Simply Hired UK Blog

Mother Daughter Duos

As Mothers Day approaches (March 14th) we thought we’d take a look at some well known mother-daughter teams who work together and have double the fun. Mother-daughter duos can do well, and working with someone who knows you better than anyone and who you can trust is important. Combining family and business—whether you’re following your mother’s footsteps or joining forces with her—means there is someone older (and most likely wiser!) to advise you and guide you through any problems.  

Goldie Hawn and Kate Hudson are the ultimate golden duo of the mother-daughter power couple. Following in her mum Goldie’s highly polished and much loved footsteps, Kate has carved out a great name for herself, and it’s thanks to sage advice from her mum that she approaches her job with such a realistic and down to earth outlook: “The good thing [about having the mum I have] is that I know the industry I’m in will suck you in and spit you out. I love my life and the work, that’s what fuels me... but family is more important to me than anything.” (Quote from Reader’s Digest interview)

Another mother-daughter team who have worked together well and achieved great results is Rhonda Byrne, author and producer of award winning novel and film, ‘The Secret’ and her daughter Skye, who was on the production team for the film version.  Skye handed her mum a copy of book ‘The Science of Getting Rich’ during a tough time which inspired her to write ‘The Secret’, and the two of them haven’t looked back since: Rhonda wrote the highly acclaimed novel, whilst Skye worked with her author mother on producing the successful film version. 

Working as such a close (and close-knit) team could work out disastrously, as those you’re closest to can be the ones who you simply can’t work with (call it creative differences!) But in other instances collaborating with someone you’ve known for your whole life can work because you complement each other’s strengths and balance out each other’s weaknesses. 

Few people know you better than your mum so let’s hear it for the family teams of two, who show us that if you get the balance right, working together can bring a shared success. 

Others celeb mother-daughter teams:

• Jerry Hall & Elizabeth Jagger (both actresses and models)
• Demi Moore & Rumer Willis (actresses)
• Nanette Newman (actress and author) and daughter Emma Forbes (radio & TV presenter)
• Sharon & Kelly Osbourne (media personalities)

Top 5 Qualities Employers are Looking For

Each employer looks for specific qualities in potential candidates depending on the position they’re hiring for, however, there are common traits in people that benefit an employer – no matter the role, company or industry. Embodying these qualities, or working towards them, will make you an asset at any company and benefit potential employers.

• Long term potential. Employers look to hire people that will spend a long time within that company – and not only in the initial role for which they are hired. Companies look for employees who can acquire versatile abilities and move up within the company. Candidates that show excitement for their career path and the future of the company are more likely to be hired.

• Works well with others. People spend a lot of time at work, so the ability to get along with the people you work with is crucial. Hiring managers realise that they are not only hiring a person for a role, but as part of an entire company. Candidates need to be able to respectfully work with the team to achieve the company’s common goals.

• Can work independently. Though employers need people who can work well with others, they also need people who can work without a lot of supervision. Companies look for people who can get projects done without being told each step to make, take responsibility for their own work and have the initiative to accomplish goals above and beyond their initial scope.

• Ability to multitask. With the world of business becoming more fast-paced, companies need to hire people who can quickly and effectively get work done – and lots of it. This makes the ability to perform a variety of tasks, and even multiple tasks at the same time, a great asset to an employer.

• Problem solving & adaptability. Businesses have to constantly change and adapt their market strategies to stay competitive. Therefore, companies need people who not only adapt to changes quickly but can find solutions to problems in innovative and creative ways.

If you fit the bill, there are plenty of employers out there looking for candidates like you! Start your job search today.

Job Seekers’ Week in Review

A roundup of the most useful articles and blog posts for job seekers over the past week. 

This week...

• At Job Market Success, Claire Whitmell wraps up the series The Basics of Writing a CV with How to write a persuasive and compelling CV. 

• As part of WalletPop UK’s Baby Boom Special, Julia Kollewe takes a look at the reality of mums in the workplace in Does a baby have to destroy your career?

• The Mirror spotlights career opportunities helping others in Care to make a difference?

• Owen Powell at the Guardian offers more advice for creating a good relationship with your recruiter in part two of Interview questions to ask your recruitment consultant.

• On our SimplyBlog, we take a look at what it means to be a team player in the wake of the John Terry – Wayne Bridge scandal in There is no ‘I’ in ‘Team’ but there should not be a ‘Me’ either...

• At Jobsite Insider, Vince helps us understand what happens to a CV once it leaves your hands in A day in the life of a CV.

Have a great week and happy searching!

There is no ‘I’ in ‘Team’ but there should not be a ‘Me’ either...

The recent news that Wayne Bridge is to step down from the England squad to save straining the team’s relationship with their Captain, John Terry, illustrates how important loyalty and actions can affect a team.  Team building isn’t easy and with so many personalities in a mixing pot, how can the individual work as a team in the workplace? We’ve listed a few tips that ensure you become a successful part of a team who contributes to your company’s efforts and becomes an invaluable member of your department.

1. Vocal Presentation – Make a conscious effort to replaces your ‘I’s’ to ‘We’s’ when speaking about work that you have done as part of a team. Remember that any work that you do is as part of a team and your colleagues may have helped you achieve your accomplishments. Showing this in conversation will present you as a genuine team player who thinks collectively.

2. Understand Why the Team Has Been Created – Learning about the function of your team as part of your company’s goal and your role within that team will make achieving you goals easier. The purpose of your team may be to increase brand recognition, stronger internal communication and sales lead generation, and you are one component with a specific role that can help them achieve this.

3. Finish Your Assignments – Always finish a task you have been given – it will show commitment and ensure your colleagues don’t have to pick up the slack for you. If you are struggling, ask for help to show that you are still determined to pull your weight without leaving your team in the lurch.

4. Ask Questions – Being inquisitive isn’t a crime.  Be thoughtful of the questions you ask but  do ask questions that you need answers for, your team will appreciate flagging something that might not make sense and offer you a perspective you might not have thought about.

5. Keep a Cool Head – There could be times when disagreements and heated debates could arise. Remember to keep things professional. If you are strongly opposed to an idea, weigh out the pros and cons and choose your battles well. Contesting with a team leader because you think you can do a better job them him and letting every other team member know that, isn’t going to make you appealing...it makes you predatory.

 

Job Seekers’ Week in Review

A roundup of the most useful articles and blog posts for job seekers over the past week.

This week...

• On the Risesmart blog, Sarah writes about the importance of recession-proofing your career in Do you have staying power in your job?

• At This is Money, Katie Taylor highlights success stories of job seekers who have leveraged internships in Interns point the way to winning a job.

• Harry Freedman ponders the reality of the dream job in Living the dream in Guardian Careers.

• On our own SimplyBlog we round up some top advice for job seekers from successful professionals in Learn from the Best.

• Vince reports on the importance of learning a foreign language in It’s all foreign to us! Time to learn a language? on the Jobsite Insider blog.

• At Job Market Success, Clare Whitmell details current best practices in CV writing in How to format your CV.