In search of Willy Wonka’s fantastic world
What would it take to win that golden ticket? And what would you do with it? What would you change? I’ve had a few requests for help and recruiter recommendations just recently. Maybe it’s the time of year or maybe it’s just coincidence that as my Birmingham work winds down, it seems a few “friends of friends” need my expertise. Each year that passes means that there are new developments on the horizon and candidates need to stay one step ahead. That means having a good and positive story to tell potential employers or clients. And whatever you’ve heard, a CV needs to sparkle and bring joy to the reader.
For me, a fabulous CV is like a golden ticket to your future. It can be written or spoken, an all-singing and dancing video or a simple podcast. Whatever the medium you select it needs to be marketable. It needs to be in a format which is consumable (by your chosen audience). There are many who would have you err on the side of caution and tradition. And for some professions that’s inevitable, although it’s only after you step outside of the box (just a little) that even caution gets a little more exciting! Go on, give it a try.
So, if like me, early December is the time that you begin to think about next year’s ambitions and if that includes stepping up the self-marketing, maybe you’ll win that golden ticket. Like all good stories and films, that means putting in the effort. It means really thinking about you and what you stand for. What are your strengths and what are your values? What makes you happy and how important is your career to you?
My 2023 ambition to live a healthier lifestyle, exercise more and eat a lot less will take me into 2024 with a great big dollop of extra confidence. And that took much thought and effort from me. I’ve learned that whatever the reasons for how it is now (whether that’s a lackluster CV or clothes that are too tight) aren’t the challenge to be overcome. The challenge is to change behaviour; to make a difference by focusing on what’s right. It’s time to draw that line and jump over it.
Once we learn how that works for us as individuals, it’s easier to understand how it could work for organisations. I feel certain that we’ll all know a business or an organisation that tries too hard or doesn’t try at all. Organisations find it so much harder to “turn the tanker” often because too much time is spent on analysing what went wrong, rather than their ambition. In other words, how they want to be (their values and strengths as a business).
Whether you’re an individual on your personal journey or thinking about how you can change your organisation, first things first – what’s the ambition? And what’s the story? Borrowing a few words from Adele remember to go easy on (yourself) when thinking about what you want to change. Try to be realistic about what can change by when and plan accordingly. I knew that to lose ten or eleven stones would not be an overnight success. Sometimes to get a new job can be like a full-time job. A few things to try?
· Get to know yourself better – dreams and needs
· Go easy on yourself
· Be realistic about what you can achieve
· Make plans
· Write (other media are available) for your audience
· Take others on the journey with you
· Remember to ask for help
· Make time for celebration
· Remember to have fun
