In part two of this Guardian series on developing your business writing, Julie Wales explores the extra elements that can add credibility and colour to your key messages.
How to improve your professional writing, part one →
In the first part of her Guardian series on sharpening up your business writing, Julie Wales offers some practical tips on how to ramp up the clarity of your work.
Read MoreGraduate survival guide: how to get your first job →
Even before you have had time to send back the hired mortar board and gown, your focus will have shifted to proving what makes you shine above your peers in the job market - aside from your qualifications.
Employers need to know why you may be a good fit for their particular company or organisation. Your focus has to be on reassuring them that they've found the right person – you!
Read MoreHeading into your first job? Get off to a flying start →
Starting your first job can feel daunting. Here are some tips to ensure you do more than survive those initial weeks.
Read Moreprofessional coaching advice: good enough for Olympians, but not for you? →
Usain Bolt and Mo Farah celebrate their Olympic victory. Photograph: Tom Jenkins
Comparisons between the world of sport and business are commonplace. But while the coolest sportsman in the world espouses the virtues of his coach, why does coaching still meet such resistance in the professional arena?
I still feel disappointed by the level of embarrassment that often accompanies having a professional coach. To some extent, this comes from the assumption that employing support may be a sign of weakness, or a broader suspicion of what professional coaches actually do.
Although the David Brent parodies of professional development seem to hold less sway as coaches have raised their game, a negative stigma still seems to remain about the role of the professional coach. While for some it would never be their choice, for others it can be transformative.
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