Women Inspiring Women - Smash Your Ceiling

TheWomanAlchemist #SmashThatCeiling #womeninspiringwomen interview series gives insight into successful female leaders/role models, and their mindset carries on, this week moving on in the world of recruitment.

JULIE BISHOP

"Keep your seams to yourself if sceptics surround you - just keep going," says Julie Bishop, founder of Jobhop.co.uk, the site where employers and candidates socially connect. Julie is passionate about showing companies how to attract and retain talent and offering job seekers how to market themselves to improve their career opportunities. She is the author of "The social Jobseeker" and a writer for Glassdoor, and her articles have regularly been featured in Forbes, CNBC, and The Independent. Julie is also a public speaker on social recruiting, the future workplace, and digital natives. As well as the above, Julie delivers training for companies who seek to improve their employer brand and company culture. Other training includes social recruiting for employers and recruiters, and HR personnel. This interview is an extract from the book "STOP IT! It is all in your head" available now.

INTERVIEW WITH JULIE BISHOP

1. When you were a child, what was your dream job and why? When I was young, I can't ever remember wanting a job. What I do remember is wanting to be famous. However, a much wiser person told me all about the complications of being famous, which ultimately put me off. I then decided that I would try to be the best at whatever I do. I was only ten; everything seemed easy then! 2. Can you tell me when you started to consider yourself successful? I've never considered myself successful, but other people tell me I am, so I must be just critical. 3. I'm sure you have faced adversity like every business/business person: how do you motivate yourself and force yourself through the worst times? There's always a solution, but sometimes you're so involved that you don't see it. I take time out when things get tough, which sounds like I'm running away, but it's not. I will go to a sauna or a walk by the beach, anywhere quiet and away from the business. I completely switch off and recharge. After a while, new thoughts start to come into my head, and by the time I get back to business, I'm refreshed, motivated, and have the solution; it always works. 4. What are the best things about your job? I love everything about Jobhop, but I think the best bit is finding the perfect candidate for an employer in a matter of no time when they've tried every other method and have given up hope.

SUCCESS LEAVES CLUES

5. As Tony Robbins says, "Success leaves clues": what are your daily/weekly habits? So, what do I do that is hard to give up? Every day I seek new information on technology advancements because I want to be one step ahead and prepared. I walk my dog a couple of times every day because it's good for both of us. I go to the gym at least five times a week because I want to be strong and healthy; it must work because I'm never off ill. I also have a spoonful of local honey every day; it's supposed to be good for you. If I was asked to stop any of those, I think I would have withdrawal symptoms. 6. What do you think is the most significant barrier to female leadership? I don't believe there are any barriers to female leadership. It's about the desire for it, the sacrifices, the hustle, kicking down doors, and understanding that "No" means "Maybe".

WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN

7. What women inspire you and why? Valentina Tereshkova. It was 1963, and she became the first woman in space at 26. Although Valentina was a textile worker who had big dreams, she kept them to herself because female textile workers don't become astronauts, or that's what everyone else thought! So when it was time for her to go up into space, she told her parents she was going skydiving. 8. What advice would you give to your 16year old self? Don't laugh at the mobile phone. It will get smaller; ask for Vodaphone shares for your Birthday. 9. Your instant mindfulness fix… Do something that makes you live in the moment. For example, I horse ride, and when I'm on a horse, I don't think about what happened yesterday or what could happen tomorrow. All I concentrate on is staying on the horse. You have to enjoy the now, but it can be challenging when you're wrapped up in business, constantly planning for the next six months and analyzing what happened over the past six months. That's why it's good to find something where you have to concentrate on the now and nothing else. 10. And finally, something frivolous: the best thing about being a woman… The best thing about being a woman apart from shoes is the ability to give birth to another human being. For me, it's my son who's now 18. He's my best friend and is an excellent help with Jobhop, always bringing his youthful energy to it.

Top Takeaways from Julie Bishop

• Try to be the best at whatever it is you do.
• Keep your dreams to yourself if sceptics surround you – keep going.
• Understand that "NO" means maybe – Kick that door & hustle.
• When things get tough, take time out – there is always a solution.
• Do something that makes you live in the moment – Enjoy the Now!