ABSTRACT

How do you plot the best career path? How do you know you’re heading in the right direction professionally? How do you effectively make a shift into a new industry about which you have little knowledge or experience? Looking Beyond the Car in Front, written by leading recruitment expert Grant Duncan, guides both senior and mid-career business executives in taking a more assertive and strategic longer-term approach to career choices. No other careers book includes insights from so many people who have steered their careers to the top of their professions.

The professional journey we’re on is typically the result of a mixture of hard work, good luck, and brainpower, but not always proactive choices and decisions. Drawing on 40 years’ experience of working with, talking to, and assessing executives with many different career journeys, the book offers an approach to set a longer-term mindset and a toolkit to help those who are thinking about their future career plans and, particularly, a career change. Grant has worked alongside some of the most successful business leaders, and the book offers unique insights from interviews with CEOs, successful entrepreneurs, and public and not-for-profit leaders from multiple sectors, including Roger Davis, Chairman of BUPA, Stevie Spring, Chairman of the British Council, Mind and Co-op NED, Stephen Carter, Informa plc Group Chief Executive, Tim Davie, BBC Director General, and Alan Jope, Unilever plc CEO.

When following the car in front may seem the easiest, safest and most rational course of action, it will not necessarily take you in the right direction. This book provides the perfect "front-seat navigator" in steering your next career move, and for those supporting career development, including HR Directors, coaches, and career management consultants.

chapter 1|3 pages

Introduction

chapter 2|5 pages

The Three Ages of Man

chapter 3|7 pages

And the Ages of Woman?

chapter 4|5 pages

Gen X, Y, Z ... Whatever

chapter 5|4 pages

On Entrepreneurs

chapter 6|13 pages

The Context for Success

chapter 7|5 pages

Looking in the Mirror

chapter 8|16 pages

Where the Rubber Hits the Road

chapter 9|5 pages

Defining Your Archetype

chapter 10|7 pages

Get Out More

chapter 11|6 pages

Going Social

chapter 12|6 pages

The Endgame Game

chapter 13|2 pages

Conclusion

chapter 14|17 pages

Twelve Journeys