Back to school: How to prepare for an MBA September 22, 2016 For those in the world of business, finance and management looking for a change of career – or even just a change of direction – an MBA can be a necessity. Data out this week from the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) shows that globally, 57 per cent of larger MBA programmes have experienced a [...]
How an 85 year-old coffee roaster perked up a business September 22, 2016 A coffee roaster looks like a washing machine on top of a barbecue,” says Joe O’Hara, owner of premium coffee importer, roaster and retailer Alchemy. “You put the beans in the drum on top while the burners underneath heat the drum as it turns.” And O’Hara has just acquired a rather special one. “It’s from a [...]
One-year MBA programmes grew in popularity this year – but are they better? September 22, 2016 In many ways, an MBA is a serious investment. Even if your employer has agreed to sponsor you, or you have managed to secure a scholarship, you’ll still need to decide how much of your time you are willing to put in – and whether the benefits of a less frantic pace of learning and more [...]
Should a pay rise be enough to keep you in a job you don’t enjoy? September 22, 2016 With summer over and work beginning in earnest once again, you may have begun to reflect on whether you’re truly happy in your current role. Perhaps you’re not finding the work meaningful anymore. Perhaps you feel at odds with your company’s strategic direction. Or maybe you just don’t feel like you fit with the culture. [...]
City A.M. Unregulated podcast: Manners maketh man? Debrett’s expert solves your business etiquette dilemmas September 21, 2016 Handshake or double kiss? Brown shoes or black? We've all been faced with an etiquette dilemma in our careers. Renée Kuo, co-managing director of Debrett's, joins us to answer those burning questions – and explains why it's still vital to observe manners when you're trying to make an impression. You can subscribe to City A.M. Unregulated on [...]
The office of the future? More traditional than you might think September 21, 2016 Remote working isn’t a new concept by any means, but in 2016 it’s far easier than in the past – there’s no need to run to phone box to touch base with updates, or carry a week’s worth of work in a stuffed briefcase. For the modern business the constraints of location hardly matter. Technology allows [...]
Four extra-curricular career boosters that will make your CV stand out from the crowd September 20, 2016 What with algorithmic bosses and a Brexit-induced hiring freeze, how do job candidates stand out from the crowd in 2016? University qualifications are a given, not a bonus, and those working in the City will likely already have a depth of relevant experience. For employers, picking has never been harder. One technique that promises at [...]
Pre-suasion: The art of always getting what you want September 20, 2016 There's a potent, yet little-recognised dimension within the practice of persuasion. It’s called pre-suasion – the process of gaining agreement on a message before it is sent. It works by first putting audience members in a frame of mind that fits with the message they’re about to hear, thereby intensifying the impact of the message [...]
As Neil Woodford criticises its attitude to funding startups, is the UK capable of producing the first trillion-dollar company? September 20, 2016 Luke Hakes, investment director at Octopus Ventures, says Yes. You have to believe the UK is capable of building the world’s first trillion-dollar company. Historically, the UK ecosystem lacked the weight of capital required to take startups to the next level, especially when compared to Silicon Valley. But that’s been changing and the UK has made [...]
Most chief financial officers want the corner office September 19, 2016 If you're a chief executive, it may be worth looking over your shoulder – for new research has found the nation's chief financial officers have corner office aspirations. According to findings from Robert Half, 86 per cent of finance chiefs want to be chief executive of their current organisation. Some 44 per cent of finance [...]