JobsAndCareersWithSarahWillingham2016 - 28

Is there anything that makes a
candidate stand out if you're
interviewing for one of your own
businesses, Sarah?
I love someone with a curious and
analytical mind. Someone who makes
me think by asking a question back to me, or
re-examining what I've said. For example, perhaps
they'll ask 'By that do you mean...?' or say 'I didn't
really understand that...' Being able to engage on a
deeper level is way more refreshing than trotting
out rehearsed answers.

you - enjoy doing? Do you like being
surrounded by people, or prefer spending
time on your own? Are you a person who
relies on having structure and routine,
or instead do you thrive on not knowing
what's coming next? When you have
enough self-awareness about yourself
as an individual you can work out if a
certain sector is for you.
I'd also advise you to expose yourself to
as many different areas of work as you
can. Get into the habit of asking people
what their jobs are like, as it's only when
you have one-to-one conversations you
can find out about a particular sector.

What's the number one
interview tip you'd give to
job hunters?
Do your research - and I mean
RESEARCH! And don't just
research the company you're
applying for a role with, research the
culture and the actual job, too.

Can apprenticeships be a
good way to test the waters
of a career, as well as get on
the job ladder?
The fact that apprenticeships are
more popular than ever - and
really encouraged - is a fantastic
thing. I love the fact they're a safe way for
0 2 8 /// J O B S & C A R E E R S

We all talk
about 'mummy
brain' and see it
as a negative,
but I class it as
a superpower
you to find out if a business or industry is
for you. They're great for job hunters as
well as the economy. Don't forget
internships and work experience, too.
They are both good for getting a taster
about what a certain sector might be like.

Have you ever been made
redundant? How did you
dust yourself off and get
going again?
When you lose your job, it's so
easy to feel disheartened. I was
made redundant along with most
of my department at the Planet Hollywood
restaurant chain when I was 25. I couldn't

understand why it had happened as I'd put
everything into my work and my role.
But an older colleague, who'd also lost
his job, invited me out to lunch. It was his
third redundancy and he gave me some
fantastic advice: to make it the best thing
that had ever happened to me.
'Remember it's not personal, it's just
business,' he said. 'Don't burn any bridges
with your managers and make it as easy
for them as possible. Go in, be nice and
negotiate the best package you can. Then
turn this into a really exciting time in
your life where you can change and do
something you want to do; be proactive.'
That's exactly what I went out and did!

As a mum of four, you're
the first working mother
of small children on the
panel of Dragons' Den. What
advice would you give to parents
- particularly mothers - who want
to return to work after having kids?
Without a doubt, confidence is a
massive issue - and I don't think
it needs to be. We all talk about
'mummy brain' and see it as a negative
thing, but I class it as a superpower mums are organised, on it and on top of
things day in, day out.
If you are struggling with confidence,
remember the person you were before
you had kids, and who you've become
since. Chances are, motherhood has
transformed you into an even better,
more brilliant version of yourself because
of all these incredible life experiences
you've had along the way.
My message is: if you want to go back
to work, just don't let it be fear that
stops you doing it.

How important has having
a mentor been for you over
the years?
I've always had fantastic advice
- particularly in my 20s by
someone who's mentored me
throughout a lot of my career. He told me
'Sarah, always surround yourself with
brilliant people'. It's something I always
aim for and when I know I can't do
something or need help in a particular
area, it really helps.
The key is to find a person who inspires
you. It could be someone living in your
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