“Take a job that you love. You will jump out of bed in the morning”
– Warren Buffet
So true. But finding a job you love is easier said than done, and so often we feel marooned in unrewarding – and maybe frustrating – roles and find it hard to see the way to a more fulfilling place. And this is not just about jobs or careers. It’s often true of life itself.
If you are looking for a change in your career circumstances, then my online group can help: Make the best use of your talents, stage a career reboot or pivot. (Email us for more information and to sign up.)
I have spent a large part of my career advising and mentoring many different people about how to identify and realise their ambitions. My early career was in the communications business, working with global clients to develop strategies and campaigns for their products. I loved it, but it never quite gave the complete satisfaction I looked for.
So I stayed with communications, which I knew, and transitioned into a new function in talent management, which became my dream job. I joined WPP, the largest media and communications group in the world and started by heading the Global Recruiting Team, comprising recruiters in the US and Asia as well as Europe. From there I was able to expand the remit to include a broader talent offering, including building diversity programmes, graduate and apprenticeship schemes, and our highly successful Women’s network: WPP Stella.
Helping women craft careers
The role combined meeting and assessing different individuals, helping drive their careers, and most importantly finding a place where they could thrive. Through networking, up-skilling and most importantly understanding their potential, I was able to assist our female employees to be successful.
It may sound like a cliché, but women respond differently to male colleagues, and may find themselves overlooked or overruled because their behaviour is less assertive or more emotionally based. There’s nothing wrong with that, in fact in many instances it becomes a force for good.
I’ve worked with many female-led teams and businesses, where the environment and work style has meant a positive, committed workforce, in turn leading to growth and profit: happy workforce, happy business, happy shareholders…. The task is to help women overcome those barriers to success, not by changing behaviours, but by exploiting them.
Get in touch with your ambition again
Think back to when you left school or college and the dreams you dreamt; how much ambition and potential you had then. Did it go according to plan, or did life and circumstances get in the way? You’ve probably experienced the joy of relationships and family and have few regrets, but maybe that has limited your ambition.
Or you have a good job and great friends, but it doesn’t seem quite enough. And it may not just be about a job; fulfilment comes in many different guises, and maybe giving back to the community or contributing to improving the environment might be the stimulus you’re looking for. Being head honcho is not for all of us. Running departments or teams may fill you with dread. I’ve met many women, who realise that the greasy pole to the top is not what they want to climb. The task is to recognise where your talent will be best placed and give you the tools to embark upon that path.
A career reboot makes sense in midlife
At Noon, we believe there are many many women at the stage in their life where they’re ready and capable of finding a new path, but don’t know how to start. We aim to help you begin that quest, by examining your gifts (yes, everyone has gifts, though not many of us are Superwomen, thank goodness). Maybe it will mean helping you reskill, network and understand what stimulates and energises you.
We also will provide practical help, in writing CVs, sharing interview techniques, providing tips for LinkedIn profiles, securing references and maybe including some advice around how such a move may affect your income, family time and other responsibilities.
And you won’t be alone. There will be the Noon community travelling alongside you, sharing their experiences and demonstrating this universal desire to live the best life we can.
– Frances Illingworth
Want to make a change with your career?
Get in touch to be part of this Career Group
If you would like to take part in Frances’ ‘Making the best use of your talents, career reboot or pivot’ online group, please email us at hello@inherspace.co.uk.
