Interview with a blogger - Libby Calaby

Libby Calaby is the founder of ConceptCV, a professional CV writing and career advice company, offering expert services to serious job hunters. Previously from a successful career in recruitment and HR, Libby aided in the growth of a Shropshire based independent mobile phone dealer, recruiting over 80 staff and managing the firms entire HR function before establishing ConceptCV in February 2007.

How long have you been blogging?
My blog is about a month old! I’m very new to this and it’s definitely a ‘learning’ experience

Why did you start?
I wanted to take advantage of a wider, interactive online medium to keep in touch with my growing client base, many of whom are actively job hunting and seeking career related advice. Plus, I thought it would be a bit of fun as I enjoy reading the blogs of other industry experts.

What do you do, work related, when you aren't blogging?
Until January of this year I worked as ‘the’ HR function for an independent mobile phone company in Shropshire, until redundancy came along to bite me on the backside. Now, I run a new and exciting business venture called ConceptCV, with the predominant focus of writing powerful and compelling CVs for clients who are struggling to create their own (which is the vast majority of people we speak to!). Plus, we offer a range of other career services to suit individual requirements.

Do you think blogging has helped your business?
The blog is very new and not many people know that it is actually there yet. So at the moment, probably not. However, I strongly believe that it will inevitably help the business in terms of building relationships and engaging the interest of job seekers who are searching for online information.

What do you feel is the biggest challenge about writing a blog?
It’s a platform for sharing news and views so finding the time, energy and effort for fresh and interesting content (without causing offence!) is always a challenge. For now, I’m sticking mainly to news, but watch this space and the more I get used to it, the braver I will become!

What’s another blog that you read and why do you recommend it?
I do regularly read a few blogs, including yours of course! I like humour and the Guru blog does always come up with the goods to satisfy my daily chuckle quota. I also read Evil HR Lady, I think she is excellent and coming from an HR background myself, I can totally appreciate her view point.

What do you want your reader’s to know about you?
There are probably lots of clichés surrounding my professional and personal life that I won’t bore you with now. I’m a working mother with 2 daughters both under 6 with heavy loyalties to both my family and my career, hence I am living proof that work-life balance is not only a struggle, but damn near impossible. Like many entrepreneurs, I have always been a believer in creating your own opportunities but sticking to what is truly important to you. If you lose sight of the beginning, you’ll never reach the end.

If you knew someone was thinking about starting a recruitment related blog, what advice would you want to give them?
Run away, as fast as you can!...No, not really. I’m not the best person to answer this question as I’m still finding my feet as a blogger, so in fact, maybe it should be me asking for the advice?

Is there a question you wished I asked you?
Daddy or chips?