier to come by in that environment. 

Interview Preparation

Just a quick one today...

And yes, I am aware that I missed out Sunday. I fail at life already. My apologies. I went to a horse-show all day and was exhausted when I got back. Evidently future planning is something I need to work on!

But anyway...

I have a training contract interview tomorrow, and I am very nervous. And I have only had a few days to prepare- with a phone call on Monday and my interview on Thursday. 

So I thought I would take you through what I have done to prepare and hopefully give you all some ideas you may not otherwise have had. I will avoid things like what not to wear etc. I am sure you all have enough common sense not to stroll into ANY interview whether it is for KFC or KPMG in a miniskirt. 

So on with the real stuff.

My Interview Preparation

1. Know the structure of the interview, and if possible who you will be seeing
   Some important things to note include how long the interview will last; how many interviews there are (I have two, one with HR and one with legal staff); what the interview will entail. Last year I had an interview which required me to give a 10 minute presentation.
   
   If you know who you are seeing, it may be of benefit to see if the company website has a profile on them, just so you can see what their role is, what department etc. This isn't crucial to interview success, but certainly worth knowing if possible
2. Make a list of all of the things you would like to get across about yourself in the interview. This may be work experience you have had, or something you took part in at university... The list goes on.
   
   If you write these down, make sure it is ONLY in note format. Do not learn answers word for word, as this can make you sound robotic and TOO prepared. Interviewers want you to be prepared but they also want to see your personality. Plus, being able to think on your feet is a valuable skill.
   
   If the company you are interviewing for is an established graduate employer, such as PwC et al, chances are they will have core competencies. Make sure you look for these and think of a couple of examples for each one.
3. Do your research. Make sure you research the company. Know what they are doing at the moment (i.e. any mergers, important work etc). Simply doing a Google search will tell you this.
   And if you haven't already make sure you have a good grasp on the services the firm offer and the approach they take in their work.
   
   Many firms have "core values", make sure you know these if you can find them, make sure you put effort into knowing how they run their business.
4. Commercial awareness. This is really the age old term, but so important. Really this should be an ongoing thing. However, make sure you know what is going on at the time generally and also in your chosen field and chose a couple of things which interest you. Research these more thoroughly, so if you are asked what story has interested you lately you will be able to provide an in-depth opinion and perhaps start a discussion you can keep up with.
5. Be yourself. Last but not least to use the old cliche. The employer already knows that you are qualified, otherwise they would not have asked you to interview. The purpose of the interview is more often than not a chance for you and the firm to see if you will work well together.
   
   I personally think rapport between you and interviewer is crucial. If it is appropriate, you can use humour. However, DISCLAIMER, if you are uncertain whether something will go down well DO NOT USE IT. Whilst it is nice to slip in a well-timed, tasteful joke, if you are unsure as to the reception it is better to err on the side of caution.

Think that is about it for today. If you have any other tips, comment below or get in touch and I can add a few! I end this with this penguin picture. Because it is cool. And penguins are cool. Maybe because they live in the Antarctic. Meh... I am no scientist. 

Wish me luck guys! See you on the other side. 

The Dark Side of the Internet

Welcome Internet Friends...

And that is what this post is all about today. The internet. I was unsure what to write about today. I had an idea before I came home from errand running, but this was immediately changed when I came home and checked my YouTube account. 

I came home to this:

Which I actually found extremely upsetting. Which lead to the topic of using the internet. Maybe it is an overdone topic? But hey, nothing wrong with a bit of cliche. 

Essentially the back-story is that I left a slightly controversial comment that I wished Jessie J hadn't talked through the performance. If you know me you will know I have some thoughts on Jessie J, but I certainly don't think my comment justified such a gender loaded, disgusting and personal insult. 

The internet is a wonderful thing...

We all know this and requires no further explanation. However, it can also be a very ugly and very hurtful place. 

Because the arena of social media can be so faceless, people are much more willing to say things that perhaps otherwise they would not. I don't think I am personally guilty of that but I can understand it is so easy to do. 

You can see it everyday with Facebook statuses which outline an event in their life which is clearly loaded to be targeted at one particular person. Whilst this person may not be named, it is clear who this person is. 

If I have learned anything...

It is that I myself need to use the internet more carefully. I have my Facebook profile blocked and only have "Friends" who I actually count as friends, I monitor what I put on Twitter and Instagram- so there is nothing on there I would be unhappy for my family or any employers to see.

However, in a world where communication via the internet is so easy, and so faceless, you really need to question what you are putting out there. Do not say ANYTHING that you would not say to somebody's face. 

However, the most worrying thing is that perhaps men like the one who got in touch with me probably WOULD say that to someone's face. And that is the sad fact of life. 

Instead of leaving this post on such a low, remember social media is such a brilliant tool. I have friends all over the country and all over the world thanks to university, and social media provides me with free and easy tools with which to maintain my valued friendships. And I expect cheap trips to visit them soon (hint hint).

As always comments and feedback are always appreciated. And any suggestions for future posts are very welcomed! Especially let me know how you like my Friday posts, as they are my personal post of the week, and it slightly diverts from my regular careers-based content. 

Until Sunday, where I will deal with some sort of commercial awareness issue...

Better get watching the news then.