Lost your career mojo? Join us at Workfest 2015

[ChrissieMumsnet]

Announcing Workfest 2015, our definitive women and work event which takes place on 16 May at 30 Euston Square.

It’s designed to help everyone attending to take their career to the next level – so if you’re thinking about returning to work after a career break with kids, or are after some advice on flexible working, kickstarting your career, or launching your very own startup, Workfest 2015 is for you.

As well as the return of our hugely popular Career Clinic – where you can book a one-to-one career consultation with one of our hand-picked experts - inspirational women like Jo Swinson MP, Shami Chakrabarti, Annabel Karmel and Karen Blackett will be sharing the secrets of their success.

One Mumsnetter who attended last year’s Workfest called it “a day where dreams started to take shape, fears were tackled head on, and plans for the future were finally put to paper” - find out more about the day’s activities and check out the full line-up of speakers here.

EarlyBird tickets are on sale now at £50, which includes a delicious lunch and lovely refreshments - so be sure to pick up yours before 16 April. We’ve also got a limited number of subsidised tickets available at £30, so if you’re on income support and would like to attend Workfest, send an email to [email protected]. These will be offered first come, first served.

We hope to see many of you soon - if you’ve got any questions or thoughts, do share them on the thread!

Had a great day last year. Look forward to it again.

What level is the event pitched at? Unemployed getting their first job? Returning to work after being a SAHM? Getting a senior/director level job?

I'm interested but always feel a bit nervous attending these things alone and not knowing anyone during the breaks.

Do people bring small babies? Mine will be about 12 weeks & is ebf.

Thanks!

Yes there were a few babies there. Did not hear them but saw them.

It was a great event. At the breaks I think everyone was a bit nervous, but bite the bullet and say hello. I met some really nice people there.

I am a recruitment consultant, and even though I was not there in a professional capacity, I found I was giving out lots of advice to the lovely people I met. I promote flexible and part time working in my job.

Great! At the moment he is quiet as a mouse as long as he's fed when he wants to be!

This is of great interest to me too, I would appreciate help with CV as I would like to change direction in career, not returning to work or really looking to start own business. Does anyone know if this the right place?
Advice on CV, agencies and such to approach, interview skills - is this a big part of it or just a sideline?

Dont worry about the break we'll all be in the same boat I guess.

Just booked my place!

I look forward to chatting with you all in the breaks over a . As Aura says, we're all strangers so just dive in with both feet and chat, you never know who you might meet and what you might learn.

Excited!

@boxofissues

What level is the event pitched at? Unemployed getting their first job? Returning to work after being a SAHM? Getting a senior/director level job?

I'm interested but always feel a bit nervous attending these things alone and not knowing anyone during the breaks.

Hello boxofissues,

Workfest will cover everything from returning to work, advice on flexible working to starting your own business - so there's something for everyone regardless of the stage in your career. All the sessions are listed in the programme here.

Don't feel nervous - our events are very friendly and most delegates come away having made lots of new contacts. And we'll be on hand if you have any questions or fancy a chat too!

@MaximumVolume

Do people bring small babies? Mine will be about 12 weeks & is ebf.

Thanks!

Please feel free to bring along your baby! Great to see the kids starting young

@AuraofDora

This is of great interest to me too, I would appreciate help with CV as I would like to change direction in career, not returning to work or really looking to start own business. Does anyone know if this the right place? Advice on CV, agencies and such to approach, interview skills - is this a big part of it or just a sideline?

Dont worry about the break we'll all be in the same boat I guess.

Hi there AuraofDora,

CV technique and interview skills will definitely be a big part of Workfest this year - there'll be a CV masterclass from expert Mildred Talabi, an interview workshop with career coach Diana Norris, CV advice from Mumsnet favourite Zena Everett as well as the return of our Career Clinic where you'll be able to receive one-to-one advice when you book a consultation (we'll email you in advance notifying when to register!)

Hope that helps!

Fab Chrissie sounds just the thing I am after!

Thanks, Chrissie! I'm looking forward to it. DS2 has already been to a few meetings with me & he's only 6 weeks old!

Given that MN is a parent's discussion forum, why is it, by definition, a woman's event?

I am fortunate enough to not need help at this point in my career, but there may well be a time in the future when the advice offered could be very useful.

I'm asking genuinely, not at all trying to be goady

maximum I took my baby last year - actually dp sat in the reception area and I nipped out to feed. All mn and venue people were lovely and accomodating.

I found it all really useful. And met some inspiring women who I didn't know beforehand in the breaks. Hi if you are here!

I'd recommend it.

Ooh ooh CalicoBlue, can I ask you, how does one go about finding a recruitment consultant who is likely to be able to deal with your specific skills?

I need ideas for what else I can do as I am mightily cheesed off with my career, but am woefully uninspired as to what I might be equipped for. I thought talking to a recruitment consultant might be a good idea.

Hi 1hamwich4

Most recruitment consultants will work in specific sectors and can give advice particular to their sector.

If you are not sure what you want to do and how to identify your transferable skills you might be better with a career coach/consultant.

If you want to pm me and tell me what you do, I might be able to help though.

@AuraofDora

Fab Chrissie sounds just the thing I am after!

Good to hear it - looking forward to seeing you there!

@MaximumVolume

Thanks, Chrissie! I'm looking forward to it. DS2 has already been to a few meetings with me & he's only 6 weeks old!

You're welcome! We're bracing ourselves to meet this young entrepreneur

@partialderivative

Given that MN is a parent's discussion forum, why is it, by definition, a woman's event?

I am fortunate enough to not need help at this point in my career, but there may well be a time in the future when the advice offered could be very useful.

I'm asking genuinely, not at all trying to be goady

Hi partialderivative,

That's a good question - whilst Mumsnet is indeed a joint parent's discussion forum, it does seem that women face a unique set of issues at work - so we felt it made sense to create an event tailored specifically to these problems.

Of course, now that shared parental leave is due to come into play, we may well see the demographic shift at our events in future, and our program will be tailored to reflect that. As it stands at the moment, women generally take more maternity leave, so we've found there a greater demand for support sessions around getting back into the workplace. Even if you're not trying to return to work after maternity leave, it can be tricky trying to switch career paths or get the confidence to start up your own business - so Workfest aims to cover all these topics. The range of sessions and workshops are really inclusive and we'd like to think that anybody would feel welcome and take away some valuable information.

Hope that answers your question

@1hamwich4

Ooh ooh CalicoBlue, can I ask you, how does one go about finding a recruitment consultant who is likely to be able to deal with your specific skills?

I need ideas for what else I can do as I am mightily cheesed off with my career, but am woefully uninspired as to what I might be equipped for. I thought talking to a recruitment consultant might be a good idea.

Hi 1hamwich,

Just dropping by to suggest booking a consultation with one of our career experts at our Workfest Career Clinic. You can browse our professionals here. We'll email you a form in advance of the event to enable you to sign up in advance for a 10 minute 1 to 1 consultation with your expert of choice

Thanks for your reply Chrissie.

it does seem that women face a unique set of issues at work - so we felt it made sense to create an event tailored specifically to these problems.

That makes sense.

May I ask, please - is there generally room for anyone who wants to book a session at the career clinic? Because it's the thing I'm most interested in, and I don't want to spend £50 on a ticket if there is only a small chance of getting a slot.

(I know there's lots of other cool stuff going on, but that's the selling point for me.)