Fashion

APPRENTICE star and vice-chairperson of West Ham FC Karren Brady answers all your careers questions.

Today she helps out someone who struggles to sit down and work effectively due to furlough and an employee who wants a challenge by changing jobs.

Q. I’ve been on furlough since March and at first I loved having the new-found freedom, but I quickly got fed up.

Since then I’ve focused on my physical fitness and done some volunteering.

Now I’ve agreed to help my friend by doing some freelance work for the business he owns. The problem is, I’m really struggling to actually sit down and apply myself as I’m so out of practice.

Do you have any tips about what I can do to work effectively again?

Chris, via email

A. You are not alone, Chris. Most people who have been on furlough are facing the same pressures, so go easy on yourself!

It will take time to get back into the swing of things, but the good news is you can and will adapt quickly.

The first thing to do is structure your day and your time.

Create a proper working space in your home if possible, so you know this is the place you go to do your work.

Set yourself times to start and finish – and stick to them.

Come up with targets of what you will complete every day, and again make sure you stick to them.

The key is discipline. You will regain your confidence by getting the work done, as well as reaching out to your networks of people and looking for new clients so you can take on more work.

Make sure you regularly communicate with your friend so you can ensure the work you are doing is on track and completed as expected, and keep things as professional as possible to help both of you.

Finally, don’t forget to pat yourself on the back for getting back out into the working world.

Be a boss

Bossing It is Fabulous’ series about ordinary women who have launched incredible businesses.

It aims to inspire other women and show that if these ladies can do it, so can you!

Read more at Thesun.co.uk/topic/bossing-it.

Q. For the past year, I’ve been working in a supermarket. While I enjoy it, I really want to look for something that will challenge me more.

However, I have two kids at primary school and also help care for my grandad, who’s nearly 90, so I need to fit my working hours around school pick-up and checking in on him.

Retail seems like the obvious industry because of the flexibility around shifts, but I’m worried another shop role won’t give me the opportunity to stretch myself. I’m bored and I don’t know what positions to apply for Help!

Nicole, via email

A. Being bored at work often leads to burnout and will affect your self-esteem, so it’s time to put a plan in place.

I would start by speaking to your existing employer and asking whether they have any more challenging roles that you can apply for.

If they see you are ambitious and keen, who knows where it might lead?

If you decide you want to look elsewhere, first work out everything you have to offer – what do you have experience in, what are your skills?

Then think about the environment you want to work in, the people you want to surround yourself with and how you want to challenge yourself.

Look for positions that fit in with the hours you need, and if there are roles you like the look of but aren’t sure you have the experience for, apply anyway!

The worst that can happen is you don’t get the job. And even if you don’t get the job but do get to the interview stage, you’ll learn a lot about yourself, all of which you can take into your next application and interview.

Compiled by: Claire Frost

Karren can not answer emails personally. Content is intended as general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice.

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