A career doesn’t have to be a detailed plan or focused path. It is a series of jobs not necessarily connected. You receive remuneration in return for your time and skills. You don’t have to work on the job title and description so that it perfectly matches what you are doing so that your CV and LinkedIn profile look good. Essentially someone needs someone else with a particular set of skills and amount of experience to work for them and are willing to pay an amount that you both negotiate. The role is then executed under a contract or agreement of some form with taxes and insurances paid in the process.
Simple?
Somehow we have made it more complex than it should be. Recruitment agents, headhunters, job boards, CV profiling, keywords, AI matching, career consultants. Sigh. All wanting their cut for services rendered.
There are career days, career planners, and career mentors. Thinking of changing careers to something completely different? There are role transition experts, CV tailoring to highlight your transferable skills, career conferences and seminars, and industry experts to tempt you to work in their field.
How’s your career looking so far? You can rewrite history adding skills and tools you have encountered but not used, connect to people you met over a coffee and biscuit for a minute’s chat five years ago on the off-chance their connections may be of use. You can take free or paid online courses to enhance your skills and profile. They do come with shiny badges and rarely any substance. How about some accreditation from a company you’ve never even heard of? No one will check.
You could make a career out of making a career. Or you could just enjoy what you do and look for fun jobs without caring too much about how your ladder or path looks. But if you do there’s someone for that too.
Tag: career
Under and over qualified
I’ve been applying for jobs recently and I’ve received several “Sorry but you are over / under qualified for this position” responses. That is if I do get a response at all.
I recently applied for a role where several friends worked and were encouraging me to apply. The work looked interesting but the rate was far lower than what I usually command and I could do the work in my sleep as I was way over-qualified for the position IMO. Imagine my surprise when I heard back “Sorry but you are not qualified enough for this position”. My first thought was, wow, really? WTF? My second was to become somewhat irritated by this. If I was honest with myself I didn’t really want the position but I still put in the effort when applying.
I dwelled on this (for far too long IMO) and it wasn’t until I spoke to a recruiter friend that I was finally able to let it go. They said that telling the candidate that they are under or over qualified has become a standard response where the client has provided no feedback or has given this statement as their standard response. Some sugar-coat it by saying something like “Unfortunately you have not been short-listed at this time as we felt there were other candidates with more relevant experience”. Whereas the truth is usually something like “There were other candidates with the skills and experience we needed that were willing to work for less money”.
Just remember it’s just a game. Try not to take it personally. If you do get feedback, chances are it’s all BS anyway.
The work-life balance
Having a work-life balance is very important. You don’t live to work, you work to live. You work to pay the bills and have a comfortable life.
I’ve previously mentioned that it’s worth knowing how much it costs to fund your lifestyle. This is very important so you know how much you need to earn in order to keep a roof over your head and food on the table. If you can work smarter, not harder, all the better. It’s a great feeling to know that you only need to work three to six months a year to pay the bills for the whole year. You can then take time off or have long breaks between employments.
When I first started dating my wife (to-be), she was an employee with an annual holiday allowance of 25-days. We would look at the calendar for the upcoming year and note all the bank holidays and take those 25-days and use them to make weekends longer here and there and bank-holiday weekends even longer. We worked out that we could have short breaks every month. We would plan out where we were going next, somewhere in our home country or maybe abroad. Both the holiday itself and the anticipation of the upcoming holiday helped maintain a great work-life balance. We would often have 12 holidays a year. One year we had 14!
Another thing I like to do is to take “me days”. These are days when I know that no one is going to be home during the day. My wife will be out and the kids will be at school and I’ll have the place to myself. I’ll book it a month in advance so both my clients and family are ok with the date. Then I’ll start planning what food I’ll have. Maybe pizza or a takeaway. What snacks I’ll have and what beer I’ll be drinking. Not the large packs of beer but a carefully chosen selection of real ales from independent breweries. Then I’ll choose what video game I’ll be playing or movies I’ll watch. It may sound strange to you but this is heaven to me. I’ll get up, have my favourite breakfast and I’ll probably stay in my PJs all day long. I’ll play my video games and watch TV with no interruptions. After lunch I’ll open my first beer and continue gaming until the family comes home. Sometimes they’ll just leave me gaming till bedtime. Bliss!
Your “me day” may be different. Maybe you prefer a spa day or a day at the golf course or racetrack. Whatever your preference, the key is to just take a me day every once in a while to unwind, chill-out and enjoy yourself.
I had a colleague once to whom I explained the concept of ‘me days’ and who informed me that he couldn’t do it as he’ll be leaving money on the table. His thinking was that a day off meant a day’s money lost. Going from contract to contract working every day to earn as much money as you can is no way to live. Would you not rather enjoy what you do and be able to afford to take time off whenever you wanted?
Another rule of mine is that I don’t work my birthday. It’s the biggest ‘me day’ of the year so no way am I working that day. I’m far too busy celebrating me.
One other thing I’d like to point out about a good work-life balance is that the power people have over you is an illusion. Think about that for a second. When you are interviewing and are negotiating terms, at no point in the conversation does your new client say “..and I will have the right to berate you, to talk down at you, to shout at you when I feel like it, and generally treat you badly”, yet this happens. I’ve had clients shout at me as if they own me. They don’t. If you let them treat you this way then you are giving them the illusion of power and they will continue and this can lead to stress, anxiety and other mental health issues developing. The trick is to nip this in the bud quickly. Do it calmly and professionally but make sure that they understand that this is not acceptable and that if they cannot continue to be professional then you are prepared to walk away from the contract.
So remember that your health and well-being comes first. You are working so that you and your family can have a good life. You are not working just to work or just to earn money. You want a great life and you need money to do that, but not at the expense of your well-being.
Family and health come first!
Job security is a myth
In the past, many people would leave education and commit to a single company for their entire career, retiring after decades of service. Those days are behind us. Today, both freelancers and employees can expect to work for more than five companies over their careers.
Gaining experience across different companies provides valuable insights into what works and what doesn’t. Each role offers lessons, whether positive or negative. You’ll observe various approaches to solving common problems and may even bring your past experiences to the table, helping to address challenges in new ways.
Diversity in your career can be both enriching and enjoyable. Working across different sectors can broaden your skill set and expose you to unique experiences. For instance, I once found myself back in an office where I had previously worked, but with a different client, project manager, and team—only I was the constant. In another instance, I jokingly noted in a meeting that, if awarded the contract, I would have worked on every floor of the building, having already tackled projects on four out of five floors for various clients. I got the contract and completed the set!
Embrace new opportunities and don’t shy away from stepping outside your comfort zone—but always manage the associated risks.
Whenever I join a new company, I often encounter employees who express admiration for freelancing but deem it too risky. Even after discussing risk mitigation strategies, they often cling to the notion of job security. I once had a conversation with two managers in the company canteen. When I asked them what they meant by “job security,” they replied, “We are both managers here, so the company must give us three months’ notice.”
I then pointed out, “So you’re saying you have three months of job security?” To which they said yes. I responded, “I’ve just signed a one-year contract with your employer that neither side can terminate. By your definition, I actually have more job security than you do.” That made them reconsider their perspective.
To me, the concept of job security is a myth—largely a construct employers use to retain key talent. In my experience, companies prioritise their shareholders and profit margins. If you lack a vested interest, you may find yourself expendable. Look around: businesses are sold, and loyal employees are let go to boost profits. Ultimately, your primary loyalty should be to yourself and your family’s financial well-being.
Never say no to clients
Clients often react poorly to the word “no”, so I make it a point to avoid using it. This doesn’t mean I always agree; rather, I frame my responses differently. If a client proposes an idea that seems unreasonable, I might say, “Sure, but here’s what it will cost in terms of time, resources, and money.” Often, they haven’t fully considered the implications themselves and are looking to you for guidance. By steering them toward a more viable solution, you not only help them think critically but also build a reputation as someone who offers constructive feedback rather than just shutting them down.
Being a source of positivity can pay off significantly. Admittedly, it can be challenging, especially when projects go awry or when working with difficult individuals in a toxic environment. In such moments, maintaining your composure and staying positive can make a world of difference.
It’s also wise to distance yourself from negative people. They tend to view everything through a pessimistic lens, and their attitude can be contagious. If possible, avoid these individuals; you’ll be glad you did.
Occasionally, you may encounter opportunities that lie outside your comfort zone but sound intriguing. In these cases, I advocate for saying yes while also mitigating any risks. Be transparent about your skills and experience, and clearly outline any potential challenges. Once everything is documented, agreed upon, and approved, these projects can become both rewarding and profitable. Don’t hesitate to embrace new experiences, but always manage the associated risks.
Cultivating a consistently positive attitude takes practice, but the rewards are worth it. If you find yourself in a situation or workplace that you don’t enjoy, prioritize your mental well-being. Seek a way to exit the contract gracefully, ensuring you leave on good terms.
It pays to be flexible
In the world of freelance work, everything is negotiable. It’s surprising to see fellow freelancers who limit themselves to seeking only 9-to-5 roles for fixed durations of 3, 6, 9 months, or even a year. They often dismiss opportunities for short-term consulting, part-time engagements, or simultaneous projects with multiple clients. This rigidity can lead to missed opportunities.
One client once mentioned he couldn’t afford me because he didn’t have enough work to keep me occupied full-time for three months. I asked why he felt that was necessary. He explained that all the contractors he had previously worked with insisted on full-time commitments of that length.
I prefer to remain flexible, and this approach has opened many doors for me, leading to diverse and interesting opportunities. By flexibility, I mean:
Availability: I’m open to a variety of engagement lengths—whether it’s a few hours of consulting, a day here or there, a week, a month, or longer contracts of 3, 6, 9, or even 12 months. I’m also willing to be available on short notice, including weekends and evenings when needed.
Payment Model: I’m comfortable with different payment structures, whether it’s hourly, daily, or on a project basis, often with milestone payments leading to a final payment upon completion.
Services Offered: I provide a broad range of services, adjusting my fees based on what the client needs, deadlines, and the length of the contract.
It’s crucial not to take offence or get upset when negotiating. Some clients might try to negotiate hard, suggesting they don’t pay much for your level of service. In those situations, it’s best to thank them for their time and move on. If they can’t afford your rate, there are plenty of other clients out there that can.
Another important tip is to prepare for the unexpected. As the saying goes, plans often become obsolete the moment they’re created. Priorities shift, budgets fluctuate, and clients change their minds. Contracts might end sooner than expected, or you may find yourself taking on additional work.
Staying adaptable is key to thriving in freelance work. Embrace flexibility, and you’ll find many rewarding opportunities.
Don’t just work for money
Early on in my career I found myself at a large corporation where, after a project ended, they were reluctant to let me go. To keep me on they loaned me to another team, with my original team covering my invoices. The catch was that the new team didn’t have much work for me, so they assigned me the task of developing a Test Strategy document for an upcoming project.
By the end of the first week I had a draft ready for the project manager’s review. He suggested some revisions, and we agreed to meet again the following week for further discussion. Making those changes took only an hour, but this pattern continued for months. The new team had little for me to do, opting to leave me to my own devices while checking in weekly to review that one document.
It became increasingly absurd, especially when the project manager began critiquing the font choices and justification in the document. This “work” stretched on for six long months. I stayed primarily because I was awaiting an upcoming project with my original team, which promised to be much more engaging—and, of course, for the paycheck.
Those six months taught me a valuable lesson: I never wanted to work solely for money again. It was painfully boring, and life is too short to spend it counting down the hours at a job that doesn’t inspire you.
Realising that the company had no intention of releasing me, I began taking walks around the campus instead of sitting idle at my desk. I explored the on-site cafe, library, and communal areas, meeting and chatting with others while adhering to security protocols. This experience highlighted the importance of networking.
Now, when I wake for work and suddenly realise it’s the weekend, if my first thought is one of disappointment because I can’t work that day, I know I’ve found a job I enjoy. That’s the criteria I apply to every new contract I consider: it should be fun and interesting. Working with great people is a bonus.
Reflecting back to my school and university days, I fondly remember being part of the Amiga demo scene. I loved when my parents occasionally would leave for the weekend, allowing my friends and me to set up our computers in the living room. Over those weekends, we coded, created graphics, composed music, and assembled software to release. It was a blast—we enjoyed beer, pizza, and anime while working late into the night! For us, it never felt like work; it was pure fun. That’s what I seek in every job opportunity: a project that excites and entertains me.
Don’t just work for money.