This blog is aimed predominantly at female staff working in Higher Education in the UK. There are many talented and brilliant women working in Higher Education. Despite this, the Gender Pay Gap reveals persistent inequalities; more male than female staff continue to occupy higher paying roles. Much of the valuable work women do goes unrecognised. Women are often overlooked in promotion rounds. Yet there is so much untapped potential in our workplaces! Most of the responsibility for addressing these issues sits with Universities. We still work within structures which have been designed by and which favour men. These are not always as flexible as they need to be. However, there is much we can do to improve our odds of career success and progression.
COVID has caused many of us to re-evaluate our lives and to reflect on what’s important. Most of us will spend around 50 years in work. Life is too precious and too short to be stuck in roles where we are unable to develop our full potential. Universities are currently struggling to fill vacant posts within Professional Services, so it’s currently a buyer’s market.
Whether you’re planning to remain in HE or considering other options, you’ve come to the right place.
Posts will enable you to take stock of what you have to offer. You can explore whether you are willing to step out of your comfort zone and apply for promotional posts. You’ll receive encouragement, expertise, tips, useful resources and encouragement to help you to take the steps you need towards achieving a more fulfilling future.
Each post will explore a different topic: career choices and how we make them; identifying and articulating your skills in CVs and at interview; your transferable skills; how to move between roles; filling skills gaps; making effective applications; identifying and harnessing your strengths; researching employers/job roles; developing your network; creating a confident mind set; losing your job and re-building your career; progressing in your career.
I will suggest steps you can take to move towards your goal. Let’s get started!
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” Lao Tzu
Anne Wilson, SFHEA