Links
Here are all sorts of links to other websites which we hope you will find useful and enjoyable. Do please let us know about your own favourites so we can include them here too.
Professional:
Every self-respecting executive, and particularly those who want to be "found" or checked out by headhunters, needs to be on LinkedIn. If you are a CGS client and need guidance or support, call us.
Career Guidance in New York.
Kathy Strickland runs The Strickland Group, an outstanding coaching, communications and career transition business in New York for the C-Suite brigade (people with titles beginning with "Chief..."). A good friend and a great team.
www.stricklandgroup.com
Directory of Headhunters
Executive Grapevine is the directory of the executive search and recruitment industry. Here is the online site: if you would like to search and are a CGS client, call us to ask for a user name and password.
http://egoldr.askgrapevine.com/index.asp
Public Sector Jobs
Here's the government's website for Public Appointments, as advertised by the Appointments Commission. That's an important qualification since it excludes any roles advertised or headhunted by others: this is usually heavily biased towards NHS no-executive positions.
http://publicappointments.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/
Company Information
Companies House, like just about every public sector body these days, has a really useful and user friendly website. If you're starting or running your own business, it will be indispensable for checking names to filing returns. Otherwise it's just really helpful for company information.
Research (and much else)
Many readers will be members of the Institute of Directors and know about its great facilities. A better kept secret are the research and advice team, worth a question if Google doesn't get you there!
Just for Fun:
The Paper Boy
This is one of Rod's two all-time favourites, along with xcweather.co.uk. It allows you to read the daily newspapers from all over the world. It's fun to read the German take on that World Cup match, the Aussie take on the Ashes, the Arab take on America and so on.
Fixing things
Trying to work out how to mend a broken sash window cord, we found this wonderful site, almost worth a visit even if you don't have anything to fix!
Crossword Solver
Our standard resource when intellect, experience and reference books have failed is www.scrambledwordsolver.com. Try also www.crossword-dictionary.com.
Holidays and Hotels
Finally, what better than a couple of holiday sites? Our starting point for hotels wherever we go is the Small Luxury Hotels chain: www.slh.com; and for short-stay holidays and city breaks, Kirker are our all-time pick: www.kirkerholidays.com. (It's their standard provision of a chauffeur-driven, air-conditioned Merc to take you from airport to hotel and back that makes it so great!)
Useful:
Weather
This is probably our top-rated site, and one we use all the time. It's great for the UK and, by using the country flags at the top left of the screen, for a huge swathe of Europe and all the USA. Simply fabulous!
Online news
The BBC News site remains our favourite source for keeping up with events:
Location finding in Britain
We have always preferred Streetmap to Multimap: however we know opinions are divided, so here are both sites:
Route Finder
For finding your way from place to place try the AA route finder. Although we use it a lot, we find the satnav often takes a different and quicker route! http://www.theaa.com/route-planner/index.jsp
Trains
National Rail is the UK standard site:
www.nationalrail.co.uk/index.html
The best train site of all, we reckon, is Deutsche Bahn - and you can use it for the UK domestically if you like:
www.bahn.com/i/view/GBR/en/index.shtml
Telephone Directory Enquiries
Save yourself the call to 118 and get the information free.
Postcode Finder
Stuck for the postcode for your snail mail? The Royal Mail has what you need:
Technology
Can't use a PC?
Why not get your European Computer Driving Licence!
Can't touch type?
Mavis Beacon to the rescue ...
http://download.cnet.com/Mavis-Beacon-Teaches-Typing-17-Deluxe/3000-2051_4-10441764.html
Make Your Own Podcast
We are trying Podbean, which comes recommended as the simplest:
Need high quality business cards at a ridiculously good price?
Thanks to our client Mark Sherwood-Edwards we have become undying fans of
Rod's Other Activities and Places
Rod is a Vice President and former Chairman of Hampshire-based disability charity Enham
He is a Trustee and chairs the Audit and Risk Committee of the English-Speaking Union. Nearly half a century ago he won one of their gap year UK-USA Secondary Schools Exchange scholarships, and spent a year on a mountain between Hollywood and Beverly Hills.
At QIB (UK) plc, the UK subsidiary of Qatar Islamic Bank, he is an FSA-authorised Independent Director, and chairs the Audit Committee.
He works as a transition specialist wih coaching firm Philpott Black.
He is a member and former Chairman of the Institute of Business Ethics, having been involved since its creation and initiated its move to become an independent charity.
He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers and a Freeman of the City of London.
www.internationalbankers.co.uk
He's also a member of the Garrick Club (www.garrickclub.co.uk) and an associate of the Leander Club (www.leander.co.uk)