On Wednesday 28^th June we ran, ‘From Addict to Advocate: A Personal Story’ , where Aaron Abbott, Business Manager at Morgan Hunt, shared his story from gambling addiction to setting up a social enterprise education young people on the dangers of gambling.

We discuss:

• Aaron’s background and what triggered his gambling addiction
• The impact of addiction on mental health
• Coping tips and strategies for gambling addiction
• The roles of parents and employers in addressing and preventing gambling addiction
• Steps society must take to tackle this issue

Watch the full recording below

Further Gambling Information

• Support If want to find out more about gambling addiction or need some advice for yourself or someone you know, you can find further information and links to relevant charities on the NHS website here: http://www.nhs.uk/live-well/addiction-support/gambling-addiction
• White Paper You can find the white paper, ‘High Stakes: Gambling Reform for the Digital Age’ , available here: http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/high-stakes-gambling-reform-for-the-digital-age
• Safer Gambling Week Safer Gambling Week will run from the 13th – 19th November this year and is a fantastic opportunity to promote safer gambling. Find more information on their website here: http://www.safergamblinguk.org

Signs of Problem Gambling

• Borrowing money to gamble of pay off debts
• Unpaid bills and debt
• Unexplained absences from work or social occasions
• Being secretive about gambling habits
• Lying to conceal the extent of gambling
• Swings in mood or behaviour
• Preoccupied with gambling and unable to stop
• Spend increased time gambling online or in-store
• Bragging about gambling – highlighting wins, not discussing losses
• Losing interest in past times and hobbies
• Gambling stake increases
• Chasing losses

On Thursday 9th March we ran a webinar in partnership with the Black Leadership Group, where we launched the Black Leadership Job Board.

During the webinar we explored how the job board will promote leadership opportunities to black professionals and support employers reach a wider pool of qualified black professionals across the UK – the purpose of the webinar was to launch the job board and discuss why it is needed and how it will work.

The Black Leadership Job Board is available here: www.morganhunt.com/microsite/black-leadership-group/88

Speakers


Clare Keniry
Director of Strategy & Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Morgan Hunt www.linkedin.com/in/clarekeniry
www.morganhunt.com



Amarjit Singh Basi
Co-founder of the Black Leadership Group
www.linkedin.com/in/amarjit-basi-360a0987
www.linkedin.com/company/blackleadershipgroup



Robin Landman
Co-founder of the Black Leadership Group
www.linkedin.com/in/robin-landman-obe-ccmi-2229b214 www.linkedin.com/company/blackleadershipgroup

Watch the full recording below

On 25^th March 2021 Morgan Hunt hosted a webinar jobseeker wellbeing and resilience. We were joined by Alastair Smith-Agbaje (CEO of Lambeth & Southwark Mind), Dorothée Bonnigal-Katz (Frontline Clinician at Lambeth & Southwark Mind) and Suzanne Penny (Career Coach and L&D Expert. During the session we shared advice for jobseekers on how they can protect their mental health and remain resilient in their job search. Watch the full recording or read our summary below.

Covid-19 has significantly disrupted the UK job market. As most organisations prepared to meet the challenges of the pandemic, growth plans were halted. Normal hiring levels reduced significantly and restructuring in many organisations led to redundancy for many people. As a result, the competition for available roles has increased dramatically, and it is taking many jobseekers longer to secure work.

Although job markets are beginning to pick up, there are many who are still struggling with their job search. The effect of which cannot be underestimated. The experience of submitting applications for tens (sometimes hundreds) of jobs, attending interviews and facing rejection takes its toll on an individual’s wellbeing and ability to stay motivated.

As a jobseeker it is important to take care of your wellbeing and mental health so that you can continue to perform at your best. If you are showing up to interviews stressed, anxious and defeated, it’s more likely that it won’t go the way you hope. You’re far more likely to make mistakes and not communicate the value you can bring to your potential employer. So what can jobseekers do to ensure they don’t burn out?

Dealing with stress and anxiety

As well as feeling stressed or anxious, you are likely feeling tired from your job search. When you feel this way, the best thing may be to take a short break. It is important not to put too much pressure on yourself and to listen to what your body is telling you it needs. However, if you decide to take a break, you should still retain some structure and routine to your days. This will help you to still feel productive and positive. It also ensures you don’t lose your momentum. Don’t forget to include healthy habits like exercising and socialising with others.

Dorothée Bonnigal-Katz, who is a frontline clinician for Lambeth & Southwark mind, highly recommends doing something creative as an antidote to stress and anxiety. Having a creative outlet puts you on the side of love and life, helping to enrich and bring positive emotions into your day.

Dealing with rejection

Rejection takes its toll on us as individuals. It makes us question our self-worth and if we’ll ever make it. But it’s important not to dwell on these feelings.

If you were made redundant, remember that it is not a reflection of your skills and expertise. It was the role that was made redundant, not you, so have confidence on your ability. If you were rejected after an interview, know that you were invited to the interview for a reason. Someone saw something in your ability, which should give you confidence.

Viewing the interview as a learning experience can help change your perspective too. Focus on the elements of the rejection that you can control by using feedback to identify areas of growth and improvement.

If you have faced numerous rejection, you may want to take some time out to deal with the feelings of stress and anxiety, as well as build up your resilience again.

Building your resilience

Resilience is a resource which we build up and is then drained through the challenges we face. When we feel our resilience is low, we know that we need to take the time to build it up again.

The origin of the word comes from Latin, meaning both rebounding and recoiling. Resilience is our ability to bounce back, but in order to do so we must recoil from time to time. To do this, take a break from the tasks that have been draining you. Remember and reflect on positive reinforcement you have received from others. This will be help you rebuild your sense of value and self-worth.

Negative thoughts, which come as a result of stress, have an impact on how we feel and behave. But improving your mood can be as simple as telling yourself positive stories and affirmations   

How to remain positive when job searching and interviewing

After having many knockbacks and feeling like you’re not progressing, it can be difficult to remain positive and determined in your job search. To combat negative thoughts that might arise, try creating a mind map of testimonials and positive comments you have received. Refer back to this whenever you need a confidence boost.

Remember that although you have may have receive rejections, you have been invited to interviews because the hiring managers like what they see. With this in mind, try to relax in interviews and focus on emphasising the elements of your CV that your interviewer liked. And don’t forget to be prepared for your interviews. With preparation comes confidence.

Lastly, if you’re feeling anxious in an interview, view it is an opportunity to see if the organisation is a right fit for you. By changing your perspective, the interview becomes an opportunity for you to find the right fit for you. You’ll then feel enabled to have a relaxing conversation about what both you and the organisation bring to the table to determine if it’s a good fit.

By applying the tips above to stay positive and resilient in your search, your chances of getting the job will be improved as you’ll be able to bring your best self to your interviews. However, a positive mindset isn’t all you need to stand out in a competitive market. Here are some tips on how to improve your chances of getting the job:

• Refresh your CV on job boards every 7 – 14 days. This will improve your chances of being found by recruiters and employers.
• Join groups on LinkedIn
• Join a job search group
• Network with others in your industry
• Take online course and develop key skills
• Do some volunteering to fill your time and gain experience
• Do some form of interview and career coaching

Overall, it’s important to stay positive and hopeful. A negative mentality will not help you to achieve your goals. Pay attention to the areas that you can improve and listen to yourself if you feel like you need a break. Good luck!

If you’d like to speak to a recruiter for career guidance or help finding your next role, get in touch.