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Recruiter insights, practical job search advice and career strategies from more than 20 years in talent acquisition

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The 9-Box Grid: How Companies Decide Who Gets Promoted and Who Gets Managed Out

July 27, 2026 • Career Advice

Most people think career progression is all about hard work and hoping someone notices. But behind closed doors? There’s a little tool doing a lot of the deciding. It’s called the 9-box grid. And if you work in a corporate environment, there’s a good chance you’ve already been placed on it — even if you’ve never seen it. So let me…

How Long Should a CV Be?

July 27, 2026 • CV Advice

One of the questions I get asked all the time is: “How long should my CV be?” The answer is simple. As long as it needs to be, and not a page longer. I’ve been in recruitment for almost 20 years and I’ve read thousands of CVs. I’ve interviewed people with one-page CVs and I’ve interviewed people with five-page CVs.…

Why Am I Not Getting Job Interviews?

July 27, 2026 • Job SearchCV Advice

If you’ve applied for 20, 50 or even 100 jobs and you’re not getting interviews, it’s easy to assume the problem is you. It probably isn’t. More often than not, the problem is your CV, your job search strategy, or the types of jobs you’re applying for. I’ve spent almost 20 years in recruitment and talent acquisition, and I’ve reviewed…

Nobody Talks About This Part of Job Searching

July 23, 2026 • Job Search

Most job search advice focuses on what you need to do. Fix your CV. Improve your LinkedIn profile. Prepare better interview answers. Apply for more jobs. Follow up with recruiters. Network more. All of that can be useful, but it misses one of the hardest parts of looking for work. What it starts doing to your head. At the beginning…

Why You Keep Failing Final Interviews

July 22, 2026 • Job Interviews

You’ve smashed the screening call. You’ve impressed in the first interview. You’ve made it all the way to the final round. And then… nothing. Rejection. It’s one of the most frustrating parts of the job search — getting so close, only to lose out right at the end. Here’s the thing: if you’re making it to final interviews, your skills…

The First 30 Seconds of Your CV Decide Everything

July 22, 2026 • CV Advice

Here’s the brutal truth: recruiters don’t read CVs. They skim them. I’ve been in recruitment and talent acquisition for almost two decades, and I can tell you the average recruiter spends no more than 30 seconds on a CV during that first look. In fact, for most, it’s closer to 6–10 seconds before they decide whether to keep reading or move on.…

Why Researching Your Future Boss is Just as Important as the Job Itself

July 22, 2026 • Job Interviews

When you’re preparing for an interview, researching the company is important, but equally crucial is researching your interviewer. After all, this person could end up being your boss, and their influence on your career will be massive. A good boss can shape your career trajectory, help you grow, and create a supportive environment. On the flip side, a poor boss…

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