09/01/2018
Interview the expert
JOHN HEYS, Careers Counsellor Extraordinaire!
1. So John, please share with everyone a bit of yourself, so we can all get a flavour of your background and how that has translated to you being able to help people with their own careers?
I’ve been successful in helping my clients make positive and accurate career and lifestyle choices for many years. This is because I’m able to take the bigger picture and translate this into the smaller, more manageable steps that are necessary to bring about change. Couple that with my burning desire to be of service to my clients and you can see why so many people seek my help.
My upbringing and education taught me to be pragmatic – to find practical solutions to problems and implement them as quickly as possible. My life experiences have been as challenging as everybody else’s, however, to learn from them and make changes is something that I work with my clients to achieve.
2. Do you think we should change our approach to working life as we age? Is it a case of re-evaluating our skills across the board and seeing where we fit today?
As we get older, of necessity we change our approach to work. We increasingly look for maximum reward from minimum effort. We physically and mentally can’t do what we used to be able to. There’s no point hankering after the past. Constant re-evaluation is the order of the day. Why? Because of the accelerating pace of change. Trying to “fit in” doesn’t work because you find yourself chopping and changing in the rapidly moving environment. It’s much better to work out what you want and then fit the world to that. This takes confidence but that’s what I’m here for – to help my clients empower themselves with self-knowledge.
3. Returning to work after a break for raising children or illness at any age can be difficult. How can we best prepare ourselves in terms of confidence to face the interview process again?
We base our expectations on reality. We aren’t swayed by others and what they can do. It’s all about ourselves and what we are capable of and comfortable with. We live in a results-driven world; if you believe that you can do it, you can. This is what confidence truly is.
4. If you were that Interviewer, what searching questions would you ask a candidate? Would you approach the subject of age, or motivation to work to ascertain commitment?
Well, I’m not interested in “searching questions”! What I’m looking for is a particular attitude. Not only that but I need somebody who fits in with my company’s philosophy and culture. The best way of doing this is to put the candidate at ease, to introduce them to team members and obtain a complete picture of who they really are.
5. When I was in my 20’s everyone cautioned you should never ask about the salary or the holidays. What is PC today? What questions should a candidate NOT expect or indeed ask themselves?
I go back to my previous answer. If it feels right to you in terms of the company or organisation and the people you meet – you can ask what you want! On the other hand, if it all feels awkward and strained, you have to give it up as a bad job and move on to the next opportunity.
6. In terms of skills in the marketplace, which skills do you think are already in short supply and going forward, what visibility do you have as to the shape of the market evolving and the type of skills that will be sought after?
In terms of my more mature clients, they are best placed to consider support roles for the next generation – whether they be with individuals, companies or organisations. My own children are typical of that generation: highly educated, stable family, big earners. They need support in every direction to continue their upward curve in their careers and growth. So my answer to the question is…. target the next generation for your skills either on an individual, company or organisation basis.
7. Is a portfolio approach to work more relevant in terms of time and energy as we age?
Most definitely. The skills, abilities and experience built up over a lifetime have applicability in a whole host of areas. Why limit yourself? One of my skills is to help clients identify the areas which are most satisfying and profitable to them – we must engage in lateral thinking.
Finally, I’ll leave you with a few words which encapsulate the philosophy which I and my clients work towards:
Thinking
It’s All In The State Of Mind
by
Walter D. Wintle
If you think you are beaten, you are;
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win, but you think you can’t,
It is almost a certain- you won’t.
If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost;
For out in this world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will
It’s all in the state of mind.
If you think you’re outclassed, you are;
You’ve got to think high to rise.
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win the prize.
Life’s battles don’t always go
To the stronger or faster man;
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the one who thinks he can!
