About this episode

How often do you stop and think about what really matters to you during your career? Every decade? Every week? When something big happens?

Despite the plethora of job search sites, CV crafting tools and professional networks available to us today, finding a job that ticks all your important boxes is still no easy task. Partly this is down to the hiring process, which can vary enormously from employer to employer. But it’s also about how well we understand our own motivations and what matters most to our potential future employers.

In this episode I explore how to figure out what we’re really looking for in our work lives, and I’m joined by Thomas Harwell, an experienced talent leader with a passion for fostering inclusive workplaces and empowering individuals in their career journeys. He is currently Head of Talent Engagement & Diversity Recruiting at Google EMEA and his background in talent management, recruitment, career coaching and diversity includes previous roles at Boston University and Boston College. He’s also a board member of Spiral Skills who support youth in South London in developing skills for the world of work.

We discuss the importance of self-awareness in career paths, how to avoid a messy mismatch of expectations between us and our employers, and how managers can act as 'freedom coaches' promoting autonomy and growth among their teams.