In episode 24, we chat with Jonathan Black about soft skills being the employability skills, how the hiring process is not all about qualifications and achievements, and how hiring for attitude is so important.

Jonathan shares his insights and practical tips for improving career prospects. From working in small businesses to large corporations, Jonathan's diverse background makes him the perfect person to guide students and professionals alike. With a career that has spanned continents and a proficiency in multiple languages, Jonathan offers a truly global perspective on career development. He also shares his insights on how to transition into a new career field and the delicate balance between career goals and personal aspirations, providing a nuanced view on the evolving nature of work. Jonathan offers so much advice, presenting fresh perspectives on early and later career development.

We discuss:
Why transactional analysis as a psychoanalytic theory is so important as a basis for understanding ours and others behaviour
The importance of soft skills when evaluating candidates and why skills such as teamwork and communication are so important
Hiring for attitude and training for skill, Jonathan talks about the importance of looking beyond qualifications and focusing on a candidate's attitude. Skills can be taught, but you cannot change attitude
How Gen Z bring the courage to challenge and express their views and the rest of us can benefit if we listen, respect and present our own ideas so together we make things better
No pride in ownership, Jonathan reminded us that true success comes from collaboration and shared ownership. Let go of the ego and embrace teamwork

Join us for this thought-provoking discussion to gain valuable insights from Jonathan’s experiences and to enhance your understanding of the dynamic world of career development and hiring.

And in let's take this offline, Annette Sloan and I break down the three biggest takeaways, plus we answer a question from our listener Jo, who has her first interview in 10 years and is looking for our advice. 



Get in touch: Cathal@betteratwork.com.au or https://betteratwork.com.au

Get in touch on Instagram: @betteratwork_

Get in touch on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-quinlan/

Send us a question or leave us a voicemail: https://betteratwork.com.au/contact-us/



About Guest

Jonathan Black has been Director of the Careers Service at the University of Oxford for the last 15 years. He has worked in the UK, Europe and the USA, in small businesses and large corporations, private and public sector. In his day job, he works one-to-one with students, presents at international conferences, and produces new ideas and programmes to help students in schools, university and beyond, to improve their career prospects.  Jonathan writes his own column at the Finanical Times called "Dear Jonathan" and is also an author. His book, How to Find the Career You've Always Wanted is a must read that really gives you the confidence and skills to choose your career - as well as the perspective to see the big picture and understand where you are heading.

Website:https://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/jonathan-black

FT: https://www.ft.com/jonathan-black

In episode 24, we chat with <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanblack/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathanblack/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1688681043657000&amp;usg=AOvVaw08GBd9l72b8YShmA9-kY2I">Jonathan Black</a> about soft skills being the employability skills, how the hiring process is not all about qualifications and achievements, and how hiring for attitude is so important.
Jonathan shares his insights and practical tips for improving career prospects. From working in small businesses to large corporations, Jonathan's diverse background makes him the perfect person to guide students and professionals alike. With a career that has spanned continents and a proficiency in multiple languages, Jonathan offers a truly global perspective on career development. He also shares his insights on how to transition into a new career field and the delicate balance between career goals and personal aspirations, providing a nuanced view on the evolving nature of work. Jonathan offers so much advice, presenting fresh perspectives on early and later career development.
We discuss:
<ul>
<li>Why transactional analysis as a psychoanalytic theory is so important as a basis for understanding ours and others behaviour</li>
<li>The importance of soft skills when evaluating candidates and why skills such as teamwork and communication are so important</li>
<li>Hiring for attitude and training for skill, Jonathan talks about the importance of looking beyond qualifications and focusing on a candidate's attitude. Skills can be taught, but you cannot change attitude</li>
<li>How Gen Z bring the courage to challenge and express their views and the rest of us can benefit if we listen, respect and present our own ideas so together we make things better</li>
<li>No pride in ownership, Jonathan reminded us that true success comes from collaboration and shared ownership. Let go of the ego and embrace teamwork</li>
</ul>
Join us for this thought-provoking discussion to gain valuable insights from Jonathan’s experiences and to enhance your understanding of the dynamic world of career development and hiring.
And in let's take this offline, Annette Sloan and I break down the three biggest takeaways, plus we answer a question from our listener Jo, who has her first interview in 10 years and is looking for our advice. 
 
Get in touch: <a href="mailto:Cathal@betteratwork.com.au">Cathal@betteratwork.com.au</a> or <a href="https://betteratwork.com.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://betteratwork.com.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1688681043657000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2e6uzpSOv-aESJsIxI1Isz">https://betteratwork.com.au</a>
Get in touch on Instagram: @betteratwork_
Get in touch on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-quinlan/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-quinlan/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1688681043657000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1XFHdQ17Pts25ozL-4PupJ">https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathal-quinlan/</a>
Send us a question or leave us a voicemail: <a href="https://betteratwork.com.au/contact-us/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://betteratwork.com.au/contact-us/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1688681043657000&amp;usg=AOvVaw354T1PKpCa8AZP680kO05J">https://betteratwork.com.au/contact-us/</a>
 
About Guest
Jonathan Black has been Director of the Careers Service at the University of Oxford for the last 15 years. He has worked in the UK, Europe and the USA, in small businesses and large corporations, private and public sector. In his day job, he works one-to-one with students, presents at international conferences, and produces new ideas and programmes to help students in schools, university and beyond, to improve their career prospects.  Jonathan writes his own column at the Finanical Times called "Dear Jonathan" and is also an author. His book, How to Find the Career You've Always Wanted is a must read that really gives you the confidence and skills to choose your career - as well as the perspective to see the big picture and understand where you are heading.
Website:  <a href="https://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/jonathan-black" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/jonathan-black&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1688681043658000&amp;usg=AOvVaw38dNN831bPbE6rBPvofZcb">https://www.careers.ox.ac.uk/jonathan-black</a>
FT: <a href="https://www.ft.com/jonathan-black" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.ft.com/jonathan-black&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1688681043658000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0DcVCu5MvsVfwnVv9Zcp9R">https://www.ft.com/jonathan-black</a>

The Better At Work podcast is your new best friend at work. It’s packed with honest, practical advice and science-backed techniques from a diverse range of guests to help you achieve betterness in your work, and life.

Better At Work is for everyone striving to be better and feel better. Whether you’re ready to take your career to new heights, or battling with the daily grind, your host Cathal Quinlan is here to help. 

By drawing on insights from leading psychologists, neuroscientists and performance experts, and Cathal sharing his own successes and mistakes as a leader, the podcast delivers proven strategies, tools and science-backed techniques to help you achieve betterness in your working life, one day at a time, because when work is better, life is better.

The Better At Work podcast is your new best friend at work. It’s packed with honest, practical advice and science-backed techniques from a diverse range of guests to help you achieve betterness in your work, and life.
Better At Work is for everyone striving to be better and feel better. Whether you’re ready to take your career to new heights, or battling with the daily grind, your host Cathal Quinlan is here to help. 
By drawing on insights from leading psychologists, neuroscientists and performance experts, and Cathal sharing his own successes and mistakes as a leader, the podcast delivers proven strategies, tools and science-backed techniques to help you achieve betterness in your working life, one day at a time, because when work is better, life is better.

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