In today's quickie episode of the Dive Into Your Career podcast, I (Gina Visram) reaffirm my commitment to you - to support you on your early careers journey, enhancing a spirit of fun and optimism.

This episode is filled with 

• Gratitude
• Reflections
• Hope 
• Self-awareness
• Pledges

... and more and I hope you will stick around for more free (podcast and TikTok) and paid (soon to come - group coaching and job seekers planner) content, services and products designed to bring joy and impact on your journey from education to employment and entrepreneurship. 

Do stay connected, subscribe and share. Join the mailing list (links below) to receive the Hello Career newsletter. 

Do feel free to engage with this topic (or indeed with me) at any of the below:

• The Dive Into Your Career podcast page of the Your Career And Future website where you can also leave me a message suggesting a careers-related topic for a future episode
• Follow Your Career And Future on Instagram and TikTok
• Via "Gina Visram" on LinkedIn (where they may be a post with a link to this episode where you can contribute some wisdom / reflections)
• Sign up for the mailing list (for students and graduates... a list for their supporters will follow)
• E-mail me on [email protected] with any queries

Also - are you a job seeker early in your career?
Download the checklist: 25 UNMISSABLE TIPS TO SKYROCKET YOUR JOB APPLICATION SUCCESS RATE

You've got this!

I am not okay.

That's an important thing to admit these days right?

While I had intended to record and release an episode of the Dive Into Your Career podcast last week, on 6 November, my emotions in relation to the result of the 2024 US Election had left me reeling... and unless you wanted to listen to minutes of me sobbing... or stunned silence... I needed to step away for a week.

And I have...

Having paused and reset, somewhat...

Today's episode of the Dive Into The Career podcast is focused on "Why keeping politics out of it may be outdated career and life advice" - a topic which is the result of some of that reflection.

This episode will be useful for you if you:

• Were disappointed / devastated about the results of the US Election 2024 
• Feel affected by world events 
• Are increasingly aware that how companies invest and who they support, may have an impact on your own career decisions
• Want to reflect on how important it is to reflect on values - yours and those of companies you may be considering

If you needed to pause, reflect and acknowledge these recent political developments before getting back to your day to day life... I hope this episode helps you to feel seen and heard.


PS - As mentioned in the episode, here is a link to a website which shares some of the ways Trump's administration rolled back civil rights in his first term... and it is this sort of legacy which has many people, like myself, so concerned about a second term:

https://civilrights.org/trump-rollbacks/

Do feel free to engage with this topic (or indeed with me) at any of the below:

• The Dive Into Your Career podcast page of the Your Career And Future website where you can also leave me a message suggesting a careers-related topic for a future episode
• Follow Your Career And Future on Instagram and TikTok
• Via "Gina Visram" on LinkedIn (where they may be a post with a link to this episode where you can contribute some wisdom / reflections)
• Sign up for the mailing list (for students and graduates... a list for their supporters will follow)
• E-mail me on [email protected] with any queries

Also - are you a job seeker early in your career?
Download the checklist: 25 UNMISSABLE TIPS TO SKYROCKET YOUR JOB APPLICATION SUCCESS RATE

You've got this!

Inspired by the 2024 theme for Black History Month (BHM) in the UK, "Reclaiming Narratives" - this episode of the Dive Into Your Career looks at this concept more widely as well as specifically in relation to proudly owning your careers story. 

In this episode, career coach and host of the Dive Into Your Career podcast shares thoughts around: 

• Critical thinking in relation to history when it comes to who is telling stories and what their motivation is (as well as considering who is not telling their own stories)
• Hidden Figures - The brilliant film inspired by the discovery of the impact 3 black, female Mathematicians (Katherine Goble Johnson, Dorothy Vaughn and Mary Jackson) who worked for NASA during the space race 
• Reclaiming Narratives in relation to your career journey 
• Acknowledgement that with the global situation being what it is, there are many people who cannot own their own journey, due to their circumstances. Bisan from Gaza is named as an example (of the thousands and millions who may not have control of their career trajectory but certainly are reclaiming their story)
• Proudly owning your career journey and your career story (and what the difference is) 

Don't be a passenger in your own life. 

Ready to own your experiences and differences?
Time to level up and take some ownership of your trajectory?

This is a powerful episode for you...

Do feel free to engage with this topic (or indeed with me) at any of the below:

• The Dive Into Your Career podcast page of the Your Career And Future website where you can also leave me a message suggesting a careers-related topic for a future episode
• Follow Your Career And Future on Instagram and TikTok
• Via "Gina Visram" on LinkedIn (where they may be a post with a link to this episode where you can contribute some wisdom / reflections)
• Sign up for the mailing list (for students and graduates... a list for their supporters will follow)
• E-mail me on [email protected] with any queries

Also - are you a job seeker early in your career?
Download the checklist: 25 UNMISSABLE TIPS TO SKYROCKET YOUR JOB APPLICATION SUCCESS RATE

You've got this!

GCSEs. A-Levels. IB. University and apprenticeship choices. 

There are so many decisions that students need to make on their early career journeys. 

How can you as a parent / guardian,help? 

That's what we're talking about this episode of the podcast and I have at least 11 ideas for you so I hope you'll try at least one and let me know how you get on.

Do feel free to engage with this topic (or indeed with me) at any of the below:

• The Dive Into Your Career podcast page of the Your Career And Future website where you can also leave me a message suggesting a careers-related topic for a future episode
• Follow Your Career And Future on Instagram and TikTok
• Via "Gina Visram" on LinkedIn (where they may be a post with a link to this episode where you can contribute some wisdom / reflections)
• Sign up for the mailing list (for students and graduates... a list for their supporters will follow)
• E-mail me on [email protected] with any queries

Also - are you a job seeker early in your career?
Download the checklist: 25 UNMISSABLE TIPS TO SKYROCKET YOUR JOB APPLICATION SUCCESS RATE

You've got this!

Have you ever tried to engage your child/ren in conversations about careers, future plans and been shut down?

They haven't engaged. 

Have maybe even been dismissive. 

Not in a rude way per se but often due to their confusion and lack of clarity and not feeling equipped to navigate this stage of their education and early careers journey. 

In today's quick (10-minute) episode, I have had a great time, sharing a (as one of my new favourite sit-com characters Mr Kim from Kim's Convenience would call it) - "sneak attack" in relation to careers and future related conversations. 

Nothing sinister I promise. 

Purely a non-pressured... easy way to get kids thinking about and talking about skills and careers... without it actually being about them. 

Check out the episode to find out more... and if this was useful - please share it with your parent network. 

One of the upcoming episodes is another "parent perspective" one - focused on "How do I support my teen to make education and career decisions" so be sure to subscribe so you don't miss out. 

Do feel free to engage with this topic (or indeed with me) at any of the below:

• The Dive Into Your Career podcast page of the Your Career And Future website where you can also leave me a message suggesting a careers-related topic for a future episode
• Follow Your Career And Future on Instagram and TikTok
• Via "Gina Visram" on LinkedIn (where they may be a post with a link to this episode where you can contribute some wisdom / reflections)
• Sign up for the mailing list (for students and graduates... a list for their supporters will follow)
• E-mail me on [email protected] with any queries

Also - are you a job seeker early in your career?
Download the checklist: 25 UNMISSABLE TIPS TO SKYROCKET YOUR JOB APPLICATION SUCCESS RATE

You've got this!

At the time of recording this episode, it is Autumn. The days are getting colder, the nights are drawing in and the leaves are doing their annual magical process of changing colours and shedding.

Change.

It is a period of change.

In terms of how our academic year works, September and October represents lots of change too and it is this 'season' that has inspired this episode about "How to navigate transitions and times of uncertainty on your early career journey"

Whether you are in Year 11, 12, 13 or at university (all times of transition or change)  - I hope the reflections and tips in this episode will help you on your journey through new-ness, nervousness and second guessing yourself. 

There are some very specific ideas in here for you to implement which could speed up your journey towards setting in your new environment and / or feeling more confident about the (subject / institution) choices you are making. 

Welcome to the new season of the Dive Into Your Career podcast...

Do feel free to engage with this topic (or indeed with me) at any of the below:

• The Dive Into Your Career podcast page of the Your Career And Future website where you can also leave me a message suggesting a careers-related topic for a future episode
• Follow Your Career And Future on Instagram and TikTok
• Via "Gina Visram" on LinkedIn (where they may be a post with a link to this episode where you can contribute some wisdom / reflections)
• Sign up for the mailing list (for students and graduates... a list for their supporters will follow)
• E-mail me on [email protected] with any queries

Also - are you a job seeker early in your career?
Download the checklist: 25 UNMISSABLE TIPS TO SKYROCKET YOUR JOB APPLICATION SUCCESS RATE

You've got this!

In today's episode of the Dive Into Your Career podcast, we approach a topic in direct response to the fears of some students this exam season... what happens if I fail? 

First of all - if you are listening to this in real time, I want to make the obvious point that there is still plenty of time to actively work towards your exam success:

• Focus
• Study (in a variety of ways)
• Believe in yourself 

However, whether you are in the middle of exam season and panicking about failure; have completed exams and are worrying ahead of your results... or whether you are listening having received disappointing results - this will be a useful episode for you. 

What happens if you fail at this stage of your education? 

Your I/GCSEs, A-Levels, IB, SATs, university exams... 

What happens if you don't achieve the required or desired grades? 

Let's spend 25 minutes today and talk through:

• The importance of not gaslighting you into thinking that your results don't matter because... well, they do. The mainstream education system means that the better grades you get, the more immediate next options you have so in an ideal world, achieving the desired grades would be optimal 
• The fact that if you don't succeed in this year's exam season, you will be okay - especially if you enlist guidance including that from a qualified career development professional (who can be found in some schools, university and independently)
• Recognition that if you 'fail' this time - either your timeline or your vision may need to change - and that will be okay
• Some stories of students in my world who embody the notion of timeline or vision changing 
• Further stories of those who had to pivot due to 'failing' and are so grateful for how things turned out

If 'failing' is something you are fearful of right now - let's tackle it head on...

... and then get back to your studying. It's always best to do as well as you can. You've got this.

Do stay tuned for a last thought for anyone who is having a hard time studying due to despair over local and world events right now. 

Do feel free to engage with this topic (or indeed with me) at any of the below:

• The Dive Into Your Career podcast page of the Your Career And Future website where you can also leave me a message suggesting a careers-related topic for a future episode
• Follow Your Career And Future on Instagram and TikTok
• Via "Gina Visram" on LinkedIn (where they may be a post with a link to this episode where you can contribute some wisdom / reflections)
• Sign up for the mailing list (for students and graduates... a list for their supporters will follow)
• E-mail me on [email protected] with any queries

Also - are you a job seeker early in your career?
Download the checklist: 25 UNMISSABLE TIPS TO SKYROCKET YOUR JOB APPLICATION SUCCESS RATE

You've got this!

"Follow your passion"

Follow your passion

You ever heard that advice? 

Yes? 

Did it help? Hinder?

How do you feel about this idea?

In this episode of the Dive Into Your Career podcast, we take  a look at whether advice to "Follow your passions" is received in the positive way in which it is usually intended. This episode is inspired by a chat I recently had with a parent of a teen... a parent who said that as her child doesn't really have a sense of what they want to do in the future - the idea of following your passion feels more overwhelming than helpful. 

This got me thinking...

I mean, I have had conversations about this topic in real life but it is the first time raising the topic on the Dive Into Your Career podcast. 

When I was a teen, that advice was helpful for me, partly because I had a good sense of what I liked and didn't... and felt capable of leaning into my direction of interest (Spoiler alert: That career I was determined to do then is not the career I have now). 

But what about the students who are good at everything academically? 

Or ones that aren't currently self-reflective and aware of their interests

Or ones who don't know how interests can translate to jobs

Whether the phrase "Follow your passions" has positive or negative connotations for you in terms of your career development, this will be a useful episode - as it gives more context and technique around that notion. 

Do feel free to engage with this topic (or indeed with me) at any of the below:

• The Dive Into Your Career podcast page of the Your Career And Future website where you can also leave me a message suggesting a careers-related topic for a future episode
• Follow Your Career And Future on Instagram and TikTok
• Via "Gina Visram" on LinkedIn (where they may be a post with a link to this episode where you can contribute some wisdom / reflections)
• Sign up for the mailing list (for students and graduates... a list for their supporters will follow)
• E-mail me on [email protected] with any queries

Also - are you a job seeker early in your career?
Download the checklist: 25 UNMISSABLE TIPS TO SKYROCKET YOUR JOB APPLICATION SUCCESS RATE

You've got this!

Want to know the foundation for a happy career? 

You do? 

Yay... 

It's "careers curiosity". 

I promise this is no more complicated than it sounds... it is literally the process of being curious about careers. Jobs. Sectors. Companies. Entrepreneurship.

Curiosity is the process of being eager to know or learn something... and can take many forms. 

In this episode of the Dive Into Your Career podcast, we take a quick dive into discussing the importance of careers curiosity in your early career - and also talk about they key steps alongside that curiosity...   action and exploration. 

There's also a tip for a careers curiosity technique when you feel a bit stuck when it comes to looking forward in your career. 

If you take action on this, this can be an absolute game-changer for you! 

You'll be able to take away actionable tips from this episode though if you would like my support in implementing some of this - in the form of my upcoming SORT OUT YOUR SUMMER workshop - do sign up via the link. It would be my pleasure to help you make the upcoming one a great one for your early career development. 

Do feel free to engage with this topic (or indeed with me) at any of the below:

• The Dive Into Your Career podcast page of the Your Career And Future website where you can also leave me a message suggesting a careers-related topic for a future episode
• Follow Your Career And Future on Instagram and TikTok
• Via "Gina Visram" on LinkedIn (where they may be a post with a link to this episode where you can contribute some wisdom / reflections)
• Sign up for the mailing list (for students and graduates... a list for their supporters will follow)
• E-mail me on [email protected] with any queries

Also - are you a job seeker early in your career?
Download the checklist: 25 UNMISSABLE TIPS TO SKYROCKET YOUR JOB APPLICATION SUCCESS RATE

You've got this!

The word "Overwhelm" is used in many contexts and in this episode of the Dive Into Your Career podcast - we are taking about it's definition as having too much to deal with.

(Ha - a little but like how I felt when my computer didn't want to save this edited episode due to the disk being too full - Aaaaargh - but I digress!)

The timing and topic is inspired by a LinkedIn post from fellow Registered Career Development Professional Elizabeth Lloyd - and of course, here in the world of Your Career And Future and Dive Into Your Career - we are always taking about facilitating the journey from education to employment being in a spirit of joy and optimism, not fear and overwhelm.

(You can click here for the LinkedIn post mentioned - which includes some useful tips)

Listen in to get 6 top tips to support your overwhelm...

... and a good range of context before the tips - to set the scene and get you thinking of your own circumstance/s (as well as excuses and priorities)

Also - why don't you come along to a 90-minute "Sort out your summer" workshop if this is one of the priorities for you right now. For a teeny financial investment in yourself, I am happy to help you efficiently and enjoyably take some brilliant steps towards carving out a balanced summer including some game-changing career development opportunities.

Click here to buy a place on the workshop. 


Listen in.

You won't want to miss this one. 

Do feel free to engage with this topic (or indeed with me) at any of the below:

• The Dive Into Your Career podcast page of the Your Career And Future website where you can also leave me a message suggesting a careers-related topic for a future episode
• Follow Your Career And Future on Instagram and TikTok
• Via "Gina Visram" on LinkedIn (where they may be a post with a link to this episode where you can contribute some wisdom / reflections)
• Sign up for the mailing list (for students and graduates... a list for their supporters will follow)
• E-mail me on [email protected] with any queries

Also - are you a job seeker early in your career?
Download the checklist: 25 UNMISSABLE TIPS TO SKYROCKET YOUR JOB APPLICATION SUCCESS RATE

You've got this!