Practical guidance on hiring and careers.

A clear role brief is one of the most useful things an organization can prepare before recruitment begins. It reduces back-and-forth, helps candidates self-assess, and makes shortlisting more consistent.

A good brief describes the purpose of the role, the outcomes expected in the first year, the essential experience and skills, and the factors that are genuinely flexible. It should also be clear about location, work arrangement, reporting lines, and the decision-making process.

Separating essential requirements from preferences is particularly valuable. Long lists of 'must-haves' can discourage capable candidates who would otherwise be a strong fit.

Many resumes describe what a person was responsible for rather than what they achieved. Recruiters and hiring managers usually want to understand the difference you made.

For each role, consider the problem you addressed, the action you took, and the result. Where you can, describe scale or impact accurately — and only claim results you can explain and stand behind in an interview.

Tailor emphasis to the roles you are targeting. The same experience can be presented differently for different opportunities without changing the facts.

Your LinkedIn profile is often the first place someone checks after reading your application. Inconsistent dates, titles, or narratives can raise unnecessary questions.

Use your headline to communicate your professional focus rather than only your current title, and use the About section to summarize the value you bring in plain language.

Review your profile whenever you update your resume, so the two tell the same professional story.

Senior appointments generally take longer than other hires because the pool of suitable candidates is smaller and many are not actively looking.

A considered search typically starts with agreeing the mandate, the profile, and how confidentiality will be handled. It then moves through research, discreet approaches, assessment, and a shortlist for the organization's own decision-making.

Agreeing scope, responsibilities, timelines, and terms at the start makes the process clearer for everyone involved.