THE BEST CAREER ADVICE & LEADERSHIP BLOGS EVERY WEEK
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Employer Insights Should We All Fear the Walking Dead?
โAs part of people2peopleโs โexpert seriesโ, we have invited debt management specialist Angela McDonald as a guest blogger to provide some advice on how best to manage the concerning rise in โZombie Businessesโ.ย Angela is the Managing Director of Optimum Recoveries, a multi award-winning Australian-based company that specialises in B2B commercial debt prevention, management and recovery.ย Should we all fear the walking dead?Australia is known as โthe small business nationโ. In fact, our economy relies on the success of SMEs which make up around 80% of all Australian businesses. Itโs no surprise that when COVID hit, the Government injected considerable financial assistance to keep small businesses operational and employing staff. While these temporary cash-stimulus measures have been a lifesaver in many cases, theyโve also caused the rise of โzombie companiesโ โ businesses that arenโt viable long-term and are only solvent because of this government financial assistance.ย Now that weโre in October, the Government has announced it is extending these temporary measures until the end of December 2020, and in some instances until March 2021. This may delay the inevitable business closures even further, placing creditors under a very real risk of trading with organisations that are technically insolvent.ย How many small businesses are at risk of insolvency?The Reserve Bank of Australia recently reported that up to 25% of small businesses would be at risk of insolvency if those cash subsidies ceased today. And Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has declared that small businesses are a particularly vulnerable group, admitting that some will not survive COVID-19. If youโre trading with customers or suppliers who are being falsely propped up by government stimulus packages, now is the time to swing into action and protect yourself from the โWalking Deadโ.ย Unlike the popular Zombie series, weโll never advocate the use of crossbows or firearms to be your weapons of choice! When it comes to business, prevention is always better than a cure, and there are some clever, simple prevention strategies you can implement now to protect your business. ย Optimum Recoveriesโ Zombie Prevention Hitlist1.ย ย ย ย Be extra vigilant in all your dealings Donโt rush into agreeing to payment plans with your debtors without fact-checking their financial situation first. Register with a credit bureau and ask them to conduct a review of every one of your customers. Theyโll send you automatic alerts of any worrying signs so you can act fast. Let us know if you need help.Keep talking to those you do business with โ both your suppliers and customers. Regular and open communication can help you uncover any concerning issues before itโs too late.ย 2.ย ย ย ย Ensure your internal processes and terms are watertight Get expert assistance to review your current T&Cs, credit management processes and internal policies to make sure they give your business adequate protection in todayโs economic climate.Optimum Recoveries can conduct a health check and identify any gaps that may leave you susceptible to hard-to-recover debt. ย What the latest Government proposed legislation means for SMEs?The Federal budget handed down on October 6 2020 seems geared to provide some much-needed tax relief to both businesses and individuals. This will hopefully encourage Australians to have the confidence to spend in the coming months, providing the financial support that businesses need to keep trading. ย Here are some key points impacting SMEs: Immediate asset purchases write-off: Any new asset acquired until 30 June 2020 will be eligible for a full tax deduction. The same will apply to second-hand assets, up to 30 June 2021. There is no dollar value limit to the deductions. Loss carry back: Businesses that have incurred tax losses in either FY2020/2021 or FY2021/2022, but have paid tax in FY2018/2019, can carry back the tax losses and be eligible for a refund of the tax paid in the earlier years. JobKeeper and JobMaker: JobKeeper payments look set to wind up at the end of March 2021. The new JobMaker system offers employees a subsidy for hiring new employees from 7 October 2020 to 6 October 2021, provided the new employees have previously received JobKeeper or similar. This is excellent news for P2P and any clients who have been holding off recruiting new team members! More stimulus measures: Spending initiatives are set to be introduced to kick start spending in a range of industries, particularly manufacturing, infrastructure, construction and research. ย In the current business environment thatโs both challenging and changing, Optimum Recoveries can help your business remain viable and thriving. Talk to Angela via the details below, about how she can assist by tailoring robust systems and processes to keep the Zombies away from your door!Contact Angela McDonald and the team from Optimum RecoveriesP: 1300 556 937E: amcdonald@optimumrecoveries.com.auW: www.optimumrecoveries.com.au
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Job Hunting Tips Letโs get LinkedIn Official
โKnown as the virtual CV, LinkedIn can play a vital part in your professional life.โListed below are some tips to ensure that you are showcasing your abilities online for all the right reasons.Position Title: This needs to match your CV โ if there are discrepancies it may raise some questions. Always ensure this is in line with what your resume states and remembering down the line at reference stage your title needs to be accurate.Employment Dates: Crucial for credibility. Always double-check your dates, if a timeline is not matching up, recruiters, hiring managers and employers will have some doubt at the very beginning of the process.City: Your headline should include where you are based e.g. Paralegal Brisbane, Legal Secretary Sydney. This is for searchable purposes. Also, if you are in the market looking for work and someone in your network shares your profile in a different city / state/ country it is easily seen from the outset where you are based.Skills: Keep these updated, donโt forget about this section and expect your employment history to do the talking. This is important when employers are matching a job vacancy to a profile. If you want to be matched for a role in the very initial stages, trying to get as many skills aligned as possible will be valuable. If you only have e.g. 3 out of the 10 skills this may not be lucrative for your job application.Recommendations: Ask a colleague, a previous supervisor, a peer at University to write some words on your behalf โ donโt be shy. Rate and review are so common now in all aspects of life, why not benefit from this in your career. It is seen as a form of a reference already on your profile โ we all know how powerful a reference can be!Grow, grow, grow: The more people in your network, the more people you will essentially โLink Inโ with!ย After all, we are only ever a mutual connection away!Articles: Utilise the articles option if you are fond of writing blogs, this will demonstrate your interests, your passions, the industry you specialise in and may generate a talking point.Content: Sharing is caring! This may be in the form of industry news, business updates, interesting reads. Let your personality shine through. LinkedIn now even has interactive polls โ to generate a healthy debate, give kudos to a team-mate, celebrate, and spread some positivity online.Interact: Use your platform to engage, a LinkedIn profile that is essentially dormant is of no use to you or your potential employer. Respond to comments, reply to contacts, have that online conversation, you never know where it may take you.App: If you havenโt already โ download the App. (As if we donโt already have enough to scroll through!) However, this will mean it is accessible for you to see updates as they are happening in real time. You donโt want to miss out any InMailโs, job postings, industry updates.Photo: Last but certainly not least โ your photo, this is your professional headshot. This will be the image that your potential employer, recruitment consultant, hiring manager sees before you see them, make it a positive solid first impression!โWhen you are applying to a role attaching your CV and Cover Letter โ you cannot come to life on a piece of paper, LinkedIn gives you that opportunity to demonstrate you are not just an โapplicantโ or a statistic. You are a human being, who is worth hiring. Do not waste the opportunity of LinkedIn and the power of this platform. Lastly, letโs become LinkedIn Official, and add me as a connection - Colleen Deere.โ
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Career Advice Adopting an โexcuse freeโ mindset to get through Covid-19
Let us begin by stating the obvious.Covid 19 has been an incredibly difficult period, itโs been disruptive, itโs been deadly and without a doubt, it has had a profound effect on billions of people worldwide, some much worse than others.ย Recruitment has been no different, there have been sweeping redundancies, a plethora of budget cuts, and many projects put on hold or cancelled completely - some of the figures are startling. It has been incredibly challenging, however like in any time of challenge, the way you will be defined is how you face it.ย The โexcuse freeโ mindset will continually allow you to see things with perspective, thus allowing you to take control of, and make the most of any situation however good, bad or ugly it may be. I, like anyone, have days where it waivers, we are all human, but below are two reasons why it has had a great effect on me personally and may just help you through this unprecedented period, and then beyond.1 โ Goal Setting- set daily, weekly goals on what you want to achieve. Be this at work, looking for work from a recent redundancy or simply in day to day life. It is important to hold yourself accountable so you know, you did your best and can sign off โexcuse freeโ with a positive mindset. What you put in is what you get out. If you are out of work, set a goal of applying for a certain number of roles, add connections on LinkedIn within your industry and expand your network, write a blog! Be visible, be proactive and most importantly, persistence pays off. Eventually! As a Recruiter in a time of an uncertain job market, goal setting enables me to focus and end the day knowing I controlled what I can control and feel accountable for achieving my daily goals. It is the small wins that keep you going.2 โ It makes your success repeatable โ When you donโt use excuses as to why things arenโt going your way, you will be able to identify root causes or indicators as to why you are succeeding โ KPIโs almost. Chances are if a certain process has worked once, then it will work again. There is no better feeling than knowing exactly what you have to do and being in complete control to get something done, it is a very empowering position to be in.If you are reading this, and it resonates with you, then take action and set a goal. Think about processes and steps you can implement which will help you to be โexcuse freeโ, embrace and enjoy the process, and see If having zero excuses helps you become more successful and accountable.โ
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Employer Insights What is Humble Leadership? How Can It Take Your Business ...
James launched his mid size, Perth furniture business in 2015.ย The first three years saw a rapid increase in sales and profitability, but something wasnโt quite right in the last two years.ย There had been an increase in the number of customer complaints. ย Late deliveries, unfriendly customer service reps, lost sales opportunities and lost customers started to become a trend. Simply stated, Jamesโย business was in trouble.So, James called his managers into a claustrophobic conference room, he wanted answers. "I depend on you people to make this business work!" he barked. ย "Sales are dropping like a rock, which obviously means someone's not doing their job.ย We're not leaving this room until I find out who it is!"No one speaks up.ย Everyone wants to crawl under their chair.ย Jamesโย not getting answers, but what he doesn't know, is that the answer is right in front of him.What is humble leadership?Jamesโย dictatorial leadership style might have worked when workers had few options and even fewer rights, but it clearly doesn't work now.ย The simple fact is that in the current employment landscape, workers who report to the "I know more than any of you" manager become resentful.ย They're less likely to be creative, resourceful or innovativeโbecause in John's world, a mistake isn't a learning experience.That's why an increasing number of business leaders are adopting a new approach, ย called โHumble Leadership.โย Humble leaders recognise their own limitations.ย They understand that everyone, irrespective of their position within an organisation, have something to contribute.In How Humble Leadership Really Works, Harvard Business Review (HBR) explains how humble leaders (which they call "servant-leaders") develop their businesses by bringing out the best in their employees:"The key, then, is to help people feel purposeful, motivated, and energized so they can bring their best selves to workโฆTo put it bluntly, servant-leaders have the humility, courage, and insight to admit that they can benefit from the expertise of others who have less power than them. They actively seek the ideas and unique contributions of the employees that they serve. This is how servant leaders create a culture of learning, and an atmosphere that encourages followers to become the very best they can."Why Does it Matter?It would be easy to dismiss Jamesโย lack of leadership skills as little more than a source of discomfort for his workers, not something that fundamentally affects the bottom line.ย The fact is, almost half of employees who work for leaders like James (according to Forbes) are actively considering quitting. This โon averageโ costs a business anywhere from 50% to 200% of an employeeโs annual salary to replace them.ย What are the principal traits of Humble Leaders?Adopting a humble (ie, inspiring) leadership style, typically means higher employee engagement and increased productivity and profitability.ย For that reason, it's critically important to understand which traits characterise humble leaders.ย Although every business and every leader s different, generally, humble leaders share the following 5 traits:They recognise their own limitations: one of the main reasons for start up business failures, is leaders who think they can "do it all."ย From finances to IT to marketing, these leaders assume their leadership position makes them โal things to all peopleโ.ย As a result, they tend to make costly mistakes that place their businesses in jeopardy.ย Humble leaders have the courage and self awareness to understand when and where they need guidance and advice, and they're not afraid to ask for it.They seek out talent in their workers: because humble leaders know what they don't know, they make a conscious effort to seek those skill sets in their employees.ย They're more likely to carefully assess employee skills at the time of hiring, and through ongoing performance evaluations.ย For this reason, they know to whom they can turn when they need help solving problems.They inspire their employees: workers want to perform at their optimal level when their manager acknowledges the contributions they have made.ย Humble leaders have no problem โsharing the spotlightโ.ย This inspires employees to work collaboratively and give their very best to a team effort.They promote a culture of learning: because humble leaders can admit their own shortcomings, their employees are more likely to acknowledge gaps in their own skill sets.ย This inspires them to seek out training opportunities to advance their knowledge and their careers.ย Humble leaders are more likely to make those training and career opportunities available to their staff, promoting a culture of continual learning and improvement.They listen: the best leaders listen more than they talk.ย Their role in meetings, for example, tends to be that of a facilitator who articulates the nature of a problem, actively listens to attendees' solutions and guides the discussion to consensus.ย This ensures not only the best solution, but also the buy in necessary to implement change.ConclusionA humble leadership style could be argued, is about โdoing the right thing,โ looking after workers and respecting their contributions.ย Effectively leveraged and implemented, humble leadership can be a game changer for your business, reducing employee attrition, while increasing productivity and profitability.ย ย
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World of work insights
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Career Advice 7 Measures of a Great Contractor
โNo matter what the job or project, when gearing up to add additional expertise, itโs natural to want to have the crรจme de la crรจme on the team. Yet, faced with a vast sea of independent contractors all boasting an array of expertise and capability, how do you determine whether youโve found a good one? Or not? Success in hiring contractors starts, by knowing at the outset, that you are clear about exactly what your company is looking to achieve within the contract. With this in place, the next step is to identify people who fit in well with your company to ensure your company will receive the planned results it needs, when it needs. To assist you identify high calibre contractors each and every time, here is our take on the 7 ideal contractor qualities you need to be on the lookout for; #1 ConnectorsPossessing a natural affinity to connect well with people, the best contractors are the ones who understand the importance of communicating effectively with people across all levels of your organisation. Now โ weโ re not saying that contractors have to be โpeople pleasersโ but they do need the confidence to navigate an organisational matrix and work effectively with a wide range of individuals. The skill here, is taking the time to get to know the individuals they are working with and connecting with them to ensure that theyโre able to effectively meet their needs. #2 Active listeningThe best switched on contractors are adept at listening. From your conversations with them, they in turn, decipher your real needs out of the conversation. They donโt require you to break things down for them, instead they will listen, absorb the information, ask questions to clarify and then apply the information youโve given them to complete your project. Poor listeners can derail a project, so make sure you check their โears aptitudeโ. #3. Solution findersA switched-on contractor can see and understand the problems facing an organisation and will be willing to go the extra mile to offer solutions needed to assist solve these organisational dilemmas. Itโs both an intuitiveness with problem identification and a willingness to offer practical solutions that make them so valuable. #4 Outcomes seekersGreat contractors have the expertise to look at the outcome required and develop a process that will get you, and them, there. Itโs the ability to be able to break down the pieces of a project, work backwards from the projected outcome and plot the process needed to get the job done. (aka: strategic staircasing) #5 Highly organised and carefully plannedContractors must be able to zero in on the goals rather than scrambling around to find relevant information. When hiring contractors, actively search for those who have demonstrated previous organisational skills with a project management mentality that guided their work. Check they were structured, organised, well-planned and efficient on the job. And check out that they stayed within the timeframe and budget given them. Extensions are prone to be very costly! #6 InfluencersLike great leaders, great contractors have the capacity to bring stakeholders along with them on the journey. Some situations reveal that a brave conversation is needed to highlight errors, mistakes or areas for improvements or alternative solutions. Given the audience might be less than receptive, this is where the โrubber meets the roadโ in contracting-land. Confident, respectful and diligent contractors are worth their weight in gold when it comes to instigating those awkward conversations that could end up saving you millions. #7 Ego-free Great contractors arenโt seeking fanfare or accolades; rather they are driven to using their skills to get the job done and to do it well regardless of the recognition that they receive in the process. For more information on all things contracting, please call us on 1300 121 727.
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Career Advice How to Negotiate a Flexible Working Arrangement
โโLet us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.โโ John F. KennedyโJust today, I chatted with a Finance Manager who, within the conversation, sighed deeply and dejectedly revealed she thought she wanted to leave her position. But, after some analysis, when we boiled it all down, she absolutely loved her job; what she really wanted was a more flexible working arrangement.With this as the key driver, we came up with several options that she could consider before opening the discussion with the Managing Director, to pose her request.This conversation is a perfect example of the steps involved in negotiating a flexible work arrangement; so, read on to get your plan in place.โNegotiation of a working arrangement is a strategic process.Like any negotiation โ itโs all about finesse, persuasion, and building relationships with a focus on compromise.First, you need to decide what you need in terms of work-life balance.The next step is to convince your company that they would benefit by allowing you some flexibility in your work schedule.Candidates who are in this situation, have often talked about having to manage their nervousness around;โ Should I ask?โWell, our stance is that you have nothing to lose by asking, and everything to gain.And even if the answer is โnoโ, by taking the initiative, you have shown your employer that you are action-oriented, have plenty of confidence, and are capable of generating new ideas.โWant to try this out? Hereโs a game plan for youApproach your manager with a solid proposal.Ask for a face-to-face meeting to discuss your proposal.Do not plead your case based on personal reasons โ make the focus of the negotiation the โbottom-lineโ business benefits.Note how your request can be aligned with the company priorities.Have it in writingState clearly and simply, exactly the flexibility you are seeking to achieve the work-life balance that you would like to have.ย โMake certain that your written request answers the following questions:What type of flexibility are you asking for?Do you want flexible start/finish times within a standard work week, a reduced working week, a compressed working week, a 9-day fortnight, job share, the ability to work both from home and the office?Emphasize the fact that you fully intend to maintain all your current responsibilities.โWhat will your employer gain?Give solid examples of how your request will positively impact the organisationโs bottom line. (Save costs? Reduce downtime?)For example, if your suggestion for a flexible arrangement includes remote working, outline the time-saving benefits. The hours that you currently spend communicating can become productive work time. ย Or being able to drop off or pick up your children from school or day-care, you will be less stressed and more focused.Many people feel that having the ability to come in early, or work in the evenings, has a huge advantage. With fewer distractions and less interruptions, they will be able toย accomplish more.โIs your home environment conducive to work?ย Describe your home office space and equipment.ย Ask for the opportunity to try out a flexible arrangement on a temporary, or trial basis, and be prepared to answer questions. Expect to be asked:How will we maintain communication?How will you interact with co-workers?Will you be able to complete all your responsibilities?Do you have any suggestions for an evaluation process?Will you need any additional support to ensure success?Why are you a good candidate for a flexible work schedule?โAdditional Suggestions:Itโs a good idea to research first.Check to see if other co-workers have flexible work schedules. Ask them about their negotiation tactics.Emphasise that you can manage a productive schedule, no matter where or when you are working โ and outline that you are disciplined, self-directed and have good time-management skills.Explain the personal reasons for your request so you employer knows you have a compelling reason for flexibility.Agree to return to a standard work schedule if your trial period is not successful.Remember to pay attention to your body language during negotiations. Keep upbeat and energetic.Finally, once you negotiate for, and are offered, a flexible working arrangement, the responsibility for success is all on you.ย Be determined to develop ways to evaluate, communicate, keep on task to reinforce the success of your arrangement.For more information on how people2people can help you, please call us on 1300 121 727 or email insights@people2people.com.auย โ Weโd be delighted to help!
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Job Hunting Tips Which Areas Of Law Have Been Positively Impacted During Covid-19?
โThe Legal sector enjoyed continued growth throughout 2019, with a number of national firms expanding their presence across the country. In 2020, throughout the pandemic, legal firms have reported that they remained busy, except for transactional areas. We have seen a number of firms focus on increasing marketing and business development activities, which has been reflected in our national recruitment team seeing an increase in these types of roles, along with IT support. We surveyed a number of top tier, mid tier and boutique legal firms to see what areas of law have been positively impacted by Covid -19.โThe results are as followed: Commercial Litigation and Disputes 42%ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Property and Planning 24%ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Insurance Litigation 18% ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Family Law 16%ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Employment 11% ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย Construction 11% As a recruitment agency, we have been briefed on a high number of roles within Insurance and Personal Injury, across Defendant and Plaintiff firms. Since surveying our legal firms in August 2020, we have noticed a peak in roles within Property and Conveyancing and Family Law. A number of legal firms have reported their best quarters of the year, since the commencement of the pandemic. โAs we move into the last quarter of 2020, we suspect Employment Law will peak, as JobKeeper payments begin to decrease over the coming months into early 2021.
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Job Hunting Tips What does the new work week look like?
โpeople2people have recently released our Annual Market Trend report which covers everything from statistics, to market trends, to salary information. But this year was a little different due to COVID and we were able to add in valuable data from our #snapsurveys conducted in April and August this year and we shared the trends / initiatives / changes that emerged from it.ย As I go out to present the report to the many businesses with whom I work, there are a number of questions that are being raised in conversation around what changes / initiatives will remain, how mental health / wellbeing is more important now than ever and what does the new work week look like beyond COVID-19. Based on people2people's surveys, we have identified that approximately 15 % of the organisations have already brought their entire teams back to the office BUT 60 % were still working on a blended work week model.But what does the โnormalโ blended work week look like for organisations?ย ย ย ย 1 week in the office 1 week from home3 days in the office 2 days from home4 days in the office 1 day from homepoeple2people are being answered with a myriad of responses, when we ask this question. What would the ideal work week look like, if your organisation was offering flexibility? What we are finding, is that employers are dividing their employees into teams, ensuring people who are in the same division work in the office on the same day to help drive spontaneous interactions, shared knowledge and the ability to deliver on results.Working from home is not ideal for everyone. For those who are living on their own, going back into the office was seen as a positive move, as they were able to have face to face interactions. Others, thrived at home!The interesting fact is that with COVID there was not choice around flexibility, everyone had to work from home ( unless unable to perform their work from home eg Nurses) and the feedback from most organisations were that the levels of productivity were still high. Results were still being achieved and morale (as an overall seemed positive). But as restrictions lifted, the idea of keeping a blended work week changed and most employees were asked to return to the office and flexibility was only on a case by case situation.ย If you had a magic wand and could make the decision on what the new blended work week would look like for your organisation โ what would it be?ย
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Career Advice My Top 5 Tips to Nail Your Virtual Interview
โWith the current climate not allowing as many face to face interviews to occur and an increasingly mobile digital global workforce, video interviews are now the โgo toโ for most businesses and recruitment agencies.Regardless if your interview is directly with an employer or with a recruiter, itโs key to prepare as you would for a face to face interview. First impressions are everything. So youโve nailed the application process and secured your first virtual interview, here are my 5 quick tips to help you get the job! โย Tip 1. Find the right environment and video background.Make sure you are in a place where you canโt be easily distracted or interrupted. Itโs vital that youโre in a quiet spot with a neutral background, pick a place where natural light comes through and adjust the lighting if needs be.โTip 2. Adjust your cameraCentre yourself in the middle of the screen at a straight angle with some clear space above your head. Sit up straight with good posture and try to be positioned as if you were face to face. Try not to fidget. Test your set up with a friend prior to interview. ย Tip 3. Technology Weโve all experienced some sort of tech failure over the past few months โ internet dropping out, cameras not working or the classic line, โyouโre on muteโ.Make sure your internet speed is up to scratch. Record a mock interview and watch it back to check your lighting, camera and audio.ย Tip 4. Dress to impress Scrap the gym attire and dust off the suit the jacket! Youโre not on a team call now with a colleague. Dress as you normally would for a formal interview, avoid distracting colours and opt for tones that are softer. You want to feel good and be ready for the interview. ย Tip 5. Prepare, prepare and prepare Research is key. Use the virtual set up to your advantage and have notes prepared. Now, donโt read from a piece of paper or have this visible, however you can have your CV on screen or some notes. But keep eye contact and be engaged with the interviewer. ย Remember to be professional! This isnโt a video call with a friend. If you would like any further advice or help preparing for your virtual interview, feel free to give me a call on 02 8270 9746. ย Good luck! โโ
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Job Hunting Tips Resumes - Fact or Fluff?
โย The debate regarding the layout and what to include on your CV goes back generations. After a quick search online, there are countless suggestions and โwinning tacticsโ of how to present your information. From my experience in recruitment and assessing resumes, daily I can confirm that there is no one winning way.However, there are some guidelines to follow to maximise the information you present and the way you can grab the attention of any hiring manager looking over your CV. In my background recruiting for temporary positions, speed is the name of the game. We must review a high volume of resumes to a strict deadline, as we have a vacancy we need to fill, fast!This means that having an available job seekerโs previous employment experience, hard skills and availability clearly displayed, prompts us to consider you, rather than working our way through a lengthy resume. โThe first key thing to remember is that everything you include in your resume, must substantiated and demonstrated through examples from your experience. It is common practise to list several attributes, for employers to see. This includes great team player, adapts to systems quickly, friendly and approachable, ability to work under pressure, etc. All these points are excellent however, if you are unable to quickly and concisely back up these points with proven examples from your experience, they are mere fluff taking up space on your CV. This makes the juicy information (your hard skills and experience) harder to pinpoint and evaluate. I have counselled numerous job seekers on restructuring this section. If they include a long list of 10 personal attributes, I recommend changing this to highlight 3 of their key attributes and to include a small description of how this can be demonstrated. โWhen formatting your CV, your contact details should be prominent and visible.The aim of a resume is to compel the hiring manager to pick up the phone to continue the application process in more detail. There can be a short bio explaining your current situation, availability, and a small piece on what you are targeting. Again, this should be all supported by fact and real world examples, not fluff, immediately giving credibility to the rest of the document. It is surprising how many people do not put their contact number on their CV. I have had several applications over the last few weeks that I was very interested in pursuing, however I was unable to make contact as they did not have their number listed. โThe section that can sometimes be overlooked is your employment history.This section is your greatest opportunity to sell yourself and what skills you can bring into your new position. It is ideal to create a timeline through your previous experience, including the start and finish dates of each position your reason for leaving. Hiring managers are looking to see if your experience aligns with the position they are looking to fill.If there is ever a time to go overboard with detail in a resume, it is your duties and responsibilities in each role. Ideally listed in dot points, go into detail of what exact duties you performed on a daily basis. Pretend that who ever is reading the document has never heard of what a (insert job title here) and elaborate on the processes you were involved with, with whom you liaised, any documents you were working on and other useful and relevant information. As a good practice, I would recommend listing at least ten different duties and responsibilities that you completed on a regular basis. However, more detail is recommended, as it will provide the whole picture of your experience. As hiring managers recruit for a particular position, they may have a particular duty in mind that they are specifically targeting, listing as many duties as possible gives you the best chance in aligning with their job brief. These few key principles that you should keep in mind, best convey your experience and to sell yourself and your skills through your resume. Always keep in mind, itโs โfact not fluffโ to give yourself credibility. Maximise your experience in detail and remember to include your phone number! Making your skills visible is key!โโย
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Career Advice A Video CV Needs to Be Your State of Play
โDear Job Seekers, to trump your competition, a video CV needs to be your state of play.ย For those shrinking violets that are scurrying away, please hear me out as youโre talking to someone that isnโt the most thrilled with the concept of getting in front of the camera either.ย Exhibit A: if you want a giggle at my expense, head back to one of my earlier videos on the p2p website; I donโt think I blinked once in the entire sixty seconds.ย Since starting at people2people Melbourne, I was encouraged to video my job updates, market insights and general highlights on a weekly basis, not to my absolute delight I must admit.After giving myself a 5 min pep talk and reapplying some concealer and lippy, Iโd pluck up some courage and take myself into one of the meeting rooms. Ten shots later, Iโd have a 60 second video that I deemed presentable to the public and then, enter the anxiety hitting process of editing and clicking โpublishโ.Three years on, I am yet to call myself a thespian but truly, I canโt deny the success that I have had with candidate and client experiences that have occurred due to my video content.ย Without physically meeting me, people have been able to connect with my enthusiasm and passion over the wonders of video technology and most importantly, gain a fast and succinct snapshot of the message Iโm conveying.This has undoubtedly led to several success stories; whether it be a client seeing a video of a candidate I have registered on LinkedIn and wanting to interview or a candidate watching a job video on social media and later being offered the position.ย These successes have led me to think more on the opportunity it poses to you as a job applicant to use video to elevate your job application. Relishing the opportunity to make a faultless first impression, video allows you to erase and edit any potential facepalm moments. It will inevitably enhance your success in standing out in a growingly competitive market.ย Now that I *hopefully* have you on board, let me, a camera shy millennial, explain what a video CV is and how you can prepare and execute to what I hope will be potential perfection.ย A video CV is not a replacement of your written resume and cover letter, but an extension of it. It is a video file that is attached separately and is approximately 2-3 minutes.ย Some of you may have already experienced being invited following your application for a job or graduate program to submit a video answering a series of questions. A video CV is somewhat similar, however the key difference is that it allows you to talk through youreducation, work history and hobbies, whilst tailoring it to the position you are applying for throughout.ย In preparation of your video CV, think about the set up. Do you have a selfie stick to film it yourself or would you rather have a friend film it?ย What is going to be in the background and is it appropriate? I personally donโt think it is professional to have a bed, kitchen or a sofa in the background and controversially, white backgrounds arenโt my preference either, as I like to add some character if possible. Ensure that no one is going to disturb you, including any friendly, furry friends.ย In terms of your script, you want to tailor it to the job in hand, add character and ultimately, engage your audience. It may help to have a script that includes bullet points, so youโre not reading it word by word and in doing that looking robotic. You want to usea script, but donโt rely on it; improvise as you go and make it conversational by imagining that youโre speaking to someone and not your phone.ย Think about the edge that is required to set you apart from your competition and in particular, you need to be showcasing the strengths you canโt articulate on a resume. These are qualities such as poise, warmth, strong communication skills, a sense of humour, passion and charisma.ย โHereโs a brief structure that you can use as a guideline:Introduce yourself - Hello, Iโm *insert name* and welcome to my video CV. Iโd like to take this opportunity to tell you about myself and my interest in joining the *insert companyโs name* team.ย Outline your most recent and relevant education history.ย Discuss your current or most recent position and your main responsibilities. Most importantly, include key achievements and success stories. What have you learnt in this position?Include some engaging anecdotes that would be relevant.ย What are some personal attributes that you pride yourself on?ย Finish with a bang - explain your motivation in applying for the role and why youโd be an asset with tangible evidence.ย Leave your audience with easy instructions on how to contact you.ย Once you have filmed your video, review it and edit accordingly. Voila, the final step is to click send and wait *impatiently* for a response and feedback.ย You may be thinking that video CVs are limited to the technology and creative arts industry and therefore donโt apply to you. Admittedly, they are yet to make a forceful appearance in professional services, however this is evolving and I predict that a video CV will become a must-have tool in any job seekers toolbox.ย Rest assured, you donโt need to be an extrovert to step into the spotlight of video CVs. You do however require some bravery in ripping the band aid off, in order to relish the rewards that come with taking the centre stage.ย As a Senior Recruitment Consultant, Iโm not a Video Editor by trade and am certainly not claiming to be an expert, but I am happy to answer any questions/ queries you may have on Video CVs and how to use them in the recruitment process to your benefit.ย In particular, Iโd love to hear of any success stories in using video CVs, so please call/email me to share them with me - Iโd love to hear from you. Iโm contactable on 03 9098 7433 and aimee.burton@people2people.com.au
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Job Hunting Tips Standing Out for all the Right Reasons whilst you are Temping
We anticipate temping will continue to increase as our employment market remains unsettled, which means people will be attracted to give temping a go.โGood on you!โ we say, because it is a very viable way to earn an income, so we thought we would share important pieces of advice, to make sure you stand out in each and every assignment. Yes, most of these are common sense, but it never hurts to be reminded about what is expected when you work as a temporary employee on your new assignment. And we can confirm, great temps are usually seldom out of work! Read onโฆย 1. Breaks/Lunch BreaksCheck with your employer contact regarding instructions/preferences around when you take breaks and your lunch break. Firstly, be sure to take your breaks. Secondly, most employers will have set times for you to take your breaks; particularly if you need to fit in around others, so please check this out.2. Mobile PhonesTurn OFF or have on SILENT whilst you are at work. Make sure you have a voice mail facility set up, or advise your callers to text you as opposed to leaving a message; then you can turn the phone off while you are hard at work and retrieve your messages during breaks. All personal calls should be kept to emergencies only.ย 3. EmailDo not access your private emails from an employerโs PC. It is not unusual for organisations to audit internet usage of all PCs. It also is not professional for you to do so.Do not use the onhire employerโs email address for personal purposes. Remember, all onhire employer communications are confidential to them.4. Social NetworkingThese are personal sites, not work sites. Unless you have received express permission from the onsite employer, do not access these sites on assignment.In addition, stay away from posting comments on Facebook or other social media, about the onsite employerโs business where you are working, or the work you are doing. As you read this you might be thinking how obvious this is but we can confirm that each suggestion is on the list because of issues that have occurred ( and also refer to point 7). ย ย 5. Internet UsageDo not access sites that you should not. This is a biggie. Watch out for Trade Me auctions, online shopping, friendsโ catchup sessions or anything else. This activity must be either done at home or from your own device on your breaks.ย 6. Client Phone LinesAvoid using the onsite employerโs landline to make mobile/cell phone or long distance calls. It is all too visible these days.7. ConfidentialityYou have already signed an agreement with us, stating that the work you do for an onsite employer will be treated with total confidentiality. In this age of security and confidentiality, itโs a good reminder to keep on alert! Do not discuss or divulge any of their information to anyone, including other staff members.8. Time off to attend InterviewsFirstly, we ask you to keep us informed as situations develop โ we are here to help.Secondly, it is important to manage this with professionalism. Onsite employers understand that you are seeking permanent or other types of employment but equally, they do not want to be inconvenienced.If you are unsure or uncomfortable about taking time off for interviews, call us so we can manage your request with your onsite manager on your behalf.ย 9. Hours of WorkWhen we first list an assignment, we are advised by the hiring manager regarding your hours of work. When being confirmed into an assignment, if you are restricted in any way from working the hours stipulated, you must let us know. Sometimes a slight variation might not be an issue, but at other times it could a problem. The key is to talk with us, so we have a clear idea of your full availability.10. OvertimeOvertime must be discussed with us and agreed by the onsite hiring manager. Unauthorised overtime will cause issues, so the best bet is to talk with us ASAP to make sure you have all your bases covered!Blog from our New Zealand branch Frog Recruitment
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Job Hunting Tips How to Answer Competency Based Questions in a Legal Job Interview
What are competency based questions and why are they asked during an interview?A competency question is a question in which you need to provide a real life example for your answer. These questions are asked to test how a job seeker will handle a specific situation and โthink on their feetโ.Some examples of competency questions that can be asked during a legal interview are:How do you deal with difficult personalities?In what way have you contributed to efficiencies in the work place?How do you prioritise and deal with competing deadlines?How do you keep up to date with legislative changes?There a different methods to help you answer these questions to keep your responses structured. You may have heard of the STAR, SAO or the CAR method at some point throughout your interview process, or you may have come across these methods when preparing for an upcoming interview.ย The SAO method is the easiest one to remember to help you keep your responses structured. SAO stands for Situation, Action and Outcome. This is a really easy acronym to follow when you are proving your exampled responses and will help you to describe the situation you were in, the action you took and what the overall outcome of the situation was.โย We often ask candidates the question โHow do you prioritise and deal with competing deadlines?โ One of my candidates last month replied this way.โย โI would make a to-do list and communicate with the solicitors in my practice group to discuss my priorities and in what order to complete each task taking into consideration the deadlines I have"โย Even though this candidate provided detail, there are a few issues with the answer. First, they didn't highlight a specific example of a time in which they had completing deadlines and what they did to prioritiseย the tasks. Second, they didn't emphasise what the tasks were and how many they had which didnโt give me a clear explanation of their ability to deal with multiple deadlines. A better answer would have been the one below:ย โThere was one occasion where I was advised to prepare a brief to counsel for an urgent matter that was coming up in Court, I was then instructed by another Solicitor to contact a client and complete a statement for a statement of claim in their matter which both needed to be completed that day. Having two competing priorities with specific deadlines I approached both Solicitors to discuss the tasks and communicated with them to prioritiseย both tasks. We looked at what was most urgent, being the matter coming up in Court, and I received admin support to complete the brief to then allow me enough time in the day to also complete the client statement and both tasks were completed within the given deadline.ย โย Indeed, by providing the situation, action and outcome in a clear and concise manner, they enabled me to understand how they would handle this specific situation.ย ย The biggest tip to remember when answering competency-based questions is use a real-life example. Do not answer these questions hypothetically. The reason you are being asked a competency questions is because the employer wants to test how you will handle that specific situations.โย Lastly, remember to be confident and let your personality shine through. Interviews can be nerve-wracking (speaking from experience here) and I am sure we have all had a tendency to waffle a bit but this tip will help to keep your responses clear and concise.ย โย ย
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Career Advice Letโs get LinkedIn Official
โKnown as the virtual CV, LinkedIn can play a vital part in your professional life.โListed below are some tips to ensure that you are showcasing your abilities online for all the right reasons.Position Title: This needs to match your CV โ if there are discrepancies it may raise some questions. Always ensure this is in line with what your resume states and remembering down the line at reference stage your title needs to be accurate.Employment Dates: Crucial for credibility. Always double-check your dates, if a timeline is not matching up, recruiters, hiring managers and employers will have some doubt at the very beginning of the process.City: Your headline should include where you are based e.g. Paralegal Brisbane, Legal Secretary Sydney. This is for searchable purposes. Also, if you are in the market looking for work and someone in your network shares your profile in a different city / state/ country it is easily seen from the outset where you are based.Skills: Keep these updated, donโt forget about this section and expect your employment history to do the talking. This is important when employers are matching a job vacancy to a profile. If you want to be matched for a role in the very initial stages, trying to get as many skills aligned as possible will be valuable. If you only have e.g. 3 out of the 10 skills this may not be lucrative for your job application.Recommendations: Ask a colleague, a previous supervisor, a peer at University to write some words on your behalf โ donโt be shy. Rate and review are so common now in all aspects of life, why not benefit from this in your career. It is seen as a form of a reference already on your profile โ we all know how powerful a reference can be!Grow, grow, grow: The more people in your network, the more people you will essentially โLink Inโ with!ย After all, we are only ever a mutual connection away!Articles: Utilise the articles option if you are fond of writing blogs, this will demonstrate your interests, your passions, the industry you specialise in and may generate a talking point.Content: Sharing is caring! This may be in the form of industry news, business updates, interesting reads. Let your personality shine through. LinkedIn now even has interactive polls โ to generate a healthy debate, give kudos to a team-mate, celebrate, and spread some positivity online.Interact: Use your platform to engage, a LinkedIn profile that is essentially dormant is of no use to you or your potential employer. Respond to comments, reply to contacts, have that online conversation, you never know where it may take you.App: If you havenโt already โ download the App. (As if we donโt already have enough to scroll through!) However, this will mean it is accessible for you to see updates as they are happening in real time. You donโt want to miss out any InMailโs, job postings, industry updates.Photo: Last but certainly not least โ your photo, this is your professional headshot. This will be the image that your potential employer, recruitment consultant, hiring manager sees before you see them, make it a positive solid first impression!โWhen you are applying to a role attaching your CV and Cover Letter โ you cannot come to life on a piece of paper, LinkedIn gives you that opportunity to demonstrate you are not just an โapplicantโ or a statistic. You are a human being, who is worth hiring. Do not waste the opportunity of LinkedIn and the power of this platform. Lastly, letโs become LinkedIn Official, and add me as a connection - Colleen Deere.โ
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Job Hunting Tips Thinking about Changing Industries? How You Can Pivot Your Career and Skill Set
Have you been thinking about changing jobs? The COVID-19 pandemic has got people thinking. A recent People2People Workforce Snap Survey reports that the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced the decisions of about 38% of career seekers.Making a career change is a significant move to make, regardless of the causes. It is a make-or-break move, and the outcome depends on how well you go about it.Here is a brief overview of how you can pivot your career and skill set for a successful career change.Preparation: Audit and Equip YourselfAre you sure that a career change is what you want? And do you have what it takes to make this change? These are the most important questions to answer before making the switch. They will help you prepare well so that you don't get derailed in the process.Do the following to prepare well:A Thorough AuditYour audit should begin with an answer to the why of changing careers. There are many reasons why people do this.Jenny Blake, the author ofย Pivot: The Only Move That Matters is Your Next One, summarizes it as thus, "Many people hit a plateau in their careers and feel an inexplicable urge to do things differently. The way they have been working is no longer working for them." You are good to go if this describes how you are feeling.Next, perform a self-inventory of your skill set. What skills do you possess, and what skills are needed for the next job? Do you have what it takes to acquire those skills, and will it take you a reasonable period to do so? You need to identify all the gaps in your skill set and understand your shortcoming to be fully prepared for the switch.Fill the GapsYou will need to fill the gaps in your skill set to make a successful career change. You may need to go back to school, get into the field, and engage in other forms of learning. Do whatever it takes, and be diligent so that you master your new skills as best as you canโremember that you are catching up.Prepare a Launch PlanYou will need an intricate plan to make the career switch successful. There is a lot to plan for. For example, you will need to set aside some money to cover you for the switch and adjustment period. You will also need milestone markers to measure your progress. Make a full list of everything the career switch will improve and plan for at least six months.ย ย Don't Hit to MissLooking for a new job is always tough. It is even tougher if you are coming from another industry. This is why you should be smarter than the average job seeker.It is important to understand that you are catching up, so don't rely on the conventional channels. As such, find a way to circumvent the HR department and go straight to the hiring manager. This will give you a better venue to make your pitch better than the neatest CV would. Make the manager see that you have something to bring from your past career and convince them that this makes you a better candidate than the next one.Your lack of experience in your new career will be a minor setback at first. As such, you may have to contend with a junior position, smaller pay, and other starting points of a new job. Don't worry, thoughโyou come equipped with what it takes to catch up and reach new heights.ย ย Reach for the FutureChange is good, and your future career may be just what you need to achieve your goals. Don't spoil itโput these tips into practice and watch your new career take off.ย We have a vast pool of resources that will help you make the switch. We will hold your hand all the way, from preparing for the next step to getting the job of your dreams in any part of Australia and New Zealand.
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