Nearly 80% of professionals across Europe say they feel unprepared to find a job in 2026. At the same time, almost half are planning to look for a new role this year.

In this short, standalone episode of Favourite Positions, Alex Young is joined by LinkedIn Career Expert Charlotte Davies to unpack what’s driving that uncertainty – and what people can do about it.

Charlotte shares insights from LinkedIn’s latest research, alongside practical advice on how professionals can build confidence, develop relevant skills and use their networks more intentionally in an increasingly AI-driven and competitive job market.

This is a quick, grounding listen for anyone feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to focus their energy right now.

What we cover

• Why so many people feel unprepared for the job market in 2026
• The two most common mistakes people make when things feel uncertain
• How to build confidence with AI without feeling overwhelmed
• Why squiggly, non-linear careers are becoming the norm
• What Gen Z is doing differently when it comes to skills and values
• Simple ways to use LinkedIn more intentionally and effectively
• One mindset shift that helps people feel more resilient about their careers

Helpful links mentioned in the episode

• LinkedIn Job Search Guide
• Job Match – understand how your skills align with roles
• AI-powered job search – search for jobs in your own words
• Resume Feedback (Premium) – tailored feedback for specific roles
• Cover Letter Feature (Premium) – draft personalised cover letters

If this episode resonated, stay tuned – more short, practical conversations are coming soon.

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.

💬 Summary

In this special solo episode of Work in Progress, Alex takes a step back to reflect on the biggest lessons learned so far from the series. Instead of interviewing a guest, this episode brings together the key themes that have emerged from conversations with leaders, entrepreneurs and career shapers about how work is changing and what it takes to thrive today.

From the rise of AI and shifting career paths to the importance of personal brand and self-care, Alex shares insights, stories and practical advice to help you future-proof your career.

💡 Takeaways

• Work is changing faster than ever – AI isn’t replacing jobs, it’s reshaping them
• Dream jobs aren’t found, they’re built through curiosity, experimentation and values
• Personal brand is career insurance – even one thoughtful post a month builds credibility
• Sharing your learning journey makes you memorable and trusted, not just your wins
• CVs, cover letters and interviews still matter, but they need to work harder than ever
• Thriving at work comes down to clarity, connection and visibility once you’re in the role
• Success without self-care doesn’t last – boundaries, routines and rest are strategic
• The most future-proof skills remain human: creativity, empathy, adaptability

🕒 Chapters

• Why this episode is different and what it covers
• The biggest shifts in work: remote, balance, and AI
• Discovering and pursuing your dream job in a non-linear world
• Building a personal brand that works for you (including Grace’s example)
• How to strengthen your CV, cover letter and interview performance
• Thriving once you’ve landed the role: clarity, connection and visibility
• Balancing work with self-care to prevent burnout
• Closing reflections on the series and what’s coming next

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.

💬 Summary

In this episode of Work in Progress, we speak to Olly Haddock – solicitor, innovation specialist at Weightmans and founder of The Careers Edit – about redefining success, building careers that feel authentic and why networking desperately needs a rebrand.

Alongside his legal practice, Olly helps lead innovation projects at Weightmans, creating tech-driven solutions to make law more efficient and client-focused. Through The Careers Edit, he’s built a global community of over 50,000 professionals, known for its fresh approach to events that swap stuffy boardrooms for spaces that encourage real conversations and meaningful connections.

We explore why pressure can sometimes be a positive driver, how to pivot when a career path isn’t what you expected, and what the happiest professionals Olly meets have in common. Plus, we dig into the myths of networking, the skills we’ll all need in an AI-driven future, and how younger generations are reshaping the world of work.

💡 Takeaways

• Pressure isn’t always negative – it can push you to achieve your best work
• Networking is really just relationship building – and needs a total rebrand
• The happiest professionals see work as more than tasks; it’s about experiences and relationships
• Employers who empower their people to network externally show real confidence and trust
• Being honest with yourself about what you actually want is key to defining success
• Employee personal branding is becoming as powerful as company branding
• AI will reshape roles – curiosity and self-motivated upskilling will be non-negotiable

🕒 Chapters

00:00 – Who is Olly Haddock and how does he introduce himself?

01:23 – The story behind starting The Careers Edit

03:51 – Early career plans and the importance of flexibility

06:54 – Questioning the traditional checklist of success

09:23 – Pressure as a motivator and driver of achievement

11:16 – Why some professionals feel unfulfilled despite appearances

12:15 – Backing instincts: moving into innovation in law

16:34 – What the happiest professionals have in common

18:32 – Co-working, connection, and the value of community

19:41 – Why networking needs a rebrand

22:39 – How careers really progress: word of mouth and relationships

24:42 – Unconventional connections that shaped Olly’s career

26:00 – First steps if your job is draining your energy

28:45 – The rise of portfolio careers, purpose, and flexibility

33:39 – The skills we’ll all need in an AI-driven future

35:27 – How the right people around you shape your career

36:50 – What excites Olly about Gen Z in the workplace

39:02 – Personal branding, hustle culture, and side hustles

40:30 – The widening gap between what people want and what companies offer

43:18 – How employers can support people without massive budgets

45:10 – Rethinking education and career guidance from school onwards

47:28 – Imagining the workplace of the future

48:59 – Olly’s one piece of advice for finding or transforming your dream role

🔗 Follow Olly

The Careers Edit: https://www.thecareersedit.com/

The Careers Edit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecareersedit/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-haddock-2b316a106/

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.

💬 Summary

In this episode of Work in Progress, we speak to Emilie Lashmar – brand partner, community builder, and Director of GCUC UK – about the evolving world of work, the role of purpose in retention, and how space design shapes culture.

With over 15 years’ experience in brand, marketing, and events, and nearly a decade shaping coworking and creative spaces, Emilie shares her take on the future of flexibility, the difference between performative and authentic values, and what younger generations are really looking for in a workplace. We explore how employers can create environments that work for the whole person, why embedding values into daily decisions matters more than a glossy culture deck, and the small but powerful ways workplaces can foster connection.

💡 Takeaways

• The future of work is about flexibility – in space, culture, and contracts
• Purpose isn’t a “nice to have” – it’s a driver for retention and trust
• Younger generations are courageous in asking for more – and employers should listen
• Embedding values into daily operations matters more than publishing them on a wall
• Pay transparency attracts the right talent and builds trust
• Space design directly impacts culture, wellbeing, and inclusion
• Unlimited holiday is often overhyped – it can create uncertainty or guilt
• Accessibility (physical, digital, and neurodivergent) needs more attention
• Creating a “whole person” workplace means thinking beyond work to life needs
• Networking works best when it’s generous, authentic, and community-led

🕒 Chapters

00:00 – Who is Emilie Lashmar and what does she do?

02:14 – From illustration to coworking and community building

06:16 – Why the future of work excites Emilie

07:20 – Four-day week, pay transparency, and purpose-led business

12:39 – The dangers of resisting change

15:42 – How to spot authentic values vs good marketing

18:24 – Purpose as a retention tool in coworking and creative industries

20:26 – A tangible starting point for becoming values-led

21:44 – Shifting expectations around where and how we work

25:27 – What younger generations really want from work

29:55 – Generational shifts in how we think about work-life balance

30:15 – How space design influences culture and wellbeing

31:47 – Workplace trends: what’s overhyped and what’s under-talked about

33:29 – Is there still a gap between what people want and what companies offer?

34:12 – Emilie’s dream workplace of the future

36:54 – Emilie’s advice for finding or transforming your dream role

🔗 Follow Emilie

Website: https://www.lashmar.co.uk/

Brighton Creatives: https://www.brightoncreatives.com/

GCUC UK: https://uk.gcuc.co/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilie-lashmar/

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.

💬 Summary

In this episode of Work in Progress, we speak to Solomon Mehta-Slade – creator of Mental Fitness workshops for organisations, coach, and co-founder of The Change:Maker Collective – about building inner stability so you can thrive at work and beyond.

Sol explains how his workshops help people build the mental strength and emotional resilience to perform under pressure, recover quickly from setbacks, and collaborate with more ease. He shares how his own mental health challenges led him to reframe wellbeing as “mental fitness” and why self-worth should never be tied to productivity or job titles. We talk about taming and befriending your inner critic, recognising when your sense of value is coming from output, and how community can make change feel less heavy and lonely. Sol also unpacks what employers often get wrong about wellbeing and offers a vision for workplaces where people can bring their whole selves to work.

💡 Takeaways

• Mental fitness is proactive – it’s about strengthening your mindset, not just reacting when things go wrong
• Self-worth is unconditional – it should never depend on your role, output, or recognition
• You can tame your inner critic by noticing it, naming it, and replacing judgement with discernment
• Befriending yourself is as important as silencing negative self-talk
• Micro-moments of presence can reset your mind – you don’t always need long breaks
• Work can give you meaning, but it’s risky to make it your sole source of identity
• Community helps you realise you’re not alone in your challenges
• Employers need to embed wellbeing into culture, not bolt it on as an afterthought
• The best workplaces create space for people to be human, not just productive
• Clarity often comes from action – treat roles and career moves as experiments

🕒 Chapters

00:00 – Who is Solomon Mehta-Slade and what does he do?

01:28 – From mindfulness to mental fitness

03:47 – How Sol’s own challenges shaped his work

06:26 – Mental health vs mental fitness

09:30 – The self-worth trap at work

11:14 – Taming and befriending your inner critic

15:15 – The role of work in shaping self-worth

19:10 – Signs your self-worth is tied to productivity

22:21 – Finding micro-moments to reset

24:56 – A practical three-step tool to break negative self-talk

27:02 – Why community and connection matter

29:18 – What employers often get wrong about wellbeing

31:28 – Green flags to look for when job hunting

33:47 – Red flags in workplace culture

36:20 – Designing the ideal workplace for mental fitness

39:09 – Quick-fire: book, myth, daily habit, and best advice

43:24 – Advice for finding or transforming your dream role

🔗 Follow Sol

Website: https://www.thealtacademy.co.uk/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/solomon-mehta-slade/

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.

💬 Summary

In this episode, we speak to Austin Okolo – founder of Gen Z Recruits and a leading voice for Gen Z in the world of work – about turning lived experience into lasting impact.

Austin shares how his entrepreneurial journey began with selling football boots at school and how it evolved into a mission to fix a broken job market. We talk about building confidence from the ground up, creating opportunities where none exist and why visibility and vulnerability are powerful tools for career growth. Austin opens up about the loneliness of leadership, what most people get wrong about Gen Z and why effort still beats everything else.

💡 Takeaways

• Your audience might be you – build what you wish you had
• Confidence comes from repetition, not personality
• Gen Z aren’t lazy – they’re just unwilling to settle for outdated norms
• Recruitment doesn’t have to be transactional – it can be transformational
• Visibility leads to opportunity – show up even when you’re nervous
• Document your journey, don’t wait to be ‘an expert’
• Working in isolation can damage your mental health – community matters
• Personal branding works best when it’s grounded in lived experience
• Employers and employees both need to define their non-negotiables
• The future of work needs to include flexibility and connection

🕒 Chapters

00:00 – Who is Austin Okolo and what does he do?

01:43 – From football boots to fashion to founding a business

03:50 – The rise and fall of Clubhouse and building a real-life community

06:16 – Becoming “Mr Gen Z” and launching Gen Z Recruits

08:57 – Why he started a recruitment agency with no corporate background

11:39 – Starting from scratch: mentorship, prep and long-term thinking

13:15 – The real problems Gen Z face in the job market

16:13 – Are Gen Z expectations really that unrealistic?

17:56 – Rethinking traditional work models and expectations

20:43 – Meeting in the middle: flexibility vs reality

22:48 – The hardest part: loneliness as a founder

24:10 – Why we need to build our own communities after school

26:05 – The hidden cost of working from home

28:15 – How Austin got into the media – and why visibility matters

31:04 – Building confidence by doing hard things

33:35 – Personal branding tips for early-career professionals

35:14 – What not to post online (and how to avoid being cringe)

38:13 – Why Austin didn’t post about Coldplay – and how to stay in your lane

41:08 – What’s next for Gen Z Recruits

42:46 – Austin’s signature advice: reverse engineer your dream role

44:31 – Where to find Austin online

🔗 Follow Austin

LinkedIn – Austin Okolo

Instagram – @austinokoloo

TikTok – @austinokoloo

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.

💬 Summary

In this episode, we speak to Hannah Sosa – founder of Subtle Series and host of the Awfully Quiet podcast – about redefining career progression for quietly ambitious people.

Hannah shares the inspiration behind her unique career platform, how she balances a full-time corporate career with building her own business, and why she believes introspection is an underrated leadership trait. We discuss everything from self-expression to personal branding, from building networks that work for introverts to why sustainable success starts with tuning into yourself.

💡 Takeaways

• Quiet ambition is still ambition – it just looks different
• Clarity is the foundation of confident self-expression
• You don’t need to perform your ambition to be seen
• Personal branding isn’t about being loud – it’s about being remembered
• Progression is easier when you leave breadcrumbs along the way
• Being an advocate for yourself starts with small, consistent wins
• Balance can mean different things in different seasons
• Introspective leadership is a strength, not a limitation
• Asking the right questions builds deeper team connections
• Careers of the future must allow room for personality diversity

🕒 Chapters

00:00 – Welcome, Hannah! What she does and why she does it

02:44 – The career path that led to Subtle Series

04:52 – Early iterations and finding her audience

05:38 – Balancing corporate life and building a brand

08:25 – What does it mean to be quietly ambitious?

10:19 – Do quieter people avoid leadership roles?

12:00 – Platforming different paths to success

12:57 – Creating a brand that feels calm yet confident

15:27 – Reimagining career learning experiences

16:39 – The transformation Hannah wants for her audience

18:36 – Why clarity must come before action

21:15 – How to build visibility in your own way

23:08 – Demonstrating value without feeling salesy

26:48 – Don’t wait for your manager to do the work

28:41 – Rethinking the ‘rules’ of workplace success

30:51 – Building a personal brand without performing

34:08 – What the future of work could look like

37:14 – What sustainable success means to Hannah

39:22 – How to manage and empower quieter team members

41:13 – Why we all need regular 1:1s with ourselves

44:00 – Closing reflections

🔗 Follow Hannah

https://www.instagram.com/subtleseries/

https://www.subtleseries.com/

https://www.instagram.com/awfullyquietpodcast/

https://www.youtube.com/@Hannah-Sosa

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.

💬 Summary

In this episode, we speak to Joseph Liu – career consultant, speaker and host of Career Relaunch – about what it really takes to pivot your career, build a personal brand that feels authentic and find confidence through action.

Joseph shares the journey from med school dropout to global speaker, brand strategist and coach. He talks about how to build a narrative that supports your next move, why networking is your most powerful tool in a career shift and how your digital first impression speaks volumes. This episode is packed with practical tools and empowering advice for anyone considering a new chapter.

💡 Takeaways

• Personal branding is about clarity, not self-promotion
• Confidence doesn’t come before action – it grows through doing
• Every interaction reinforces or dilutes your personal brand
• Your narrative needs to convince you first – then others
• Consistency across your LinkedIn is more powerful than volume
• Standing tall can change how you feel
• Start networking before you need anything
• Good outreach is tailored outreach
• Hosting mindset = powerful at events
• Your first impression is usually digital – make it count

🔥 Favourite Soundbites

“The first person you need to convince is yourself”

“Everything you do reinforces or dilutes your brand”

“You won’t be worse off for introducing yourself”

“Confidence is a muscle – you build it by doing”

“Most jobs aren’t advertised – networking is the key”

🔗 Resources + Recommendations

• Joseph’s website: josephliu.co
• Joseph’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephpliu/
• Career Relaunch podcast: careerrelaunch.net
• Book: ABCs of Networking by Thom Singer
• TED Talk: What’s the Work You Can’t Not Do? by Scott Dinsmore
• Book: Presence by Amy Cuddy
• Platforms: Eventbrite, Cheapskate London
• Writing platforms: Substack and Medium

Follow Favourite Positions on LinkedIn and Instagram, connect with Alex here.