Simon Gray's Blog, page 3

Take the Free Executive Job Search Assessment…

If you’re active in the executive job market or about to enter it, one thing is certain – you need a strategy to find success.

But how does your strategy compare to what others are doing and will it hold up in the face of rejection and stand the test of time?

To help answer this question I’ve put together this Free Executive Job Search Assessment. There are 10 questions in total and it will take less than two minutes to complete. Please answer the questions as honestly as possible to get an a...

Why confirmation could hurt your executive job search!

It’s been an interesting week where the power of confirmation has been brought sharply into focus.

I regularly talk about confirmation in relation to successful executive job search, but confirmation impacts us in all areas of life and it’s absence is often the invisible source of procrastination and inaction.

Confirmation is reinforcement that we’re on the right track, doing the right things and is the encouragement we often need to keep going.

However, it’s actually a double-edged sword, wh...

Are you really the pilot of your executive career?

I regularly use an analogy to communicate my advice and thoughts around managing your career and finding success in the executive job market.

The idea for this blog post came to me as I was driving into the city the other day. As we approach winter the cold and wet can be somewhat of a challenge in the morning and my mind turned to holidays.

I’m fairly confident that I can say with almost certainty that holidays are something we all look forward to. A chance to relax, recharge the batteries a...

Struggling with your international executive job search?

One of the things I’m asked to advise on and help with on a regular basis is international executive job search.

Executive job search can be difficult at the best of times, but when the additional component of ‘national’ and especially ‘international’ is added into the mix, things can quickly become even more challenging!

If you’re struggling with an international executive career move or considering this as an option, this article provides important advice on some of the things you need to c...

How to win at telephone / video interviews…

Through my private coaching and ‘Executive Edge’ online I regularly provide advice on how to win at face-to-face interviews.

When we hear the word ‘interview’ this is what most people immediately think of – a face-to-face meeting where you pit your wits against one, or sometimes multiple interviewers. They’re often the thing people dread, but also want at the same time – the bridge to the job offer and something that must be crossed!

How you choose to approach your executive job interview is...

How to win at your next executive job interview.

How to win at executive job interviews is something I’m asked on a regular basis.

Having worked as a professional recruiter for over 10 years, and now as an executive career coach to clients from across the world, I’m very aware that many people having worked hard to unlock the door to an opportunity, make fundamental mistakes, before, during and after their interview.

Having the necessary skills and experience for the position in question doesn’t guarantee an offer or progression to the next...

How to build YOUR personal brand to advance your career.

This week I had the privilege to present a webinar on how to build a personal brand to advance your career to senior members of ICA (International Compliance Association).

Funnily enough, communicating my personal brand online is what initially caught the attention of ICA, led to a conversation with the CEO and an invitation to host the webinar – you see…personal branding is powerful!

The webinar covered three key things:

Why you need a personal brand. How to build YOUR brand. Principles an...

Executive job search and the ‘altruistic act of thinking’.

The ‘altruistic act of thinking’ may have sparked your decision to read this blog post. Don’t worry I’ll get to that in a moment, but first let me tell you a story…

Executive job search is a complex business – as a former professional recruiter and now advisor to executive clients from across the world I recognise this, which was the catalyst to publish my book Super Secrets of Successful Executive Job Search.

I regularly receive messages, usually through LinkedIn, from people who has read it...

What’s the MEANING of your executive job search?

What’s the MEANING of your executive job search?

This may sound like a strange title for a blog post, but trust me it has ‘meaning’ on a number of levels and was sparked by a birthday dinner for my Dad at the weekend.

It’s not every day you turn 80, so my wife and I with the children in tow had arranged a birthday dinner at a fabulous hotel in Staffordshire. In beautiful surroundings it was a time to relax, reflect and celebrate the passing of time. Indeed, our birthday gift was a new watch p...

Holiday blues…the power to choose (YOUR career)?

If you’ve been on holiday over the summer period and you’re anything like me, you’ll have consciously or subconsciously taken the time to reflect on the year so far and consider what next?

While the start of any holiday is full of excitement, as time passes and you have less time left than has already gone, the blues can start to set in, and set in much quicker if you’re returning to a job that doesn’t fulfil or make you happy.

I always think that holidays are a great parallel for life. At th...