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!

I think it would be great to have an eticket available for this event with the sessions uploaded for those who cannot make it there in person.

I am overseas and have 'attended' events like this virtually in the past by way of watching videos of the main speakers and sessions - some leave it at that but some also include more information to download.

Thanks.

@ArcheryAnnie

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.)

Hi ArcheryAnnie,

Much as we'd love to offer everyone a consultation in the Career Clinic, we do operate on a first-come first-served basis; but if you book your Earlybird ticket now, and respond as soon as we send you the booking email, you will definitely get a place Last year everyone who wanted an appointment was able to get one. To maximise your best chances we'd advise booking soon (before the price rises on 16th April) and you'll then be emailed with the booking form with all the other early bird delegates.

OK, thanks, will do.

Am registered, but I have to say, I really did NOT love your eventbrite page. That was an awful lot of non-necessary information you asked there, which I found really quite intrusive and not helpful.

Eg: twitter handle. Lots of people (or work or family reasons) keep their internet streams separate. Lots of people aren't on twitter. But the form requires a twitter handle.

And making you state your job title when you are going as an individual is absolute nonsense, too, especially if you are contemplating a change of career, or have been in a job which you feel isn't right for you and which you don't wish to be defined by, or have a portfolio career, or simply don't want to be put in a box.

I don't think I've seen a registration form quite that bad in a while - and I've seen some doozies in my time.

Have just reported my own post in the hope of getting an answer, especially as there's a month before the event and presumably other people will still be registering.

@ArcheryAnnie

Am registered, but I have to say, I really did NOT love your eventbrite page. That was an awful lot of non-necessary information you asked there, which I found really quite intrusive and not helpful.

Eg: twitter handle. Lots of people (or work or family reasons) keep their internet streams separate. Lots of people aren't on twitter. But the form requires a twitter handle.

And making you state your job title when you are going as an individual is absolute nonsense, too, especially if you are contemplating a change of career, or have been in a job which you feel isn't right for you and which you don't wish to be defined by, or have a portfolio career, or simply don't want to be put in a box.

I don't think I've seen a registration form quite that bad in a while - and I've seen some doozies in my time.

Hi ArcheryAnnie,

We're pleased to hear you'll be joining us at Workfest - and extend our apologies that the Eventbrite page wasn't up to par. In the past we've found it useful to gather details such as twitter handles to encourage people to network, or reasons for attending so we can adapt future events. We've taken your comments on board and altered the form, and hope that this helps other potential Workfest attendees. Thanks!

Thank you. You don't even have to remove all those sections - just take the red asterisk off them which makes them compulsory.

I do wonder how many women have got as far as that form, found they just did not have the ability to fill it in, and discovering that you cannot register without those, closed the window in frustration.

It's the linkedin effect. I want to be able to network - but I dont want (like linkedin does, and your form did) to be strongarmed into revealing personal info and connections that I may wish to keep personal.

Now am on laptop and not phone, have had a look, and it's much better, thank you.

@ArcheryAnnie

Now am on laptop and not phone, have had a look, and it's much better, thank you.

Thanks for the constructive feedback - we very much want to respect people's confidentiality. Looking forward to seeing you at Workfest

Any idea when the email will come to book the workshops? I've emailed the contact given twice and received no response. Frustrating!

@MyNameIsPinkiePie

Any idea when the email will come to book the workshops? I've emailed the contact given twice and received no response. Frustrating!

Hi MyNameIsPinkiePie,

All booking forms for the Workfest career clinic have now been sent out to delegates. Please check your spam folder just to check it hasn't gone awry - and let us know if you haven't received it.

Thanks

I haven't, the email address is quite new so I don't have much junk email. I have sent two emails to the email address on the work fest page and had no response. I have sent another to Patrick after seeing this - the email in the confirmation. Seriously not happy as I booked in the first week partly because I was under the impression I could book the workshops before the cancellation period ended.

Do you have a phone number to resolve this - I've used the email service again to see if anyone bothers answering. But it would be good to speak to an actual person instead of no response to emails and two days to hear back on here. And any chance I can reserve a careers advise spot under my username and confirm my real name once I can talk to someone? I don't think I would have booked if I knew this was going to happen.

@MyNameIsPinkiePie

Do you have a phone number to resolve this - I've used the email service again to see if anyone bothers answering. But it would be good to speak to an actual person instead of no response to emails and two days to hear back on here. And any chance I can reserve a careers advise spot under my username and confirm my real name once I can talk to someone? I don't think I would have booked if I knew this was going to happen.

Hi MyNameIsPinkiePie,

Apologies for the lack of response from our end - we've had a switch around with staff of late but we're back on track now with emails! The career clinic booking form was sent to you last Friday evening - please could you confirm if you have received it now. Rest assured you will definitely get a consultation with a careers expert.

Thanks again!

@SnapeChat

I am a teacher aged 30 - I am looking to leave teaching by 35. Is this day useful for me? I am trying to work out my exit strategy.

Hi SnapeChat,

We'd like to think Workfest would be a really useful day for you! We've got dedicated sessions aimed at those looking to switch careers or launch their own start-up - so there'll be plenty of advice and information on how to make this transition into a career path more suited to you. Plus, there'll be experts on hand if you'd like to book a one-to-one consultation to discuss the matter further.

Hope that helps!