Career Coaching Testimonials

Mike helped me finesse my CV so that it really highlighted my career achievements and would stand out from the crowd. Having been in a job for 5 years since school, I was pretty nervous about an interview. We went through the job description, Mike asked potential questions and we discussed the answers and examples I could give. It was hugely beneficial, I walked into the interview prepared and as confident as I could be. 1 interview, 1 job offer… Thank you so much!

Mike was a huge help and resource for me throughout the turbulent process of securing a graduate job post my Masters’ degree. Beginning with providing advice on my CV content and structure and helping with finding job opportunities and then progressing on to helping research specific companies I applied for and aiding with interview practice by thinking of possible questions, Mike helped me to feel prepared and ready to face the entire application process. Crucially, his supportive and personalised approach meant that I always felt able to talk to Mike about any issues I was having with applications, and this helped to give me the confidence to succeed and secure my graduate role and I wish to thank Mike again for his invaluable support.

I would say that it was a helpful and informative experience. It provided a different perspective from someone who has experience with how companies recruit that helps understanding. It provides a lot of information that seems obvious and makes a lot of sense, but that people may not necessarily think of themselves when applying. I found the entire workshop helpful. The information regarding CVs and interviews was particularly useful and offered a different perspective. Thanks,

I contacted Mike after graduating to get help in focusing on my career search. I had a pretty good idea of what direction and type of job I wanted but getting access to live opportunities and over the first application stage was proving difficult.

Mike challenged me but constructively around my CV content and covering letters. He offered good contacts in the graduate recruitment market and gave me advice as to which companies were realistic employers. However, what I found most useful was his help in preparing for interviews and assessment days. He knows exactly what recruiters are looking for and this really helped me land a great job in one of my top target companies.

I also think it’s key to note that Mike always keeps in touch, motivating his clients and making sure that he is involved with the career search.

I recall in my most recent interview, in which I was successful Mike had helped me with all stages of the interview. Mike helped me prepare for the likely environment of the interview, as well as preparing me with questions and what to prepare by providing me with insight and content. His experience, knowledge and guidance really helped me confidently approach the interview with aggregate expectations of what the interview may entail.

As it was highly competitive, I found his help in preparing a marketing brief with other candidates during a group assessment extremely advantageous. He guided me on my manner and how to come across in these events. For example, making sure I showed emotional intelligence and humility whilst also being seen as a leader in the discussions. When they called to offer me the role, they cited this as being one of the attributes that stood out!

Thank you – Mike.

Working alongside Mike has been an invaluable experience that improved my CV, which ultimately helped lead to a job offer. The advice Mike gave me made sure my CV would stand out against other applicants and help to secure interviews. Mike also helped by researching several job opportunities based on conversations about my career interests, which presented jobs that I wouldn’t have known about or even considered. Mike has been extremely reliable in answering any questions and providing feedback quickly, which has been reassuring during the application process which can be difficult at times. Additionally, Mike has really helped to boost my confidence, through showing me some of the opportunities and pathways after university, which has been extremely helpful at this confusing time. I would recommend Mike to anyone wanting to start their career, as he has helped to take the pressure and uncertainty off securing job opportunities. Thank you for all your help over the past few months Mike, I really appreciate it.

Mike’s help was invaluable in helping me secure a graduate job. He gave me so much confidence in my ability even when I was feeling quite demoralised by the lengthy application processes! I particularly benefited from Mike’s advice to formulate my interview answers in a structured, story-like way to engage the interviewer. He went above and beyond my expectations, providing me tailored, personalised advice throughout the process, and overall being a thoughtful, knowledgable and inspirational mentor. I can’t thank Mike enough for his help and for helping me believe in myself as much as he did!

As a school-leaver, my son had no interview experience at all.  Whilst I felt that I could coach him to some extent, I realised that he would benefit from the professional services of an experienced recruiter and career coach.  I was aware of Mike’s services and made contact.  Mike responded within a very short timeframe and immediately scheduled a video call with myself and my son. I was extremely impressed by Mike’s holistic approach – it wasn’t just about interview technique. He started by going through the job description to identify the necessary skills and experience that would be relevant for the role and also carried out some research into the recruiting company so that he could fully understand the recruitment from their perspective.  He provided excellent coaching on interview questions but also on much wider aspects such as how to make an impact when initially meeting the interviewer.  With the interview initially seeming like an unknown and daunting prospect, my son went into the interview very confident and feeling extremely prepared.  After the interview, Mike then followed up on a daily basis to monitor progress and advised on how to best maintain an active dialogue with the recruitment agency and the company during the period that the vacancy remained open in order to stay at the forefront of the minds of those involved in the selection process. My son was successful in securing the role.  Mike’s coaching was instrumental in ensuring that my son was able to leverage his skills and experience to best effect.  The coaching was also valuable in helping my son to feel very prepared and confident – this reduced the level of stress in what is (for anyone – let alone such a young person) a stressful situation.  Many thanks for such a valuable and powerful service.

Learning about the power of LinkedIn and networking more broadly. I had always assumed that this was something that naturally came a few years down the line. Two very informative sessions which extensively covered the job application process. A good insight for someone looking to begin their career with some invaluable bits of advice from an experienced recruiter. Thanks,

Hi Mike hope you are well? Just wanted to let you know today I got an offer for a Digital Marketing role starting in a few weeks!! The contract isn’t going to come through for a couple of weeks. I just wanted to say a massive thank you for all the work you’ve done for me over the past few months, I wouldn’t have got to this stage without you 🙂

I thought the cv information was really interesting as I had not been aware of many of the things you could do with a cv e.g. storytelling. I also thought the tip on following up an application with the company will be really useful because I have never done this before. A really informative workshop, which taught me lots of helpful tips and tricks to improve my performance during the job hunting process. Thanks,

The most useful aspect of the workshop came through the support given regarding assessments and interview tips. The information regarding questions that I could potentially ask employers at the end or during the interview was extremely helpful and definitely something I would look to incorporate if given an interview somewhere. Furthermore, I also found studies and research that you included very interesting, e.g. the use of standing up while on a telephone interview to increase energy levels. Very insightful, with key information and tips which will no doubt improve my employability chances. Thanks,

I have already said to my Mum and Dad that I felt privileged to be involved in this pilot workshop. Even just to be in a call with people all in the same position and to hear you and Helen give advice was really reassuring and useful. Thanks,

The most useful part of the workshop was the interview skills/preparation – it was really useful to have an insider perspective toward the interview process and also all the tips that came with it; such as the background when on Zoom/Teams make a difference (I wouldn’t of thought massively about that previously!!) The workshop was super helpful, covered a wide range of information that flowed nicely from the CV to toward post-interview/and rejection, and had many insightful tips and experiences that help to provide further help toward successfully applying and getting a job. Thanks,

Hi Mike, I have some good news! KPMG have offered me a job on their ‘People Consulting Graduate Scheme’ starting September in London. It was all a blur suddenly getting notified about a numerical test followed by the online assessment centre shortly after (last Wednesday). The notes which I had taken during the workshops were invaluable, together with the confidence you gave me. I can’t thank you enough. Best wishes

Wow, thank you so much for all of that research and for following up with your contacts, it’s extremely kind of you! It’s been a bit of a busy week again, the practice I applied to on Monday morning, invited me for an interview which I had this morning (the last couple of days was me frantically getting the rest of my work into a portfolio for that) and they’ve offered me the job!! Starting next Wednesday! A bit of a whirlwind week!!! Thank you so much for all of your help! Best wishes,

As a parent you always want what is best for your children, when it comes to career choices we immediately think of University as the ultimate option. I engaged Mike Best to help navigate the multiple options available after my daughter left school for college. Mike worked with my daughter firstly to understand who she was and what she wanted her future to be, he then understood her learning style and how he could get the best from her when developing her future options.

Towards the end of my daughters second year at college numerous options were being put forward as to what came next in her career path. Mike helped with developing her university application and the selection process along with interview technique and showing the best in who she was. This work lead to two conditional offers in the field she wanted to study at Bournemouth and Carmarthen University’s.

My daughter also wanted to explore the apprenticeship route into her career and when an opportunity arose to apply at the RSC Mike helped with her application and with her interview technique. Following an interview process involving 17 other candidates she was offered a position which she accepted.

Mike throughout the 2 years he has been an independent third party that gives the clarity my daughter needed outside of the family pressures that can cause friction and anxiety for all. He without doubt was key to her successful applications and the ultimate offer of her apprenticeship, without his help and expertise my daughter would not have had the clarity of opportunities she has been able to secure.

I think the discussion around interviews was particularly good, in terms of practical tips that might seem obvious having interviewed a lot of people but definitely aren’t obvious coming straight out of school or university! I thought the ability to draw on real examples from both your and Helen’s experience made it feel a lot more tangible and relatable. A good overview of the process of applying to jobs and helped reduce some of the uncertainty that can be involved. Thanks

I loved working closely with Mike to help secure my dream graduate role. Starting out, any concerns I had that Mike wouldn’t understand the career path I was interested in were quickly quashed – in our first session Mike fully understood the kind of role I wanted to find and worked hard with me to help find opportunities. On the other hand, Recruitment agents I contacted were unhelpful and uninformed. Starting with a CV overhaul, I worked closely with Mike to develop my employability skills.

When I got an online interview for an ideal position, Mike instilled complete confidence in me going into the interview process. My CV was commended in the interview – proof of Mike’s method! After getting through to the final interview stage, this time in-person, I went in with belief in my skills and experience and beat out two other candidates to secure the position.

I can’t thank Mike enough for helping me find my dream graduate role, and I’m really enjoying my job.

Best Talent provided both our son and daughter with invaluable advice when they were both going through the job application process. One being a graduate and the other having been in the workplace for five years. They were both given invaluable advice regarding both their cv’s and interview techniques, along with likely questions that they would encounter at the interview stage. This helped both of them feel more confident when approaching interviews and they were helped greatly talking to Mike after initial interviews in preparation for second and third stage interviews. The graduate talked with Mike about different career options and this helped him pursue a role suited to his skills.

After both securing the jobs they had applied for both said Mike had helped greatly with his guidance and support through the process, as a parent I cannot say how pleased I am with both of my children being successful in securing new roles with Mike’s help. Many Thanks Mike.

Mike has been a great asset to our son over many months while he worked out what he wanted to do after graduating. Not only was Mike consistently available as a sounding board and source of ideas but he also helped with interview practice and planning and preparation for Assessment Centres. It makes a huge difference having a non-family member for a young job seeker to talk to, an external perspective is very valuable (even if expressing the same opinion as a parent!)

As a school-leaver, I have very limited interview experience.  Ahead of my first major interview, Mike coached me on a range of interview skills which proved to be invaluable.  He also reviewed my CV and helped me to make it as compelling as possible as well as being tailored for this specific opportunity. He ran through the potential questions that might arise and how to ensure that I could answer them in a way which was not only impactful but also emphasised my relevant skills and experience.  Mike also helped me to put together a list of meaningful questions that I could ask the interviewer.  Mike’s experience of the interview process and his intimate knowledge of what interviewers are looking for was immensely valuable and something that I could not have got without his input.  As a result of Mike’s excellent coaching, I went into the interview as prepared and confident as I could be. The result of this was a job offer!  Thank you so much for all of your help.