By Jade Bennett With Middleton Executive’s third birthday just over the horizon, I’ve been reflecting on the last few years as a startup business, both professionally and personally. I’ve been asking myself what have I achieved? What have I learned? Would I do anything differently if I could? Pondering these questions has made me realise that we need to change the language and the image around what it looks like to start your own business. Yes, it is a lot of hard work. And yes, the hours at times are long and the pain is real, but more than that it’s an absolute blast and quite possibly one of the most rewarding endeavours I’ve ever undertaken. I can’t talk about other people’s experiences, but I can share my own experience in launching a boutique tech recruitment startup, and what I’ve learned. In short, I’ve loved every minute of setting up my own business, but it hasn’t been without it’s challenges… The startup mindset We’re all familiar with the rhetoric of business ownership and the sacrifices required, but if we change our language and mindset to be more positive and supportive, perhaps more people will do it, especially females. I’m not saying that it’s an easy thing to do, but for me it has been enlightening and has changed my life
How To Make Remote Working Work
By Tegan Paterson Remote working is increasingly becoming an option for office-based workers these days. The focus is becoming less about where and when the work takes place, and more about the outcomes. Workplace flexibility is in fact the number one thing tech professionals share with our Recruiters as being on top of their ‘dream job’ attribute list when seeking to change roles. After spending over a decade being office-bound, joining a remote-first working environment at Middleton Executive has been very rewarding and empowering, but not without its challenges. A self-managed approach to work requires discipline, self-motivation and exceptional time management. For the past year I have fine-tuned my approach and after some trial and error, I think I’ve nailed it and am reaping the rewards. I offer my top 4 tips to make remote working work… Planning, planning, planning! Did I say planning? At the end of every day, I put together a list of my top priorities for the following day. I like to start my day knowing exactly what I’m doing while it’s fresh in mind, and put absolutely everything in my calendar – even times I go for a walk or do yoga. I schedule thinking/reflecting time at the start and end of each day, and I also put aside dedicated times to respond to emails and administration tasks. This
Everyone benefits from a diverse and inclusive workplace
When you imagine a diverse and inclusive workplace, what springs to mind? Is it teams that are represented by equal numbers of men and women, women in senior leadership roles, and people from varying ethnicities, physical abilities and age groups?
Hiring for your start-up: what should you look for?
Scaling a start-up can be challenging. Budgets may be tight, roles are still being defined and systems put into place. Your first hires are vital to your company’s growth and success, and will become defining players in creating the culture. You need the best people, no pressure right?