From Charity to Childrens Clothing

From Charity to Childrens Clothing Success Story > From: Job To: Startup From Charity to Childrens Clothing “I needed a new challenge, but one that allowed me to work flexibly.” * From Charity to Childrens Clothing Samantha Collenloved her work.But thenher personal circumstances changed. Here, she shares how she found a niche that was an ideal match for her skills, surprisingly close to home. What work were you doing previously? I started out as a business consultant in South Africa, in an international consulting firm, with a focus on the financial services sector. I continued to work in the sector across multiple clients until moving to the UK about ten years ago. Here, I used my experience in the third sector, as Innovation Project Manager for Cancer Research UK, until taking time out a few years later to have my first child. What are you doing now? I co-own and run a children's clothing label with my mother, who is still in South Africa. JenniDezigns is a Proudly South African label which uses the local African print, ShweShwe, in all our designs. We bring quirky, yet classic, styles to children's fashion, whilst showcasing the best of South African fabric heritage and reinvesting in the local economy. How did you feel about your work before you decided to make a change? I really enjoyed my job at Cancer Research UK. The role allowed for rule breaking, and the people were great! Why did you change? Returning to work after maternity leave did not work out for a few reasons, one of which was that I was expecting our second child only sixteen months after our first. I started working on the clothing label once our second child turned two, just when I started coming up for air. I was still very much needed at home (as my husband has an executive job in the city), but wanted to work on something that was not the kids. JenniDezigns was the dream of my mother, who until then had not been able to invest in the idea fully; and I needed a new challenge, but one that allowed me to work flexibly. When was the moment you decided to make the change? It all happened after a few glasses of wine at Sunday lunch, whilst I was home visiting the family... like most good ideas. Are you happy with the change? Yes. I love working with my mother, I get to be home for my kids after school, and I get to be creative. I'm still waiting for the big pay cheque, but that will come. What do you miss and what don't you miss? I miss the daily interaction with people in a bigger, office based team â€" having people to bounce ideas off or just for company. I don't miss the commute and red tape. I love the fact that we can make decisions in one phone call! How did you go about making the shift? And how specifically did you choose your new career? I was already not working due to having kids so close together, and was actively considering what to do next with my time. My background is in starting new businesses / new business units; so, when my mother shared her idea of the children's label, I realised it was a good fit with my skills. She's the designer and I run the other side of the business â€" creating the brand and getting the product out there (and everything in between). As mentioned, my husband has a busy role as a senior executive in the city, and we wanted me to have the flexibility to be around for the kids; this role works well with that need. What didn't go well? What 'wrong turns' did you take? Our biggest wrong turn to date has been trying to use 'big brand' type PR approaches to gain new business. We got great media coverage â€" which according to the PR agency was a brilliant return on our investment â€" but the actual return on new business was zero, and I waited too long to pull the plug on the spend. How did you handle your finances to make your change possible? I used capital from a property sale (a flat I owned before I got married) to finance the business. This has been helpful as accessing third-party finance can be a challenge. But this needs to be balanced with making sure the business becomes self-sustaining. We are getting there, given a clearer strategy and focus. What was the most difficult thing about changing? As mentioned previously, I miss having a bigger team (junior and senior) which is a valuable resource for ideas, validating strategy, etc. Finding a 'new' team of advisors is an ongoing consideration. What do you wish you'd done differently? The only thing I would change is the big PR spend we made too early and in the wrong place. I see now that that cash could have been much better invested elsewhere. What help did you get? My husband is a good sounding board, and my dad always has good input into the business, supporting us with people matters. I've tapped into my mum community (where I have found several others who have changed what they do to work with family life), which has a wealth of experience. I've also sought to register with various non-profit organisations that provide free support for start-ups and access to subsidised trade shows, etc. These have provided mixed levels of support, with the most valuable being information. What resources would you recommend to others? There is a growing resource online of generic and geography-specific tools and advice when setting up a new business. This includes forums for the sector you choose, where you can network with others doing the same thing. What have you learnt in the process? To do as much as I can with my existing skill set, and to be brave enough to learn some new skills. I've also had to learn when it's time to call in people with expertise, either for advice or to support the set-up of a part of my business I'm unsure of. I'm not a tax specialist, for example, so this is an area of our business where I'm happy to pay someone to make sure it's right. I've learnt not to do too much too soon and to focus on getting one sales channel set up at a time. And not to be distracted by what others are doing â€" their plans are different to mine. What would you advise others to do in the same situation? Be clear on your motivations for the change. There are some lonely days being an entrepreneur; you have to be able to lean on your 'why' to get through. Make new networks and don’t be afraid to stick your hand up and say 'I need help'! This story was sourced by All By Mama, the marketplace for creative parents. Visit www.allbymama.com to learn more. To find out more about Samantha's business, visit: www.jennidezigns.clothing. What lessons could you take from Samantha's story to use in your own career change? Let us know in the comments below.

Manchester Made Me Careers Mentoring University of Manchester Careers Blog

Manchester Made Me Careers Mentoring University of Manchester Careers Blog In my final year of university I wasn’t sure what career I wanted to pursue. I knew a little bit about the Big4 accounting firms (KPMG, Deloitte, Pwc and EY) so I thought I’d do some more research to find out if it was something I would be interested in. After the research I decided that I was interested in pursuing a career in tax so I set about applying for the Big4. I passed the initial assessment stages of three of the firms with help from the career’s service with my CV and some practice tests online, but after this I was a bit unsure on how to continue. Although I had some previous experience of interviews, I had never had a competency interview on the phone and had little experience of how best to do company research. For these reasons I applied to the Manchester Gold programme in order to get some advice from someone on the inside. Fortunately I was successful and was given a mentor from EY. As he was based in London we were unable to meet in person but we regularly exchanged emails and spoke on the phone. My mentor had graduated from Manchester around 5 years ago and was now a successful consultancy manger at EY specialising in working in matters related to China. He was incredibly friendly and helpful and was able to give me some specific advice on applying for a large accountancy firm. Before my phone interview with one firm he gave me some tips on potential questions they would ask and what examples I had that would best be used for each. He also helped me by giving me a practice interview in the style that it would be held for EY. From this he highlighted my weaknesses so that I could best improve for the real thing. After I had successfully passed two telephone interviews, I next needed to tackle the assessment centres. The majority of the tests here are hard to prepare for, as they are really to see if your ideas fit with the ethos of the company. To succeed in this my mentor advised me on how best to research the companies. This also came in handy for the final interview, as I had to find reasons as to why I wanted to work for a particular firm and not one of the others in the Big4. When it came down to the final stage I only had one firm left and that was KPMG. Again I was able to use the advice from my mentor on what questions might come up and how I should best answer them. He also really helped me think about why I wanted the job and why I thought the job best suited me, as well as explaining to me how I can best use experiences learnt from the academic side of my degree. After all this preparation, the interview was a great success and I actually came away surprised because I had mostly enjoyed myself. Less than an hour after the interview had finished I received a call that I had been successful and was being offered the job! After a few days of consideration I accepted the offer. As the job starts with 9 months of intense study I applied under a deferral so that I could take a break from studying and come back with a clear mind. I will therefore be starting my job as a Trainee Tax Accountant at KPMG in London in September 2015. I know that the application process was made a lot easier with the help from my mentor and although I can’t determine what the outcome would have been without him, I definitely would have struggled a lot more. Applying for a grad scheme is incredibly daunting and it really helped having someone to talk to about it that had previously been through the same experience. It was also great that he was now on the interviewing side so could pass on useful information. Finally, in addition to this I now have a senior contact in one of the big firms and you never know when this could come in handy. I really would recommend the Manchester Gold programme for anyone that’s seeking advice on applying for jobs; it might just make that difference for success. Jennifer, BA (hons) Politics, Philosophy and Economics Apply for your own mentor on the Manchester Gold programme now.   Manchester Made Me career planning careers mentoring my story

Are You Stupid Talking - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Are You Stupid Talking - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Turns out you are what you talk about. If you fat shame yourself, then your brain lays down a new set of neural pathways to ensure you feel fat â€" even if you aren’t. Then, as you repeat your so-called problem to your friends or yourself, you develop even greater dissatisfaction with your body. The final gift from your lips? An increased potential for an eating disorder. That’s why you can no longer “feel fat” on Facebook. At least officially. Because it causes you to harm yourself. So, let’s say your okay with your fat situation. Your body is okay. And you just said, “Wow, I’m such an idiot in math. I am dumbfounded by Excel. I never really understood it, and the latest update is beyond me. ” “Geez, I cannot write this report on time. I am awful at reports. I don’t even know where to start on these things.” “Gosh, I am such a procrastinator. I keep putting things off. Then, I get so nervous I just rush to get them done. It’s never right, but I settle for done.” “Man, I am always lost. I could have a GPS, a satellite helmet and a self-driving car. I would still get lost.” “ Argh, I will never date again. I will never find one decent human being on this planet who loves me. I hate this whole relationship-thing.” Ta da! You have just created your own life. These negative meditations are laying tracks in your brain, and your train of thoughts know exactly where to go: again and again. You trash talk yourself silently. Your trash talk yourself with friends. In just a sentence or two each day, you trash your possibilities, your confidence and your happiness. Next time you call yourself stupid? Stop. Then tell yourself why you are not stupid. Give yourself evidence when you have been just fine, maybe brilliant. Whatever mantra you’ve been using to cause a lifelong problem, be it about fat, math, software, writing, procrastination, navigation, relationships or more? It is literally all in your head, because it’s been on your lips. Coach yourself to success! Identify the personal traits you want to keep building into your personal brand and your personal intelligence. Find an affirming sentence. Set your brain to work finding the evidence of how great you are. Then lather, rinse and repeat.

Are Unlimited Holidays a Cure for Burnout

Are Unlimited Holidays a Cure for Burnout The workplace epidemic of ‘burnout’ is on the rise and experts have suggested that unlimited holidays may provide a solution. Perkbox recently conducted a survey of 1,342 working Brits to reveal opinions surrounding unlimited holidays and the impact that these policies are having on the fight against burnout. Perkbox’s study shows that this initiative is indeed backed by many. 39% of employed people see unlimited holidays as either a great or good idea to help them switch off. This figure rises to a staggering 70% at the C-suite level. What’s more, when looking at how long it takes people to switch off from work on vacation, it becomes apparent why unlimited holidays may be necessary. On the one hand, 30% of people take 1-2 days to switch off from work, the results revealed, whilst almost 1 in 5 (18%) take 3-4 days. On the other, the most popular amount of holiday to take off in one go was 5-6 days. It’s therefore clear that employees’ vacation time is often cut short by thoughts of the office or uncompleted tasks signaling that limited holiday policies may no longer allow for enough time to fully recharge and combat burnout year-round. In terms of being a ‘cure’, 1/3 agree that unlimited holidays help to alleviate stress and burnout and that more holidays are needed to compensate for intense day-to-day working schedules. As for whether the policy actually works, 26% believe unlimited holidays have decreased the number of sick leave days taken, rising to an impressive 37% of the C-suite level. Whether unlimited holidays can actually cure burnout or are simply a means of hiding it, is yet to be proven. But for the benefits to be reaped by employees, the thought appears to be that workplace leaders must communicate such policies with genuity in the company 26% of respondents believe that unlimited holidays don’t help alleviate stress and burnout in the workplace unless workplace leaders ‘show that they really mean them’. Madlena Pozlevic, Employee Experience Lead at Perkbox says: “It’s clear that employees can find it hard to switch off from work on holiday. Factors such as the ease at which we can communicate with work, heavy workloads and the growing expectation of high performance, are leading to a rise in burnout and the need to be strict with ourselves when taking time to switch off and de-stress. Employees should feel entitled to have a strong work/life balance, but for any policies aiming to achieve this, such as unlimited holiday, to genuinely work, they need to be utilised. What’s more, with the results of this study clearly showing that C-suite Execs are in agreement with the policy, it’s vital that these leaders communicate such thoughts with the whole company clearly to avoid anyone from ever feeling like an ‘office slacker’ when using them.” About the author:  Perkbox  is a platform that provides a unique employee experience, enriching the personal and working life of employees. It offers a suite of products including a platform with access to best in class Perks,  Perkbox  Medical,  Perkbox  Recognition, and  Perkbox  Insights. It serves companies of all sizes from SMEs to large companies such as Whole Foods, Nando’s, Caffe Nero and Levi Strauss Co. Headquartered in London, with offices in Sheffield and Paris,  Perkbox  has raised over £11.0 million in funding from the leading European venture capital firm Draper Esprit

Writing a Good Resume Objective Statement

Writing a Good Resume Objective StatementWriting a resume objective is as important as the rest of your resume, and you must do it correctly. You must tell the hiring manager what you can bring to the company, and you must include information about the position you are applying for, but you should also use this statement to get your point across in a unique way.Your goal here is to create a statement that tells the hiring manager what you can do, but only shows specific details about the position you are applying for. In order to do this you need to put your thinking cap on. Remember that your goal is to give the hiring manager enough information to make an intelligent decision, but not so much information that you sound like a salesperson.The very first thing you need to know when writing a resume objective is that you have to understand the position you are applying for and the possible job title that hiring managers go after. You have to know the type of company that you are apply ing for. If it is a smaller more personal, local business, then you will want to focus on the position. It will be best to talk about a specific job that the company offers, as this will make it easier for you to relate your skills to the job.You also need to know how much experience you have in a specific position. The goal here is to show that you have enough knowledge about the company that you can provide them with exactly what they need. For example, if the position you are applying for requires that you learn HTML or another programming language, you will want to talk about how much experience you have in those particular types of programs.The next thing you need to think about when writing a resume objective is how to present yourself to the hiring manager. Remember that this person is only interested in hiring the best possible employees. If you look like an overqualified candidate, then the hiring manager may wonder what exactly you are trying to impress them with, and this could actually hurt your chances of getting hired.So your goal when writing a resume objective statement is to make yourself seem like an intelligent, hardworking candidate who is genuinely interested in the position. That means giving a smart and well-written objective statement, along with the right kind of job description and job duties. This will help your resume stand out, and will demonstrate that you know exactly what it takes to be hired for that position.The last thing you need to think about when writing a resume objective is to make sure you include a few keywords that will help you stand out. When using these keywords in your resume, keep them descriptive, and don't use them in all caps. This will help your resume stand out in a very focused way.By following these three simple tips, you can easily write a good resume objective. You just need to know the details about the job you are applying for, how much experience you have in the position, and how to portray yourself to the hiring manager.

How do I network for a job - Sterling Career Concepts

How do I network for a job How do I network for a job? In a recent online exchange between career professionals, the comment was made that too many job seekers rely on job boards and consider networking to be passing their resume along to friends, when effective networking is much more than that. What else should I do to network?   Here are two go-to resources for maximizing your networking efforts as shared by two colleagues: Meg Guiseppi of executivecareerbrand.com recommends the collection of articles on networking on Susan P. Joyce’s Job-Hunt.org. Norine Dagliano of ekminspirations.com says her all-time favorite book on the subject is Networking for Job Search and Career Success by L. Michelle Tullier, which is packed with information, worksheets and check lists in a logically presented 15 chapters or “for a crash course in networking, stick with the worksheets and quick summaries at the end of each chapter.” To the above, I would add the following two articles: Why referrals are so powerful in job search: http://careerrocketeer.com/2014/01/the-power-of-a-referral.html One critical mistake you might be making as you build a network: http://brycelegal.com/blog/are-you-building-and-nurturing-a-network-or-falling-victim-to-strategic-errors/ Since statistics prove that over 50% of jobs are found through networking, optimize your success by making sure your network is working for you.

Résumé not enough Create a career portfolio - Sterling Career Concepts

Résumé not enough Create a career portfolio Résumé not enough? Create a career portfolio For many job applicants, a résumé can’t tell the full story. Instead, a portfolio, or samples of your work, may better showcase your skills and abilities. In the past, portfolios were used mostly by candidates for artistic positions such as graphic design. However, more and more careers are lending themselves to portfolios, especially as an increasing number of job seekers look for ways to accentuate their transferable skills. This is especially the case for career-changers. For careers that don’t obviously lend themselves towards a portfolio, think outside of the box. A manager might include statistics on how she improved a department’s efficiency or revenue stream or documented results of a large project she lead. A computer programmer might highlight programs that he designed. Don’t limit yourself to projects documented on paper, either. Consider videos or PowerPoint presentations you may have created. You can be equally imaginative when considering how to present your portfolio. Printed documents or burning projects to a CD are options, but the latest trend is for professionals to use personal websites as a way to display their portfolios. Of course, use caution here when it comes to proprietary or confidential information.