Welcome to Raeburn Career Coaching

I’ll be having a session with a client and we’ll get onto the subject of how to answer questions about their strengths and weaknesses at interview.  Previously we’ll have spent a good bit of time working out what their skills are and what the evidence is for these, so I am expecting them to wax… Continue reading Focus on your strengths

What is the best way to negotiate a package when you are offered a new role? Before going to any interview, you should have a broad idea of what you would be looking for moneywise.  Research the market rate for similar roles as much as you can by checking what other organisations are advertising, talking… Continue reading How to negotiate a job offer

Most people would agree that having high standards at work is generally a good thing.  But what if you can’t help striving for perfection in everything you do?  There are all sorts of reasons why someone might be a perfectionist. It might be because of low confidence, or a desire to please others, or maybe… Continue reading Knowing when good enough is good enough

A SWOT analysis is often used by businesses to give a structure with which to plan for the future by identifying their Strengths and Weaknesses from within and Opportunities and Threats from the outside world.  So why not use it to plan your own career strategy? First think about your Strengths: positive things about you that are under your control… Continue reading How to do your own SWOT analysis

When you are trying to persuade an employer to offer you a job, you need to be really good at communicating your strengths.  Think of this as marketing yourself as a product by packaging up and presenting yourself in a way which will be attractive to your target market. You are the same person with… Continue reading How to communicate your strengths successfully

Living a life of fulfilment and happiness is so much more achievable if you have a healthy level of self-confidence. Too often when we feel our life is not going to plan our self-confidence is low.  So what can we do to try to improve it? First remember the things you’ve already achieved in life… Continue reading How to improve your self-confidence

Abraham Lincoln said: “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be .” With all that is going on in the world just now, it is more important than ever for us to make the most of our future lives and do everything we can to be happy. No-one else… Continue reading Where’s your fairy godmother?

Winston Churchill said “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” So just how do you keep positive if you don’t seem to be getting anywhere when you’re looking for a new job? Get up, get dressed and get going early.  Starting your day with purpose is key to ensuring that… Continue reading Keeping your spirits up during job search

One of the most useful seminars I ever attended was about selling.  Selling anything – products, services, yourself.  The presenter talked about how the language you use can help the listener to feel either positive or negative about what you are saying. Think of listening to someone talk.  If they include a word like “unfortunately”,… Continue reading Using positive language to sell yourself

The inhabitants of the Japanese islands of Okinawa are known for their longevity.  They also believe in the idea that everyone has an Ikigai – a reason for living, the source of value in your life.  They believe that to live a long and happy life you need to work out what this is. If… Continue reading Find your Ikigai