www.skillpoint.com.au 2012 Career Management mini-guide A practical resource for successful career change and transition. The old adage goes “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. By carefully considering and mapping out your goals, preferences, priorities, options, decision points and actions – you will increase both your confidence and success rate in securing your next role. In this mini-guide 1 Take control, or drift – the choice is yours. 2-4 Career management checklist: 5-steps to career transition success! 4 Interview preparation: top 10 questions. 5 Managing stress during change or transitions Plus resume, job search tips and links to get you on your way! “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined” – Henry Thoreau Take control, or drift – the choice is yours. Feel like you’re in a drift car bracing for impact? Open your eyes, take the wheel – and regain control. There are options available to you, but you have to be looking to find them. Even world-class rally drivers need a navigator to get around a familiar track (and PS – they steer into the turn, not away form it). Leaving secure employment in search of that next step up, or accepting a redundancy may not be comfortable decisions, but the result of a successful and deliberate career move is definitely worth the risk (and reward). Q. Is your career something that’s ‘gone with the flow’, or has every move been meticulously and decisively planned? Q. Do you say ‘no’ confidently to roles or projects that are out of alignment with your career and development goals – or have you gone with whatever comes? Don't let your career be something that ‘happens’ to you – know what’s important to you, where you are now, where you want to be, and take actions and opportunities that align with your personal and professional goals. Continued on Page 4
Transcript
www.skillpoint.com.au 2012
Career Management mini-guide A practical resource for successful career change and transition.
The old adage goes “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. By carefully considering and mapping out your goals, preferences, priorities, options, decision points and actions – you will increase both your confidence and success rate in securing your next role.
In this mini-guide
1 Take control, or drift – the choice is yours.
2-4 Career management checklist: 5-steps to career transition success!
4 Interview preparation: top 10 questions.
5 Managing stress during
change or transitions
Plus resume, job search tips and links to
get you on your way!
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined” – Henry Thoreau
Take control, or drift – the choice is yours.
Feel like you’re in a drift car bracing for impact? Open your eyes, take the wheel – and regain control. There are options available to you, but you have to be looking to find them. Even world-class rally drivers need a navigator to get around a familiar track (and PS – they steer into the turn, not away form it).
Leaving secure employment in search of that next step up, or accepting a redundancy may not be comfortable decisions, but the result of a successful and deliberate career move is definitely worth the risk (and reward).
Q. Is your career something that’s ‘gone with the flow’, or has every move been meticulously and decisively planned?
Q. Do you say ‘no’ confidently to roles or projects that are out of alignment with your career and development goals – or have you gone with whatever comes?
Don't let your career be something that ‘happens’ to you – know what’s important to you, where you are now, where you want to be, and take actions and opportunities that align with your personal and professional goals.
Continued on Page 4
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www.skillpoint.com.au 2012
Career management checklist: 5-steps to career transition
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Step 1 – Self-assess
Q. Who am I? (values, interests, skills, strengths)
Q. Where am I now? (work-life balance)
Q. Where do I want to be? (work-life goals)
Q. What do I want out of a job/career? (wish list –nice-to-haves, non-negotiables)
strengths (attention to detail, works well under pressure).
o Assess your work-life balance (finance, relationships, career and health; score each out of 10).
o Write down an overall work (or study) goal.
o Start a personal wish list (job, location, salary,…).
o Update your resume (draft only at this point – latest job, new experience, achievements, key skills).
Resume Tip: include a ‘Professional Profile’ and ‘Key Skills’ summary on your first page; make it as easy as possible for employers to know what you can offer, and remind yourself how great you are!
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Step 2 – Explore options
Q. Where am I going? (career/study options)
Q. What does it look like? (day-to-day, salary)
Q. Does it match my work-life goals?
Q. What are my gaps? (skills, qualificaitons)
o Read and reflect on the key questions.
o Identify work/study options.
o Gather more information (day-to-day of role, expected salary, required skills, qualifications, experience needed, available work, location).
o Analyse your gaps and identify ways to fill your gaps (study or work experience)
o Identify other considerations that may impact your options (redundancy payout, timeframes, financial situation, mental or physical health, technical expertise, salary data)
o Refine your options (specific roles, or courses)
Research Tip: TAFEs and universities often list the career outcomes linked to their courses, and many have free career tests. Checkout the following:
Study options: www.myfuture.com.au
Salary guide: www.hays.com.au
Career test: www.gu.edu.au
Where am I now? Where do I want to be?
How am I going to get there?
success!
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Step 3 – Plot your path
Q. What are my preferred options?
Q. How do I get there? (steps, order, timeframes)
Q. What is my first move? (enroll in a course, staying put, actively apply for jobs)
o Read and reflect on the key questions.
o List your top 5 options.
o Identify the advantages and disadvantages of your top 5 (match with skills, interests or values; fit with current labour market; fit with current situation or responsibilities).
o Identify any specific opportunities or barriers to pursuing an option (finances, industry contacts).
o For each option, list what you need to do (and in what order) to make it a reality.
Study Tip: If you feel that a course is out of reach due to finances, there may be options available to you. Apprenticeships and traineeships now exist for adults, university fees can deferred onto a loan scheme, and Centrelink offers study incentives.
Step 4 – Take action
Now that you are informed about your career and personal goals, you can confidently take action.
Q. What actions/steps will I take? (enroll in course, apply for jobs, work experience, more research)
Q. What additional information do I need? (where can I get help?)
Q. What support will I need, and from who?
o Read and reflect on the key questions.
o Update your CV / Resume and cover letter to reflect the roles you want to pursue (it may also be required for a course application).
o List SMART goals, and work to achieve them (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound)
o List specific questions or further information you need, and find answers.
Resume and Cover Letter Tip: Revise and tailor your resume and cover letter for each role you apply for; mirror the language in the ad – make it easy for employers to see you are their perfect candidate.
Step 5 – Maintain momentum
Sustained job searching is hard – and staying motivated 24/7 is a job in itself. It’s important to maintain your momentum, and keep moving toward your goals (especially after a few interviews or knock-backs).
Q. How can I keep myself motivated?
o Know and build your brand. Practice responding the ‘tell me about yourself’ question, reflect it in your CV / resume’s ‘Professional Profile’, and update your LinkedIn profile. Selling is a skill, and practice makes perfect.
o Job search relentlessly. The hidden job market is NOT online. Yes, use seek.com and career.one, but spread your net far and wide. Visit 3-4 job agencies. Make a list of organisations to target and contact them directly.
o Network, network, network. Tell everyone you know you are looking. Shout it to the mountain tops. Attend industry events, fairs and expos. Be brave, put yourself out there. Look for opportunities to network.
o Ignore the naysayers. People can behave badly. Move past the negativity, and stay-focused.
o Keep busy. Have regular breaks if writing applications, go for a run, do some housework – and stay busy. Resist the temptation to sit on the couch or put your feet up. Have a paid holiday once you’ve found a job!
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Continued from page 1
Interview preparation: top 10 Qs
An interview is a performance, and if it were Westside Story, come opening night you would be full of nervous (but excited) energy from being well rehearsed.
Preparing for an interview should be no different. Anticipating and practicing responses to potential questions is a great way to relieve some of those jitters and present well on the day.
Write down (and practice aloud) your answers to the following common interview questions:
1. Tell me about yourself.
2. What are your strengths, and/or weakness?
3. Why should I hire you?
4. Give an example of when you have dealt with a difficult person and/or situation.
5. What role do you play when working in a team?
6. Why do you want to work for us?
7. What would you do in your first 30 days or 6 months?
8. Why are you leaving your current employer?
9. What are your salary expectations?
10. Do you have any questions?
Across Australia we are seeing Private and Public employers downsizing, restructuring, and offloading hundreds of staff via redundancy payouts. Whatever they are disguised as, facing the axe can be very scary - especially if you loved your job, have never contemplated working anywhere else, or have a mortgage to pay.
However - you can regain some control of you situation, and take steps to make sure it plays out how you want (or need) it to. Like the skilled arborist, who doesn't run into the forest wielding his axe in any direction, but instead uses precision, caution, and directs a tree's fall. Taking a redundancy may just open up possibilities you had never once imagined, or even catapult you into a new and exciting direction (in the tree's case, perhaps as a prize-winning art sculpture, or gold-studded chest of drawers, or - well, you get the picture).
There's no need to leave your previous employer (or career) with a crash, bang or resounding 'thud'. Be one step ahead. Leap out nimbly in front of the commotion, and seize the moment with both hands - eyes forward.
Kate Southam offers the following Tips for Surviving a Redundancy in the careerone.com.au career advice column:
1. If you must take it personally, make it quick
2. Get support but don't overload
3. Move into action mode ASAP
4. Thinking about upskilling
5. Get your finances in order
6. Be flexible
7. See yourself as a skill-set, not a job role
8. Focus on your own race
9. Rehearse and prepare
10. Check your baggage
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Managing stress during change Stress (noun). The emotional state resulting from constantly thinking about a situation over which you have no control.
Stress management is important. Short-term stress presents the same as the fear response we experience when facing danger: adrenalin, racing heart, tight muscles, fast breathing – reading to fight or flight. However, if we remain stressed for prolonged periods, our immune system breaks down, we get sick, and are more prone to injury. To combat stress:
o Make a plan. Don't just sit around feeling sorry for yourself. Be clear about your job search goals, keep the pressure on, but schedule in ‘time out’ as well. Having a job is important, but you are not your job.
o Look after you. Exercise, eat healthily, get outside and sit in the sun. Physical exercise help release trapped energy in muscles; a relaxed body is a relaxed mind.
o Talk about it. Bottling up anger and frustration doesn't solve anything. Talk to friends about your fears, they may even know of someone who’s hiring!
o Nip negativity in the bud. Whether at work or home, steer clear of people who are energy sappers and whine and moan their way through lunch. You don't need to hear it. Surround yourself with positivity, remain future-focused and action-oriented. You can do it!
Stress can be overwhelming, and if left unchecked lead to anxiety or depression. Learn to recognise the symptoms, and seek help early.
It can take just one phone-call to reduce your anxiety levels and identify strategies to get you through a tough time. In Australia, a range of services are available – there is never a reason why you should feel you have to ‘go it alone’.
Find out if your workplace has an Employee Assistance Service (they are usually free!), visit your local GP, or checkout these websites:
www.beyondblue.org.au
au.reachout.com
www.mycompass.org.au
www.softenthefckup.com.au
For more information, job search tips or resume help – go to: www.skillpoint.com.au
