It’s a time of great change for me. In this case, great change happens to come with the benefit of a short career break; A chance to reflect on the past and contemplate the future. Also, a time to get back to writing content for you and all the other Trench Life readers (sorry that we’ve neglected you). In the spirit of change and looking forward, I thought I’d dabble in … [Read more...] about An AI has this advice to young professionals for 2023
Knee-deep (Standard blogs)
When’s the last time you prioritised yourself?
As a young professional, you know that working in professional services is tough. It's hard work and it can feel super draining. Every slavery analogy you see on audit/consulting subreddits gets you one step closer to handing in your resignation and trying to become a travel blogger from a beach in Singapore. I get it, I’ve lived it. Now, time for two wildly unpopular … [Read more...] about When’s the last time you prioritised yourself?
“Why doesn’t my manager listen to me?” – Communicating better with your managers
How often do you feel frustrated that your manager just doesn’t seem to listen to you or is not interested in your ideas? Do you blame the manager for not understanding you? What if it is actually you who needs to adapt? When we are fresh out of university and first join a new workplace, communication is often the most important skill to learn, and also the skill that … [Read more...] about “Why doesn’t my manager listen to me?” – Communicating better with your managers
3 Popular Career Myths – Fact or Fairytale?
As I continue to progress through my career, I have uncovered that there are a few things we have been taught about climbing up the corporate ladder or building a career that simply aren't true. Let’s get myth-busting! Career Myth 1: You NEED to absolutely love your job One defining factor here is the fact that job ≠ career. These concepts are often used … [Read more...] about 3 Popular Career Myths – Fact or Fairytale?
Taking the Leap of Faith – Why You Should Live Overseas for a Year
Travel has a way of bringing great fulfilment to our lives. If you've ever traveled to another country, you've broadened your horizons somewhat already. You may have experienced a radically different culture in India. Your palate might have been treated to some tantalising Spanish tapas. Perhaps your eyes have feasted on grandiose architecture in Paris, or maybe your emotions … [Read more...] about Taking the Leap of Faith – Why You Should Live Overseas for a Year
5 Ways to Manage Without Micromanaging: Avoid Being a Nightmare Leader
It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do. Steve Jobs Micromanagement is the Achilles heel of any high-performing team. From an organisational perspective, it typically leads to a decrease in productivity, lower employee engagement, and less innovation. Simply put: if you're a junior team … [Read more...] about 5 Ways to Manage Without Micromanaging: Avoid Being a Nightmare Leader
“How are you?” – The 3 most infuriating words in the English language?
An IM notification from a colleague pops up on your laptop. "Hi, how are you?" [Thinking: "I'm living through a pandemic and hate my life." ] "Good, you?" You scroll through the conversation history. This is the fourth time Samantha has asked you how you are... in the last 3 hours. You thought you were okay, but now you start to doubt yourself. The scenario repeats … [Read more...] about “How are you?” – The 3 most infuriating words in the English language?
Tomorrow Is Too Late – 3 Critical Lifestyle Reminders for Young Professionals
The beauty of this blog is that it allows you to learn from others’ mistakes before you make them yourself. Here are 3 things I’ve done, learned the hard way, and am still learning as a young professional navigating the big, big world. 1. Your future starts NOW Often while we are in the trenches the future seems like a distant dream. We’re young, wild, and … [Read more...] about Tomorrow Is Too Late – 3 Critical Lifestyle Reminders for Young Professionals
Lady up, Gents
By way of introduction, my name is Pieter Senekal. This is a line I was taught by a manager at the audit firm where I completed my articles. A simple line, but one that softened the blow of an otherwise very sudden transition from being a student to a young professional at a Big Four audit firm. As with any young professional, I’ve been fortunate to meet many amazing mentors … [Read more...] about Lady up, Gents
Mentors that Matter: Finding the Right Mentor at Work
I’m a firm believer in the thought that a single conversation can change your life. I keep this in mind when I am coaching others, and I do my best to align myself with mentors in my career with whom I find I have impactful conversations more regularly. Sadly, when most of us are allocated a team leader/coach in our organisations, we end up disappointed. We hope for someone … [Read more...] about Mentors that Matter: Finding the Right Mentor at Work